HB 622 was rolled into the Budget Bill, HB 2.
It is expected that the House will vote on the budget bill tomorrow at 10am.
Keller's bill HB 44 was passed in the Senate today.
HB 44 is an accountability and reporting bill that provides overall fiscal information for the legislature.
While this is a very good bill, it has nothing to do with the $45 million limit that is currently a part of the budget bill.
We want to continue the outreach to the House of Representatives.
We want them to restore the $15 million back to the initial budget compromise.
The current limit of $45 million is unworkable, a 30-50% reduction in revenue.
We want to encourage the Souse to revise the budget back to the $60 million.
We also want them to pass Senator's Keller's HB44, which will come to vote with them in the upcoming week.
We are happy that HB 44 passed in the Senate today, but it still has to be approved by the House.
Conversely, if the budget bill passes in the House tomorrow, we will have to focus on the Senate to defeat it.
Thank you for your email,
rowan
Monday, February 28, 2011
Legislative update 2/28
Dear Film Friends,
The budget bill was not voted on the House floor today.
The vote is now expected tomorrow morning.
We are planning to be at the roundhouse again tomorrow morning for lobbying from 8am-9am, and the house vote at 10am.
If you were not able to make it today, we still have tomorrow.
It is very important that we reach out via phone and/or email the the House of Representatives, and there is still time.
The word from the house is that we are not getting our message out, and sending mixed messages.
The word is also that they are not hearing from local business.
Our message is this:
Please approve the budget bill with a $60 million limit on the film credit.
Do not vote yes on the budget bill in its current state with a $45 million limit.
Movies make money for New Mexico.
Please support jobs and local business.
Thank you to all for your support.
rowan
The budget bill was not voted on the House floor today.
The vote is now expected tomorrow morning.
We are planning to be at the roundhouse again tomorrow morning for lobbying from 8am-9am, and the house vote at 10am.
If you were not able to make it today, we still have tomorrow.
It is very important that we reach out via phone and/or email the the House of Representatives, and there is still time.
The word from the house is that we are not getting our message out, and sending mixed messages.
The word is also that they are not hearing from local business.
Our message is this:
Please approve the budget bill with a $60 million limit on the film credit.
Do not vote yes on the budget bill in its current state with a $45 million limit.
Movies make money for New Mexico.
Please support jobs and local business.
Thank you to all for your support.
rowan
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Press Release: 2/27, MPA of NM
MPANM Newsletter
February 27, 2011
MPANM PRESS RELEASE
Industry Association Will Not Support House Film Substitute
February 27, 2011 - Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe, NM - The Motion Picture Association of New Mexico (MPANM) announced today that it will not support a committee substitute bill passed on Saturday by the House Tax and Revenue committee that would limit yearly payments of film rebates at $45 million.
"We spent five weeks working in good faith with House leadership of both parties to come to a resolution that would satisfy Governor Martinez's claimed need to fill a $25 million "hole" in the state's $5.4 billion budget. The product of the negotiations was good for the both the industry and the 10,000 New Mexicans whose jobs depend on film related business. Unfortunately, the compromise was sabotaged at the last minute by Republican members of the House Tax Committee and Democrat Sandra Jeff on Saturday. The substitute measure eventually passed by the House Tax Committee violates both the spirit and the letter of the agreement reached during our lengthy negotiations," said Eric Witt, MPANM Executive Director.
"We cannot support what was passed out of committee, either as a way to balance the budget or to improve the efficiency of our incentive program. Not only does the new bill threaten to destroy New Mexico's vibrant film industry, it fails to address the $1.2 billion in subsidies paid out to other industries such as oil and gas, whose profits are proof that those industries need no subsidy from New Mexico's working families," added Witt.
A recent MNPANM statewide poll found that 68.9% of New Mexicans support incentives in general but less than 35% support those incentives for the energy industry.
"Our poll shows over 90% of voters believe the legislature should review ALL incentives. Like the majority of New Mexicans, MPANM supports a full and thoughtful review of all incentives, rather than a politically driven attack to sabotage an industry that is one of our great successes. Singling out the film industry as the sole focal point on which to balance the budget is irresponsible," said Witt.
"The industry delivered everything this administration asked for, including rigorous transparency and accountability measures, a comprehensive study of the industry's benefits, and more than $25million in savings the Governor requested," said Witt. "Yesterday the House Tax Committee sent a clear message that New Mexico is now closed for film business, and the thousands of hard working New Mexicans in this industry have heard that message loud and clear."
MPANM members believe this proposal directly jeopardize thousands of New Mexico jobs and hundreds of local businesses that depend on the film industry, and dashes the professional dreams of thousands of New Mexico kids currently enrolled in film and media training programs around the state. MPANM will continue to offer positive solutions for a balanced budget, and provide an equitable approach toward diversifying and growing our economy and jobs base.
Unfortunately, in its current form, this bill does neither.
####
This email was sent to locationsmanager@gmail.com by info@mpanm.com |
Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.
Motion Picture Association of New Mexico | 400 Gold Avenue SW | 12th Floor | Albuquerque | NM | 87102
February 27, 2011
MPANM PRESS RELEASE
Industry Association Will Not Support House Film Substitute
February 27, 2011 - Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe, NM - The Motion Picture Association of New Mexico (MPANM) announced today that it will not support a committee substitute bill passed on Saturday by the House Tax and Revenue committee that would limit yearly payments of film rebates at $45 million.
"We spent five weeks working in good faith with House leadership of both parties to come to a resolution that would satisfy Governor Martinez's claimed need to fill a $25 million "hole" in the state's $5.4 billion budget. The product of the negotiations was good for the both the industry and the 10,000 New Mexicans whose jobs depend on film related business. Unfortunately, the compromise was sabotaged at the last minute by Republican members of the House Tax Committee and Democrat Sandra Jeff on Saturday. The substitute measure eventually passed by the House Tax Committee violates both the spirit and the letter of the agreement reached during our lengthy negotiations," said Eric Witt, MPANM Executive Director.
"We cannot support what was passed out of committee, either as a way to balance the budget or to improve the efficiency of our incentive program. Not only does the new bill threaten to destroy New Mexico's vibrant film industry, it fails to address the $1.2 billion in subsidies paid out to other industries such as oil and gas, whose profits are proof that those industries need no subsidy from New Mexico's working families," added Witt.
A recent MNPANM statewide poll found that 68.9% of New Mexicans support incentives in general but less than 35% support those incentives for the energy industry.
"Our poll shows over 90% of voters believe the legislature should review ALL incentives. Like the majority of New Mexicans, MPANM supports a full and thoughtful review of all incentives, rather than a politically driven attack to sabotage an industry that is one of our great successes. Singling out the film industry as the sole focal point on which to balance the budget is irresponsible," said Witt.
