Posted on 05/04/2012 9:20:37 AM PDT by MichCapCon
In the April 26 edition of the Detroit Free Press, staff writer Julie Hinds wrote a story that is fairly typical of the type of coverage Hollywood actors get by the mainstream media.
The headline read, “SNL alum Chris Parnell has fondness for Ann Arbor after 2 movies.”
Hinds wrote that Parnell, who was on Saturday Night Live for eight years, has co-starred in “two veritable love letters to the college town.” They were, “The Five-Year Engagement,” which opened Friday, and “Answer This.”
"It seemed like a very warm place and friendly and cool. There wasn't anything not to like about it," Parnell was quoted as saying.
Hinds’ article was par for the course in the mainstream media, which can’t resist asking actors how they felt about the town they just finished a film in. The actors then offer generic praise of the city.
AnnArbor.com’s Martin Bandyke asked George Clooney what he thought about Ann Arbor, and then described Clooney’s response as a “lovefest.” The headline read: “George Clooney declares love for Ann Arbor.”
Clooney was quoted as saying that he “loved” being on campus and he “loved” shooting all around Detroit and Ann Arbor. “We loved it there,” Clooney said.
What usually goes unreported, however, are the costs that taxpayers shell out in incentives to moviemakers.
It’s strictly pay-for-play, thanks to Michigan’s film tax credit program.
Clooney’s “Ides of March” got $3.15 million from taxpayers; Parnell’s “Five-Year Engagement” got $5.23 million in film subsidies and “Answer This” received $166,000 in tax subsidies.
The kind words didn’t come without a price tag paid for by taxpayers.
Leon Drolet, chairman of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, said some reporters appear to be smitten by their encounters with celebrities.
“It’d be amusing if it weren’t so expensive,” Drolet said. “If people want to keep up with celebrities, they can make a $3 purchase of People magazine instead of coughing up $5 million for an off-hand remark by a minor league movie star about how Ann Arbor is not so bad.”
Michigan offers a 32 percent refund to moviemakers on eligible expenses. The program had offered a 42 percent refund, but it scaled back last year.
Libs love other people’s money.
Reducing taxes for a project that might (or might not) happen in your State is not a taxpayer giveaway.
It is not “expensive” to not charge high taxes in order to encourage a project to happen in your State.
It is sort of like when taxes are lowered and it triggers an economic boom - and liberals cry and gnash their teeth about not collecting at the higher tax rate on the economic boom that simply wouldn't have happened at the higher rate.
Comprehend?
Paging Michael Moore, Michael Fatass Moore.
If anyone wants on the Michigan Cap Con Ping list, let me know.
Is it fair that the people with the tremendous power to collect taxes get to pick winners and losers?
“You, you make boring old widgets. Pay up! A lot.”
“But YOU, Mr. Producer? You wanna make a movie in my little old fly-over state?! I might get to see George Clooney?! We’ll give you a big fat tax break!”
Study after study after study has debunked the idea that production brings an “economic boom.” They don’t do post-production on site. They bring their own crews, except for gofers and extras. They’re not going to train your kid to be a cameraman.
At most, they eat in restaurants and stay in motels for a few weeks. Why don’t you give THOSE businesses the tax breaks?
All you states giving away taxpayer money and fronting expensive film commissions? You’re suckers.
One of the shady deals was a $10 million studio, sold to the production company for more than 4 times as much to bring the tax credit to more than the building was really worth.
First of all, this is not a tax exemption they are getting, but a check direct from the public treasury, ie, a subsidy.
Second, even if it was a tax break, how does that fit into the concept of “equal justice under the law” when one industry gets a tax break, but another does not?
If you receive a tax refund check from the IRS do you consider that check direct from the public treasury a subsidy?
As far as tax incentives, and tax incentiviced behavior, and favored tax exemptions - why cry about this one and not....
Homeowner mortgage exemptions.
Different tax rates for married/single.
Higher taxes on “sin” items like gambling, alcohol, tobacco, etc.
Different tax rates for Social Security - with the wealthy having the majority of their income exempt.
ETC, etc, etc.?
“As far as tax incentives, and tax incentiviced behavior, and favored tax exemptions - why cry about this one and not....
Homeowner mortgage exemptions.
Different tax rates for married/single.
Higher taxes on “sin” items like gambling, alcohol, tobacco, etc.”
You’re not advancing your argument. Let’s stipulate that the above individual taxes are also fundamentally unfair. How does that translate to “therefore, let’s not point out how grossly unfair it is for government to be picking winners and losers in business, too?”
I work in the entertainment industry. Taxpayer subsidies and refunds for TV and movie companies are nothing more than a gift of public funds by star-struck politicians who are derelict in their responsibilities to their constituents. There is no return. They NEVER pay off for the host states.
It should be clear that equality under the law is not a concept that extends to tax burdens.
Perhaps you might think it should - in which case we should all be taxed a flat rate - or a flat amount.
Seeings as how tax burdens ARE unequally distributed - and overall too high - and fund the State, Local, and Federal government at an INSANE level - I am not against lower taxes for much of any reason at any time for any circumstance - so long as it is fairly applied to any similar circumstance and not granted or refused depending upon capriciousness/bribery/connections/corruption.
And a refund check on taxes you paid already is not a subsidy.
Let us not adopt the language of the left where tax breaks are an “expense” and tax refunds are a “subsidy”.
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