NJ Gov. Chris Christie blocks ‘Jersey Shore’ tax credit

New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie appears on pre-taped "Meet the Press" in Washington, June 25, 2011. Photo taken June 25, 2011. REUTERS/William B. Plowman/NBC NewsWire/Handout (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS PROFILE) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie blocked a $420,000 tax credit for MTV’s Jersey Shore on Monday, claiming that he could not allow the state’s citizens to pay for a show that continues to spread misconceptions about New Jersey and its citizens.

According to The New York Times, the Jersey Shore production company, 495 Productions, applied for the credit, which was granted by the Economic Development Authority last week.

Christie said that he was “duty-bound” to make sure that, in this tough economic climate, that citizens do not have to pay for a television show. The show had been granted a tax credit during its first season in 2009, but they were denied one for 2010 because the money had to be used to close the state’s budget shortfall.

A spokeswoman for MTV told The Associated Press that the tax credit will not derail the show, reassuring fans that it “...will not be affected.”

Even though Christie claimed that he has “...no interest in policing the content of such projects,” he told the Economic Development Authority that he would keep other media-related tax credits that were approved going. These include $175,000 for three movies currently being shot in New Jersey as well as almost $9 million for the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit production company.

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