Senate Passes Michigan Motion Picture Incentive Plan
The Michigan Senate is working overtime at the moment, accomplishing more than they have all year. This afternoon, they passed the Michigan Motion Picture Incentive Plan by a unanimous vote.
Michigan is currently one of the only states in the union that offer Hollywood absolutely no incentives to shoot in the Great Lakes State. We have been losing almost $1 billion in investment as movies that are set in Michigan are filmed in Toronto or elsewhere. This, of course, is on top of the music videos and automotive commericials that were also shipped to production companies outside of Michigan.
The incentive package was put together by State Representative Bill Huizenga (R-90, Zeeland), but has been bottled up in the Senate Finance Committe by its chair, State Senator Nancy Cassis (R-15, Novi). Huizenga's proposal was modelled after a similar package in Louisiana, which has brought almost $800 million each year to the Pelican State.
The legislation now goes to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (D, MI) who has indicated that she will sign it.
