Georgia's Lt. Gov. Threatens To Kill Tax Break For Delta Airlines Amid NRA Spat
A Delta Air Lines jet sits at a gate at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, in October 2016.
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Georgia’s lieutenant governor has threatened to block a proposed tax break for Delta Airlines unless the Atlanta-based carrier restores a discount program for National Rifle Association members that was pulled in the wake of the shooting in Parkland, Fla., earlier this month.
In the latest fallout from the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people, Republican Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said he would “kill” legislation to give the airline a sales tax exemption on jet fuel “unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with” the powerful gun-rights advocacy group.
“Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back,” Cagle said.
I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA. Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back.
— Casey Cagle (@CaseyCagle) February 26, 2018
In an earlier tweet, Cagle — who has earned an “A+” rating from the NRA every year since he assumed elected office and has been endorsed by the group – criticized corporations who cut ties with the NRA, calling on them instead to “donate a portion of [their] profits to mental health treatments and school safety initiatives.”
Discriminating against law-abiding gun owners will not solve the problem #2A#gapolpic.twitter.com/DqR6PePBd7
— Casey Cagle (@CaseyCagle) February 25, 2018
Cagle is a leading candidate to succeed Gov. Nathan Deal.
In a statement on Saturday, Delta said it was “reaching out to the NRA to let them know we will be ending their contract for discounted rates through our group travel program.”
Delta is reaching out to the NRA to let them know we will be ending their contract for discounted rates through our group travel program. We will be requesting that the NRA remove our information from their website.
— Delta (@Delta) February 24, 2018
As The Associated Press notes:
“Cagle’s comments come as Delta, one of the Georgia’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.
The proposed exemption had been part of Deal’s larger tax overhaul, which has passed the House and awaits Senate input.”
United Airlines made a similar announcement on the same day as Delta.
United is notifying the NRA that we will no longer offer a discounted rate to their annual meeting and we are asking that the NRA remove our information from their website.
— United Airlines (@united) February 24, 2018
The airline is among numerous high-profile companies to cut discounts from NRA members in recent days, including car rental companies such as Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, Hertz and First National Bank, Symantec, MetLife and others. Meanwhile, the hashtag #boycottNRA has been trending.
According to the AP:
“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.
Sen. Michael Williams, another Republican candidate for governor who had opposed the Delta tax cut before the NRA controversy, praised Cagle’s statement, saying his political rival ‘is feeling the pressure that we are putting on him.’ He applauded Cagle for listening to what he says is the ‘vast majority’ of Republican senators who now want to quash the proposed jet fuel tax cut.”
Today in Movie Culture: How 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' Should Begin, How to Win Best Picture and More
Here are a bunch of little bites to satisfy your hunger for movie culture:
Alternate Opening of the Day:
Solo: A Star Wars Story probably won’t have an opening crawl, so Reddit user SushiShishkebab proposes this way of starting the movie (via THR):
Oscar History of the Day:
With less than a week until the 2018 Oscars, Burger Fiction chronicles every Best Picture winner from 1927 through 2017 plus a look at this year’s contenders:
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Awards Explanation of the Day:
Speaking of the Best Picture winners, here’s Vanity Fair’s visual explanation of how a movie wins the top Academy Award:
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Movie Trivia of the Day:
Old School just turned 15 years old, so CineFix compiled some obscure trivia about the comedy:
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Vintage Image of the Day:
Jackie Gleason, who was born on this day in 1916, receives direction from Robert Rossen on the set of The Hustler in 1961:
Filmmaker in Focus:
Mexican sculptor Ruben Orozco Loza created this small but finely detailed bust of current Oscar nominee Guillermo del Toro (via Drew McWeeny):
Hyperrealistic sculpture small format #GuillermoDelToro#Mexico#hyperrealism#sculpture#mexicansculptor#rubenorozcoloza#escultor#hiperrealista#Jaliscopic.twitter.com/slqJPuRM2f
— Ruben Orozco Loza (@rubenorozcoloza) February 26, 2018
Great Movie Analysis of the Day:
Watch a scene from Annihilation featuring commentary from director Alex Garland breaking it down:
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Bad Movie Analysis of the Day:
Find out the “hidden meaning” of The Truman Show according to an alien in the future in the latest edition of Earthling Cinema:
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Cosplay of the Day:
We’re still hoping the invisible jet makes it into the Wonder Woman sequel, but for now we’ve got this amazing, adorable cosplay take on the idea:
Cosplay win! pic.twitter.com/lE1vo5C5q6
— Rob Williams (@Robwilliams71) February 26, 2018
Classic Movie Clip of the Day:
Today is the 25th anniversary of the release of Falling Down, so here’s a classic moment from the movie involving common complaints about fast food restaurants at the time:
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and
PHOTOS: Memorable Moments From The Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games
Siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani of the United States compete in figure skating’s ice dance free program on Feb. 20. The pair nabbed bronze.
