Rep. D'Amico keeps up the fight for the Fourth Bristol District. Check is coming in the mail. JUST STAY HOME FOLKS!!!
FROM THE SUN CHRONICLE
State Rep. Steve D'Amico made another stab at limiting or ending state subsidies for the film industry Thursday, but was accused by the industry of trying to send business out of state.
D'Amico, D-Seekonk, held a briefing for the media and fellow legislators at the Statehouse in support of Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal to limit tax credits for films made in Massachusetts to $50 million a year.
A longtime opponent of the credits, D'Amico said Patrick's plan would save an estimated $75 million a year, money that otherwise would have to be cut out of aid to cities and towns or other important programs.
D'Amico said he would go further than the governor and end the program, but would settle for the $50 million cap for now.
He said tax credits are not like tax deductions. The credits are cash payments to the film industry that are wasteful ways of creating jobs. The state Department of Revenue found that the state spends $89,000 in tax credits for every $67,000 job that is created.
"It would be cheaper to pay people to stay home," he said.
He also said the state study found that the $118 million the state spent in film tax credits in 2008 generated only $17.5 million in revenue from other taxes.
But, Mary Fifield, who represents a Massachusetts film group called The Production Coalition, said D'Amico misunderstands the purpose of a tax credit.
She said credits are intended to spur economic activity, not tax revenue.
Over the past four years, the tax credits have encouraged $1 billion in economic activity in Massachusetts.
She said only one major film was made in Massachusetts in 2006, while 38 were filmed here over the past four years.
"The tax credit has worked exactly the way tax credits are suppose to work," she said.
Fifield also took issue with D'Amico using consultant Ned Rightor to support his case.
She said Rightor has worked for the New York film industry and has an interest in movies being made there, rather than in Massachusetts. D'Amico disputed her claim. He said Rightor has done some consulting for New York, but his study conducted with a Cornell University professor was not funded by the film industry.
In fact, he said, the New York film industry did not like the report by Rightor because it criticized the tax credits New York gives out.
D'Amico has been campaigning against film tax credits for several years, and said Thursday he believes he is making progress convincing his colleagues they are a bad idea.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
FILM INDUSTRY ADDING CONSTRUCTION JOBS
Another fight that Rep. D'Amico and now Governor Patrick find themselves against their union supporters. Support from the base is dwindling FAST!
From the House News Wire:
While most of the nation’s film and television production still takes place in New York and California, Massachusetts ranks high among the fastest growing locations, according to a UMass-Boston study released Thursday.
The film and television industry has also aided local job growth in the construction and transportation sectors and generated new career paths for Bay State college graduates, the report added.
“Employment in film and television production has increased in Massachusetts during a period when total state employment has been on the decline,” the report said. “There is also evidence that some of this job growth has helped to offset job losses in particularly hard hit trades like construction and transportation, as workers from these sectors have found work in film and television production.”
The 72-page study comes as Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed cutting back on a tax credit program for the film industry – capping a $125 million incentive program at $50 million – as one of several ways to close a $2.7 billion structural deficit in the fiscal 2011 budget. The tax credit program was created in 2005 by the Legislature.
According to data the study uses from the Motion Picture Association of America and others, the state grabbed slightly over 1 percent of total national spending on motion pictures and television productions in 2007.
“While Massachusetts does not currently capture a large percentage of the national film and television production spending, it seems to be growing more rapidly than other states (some of which have more generous tax programs) and capturing work that might otherwise be taking place elsewhere,” the report said.
Chris O’Donnell, a film industry union official and founding member of the Massachusetts Production Coalition, cited the report in urging Patrick not to cut the tax credit.
“While we empathize with the Governor’s need to identify revenue to help fill the budget gap, we are concerned that the proposed $50 million cap on the credit will drive the film and television industry to another state. The benefits of the credit – jobs creation and building the industry’s infrastructure – far outweigh its cost.”
The study, funded through a “creative economy initiatives” fund at UMass-Boston, was primarily authored by Pacey Foster, a management and marketing professor, and David Terkla, an economics professor. The study employed federal and local economic data, interviews with industry participants, and employment and spending data provided by local unions.
