Last year, we brought you the first in the trilogy about the Kochs’ tirade against the successful film industry tax credits in the Tarheel State: Thom Tillis Gives the Koch Brothers Two Thumbs Up. Then there was the smash-hit sequel, North Carolina Film Tax Incentives: The Kochs Strike Back. Although the Kochs sent one of the key protagonists — then-Speaker Thom Tillis — to Washington, the series continues, this time starring Republican Governor Pat McCrory.
Although the film tax credit was integral to attracting high-budget films and television shows to the state and critical to supporting thousands of North Carolina jobs, the Koch brothers’ political arm, Americans for Prosperity, ran ads last year railing against the program. Despite dire warnings, McCrory caved to the anti-film tax credit clamor created by AFP and other special interests. First, McCrory signed a budget that effectively ended the film tax credit. Then, the Governor refused to call a special session to protect the more than 4,000 film industry jobs in the state. And now, the warnings seem to be coming to fruition. According to WRAL, “no new movies are in production or currently planned anywhere in the state,” and at least one network television show has elected to move its production to Georgia as a result of the change to the film tax credit program.
There you have it, the sad (but predictable) end of a trilogy that’s not only played out in North Carolina, but also in Kansas, and across the country where the Kochs’ influence has ensured the implementation of extreme policies that benefit their self interests. Part 1: The Kochs and their allies stake out their position, invariably one that harms working families and benefits Koch interests. Part 2: Lawmakers cave to — or even champion — the Kochs’ preferred course of action, despite warnings about the harm that will result. Part 3: Negative impacts on working families, state budgets, jobs, clean energy, education funding, you name it. Real Koch Facts rates this one two thumbs down.