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.
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