"The industry delivered everything this administration asked for, including rigorous transparency and accountability measures, a comprehensive study of the industry's benefits, and more than $25million in savings the Governor requested," said Witt. "Yesterday the House Tax Committee sent a clear message that New Mexico is now closed for film business, and the thousands of hard working New Mexicans in this industry have heard that message loud and clear."
MPANM members believe this proposal directly jeopardize thousands of New Mexico jobs and hundreds of local businesses that depend on the film industry, and dashes the professional dreams of thousands of New Mexico kids currently enrolled in film and media training programs around the state. MPANM will continue to offer positive solutions for a balanced budget, and provide an equitable approach toward diversifying and growing our economy and jobs base.
Unfortunately, in its current form, this bill does neither.
####
This email was sent to locationsmanager@gmail.com by info@mpanm.com |
Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.
Motion Picture Association of New Mexico | 400 Gold Avenue SW | 12th Floor | Albuquerque | NM | 87102
Legislative update 2/27
Dear Friends,
We lost the committee vote yesterday to move forward the balanced budget that preserved the film industry.
The budget amendment that passed puts a $45 million limit on the film production tax credit.
Effectively reducing our amount of available revenue from the film industry by 30-50%.
The budget had been balanced, the compromise to save Martinez's $25 million had been made.
Then the republican who was co-sponsoring the win win budget plan backed out of the committee vote,
leaving the Taxation & Revenue Committee in a closed door meeting.
Both democrats and republicans voted to make this unnecessary and arbitrary cut to the industry.
The budget bill is being heard again on the House Floor tomorrow morning.
If there is one thing we ask, is to come to the roundhouse tomorrow between 8 and 9 am.
We must let the House of Representatives know that we support the film industry.
If we have the turnout tomorrow morning like we did for the Kintigh bill committee hearing a couple weeks ago, we will make a difference.
We are so grateful for everyone who came to the roundhouse that day.
Now its time to do it again.
Thank you so much for support.
Movies make money for New Mexico.
We lost the committee vote yesterday to move forward the balanced budget that preserved the film industry.
The budget amendment that passed puts a $45 million limit on the film production tax credit.
Effectively reducing our amount of available revenue from the film industry by 30-50%.
The budget had been balanced, the compromise to save Martinez's $25 million had been made.
Then the republican who was co-sponsoring the win win budget plan backed out of the committee vote,
leaving the Taxation & Revenue Committee in a closed door meeting.
Both democrats and republicans voted to make this unnecessary and arbitrary cut to the industry.
The budget bill is being heard again on the House Floor tomorrow morning.
If there is one thing we ask, is to come to the roundhouse tomorrow between 8 and 9 am.
We must let the House of Representatives know that we support the film industry.
If we have the turnout tomorrow morning like we did for the Kintigh bill committee hearing a couple weeks ago, we will make a difference.
We are so grateful for everyone who came to the roundhouse that day.
Now its time to do it again.
Thank you so much for support.
Movies make money for New Mexico.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Letter to the House 2/26
Dear Honorable Representative,
Please restore the $60 million for film to the state budget bill!
The film & television industry has generated $1.2 billion for state coffers in the last 7 years!
Please do not pass a budget with this drastic cut in the film program.
The assumed "savings" of $25 million is a fraction of the $5.4 billion state budget.
This "savings" will drastically limit the number of productions per year.
There are other places to find this savings.
The State of NM MADE $66 million just in 2010.
In 2009 the state paid out $73 million in film tax credit.
In 2010 the state paid out $65 million in film tax credit.
Cutting the tax subsidy in half is CUTTING POTENTIAL STATE REVENUE IN HALF.
Please protect the annual film revenue for the state!
There are other ways to balance the budget.
SB 44 and SJM 15 were both passed in committee, as welcomed accountability and investigatory measures.
PLEASE ALLOW A FORMAL REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM BEFORE MAKING SUCH DRASTIC LIMITS.
PLEASE SEE LETTER FROM THE BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION:
~~In the 2010, 19 productions spent $66 million on New Mexico crew, $9.6 office/studio rental, $11.4 million on equipment rentals, $3.8 million on food, $3.5 on construction, and $2 million on vehicle rentals.
~~There are 12,000 people directly or indirectly employed by the film and television industry.
~~There are more than 250 film-related business in the state.
New Mexico has made history in the last 8 years!
We have become one of the best places in the world for film and television production.
Albuqueruque has become the #1 city in the United States for film and television production.
The infrastructure is in place to maintain NM's status as a major production destination that it is.
I emphasize this not only as a motion picture employee and union member, but as life long resident of New Mexico.
As a location manager, I personally have paid out $4 million to local vendors and property owners.
This money supports New Mexicans, and support New Mexico.
Please restore the film production tax credit with a $60 million limit.
Please restore the $60 million for film to the state budget bill!
The film & television industry has generated $1.2 billion for state coffers in the last 7 years!
Please do not pass a budget with this drastic cut in the film program.
The assumed "savings" of $25 million is a fraction of the $5.4 billion state budget.
This "savings" will drastically limit the number of productions per year.
There are other places to find this savings.
The State of NM MADE $66 million just in 2010.
In 2009 the state paid out $73 million in film tax credit.
In 2010 the state paid out $65 million in film tax credit.
Cutting the tax subsidy in half is CUTTING POTENTIAL STATE REVENUE IN HALF.
Please protect the annual film revenue for the state!
There are other ways to balance the budget.
SB 44 and SJM 15 were both passed in committee, as welcomed accountability and investigatory measures.
PLEASE ALLOW A FORMAL REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM BEFORE MAKING SUCH DRASTIC LIMITS.
PLEASE SEE LETTER FROM THE BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION:
~~In the 2010, 19 productions spent $66 million on New Mexico crew, $9.6 office/studio rental, $11.4 million on equipment rentals, $3.8 million on food, $3.5 on construction, and $2 million on vehicle rentals.
~~There are 12,000 people directly or indirectly employed by the film and television industry.
~~There are more than 250 film-related business in the state.
New Mexico has made history in the last 8 years!
We have become one of the best places in the world for film and television production.
Albuqueruque has become the #1 city in the United States for film and television production.
The infrastructure is in place to maintain NM's status as a major production destination that it is.
I emphasize this not only as a motion picture employee and union member, but as life long resident of New Mexico.
As a location manager, I personally have paid out $4 million to local vendors and property owners.
This money supports New Mexicans, and support New Mexico.
Please restore the film production tax credit with a $60 million limit.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Letter to Tax & Revenue: 2/25
Dear Honorable Taxation & Revenue Committee member,
We understand their needs to be a 3% reduction in our state budget.
Please retain the film production tax credit.
Please do not reduce the program by $25 million.
The average state tax credit is currently around 26%; reducing ours to 15% will effectively eliminate NM from the national market.
Please protect our jobs in the film & television industry.
Thank you.
