{"id":261,"date":"2018-02-26T21:42:01","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T02:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/?p=261"},"modified":"2018-03-01T10:16:06","modified_gmt":"2018-03-01T15:16:06","slug":"georgias-republican-lieutenant-governor-threatens-delta-over-cutting-its-nra-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/?p=261","title":{"rendered":"Georgia&#8217;s Republican lieutenant governor threatens Delta over cutting its NRA ties"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"trb_ar_h\">\n<div class=\"trb_ar_hl\">\n<p class=\"trb_ar_hl_t\">\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_main\">\n<div class=\"trb_ar_la\">\n<aside class=\"trb_em\" data-content-id=\"85496801\" data-content-size=\"leadart\" data-content-type=\"image\" data-content-slug=\"ct-delta-20160105\" data-content-subtype=\"photo\" data-role=\"sc_item imgsize_ratiosizecontainer\" data-state=\"\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_m\">\n<figure class=\"trb_em_ic_figure\" data-role=\" delayload delayload_done imgsize_item\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content\" src=\"http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-5a94b3ae\/turbine\/ct-delta-20160105\/1400\/1400x788\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"trb_em_r\" data-role=\"lightbox_metadata\">\n<div class=\"trb_embed_related_credit_and_caption\">\n<p>A passenger walks past a Delta Airlines 747 aircraft at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Mich. Delta is joining other companies that have cut ties with the National Rifle Association after a school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Over a dozen companies including Metlife, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Best Western, Wyndham and United Airlines have ended NRA partnerships since the shooting.<\/p>\n<p>(Paul Sancya \/ AP)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_by\"><span class=\"trb_ar_by_nm_pm\"><span class=\"trb_ar_by_nm_au\" data-byline-withoutby=\"\">R.J. Rico and Ben Nadler<\/span><span class=\"trb_ar_by_nm_pb\">Associated Press<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_bd\">\n<div class=\"trb_ar_page\" data-role=\"pagination_page\" data-content-page=\"1\">\n<p>Georgia&#8217;s lieutenant governor on Monday threatened to prevent\u00a0<a id=\"ORCRP002110\" title=\"Delta Air Lines\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/topic\/business\/transportation-industry\/air-transportation-industry\/delta-air-lines-ORCRP002110-topic.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Delta Air Lines<\/a>\u00a0from getting a lucrative tax cut after the company ended its discount program with the\u00a0<a id=\"ORCIG000080\" title=\"National Rifle Association of America\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/topic\/crime-law-justice\/national-rifle-association-of-america-ORCIG000080-topic.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Rifle Association<\/a>, in the latest fallout from a deadly school shooting in Florida.<\/p>\n<p>Delta is part of a growing chorus of businesses cutting ties with the NRA after the Valentine&#8217;s Day shooting at a Florida high school left 17 people dead. But now the airline is coming under attack, with Georgia&#8217;s lieutenant governor threatening a sales tax exemption making its way through the legislature.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Lt. Gov.\u00a0<a id=\"PEPLT000887\" title=\"Casey Cagle\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/topic\/politics-government\/casey-cagle-PEPLT000887-topic.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Casey Cagle<\/a>, president of the state\u00a0<a id=\"ORGOV0000134\" title=\"U.S. Senate\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/topic\/politics-government\/government\/u.s.-senate-ORGOV0000134-topic.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Senate<\/a>\u00a0and a leading candidate to succeed Gov.\u00a0<a id=\"PEPLT001589\" title=\"Nathan Deal\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/topic\/politics-government\/government\/nathan-deal-PEPLT001589-topic.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nathan Deal<\/a>, tweeted that he would use his position to sink the proposed sales tax exemption on jet fuel.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA,&#8221; Cagle tweeted. &#8220;Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>More than a dozen companies, including Metlife, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Best Western, Wyndham and\u00a0<a id=\"ORCRP017350\" title=\"United Airlines\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/topic\/business\/transportation-industry\/air-transportation-industry\/united-airlines-ORCRP017350-topic.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">United Airlines<\/a>\u00a0have ended NRA partnerships since the school shooting. Police say the suspect, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, gunned down students with an AR-15 assault-style rifle.<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, both Delta and United said they will no longer offer discounted fares to NRA members to attend their annual meetings, and both have asked the gun rights group to remove any references to their companies from the NRA website. One of the school shooting survivors also suggested Saturday on Twitter that tourists stay away from Florida.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"trb_em\" data-content-id=\"96000307\" data-content-size=\"small\" data-content-type=\"image\" data-content-slug=\"ct-1519334961-jsl9y7v1k3-snap-image\" data-content-subtype=\"photo\" data-role=\"sc_item imgsize_ratiosizecontainer lightbox_container \" data-state=\"\" data-embed-id=\"96000307\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_mb\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_m\">\n<figure class=\"trb_em_ic_figure\" data-role=\" delayload delayload_done imgsize_item\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content\" src=\"http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-5a8f3637\/turbine\/ct-1519334961-jsl9y7v1k3-snap-image\/1400\/1400x788\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"trb_em_r\" data-role=\"lightbox_metadata\">\n<div class=\"trb_embed_related_credit_and_caption\">Thousands of NRA members snap photos as Executive Director of the NRA Wayne LaPierre, right, and Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action Chris Cox introduce President Donald J. Trump for his keynote at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum on Friday, April 28, 2017, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton\/Atlanta Journal-Constitution\/TNS) ** OUTS &#8211; ELSENT, FPG, TCN &#8211; OUTS ** (Curtis Compton \/ TNS)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Cagle&#8217;s comments come as Delta, one of the Georgia&#8217;s largest employers, appeared close to convincing lawmakers to restore a $50 million sales tax exemption on jet fuel. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta would be the prime beneficiary of the tax cut.<\/p>\n<p>The proposed exemption had been part of Deal&#8217;s larger tax overhaul, which has passed the House and awaits Senate input.<\/p>\n<p>As the powerful leader of the Senate and one of the top contenders for the governor&#8217;s office, Cagle would wield considerable power over the future of the jet fuel sales tax exemption in the Senate.<\/p>\n<p>Cagle was not alone in his push to punish the airline, and the issue appeared poised to become part of the upcoming gubernatorial race in the gun-friendly state.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Michael Williams, another Republican candidate for governor who had opposed the Delta tax cut before the NRA controversy, praised Cagle&#8217;s statement, saying his political rival &#8220;is feeling the pressure that we are putting on him.