Power Breakfast: State tax breaks for some businesses, immigration, jobless benefits, transportation, pilots

Lawmakers this year weren’t able to overhaul the state’s tax system, but that didn’t stop them from handing out tax breaks to some businesses before the 2011 legislative session ended Thursday, AJC reporter James Salzer writes.

The House gave final approval to a bill that would continue a sales tax break for customers of companies such as Gulfstream that refurbish high-priced private jets, Salzer reports.

Tacked onto that bill was a costly measure to give a sales tax break to businesses that build certain tourist attractions, entertainment centers, marinas, golf courses, hotel and conference centers, auto racetracks, and Georgia crafts and products centers, Salzer writes.

And lawmakers alsopassed an extension of a fuel tax break for Delta Air Lines before they ended the session, Salzer reports.

Also in the AJC:

• Georgia lawmakers pass illegal immigration crackdown
• Unemployment insurance extended
• What passed, what died as lawmakers finish session
• Highlights from the transportation wish lists
• Allen Plaza dreams meet harsh reality
• Southwest, AirTran pilots agree on framework for talks

In other media:

• Pain of British fiscal cuts could inform U.S. debate
• Parties trade jabs ahead of talks on deficit
• High costs slow Google’s profits
• Ford widens recall of F-150 pickup

- Henry Unger, The Biz Beat

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