Still no love for Francis Underwood

Yesterday was the last day of the Maryland General Assembly and it was Francis Underwood's last shot of love from the state of Maryland.  A couple of posts ago I noted that the Maryland House of Delegates passed legislation that would give the state the right to seize production equipment from the show House of Cards if it left the state, which it was threatening to do if further tax credits were not forthcoming.

The show's last hope was in the Senate, where support for more tax credits seemed robust.  Apparently, all those selfies with Kevin Spacey did the job.  But, the Senate could not convince its colleagues in the House to compromise.  The potential compromise--some tax credits (but fewer than the show wanted) in exchange for the state's right to recoup money if the show left the state--didn't suit enough people so Assembly members left without any bill.

Who knows how House of Cards will respond, but I'm glad the opponents of the expanded tax credit stood their ground (they never do in the show where all of Underwood's potential nemeses lack backbone or sufficient savvy to outsmart him).

And, let's be clear as the inevitable fallout appears.  The lack of action isn't about Maryland being anti-business.  The show is already getting plenty of tax credits (roughly 15 million a year).  And, it isn't likely to last many more seasons either, so pulling up stakes could be quite expensive.  So, this seems like an effort to pull an Underwood on the state simply because it can.  Thankfully, the other show being filmed in Maryland (VEEP) isn't playing the Francis Underwood game.