AFP Ready to Rumble Against Film Incentives in the Senate

With the state Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development ready to take up a bill from Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, Americans for Prosperity’s (AFP) Florida chapter came out swinging against it, insisting Florida should not throw money at entertainment projects. 

“I urge the members of the Senate to take a break from corporate welfare distractions to focus on taxpayers’ real needs, and oppose S.B. 1646,” said Chris Hudson, AFP’s director in Florida. “Florida has already burned through almost $300 million dollars on a failed film program. Taxpayers are worse off today because lawmakers thought it would be a good idea to pour millions into Hollywood movie studios, producers and virtual production companies. All they got in return was 43 cents for every dollar invested in this failed program, plus projects like ‘Magic Mike’ and ‘Spring Breakers,’  which left fewer resources for what lawmakers should be focused on, like education and infrastructure. 

“When you consider all the real needs of the state and look at all the benefits film makers already enjoy by bringing their productions to the state, lawmakers should not be focused on incentivizing an industry that accounts for less than 1 percent of the the overall workforce, but instead should focus on helping all Florida families and entrepreneurs with better infrastructure and broad-based tax cuts,” Hudson added.