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Proposed Bill Number 5978, An Act Establishing A Refundable Tax Credit for News Organizations That Cover Local Communities In The State, was introduced this session by Democrat State Representatives Kate Farrar (20th District), Kevin Brown (56th District) and Mary Fortier (79th District).
The bill aims to amend the state's general statutes to establish a refundable tax credit to news organizations that cover local communities in the state in the amount of $15,000 per journalist employed in the state, and $25,000 per new journalist hired in the state, with a cap of $150,000 dollars per news organization.
Only four of the nearly two dozen written testimony submissions were in opposition to the bill.
One of those opposed, Gregory Stroud, is the Editor-in-Chief for CT Examiner, a 6-year-old startup that Stroud describes as "growing, thriving even" thanks to a paywall model that relies on subscribers, not advertisers.
Stroud said the proposed bill is, "an invitation to mischief, and for a thousand frankly lousy news sources to bloom in an effort to soak up money rather than write the news."
"Do you mean to propose a basic minimum income for anyone who writes about their local community?" And who are you or I to say, that an organization simply peddles propaganda, parodies or untruths – or gets the news wrong enough – and should be disqualified?" Stroud wondered. "Looking at my bottom line, it would be much more helpful if legislators could address the double-digit cost increases of health insurance for my employees. Or perhaps you could offer aid for journalism graduates in paying off student loans. Or tackle the generally high cost of living in Connecticut compared to neighboring states."
"But please, please, avoid any aid that requires a clear definition of journalism worthy of public support –
because there isn’t one," wrote Stroud.
L. Todd Wood, owner of CDM and The Connecticut Centinal, is also opposed.
"We are an out of state company that competes in-state against local media. We should not have to compete against state-funded media," said Wood, who emphasized the lack of ideological diversity in Connecticut news.
Greenwich Patriots, also opposed, argued the tax credit amounted to a "thank you" for the "army of progressive journalists essentially working on behalf of the democrat party to control the narrative."
"The result will be even more manipulated and distorted information in favor of the ruling party, further preventing the public from making informed decisions, thereby undermining our democracy," wrote the Patriots.
The majority of those who submitted testimony favored the bill, including four people from the media:
along with Anne Hefter from the League of Women Voters, and two activists from Indivisible.
Coincidentally, Indivisible, which is led by Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin, a couple of progressive political operatives with $7.26m in funding from George Soros, is calling on members to protest against Elon Musk and Donald Trump at local town halls, and then generate media coverage out of their stunts.
Local Indivisible organizations are, in fact, following those marching orders, including Indivisible Greenwich which has a protest planned for Saturday, March 1st at Tesla in Stamford, CT.
So it should not come as a surprise that Indivisible is supporting a tax credit for the media, especially considering those astroturfing plans.
