It's no surprise that most of New Jersey's lawmakers aren't Jersey Shore fans. They're not in its target demographic.
That also explains in part why N.J. Gov. Chris Christie nixed a controversial $420,000 state tax credit for which the show had applied.
But only partly. In addition to its inane and often offensive content, Jersey Shore wasn't doing New Jersey any favors.
Some New Jersey assembly members had protested the state paying for a program that reflects badly on the Garden State.
The tax break dubbed the "Snooki subsidy" would have helped pay for the first season of the hit MTV program. Despite the show's name, those episodes in 2009 were the only ones that were actually filmed within the state's borders.
Christie initially balked at vetoing the tax credit, but obviously changed his mind. He made the no-tax-break decision official on Monday, Sept. 26.
Perhaps he finally sat down and watched the show.
In his letter explaining the veto decision to the N.J. Economic Development Authority chief, Christie explained:
"In this difficult fiscal climate, the taxpayers of New Jersey should not be forced to subsidize projects such as Jersey Shore. We must ensure that our limited taxpayer dollars are spent on program and projects that best benefit the State of New Jersey. I have no interest in policing the content of such projects; however, as Chief Executive I am duty-bound to ensure that taxpayers are not footing a$420,000 bill for for a project which does nothing more than perpetuate misconceptions about the State and its citizens."
He did sit through an episode.
Christie, no fan of the state's Film Tax Credit Transfer Program in general, also took several swipes at the tax break itself.
He cited the film and television tax credit's "questionable returns to taxpayers" and called the MTV program emblematic of "the potential for wasteful spending inherent in the implementation" of the state film tax break.
Christie did, however, let tax credits for other productions go forward, including live wrestling shows presented as Hell in a cell at Newark and Chlorine, a movie starring Kyra Sedgwick.
And don't worry Jersey Shore fans. MTV says the loss of the tax credit won't have any effect on the show.
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