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!
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.)
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?
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/
Thank you for your stellar efforts! I will dive deep into this later today.
The corruption is never ending. From Florida to Georgia
and states in between. Be it government, business, a great
deal of time and effort has been put forth to fleece the
taxpayers. And to think this is more than likely duplicated in every state of the union....over and above the massive fraud of the DC beast.
I am afraid that the visibility of movie making in Georgia is well-liked by Georgians even if it doesn’t make money. I lived in Columbus, and a lot of people talked about “The Walking Dead” and locally a lot of home-schoolers got to be extras in the Christian movie “Overcomer” (including my daughter). That’s an intangible perk to many.
Deal let the Hollywood-Sports axis dictate a lot of things in Georgia, and when Kemp ran, I asked him point blank about Hollywood and the NFL dictating policy to Georgians. He gave a red meat (but unspecific) answer. Kemp did stand up to Major League Baseball when they pulled the All-Star game over a voting bill that was passed.
Excellent presentation.
It illustrates how Georgia Republicans are just Assistant Democrats.
Thanks. I will read it later.
Bkmk
This was Georgia’s plan since I left, back in 2009.
Import hollywood and we expected hollywoods politics to stay in CA.
GOP Establishment in GA’s end goal is obviously to turn the state Democrat again, and they’re succeeding sadly.
Good work on the research!
A few years back I happened to review a drug test as the MRO at the hospital, of a cameraman working on a set in Georgia who had allegedly injured his back while working. He went to the emergency room was evaluated and released on Oxycontin.
The drug test came back positive for opioids and also marijuana.
I dutifully contacted his company that happens to be in Hollywood to notify them of one of their employees testing positive for marijuana.
The woman on the other end of the phone was not only rude to me asking why was I bothering her with the results of a drug test, but she also informed me that 90% of the cast and crew we’re probably going to test positive for marijuana anyway.
I brought to her attention the fact that this guy was on opioids for a chronic backbcondition. Apparently he had been taking the opioids ongoing around the clock for the past five years.
I suggested that she might want to look in to this employee to see if he was abusing medication and obtaining the medication by filing work injuries to his back. she said that’s what my Worker’s Compensation insurance is for thank you doctor goodbye and “click” she hung up on me.
Kemp Is well liked by a lot of establishment Georgia Republicans. The guy however is a meatball and an idiot. Georgia and the surrounding communities in particular that service and support the film industry get nothing.
Most of these employees including the cameraman don’t even live in Georgia.
Thanks poconopundit.
What I hear in the state...
Kemp and Abrams seem to agree to cause trouble. Not many can out do Abrams on how far she will go to be governor...
Kemp appointed the woman, Loeffler, to the empty senate seat. That seat belonged to Doug Collins. All the calls and emails to Kemp did not change his mind.. and he gave that seat to the woman and that woman lost to the dem... which gave the US SENATE to the democratic party!!
Loeffler had a young man working for her... he was the boyfriend of one of Kemp’s daughter. He was killed in an auto accident that literally blew up the car.. suspicions yes.
Kemp made a huge mistake when he let Abrams influence his decisions and he made a huge mistake when he gave that seat to Loeffler..
Kemp was a promising young man BEFORE he became governor of GA. He is MUD now. He would not help uncover the cheating in the election... He would not do what the law required him to do. He simply went the way of the democrats and let us all down. His dislike of Trump sets him way below par... he can’t do that and stay in politics.
Trump is the head of our Republican party... Kemp went another way... joining the dems and the left. He cannot regain anything.
A young fellow came to my door with Kemp’s name attached to his jacket.. I did not need to hear anything. I said I would not vote for him ..he let us down when he should not have.. to dis Trump was a huge mistake... the young man said he hears that a lot! Yes I bet he does...