House Committee Votes To Cap LA Film Tax Credits

Too much of a good thing can become a bad thing, a really bad thing. That's what lawmakers in Louisiana are finding out in regards to Louisiana's Film Tax Credits program. The program, which encourages film makers and movie companies to shoot in our state, has been under fire for being to costly with very little value in return.

Tuesday the House Ways and Means Committee adopted three different versions of changes regarding the film tax credits will be offered in the state. By sending three different versions on to the full house, this will allow for a lively debate on which proposal makes the most sense and saves the most dollars for our cash strapped state.

Lance Harris the author of one of the bills explained the tax credit programs this way,

"It's kinda like a 40-year-old son that won't get out of the house, you're still spending money on him and he won't leave. Mom and Dad have to eat peanut butter, while the kid goes out and parties."

Harris made those comments to the Louisiana Radio Network. He also explained that the tax credits program was designed to help get the film industry started in the state. The industry was then supposed to become self sustaining. That has not been the case as film makers and companies keep coming back to Louisiana with their hands out and reaching into our pockets.

Will French has a different view. He is with the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association and as you might imagine he doesn't agree with Mr. Harris position,

"You can destroy the whole program, you can cut it down to zero in this session and you're not going to do anything to help the budget problem you're facing today, in 2015 or 2016,"

Mr. French and other supports of the Film Tax Credits program believes that putting a cap on the incentives will just incentivize film makers and production companies to look elsewhere when choosing locations for filming. He believes this legislation will come back to haunt the state in the future.

Meanwhile the three different cap proposals will sail on into the full house for debate. It is very likely that at least some changes to the Film Tax Credit Program will take place. Just how big of a change depends on what the House and eventually the Senate decide.

Filed Under: louisiana legislature, tax credit

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