What's going on, Albuquerque?

Another hand about to be bitten.

This time the film industry folks. Can you believe there is a bill going into committee tomorrow that will stop the state incentives paid to the film industry to keep them filming in NM? You may not know, but NM is not the only state offering these incentives. We are just the best state for the film industry that offers them.

Uh Huh. HB725. Basically this bill kills the incentive program. Oh, and just for kicks, it also kills the loan program. No modifications, no caps, no nothing. Just Dead. And on the 1st of July, too, this year. So if you're not working now, your last movie was your last movie. Please read this and act on it if you feel moved to do so. As many of you know, the film industry is one of my happy places right now and these folks are excellent New Mexicans who want to stay here, to work love and live at home.

The first part of what is below pertains to those of you who may want to wander up to Santa Fe, (perhaps try out the Rail Runner?) Those who feel moved to write, please skip to the names below and be sure to do it tonight!!!
Sarah
--
This is a message from Jon Hendry of the film workers union with some good advice and a request for contact with legislators. Writing to people in your area is most effective.

The committee is very unlikely to start at 1:30. If you do plan to come, check with Tom Rutherford, Film Industry Lobbyist, to learn more about timing ~ (505) 265-7129 or faithstrongheart@mac.com.

HB 725 is scheduled in House Business & Industry Committee tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 130p.

This doesn't mean it's going to be heard as there are a lot of bills on that calendar, and that's a good a thing. The longer it takes to hear it, the less time there would be to continue it on through the process if it does pass. It would need at least one more committee meeting in the House, a hearing on the House Floor, and then the entire process would need to be repeated on the Senate side. Representative Kintigh is running out of time.

Here's what we need from you. More calls, emails and faxes to the numbers below. We need to keep the pressure up, or even increase it. Many of you have copied me on your correspondence, and they're all brilliant.

But may I suggest to you that your email or letter will have just as much an effect if it is short and we should really try and concentrate, in this particular committee, on the business side of the argument and emphasize that 3,000 jobs would be immediately eliminated with another 6,000 in the next few months. I particularly have appreciated the respectful tone in all the emails I have read.

If you plan to be there tomorrow, just know that this may not be heard. I think the chances are no greater than 50/50. If you are called upon to speak, remember this is the Business & Industry Committee. Keep your arguments short and frame them to the Committee's purpose. If, God forbid, we end up in the next committee, Taxation & Revenue, we'll have a whole different set of arguments, focusing on how much the State will lose.

Questions?: faithstrongheart@mac.com

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
Tuesdays & Thursdays - 1:30 p.m. - Room 309
Here's who to contact:
Representative Dennis Kintigh (R) sponsor, from Roswell
askdennis@denniskintigh.com
Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Debbie Rodella (D) committee chair, from Espanola, debbie.rodella@nmlegis.gov
Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Thomas Garcia (D) from Ocate
ocate@hotmail.com
Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Eliseo Lee Alcon (D) from Grants area
eliseoalcon@msn.com
Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Andrew Barreras (D) from Belen, Los Lunas area ~ Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Jose Campos (D) mayor of Santa Rosa
josephs@plateautel.net ~ Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Keith Gardner (R) from Roswell
gardners90@yahoo.com ~ Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Dona Irwin (D) from Deming
donagale@zianet.com ~ Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Sandra Jeff (D) Gallup area
Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Jane Powdrell-Culbert (R) Rio Rancho area
jpandp@comcast.net ~ Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Thomas Taylor (R) Farmington area
tom@tomtaylor.net ~ Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Jim Trujillo (D) Santa Fe
jimtrujillo@msn.com ~ Fax (505) 986-4610

Representative Shirley Tyler (R) Lea County
sntyler@valornet.com ~ Fax (505) 986-4610

Tags: film, industry, jobs, mexico, new

0 members like this

Comment by Chris K. on March 3, 2009 at 4:34am: Thanks for posting this. I could go on and on, but I will just say that I know of many New Mexico families who would lose their incomes if this passes.

Comment by Oliver on March 3, 2009 at 8:01am: Killing the best thing the State has going for it at the moment? Talk about penny wise, pound foolish.

The good news is that there is NO way Gov. Richardson would let this become law. If he can't squash it in the Legislature, he'll veto it.

Comment by Sally on March 3, 2009 at 10:35am: We can never count on Veto power.

Comment by Oliver on March 3, 2009 at 10:43am: Granted. And I would hate to see it get that far anyway.

I have noticed a lot of states have watched how well the incentive program has worked in NM, and are now aggressively courting the movie industry themselves. Given the competition among states, why would we want the folks from Hollywood to feel unwelcome?

Far better for this misguided bit of legislation to die a quiet death in Committee.Time to get to work!

Comment by Tricross on March 3, 2009 at 11:13am: I'm not trying to be a PIA. But could someone explain to me why giving the movie industry massive tax incentives is looked upon favorably while TIDDs for developers is not?

Comment by jeff on March 3, 2009 at 11:20am: all tidd's are not equal.
the tidd's that have generally received scorn are those dedicated to greenfield development because they usually default to incredibly poor and unsustainable sprawl design.

Comment by jeff on March 3, 2009 at 11:22am: to answer your question more specifically, the effects of unsustainable city design are a tax on the populace that never ceases. a movie industry tax incentive is a one-time charge.

Comment by brian botkiller on March 3, 2009 at 11:26am: I have emailed. If this passes, our state is again just proving it's own ineptness.

Comment by dolores on March 3, 2009 at 12:17pm: I have never understood why they wanted to give the film folks a less than encouraging message? It seemed like a good thing for a state desperate for jobs.......but I am not the sharpest tack when it comes to the subtile ins and outs of politics, which this is of course. But Aaron has posted some good information. Things I have never thought about. When does a sensible tax break become a handout or more perks for big business that never trickles down to anything meaningful for residents and citizens and joe blow?
Aaron you seem to have some facts under your belt. Do you know if the info is available to find out what the ratio between the money we dont get to keep by giving them a tax break and the money going into NMexicans
pockets? Just curious