Jindal OKs tax breaks on film, hunting

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON AND MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate staff writers
• Published: Jul 10, 2009 - Page: 11A

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Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Thursday he signed bills to grant tax relief on entertainment industry expenses and hunting supply purchases.

Meanwhile, Orleans Parish’s top prosecutor can get around state nepotism laws to hire his daughter, thanks to Jindal allowing other legislation to become law without his signature.

The tax breaks include an increased credit for the motion picture industry.

Jindal signed House Bill 898, which raises the film production tax credit to 30 percent, matching what Georgia offers.

The 30 percent tax credit is different from what the governor originally proposed.

Jindal initially wanted to extend a 25 percent tax credit on film production expenses, eliminating a phasedown of the program.

HB898 increases the credit to 30 percent while decreasing a payroll credit.

The governor vetoed similar legislation by state Sen. Robert Adley, saying Senate Bill 245 largely duplicates HB898.

Adley, R-Benton, said he was not surprised by the governor’s veto.

“I think he resented the fact that we changed the administration bill to the 30 percent,” he said. “I don’t think he was ever going to sign mine.”

The nepotism bill, Senate Bill 280, creates an exception to the law that will allow Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro to hire his daughter, Laura, as an assistant district attorney.

Jindal, who has pushed the “gold standard” in ethics, did not respond to a request for comment on why he allowed the bill to become law without his signature.

His press secretary, Kyle Plotkin, issued the following statement: “We were not inclined to override the will of the Legislature.”