Nancy Skinner interviews Mitch Albom about the Michigan film tax incentives 2-18-11

The day after new Michigan's governor, Rick Snyder, announced that he wants to gut the Michigan film tax incentives, Nancy Skinner sits down with author and radio personality Mitch Albom to discuss the news. Albom says it was a "gut punch," devastating for Michigan residents who reinvented themselves; made Michigan "look like fools" by pulling the tablecloth from under big time investors who are building studios here. Albom says he and many others "were misled" by Synder in face-to-face discussions. Skinner started the website www.rickswrong.com before the election to get Synder to back off his comments about phasing the credit out. The site has exploded with almost one thousand stories from people who fear they will now have to leave because they found employment in Michigan's vibrant film industry. Email and video stories are at www.rickswrong.com. Follow on facebook.com/TellRick and on Twitter @rickswrong use hashmark #rickswrong.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• rickswrong.com
• @rickswrong
• #rickswrong
• Nancy Skinner
• Mitch Albom
• Detroit Free Press
• Rick Synder
• Michigan Film Industry
• Michigan film credits
• Michigan Film Office
• Detroit 187
• Jeff Daniels

[JacquiBernhardt]

@jbesse1 It doesn't matter what work he did on the films, the point is the film industry in Michigan gave him a job.

[kinnej]

I am a born, raised, and trained filmmaker from Michigan. I'm driven and passionate about making movies for the rest of my life. If Rick Snyder wants to send me and my tax dollars to LA, then he is on the right track.

Snyder's stupidity will be referred to in the history books as Michigan's Great Artistic Migration. It will be a footnote about the youth Michigan betrayed in it's blind groping and awesome arrogance. I applaud you Rick Snyder, though I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea...

[TheGiantMichael]

@sr71ablackbird its a line from a movie.... they wrote it like that on purpose.

[sr71ablackbird]

@BradiKal61 also, it's not just about the taxes, it's the regulations that kill the businesses, end the EPA as well. After all, that is what they have civil lawsuits for.

[sr71ablackbird]

i hate to tell you this mitch, but the germans did NOT bomb peral harbor, the japs did.

[sr71ablackbird]

@BradiKal61 simple, abolish the IRS & The Federal Reserve, and go back to the 2 areas of The United States Constitution that mandates who coins the currency and who makes it. Article I Section VIII Clause V - `The Congress shall have Power To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof' , & Article I Section 10 Clause I,` No State shall make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any ex post facto Law'- so it's already there, no one bothered to read it. sound currency.

[treii28]

Whenever Mr. Albom talks about the 'widespread support' for the Michigan film credit, I post the following question. (to my knowledge, he has not answered it):

"If as many people and businesses 'want' this credit as you suggest, what is stopping you (Mitch or these people you elude to) from creating a private sector endowment to give similar credits to film companies interested in doing business in Michigan?"

[stetsonwalker]

Is this a double standard... the film makers and actors are mostly liberal... the big money should pay their share! Opps except for the film industry!

[YTSparty]

Hey Mitch, that $200 million created came out of tax payers pockets. ANY industry, yes ANY industry that you give $200 million to will grow 100 fold in 2 years. Let's not be stupid here.

Also, Mitch just made money on his film from the state. So he's getting a state kickback from the tax credit program.

I'd be the mouth piece for any program that gave me millions of dollars.....FOR FREE.

[barant1]

@kinnej i hope you take your film money somewhere other than LA. I was looking forward to my 40%, now Im shooting elsewhere.