Massachusetts Bill Set to Subsidize Newspaper Subscriptions

[justgladtobehere]

Mass. Bill Would Reimburse Subscribers to Local Newspapers With Tax Credit – NBC Boston

A bill being considered by Massachusetts lawmakers would provide a tax credit to reimburse the cost of local newspaper subscriptions.

If passed, the proposed law would reimburse any Massachusetts resident up to $250 a year. Qualifying newspapers would have to publish original local content about stories in their area, and at least one person in the newsroom would have to live in the area being covered.

So idiotic.

 

[JimmyHoward33]

… why?

 

[justgladtobehere]

… why?

Why what?

 

[JimmyHoward33]

Why is it idiotic?

A deductions kind of useless and most subs are more than $250 but I don't hate the idea

 

[MisterCreosote]

What about the part where the government dictates what the paper has to cover?

 

[The Big Ragu]

What about the part where the government will be coercing people to foot the bill for discretionary purchases that benefit others?

The fact that this is a normal conversation now is a pretty good example of how things have gone wrong in this country.

 

[justgladtobehere]

Why is it idiotic?

A deductions kind of useless and most subs are more than $250 but I don't hate the idea

It's government subsiding business.

 

[PaperDoll]

A bill being considered by Massachusetts lawmakers would provide a tax credit to reimburse the cost of local newspaper subscriptions.

If passed, the proposed law would reimburse any Massachusetts resident up to $250 a year. Qualifying newspapers would have to publish original local content about stories in their area, and at least one person in the newsroom would have to live in the area being covered.

Will there be a tax credit so journalists can afford to live in their coverage areas?

 

[JimmyHoward33]

Governments subsidize a bleep ton of businesses so that's not really novel.

I didn't take the local part to mean government dictates coverage but agree it could be thorny in practice

 

[justgladtobehere]

Governments subsidize a bleep ton of businesses so that's not really novel.

I didn't take the local part to mean government dictates coverage but agree it could be thorny in practice

Because they already do it doesn't make it good policy going forward.

 

[MisterCreosote]

It's government subsiding business.

It's government subsiding a business that is intended to hold it accountable.

 

[justgladtobehere]

It's still a business. Also, it's a business for which there are constitutional issues.