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Jim Bennett
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UNITED UTAH PARTY OPPOSES BILLS THAT CHANGE INITIATIVE PROCESS
UUP urges the Utah State Senate to veto both bills
The United Utah Party announced its opposition to HB 133 and 135 - two bills recently passed by the Utah House of Representatives that make it more difficult for initiatives to get on the state ballot.
"These bills place more burdens on initiative gatherers and make it easier for opposing groups to knock off signatures," said Richard Davis, United Utah Party chair. "Plus they give more time to the legislature to revise or even scuttle initiatives they don't like."
The bills were proposed by Representative Brad Daw (Republican of Orem) and Representative Norm Thurston (Republican of Provo). They passed the House 50-20 and 50-21 respectively.
"The lesson legislators have learned from the passage of Propositions 2, 3, and 4 last year is that the initiative process is too easy and should be made harder,” Davis added. "The lesson they should have learned is they need to be more responsive to what the public wants. That is a lesson they may not ever learn until they get defeated at the polls.
Calling on the State Senate to defeat the bills, the UUP also urged citizens to contact their state senator to express their disapproval before the vote.
“The legislature wants to ignore the voice of the people,” Davis said. “The people need to use their voice to let them know that’s not acceptable."
For more information, visit unitedutah.org.
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Blockbuster Or Flop? Film Tax Credits
Offered By States Bring Mixed Reviews
But Author Who Chronicled Atlanta-Based A-List Production Says Such Incentives Are Mutually Beneficial And Likely To Stay
The entertainment that movies provide is deeply embedded in American popular culture. And in recent years, the making of them in many states has become an important consideration in their economic strategy.
States have lured Hollywood movie production with tax credits, banking that shooting films in their area will substantially boost their economy. As of 2018, 31 states offered film tax incentives, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
While the move has been controversial in some states and spurred legislative debate, largely over lost tax revenue and budget pressure, it has been a hit in others, such as Georgia, with Atlanta now being called “Hollywood East.” The state claims an economic impact of $9.5 billion since the film tax incentives were passed in 2008. Georgia doled out $600 million in incentives alone in 2016.
Meredith Jordan, an author who chronicled the making of Last Vegas, which was shot in Atlanta, Ga. and Las Vegas, says film tax incentives have proven to be mutually beneficial and are likely to stay.
“Tax credits have reshaped the face of movie production in the United States,” says Jordan (http://www.belowthelinebook.com), author of Below The Line: Anatomy of a Successful Movie, a rare behind-the-scenes look at an entire movie production. “To understand why much of the movie happened in Georgia is to take a quantum leap into the business of Hollywood in the new millennium. This movie had a $36 million budget, but with tax credits it became a $30 million movie for filmmakers.
“Tax incentives have come and gone in a lot of states. They’ve worked for the states that stuck with them.”
Some state politicians and economic experts say the benefits states receive in association with movie production aren’t enough to justify tax breaks for the industry. Some states have dropped or reduced tax incentives for films. Other state leaders see the credits as a necessary tool that stimulates the broader economy; New Jersey and Ohio are among those who called for bigger tax breaks recently for film companies.
Jordan notes some different ways film tax credits impact state economies:
Creates new businesses and job sectors. States committed to the film industry see a steady flow of production annually, which creates new businesses sustainable for the long-term. “New companies open to service the industry,” Jordan says. “In Georgia, companies like Panavision and Central Casting have opened offices along with big studios like Pinewood. With time, other needed businesses have filled in, from prop and costume houses to catering companies and casting agencies.”
Enhances existing businesses. In building an infrastructure for future filmmaking, the economic impact is felt across many parts of the already-existing business community. “When a film or TV show is produced, a lot of jobs come with it,” Jordan says. “People sometimes forget that studios also hire local companies - dry cleaners, caterers, paper shredders, hotels and florists. They buy clothes and furniture and greenery. All that has an enormous effect on direct spending. Other industries are impacted as well, including health care, manufacturing, food services, transportation, retail and real estate.”
Increases awareness of the state. Filming locations show off a place. Some become cultural landmarks. All of that encourages tourism. “It all works hand-in-hand,” Jordan says. “It shines a brighter light on the state, making people aware of it and more appealing in the process.”
“The movie industry relies heavily on incentives,” Jordan says. “Take them away or cut them too much and they’ll stay home. The trend among numerous states is to make their tax programs appealing to bring Hollywood to them.”
About Meredith Jordan
Meredith Jordan (http://www.belowthelinebook.com) is the author of Below The Line: Anatomy of a Successful Movie. Jordan, who had the rare experience of being an embedded journalist for an entire Hollywood feature, chronicled the behind-the-scenes happenings in the making of Last Vegas. An award-winning reporter, Jordan worked for East Coast news organizations for 25 years, including Dow Jones & Co., Cox Communications and National Geographic.
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Dear Dave,
Recently, the garage where I worked for a long time went out of business. I have a lot of my own tools, and I was thinking about taking out a loan of around $20,000 to buy a few extra tools I need to open my own garage. It’s always been a dream of mine to have my own shop, and this seems like the perfect opportunity. What do you think?
Rick
Dear Rick,
I love it when a person has the talent and drive to open their own business, but right now you’re unemployed and looking at going into debt. That’s a bad idea.
You’ll never hear me recommend going into debt to start a business. Did you know most new businesses fail within the first five years due to debt payments? I literally started my company on a card table in my own living room years ago, so I know for a fact you can launch a business without going into debt.
You said you have your own tools, plus you have lots of experience. My advice is to find a place that needs a good mechanic. Then, use the income from a new job to save up for the additional tools you need, and other startup costs associated with opening your own shop.
If you play this smart and start slow, you could have a thriving business on your hands in a few years and no debt to eat up the money you make!
—Dave
(Get off the account today!)
Word count: 236
Dear Dave,
I opened a credit card account with a boyfriend several months ago in both of our names. We’re no longer dating, and I was wondering if I can get my name off the account.
Melody
Dear Melody,
Yes, you can. Call the credit card company right now, and tell them to take your name off the account immediately. Find out if there’s a balance on the card. If there is, and it was charged up while your name was on the account, you’ll still be liable for that amount. They won’t release you from responsibility for those purchases, but you can get off the hook for any future charges.
Then, send them a certified letter—return receipt requested—stating that you are no longer liable for additional charges on the card going forward. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to call them again in a few days to make sure they got the letter, too.
You’re learning a hard lesson here, Melody. You should never open any kind of joint account with someone when you’re not married. And stop using credit cards!
—Dave
* Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 15 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey
