Indicted

And it's unfortunate.

California Senator Ronald Calderon has been indicted and will surrender to federal authorities Monday, on charges of taking tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in relation to the state’s film and TV tax incentive program, the U.S. Attorney said Friday.

Agents posing as both businessmen and Hollywood film studio associates approached the 56-year-old Calderon of Montebello, and he allegedly accepted approximately $100,000 in cash bribes and other goods and services in exchange for, among other things, supporting legislation that would expand California’s tax-credit program to independent films.

I don't know what Senator Calderon was thinking. (Well, I do know what he had in his head, actually. Visions of greenbacks.)

Regardless, tomorrow there will be a kickoff by labor for the new movie tax credit bill at Pickwick Gardens in Burbank.

The legislation, which has 61 co-sponsors, is designed to make California more competitive with New York, Georgia and other states with aggressive film programs.