Posted on 04/03/2012 5:36:39 AM PDT by MichCapCon
If the likes of Ford Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally and Hollywood Film Producer James Cameron want tax breaks for their projects in Michigan, they may have to take a drug test to get the money if a bipartisan group of State Representatives have their way.
Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, introduced House Bill 5527 on Wednesday that calls for top executives in companies to be drug tested if they receive certain tax breaks from the state. The bill currently has four co-sponsors: Pat Somerville, R-New Boston, Judson Gilbert, R-Algonac, Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, and Jim Ananich, D-Flint.
Rep. McMillin is against testing welfare recipients for drugs, but said if that plan goes through, then executives getting “corporate welfare” also should be drug tested.
The bill is tied to the Michigan Strategic Fund, which oversees the state’s film subsidies as well as the tax credits given to some of the state’s biggest corporations.
The bill says that any company that gets a loan, grant or tax credit from the Michigan Strategic Fund would have its president, CEO and anyone who reports directly to the president or CEO drug tested.
“I don’t know if it will go anywhere,” Rep. McMillin said. “I honestly believe this will be in the mix if we go in the direction of testing Medicaid recipients."
Rep. McMillin said he’s not in favor of the state drug testing anyone who receives welfare.
“I think it is an intrusion by the government,” Rep. McMillin said. “But if we are going to do one (Medicaid), we should do the other (corporate). It’s handouts from the government. I think we ought to treat everyone the same if we start handing out money.”
When told his bill would include Hollywood executives who want film tax credits, Rep. McMillin said it was possible top filmmakers could be included depending on what titles they held with their companies. Michigan currently provides a film subsidy of up to 32 percent of a production’s payroll expenses.
“It potentially could be James Cameron,” Rep. McMillin said. “I would say, potentially, yes, if they want our money.”
Include all elected and non-elected government employees and officials, and I am in.
Absolutely. If they are going demand urine from medicaid recipients, the elected officials can pee on demand as well.
Include Every Person involved in the Production, including EVERY ACTOR AND ACTRESS as well as crews. Then watch the Hollywood Hypocrites squeal.
Perfect strategy. If the Dems support it, why not use the same standard for welfare trolls as for CEOs?
If they oppose it, Dems are coddling the rich.
BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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BTW, would Pelosi and Reid fail the mandated/dictated drug test?
Reid’s a Mormon, so he’s probably OK. Pelosi? She’s rich enough to find a doctor who can prescribe whatever she wants.
Sounds like a feel-good, do-nothing bill. I’d imagine most CEOs could easily pass a drug test.
I’d imagine most employees could easily pass a drug test - yet some companies drug-test anyway. The logic is spot-on ... welfare is welfare, individual or corporate.
More likely, watch the movie studios take their business elsewhere.
Yup, I’m all for that. Might be an end to the crappy movies they make and the lousy actors in them.
It wont matter where they make them i we follow through with the narrative on the War on Drugs, by requiring All persons to maintain Drug Free, to be verified by weekly Testing i they want their Likeness or Product to be Advertised in ANY WAY OVER THE PUBLIC OWNED AIRWAVES. They have NO DEFENSE in a matter like this If we were to enact it. All the Court Jesters would be out of Business.
Not sure I follow your point. Are you saying fedgov should use the Commerce Clause to enact such a rule?
They don’t have to, it is a GIFT (subsidies,credits,breaks...;.” If you want this GIFT these are the RULES. If you don’t want the GIFT then it is your decision.
Let’s Michigan enacts this drug testing policy and Indiana decides to offer the movie companies a deal where there is no drug testing. What’s to stop Indiana from doing this?
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