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The 2018 Winter Olympics ended Sunday evening in Pyeongchang, South Korea, with a closing ceremony featuring fireworks, K-pop performances, the reappearance of Tongan cross-country skier Pita Taufatofua sans shirt, and a dance party that brought athletes onstage, eager to let loose and celebrate their games.
Norway is taking home the most Winter Olympic medals this year, 39 total — 14 of them gold. The U.S. came in fourth in the medal count, winning 23 — its lowest number of medals since 1998, when it won just 13. (The gold medal count has stayed consistent at nine since 2006.) Host South Korea won 17, and its athletes took part in a joint North-South women’s ice hockey team.
The games delivered late, unexpected curling victories for the U.S. men (gold) and South Korea’s women (silver). The U.S. women’s ice hockey team, too, scored a historic win against longtime gold medalist Canada.
As doping violations continued to dog the Russians, its doubles curling team forfeited a bronze medal when one member failed a drug test. Frigid winds disrupted some events and caused others to be rescheduled. There were a few tiffs and episodes of poor sportsmanship. But these were not the games’ defining moments.
Throughout it all, there were the athletes, nearly 3,000 of them from 92 countries, embracing the Olympic spirit — and, win or lose, doing their best in sports they love. Here’s a look at some of the highlights.
Fans wear Olympic ring glasses during a medal ceremony on Feb. 18. The medals were given out in nightly ceremonies, so winners were given stuffed tigers right after their victories.
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Kim Yo Jong (second from right), the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, sits alongside North Korean head of state Kim Yong Nam at the Feb. 9 opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics. The games took place against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions surrounding North Korea’s nuclear program.
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The opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games included a musical performance surrounded by an image of a dove, matching the program’s peace theme.
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U.S. figure skater Adam Rippon made his Olympic debut on Feb. 12 as part of the team competition. He won a bronze medal in that event, while becoming a fan and media favorite.
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Nigerian bobsledder Akuoma Omeoga (second left) embraces teammate Aminat Odunbaku (second right) during the women’s bobsled heats on Feb. 21.
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U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn, who won bronze, follows guides for the victory ceremony of the women’s downhill on Feb. 21.
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Olympic workers take cover from extreme wind gusts at the media village on Feb. 14. The wind disrupted events and schedules.
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Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Competitors participate in the official training for the biathlon women’s relay on Feb. 21. The athletes from Belarus took gold in the event the next day.
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The U.S. men’s curling team celebrates its surprise win over Sweden on Feb. 24. It was the first team gold in the sport by an American team.
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Cross-country skier Peter Mlynar of Slovakia took part in the men’s 50-kilometer mass start race on Feb. 24. The race was won by Iivo Niskanen of Finland.
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Speedskaters Li Jinyu of China and Elise Christie of Great Britain fall as Choi Min-jeong of South Korea skates past during the short track 1,500-meter semifinals on Feb. 17.
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French biathlete Anais Chevalier competes at the shooting range in the women’s 4×6-kilometer relay on Feb. 22. Her team won bronze.
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The U.S. women’s ice hockey team celebrates after defeating Canada 3-2 to win gold on Feb. 22.
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A “flower girl” collects Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals thrown by fans of Japanese gold medalist figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu on Feb. 16, during the men’s figure skating short program.
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Lizzy Yarnold of Great Britain takes part in the women’s skeleton final run on Feb. 17. She won gold — and became the first woman to win two Olympic medals in the sport. She won her first at the Sochi Games in 2014.
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Snowboarder Silje Norendal of Norway competes during the final of the women’s big air event on Feb. 22. Anna Gasser of Austria won the gold.
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Super-G gold medalist Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic celebrates her surprise win on Feb. 17. She went on to win gold in parallel giant slalom snowboarding as well, making her the first woman to win two gold medals in different sports at the same Olympic Games.
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Tongan cross-country skier Pita Taufatofua delighted fans at the closing ceremony by reprising his shirtless march from the opening ceremony.
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Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Russian athletes celebrate after winning the men’s gold medal hockey game against Germany, 4-3, in overtime Feb. 25. It was the second gold for the Olympic Athletes from Russia.
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U.S. cross-country skier Jessica Diggins crosses the finish line to win team gold in the women’s cross-country team sprint free final on Feb. 21.
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Gold medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada perform during the ice dancing free skate on Feb. 20.
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Julie Jacobson/AP
Norway’s gold medalist Marit Bjoergen jumps for joy on the medal podium with Finland’s silver medalist Krista Parmakoski (left) and Sweden’s bronze medalist Stina Nilsson during the medal ceremony for the cross-country women’s 30-kilometer mass start classic. Bjoergen has won 15 Olympic medals over her career, the most of any Winter Olympian.
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Cross-country skier Iivo Niskanen of Finland celebrates winning the men’s 50-kilometer mass start classic race on Feb. 24. His was Finland’s first gold medal of the Pyeongchang Games.
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