No More Guidos! Vitale Wants Christie to Cut Subsidies to 'Jersey Shore'

We ain't just mobstas in Noo Joisey. We're guidos, too.

That kind of language sets State Senator Joe Vitale's (D-19) teeth on edge, and he's livid that New Jersey taxpayers are subsidizing the progenitor of negative Italian-American stereotypes, the MTV hit , to the tune of $420,000.

"If you refer to Italian-Americans as 'guidos', it's disparaging. It's no different than remarks made against African Americans and other ethnic groups," said Vitale, who is of Italian descent himself.

"There are plenty of people who enjoy the show. This isn't about censorship," the state senator, who represents Woodbridge, insisted. "This show is just about a bunch of nitwits, who aren't even from New Jersey, who are getting drunk, getting arrested, and having sex."

Vitale and other politicians have been pressing Gov. Chris Christie to put the kabosh on giving the controversial show the tax credit. Vitale says that the governor can do that by vetoing the minutes of the state's Economic Development Authority (EDA), which approved giving the tax credit to the show's producers. 

Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said in a statement that the governor "cannot veto EDA action that is in compliance with non-discretionary, existing law."

Drewniak said that the Christie administration was against the tax credit program and had tried to impose a one year moratorium on it, but the state legislature didn't back him up - therefore, the program, and the tax credit to Jersey Shore, still exists. 

The governor's opinions about the show, Drewniak said in a statement,  "(are) well known.  They are phonies and the show is a false portrayal of New Jersey and our shore communities."

Vitale admitted state Democrats did enact the original law which ultimately enabled the MTV program to get the subsidy. "We wanted to encourage the film industry to come back to New Jersey. The jury's out if it spurs enough economic development to be worthwhile," he said.

"I don't blame the governor," said Vitale, who sees it as a moral and ethical issue. "He thinks the show is a joke like I do. But he's vetoed the minutes of other authorities before and made them play ball. He should do that here."