From the House News Wire:
While most of the nation’s film and television production still takes place in New York and California, Massachusetts ranks high among the fastest growing locations, according to a UMass-Boston study released Thursday.
The film and television industry has also aided local job growth in the construction and transportation sectors and generated new career paths for Bay State college graduates, the report added.
“Employment in film and television production has increased in Massachusetts during a period when total state employment has been on the decline,” the report said. “There is also evidence that some of this job growth has helped to offset job losses in particularly hard hit trades like construction and transportation, as workers from these sectors have found work in film and television production.”
The 72-page study comes as Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed cutting back on a tax credit program for the film industry – capping a $125 million incentive program at $50 million – as one of several ways to close a $2.7 billion structural deficit in the fiscal 2011 budget. The tax credit program was created in 2005 by the Legislature.
According to data the study uses from the Motion Picture Association of America and others, the state grabbed slightly over 1 percent of total national spending on motion pictures and television productions in 2007.
“While Massachusetts does not currently capture a large percentage of the national film and television production spending, it seems to be growing more rapidly than other states (some of which have more generous tax programs) and capturing work that might otherwise be taking place elsewhere,” the report said.
Chris O’Donnell, a film industry union official and founding member of the Massachusetts Production Coalition, cited the report in urging Patrick not to cut the tax credit.
“While we empathize with the Governor’s need to identify revenue to help fill the budget gap, we are concerned that the proposed $50 million cap on the credit will drive the film and television industry to another state. The benefits of the credit – jobs creation and building the industry’s infrastructure – far outweigh its cost.”
The study, funded through a “creative economy initiatives” fund at UMass-Boston, was primarily authored by Pacey Foster, a management and marketing professor, and David Terkla, an economics professor. The study employed federal and local economic data, interviews with industry participants, and employment and spending data provided by local unions.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
D'Amico Disses paying Taxes
In an interview done by Janet Wu of Channel 5 News Boston, ( Some State Reps Pay Little Or No Federal Income Tax - Boston News Story - WCVB Boston ) the incumbent State Rep. Steven D'Amico, admitted that he personally took advantage of a special federal tax deduction given to MA state representatives who live greater than 50 miles from the Statehouse. According to MapQuest, Rep. D’Amico barely qualifies at 50.83 miles.
When prodded, D’Amico admitted that he paid no federal taxes in 2007 or 2008, saying he didn't want to look "a gift horse in the mouth." For someone who campaigned vigorously on closing corporate loopholes, we find it quite hypocritical that he would find a way to use one of these "loopholes" for his own personal benefit.
HELLO, he was elected to represent us, not himself. In less than two terms, he has quickly become what he once criticized.
What we have gotten from him these past three years is nothing more than dribbled up diatribe! He has worked to squeeze more money out of us while he has taken a substantial increase in salary...has gotten mileage paid for his "long" haul to Boston... has told his staff to take furlough's... has voted to raised sales/meals/ cigarette taxes and voted to instituted a liquor tax. And now this? This man wrote the eulogy to the hypocrite's oath! What more can you ask for?
We, the voters of MA need to send a clear message to D'Amico and his socialist friends on November 2nd, 2010… take a long hike and don’t come back any time soon!
When prodded, D’Amico admitted that he paid no federal taxes in 2007 or 2008, saying he didn't want to look "a gift horse in the mouth." For someone who campaigned vigorously on closing corporate loopholes, we find it quite hypocritical that he would find a way to use one of these "loopholes" for his own personal benefit.
HELLO, he was elected to represent us, not himself. In less than two terms, he has quickly become what he once criticized.
What we have gotten from him these past three years is nothing more than dribbled up diatribe! He has worked to squeeze more money out of us while he has taken a substantial increase in salary...has gotten mileage paid for his "long" haul to Boston... has told his staff to take furlough's... has voted to raised sales/meals/ cigarette taxes and voted to instituted a liquor tax. And now this? This man wrote the eulogy to the hypocrite's oath! What more can you ask for?
We, the voters of MA need to send a clear message to D'Amico and his socialist friends on November 2nd, 2010… take a long hike and don’t come back any time soon!
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