LANSING, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday said he'd be in favor of reducing, but not abruptly ending, Michigan's film credits.

"I don't view simply turning it off as the appropriate answer. But again, I've had a cap at $50 million for a number of years and, as the industry has had it for some time period, then we should look at some gradual ramping down of it," Snyder said.

Rep. Dan Lauwers, R-Brockway Twp., has introduced a bill that would eliminate Michigan's film incentive program starting with the next fiscal year in October. It made it out of the House Tax Policy Committee last week.

Snyder said that companies were relying on current credits and making decisions off of it. However, he does think the industry should be self-sufficient at some point in the future.

"My recommendation and the way I've positioned it is we've had a cap for a number of years and at some point there should be a gradual ramp-down of it," Snyder said.

Former Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville was a big proponent of the film incentives during his time in the Legislature.

"It's a good business investment for the state of Michigan to provide not only services but jobs, keep an exciting atmosphere around Michigan and keep some of our young people here," Richardville said.

Related: Bill to kill Michigan film incentives could face a roadblock in the Senate

He worries that even by bringing this legislation up could be dissuading movie-makers from looking at Michigan. However, he pointed to the Governor and Senate as having a deeper understanding of film incentives.

"I think that the Governor, the Senate Majority Leader, and I think the majority of the Senate that have been around and have watched the evolution of this program understand that it's doing exactly what they hoped it would do except maybe even more. The people in the House are still relatively new and I think you have to be patient with them as they learn, try to understand these things," Richardville said.

Bill sponsor Lauwers was elected in 2012.

Emily Lawler is a Capitol/Lansing business reporter for MLive. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.