There was a great piece in the Feb 15 New York Times on the recent drama surrounding a proposed $50 million increase to the National Endowment for the Arts in the stimulus package. In the end, the Coburn Amendment, which I discussed here and here a few days ago, passed overwhelmingly 73-24. From this, we have to conclude there are a lot of ignorant buffoons on both sides of the aisle.
Fortunately, things turned around in conference, thanks in part to the leadership of Louise Slaughter-
“We had the facts on our side,” said Representative Louise M. Slaughter, a New York Democrat who is co-chairwoman of the Congressional Arts Caucus. “If we’re trying to stimulate the economy, and get money into the Treasury, nothing does that better than art.”
I’m sending a thank-you email to Congresswoman Slaughter, and you should too. I’m also going to find out if my senators voted for or against the Coburn amendment, and write them as appropriate. If we don’t stand up for good economics as well as good music, who will?
Corrente has a great piece on the politics of Coburn, from which I take this list of the Dems who supported this
None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used for any casino or other
gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swim-
ming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater,
art center, and highway beautification project.
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Begich (D-AK), Yea
Bennet (D-CO), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Brown (D-OH), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Cardin (D-MD), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
Merkley (D-OR), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Tester (D-MT), Yea
Udall (D-CO), Yea
Udall (D-NM), Yea
Warner (D-VA),
I’m not surprised by the likes of Nelson, Schumer and Feinstein, but for Wisconsin to g 0-fo-2….. Russ- what happened?!?!?!?
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