Oh this headline is too much: “MTV’s ‘Jersey Shore’ costs taxpayers $420K”

The state Economic Development Authority on Wednesday approved covering $420,000 of the production costs for the hit reality series’ inaugural 2009 season.

Local politicans aren’t too happy:

“Let us just hope against hope that New Jersey taxpayers don’t end up paying for Snooki’s bail the next time she is arrested,” state Sen. Paul Sarlo told the New Jersey Star-Ledger, referring to one of the show’s stars. “What a terrible, terrible and misguided waste.”

Why do they get the credit? Well, it’s a jersey thing!

The show qualified for the program not because of its content, but by meeting a program rule requiring that at least 50% of production expenses happen inside New Jersey. It was one of six productions to receive the rebate, including “Law & Order: SVU,” which got a $9-million rebate, and two live-wrestling events titled “Hell in a Cell,” which got $400,000.

“There is no discrimination [for] content unless it’s considered pornographic or obscene,” Erin Gold, a spokeswoman for the development authority, told The Times. She added: “We just administer the program.”

H/T My favorite jersey girl