Delores Gallego and Harold Bevis, lobbyists for Delta Air Lines, work at the Georgia Capitol Jan. 11, 2012
ATLANTA -- It would be hard to find Georgia lobbyists more successful than Harold Bevis and Delores Gallego. They work for Delta Air Lines, and are fixtures at Georgia's state capitol when the legislature is in session.
Last year, at the urging of Bevis and Gallego, the Georgia legislature awarded Delta a sizable jackpot: A state fuel tax break worth $60 million.
"They're professionals. They're good people. They do a good job for their client," said Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), who opposed the tax break for Delta. But she says Delta got its money's worth out of its lobbyists.
The tax break still rankles critics, who say the state's cash-strapped government could have used the $60 million Delta is keeping in its corporate coffers. But Delta's tax break was a jobs measure, says its sponsor, House Transportation Committee chairman Rep. Jay Roberts (R-Ocilla). "We need to do everything we can to encourage our business and industries to thrive," Roberts said.
Before the legislature passed Roberts' bill, the lawmaker got an eye-opening gift from Delta: A SkyMiles upgrade to Golden Medallion status, worth more than $1500. Roberts, a south Georgia peanut and cotton farmer, says he never used it.
"I can understand how some people would say that probably won't look that good," Roberts said. "But at the end of the day, as far as (the upgrade) helping me, it didn't."
Financial disclosure reports show Rep. Roberts was among nearly a dozen Georgia politicians who have gotten Delta's Medallion perk-- which upgrades passengers out of coach class and provides other luxuries. They include
- Mayor Kasim Reed
- Rep. Jay Roberts
- Sen. Ronnie Chance
- Sen. Chip Rogers
- Rep. Jan Jones
- Sen Tommie Williams
- Rep. Larry O'Neal
- former Rep. Jerry Keen
- House Speaker David Ralston
- Gov. Nathan Deal
- First Lady Sandra Deal
Records show Delta's politicial action committee distributed campaign contributions over last five years totaling $320,164.
Delta's lawmaker largesse represents a tiny fraction of the benefit Delta got from the tax break.
Bevis and Gallego politely declined an interview request, referring us to Delta's communications division. A spokesman emailed us a statement saying "As Georgia's longtime hometown airline, Delta on occasion supports local elected leaders with campaign and in-kind contributions. All contributions are fully disclosed, as required by state law."
Lobbyists don't just give away perks. Two months ago, Attorney General Sam Olens took a ride to a conference in a private jet provided by tobacco lobbyist Sean Collins, a man rarely seen at the Capitol but whose generosity is well-documented. House Speaker Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) took a trip to Europe paid for by a corporate donor. A complaint to the state ethics commission alleges that the donor should have been registered as a lobbyist.
Ralston says accepting the trip isn't a problem unless his constituents decide so in the next election.
"I thought it was a worthwhile trip. I'll let other people make a decision on whether it wasn't," Ralston said. When asked if he would take another such paid-for trip, he answered "Well, I haven't been invited again. So until I'm invited, I wouldn't have to make that decision."
The Delta lobbyists are among nearly a thousand registered to work the Capitol this session. Disclosure forms indicate the airline's lobbyists have done nothing illegal, working well within laws that critics say encourage political gifts from companies like Delta.
"Their important Georgia business is part of our fabric here," said Rep. Oliver. "But that doesn't mean that we should arbitrarily extend tax benefits to people who happen to have really good lobbyists in the capitol." Oliver has unsuccessfully introduced legislation in previous sessions that would restrict gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers.
Thursday, a coalition touting ethics reform in Georgia will back a proposal to limit such gifts to a value of $100. Other states to do it; Alabama caps gifts at $25. But Oliver says the majority of lawmakers in Georgia are convinced that voters don't care enough about the issue to cause any discomfort to lawmakers who accept gifts from lobbyists.