The hearing in Annapolis marked the public opening of a debate expected to last through the General Assembly session as politicians try to determine whether the lucrative program that brought "House of Cards" to Maryland is worth it.

So far, it remains an open question.

"We have a limited amount of money. How do you use it?" said Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr., a Democrat and chair of a task force examining state tax credits.

Film industry advocates implored the panel to continue the program, dismissing analyst conclusions that taxpayers were getting a poor return on investment.

The nonpartisan budget analysts, charged with evaluating the film tax credit, concluded that lawmakers should let it expire in 2016 because it generates only temporary jobs and not enough money for state coffers. Unlike other tax credits that launch an industry, film companies depend on continued subsidies.

All but 2 percent of the taxpayer money spent on film tax credits since 2012 went to just two productions: HBO's satirical show "Veep" and Netflix's political thriller "House of Cards," which has filmed in iconic state buildings and at The Baltimore Sun.

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