Nightly Analysis: 3/1

what can i say, the budget"crisis" is the new terrorism.
i think its actually better than terrorism.
Are they still looking for Osama bin Laden?
I've heard they've found him, right there in washington dc, or was he in nyc?
brilliant.
running out of money is actually more of a fear for americans than being killed by terrorists.
except the only terrorizing i see is on wall street.
meanwhile they act like they are being terrorized by spending all of their money on social security medicare and education.
whose money is it anyway?
i don't believe a word of it.
as scott walker says, "its all about getting our freedom back."
spending 40% of our tax dollars on war is what is terrorizing this country.
uh, not to mention tax breaks for the rich.
.......

The "savings" of $25 million is such a fraction of the $5.4 billion state budget.
we were a target, which is why martinez refused to give a position on film before the election, and is why she has pitted us against eduction.
i believe this to be a planned and silent attack (sorry to say).

they estimate that productions will spend to be $66 million in 2010.
In 2009 the state paid out $75 million in film tax credit.
In 2010 the state paid out $65 million in film tax credit.
in my opinion the state is actually losing nothing.
then add sales tax, income tax, lodgers tax, home sales, the list goes on.
again, no rational is the republican way.

I agree that we should have formal accounting of the revenue gain.
There is a bill that just passed the senate today that everyone agrees with- the film accountability bill. (senator keller our hero there)
We also have a senate memorial from our other hero, phil griego, stopping any changes until a study has been done- the study being due on Dec 1, 2011.

These are good bills, and both are moving through.
However tracking the trickle down of the industry is difficult-
the current record keeping proposals will be coming from the production companies only, which will not include all of it.
We should do a study on a study to calculate how much more spending occurs that production accounting is able to account for.
Point being we can jump up and down all day with proving our worth.
the feeling we are taking home is that the republicans are taking orders and film is now unpopular.
Delving into the subliminal reasons for this, is a political debate.
Please add income tax property tax corporate tax sales tax lodging tax.
Tell me this doesn't add up to 25% in itself.
The loss will be immense, and i don't believe this is fully trackable either.

re: unemployment, i hear that is already going bankrupt, adding the that pileup is a cost as well.
it appears some people aren't interested in the state making money, they are interested in saving money.
its today's terrorism, the budget crisis.
as they say in politics, "don't let a good crisis go to waste."
their is no rationality in any of it,
and they need a good talking to.

the republican pseudo-calculation does not include any accurate figures regarding the film industry.
martinez gave the word that we are persona not grata.
its that simple.
what is her motivation is my question.
Supposedly ABQ studios gave money to Martinez campaign, maybe that will help.

however, the budget has not passed yet, and it still has to be approved in the senate.
the $45 million limit is a blow.
that would include what is in production right now, nothing more.
breaking bad, in plain sight, avengers= $45M.

Supposedly the fact that we are keeping the 25% is a good thing.
that a aggregate limit is actually better than a reduction in percentage.
so at least that, but the agreement that was made with the committee was $60M- this was already a compromise.
but no, somebody wanted to hijack the committee meeting and leave us with $45M, arbitrary and unworkable.
certainly with no regard to the research memorial or accountability memorial.

the current rate is 25%:
(national state average 26%)
we spend $40 M in tax credit, that is production bucks at $160 M.
its mega bucks lost to the wind with the low limit.
say reducing revenue by 30-50%.

good news is we are the best rebate state with a direct flight to LA.
The state of NM is making north of a billion on this industry.
A favorable letter that the bernalillo county commission sent to Martinez estimated the revenue to be $1.2 billion.
lots of egg sucking going on this one in santa fe.

last thoughts,
"oil & gas is tax policy, film is tax subsidy."
words to the wise....Rep. Bratton quote.

we are the only union industry that is subsidized.
we are generally liberal, union driven, and from "out of state".
three strikes and we're out.
maybe we just need one strike, and that's:
we're not oil & gas.