Why Are Taxpayers Paying So Much for the Palin's Failed Reality Show?

[Calamari]

http://www.nationalmemo.com/alaska-p...-reality-show/

According to a report in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Bristol Palin’s failed reality show — Bristol Palin: Life’s A Tripp — received a $354,348 tax subsidy to film in Alaska.

The show — which documented Palin’s move back to Alaska and her various adventures in awful parenting — aired on TLC for 14 episodes. After suffering from poor ratings and being slammed by various critics as “inept,” “just plain sad,” “dull,” and “depressing,” it was pulled from its original time slot after just two episodes.

The Alaska Film Office was apparently so eager to be home to those 14 episodes that it gave Helping Hands LLC a $354,348 subsidy to produce the show in the state where Palin’s mother once served as governor. Generally, subsidies of this type are handed out in an effort to lure shows and movies (and the revenue that comes with them) to move to the state — but that wasn’t a consideration with Life’s A Tripp, which could not have been filmed anywhere else given its subject matter.

More wingnut welfare for washed up wasilla hillbillies.

[bmorepunk]

"Taxpayers" didn't pay for this, unless you mean the oil companies. Alaskans don't pay state taxes except for things like vehicle registration.

[Calamari]

I didn't say Alaskan Taxpayers. Alaska is a state with enduring taker status, taking $1.93 for every dollar they (or their oil companies) pay.

[songfourone]

http://www.nationalmemo.com/alaska-p...-reality-show/
More wingnut welfare for washed up wasilla hillbillies.

Unbelievable how the RWNJ are attracted to the Palin clan, I try to think of a nice thing to say about at least one of them, I got nothing.

[bmorepunk]

I didn't say Alaskan Taxpayers. Alaska is a state with enduring taker status, taking $1.93 for every dollar they (or their oil companies) pay.

This is a state program. It would have to be specifically authorized in federal spending to receive federal dollars, which isn't shown to be the case in the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic
Development budget for FY12 or FY13. Federal revenue makes up 25% of the state's total.

Alaskans are freeloaders, but all that spending doesn't go to the state and local budget. If you look at the FY10 direct aid to state and local budget, Alaska does get 2.27 times the national average. Roughly 2/3 of the spending in Alaska is defense, federal civilian agencies, and direct payments to individuals.

If you really want to dig into abusive practices involving taxpayer money in Alaska, check out this issue. Major defense contractors sub out work to native corporations, have them hire non-native (not even Alaskan) people to run the business as well as the employees, then get tax-free status. On top of that, many of the shareholders (natives) of the corporation get no payouts while they pay some east-coast CEO seven figures.