Jersey Shore Production Company Won’t Receive $420,000 Tax Credit

495 Productions the company behind MTV’s hit show Jersey Shore will not receive a $420,000 tax credit set aside as part of the state’s economic development initiative. News of the axed tax cut was made on Monday by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who called such a tax break “wasteful spending.”

The move is seen as a victory for Italian Americans who have been protesting the show since it began. That demographic reached out to the Governor along with a New Jersey assemblyman to ask Christie for a block to the subsidy.

After blocking the tax initiative Christie said he does not want to “police’ the content of specific projects, while adding that Jersey Shore doesn’t benefit the state like a long term project can. According to Christie:

“I am duty-bound to ensure that taxpayers are not footing a $420,000 bill for a project which does nothing more than perpetuate misconceptions about the state and its citizens.”

There has been no response from 495 Productions, MTV or anyone else associated with the reality TV show. Given the tremendous exposure Jersey Shore has received I highly doubt $420,000 is going to put too much of a damper on the shows financiers.

Do you think blocking the tax initiative was a smart move by Governor Christie?