Public Debate on Moving Pictures
"Should Pennsylvania Extend its Film Production Tax Credit?" 
The William Pitt Debating Union will host a public debate addressing the future of Pittsburgh's film industry on Monday, April 13 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
in the G-23 auditorium of Parran Hall, which houses the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health (located at 130 DeSoto street, across from the University Bookstore on Fifth Avenue). Experts and student debaters will consider the question, "Should Pennsylvania Extend its Film Production Tax Credit?" in an innovative format that includes substantial time for audience participation.
Expert speakers include:
* PRO tax credit extension: Amie Downs, Chief of Staff for Pennsylvania State Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Brookline) http://www.senatorfontana.com/
* CON tax credit extension: Joseph Henchman, Tax Counsel and Director of State Projects, Tax Foundation (Washington, D.C.) http://www.taxfoundation.org/staff/show/88.html
University of Pittsburgh student debaters:
* Brett Powers, A&S senior
* Matt Schultz, A&S senior
* Jennifer Sweeney, A&S junior
* Michael Mangus, A&S sophomore
* Richard Pittman, A&S sophomore
The debate is the third event in a new debate series made possible by a generous gift from William Pitt Debating Union alum Marcella L. Finegold.
The series features an annual public debate covering one aspect of an umbrella topic selected for four-year cycles. For the first cycle of debates, running from 2007-2010, participants are exploring different aspects of the general theme "The Future of Pittsburgh." In 2011, a book featuring transcripts and analysis of the first cycle of debates will be published, clearing the way for a new round of topics to be considered from 2012-2015.
For this year's debate, the film production tax credit was selected as a specific topic that is timely, salient, and ripe for public deliberation.
Pennsylvania offers a 25% tax credit to films that spend at least 60% of their total budget in the Commonwealth. The program is capped at $75 million for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009, and extension of the tax credit is currently being considered in the Harrisburg state legislature.
Advocates arguing in favor of extending the tax credit contend that the measure draws significant motion picture and television series projects to the region, thereby stimulating the local economy and embellishing Pittsburgh's image as a livable city. Skeptics question the tax credit's effectiveness and argue that it expends resources could be spent better elsewhere the current era of tight budgets.
On April 13, experts and students will explore these issues in a debate format that features opening speeches, questions from student panelists, audience question time, and closing remarks. William Pitt Debating Union director Gordon Mitchell will moderate. The event is free and open to the public and may also be viewed via webstream at http://mediasite.cidde.pitt.edu (scroll down to "William Pitt Debating Union" in the Presentation Catalog window panel).
Parking for the event will be at Soldiers and Sailors Parking Garage ($5 fee), located on Bigelow Boulevard in Oakland.
For more information, please contact William Pitt Debating Union program administrator Rebecca Dawson at red20@pitt.edu or 412-624-2887.