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| Governor Martinez |
From
scsun-news.com - Is subsidizing moviemakers with taxpayers' money a sound investment or a government giveaway? Neither New Mexico legislators nor economists can agree on an answer.
Perhaps the only certainty is that Gov. Susana Martinez has picked a fight with Hollywood as one of her first actions, proposing to cut subsidies for moviemakers in a state whose film industry has exploded during the last decade. Martinez, a Republican, wants to reduce tax credits for film productions from 25 percent to 15 percent. She said the change would save state taxpayers $25 million this year.
Numerous other governors, such as Republican Rick Snyder of Michigan, also want to cut money for the movie industry. Michigan has had the nation's most generous movie subsidy since 2008, but a state study said the cost of the program outweighed the benefits. Studies in New Mexico have reached differing conclusions on whether taxpayer support for moviemakers has paid off through more jobs and revenue. But New Mexico state Rep. Dennis Kintigh said using tax money to help the movie industry is bad public policy. He has reintroduced a bill to kill the moviemaker subsidy altogether. Kintigh, R-Roswell, said the benefits of the film industry are exaggerated and the subsidy for Hollywood puts a burden on taxpayers. "If film producers spend $1,000 to feed people on a set, they receive a check from the state for $250 because food is a production cost. No other industry gets that," Kintigh said. More
here
Martinez Plans to Cut Subsidies For Filmmakers
From examiner.com - During their 10:00 p.m. broadcast, Albuquerque CBS affiliate, KRQE News 13, reported that a bill is being proposed in the New Mexico legislature that would require third grade public school students to read at grade level or face being held back. The bill, proposed by Representative Mary Helen Garcia , which is receiving mixed reviews, is designed to address poor reading skills, which are a primary reason for students not graduating. Of particular concern to some parents is that they would lose their right to approve whether or not their child is held back. In addition to addressing reading gaps at an early age, lack of knowledge of basic math facts is another major reason for students not graduating. Students who cannot add, subtract, multiply, and divide are not armed with the skills necessary to be successful at high school level math. If New Mexico legislators can get reading and math proficiency standards addressed at earlier ages, there is no doubt that New Mexico’s graduation rates will improve, which will greatly affect many lives. Read more
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