Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian issued a company-wide memo this week blasting the newly passed voter ID laws in Georgia.
Why is the Delta CEO even inserting himself in this matter?
Bastian said the bill is “unacceptable” and does not match Delta’s values.
The new law requires a photo ID to obtain an absentee ballot.
Democrats say this is racist and called it the modern version of Jim Crow laws.
Bastian agrees.
“Last week, the Georgia legislature passed a sweeping voting reform act that could make it harder for many Georgians, particularly those in our Black and Brown communities, to exercise their right to vote,” Bastian wrote. “After having time to now fully understand all that is in the bill, coupled with discussions with leaders and employees in the Black community, it’s evident that the bill includes provisions that will make it harder for many underrepresented voters, particularly Black voters, to exercise their constitutional right to elect their representatives. That is wrong.”
Apparently it’s not racist that a photo ID is required to board a Delta plane.
Georgia House Republicans on Wednesday night retaliated against Delta’s CEO and passed a bill to repeal a tax break on jet fuel.
House Speaker David Ralston (R) on Thursday morning said the vote to repeal the tax break was in response to Bastian’s memo.
“They like our public policy when we’re doing things that benefit them, and they reap the rewards of those benefits and then turn around and do this,” Ralston said, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting. “As all of you know, I can’t resist a country boy line or two, you don’t feed a dog that bites your hand. You’ve got to keep that in mind.”
The bill did not pass the Georgia senate so the tax break is still in place.