ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Sen. Edward Kasemeyer says Maryland should look to the film industry for jobs it has lost in manufacturing.
Kasemeyer, a Democrat who represents Howard and Baltimore counties, urged the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday to pass his bill aimed at keeping the show "House of Cards" filming in Maryland. The committee will likely vote on the bill later this week.
Kasemeyer wants to raise the cap on tax credits for film production companies to $18.5 million yearly, up from $7.5 million.
He presented the plan as a way of diversifying the economy. He said Maryland doesn't have much future in factory jobs.
Researchers at Towson University say the film tax credit program can support 690 full-time jobs a year, and this number would rise above 1,000 under Kasemeyer's bill.
