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posted by martyb on Saturday March 03 2018, @03:11AM   Printer-friendly
from the under-the-gun dept.

Lawmakers in Georgia removed a $38 million tax exemption for jet fuel from tax-cut legislation on Thursday in a move that will punish Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines.

Republicans vowed to remove the exemption after the airline cut ties with the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Georgia's Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle (R), who is also running for governor, had threatened to kill any tax legislation that benefits Delta after the company's decision to end a discount program for NRA members.

[...] "I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA," Angle tweeted earlier this week.

http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/376327-georgia-senate-passes-bill-that-effectively-punishes-delta-air-lines-for


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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by sjames on Saturday March 03 2018, @05:11AM (9 children)

    by sjames (2882) on Saturday March 03 2018, @05:11AM (#646857) Journal

    Keep in mind that the NRA is not a government organization. It is an advocacy group that is now advocating things that Delta doesn't really want to be associated with. How is that going beyond their rights? It is the Ga. Lt. Governor that is now trying to wag the dog by making decisions not for the benefit of state and it's people who he is supposed to represent, but for the sole benefit of that non-government advocacy group.

    The Lt. Governor was quite explicit that he was supporting the removal of the tax break unless Delta changed their mind about removing support for the NRA.

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  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 03 2018, @02:42PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 03 2018, @02:42PM (#647061)

    Keep in mind that the NRA is not a government organization.

    Citation needed.

  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday March 03 2018, @03:32PM (7 children)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday March 03 2018, @03:32PM (#647090) Journal

    The Georgia lawmakers are acting in the interest of Georgia. A helluva lot of Georgians are gun owners. A little simple math should help. There's something like 3 firearms per citizen owned by the citizenry of the US. There are some states that make firearm ownership quite difficult. In those states, there may be one firearm per citizen - or less. That means, states like Georgia probably have five or more firearms per citizen. That's a helluva lot of gunowners, now isn't it?

    You may, or may not, wish to look up real numbers, and do actual math. My numbers are close enough for my purposes.

    • (Score: 2) by sjames on Saturday March 03 2018, @04:05PM (6 children)

      by sjames (2882) on Saturday March 03 2018, @04:05PM (#647099) Journal

      All fine reasons why passing legislation that supports the 2nd amendment would be consistent with representing the people of Georgia. But the NRA is not the people of Georgia, it is a private organization, and one that has recently gone off-mission at that. The set of people that support the NRA is a subset of people who support the 2nd amendment.

      • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday March 03 2018, @04:13PM (5 children)

        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday March 03 2018, @04:13PM (#647105) Journal

        Perhaps all of that is true. But, tradition. The NRA has been the "good guys" since before I was born - and it's going to take a lot more than your say-so to convince Georgia that they aren't still the "good guys".

        • (Score: 2) by sjames on Saturday March 03 2018, @04:24PM (4 children)

          by sjames (2882) on Saturday March 03 2018, @04:24PM (#647114) Journal

          If Georgians care to join the NRA, that's their concern. But that is distinct from the elected officials using the power of the state to punish people or corporations who choose not to support the NRA. Would you support a law in your state that said join the NRA or pay 10% more in property tax, for example?

          • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday March 03 2018, @10:16PM (3 children)

            by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday March 03 2018, @10:16PM (#647298) Journal

            I would support a law that said that I can pay 10% LESS tax, if I were to join a tax-exempt that promotes youth, education, health, whatever.

            But, Delta isn't being punished. Delta has enjoyed a special TAX EXEMPTION in decades past. Delta pissed off the legislators, and has lost that special consideration. Now, Delta pays full price - that is the NORMAL PRICE - for their fuel purchased in Georgia. It isn't a "punishment" to lose a special perk, or privilege. It would be a punishment if Delta had to pay a special tax, on top of the same tax that everyone else has to pay.

            • (Score: 2) by sjames on Saturday March 03 2018, @11:36PM (2 children)

              by sjames (2882) on Saturday March 03 2018, @11:36PM (#647333) Journal

              OK, we'll implement a 10% discount on taxes if you join a particular organization that supports youth, islamic education, health, and free marijuana for everyone under 18 years old. Then we'll hike property tax by 10%.

              • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday March 03 2018, @11:43PM (1 child)

                by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday March 03 2018, @11:43PM (#647336) Journal

                Religion is out, remember? No Islamic education. I don't think the free marijuana is going to make it through, either. There are lots of subsidies in this country, but very few 100% subsidies. Only if you can weaponize the marijuana can you get a 100% subsidy.

                • (Score: 2) by sjames on Sunday March 04 2018, @03:43AM

                  by sjames (2882) on Sunday March 04 2018, @03:43AM (#647466) Journal

                  We'll just call it "philosophy".

                  Or perhaps they can just get indoctrinated that guns are evil and that only a monster wouldn't choose a strictly vegan diet.

                  Still good with that "we swear, it's not a tax increase, just the lack of a discount'?