Delta Airlines cuts ties with the NRA, angers, alienates conservatives, risks major state tax break (Atlanta: 2015, house)

[Born 2 Roll]

Atlanta's own Delta Airlines' disassociation with the National Rifle Association in the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shooting has angered and even alienated many conservatives and Second Amendment advocates, including here in Georgia where Delta's corporate headquarters is located near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Amongst the conservatives and Second Amendment advocates who have been angered by Delta's disassociation with the NRA is former Georgia state Senator and 2018 candidate for Georgia Lt. Governor, Rick Jeffares of McDonough/Locust Grove in Henry County who is calling on the Georgia Legislature to retaliate against Delta by rejecting Delta's request for a $40 million state tax break on fuel.

From Charlie Harper, lead publisher of GeorgiaPol.com:

This morning, Delta has waded into both the 1st and 2nd Amendment rights, sharply choosing sides. The airline doesn’t believe those who choose freedom of association based on their 2nd Amendment rights/beliefs should be entitled to group discounts on their airline. Meanwhile, Delta has legislation that permanently eliminates taxes on jet fuel sitting in the Senate, after passing the House.

State Senator and candidate for Lieutenant Governor Rick Jeffares is first out of the gate this morning doing his best Lee Corso. Not so fast on that tax break, kids.

ATLANTA, GA – Former State Senator and candidate for Lt. Governor Rick Jeffares today called on the Georgia Legislature to reject Delta Airlines plea for a special $40 million tax break on aviation fuel. Following Delta’s snub of the 100,000 plus Georgia NRA members whose travel discounts the airline just eliminated for political reasons, Jeffares reasons that they must have plenty of money to burn.

“If Delta is so flush that they don’t need NRA members hard-earned travel dollars, they can certainly do without the $40 million tax break they are asking Georgia taxpayers for,” Jeffares said.

The special tax break is contained in House Bill 821, which is currently in the Rules Committee. HB*821*2017-2018 Regular Session

More than 80,000 people attended the NRA annual meeting in Atlanta last year generating an economic impact of more than $50 million.

Jeffares may be the first, but he won’t be the last...

"Delta: We Don’t Need The NRA; Jeffares: Delta Doesn’t Need A Tax Break" (GeorgiaPol.com)
https://www.georgiapol.com/2018/02/2...eed-tax-break/


From state political reporter Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Delta’s decision to sever marketing ties with the National Rifle Association sparked outrage from Georgia conservatives, complicating the Atlanta-based airline’s push to restore a lucrative fuel tax break it lost years ago.

Several conservative groups and high-profile GOP candidates for higher office called on Republican legislators to ground the tax break after the airline said Saturday it would end a discount for NRA members.

The airline’s decision put other leading Republican contenders in a vise as the Senate prepared to vote on the measure: risk alienating grass-roots conservatives who view Delta’s move as an insult to the NRA, or jeopardize a broader tax-cut package that benefits one of the state’s largest private employers.

Delta quickly tried to stanch the fallout. The airline’s top lobbyist in Georgia, David Werner, tried to temper concerns from restive Republicans and tweeted that the company’s announcement “merely confirmed its neutral status” in a politically charged debate.

Indeed, a weekend news release from Delta stated: “Delta’s decision reflects the airline’s neutral status in the current national debate over gun control amid recent school shootings. Out of respect for our customers and employees on both sides, Delta has taken this action to refrain from entering this debate and focus on its business. Delta continues to support the 2nd Amendment.”

A growing number of Republicans weren’t buying it. Former state Sen. Rick Jeffares, a candidate for lieutenant governor, voted to support Delta tax breaks during his stint in the Georgia Senate. But hours after Delta cut ties with the NRA, he took to the phones urging his GOP colleagues to reject it.

"Delta severs ties with NRA, risking lucrative state tax break" (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
https://www.myajc.com/news/state--re...vofT04wPL76YL/

[primaltech]

Delta is taking a reasonable position, and we all know reasonable doesn't fly* in Georgia.

*witty pun

[Born 2 Roll]

Delta previously had a major state tax break in Georgia, but lost it in 2015 after the airline got sideways with legislators on the transportation tax and Religious Liberty issues.

Many legislators got rubbed the wrong way by some lobbying by Delta that they felt was a little too spirited for their taste during the building debates on transportation taxes and Religious Liberty at the time.

Leading the charge to retaliate against Delta for the airline's outspoken stances on controversial state legislative issues by eliminating their fuel tax break was Republican Georgia state Representative Earl Ehrhart of Powder Springs in Cobb County.

"Lawmaker rips Delta, lobbyists" (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3 February 2015)
https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regi...vOnOahG9WRsSO/

[Atlwarrior]

I like how Delta is shaking things up. This is also an indication of how the company will view the religious liberty bill in GA. Kudos to Delta.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Delta is taking a reasonable position, and we all know reasonable doesn't fly* in Georgia.

*witty pun

Delta's disassociation with the NRA during an emotion time and a public backlash against assault weapons and semi-automatic rifles in many circles understandably may seem like a reasonable position, particularly to those who might not necessarily be the most fond of firearms.