We understand their needs to be a 3% reduction in our state budget.
Please retain the film production tax credit.
Please do not reduce the program by $25 million.
The average state tax credit is currently around 26%; reducing ours to 15% will effectively eliminate NM from the national market.
Please protect our jobs in the film & television industry.
Thank you.
...Wisconsin 911
Dear Friends,
The people of Wisconsin is on the front lines of corporate fascism.
We have to support them in every way possible.
Scott Walker is a blatant corporate criminal.
This is NOT about the budget.
Labor has agreed to changes in pay and pensions.
The workers are asking to maintain their right to organize and keep their collective bargaining rights.
This is a planned attack on American workers.
Walker refers to introducing the bill as a "dropping a bomb".
Walker should be recalled as governor, and prosecuted as a corporate criminal with David Koch.
Koch gave Walker $43,000 for his campaign, and $1 million to the Republican Governors Association to advertise for Walkers campaign.
Koch Industries opened a lobbying office across the street from the state capitol the week Walker was inaugurated.
Walker says the protesters are not from Wisconsin.
Where does he think their from, Libya?
He also says that one third of the protesters are in favor of the anti union bill.
What?
He intends to freeze pay for the 14 Senate Democrats, and sending state troopers to their homes.
Elected members of a state government are exile within the United States for standing up for what is right.
He is also giving "at risk" notices to terminate employment for 5000 state workers for standing up for their union rights.
Lets sit back and watch this country reel back 60 years in one month, and this is just the first month of these new republican administrations. Watch bold Wisconsin Democrats take a stand -- and chip in to get their back!
They need support, listen to Scott Walker's plan of attack:
The governor's office verified the authenticity of the phone call.
part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLOTslf6Ntg&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh+div-1r-6-HM
part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3a2pYGr7-k&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3a2pYGr7-k&feature=related
"its ground zero, no doubt about it,"
"Its all about getting our freedom back."
~Scott Walker
Today's Democracy Now pertaining to Wisconsin:
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/2/24/billionaire_conservative_koch_brothers_fund_wisconsin
please attend solidarity rally this Saturday, February 26, at noon.
Please see outreach letter from CREDO:
Dear Friends,
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker got prank called this week by someone pretending to be a billionaire Republican.
Walker revealed that Wisconsin "is ground zero" in the fight against "the public-sector unions." He also said, "sooner or later there will be pressure on these [Democratic] senators to come back."
Well, Wisconsin Senate Democratic Leader Mark Miller joined thousands of PCCC members on a call yesterday and vowed that he and other Democratic senators will "never stop fighting."
Click here to watch a video summary of the call and donate $14 to these bold leaders -- one dollar for every Wisconsin Senate Democratic hero.
We were also joined by the leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus -- Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) -- and a young progressive Wisconsin senator named Chris Larson who said, "We're standing firm."
Rep. Ellison called the senators "heroes." And Rep. Grijalva declared, "If we win this battle for middle-class workers in Wisconsin, we will win everywhere else."
These bold words made news in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Politico, Talking Points Memo, many local newspapers, and more.
But Governor Walker will be ramping up the pressure on these senators.
Click here to watch the video -- and join thousands of others in chipping in $14 to tell these senators we support them as they stand firm.
Thanks for being a bold progressive,
Stephanie Taylor, Jason Rosenbaum, Adam Green, and the PCCC team
Named The Nation's "Most Valuable Online Activism of 2010"—thanks to you. Help us continue our effective, independent progressive activism. Chip in $3 here.
Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgressives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
The people of Wisconsin is on the front lines of corporate fascism.
We have to support them in every way possible.
Scott Walker is a blatant corporate criminal.
This is NOT about the budget.
Labor has agreed to changes in pay and pensions.
The workers are asking to maintain their right to organize and keep their collective bargaining rights.
This is a planned attack on American workers.
Walker refers to introducing the bill as a "dropping a bomb".
Walker should be recalled as governor, and prosecuted as a corporate criminal with David Koch.
Koch gave Walker $43,000 for his campaign, and $1 million to the Republican Governors Association to advertise for Walkers campaign.
Koch Industries opened a lobbying office across the street from the state capitol the week Walker was inaugurated.
Walker says the protesters are not from Wisconsin.
Where does he think their from, Libya?
He also says that one third of the protesters are in favor of the anti union bill.
What?
He intends to freeze pay for the 14 Senate Democrats, and sending state troopers to their homes.
Elected members of a state government are exile within the United States for standing up for what is right.
He is also giving "at risk" notices to terminate employment for 5000 state workers for standing up for their union rights.
Lets sit back and watch this country reel back 60 years in one month, and this is just the first month of these new republican administrations. Watch bold Wisconsin Democrats take a stand -- and chip in to get their back!
They need support, listen to Scott Walker's plan of attack:
The governor's office verified the authenticity of the phone call.
part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLOTslf6Ntg&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh+div-1r-6-HM
part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3a2pYGr7-k&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3a2pYGr7-k&feature=related
"its ground zero, no doubt about it,"
"Its all about getting our freedom back."
~Scott Walker
Today's Democracy Now pertaining to Wisconsin:
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/2/24/billionaire_conservative_koch_brothers_fund_wisconsin
please attend solidarity rally this Saturday, February 26, at noon.
Please see outreach letter from CREDO:
Dear Friends,
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker got prank called this week by someone pretending to be a billionaire Republican.
Walker revealed that Wisconsin "is ground zero" in the fight against "the public-sector unions." He also said, "sooner or later there will be pressure on these [Democratic] senators to come back."
Well, Wisconsin Senate Democratic Leader Mark Miller joined thousands of PCCC members on a call yesterday and vowed that he and other Democratic senators will "never stop fighting."
Click here to watch a video summary of the call and donate $14 to these bold leaders -- one dollar for every Wisconsin Senate Democratic hero.
We were also joined by the leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus -- Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) -- and a young progressive Wisconsin senator named Chris Larson who said, "We're standing firm."
Rep. Ellison called the senators "heroes." And Rep. Grijalva declared, "If we win this battle for middle-class workers in Wisconsin, we will win everywhere else."
These bold words made news in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Politico, Talking Points Memo, many local newspapers, and more.
But Governor Walker will be ramping up the pressure on these senators.
Click here to watch the video -- and join thousands of others in chipping in $14 to tell these senators we support them as they stand firm.
Thanks for being a bold progressive,
Stephanie Taylor, Jason Rosenbaum, Adam Green, and the PCCC team
Named The Nation's "Most Valuable Online Activism of 2010"—thanks to you. Help us continue our effective, independent progressive activism. Chip in $3 here.
Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgressives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Solidarity Rally in Santa Fe 2/26
Subject: Wisconsin solidarity rally in Santa Fe Saturday
February 24, 2011
Dear MoveOn member,
Teachers, nurses, firefighters, students, police officers and others protesting in Wisconsin have occupied the Capitol building and streets of Madison for the past nine days.
