Michigan Moves Swiftly to Address Possible Incentive Abuse (Includes New Video)
I have to give to credit to Michigan for taking swift action in response to the lack of oversight and transparency in their film office, which was not subject to Freedom of Information Act requests from news outlets and other organizations. The bills Michigan is considering would remedy these issues. Recent allegations of shady accounting and fraud concerning a proposed film studio in the state likely added pressure to get the two bills passed.
Below is an excerpt from Livingston Daily. Below the excerpt is a video clip of a Michigan newspaper editor testifying to Michigan state lawmakers about feeling stonewalled by the film office over FOIA requests. It’s worth watching.
Two bills approved by a state House committee Wednesday would increase the transparency of Michigan’s filmmaking tax incentives to the public, media representatives and tax analysts said.
The state House Tax Policy Committee voted unanimously to send Senate Bills 796 and 889 to the full House for consideration.
The bills call for the release of more information — about jobs created, film-company expenditures, and state rebates to movie companies — to the Legislature as well as to the public and news media.
The bills were approved in the Senate in December, and lingered in the House committee without action until Wednesday.
A handful of people testified in front of the committee, including representatives of the Midland-based Mackinac Center for Public Policy and Daily Press & Argus General Manager and Executive Editor Rich Perlberg.
No one from the Michigan Film Office spoke during the hearing.
Here is the video:
