Views on News, wispundits • February 19th, 2009

Raiding the penny jar

by Chris Lato

Interesting. Gov. Doyle is proposing to get rid of the state’s film tax credit program.

Gov. Doyle may be stinging from the criticism of the tax credits, which brought the upcoming Christian Bale/Johnny Depp flick “Public Enemies” to Wisconsin for filming in 2008. After all, critics - including the state Commerce Department - questioned whether the big tax breaks were worth the resulting economic bump.

Doyle may also be smacking his lite guv down a notch after Barbara Lawton after she stepped into the limelight with very vocal public support of the film tax credits.  

Either way, Wisconsin has struggled off and on for years to build a viable film production program. Is this a handout for the Hollywood elite or an effort to build a lasting source of revenue for the Badger State?

Based on the amount of money we’re talking about, you’d think the state had bigger perch to fry. After all, the “Public Enemies” tax breaks totaled about $4.6 million. Wisconsin is facing a multi-billion dollar deficit.

But that’s not the case, particularly on something this high profile with the possibility of good PR for politicians. Movie stars! The bright lights of Hollywood! The chance to see your county courthouse on the silver screen!

I was speaking to a GOP legislator recently, complaining about the likely return of the iPod tax. It’s one of those things - like slow drivers in the passing lane - that annoy me to no end. Doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme, I know.

I asked about the revenue stream that would result. About $20 million, he said (he’s not a supporter).

Seems like a small chunk of change considering the size of the deficit, I replied.

Every little bit helps, he responded.

So, brace yourself for tax hits all over the place. Sure, an extra nickel for a music download isn’t much in and of itself. But don’t kid yourself into thinking that’s the only ‘painless’ increase on the horizon. Heck, we may even have toll roads sometime soon. Oh, what a difference an election can make.

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