Not exempting jet fuel from state taxes to punish Delta was the right decision for the wrong reason

[onenote]

Yes, it was absolutely wrong for the state legislature to make the decision to drop the proposed jet fuel tax break for airlines (which would have benefitted Delta more than other airlines simply because it buys more jet fuel in the state than any other airline) because of Delta's cutting ties with the NRA.

BUT...why should I cry about Delta not getting a tax break it doesn't need? Since when do people here support tax breaks for large corporations?

Georgia first adopted a jet fuel tax exemption after 9/11 when airlines were on the verge of going under. It hung around until 2015, when the state repealed it and started using the additional revenue to help schools and otherwise help fund the government. But for a variety of reasons, largely reflecting the republican belief that giving tax breaks to big corporations is good policy, even if it starves the state of revenues, they proposed reinstating the exemption.

Now that isn't happening and while I hate the reason it isn't happening, I'm not at all sad it isn't happening. Some people are saying Delta should threaten to leave the state if it isn't given the tax break. Really? Let's put aside the NRA-aspect and ask ourselves: do we really support corporations threatening governments that they'll leave if they don't get their taxes reduced?

[samnsara]

1. I think at this point its the bullying we are all rallying around Delta about..

.. same with Sessions. I mean WHO supports him? ewwwwww but Trump bullying him will get us to support THAT PART of the issue.

[Major Nikon]

2. Ones tax break is anothers tax burden

[jberryhill]

3. Meh

I understand your point. My only question is what does the electorate of Georgia think? Either this action represents the collective will of the citizens of Georgia or it does not. That is the only real measure of whether this was or was not appropriate.

Whether it does or not, I have no idea.

[onenote]

4. Clayton schools

https://www.myajc.com/news/local-education/tax-cut-for-delta-other-airlines-fuels-protest-clayton-schools/qffgoPGXmZs7Pn3qMIiegL/

[jberryhill]

5. I dont understand how that answers my question

Voters in Kansas don’t even want to fund their public schools.

That’s up to them. Whether to tax this or that in Georgia, and by how much, is purely a question for the voters of Georgia to decide.

We can both spout off at length good reasons for how that decision could be made. In Philadelphia, for example, a sugary drink tax was imposed to fill the school funding gap. It has made a significant difference. Do they have one of those in Coca Cola country? If not, why not.

Do they tax cigarettes as much as, say, New York? If not, why not?

State tax structures are very different from each other. I live in Delaware. We don’t have a sales tax. Nearly every other state does. Is that “good” or “bad” in your opinion?

[onenote]

6. So if polls are now showing support for the Trump tax cuts

does that mean they were good policy? No.

My original point was that giving Delta a tax break wasn't good policy. I stand by that view whether or not it has the support of voters, just I think the Trump tax cuts are bad policy, whether they had, or didn't have popular support when enacted or thereafter.

[Cicada]

7. Tax cuts create jobs, but happy NRA worth killing jobs

I guess that is their logic. To keep the NRA happy they are willing to keep Georgia workers unemployed.

[Lady_Chat]

8. +100

[onenote]

12. Delta didn't need the tax break

It's revenues were beating expectations and it had announced new hiring for 2018 last fall.
If tax cutting is such a big job creator, why did we all oppose Trump's big corporate tax breaks?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2017/10/23/delta-says-its-hiring-1-000-flight-attendants-2018/791418001/

[Cicada]

13. I just explained the Republican logic, I didnt endorse it

By their logic ( not mine) they are willing to keep workers unemployed to keep the NRA happy. Balance NRA needs against workers’ needs, they picked NRA.

[Lady_Chat]

9. Delta provides 33,000 jobs and 500 million in profit sharing to it's employees

and is responsible for $435 billion dollars in economic impact a year in the state of GA, as reported in The New York Times. Punishing Delta for not doing the NRA's bidding, is an incredibly stupid move on the part of Georgia lawmakers.


Governor Cuomo has invited Delta to move to New York. Please come Delta, you would be so appreciated here. Georgia's loss would be our gain.


Republican Party Motto:

“We believe in small government that doesn’t interfere with businesses or personal liberties —
unless you don’t share our extremist views on guns, gods, gays and gynecology"

[onenote]

10. Don't the companies that got big tax breaks from Trump also provide jobs?

Last edited Fri Mar 2, 2018, 08:14 AM - Edit history (1)

That's always the rationale for handing out big tax breaks to corporations.

Delta didn't need the tax break: https://www.nasdaq.com/article/delta-air-lines-dal-q4-earnings-beat-fy18-view-upped-cm904202

[pwb]

11. Delta should Just raise the fare and call it the republican gun lover increase.

That would make paying customers all over the country pissed at them.