Posted on 04/25/2022 6:27:13 AM PDT by poconopundit
This Georgia corruption story is so alarming and crooked that it took me a couple weeks of research to create the spreadsheet and explain the complex web of deceit.
Look forward to hearing the observations of fellow FReepers!
Ping, for your interest.
Interesting read, excellent presentation of research.
I’m left wondering which media corporations have benefitted the most.
If they get their money back it’s a good deal. Until corporate welfare is eliminated it will continue.
BFL
One question that comes to mind is how many elected Georgia politicians who shepherded this arrangement got special favors from the industry (e.g., like free campaign videos, publicity, etc.)
How many elected Georgia politicians who shepherded this arrangement got special favors from the industry (e.g., like free campaign videos, publicity, etc.)
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Good thinking, Gaffer.
I thought Atlanta was a hip place for Black entertainers. Maybe the subsidies should be focused on them as they might settle there and create a Black alternative to Hollywood.
In any case, the selling of credits has to be stopped. How do they even justify that? Are these like carbon credits?
Great presentation!
Maybe send this to Newsmax or some conservative news or blog site? All the research is done for them, which they like, will,save them,the trouble of doing it themselves. Who knows you knight even be invited on to talk about it if they find it intriguing enough to feature.
Unlike sports stadiums, there is no specific place you can point to and say "this is a temple of waste". All you get are a bunch of TV shows or movies with a peach logo and a "made in Georgia" line in the end credits. The ones I really remember are the Archer cartoons where the voice actors phone it in from wherever they live. I don't know if the animators live and work in Georgia. They might just have one file server in Georgia to count it as a Georgia production.
I appears to me that this is designed to turn Georgia blue and that is the only reason for the massive and un-capped tax incentive to exist. The program is currently uncapped, meaning that all productions that spend at least $500,000 in the state in a year are guaranteed a 30% credit on their expenses. The credits are also transferable, meaning that studios can sell them at close to face value to other taxpayers.
It all started with Sonny Perdue in 2008:
https://www.georgia.org/newsroom/press-releases/georgia-boosts-incentives-for-entertainment-industry
When we needed to cap the abuse of these incentives:
David Ralston screws GA:
“I’m not prepared to run that industry out of Georgia,” Ralston said. “I think the industry is good for the state, puts a lot of people to work. It provides opportunities for many, particularly younger Georgians, to pursue their interest in the film industry here without moving to New York or California. So the last time I checked, that bill will have to come through the House.”
Georgia Senate Panel Proposes $900 Million Cap on Film Tax Credit
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/georgia-film-credit-cap-proposal-1235218414/
Repeat: Lower taxes is not a cost.
There is no reason to believe the taxes would be paid if the incentives were not in place.
It’s easy if you remember that most politicians NEVER do anything for ‘free.’ IMO, Raffensperger and Kemp are two of the worst that Georgia has.
Bmark
Good points, jacknhoo.
Yes, you may be onto something about trying to turn the state blue. Of course, the damage the RINO reds are giving to Georgia is appalling already.
Ralston fails to address the key issue: are the incentives working? They are not, and he well knows it. He and Kemp MUST be held accountable for keeping this program going.
I don’t know if the animators live and work in Georgia. They might just have one file server in Georgia to count it as a Georgia production.
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Excellent, KarlInOhio. There are so many ways the movie industry can spin these expenses as “Georgia jobs”.
Thank you for your stellar efforts! I will dive deep into this later today.
Thanks, Laz.
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