Democrats woo Delta after Georgia Republicans threaten retribution over NRA benefits

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

Democratic leaders are competing for Delta’s favor after a top Georgia Republican threatened the airline by vowing to kill state legislation that would hand it a lucrative tax cut.

...snip...

Link to tweet

Cuomo’s remarks echoed those of the state’s lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul (D), who on Monday noted that New York “is open for business” and suggested that the airline should move its headquarters to “where you’re appreciated.”

The lieutenant governor of Washington, Cyrus Habib (D), thanked Delta for cutting ties with the NRA, adding that his state would be a lovely place to do business. And Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) tweeted “Hey @delta — Virginia is for lovers and airline hubs. You’re welcome here any time.”

The widespread invitations to Delta by Democratic leaders make it seem as though the airline is the next “Amazon HQ2,” as several U.S. cities are also jockeying for Amazon’s business — offering giveaways like low taxes, land handouts and infrastructure improvements — after the company announced 20 finalist locations for its second headquarters. (Amazon chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/02/28/democrats-woo-delta-after-georgia-republicans-threaten-retribution-over-nra-boycott/?utm_term=.9b8683dde8d7

[PoliticAverse]

1. Is Cuomo offering some corporate welfare to Deta too? n/t

[BigmanPigman]

2. Now we have to get Fed Ex to cave...

I emailed Jeff Bezos (Amazon) on Sunday and got no response. The same with Fed Ex. I emailed their CEO ([e-mail]). We need to boycott. RESIST!

[brooklynite]

3. Amazon (and Apple) will be much more reluctant...

...it's not just a business arrangement; it's the issue of taking a position on 1st Amendment content. I don't object, but be prepared to accept that you're saying a liberal programming source could be subject to censorship if enough customers object.

[monmouth4]

5. I read this a.m. that FedEx ships guns for the NRA. Contract and all.

Found it!
https://secondnexus.com/news/fedex-secret-deal-nra/?utm_content=inf_932_1164_2&tse_id=INF_8298cfc01cf811e8bf295b2a19ec39a9

[BigmanPigman]

9. Yup, I read similar articles a few days ago.

They need to be pressured by boycotts big time! No scruples...pure greed/financially driven.

[monmouth4]

12. The governor of NY welcomed Delta and promised them a great deal. It would serve

GA right.

[Roy Rolling]

4. If Georgia Hates Delta

Maybe they can land the NRA convention if they take the Dallas mayor's advice and leave the city.

[Calista241]

6. Delta has the sweetheart deal of sweetheart deals here in Atlanta.

Georgia and Atlanta have spent billions of dollars and given hundreds of millions in tax breaks to Delta over the years.

They’ve built one of the largest and most efficient airports in the world, and Delta has pretty close to a monopoly on Atlanta’s gates. And Delta is locked into those gates and contracts for decades.

The idea that Delta is going to just pack up and move is crazy. It’s not like just any city can become or wants to become a hub for a major airline.

And As far as Cuomo’s statement is concerned, New York has a lot of problems to overcome. First, their airports are fucked up. And more importantly, all of their gate slots are already owned / operated by someone. It’s not like they have a few hundred gates for Delta to buy up on the cheap and poof, a new hub for Delta.

Adding gates and runways to accommodate new traffic will take a decade to even begin that process. Face it, Delta is going nowhere. But they’ve also been put on notice by Georgia politicians to stay away from social activism.

[brooklynite]

7. That's not the assumption...

Delta actually has a substantial and growing hub in NYC. This is more a question of whether their corporate headquarters (and presumably hundreds of admin jobs) are going to be located.

[brooklynite]

8. UPDATE: Georgia governor will reluctantly sign bill that strips Delta tax break

Gov. Nathan Deal said he would reluctantly support a measure that stripped a lucrative tax break for Delta Air Lines but also includes broader cuts to the state’s income tax rate.

The Republican was a vocal supporter of the $50 million tax break, which would have eliminated the state’s tax on jet fuels. But Senate Republicans voted Wednesday to strip it out of the measure after Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said he would “kill” the incentive unless Delta restored ties with a gun rights group.

At a press conference Wednesday, Deal said he was frustrated by the “antics” of Republicans seeking higher office and said he would still seek to salvage a tax break for Delta. But he said he couldn’t veto a measure that also amounted to a sweeping tax cut for residents.

“The real story is the unprecedented $5 billion tax cuts for Georgians,” he said. “The real story is what it has always been: What is in the best interests of our state.”

https://politics.myajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/georgia-senate-moves-strip-delta-tax-break-after-nra-flap/HQLFwn5nhnvttlXb0T72pL/

New York, New York, It's a Hell of a Town...

[Weed Man]

10. The GA Republicans has made their first strike

Next Delta response should be, "Kiss your 30,000 jobs here goodbye, Governor Deal. You and your Republicans made it happen. NRA sucks and we made the right move, however you didn't. As a result of this government action, not only will you lose the Delta hub and the headquarters, you'll also lose any future improvements in Atlanta as a result of the loss. Good luck and godspeed. We are moving to (A RANDOM BLUE CITY WITH A NEEDED HUB AND SPACE TO GROW - I CAN THINK OF A FEW). All Georgia taxpayers must know that this is a direct result of the morons that you elected and consequences does happen. Goodbye"

[Aristus]

11. I hope this kills the 'Republicans: good for business; Democrats: bad for business'

thing once and for all...