Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Republicans Finally Find Business Tax Break to Hate

Michigan Republicans, whose party never met a business tax break they didn't like, have finally found one to hate -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm's tax break for the film industry.

Never mind that film companies have been flooding the state ever since the measure became law. Even Livingston County businesses have seen the benefits, with filming going on here for the movie "High School."

But since this tax break was a Democratic idea and maybe because Hollywood has many well-known liberal stars, Michigan Republicans are doing their best to kill the tax.

Nancy Cassis is leading the charge, claiming this tax break is too generous -- a claim I've never heard from any Republican before about a business tax break.

But timing is everything.

On Monday (January 5, 2009), the Livingston Press and Argus featured a story on her complaints about the Granholm tax break.

On Wednesday (January 7, 2009), the Detroit Free Press featured a story on plans for a $100 million film studio in Allen Park that would employ 3,500 people.

Could someone please call Cassis for comment?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

If you read the story, you would have seen that Cassis was contacted for comment. She said, among other things, that Clint Eastwood said his movie would have been done in Michigan without the credit, but they gladly accepted the "free" money.

And why single out Republicans for your criticism? The story also said George Cushinberry, a Democrat from Detroit, had an opinion similar to that of Cassis.

Do you object to government paying attention to how taxpayer dollars are spent? The state film office admits it has no idea of how much it will spend in tax credits (rebates) for 2008. The state treasurer says it was at least $100 million; I've heard numbers as high as $150 million.

Are you sure there is data that supports new spending to justify that drain on the state's treasury? This may be a great idea and it may produce a new line of business for Michigan. But there is nothing wrong in making sure it is not just a gift to film-makers at the expense of taxpayers.