Congress and Hollywood tout economic study in push for federal film tax credit

Washington Examiner · collected 2026-09-15 · by David Zimmermann
Read the original at Washington Examiner ↗

Summary

Congressional leaders and Hollywood figures are advocating for a federal film tax credit based on an economic study by Olsberg SPI commissioned by the Motion Picture Association. The study projects that implementing a 20% transferable tax credit would add $249.1 billion to the national economy from 2027 to 2035 and create over 143,500 additional jobs annually across all states. It also predicts an increase in U.S.-based global productions to 65%, up from the current 39%. Reps. Laura Friedman (D-CA) and Brian Jack (R-GA) are leading the bipartisan effort, which has garnered support from President Donald Trump.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event.

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
38
claim-shaped sentences
Uncertain
3%
1 of 38 hedged
Leaning
Leans right
of the writing, not the subject
Correction & hedging signals
96.2
corrections and hedging in what we collected; not a measure of accuracy
Outlets on this story
unclustered
not grouped into a story yet
Narrative spread
1
articles carrying this framing
Analyzed 2026-09-15 · how these are computed

AI analysis (generated at analysis time, not now)

Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted verbatim and was checked against the article text before being stored, so you can find it in the original.
Score +0.35 Confidence high 1 quote(s) discarded as not found in the article
Leaning score +0.35 for article 12034 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-15

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Washington Examiner · 312 article(s) · 0 correction(s) detected
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Who wrote this

David Zimmermann
15 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Members of Congress and leaders within Hollywood are using a newly published economic study to bolster their arguments for a federal tax credit that would incentivize film and television productions in the United States.
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Also by David Zimmermann
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 15 articles by David Zimmermann →

Topics

Congress Hollywood Olsberg SPI U.S. the United States

Subjects

U.S. GPE · 5× Congress ORG · 4× Jack PERSON · 4× Friedman PERSON · 3× Hollywood GPE · 3× Trump PERSON · 3× Olsberg SPI ORG · 2× Rivkin PERSON · 2× Voight PERSON · 2× the United States GPE · 1×

Narrative

The report shows the national economy, with the incentive, would gain $249.1 billion in total gross value added between 2027 and 2035 and that more than 143,500 additional full-time jobs in the entertainment industry would be added across all 50 states per year over those eight years.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-15
🔮 Members of Congress and leaders within Hollywood are using a newly published economic study to bolster their arguments for a federal tax credit that would incentivize film and television productions in the United States.
2026-09-15 · Washington Examiner
Congress and Hollywood tout economic study in push for federal film tax credit · assertive framing

Claims (38 extracted, 1 hedged)

Members of Congress and leaders within Hollywood are using a newly published economic study to bolster their arguments for a federal tax credit that would incentivize film and television productions in the United States. asserted
that → use → States
The study, conducted by Olsberg SPI on behalf of the Motion Picture Association, found that a federal film and television tax credit would result in major economic benefits for the nation while increasing the share of global productions made in the U.S. asserted
credit → conduct → U.S.
The report shows the national economy, with the incentive, would gain $249.1 billion in total gross value added between 2027 and 2035 and that more than 143,500 additional full-time jobs in the entertainment industry would be added across all 50 states per year over those eight years. asserted
jobs → show → years
Also, the U.S. would account for 65% of global productions by 2035. asserted
U.S. → account → 2035
The study’s findings are based on the assumption that the incentive takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027, should Congress pass such legislation by the end of the year. asserted
Congress → base → year
MPA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin is optimistic about that outcome, given President Donald Trump’s support for the tax credit in recent weeks. asserted
Rivkin → give → weeks
The issue is gaining traction on both sides of the aisle, with Reps. Laura Friedman (D-CA) and Brian Jack (R-GA) spearheading the bill. asserted
Friedman → gain → bill
Jack teased an announcement later this week, suggesting the bill could be introduced in Congress soon. uncertain
bill → tease → Congress
The bill, which Trump coined the “Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act” on Truth Social, is expected to include a 20% transferable federal tax credit that can be added on top of existing state-level incentives. asserted
that → coin → incentives
Olsberg SPI, an international creative industries consultancy, based its economic analysis on the proposed 20% rate. asserted
SPI → base → rate
“This study tells us that we can bring more opportunities to life for people in all 50 states who bring great stories to life — the casts and crews, the set builders, construction workers, truck drivers, caterers, and more,” Rivkin said in a statement Tuesday. asserted
Rivkin → tell → statement
“That’s precisely what’s bringing President Trump, Republicans and Democrats in Congress, studios and unions and all of us together: the need to leave a positive and enduring imprint on American creativity and America’s economy.” asserted
what → ’ → creativity
The new study was revealed during a virtual press conference attended by Rivkin, Friedman, Jack, U.S. Special Ambassador to Hollywood Jon Voight, Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien, SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin, and others. asserted
study → reveal → Hollywood
Voight was instrumental in convincing Trump to get behind the bipartisan bill. asserted
Voight → convince → bill
Many of the guest panelists on the call credited Voight for his behind-the-scenes role in pushing along the legislation. asserted
Many → credit → legislation
“He took that ambassador title very seriously once it was granted unto him,” Jack said of the 87-year-old actor. asserted
Jack → take → actor
“I’ve seen a lot of special ambassadors not do much with the title, but he has done more than any I’ve seen before.” asserted
I → see → any
Jack has taken a particular interest in leading the bill because his congressional district is home to Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia. asserted
district → take → Fayetteville
The film studio is known for hosting the productions of several Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and television shows. asserted
studio → know → movies
The congressman acknowledged many Marvel productions have left in recent years for countries, including the United Kingdom, that offer more competitive incentives than the U.S. Similarly, Friedman represents a district that covers a large portion of the Hollywood region. asserted
that → acknowledge → region
Before she was elected to the House in 2024, Friedman spent more than 20 years working as a film and television producer. asserted
Friedman → elect → producer
“When we talk about production leaving the country, we’re not talking about movie stars. asserted
we → talk → stars
We’re not talking about abstract large companies,” she said. asserted
she → talk → companies
“We’re talking about our neighbors. asserted
We → talk → neighbors
We’re talking about the people who live and are supported by the economy in so many of our cities and states.” asserted
who → talk → cities
The tax credit, if approved, would extend well beyond the heart of the U.S. entertainment industry in California and apply to multiple industries in other states that have sizable production ecosystems. asserted
that → approve → ecosystems
This is not a California program,” Friedman said. asserted
Friedman → say → ?
They all win.” asserted
They → win → ?
Dozens of countries have national incentives to attract film and television productions away from the United States. asserted
Dozens → have → States
A federal tax credit would allow the U.S. to get in the game, so to speak. asserted
U.S. → allow → game
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) has expressed reservations about the federal government subsidizing Hollywood when the nation is steeped in deficit spending. asserted
nation → express → spending
Other critics have labeled the tax credit a “handout.” asserted
critics → label → credit
Astin, the SAG-AFTRA president, dismissed those concerns while pointing to the projected economic benefits that the tax credit will bring. asserted
credit → dismiss → that
“These kinds of incentives are offered across all different kinds of industries,” he said. asserted
he → offer → industries
“To trade on the idea that Hollywood is somehow morally beneath the consideration of a government is really insulting to the 143,000 jobs per year. asserted
Hollywood → trade → year
In light of these concerns, it remains to be seen whether the legislation will receive enough bipartisan support in Congress to pass. asserted
legislation → remain → Congress
The study’s release was accompanied by the U.S. Film and TV Production Coalition’s formation. asserted
release → accompany → formation
Members of the coalition include Voight and various groups representing the entertainment industry. asserted
Members → include → industry
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