From: Christopher Hudert <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com> Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:55:06 -0500 To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Stimulus for National Endowment for the Arts On Feb 12, 2009, at 10:10 AM, LSnyder262-AT-aol.com wrote: > In debating the stimulus package, Senator John McCain spoke from the > floor of > the Senate on February 6 and said: > > "$50 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts -- all > of us > are for the arts. Tell me how that creates any significant number of > jobs?" > > Let's tell him. > > You can do so at > http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index/cfm? > FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm > > Linda I'd agree that we should tell Senator McCain how the arts sustain economies and jobs. Studies have shown that the arts have significant impact on local and regional economies. HOWEVER, what McCain said (when not taken out of context) was: ... the Committee Report contains a statement of how the emergency provisions contained in the bill meet the criteria for emergency spending.=A0 The report states, =93(T)he bill contains emergency funding for fiscal year 2009 for responses to the deteriorating economy, natural disasters and for other needs.=A0 The funding recommended herein is related to unanticipated needs and is for situations that are sudden, urgent, and unforeseen, specifically the devastating effects of the economic crisis, natural disasters, and rising unemployment.=94=A0 Mr. President, how in the world does rehabilitating ATV trails, providing food service equipment, or insuring honey bees meet these criteria?=A0 How are they unanticipated, or sudden, urgent, or unforeseen?=A0 Someone needs to explain to me how giving tens of millions of dollars to the National Endowment of the Arts, or the Smithsonian museums will reverse the =93devastating effects of the economic crisis.=94=A0 <clip> In addition to the many questionable, and in my view, wasteful spending provisions contained in this bill, there are numerous provisions that will do nothing to immediately stimulate our economy or create jobs.=A0 While many of the items in question involve programs worthy of federal funding, they should be authorized and appropriated under the normal budget process and not included in what is supposed to be an emergency stimulus bill intended to create jobs.=A0 <clip>.=A0 Again =96 many admirable, worthwhile programs =96 but they simply do not belong in this bill. I've clipped a bit to shorten to what was most applicable, but his point was that while there are things that are worthy of funding, they do not belong in the stimulus bill, they belong in the regular budget. To my mind, the additional NEA funding is a borderline item. What was unforseen is the sudden and urgent need due to the drastic reductions in arts funding, created by a tanking economy, which has had a devastating effect throughout the arts community, felt most directly by us as performing artists. Funding for the arts, especially at a "mere" $50 million (think of that in comparison to what just 3 auto manufacturers have already gotten to stimulate their economies), is unlikely to create many jobs, but it might save a fair number and keep some off the unemployment roles. While I agree that this funding should probably be in the regular budget, I also think that the arts do need a more immediate boost too. The stimulus money is meant to replace some of the funds lost on a state and local level, not create new funding or jobs. Take a look at his whole speech, and take a look at the stimulus bill. I think you'll agree with him that there is an awful lot of earmarks, pork, and questionable spending. Looks to me like too items that wouldn't pass in the regular budget were lumped into the stimulus bill so that they got funded. There are lots of items that I'd cut out or alter before the funding to the arts though. But that impacts me me directly than some of the other items. I guess if those items affected me more I'd be in more support of them. Christopher _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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