Bill of the Day HB22-1121, Supporting Local Media
Bill summary:
The bill requires all state departments to spend at least 50% of the money they spend on advertising to Colorado residents in a fiscal year on advertising through local newspapers. The bill further requires all departments to report on their advertising spending during their annual “State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act” presentations.
The bill also creates an income tax credit for supporting local newspapers. For income tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, but before January 1, 2033:
- A taxpayer is allowed a credit against their income taxes in an amount equal to 50%, not to exceed $250, of the total amount paid by the taxpayer for local newspaper subscriptions or memberships for the personal use of the taxpayer and of the contributions made by the taxpayer to nonprofit local newspapers; and
- A small business is allowed a credit against their income taxes, not to exceed $2,500, in an amount equal to the amount paid by the eligible small business for local newspaper advertising.
If the amount of the credit allowed exceeds the amount of income taxes otherwise due in the income tax year for which the credit is being claimed, the bill permits the amount of the credit not used in the income tax year to be carried forward as a credit against subsequent years’ income tax liability for a period not to exceed 10 years. Any amount of the credit that is not used after such period is not refunded to the taxpayer.
Bill of the Day HB22-1121, Supporting Local Media, is sponsored by lone Democrat Representative Lisa Cutter. The bill seems designed to subsidize newspapers through tax dollars. What if the department needs to advertise to an audience that can’t be reached through newspapers? At this point, that would be most of the population. Cutter owns a communication firm and sells advertising services. It would surely be a coincidence if her company landed contracts with state departments due to this bill’s passage.
Cutter also claims her priority is to champion “legislation to care for our planet through environmental legislation.” Yet, she is sponsoring a bill that is would create layers of bureaucracy, hence more carbon output, and not to mention tons of extra newsprint that no one will read.Â
Also in today’s show:
Andi Buerger of Voice Against Trafficking on Upcoming Sex-Ed Legislation
In the second hour of the show, Andi Buerger and Kim discuss sex education legislation designed to force the topic of sex onto kids at a young age. This in turn makes the kids vulnerable to sexual predators.
Candidate Interview with Brandi Bradley
Brandi Bradley joins Kim in the first hour to explain why she is running for Colorado State House District 39. Learn more about Bradley’s campaign here. Go here to donate.
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