On Saturday at noon, their protest is going national. In cities across the nation, including every state capital, we'll come together to stand in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin.
This time the Republicans have gone too far in their attempts to bust unions, slash state budgets, and give tax breaks to their wealthy friends.
So on Saturday we'll stand up to say that we're sick of the attacks on workers' rights. That we're sick of an economy that showers corporate executives with bonuses while squeezing middle-class families. That we still believe in the American Dream. And that we're willing to fight for it.
We're putting everything we've got into one massive display of solidarity nationwide. We'll all show up wearing Wisconsin Badger colors: red and white. And if we can get huge crowds across the nation, it'll send a clear message that progressives are fired up and ready to go.
Until this week, Republicans have dominated the debate over the economy—with Washington arguing about which vital programs to slash, instead of how to create jobs and help the middle class. Now the Republicans are threatening to shut down the government next week in order to force Democrats to agree to devastating cuts to NPR, the EPA, food aid to hungry kids, clean energy research, AmeriCorps and more.
But thanks to the folks braving the cold in Wisconsin, that could all change. This is an opening to call out the Republican game plan for what it is: a brazen effort to use a wrecked economy as an excuse to reward the rich and powerful while destroying 50 years of democratic progress.
That's why we've come together with a huge coalition of progressive organizations—from the Netroots to the labor movement, environmental groups to community organizations—to show our strength and make sure the folks in Wisconsin know that millions of people across the country are standing with them.
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?rc=rsad_mo&event_id=112843&id=26284-17543283-RqnwZlx&t=8
February 24, 2011
Dear MoveOn member,
Teachers, nurses, firefighters, students, police officers and others protesting in Wisconsin have occupied the Capitol building and streets of Madison for the past nine days.
On Saturday at noon, their protest is going national. In cities across the nation, including every state capital, we'll come together to stand in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin.
This time the Republicans have gone too far in their attempts to bust unions, slash state budgets, and give tax breaks to their wealthy friends.
So on Saturday we'll stand up to say that we're sick of the attacks on workers' rights. That we're sick of an economy that showers corporate executives with bonuses while squeezing middle-class families. That we still believe in the American Dream. And that we're willing to fight for it.
We're putting everything we've got into one massive display of solidarity nationwide. We'll all show up wearing Wisconsin Badger colors: red and white. And if we can get huge crowds across the nation, it'll send a clear message that progressives are fired up and ready to go.
Until this week, Republicans have dominated the debate over the economy—with Washington arguing about which vital programs to slash, instead of how to create jobs and help the middle class. Now the Republicans are threatening to shut down the government next week in order to force Democrats to agree to devastating cuts to NPR, the EPA, food aid to hungry kids, clean energy research, AmeriCorps and more.
But thanks to the folks braving the cold in Wisconsin, that could all change. This is an opening to call out the Republican game plan for what it is: a brazen effort to use a wrecked economy as an excuse to reward the rich and powerful while destroying 50 years of democratic progress.
That's why we've come together with a huge coalition of progressive organizations—from the Netroots to the labor movement, environmental groups to community organizations—to show our strength and make sure the folks in Wisconsin know that millions of people across the country are standing with them.
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?rc=rsad_mo&event_id=112843&id=26284-17543283-RqnwZlx&t=8
Related Events at the Capitol
Please see February 24 article on the current state of affairs at the capitol:
Let us not forget the anti collective bargaining,death penalty reinstatement, and vast cut backs to the film industry, just a few things this article does not mention.
Dear Friend,
From immigration to LGBT rights, New Mexico legislature goes on reactionary rampage
Environment, evolution not spared either
By Andrew Beale
FEBRUARY 24, 2011
Bills currently being considered in the New Mexico legislature reveal a reactionary agenda. With a wave of right-wing propaganda sweeping across New Mexico's political landscape, legislators are taking aim at immigrants, environmentalism, gay rights and the institution of science.
The New Mexico legislature is currently in session, and bills have been proposed to lock gay couples out of marriage and to allow the teaching of the "theory" of "intelligent design" in schools. In addition, newly elected Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has come down against the environmental lobby and the right of immigrants to live in this country.
According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Tom Anderson, a state representative from Albuquerque, introduced a bill to the legislature that would prevent schools from punishing teachers that chose to teach "alternative theories" about evolution.
The bill states that New Mexico's school boards "shall not prohibit any teacher, when a controversial scientific topic is being taught in accordance with adopted standards and curricula, from informing students about relevant scientific information regarding either the scientific strengths or scientific weaknesses pertaining to that topic."
The bill further states, "A teacher who chooses to provide such information shall be protected from reassignment, termination, discipline or other discrimination for doing so."
Among the list of "controversial topics" protected in Anderson's bill are "biological evolution" and "causes of climate change," meaning the bill would allow teachers not only to teach intelligent design, but to deny that humans are responsible for global warming.
This disturbing trend is continued in local elections in the state. The Albuquerque newspaper The Weekly Alibi recently interviewed candidates for the Albuquerque school board. Seven out of 14 candidates interviewed stated they supported teaching intelligent design in school.
Proposed bills attack gay rights
The legislature is currently also the site of outrageous attacks on gay rights. Three separate Republican legislators, William Sharer, David Chavez and Nora Espinoza, have introduced bills that would legally codify marriage in New Mexico as exclusively between a man and a woman.
Currently, New Mexico is one of only 10 states that respects same-sex marriage licenses from other states, although a gay couple cannot be married in New Mexico.
Gov. Martinez herself has added to the attacks on science and human rights. She recently passed an executive order stating that police are required to do immigration-status checks on anyone they arrest. This executive order echoes the racism of SB1070 in Arizona and overturns the state's previous policy of prohibiting police officers from acting as immigration agents.
In addition to the racism of this executive order, Martinez and her administration have taken a hard-line stance against protecting the environment.
Upon taking office, Martinez fired the state's entire Environmental Improvement Board, saying in a statement that their policies of restricting carbon emissions were "anti-business." During her campaign, Martinez expressed doubts that climate change is caused by humans.
"I'm not sure the science completely supports that," she said.
Red-baiting environmental movement
As if that is not enough, Martinez' camp cooked up some 1950s-style red-baiting.
Former astronaut Harrison Schmitt, Martinez's pick for secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, told right-wing radio host Alex Jones that the environmental movement is made up of Communists.
"There are individuals, apparently among them, who are apparently a very large number who have taken-should we say captured the environmental movement, and turned it into what previously was considered a Communist movement," Schmitt said on Jones's show. "That's just something that people of common sense are going to have to capture, and wake up enough to take control of their government again."
This attack on environmentalism is especially scary considering that the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources is the highest-ranking environmental protection post in New Mexico.
