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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USState lawmakers back Delta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia’s state lawmakers today jumped on board with Delta Air Lines in a symbolic gesture to oppose the hostile take-over bid by US Airways.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle (R-Gainesville), the president of the Senate, and House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) announced they will introduce a joint resolution urging U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez to carefully review the proposed merger of US Airways for Delta Air Lines.
“Along with the constituents we represent in Georgia, we also are very concerned about the significant loss of competition and the likely impact on air fares and regional concentration this merger will create,” reads the letter from the Georgia General Assembly to Gonzalez.
State lawmakers at the press conference announcing the resolution said that they believed the merger would hurt Georgia’s economy. They said they were concerned about the loss of as many as 10,000 jobs, a reduction in flights to cities such as Savannah and Macon, increased air fares, and an overall negative impact on economic development around the state.
In November, US Airways announced an $8 billion unsolicited bid for Delta Airlines. Delta, which is in bankruptcy court protection, opposed the merger and wants to exit bankruptcy as an independent company in April.
“We continue to be gratified by the groundswell of support from the government, civic and local business leaders and our customers for our efforts to emerge from bankruptcy as a strong and independent airline,” said Ed Bastian, chief financial officer of Delta Air Lines. “And we sincerely thank the members of the Georgia General Assembly for encouraging a thorough review of the important issues presented by this merger proposal.”
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