Films with ‘nontraditional family values’ excluded from Republican tax credit
by Michael C. Bender | March 7th, 2010Movies and TV shows with gay characters could be ineligible for a “family-friendly” tax credit in Florida under a little-noticed provision tucked into a $75 million incentive package that Republican House leaders hope will attract film and entertainment jobs to the state.
The bill would prohibit productions with “nontraditional family values” from receiving a so-called family-friendly tax credit. But it doesn’t define what “nontraditional family values” are, something the bill’s sponsor had a hard time doing, too.
“Think of it as like Mayberry,” state Rep. Stephen Precourt, R-Orlando, said, referring to The Andy Griffith Show. “That’s when I grew up — the ’60s. That’s what life was like. I want Florida to be known for making those kinds of movies: Disney movies for kids and all that stuff. Like it used to be, you know?”
Tags: Disney, family values, film industry, Joe Abruzzo, Stephen Precourt, tax credits
Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
March 7th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I’m sure plenty will post about how absurd this is.
I’ll post that the most absurd part is that our politicians think our state sucks so much that they have to bribe filmmakers to shoot here. Well, it’s all about location and Florida is one of the most beautiful locations out there. The film industry ALREADY shoots here. Why are our politicians giving them money for something they would do anyways? Disgusting.
And oh, I didn’t see any divorce on the Andy Griffith show. Nor, inter-racial couples. That’s half of our population right there.
March 7th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
So how will be they able to enforce something like this if the movies have characters like CharLIE Crist who insist
on lying about their gay lifestyle? Even the gays don’t like CharLIE for supporting every anti gay issue that comes along, trying to prove he’s a man.
Truth be know I’ll bet this was his idea. In these days and times who else would care. P.S. I wonder when these drunks and drug addicts in Tallahassee is going to take on the subject of the three billion revenue shortage instead of spending all their time trying to make the deficit bigger.
March 7th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I actually hope this passes so that we can get Hollywood to boycott this asinine state completely with ALL of it’s film making.
March 7th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
i guess unless you are white, conservative, and stupid (like the gop) you don’t deserve equal access to govt rules and benefits, not surprising taking into account the gops history in america.
March 7th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Steve Precourt is a neo-con moron.
What a complete waste of tax dollars.
March 7th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Precourt is missing the forest for the trees. Most of today’s blockbusters contain sexual themes (hetero) and violence. Will these be boycotted too? And if so, what movies will they make in Florida?
If you exclude movies with gay characters, sex and violence, then I guess the good news is that we won’t be spending any tax dollars on attracting movies to Florida.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:49 am
Can we say “Nazi Germany”. Goebbels believed that any art or artist, particularly Jews, Gypsies and Homosexuals were endangering the Third Reich and Hitler’s goals.
Give to all reasonable projects or give to none, but DO NOT CENSOR. The ‘thought Police” are here.
March 8th, 2010 at 7:21 am
From here it appears the Florida legislature is adopting the more communist approach to governing more so than even Obama is. I suppose since the Obama administration is firing private corporate leaders and running private corporations Florida leaders believe they have the same rights. Just like the proverbial rotten apple in the barrel, so spreads this rotten corruption. Here again they are ignoring the US Constitution. They are totaly deaf to both the people and the constitution.With the home foreclosures, massive unemployment, and the most serious lack of an economy in Florida history why are we the taxpayers funding corporate welfare to film makers in the first place?
March 8th, 2010 at 7:42 am
Bad Economic times are a fertile field for hatred and blame. There are no boundaries and people are open to any solution if they are promised a better tomorrow.
March 8th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Okay, this is the last straw. This blatant homophobia won’t be tolerated any more. My partner and I go to Disney World every year, spending our hard earned money in your state. (Just like hundred of thousands of gay couples.) If this bill passes, those trips end today. We overlooked the fact the you have a self-loathing closet-case Governor who doesn’t want gays to adopt or marry. Fine. If the citizens are stupid enough (and bigoted enough) to overlook that, more power to them. But this in-your-face hatred of gay people is unacceptable. It isn’t 1960, as much as these homophobic jackasses wish it were. In 2010 being gay isn’t a “moral issue”. Why these family values morons are unable to grasp that is anyone’s guess.
March 8th, 2010 at 10:42 am
[...] hoping to pass a $75 million incentive package to attract movie studios to film in Florida, but a little noticed provision could deny tax credits to movies that feature gay or other “nontraditional family [...]
March 8th, 2010 at 11:42 am
It is interesting that Republicans shout about a “free market” economy, but are the proponents of using money and tax credits to lure business to Florida, when the businesses already here are ignored. Those with the tax exemptions and credits that lured them here can then crush the existing businesses because their overhead is lower. When will people wake up? If gays are “evil”, what about traditional family values of no divorce, no working moms, no radio or TV until homework is done, no talking to blacks, never sit in the back of the bus, never talk to someone who speaks with an accent, and so on.The 60’s were racist, sexist, and elitist. We are beyond that, thank God.
March 8th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
[...] hoping to pass a $75 million incentive package to attract movie studios to film in Florida, but a little noticed provision could deny tax credits to movies that feature gay or other “nontraditional family values.” [...]
March 8th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
And Florida wants to attract tourism? Don’t our legislators have more pressing business to attend to? Last I checked, I paid the same taxes as the straights!!!
March 8th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
[...] great, except now Florida wants to make sure all production is “family friendly” and that means no gays in their tax-break movies. I swear I never thought I’d be proud of moving out of Miami to West [...]
March 15th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
[...] Florida GOP plans to deny tax credit to films with gay characters. Production halts on The History o… [...]
April 1st, 2010 at 1:21 am
[...] Florida GOP plans to deny tax credit to films with gay characters. Production halts on The History o… [...]