ALBANY, N.Y. — The massive email hack of Sony Pictures shines a light on just how far executives will go to pool campaign contributions to a governor who has pushed hard to expand a film-tax credit here in New York.
“This industry uniquely affords politicians an opportunity to rub shoulders with celebrities, gets a lot of attention and secondly, the industry is very, very open handed and generous in its political giving,” said EJ McMahon, Empire Center For NYS Policy.
Emails from Sony executives and Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s fundraisers posted to Wikileaks’ website provide a behind-the-scenes look at the intersection of fundraising and policy. In one email, Sony’s CEO Michael Lynton urges company employees to donate to the governor’s re-election campaign. He writes:
“Thanks to Governor Cuomo, we have a great production incentive environment in New York and a strong piracy advocate that’s actually done more than talk about our problems. Because of all of this, I think it’s important to significantly support his reelection efforts.”
In another email, Cuomo’s top fundraiser Andrew Farkas asks for the use of a corporate jet for the governor after a fundraiser, calling such a ride a “premium opportunity” to spend with the governor.
“There may not be anything illegal certainly about anything and I haven’t heard that being alleged, but you do get to see the more unseemly side where people discuss the policymaking and the campaign fundraising activities almost in the same breath,” said Blair Horner, NYPIRG legislative director.
Critics of the film-tax credit have argued the money spent on the incentive does little to help the broader New York economy. Meanwhile, Cuomo raised nearly a million dollars from the entertainment industry for his re-election effort.
“It doesn’t make it easier for them to make it here. It essentially pays them to make it here,” McMahon said.
For critics, the Sony emails may just be the tip of the iceberg in terms of how policy making can influence political donations.
“I would suggest that something similar takes place with every policy like this and this policy is the single most extreme tax subsidy on the books today, bar none,” McMahon said.
Cuomo himself has said the tax credits can help generate economic activity around the state. Blockbuster movies are being filmed in upstate cities like Rochester and Buffalo.
“I think it’s up to the governor now to make the case why those tax credits work on a policy matter,” Horner said.
© 2015 Time Warner Cable News
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