Florida Lawmaker Attempts To Deny Tax Credit To Movies Filmed With Gay Characters (ThinkProgress.org)

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By Igor Volsky

 Lawmakers in Florida are 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.” Florida’s Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act would revise the current incentive program — which already offers a tax credit worth 2% of a movie’s production costs if it is “family friendly” — to specifically exclude movies that depict “nontraditional family values” from receiving the additional credit. Here is the relevant provision:

A certified production determined by the Commissioner of Film and Entertainment, with the advice of the Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council, to be family-friendly…Family-friendly productions are those that have cross-generational appeal; would be considered suitable for viewing by children age 5 or older…and do not exhibit or imply any act of smoking, sex, nudity, nontraditional family values, gratuitous violence, or vulgar or profane language. Under the current incentive program, review of the final release version is not required and nontraditional family values, gratuitous violence, and implied acts do not exclude a film from receiving this additional credit.

State representative Stephen Precourt, whose district includes Disney World, says the purpose of the credit is to encourage movies to depict cinematic life from the 1960s. “Think of it as like Mayberry,” Precourt told the Palm Beach Post News. “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?”

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What scandals? Gov. Paterson says he'll keep governing until the end of year (NYDailyNews.com)

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By Michael J. Feeney and David Saltonstall
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

March 7th 2010, 3:14 PM

A defiant Gov. Paterson praised the Lord - and himself - Sunday, vowing at a Brooklyn church that he will serve out his term as governor.

"My determination is to run this state," Paterson told congregants at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant in his most forceful comments since the scandals erupted.

"I will keep governing till the end of the year," he promised. "I will not be daunted or distracted by any voices."

For the embattled Paterson, who has faced increasing calls that he resign over his role in a bevy of mushrooming scandals, it was a fire-and-brimstone performance on a day that saw his few remaining friends trying to circle the wagons.

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• Tim Kaine Refuses To Back Paterson: National Democratic Chairman Won't Say If Paterson Should Resign (huffingtonpost.com)
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Michigan Representative Bart Stupakhe by cartoonist Pete Von Sholly

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