'Sarah Palin's Alaska' To Receive $1.2 Million In Tax Credits

"Sarah Palin's Alaska," the 8-part TLC reality show, is set to receive $1.2 million in tax credits, helping the program's producers recoup a third of the $3.6 million they spent filming in the Frontier State.

According to a measure, signed into law by then-Gov. Palin in 2008, crews filming in Alaska are eligible to receive subsidies for around 30 percent of their operating costs.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports:

The subsidies are in the form of transferable tax credits. Many of the companies claiming the tax credits do not have to pay much, if anything, in the form of Alaska taxes, so they sell the tax credits to companies. There have been reports the going rate is 80 to 90 cents on the dollar. Some have been sold the same day they were issued.

As the Anchorage Daily News points out, the California-based production company Jean Worldwide Inc., had filed for the tax credit, and will now be allowed to sell it back to companies who have larger liabilities in the state of Alaska.

Shayna Leah at Yahoo News seems to believe that Palin may have sought the law as governor with an eye toward her future ambitions.

While other shows, like the Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch and the History Channel's Ice Road Truckers, have also taken advantage of the taxpayer financed subsidy, Palin's show has profited the most.

Palin, clearly thinking of her future strategic use of the generous subsidy in advance of her planned 2012 presidential run, created the law as one that would be good until 2013. It is funded with $100 million, though state legislators in Alaska are mulling over expanding the program an additional 10 years and $200 million if the program is successful. It is unclear how they plan to measure the program's success, other than by how much Palin takes advantage of it.

While many supporters of the measure have claimed that it produces tangible economic benefits, the Daily News-Miner reports that the actual analysis of its impacts has been minimal and inconclusive, even as Alaska considers legislation that would "allow the state to maintain secrecy on production information."

Comments

[iconoclast6]

04:55 PM on 02/26/2011

Maybe I should pitch a total_fail reality show. Geez, on those kind of Benjamins I could retire and buy my little winery.

[Stryker00]

11:38 AM on 02/26/2011

Craziest thing ever --- any show with Sarah Palin in it being shown on "the Learning Channel". Talk about an oxymoron. A republican enacting a law that profits them directly --- who woulda thought??

[captRick]

08:38 AM on 02/26/2011

Gee, another Multi-Millionaire getting government funding. Thank GOD that money didn't go to those lazy poor people, you know, the ones who are unemployed because they want to be. Another chapter in the New Great American Conservative Welfare Fund.

[twopac]

12:58 AM on 02/23/2011

"Sarah Palin's Alaska," the 8-part TLC reality show, is set to receive $1.2 million in tax credits,

Or is "Lou Sarah's Alaska" is set to receive $1.2 million in tax credits?

Or do they both share $1.2 million in tax credits?

[bettestreep]

12:43 AM on 02/23/2011

I'm sure Sarah and her Teabag supporters will happily not accept these tax credits.

Well isn't this a case of wasteful taxpayer money???

[onlyaquarterdelusional]

07:22 PM on 02/22/2011

So Teabagger Learnin' Channel recoups 30% of filming costs. I wouldn't be surprised if she used this tax credit, created by her, to get the 30% for herself for doing the show. Sounds like government subsidized employment to me. Think she'll give it back?

[Galamachis]

07:09 PM on 02/22/2011

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[angus12365]

04:40 PM on 02/22/2011

According to Bachman the tax code is a WMD.
That makes $@rah, Alaska's S@daam.
We better invade or there might be a giant stoo-pid cloud over a major American city.

[prodemlib]

04:14 PM on 02/22/2011

Let me get this straight: The House wants to de-fund Planned Parenthood, thus insuring more unwanted pregnancies & abor-tions, but they want to spend MY tax money on THIS drivel? OMG! It IS the end times.

[EuropeWindAndFire]

03:57 PM on 02/22/2011

Community taxdollars well spent on "The Alaskan B*tch to Nowhere"

[ElBruce]

03:42 PM on 02/22/2011

So basically she's PBS.

[anti politricks]

10:25 AM on 02/24/2011

don't insult pbs

[ThinkingPatriot]

03:35 PM on 02/22/2011

I too think this can be a good idea. Here in Michigan, the former Gov implemented a huge 42% credit that the new Republican Gov wants to phase out. I've seen one study that shows that the credit generated $6 in economic activity for every $1 spent. Another concluded that it cost more, though. I support the credit but Alaska seems pretty unique. Could they really do this show anywhere else?

It's been amusing

[catchmyeye]

03:17 PM on 02/22/2011

Foul ball.

[muck-raker]

03:02 PM on 02/22/2011

WHY do some candidates run for office when they have no chance of WINNING? simple answer they can keep the left over finance MONEY and live the rest of their life on it, the story: Even when candidates for office lose, they win. Before 1993, the money contributed to a political campaign could be and often was diverted to a candidate’s bank account. Retiring and defeated candidates could and did keep unused campaign contributions. Nowadays, the candidate with excess funds can spend it in other ways such as winding down his office, contributing to party committees, and supporting other candidates.

But there are more creative uses for leftover campaign funds. The defeated candidate can donate the money to a nonprofit charity, such as a foundation headed by a close relative. He can form a public agency or a nonprofit agency and funnel the money to it. Large amounts can then be spent on parties, gifts, and dues. He can channel funds to companies he controls, or employ his spouse to work at a campaign committee. Before the campaign is over, he might buy a Mercedes.

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread330651/pg1

[pb28]

02:49 PM on 02/22/2011

why do I have to pay for that