&#8221; He applauded Cagle for listening to what he says is the &#8220;vast majority&#8221; of Republican senators who now want to quash the proposed jet fuel tax cut.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When Delta came out and pretty much dumped on all the NRA members, it invigorated a lot of our base,&#8221; Williams said. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to fight.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A spokeswoman for the governor did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Representatives at Delta and the NRA did not respond to requests for comment Monday evening.<\/p>\n<p>On the other side of the aisle, the communications director for the campaign of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams weighed in, saying that this was proof that Republican leaders are in the pocket of the gun lobby.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Casey Cagle would sacrifice thousands of jobs, endanger our state&#8217;s economy, and stick a finger in the eye of a huge employer in our state just to satisfy his buddies at the NRA,&#8221; Priyanka Mantha said.<\/p>\n<p>Another Democrat, Senator Steve Hanson, said Republican leaders had been arguing that the tax cuts were good for business and now were changing their tune.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Republican fear of the NRA is evidently more important than the Georgia business climate, jobs, or the well-being of Georgia citizens,&#8221; Henson said.<\/p>\n<p>In its Saturday statement, Delta said it supports the Second Amendment and its decision &#8220;reflects the airline&#8217;s neutral status&#8221; in the national debate over guns.<\/p>\n<p>The airline also pointed out that last year it withdrew sponsorship from a theater than staged a controversial &#8220;Julius Caesar&#8221; production that depicted the assassination of a Donald Trump look-alike.<\/p>\n<p>ACLU of Georgia Executive Director Andrea Young criticized Cagle&#8217;s move and highlighted Atlanta&#8217;s status as a finalist for the location of Amazon&#8217;s second U.S. headquarters.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Politicians should not use taxpayer dollars to impose ideological litmus tests and punish organizations that express views that politicians dislike. Amazon should take note,&#8221; Young said in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n<p><i>This story has been corrected to show that a statement from Abrams actually came from her campaign&#8217;s communications director.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_cr\">Copyright \u00a9 2018,\u00a0<a class=\"trb_ar_cr_a\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chicago Tribune<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A passenger walks past a Delta Airlines 747 aircraft at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Mich. Delta is joining other companies that have&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-weapons"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gopplaybook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2018-03-01_10-12-24.jpg?fit=820%2C459&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8VBh7-4d","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":383,"url":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/?p=383","url_meta":{"origin":261,"position":0},"title":"A Georgia Republican\u2019s threat to Delta: Restore NRA benefits, or you won\u2019t get your tax break","author":"Donnie","date":"February 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"By\u00a0Marwa Eltagouri February 27, 2018 at 7:04 PM Georgia Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle (David Goldman\/Associated Press) Days after Delta Air Lines\u00a0announced it\u00a0would stop offering discounted fares to National Rifle Association members, a top Georgia Republican retaliated\u00a0by vowing to kill state legislation that would hand the airline a\u00a0lucrative tax break. 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Mary Helen Sears of Houghton County in the state\u2019s Upper Peninsula,\u00a0elected vice chair of the Michigan Republican Party\u2019s 1st\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National Politics","link":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/?cat=11"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gopplaybook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2018-03-01_11-44-10.jpg?fit=486%2C347&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":199,"url":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/?p=199","url_meta":{"origin":261,"position":2},"title":"Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods CEO says company will stop selling assault-style rifles, set under-21 ban for other guns","author":"Donnie","date":"February 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"By\u00a0Rachel Siegel\u00a0February 28 at 10:15 AM\u00a0Email the author Dick\u2019s Sporting Goods will no longer sell assault-style firearms, will ban high-capacity magazines and will not sell any guns to people younger than 21, chief executive\u00a0Edward W. 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Stack appeared on\u00a0\u201cGood Morning America\u201d\u00a0on Wednesday morning, two weeks after a mass\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Weapons&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Weapons","link":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/?cat=19"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gopplaybook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2018-03-01_13-53-50.jpg?fit=899%2C574&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gopplaybook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2018-03-01_13-53-50.jpg?fit=899%2C574&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gopplaybook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2018-03-01_13-53-50.jpg?fit=899%2C574&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gopplaybook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2018-03-01_13-53-50.jpg?fit=899%2C574&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":103,"url":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/?p=103","url_meta":{"origin":261,"position":3},"title":"Over 100 Charges, 19 People and 3 Companies: The Mueller Inquiry, Explained","author":"Donnie","date":"February 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"By\u00a0Emily Cochrane\u00a0and\u00a0Alicia Parlapiano Feb. 23, 2018 In the nine months since Robert S. 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Of course, that report paled in comparison to the weekend controversy over Donald Trump\u2019s\u00a0immigration ban, which blocked refugees\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National Politics","link":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/?cat=11"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gopplaybook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/2018-03-03_13-37-53.jpg?fit=630%2C346&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gopplaybook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/2018-03-03_13-37-53.jpg?fit=630%2C346&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gopplaybook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/2018-03-03_13-37-53.jpg?fit=630%2C346&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=261"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":263,"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/261\/revisions\/263"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gopplaybook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}