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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Libertarian Party Opposes Film Industry Incentives
AUSTIN - April 12, 2007 - Wes Benedict, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Texas (LPT), issued the following statement today regarding 'moving image' industry incentive legislation being considered by the Texas House:
"HB 1634 is plain old-fashioned corporate welfare. It is a bad idea.
"Texas government should not get involved in picking winning and losing industries. When the state selects film and TV as a 'winner' industry, it puts other industries at a competitive disadvantage. That is fundamentally unfair.
"If money gets appropriated for these incentives, Texans will have to be taxed to provide it. The film and TV industry will get freebies, and everyone else's taxes will go up a little bit. In other words, Texas may become more attractive to the film and TV industry, but it will necessarily become less attractive to other industries. Economically speaking, at best it's a wash, at worst it's a loss.
"Proponents of film and TV incentives whine that other states have these incentives, and that Texas has to have them too. However, two wrongs don't make a right. The best thing Texas legislators could do would be to get rid of all corporate welfare and lower our taxes accordingly. That would create a level playing field that would attract industries across the board."
Contact:
Wes Benedict, LPT Executive Director
512-442-4910
director@lptexas.org
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