October 06, 2015
In an effort to give struggling Atlantic City a shot in the arm, the New Jersey legislature is considering a measure that would give star entertainers tax breaks for performing in the city.
Some people have called it the "Britney bill" after Britney Spears, who signed a two-year contract with Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas to perform 48 shows a year.
"There is tremendous value in the ability to consistently draw world-class entertainment here, especially considering widely successful A-lister residencies in Las Vegas, where there's no state income tax," Senate Republican Tom Kean told the Associated Press.
Under the bill, which got approval from a state Senate committee on Monday, "A-list" performers would not have to pay any taxes on income from their New Jersey shows if they performed at least four separate times in Atlantic City.
But who gets to decide which stars are truly on the "A-list" and deserving of a tax credit? As the bill currently stands, Secretary of State Kim Guadagno would be the arbiter of good taste and judge of true celebrity stardom.
"I'm not so sure I would want to leave it up to the Secretary of State as far as who's going to be [on] the A-list because now somebody like Maroon 5, who are they? I've never heard of them," Democratic Senator Shirley Turner told Newsworks.
There are at least 50,000 people who have heard of Maroon 5, however: the fans who packed their Atlantic City beach concert in August.
Perhaps Adam Levine would decide to visit Atlantic City three more times if it meant getting a tax credit. On the other hand, he might start singing, "If I never see your face again, I don't mind."