Schmitt removed his name from consideration for the post after refusing the mandatory background check all members of the governor's cabinet must undergo.
These attacks on science and human rights should be seen as a call to arms for all progressives, and be met with the same kind of resistance demonstrated by our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin.
May be reprinted with credit to LiberationNews.org
http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/new-mexico-attacks-immigration-to-lgbt.html
Let us not forget the anti collective bargaining,death penalty reinstatement, and vast cut backs to the film industry, just a few things this article does not mention.
Dear Friend,
From immigration to LGBT rights, New Mexico legislature goes on reactionary rampage
Environment, evolution not spared either
By Andrew Beale
FEBRUARY 24, 2011
Bills currently being considered in the New Mexico legislature reveal a reactionary agenda. With a wave of right-wing propaganda sweeping across New Mexico's political landscape, legislators are taking aim at immigrants, environmentalism, gay rights and the institution of science.
The New Mexico legislature is currently in session, and bills have been proposed to lock gay couples out of marriage and to allow the teaching of the "theory" of "intelligent design" in schools. In addition, newly elected Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has come down against the environmental lobby and the right of immigrants to live in this country.
According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Tom Anderson, a state representative from Albuquerque, introduced a bill to the legislature that would prevent schools from punishing teachers that chose to teach "alternative theories" about evolution.
The bill states that New Mexico's school boards "shall not prohibit any teacher, when a controversial scientific topic is being taught in accordance with adopted standards and curricula, from informing students about relevant scientific information regarding either the scientific strengths or scientific weaknesses pertaining to that topic."
The bill further states, "A teacher who chooses to provide such information shall be protected from reassignment, termination, discipline or other discrimination for doing so."
Among the list of "controversial topics" protected in Anderson's bill are "biological evolution" and "causes of climate change," meaning the bill would allow teachers not only to teach intelligent design, but to deny that humans are responsible for global warming.
This disturbing trend is continued in local elections in the state. The Albuquerque newspaper The Weekly Alibi recently interviewed candidates for the Albuquerque school board. Seven out of 14 candidates interviewed stated they supported teaching intelligent design in school.
Proposed bills attack gay rights
The legislature is currently also the site of outrageous attacks on gay rights. Three separate Republican legislators, William Sharer, David Chavez and Nora Espinoza, have introduced bills that would legally codify marriage in New Mexico as exclusively between a man and a woman.
Currently, New Mexico is one of only 10 states that respects same-sex marriage licenses from other states, although a gay couple cannot be married in New Mexico.
Gov. Martinez herself has added to the attacks on science and human rights. She recently passed an executive order stating that police are required to do immigration-status checks on anyone they arrest. This executive order echoes the racism of SB1070 in Arizona and overturns the state's previous policy of prohibiting police officers from acting as immigration agents.
In addition to the racism of this executive order, Martinez and her administration have taken a hard-line stance against protecting the environment.
Upon taking office, Martinez fired the state's entire Environmental Improvement Board, saying in a statement that their policies of restricting carbon emissions were "anti-business." During her campaign, Martinez expressed doubts that climate change is caused by humans.
"I'm not sure the science completely supports that," she said.
Red-baiting environmental movement
As if that is not enough, Martinez' camp cooked up some 1950s-style red-baiting.
Former astronaut Harrison Schmitt, Martinez's pick for secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, told right-wing radio host Alex Jones that the environmental movement is made up of Communists.
"There are individuals, apparently among them, who are apparently a very large number who have taken-should we say captured the environmental movement, and turned it into what previously was considered a Communist movement," Schmitt said on Jones's show. "That's just something that people of common sense are going to have to capture, and wake up enough to take control of their government again."
This attack on environmentalism is especially scary considering that the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources is the highest-ranking environmental protection post in New Mexico.
Schmitt removed his name from consideration for the post after refusing the mandatory background check all members of the governor's cabinet must undergo.
These attacks on science and human rights should be seen as a call to arms for all progressives, and be met with the same kind of resistance demonstrated by our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin.
May be reprinted with credit to LiberationNews.org
http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/new-mexico-attacks-immigration-to-lgbt.html
Film Industry update 2/24
Dear Friends of Film,
Please find yesterday's article in the New Mexican below. We are at an impasse on the House side budget proposal and it's pretty much come down to the film industry versus all the Governor's other priorities. As Trip Jennings points out this is a little absurd when you're talking about a budget of over $530,000 million. The Governor is using single entry bookkeeping and giving us zero credit for any revenue we raise for the State. There is also no calculation as to the cost of thousands of new unemployed, further depressing the housing market, and destroying job prospects for NM students.
Please contact members of both sides in the House, especially your local legislators. The message should be simple and clear: "We didn't create the budget crisis, we'll sacrifice but please don't kill our job prospects." Perhaps we could consider a slight reduction in the $400 million annual oil and gas industry subsidy. WE DO NOT HAVE TO CUT EDUCATION TO KEEP THE FILM TAX CREDIT! Gov. Martinez is disingenuous in polarizing the issue in this way. After reading the article, I say to myself "We wants jobs, not prisons!" Maintaining the prison budget simply cannot be as important as job stimulus, which is exactly what the film production tax credit is, fair and simple. The average state tax credit is currently around 26%; reducing ours to 15% will effectively eliminate NM from the national market.
We are in this fight for the long haul, please encourage your co-workers, friends and family to contact often very responsive House of Representatives in support of our jobs and the revenue generated by the industry. This is NOT education vs. Hollywood. It is govt subsidy for JOBS in Film & Television vs. govt subsidy for Oil & Gas Corporations. Tax credit for film & television: $65 million annually. Tax credit for oil & gas: $400 million annually.
____________________________________________________________________________
Film fight holds up budget
At stake is $25 million, which would restore funding Martinez demands for schools, Medicaid and prisons
Trip Jennings | The New Mexican (Reposted)
Posted: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 2/23/11
A flashpoint for most of this legislative session, New Mexico's film-production tax-credit program found itself in familiar territory Tuesday: at the center of state budget negotiations.
The program emerged as the linchpin in Tuesday's budget standoff between Gov. Susana Martinez and legislative leaders that delayed the passage by the House of Representatives of a proposed $5.4 billion budget.
For more than a month, Martinez has repeatedly demanded the Legislature lower to 15 percent from 25 percent the refund the state gives to qualifying TV and film productions. The $25 million in estimated savings from doing that could be applied toward closing a budget shortfall for next year estimated between $200 million and $450 million, she has said.
But the budget proposal before House lawmakers Tuesday didn't include the reduction, or the savings that would have been generated by it, causing Martinez to criticize the budget proposal as protecting "Hollywood" while shortchanging New Mexico's prisons, public education and Medicaid, the government's low-income health-insurance program.
"Those cuts are too deep, and leaving the film subsidy alone, not good enough," Martinez told The New Mexican outside her fourth-floor Capitol office.
