MA Legislative Call to Action

Dear Massachusetts member,
 
As you may already know, the Massachusetts House of Representatives finalized its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2014. The House budget does not include a proposal to cap the Massachusetts Film and TV Incentive, nor any other proposed roll-back to the incentive. Thank you to all the members who contacted their state representative last month to help secure this victory.
 
Our advocacy efforts are now needed in the Massachusetts Senate, which is in the final stages of preparing their proposed budget. We are once again asking for your help in the ongoing work to preserve the incentive without a cap – and equally important without any other changes that will curtail production in our state.
 
We are asking all Massachusetts members to call, write or email their senator to make sure the members of the Senate are hearing directly from their constituents about how important the incentive is to our members.
 
Below you will find a sample script to make a call, or a sample letter to email or write your senator. If there is something you can add to your call or letter that highlights the work you have secured due to the incentive and/or the positive effects on the industry and state economy you have witnessed that will make your story and your voice even more powerful, please add that. Our message is the incentive is working:
 
Please note that we are not mentioning the governor, nor are we criticizing his decision to propose a cap. That will not be helpful to our long-term efforts.
 
If you do not know your state senator please go to this link http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/MyElectionInfo.aspx
 
Once you put in your address you will be taken to a page with information that is specific to you. Scroll down that page to “Current Elected Officials” and you will find your senator. Clicking on that name will take you to a page with your senator’s address, phone number and email address.
 
It is very important that we know how many of our members have contacted their senator. Once you have made your call or written your letter please send us an email at newengland@sagaftra.org to let us know what senator you contacted and when. Please let us know what if any feedback you get. Are they supportive? Do they have questions or issues we need to address?
 
Our thanks in advance for your help in making sure the MA Incentive remains unchanged and continues to work to bring work opportunities to our members.

EXAMPLE

Massachusetts Members Call to Action
Preserve the Massachusetts Film and TV Incentive – “It’s Working”
Sample Call or Letter to Your State Senator

My name is ______________, and I live at ___________________.”
 
I’m calling (writing) about the film and television production incentive.
 
I am a member of SAG-AFTRA and I’m worried that my work will disappear if a cap or any other restrictions are placed on the production incentive.
 
The film and television production incentive is working, creating jobs and bringing private investment and economic opportunity to Massachusetts. The $40 million soundstage being built by New England Studios in Devens is a prime example of the type of private investment being made that will support the film and TV industry for years to come.
 
Pennsylvania capped their production incentive, and now thousands of people there are out of work because productions like the Hatfields & McCoys TV pilot and the David O. Russell movie filmed in Massachusetts instead of Pennsylvania because their production incentive ran out of money.
 
If you cap this program, or reduce the effectiveness of the incentive you’re taking away my job and thousands of other jobs here in Massachusetts. Please don’t do that.
 
Thank you for your time.