Legislative Advocacy

New York (Jan. 19, 2010)— Screen Actors Guild today delivered the following letter to New York Governor David Paterson conveying its thanks for recognizing the importance of the Empire State Film Production Tax Credit by including it in the state budget proposal.

January 19, 2010

Honorable David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Paterson,

Screen Actors Guild joins The New York Production Alliance in conveying our thanks to you for recognizing the importance of the Empire State Film Production Tax Credit by including it in your budget proposal.

New York State has shown extraordinary foresight by enacting the Film and Television Tax Incentive Program. Over the past several years, workers in New York's entertainment industry have experienced unprecedented job growth. During a time of severe economic crisis, the industry has essentially created thousands of solid, middle-class, union jobs with benefits. This job growth would not have been possible without the Film and TV Tax Incentive Program.

We know that you realize the film and television industry contributes significant economic development benefits to the state’s economy through jobs, tax revenue and on-location production spending and movie/television-related tourism. The five year proposal not only assures the future viability of the program, thereby continuing the Empire State’s competitive edge, but will serve as a catalyst for capital investment, infrastructure development and thousands of related construction jobs. In fact, data shows that for every $1.00 the state spends on the tax credit, it receives $1.90 in return. The return on investment is also instantaneous as film and TV productions infuse a community with money immediately, well before they actually receive the credit from New York State.

If New York were to abandon or reduce the film and television production tax credit, it would have tremendous negative economic consequences. This important decision not only affects the union workers, but thousands of other workers who support this industry such as dry cleaners, hotel workers, restaurant workers and lumber yards.

Screen Actors Guild remains grateful for your courageous leadership, thoughtful insight and support during this complex financial period. We look forward to working with you, your team and the legislature to ensure this important program is included in the final budget passed by the New York State Legislature.

Sincerely,

Mike Hodge
Screen Actors Guild
New York President

Los Angeles (Jan. 13, 2010) — Screen Actors Guild today delivered letters to members of Congress asking them not to pass health care reform legislation that will place a tax burden on the health plans of the members of SAG. The below letter was sent to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Chairman George Miller, Chairman Henry Waxman, Chairman Charles Rangel, Senator Harry Reid, Senator Richard Durbin and Senator Max Baucus.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF

January 13, 2010

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Madam Speaker:

The Screen Actors Guild and its 120,000 members wish to express our sincere appreciation for your efforts in the thoughtful crafting of comprehensive health care reform legislation.

You are approaching, in the coming months, a critical time in finalizing the ultimate outcome of this effort. A primary goal inherent in the policy of health care reform is the reduction of benefit costs for working and middle class America. However, SAG has serious concerns that the excise tax provision in the Senate version of the health care reform legislation will substantially undermine this essential goal.

The Senate bill will place a tremendous tax burden on the health plans of the members of SAG, as well as other middle and working class union members, to finance the costs of the legislation. The proposed excise tax on health coverage above the “annual limitation” amount will have the effect of potentially penalizing the SAG multi-employer health plan for providing quality coverage to our members. The excise tax will result in increased costs to our plan that could be spent expanding the availability of benefits and reducing costs to the membership.

Our members’ participation in our multi-employer health plan is a product of years of negotiation. SAG, and other unions, engaged in these negotiations for health benefits in order to keep up with the rising cost of health care. Higher wages were sacrificed at the bargaining table in order to obtain quality health benefits for union members. Unfortunately, the Senate bill’s tax provision would tax the very health plans our members sacrificed higher wages to acquire. Such a result fundamentally undermines the primary goal of meaningful health care reform, the creation of affordable health benefits.

The Senate version of health care reform is unacceptable as it will increase the cost incurred by health care plans to provide benefits and undercuts the cost reduction rationale for the legislation in that it will increase the cost of providing quality healthcare for working and middle class Americans such as our members.

I hope you will continue to support working families and oppose the Senate excise tax provision.

Sincerely,

Ken Howard
National President

David P. White
National Executive Director

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF

January 13, 2010

Senator Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader
522 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Reid:

The Screen Actors Guild and its 120,000 members wish to express our sincere appreciation for your efforts in the thoughtful crafting of comprehensive health care reform legislation.

You are approaching, in the coming months, a critical time in finalizing the ultimate outcome of this effort. A primary goal inherent in the policy of health care reform is the reduction of benefit costs for working and middle class America. However, SAG has serious concerns that the excise tax provision in the Senate version of the health care reform legislation will substantially undermine this essential goal.

The Senate bill will place a tremendous tax burden on the health plans of the members of SAG, as well as other middle and working class union members, to finance the costs of the legislation. The proposed excise tax on health coverage above the “annual limitation” amount will have the effect of potentially penalizing the SAG multi-employer health plan for providing quality coverage to our members. The excise tax will result in increased costs to our plan that could be spent expanding the availability of benefits and reducing costs to the membership.

Our members’ participation in our multi-employer health plan is a product of years of negotiation. SAG, and other unions, engaged in these negotiations for health benefits in order to keep up with the rising cost of health care. Higher wages were sacrificed at the bargaining table in order to obtain quality health benefits for union members. Unfortunately, the Senate bill’s tax provision would tax the very health plans our members sacrificed higher wages to acquire. Such a result fundamentally undermines the primary goal of meaningful health care reform, the creation of affordable health benefits.

The Senate version of health care reform is unacceptable as it will increase the cost incurred by health care plans to provide benefits and undercuts the cost reduction rationale for the legislation in that it will increase the cost of providing quality healthcare for working and middle class Americans such as our members.

I hope you will continue to support working families and oppose the Senate excise tax provision.

Sincerely,

Ken Howard
National President

David P. White
National Executive Director