Hours earlier, she had said much the same to legislative leaders.
House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé, and Republican and Democratic legislative leaders from that legislative chamber had gathered in Martinez's office for a behind-closed-doors chat. There, the first-term Republican chief executive had told the lawmakers she wanted the reduction - end of story.
"She was adamant," said Rep. Henry "Kiki" Saavedra, D-Albuquerque, chairman of the House's budget-writing committee. "The budget has come down to the film industry."
In reality, the money Martinez and legislative leaders are arguing over represents a fraction of the proposed $5.4 billion in spending for the year that starts July 1. And while Martinez and the lawmakers spoke fervently about what they wanted or didn't want to see in the budget, crafting a budget involves many uncertainties. That includes any changes the state Senate might make once the House passes it and sends it to that chamber or whether projected tax revenues, which form the foundation for any budget proposal, meet projections, fall short or come in stronger than expected.
The legislative budget proposal at the center of Tuesday's drama was crafted by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and recommends cutting state spending about 3 percent next year, or nearly $180 million.
But how it goes about achieving those savings is what sparked Martinez's objections.
The legislative proposal recommends spending more than $2 billion on public schools and other education programs, or a few million dollars less than Martinez had recommended in her own budget.
Meanwhile, the legislative proposal recommended $860 million for Medicaid, about $7 million less than Martinez had wanted.
The committee budget also recommended less for the state Corrections Department - nearly $5 million less - than what Martinez has said is necessary to keep from having to close some prisons or releasing some prisoners early.
The $25 million reaped from lowering the film-production tax credit would restore money to those programs at levels Martinez favors.
"We can't slice away health care so deep that we aren't providing the bare essentials that are necessary," Martinez said. "And we can't keep cutting into education and leaving Hollywood by itself."
Martinez's line in the sand sent film-industry representatives scrambling Tuesday to figure out a possible compromise that would keep the film-production tax-credit program whole while delivering the $25 million to the state.
Numerous film-industry veterans have said if the state trims the film-production tax credit, New Mexico would lose future TV and film productions to states with larger tax credits.
One possible alternative mentioned Tuesday to lowering of the tax credit was capping how much New Mexico pays out each year through the program. In the budget year that ended June 30, 2010, the 25 percent New Mexico paid out in qualified expenses for certain productions amounted to $65.9 million.
Rep. Luciano "Lucky" Varela, D-Santa Fe, and chairman of the Legislative Finance Committee, mentioned the cap as a possible element in a potential compromise.
"If for whatever reason if we arrive at a compromise, I don't think that we are all on board by reducing in terms of reducing the credit by $25 million," Varela said.
As a lawmaker from Santa Fe, where 60 film and TV productions have worked in recent years, which is second only to Albuquerque's nearly 100 productions, Varela is aware of the industry's influence. He said state lawmakers must consider the potential consequences if they reduce the program.
"It's a very mobile industry," Varela said. "They can move out of the state of New Mexico."
But House Minority Leader Thomas Taylor, R-Farmington, who also sat in on Tuesday's meeting with the governor, said the state has run out of options. The legislative budget proposal asks state employees and teachers to pay more into their retirement and also sweeps unused dollars from state accounts.
"Pretty much, we have taken money from everything else to try and balance this thing," Taylor said. "It's pivotal," he said of the film-production tax credit. Contact Trip Jennings at 986-3050 or at tjennings@sfnewmexican.com.
Please find yesterday's article in the New Mexican below. We are at an impasse on the House side budget proposal and it's pretty much come down to the film industry versus all the Governor's other priorities. As Trip Jennings points out this is a little absurd when you're talking about a budget of over $530,000 million. The Governor is using single entry bookkeeping and giving us zero credit for any revenue we raise for the State. There is also no calculation as to the cost of thousands of new unemployed, further depressing the housing market, and destroying job prospects for NM students.
Please contact members of both sides in the House, especially your local legislators. The message should be simple and clear: "We didn't create the budget crisis, we'll sacrifice but please don't kill our job prospects." Perhaps we could consider a slight reduction in the $400 million annual oil and gas industry subsidy. WE DO NOT HAVE TO CUT EDUCATION TO KEEP THE FILM TAX CREDIT! Gov. Martinez is disingenuous in polarizing the issue in this way. After reading the article, I say to myself "We wants jobs, not prisons!" Maintaining the prison budget simply cannot be as important as job stimulus, which is exactly what the film production tax credit is, fair and simple. The average state tax credit is currently around 26%; reducing ours to 15% will effectively eliminate NM from the national market.
We are in this fight for the long haul, please encourage your co-workers, friends and family to contact often very responsive House of Representatives in support of our jobs and the revenue generated by the industry. This is NOT education vs. Hollywood. It is govt subsidy for JOBS in Film & Television vs. govt subsidy for Oil & Gas Corporations. Tax credit for film & television: $65 million annually. Tax credit for oil & gas: $400 million annually.
____________________________________________________________________________
Film fight holds up budget
At stake is $25 million, which would restore funding Martinez demands for schools, Medicaid and prisons
Trip Jennings | The New Mexican (Reposted)
Posted: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - 2/23/11
A flashpoint for most of this legislative session, New Mexico's film-production tax-credit program found itself in familiar territory Tuesday: at the center of state budget negotiations.
The program emerged as the linchpin in Tuesday's budget standoff between Gov. Susana Martinez and legislative leaders that delayed the passage by the House of Representatives of a proposed $5.4 billion budget.
For more than a month, Martinez has repeatedly demanded the Legislature lower to 15 percent from 25 percent the refund the state gives to qualifying TV and film productions. The $25 million in estimated savings from doing that could be applied toward closing a budget shortfall for next year estimated between $200 million and $450 million, she has said.
But the budget proposal before House lawmakers Tuesday didn't include the reduction, or the savings that would have been generated by it, causing Martinez to criticize the budget proposal as protecting "Hollywood" while shortchanging New Mexico's prisons, public education and Medicaid, the government's low-income health-insurance program.
"Those cuts are too deep, and leaving the film subsidy alone, not good enough," Martinez told The New Mexican outside her fourth-floor Capitol office.
Hours earlier, she had said much the same to legislative leaders.
House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé, and Republican and Democratic legislative leaders from that legislative chamber had gathered in Martinez's office for a behind-closed-doors chat. There, the first-term Republican chief executive had told the lawmakers she wanted the reduction - end of story.
"She was adamant," said Rep. Henry "Kiki" Saavedra, D-Albuquerque, chairman of the House's budget-writing committee. "The budget has come down to the film industry."
In reality, the money Martinez and legislative leaders are arguing over represents a fraction of the proposed $5.4 billion in spending for the year that starts July 1. And while Martinez and the lawmakers spoke fervently about what they wanted or didn't want to see in the budget, crafting a budget involves many uncertainties. That includes any changes the state Senate might make once the House passes it and sends it to that chamber or whether projected tax revenues, which form the foundation for any budget proposal, meet projections, fall short or come in stronger than expected.
