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Film tax giveaways can lead to corruption? No way!
April 30, 2009
Is it possible that throwing government money at itinerant filmmakers can breed corruption? Just maybe:
New Orleans lawyer and film producer Malcolm Petal was sentenced to five years in federal prison on Thursday for conspiring to bribe a former state official in exchange for tax credits.U.S. Judge Lance Africk said he gave Petal the maximum sentence, because his actions bolstered the state's reputation for rampant political corruption at a time when residents are striving to shed that image.
"You decided to do things in the traditional, stereotypical way," Africk said. "The state of Louisiana received a black eye."
Iowa has perhaps the most generous film credits in the country, subsidizing up to 50% of the costs of projects filmed here. Good thing we don't have a culture of corruption like in Louisiana!
Ramona Cunningham, currently serving a seven-year sentence arising out of the looting of the Central Iowa Employment Training Consortium, with Senator Tom Harkin at the dedication of the CIETC Tom Harkin Learning Center.
Hat tip: Tax Policy Blog
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