House Committee Votes massive NEA cut (fwd)

[Richard Plant]

Hello all:

I am taking the liberty of forwarding the following message from the ATHE
offices. I haven't sent it to Premiers Mike Harris or Ralph Klein in case
they get further ideas of where to make cuts here in Canada.
Richard Plant


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>Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 07:47:33 -0600 (MDT)
>From: FINKELSTEIN RICHARD S <finkelst at spot.Colorado.EDU>
>To: Arts-alert-usa <arts-alert-usa at lists.colorado.edu>
>Subject: House Committee Votes massive NEA cut
>
>arts-alert-usa-------------------(RED)-------------------(6/18/1997)
>
>List Editor's note: The following is forwarded from the Museum Listserv.
>After an urgent plea to my Colorado colleagues I have received a copy of a
>FAX about this scheduled hearing dated JUNE 10.  A Plea: Had I been able
>to hear about this hearing IN ADVANCE of it, I could have helped to get
>the word to YOU! Clearly SOME in the arts community are privy to such
>information. Please, as you can, help to keep us in the loop of
>information so that we may empower CITIZENS too as advocates for the arts.
>It is time to fight this war with an army composed of more than a select
>group of generals...... at least if we want to win!
>
>Richard Finkelstein, Arts-Alert-USA
>
>=========================================================================
>
>HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDS HUGE CUT FOR NEA, LEVEL FUNDING FOR NEH,
>INCREASE FOR IMLS.
>
>The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee today recommended a 90
>percent cut for the NEA -- down to $10 million for FY 1998 from $99.5
>million.  The subcommittee also recommended $110 million for the NEH (same
>as last year) and $23.39 million for the Office of Museum Services within
>the IMLS (a $1.39 million increase from last year).
>
>While the cut to the NEA is devastating, we were aware that such a
>recommendation might be made, because NEA funding increasingly has become
>a symbolic issue for some members of the House.  In recent weeks, NEA
>opponents have put more and more pressure on the House leadership to honor
>its 1995 commitment to eliminate funding after this fiscal year.
>
>However, this is just one of the many steps in the Congressional funding
>process, including action at the full committee and on the House floor,
>where supporters of cultural funding from both parties will mount a fight.
>We have better hopes for the Senate, where members of the authorization
>and appropriations committees have spoken out strongly in support of the
>NEA and against House plans for elimination.  Therefore, it's extremely
>important for you to once again make your support known to Congress.
>Please contact your congressman and both senators and urge them to:
>
>*  (For the HOUSE) resist attempts to eliminate the NEA,
>
>*  support at least level funding for the NEA ($99.5 million), and
>
>*  support at least the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee funding
>recommendations for the NEH ($110 million), and Office of Museum Services
>($23.39 million).
>
>*  (For the SENATE -- which has not yet made its subcommittee funding
>recommendations yet) resist attempts to eliminate the NEA and support the
>President's budget request for the NEA and NEH at $136 million and for the
>Office of Museum Services within th e IMLS at $26 million.
>
>Let your legislators know that the proposed NEA cut is a radical action
>that would reduce the access of our children, our less wealthy citizens,
>and many rural areas to the arts.  Tell them why the cultural agencies are
>important to your institution, since that is what really matters to them.
>
>You can reach the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121.  In
>addition, many legislators are reachable via e-mail and you can access
>Congress via the Library of Congress web site: http://thomas.loc.gov.
>
>
>
>

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