The legislative budget proposal at the center of Tuesday's drama was crafted by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and recommends cutting state spending about 3 percent next year, or nearly $180 million.
But how it goes about achieving those savings is what sparked Martinez's objections.
The legislative proposal recommends spending more than $2 billion on public schools and other education programs, or a few million dollars less than Martinez had recommended in her own budget.
Meanwhile, the legislative proposal recommended $860 million for Medicaid, about $7 million less than Martinez had wanted.
The committee budget also recommended less for the state Corrections Department - nearly $5 million less - than what Martinez has said is necessary to keep from having to close some prisons or releasing some prisoners early.
The $25 million reaped from lowering the film-production tax credit would restore money to those programs at levels Martinez favors.
"We can't slice away health care so deep that we aren't providing the bare essentials that are necessary," Martinez said. "And we can't keep cutting into education and leaving Hollywood by itself."
Martinez's line in the sand sent film-industry representatives scrambling Tuesday to figure out a possible compromise that would keep the film-production tax-credit program whole while delivering the $25 million to the state.
Numerous film-industry veterans have said if the state trims the film-production tax credit, New Mexico would lose future TV and film productions to states with larger tax credits.
One possible alternative mentioned Tuesday to lowering of the tax credit was capping how much New Mexico pays out each year through the program. In the budget year that ended June 30, 2010, the 25 percent New Mexico paid out in qualified expenses for certain productions amounted to $65.9 million.
Rep. Luciano "Lucky" Varela, D-Santa Fe, and chairman of the Legislative Finance Committee, mentioned the cap as a possible element in a potential compromise.
"If for whatever reason if we arrive at a compromise, I don't think that we are all on board by reducing in terms of reducing the credit by $25 million," Varela said.
As a lawmaker from Santa Fe, where 60 film and TV productions have worked in recent years, which is second only to Albuquerque's nearly 100 productions, Varela is aware of the industry's influence. He said state lawmakers must consider the potential consequences if they reduce the program.
"It's a very mobile industry," Varela said. "They can move out of the state of New Mexico."
But House Minority Leader Thomas Taylor, R-Farmington, who also sat in on Tuesday's meeting with the governor, said the state has run out of options. The legislative budget proposal asks state employees and teachers to pay more into their retirement and also sweeps unused dollars from state accounts.
"Pretty much, we have taken money from everything else to try and balance this thing," Taylor said. "It's pivotal," he said of the film-production tax credit. Contact Trip Jennings at 986-3050 or at tjennings@sfnewmexican.com.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Nightly Analysis: 2/22
military spending, more than a little ridiculous-
i believe the root of all of our alleged financial woes.
we are not in a budget crisis.
we are in an allocation of funds crisis.
imagine what we could do as a civilization nation with that 40% of our budget.
health care, education, pensions, anyone?
yes, we are spoiled, but it doesn't mean we don't deserve socialism.
i agree with joe that we are buying civilization with our tax dollars, and it looks like we benefit from half of it.
the rest is being grossly misallocated, understatement.
i don't buy how we need budget cuts, what we need is budget take back from the military industrial complex and billion $ corporations.
but since we all know thats not going to happen, lets all take cuts in pay and pensions and energy assistance and epa and planned parenthood and public broadcasting and americorps and anything that makes us slightly better off as human beings instead.
its a load of crap.
meanwhile, murder and oppression worldwide is costly.
and i do not believe it necessary to preserve our lifestyle, although it may seem to be the only justification.
on the other hand, perhaps our very lifestyle is at the root of the problem-
resource consumption the backbone of our "civilization."
although i more believe that it is corporate greed and a totalitarian takeover by multinationals that is the problem.
i think we could live our little bourgeois lifestyles without worldwide oppression.
but corporate capitalism just won't permit anything but global exploitation and poverty.
out of sight, out of mind.
i prefer to blame the top one percent, rather than the middle 30.
but, we are babies on the bottle of our falsely successful economic system.
don't see us weening ourselves off capitalism anytime soon.
i am available friday for the fair and equitable takeover.
although we may have to start with the state legislature, as washington is too far away, and too far gone.
the nm legislature is ridiculously accessible.
...and i am just learning this now?
those suckers respond to my emails, and even ask me for information to include in their opinion.
granted a well known and well supported financial issue, not my usual fringe anti-war/anti-globalization endeavors...
but there are real people over there trying to figure out what is best for our communities.
and we should not let them slip by unnoticed.
i'm getting to know them now, by name and by face.
been to two committee hearings, a roundhouse rally with reps presenting, and a private meeting with my very own mora county rep in the last few weeks.
state government is actually quite a phenomena.
what do you think about vermont and their rogue health care initiative?
they are breaking some serious ground over there.
"upon seeing the facts and ceasing to act, don't we deserve the leaders we have?
history books will be written this month, the story the tell is up to us."
~juice news, january 2011.
viva middle east, viva the people of wisconsin.
thanks to scott walker, bringing it home.
protesting happens when the issue touches us as individuals, and flourishes when we discover we are part of a touched group.
all power to the people.
i believe the root of all of our alleged financial woes.
we are not in a budget crisis.
we are in an allocation of funds crisis.
imagine what we could do as a civilization nation with that 40% of our budget.
health care, education, pensions, anyone?
yes, we are spoiled, but it doesn't mean we don't deserve socialism.
i agree with joe that we are buying civilization with our tax dollars, and it looks like we benefit from half of it.
the rest is being grossly misallocated, understatement.
i don't buy how we need budget cuts, what we need is budget take back from the military industrial complex and billion $ corporations.
but since we all know thats not going to happen, lets all take cuts in pay and pensions and energy assistance and epa and planned parenthood and public broadcasting and americorps and anything that makes us slightly better off as human beings instead.
its a load of crap.
meanwhile, murder and oppression worldwide is costly.
and i do not believe it necessary to preserve our lifestyle, although it may seem to be the only justification.
on the other hand, perhaps our very lifestyle is at the root of the problem-
resource consumption the backbone of our "civilization."
although i more believe that it is corporate greed and a totalitarian takeover by multinationals that is the problem.
i think we could live our little bourgeois lifestyles without worldwide oppression.
but corporate capitalism just won't permit anything but global exploitation and poverty.
out of sight, out of mind.
i prefer to blame the top one percent, rather than the middle 30.
but, we are babies on the bottle of our falsely successful economic system.
don't see us weening ourselves off capitalism anytime soon.
i am available friday for the fair and equitable takeover.
although we may have to start with the state legislature, as washington is too far away, and too far gone.
the nm legislature is ridiculously accessible.
