Decatur has a big stake in the outcome of legislation to provide tax incentives to the entertainment industry. The state does, also.

State Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, says incentives have the potential to create a $1 billion industry in the state.

Decatur’s stake, of course, is a proposed Calhoun Community College performing arts complex for downtown. In part, it would train students in the technical work the film and entertainment industry must have to finish its products.

The Alabama Education Association tried to tie “a sin tax” on the sale of sex-store items to the incentives to make up lost revenue.

The revenue loss to education was a lame excuse to derail the proposal because it has potential to yield far greater benefits to the state.

Tying the sin tax to the movie industry created images of the state subsidizing porn movies.

That bill is now dead, but AEA Executive Secretary Paul Hubbert apparently continues to demand revenue replacement as a price for not derailing the bill again.

Unfortunately, Mr. Hubbert is in a power struggle with Postsecondary Chancellor Bradley Byrne and doesn’t acknowledge that the incentives bill promotes education as well as industry.

Sometimes, win-win situations fall victim to egos.