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First things first.
October 19, 2009
Unrelated but related headlines:
Moviemakers: Lift freeze on current film projects.Before they entered the Capitol, the group emphasized the importance of the incentive program.
"We have very little time left before the remaining projects, which are still holding on, go bye-bye," said Neil Wells, a local actor, director and producer.
And:
Des Moines Schools will face $15 million budget cutThe Des Moines Independent Community School District, which has more than 30,000 enrolled students, will take the biggest hit from Gov. Chet Culver’s order to cut 10 percent across-the-board from the budget.
Sure, education budgets will be slashed and programs will be cut. But we've got a film to finish, people! Priorities!
The Wall Street Journal today has a piece on the film credit fiasco. It has nothing really new to those who following the story, though it does provide insight into what the film program has done to Iowa's strategic manicure sector. It does spend a lot of time on the manicurists and extras who are losing their temporary jobs, but it leaves out an important number: the potential $363 million cost of the program, which is about $121 per Iowan -- even Iowans who don't get to give manicures to Susan Sarandon.
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Comments
So I'm trying to get more information here, do you know if the purchase of real estate eligible for the tax credit? I have a friend who flipped out at me because I asked her a question about it (she's a realtor), she said she lost over $1MM in sales on the very day the tax credit was suspended. And then when I asked her if that was a qualifying purchase she pretty much called me an idiot who didn't "get" it.
I think I get it, but I want to see the real numbers. I know I can get one very biased opinion from your side, and another very biased opinion from the other side, but I'm trying to just get facts at this point. I can't find a good description of what expenses are supposed to qualify.
Posted by: Stefanie | October 19, 2009 11:15 AM
Stefanie,I can't put hyperlinks in the comments, but you can cut and paste this to your browser: http://itrl.idr.iowa.gov/mx/hm.asp?id=701-52.34
Real estate for sale isn't on the list. Your friendly agent was presumably planning to sell to someone moving here to get on the taxpayer-financed gravy train. Her loss is 3 million Iowans' gain.
Posted by: Joe Kristan | October 19, 2009 12:24 PM
Yes, I realize you have a bias, you don't have to be insulting about it, I'm trying to filter that out and just read the parts that are facts not inflammatory comments. :)
So the fact parts were here:
Stefanie,I can't put hyperlinks in the comments, but you can cut and paste this to your browser: http://itrl.idr.iowa.gov/mx/hm.asp?id=701-52.34
Real estate for sale isn't on the list.
The rest I'll just chalk up to your staunch right-ward leanings. :)
Thanks for the info!
Hope you had a fun weekend!
Posted by: Stefanie | October 19, 2009 3:30 PM
Just right wingers like me and those crazy conservatives like David Osterberg at the Iowa Policy Project!
Posted by: Joe Kristan | October 19, 2009 4:36 PM
He didn't call my friend a leech.
:)
Posted by: Stefanie | October 19, 2009 5:08 PM
Nor did I. I didn't actually use that word for anybody, for that matter.
The person getting on the gravy train was the person moving here, not the agent (I assume that's your friend). If you must take offense, at least wait for me to do something offensive. :-)
Posted by: Joe Kristan | October 19, 2009 5:27 PM