RETALIATION

Georgia Lawmakers Punish Delta for Parting Ways with NRA

Both houses passed a tax bill stripped of a $38 million sales tax exemption on jet fuel.

The Georgia House and Senate passed a tax bill that was stripped of a jet-fuel tax break on Thursday, essentially punishing the Atlanta-based Delta Airlines for parting ways with the National Rifle Association. Republican Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who presides over the state senate, said on Monday that he would “stop any tax break that would benefit Atlanta-based Delta,” including the $38 million sales tax exemption that was previously included in the bill. “Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back,” Cagle also tweeted Monday. The bill had previously passed the state House with the tax break included before Delta’s announcement. Both houses agreed to the final version just hours after the Senate passed their version without the tax break on Thursday. In the wake of the Republican-led backlash, state Democrats have been voicing their support for the airline.