The House Tax Reform plan was the main attraction in the House Finance Committee meeting this morning.  Two amendments of particular interest were offered.

Rep. Julia Howard (R-Iredell), a realtor and appraiser moved to eliminate the cap on the home mortgage deduction, estimated at $525 Million over several years. Her amendment passed by a voice vote.

Rep. Mike Hager (R-Rutherford) offered an amendment to eliminate the film industry tax credit ($30Million in 2011).  This is a good idea well worth careful consideration for many reasons laid out most recently, here. And here. The roll call vote on the amendment tied at 15 -15; the amendment failed.

Those members of the House Finance Committee who voted to end the tax credit/corporate welfare/carolina cronyism for movie companies:

John Blust (R-Guilford)

Bill Brawley (R-Mecklenburg)

Robert Brawley (R-Iredell)

Jeff Collins (R-Nash)

Mike Hager (R-Rutherford)

Jon Hardister (R-Guilford)

Julia Howard (R-Iredell)

Bert Jones (R-Rockingham)

Jonathan Jordan (R-Ashe)

Paul Luebke (D-Durham)

Tim Moffitt (R-Buncombe)

Jacqueline Schaffer(R-Mecklenburg)

Paul Stam (R-Wake)

Edgar Starnes (R-Caldwell)

Harry Warren (R-Rowan)

Those members who voted to continue taxpayer funded subsidies to the film industry:

Kelly Alexander (D-Mecklenburg)

Becky Carney (D-Mecklenburg)

Ted Davis (R- New Hanover)

Larry Hall (D-Durham)

Susy Hamilton (D- New Hanover)

Yvonne Holley (D-Wake)

David Lewis (R-Harnett)

Deb McManus (D-Chatham)

Rodney Moore (D-Mecklenburg)

Tim Moore (R-Cleveland)

Ruth Samuelson (R-Mecklenburg)

Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba)

Paul Tine (D-Dare)

Ken Waddell (D-Columbus)

Andy Wells (R-Catawba)

 These members were not at the House Finance meeting this morning:

Justin Burr (R-Stanley)

Tricia Cotham (D-Mecklenburg)

Nelson Dollar (R-Wake)

Ed Hanes (D-Forsyth)

Linda Johnson (R-Cabarrus)

Mike Stone (R-Lee)

The amended bill passed out of the Finance Committee and will now go the House Appropriations Committee, then to the House floor.  As Finance Chair, Mitchell Setzer suggested this morning, the bill could be amended again, and again.