GOP should help improve film rebates

SUNDAY’S GUEST (op-ed) critiquing the newly enacted film legislation (by New Mexico House Republicans Paul Bandy and Phelps Anderson) was unnecessarily confrontational. I will leave it to others to correct the inaccurate figures used.

This program passed, originally, with bipartisan support under Gov. Gary Johnson. It has transformed New Mexico from a minor, though important, player in the film business to a top five destination for film, television and streaming services. It should be with much pride that we are viewing our nationally recognized successes. What the representatives should be focused on is strict accountability for this money, with a focus on how we can maximize the benefits to New Mexico and all its taxpayers.

Rep. Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, had an alternative bill that was dropped for (Senate Bill 2) that did just that. By restricting pay backs on actors and eliminating rebates on out-of-state crew, we could have begun to reel in some of the eligible expenditures. Regardless, with the new reporting requirements that promise us greater transparency, we can revisit and reshape where our money goes and to whom.

I’m asking Reps. Bandy and Anderson to work with the film business particularly in their districts to make our incentives better for everyone on all sides of the equation. Film can lead us into 21st century jobs with good pay and benefits, but it’s essential that all New Mexicans understand the programs and see the return we can generate from our incentives.

NANI RIVERA Chair, Santa Fe Film Festival