But here in a deep-red state in Georgia with a state legislature that is dominated by politicians who are either NRA members or who are on extremely friendly terms with the NRA, disassociating from the NRA is an extremely politically risky move.

Delta's move to disassociate from the NRA is an especially extremely politically risky move when the airline has legislation pending for an extremely lucrative fuel tax break in an election year when many of those pro-NRA politicians are up election in front of a Georgia voting electorate that has proven to be extremely favorable towards the NRA position on Second Amendment rights and issues.

With Delta's corporate headquarters being located in a state in Georgia that has politics that are extremely favorable towards guns, gun rights and gun issues, Delta's made an extremely risky move by disassociating from the NRA (which has an extremely strong following around these parts) while favorable legislation they lobbied extremely hard for (the multimillion-dollar fuel tax break) is working its way through an extremely pro-Second Amendment legislature during an election year.

Delta's disassociation with the NRA not only severely jeopardizes the fuel tax break that it was lobbying hard for, but also severely jeopardizes other important and significant pro-business actions (like the effort to lure Amazon's second headquarters, etc) in a political environment in deep-red states like Georgia where conservative voters have been increasingly at odds with the public positions of corporate giants (like Delta, etc) who obviously aim to serve and appeal to customers across the entire political/social/cultural spectrum, from left-to-right and from deep-red states, to purple states, to deep-blue states.

Others, like political writer Charlie Harper, editor of state political website GeorgiaPol.com, have pointed out that Delta's timing of this action to cut ties with the NRA appears to be a case of extremely poor timing, especially while the airline has a major fuel tax break pending in a very pro-NRA/pro-gun rights state legislature during an election year where pro-NRA and pro-gun rights voters will be driving much of the political discourse.

It is understandable that Delta wants to appeal to their national customer base with this move. But Delta probably needs to remember that it is headquartered in a state in Georgia with a state legislature that is extremely pro-NRA and pro-gun rights in its political, social and cultural leanings... An extremely pro-NRA, pro-gun rights legislature that Delta has to deal with directly on a frequent basis.

[midgeorgiaman]

Sometimes you have to pick a side in life and no matter which side you pick, you are going to anger people. This is one of those times for Delta as was the religious liberty debacle. They did and let the chips fall where they may. There is no opportunity to debate or compromise with the religious liberty/NRA types as they view discussion or compromise as weak. Fine. Just do what is right, stop trying to tapdance down the middle and if the ultra right conservatives get pissed, oh well. That is how I live my life here now and am happier for it. Kudos to Delta for disassociating themselves from this group.

Now, with my personal views out of it, my guess is that Delta weighed their options and decided this was the best choice. Red conservative state or not, the NRA has moved from a hunting/gun club organization to one of the most far right political machines over the past 20 years. While supporting that may get you some points in Georgia and the American South, it is looked at unfavorably and in many cases with utter disdain and contempt by the much of the US outside of the South and the rest of the world. Delta is an international company that is HQ here but their national and international presence is probably more important in the long game. They are playing this correctly. The whole gun debate will die down shortly as it always does with no meaningful changes except that Delta has used this opportunity to seperate from the NRA during a time when it is publically ok to do so. Well played.

[Atlanta Scientist]

Georgia should remember that the job creators in this state don't have to remain here. It is Georgia that needs to tread carefully. The south only offers lower taxes and cost of living when compared to other areas. It can't be to hostile to business.

[midgeorgiaman]

Originally Posted by Columbia Scientist

Georgia should remember that the job creators in this state don't have to remain here. It is Georgia that needs to tread carefully. The south only offers lower taxes and cost of living when compared to other areas. It can't be to hostile to business.

Governor Deal was the only thing standing between Georgia being viewed a negatively as NC and Indiana back during the religious liberty debate so the state legislature as a whole would rather preach politics than business. If Delta were to pitch moving some Atlanta business to another state, states would fall all over themselves to gain the business. Delta holds plenty of cards. The pro-business metro republicans need to keep their party focused on pro-business or else the state's image can be hijacked by social conservative agendas. See NC. You can't have it both ways...You must pick a side.

[Radical_Thinker]

Originally Posted by midgeorgiaman

Governor Deal was the only thing standing between Georgia being viewed a negatively as NC and Indiana back during the religious liberty debate so the state legislature as a whole would rather preach politics than business. If Delta were to pitch moving some Atlanta business to another state, states would fall all over themselves to gain the business. Delta holds plenty of cards. The pro-business metro republicans need to keep their party focused on pro-business or else the state's image can be hijacked by social conservative agendas. See NC. You can't have it both ways...You must pick a side.

Extremely well-said. We MUST focus on attracting and keeping business in this state, or we'll be in a world of hurt.

If this business-killing hyper-conservatism takes over the state GOP, then we're gonna have to vote in Democrats to take their place.

[whodean]

Why would any reasonable company want to co-brand or be associated in any way with one of the most hated entities in America today? Too polarizing.