...and i am just learning this now?
those suckers respond to my emails, and even ask me for information to include in their opinion.
granted a well known and well supported financial issue, not my usual fringe anti-war/anti-globalization endeavors...
but there are real people over there trying to figure out what is best for our communities.
and we should not let them slip by unnoticed.
i'm getting to know them now, by name and by face.
been to two committee hearings, a roundhouse rally with reps presenting, and a private meeting with my very own mora county rep in the last few weeks.
state government is actually quite a phenomena.
what do you think about vermont and their rogue health care initiative?
they are breaking some serious ground over there.
"upon seeing the facts and ceasing to act, don't we deserve the leaders we have?
history books will be written this month, the story the tell is up to us."
~juice news, january 2011.
viva middle east, viva the people of wisconsin.
thanks to scott walker, bringing it home.
protesting happens when the issue touches us as individuals, and flourishes when we discover we are part of a touched group.
all power to the people.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Letter to Rep. Herrell: 2/21
Dear Representative Herrell,
Thank you so much for your email.
I very much appreciate your interest and time regarding our industry.
In an attempt to answer your question, I contacted our business agent, Jon Hendry.
He confirmed that the IATSE Local 480 has a membership of 1200. (International Alliance... Motion Picture Employees/Studio Mechanics).
He added that there are an additional 400 Teamsters (NM Local 492), and 700 SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and DGA (Directors Guild) members living in NM.
He also included Camera and Editors, in their distinct unions, and non union jobs related to the film and television industry, Sony Imageworks, Reelz Channel, etc to be an additional 5000 strong in NM.
The figure that we are using as an estimate for all motion picture employees, union and film related to be around 12,000 people.
...12,000 New Mexicans making a living from the film and television industry.
In comparison to NEA, AFT, AFSCME, IBEW, and the Carpenters Unions, our membership at the local chapter of the IASTE is small.
It was suggested that the 3rd largest union figure came from a survey from the Business Journal and it included District 5 out of Rio Rancho which is all the IATSE Locals in NM, CO, UT, and WY.
Bernalillo County submitted a letter to Governor Martinez.
Please find the letter attached, as it includes much valuable information regarding the positive economic impact of the film and television industry.
Thank you so much again for your time.
Sincerely,
rowan stanland
ps. I worked in Alamogordo on the project Book of Eli, with Denzel Washington.
As you may know, Mr. Washington donated 50K to the Boy & Girls Club of Ruidoso, when he heard the news of it having to close its doors.
We were shooting in Carrizozo at the time.
Thank you!!
Thank you so much for your email.
I very much appreciate your interest and time regarding our industry.
In an attempt to answer your question, I contacted our business agent, Jon Hendry.
He confirmed that the IATSE Local 480 has a membership of 1200. (International Alliance... Motion Picture Employees/Studio Mechanics).
He added that there are an additional 400 Teamsters (NM Local 492), and 700 SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and DGA (Directors Guild) members living in NM.
He also included Camera and Editors, in their distinct unions, and non union jobs related to the film and television industry, Sony Imageworks, Reelz Channel, etc to be an additional 5000 strong in NM.
The figure that we are using as an estimate for all motion picture employees, union and film related to be around 12,000 people.
...12,000 New Mexicans making a living from the film and television industry.
In comparison to NEA, AFT, AFSCME, IBEW, and the Carpenters Unions, our membership at the local chapter of the IASTE is small.
It was suggested that the 3rd largest union figure came from a survey from the Business Journal and it included District 5 out of Rio Rancho which is all the IATSE Locals in NM, CO, UT, and WY.
Bernalillo County submitted a letter to Governor Martinez.
Please find the letter attached, as it includes much valuable information regarding the positive economic impact of the film and television industry.
Thank you so much again for your time.
Sincerely,
rowan stanland
ps. I worked in Alamogordo on the project Book of Eli, with Denzel Washington.
As you may know, Mr. Washington donated 50K to the Boy & Girls Club of Ruidoso, when he heard the news of it having to close its doors.
We were shooting in Carrizozo at the time.
Thank you!!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Letter to the Senate: 2/18
Dear Senator,
I am a long time resident of New Mexico, and have worked in the film industry for the past 8 years.
I moved to Albuquerque in 1980, and graduated from UNM with a BA in 1997.
I do location management for feature films, and work with department budgets that range from $500,000 to $1 million per production.
I can personally attest to the fact that 95% of this money is spent in New Mexico, and paid to New Mexicans.
We pay businesses, property owners, neighbors, and crew.
This is an extraordinary amount of money to have access to, and we spend it locally, whether we are shooting in Albuquerque or Abiquiu.
Our department provides 3-5 full time jobs on any given production, and we have literally paid out millions to local business over the years.
This portion is just for my department: locations.
In addition, the productions are paying for hotels, restaurants, car rentals, food for catering, and provide many more jobs for New Mexicans.
I understand we must tighten our purse strings now, but it must not be at the expense of the lively hoods of so many.
I emphasize this not only as a motion picture employee and union member, but as a nearly life long resident of New Mexico.
I am the one who processes the paperwork that pays the bills for some of the NM productions, and see the direct financial benefit to so many vendors and residents;
be it the property owner or the tent company, the security service or chief's overtime, the dumpster company or the inconvenienced neighbor.
I have personally paid out over 4 million dollars in the past 8 years.
I am just one location manager among many.
Please maintain the current rebate at 25%.
New Mexico must stay competitive nationwide to keep the film industry alive here.
Thank you deeply for your time and willingness to work with us.
I am a long time resident of New Mexico, and have worked in the film industry for the past 8 years.
I moved to Albuquerque in 1980, and graduated from UNM with a BA in 1997.
I do location management for feature films, and work with department budgets that range from $500,000 to $1 million per production.
I can personally attest to the fact that 95% of this money is spent in New Mexico, and paid to New Mexicans.
We pay businesses, property owners, neighbors, and crew.
This is an extraordinary amount of money to have access to, and we spend it locally, whether we are shooting in Albuquerque or Abiquiu.
Our department provides 3-5 full time jobs on any given production, and we have literally paid out millions to local business over the years.
This portion is just for my department: locations.
In addition, the productions are paying for hotels, restaurants, car rentals, food for catering, and provide many more jobs for New Mexicans.
I understand we must tighten our purse strings now, but it must not be at the expense of the lively hoods of so many.
I emphasize this not only as a motion picture employee and union member, but as a nearly life long resident of New Mexico.
I am the one who processes the paperwork that pays the bills for some of the NM productions, and see the direct financial benefit to so many vendors and residents;
be it the property owner or the tent company, the security service or chief's overtime, the dumpster company or the inconvenienced neighbor.
I have personally paid out over 4 million dollars in the past 8 years.
I am just one location manager among many.
Please maintain the current rebate at 25%.
New Mexico must stay competitive nationwide to keep the film industry alive here.
Thank you deeply for your time and willingness to work with us.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)