BOSTON—The Massachusetts House has successfully batted back proposed caps on the state's film tax credit program.
House lawmakers on Wednesday rejected an amendment to the 2011 fiscal budget that would have limited the tax credit to $50 million dollars per year. Another failed amendment would have cut the credits to $7 million.
Gov. Deval Patrick had proposed the $50 million cap, saying the state needed to curb the tax breaks as it struggles with the lingering recession.
But supporters, including Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo, said the tax breaks have succeeded in luring big film projects to the state -- creating jobs for local workers, boosting spending and luring tourists to Massachusetts.
Industry representatives praised the vote to save the tax credit that "has helped the film industry become an incredibly successful economic engine."
