Officials with the Texas Film Commission announced late Wednesday they are denying tax incentives for Austin director Robert Rodriguez's film "Machete." [...]

The controversy started months earlier when Rodriguez released a special movie trailer during all the debate over Arizona's new immigration enforcement policy. [...]

In 2007 and 2009, Texas lawmakers gave the "thumbs up" to a bill to provide incentives for filmmakers who spend money making movies in Texas.

But the Texas Film Commission -- which is based in Gov. Rick Perry's office -- has now given " Machete" a "thumbs down."

It is denying funding for the film because of a provision in the state law that allows incentives to be denied if the film in question "portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion."