RSS 2.0 FeedApril 14, 2010, Cover Stories, Local Arts News
The State of the Arts in Missouri
Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee did preliminary mark-up for the budget and Chairman Rob Mayer asked that the line item for the Missouri Arts Council and the four Cultural Partners - public broadcasting, humanities, historic preservation, and libraries be cut to ZERO and closed for further debate. YOU can make a difference - contact your Senator and tell them "the arts are good for the economy and for the citizens of Missouri."
Over the past few weeks, the legislature has been busy working on Missouri's FY11 budget and dealing with the task of keeping it balanced.
You have probably heard about the budget shortfall which the state of Missouri is facing. Proposed expenditures for the coming year total over 8 billion dollars, but revenues fall 1 billion dollars short of footing the bill. Obviously, cuts need to be made, and the Arts have been expecting a cut in the Missouri Arts Council funds which will affect ALL of the performing arts in our community. It is only fair that the Arts shoulder their fair share of the budgetary shortfall. We had not, however, anticipated that the State Senate would propose zeroing out the Arts Council for the coming year!
Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee did preliminary mark-up for the budget and Chairman Rob Mayer asked that the line item for the Missouri Arts Council and the four Cultural Partners - public broadcasting, humanities, historic preservation, and libraries be cut to zero and closed for further debate.
This appropriation will next be discussed on the Senate floor by the entire Senate, probably the week of April 12. The conference committee will most likely begin their discussion and mark-up the week of April 19.
Unless funding is added on the Senate floor by amendment, the Conference Committee will be conferencing on $3 million in funding for MAC from the House and zero funding from the Senate. This means that MAC's funding is still up for debate; changes can still be made and the Senate Appropriations Committee cut is not final.
Contact your Senator to let them know how the state budget affects your organization.
Capitol Switchboard: 573-751-2000
The members of the State Senate's Appropriations Committee need to know that arts funding matters to you. While you understand that the arts budget must be cut, you do NOT believe it makes good business sense to eliminate it completely. Please phone or email the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee today. Just a brief email which states "Don't zero out the Missouri Arts Council. The arts are good for the economy and for the citizens of Missouri." would let the Senators know where we stand.
Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee
Senator Rob Mayer: Rob.Mayer@senate.mo.gov
Senator Tom Dempsey: tom.dempsey@senate.mo.gov
Senator Chuck Purgason: chuck.purgason@senate.mo.gov
Senator Frank Barnitz: Frank.Barnitz@senate.mo.gov
Senator Joan Bray: jbray@senate.mo.gov
Senator Timothy Green: timothy.green@senate.mo.gov
Senator Yvonne Wilson: Yvonne.Wilson@senate.mo.gov
The following senators prefer not receiving emails. You may reach their offices through the capitol switchboard at 573-751-2000: Senator Kurt Schaefer, Senator Jim Lembke, Senator David Pearce
Thank you for your support!
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