© 2024 KRWG
News that Matters.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Hundreds Turn Out For Film Incentive Debate

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Hundreds of people have turned out for a debate on the merits of New Mexico's incentives for the film industry.

About 300 people packed an auditorium in Albuquerque on Tuesday evening. Another 100 people were funneled into an adjacent auditorium to see a webcast of the debate and another 100 people had to be turned away.

Dozens of major productions have been filmed in New Mexico over the last eight years, and supporters say that has resulted in thousands of jobs, new film-related businesses and an overall financial impact of more than $3.5 billion.

Critics say the incentives make for poor tax policy and are too costly for the state.

Those debating the incentives include Reps. Brian Egolf, Dennis Kintigh, Janice Arnold Jones and Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.