Cultural Facilites Funding Approved by Conference Committee

June 15, 2006

Dear Friends,

Last night, the House-Senate Conference Committee approved the FY 06 Economic Stimulus bill which creates the landmark Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund as passed by the House and Senate last fall. We expect quick passage by both the House and the Senate in the next few days. Once the bill passes the Senate, the Governor will have 10 days to sign or veto the bill. The Governor will also be able to line item veto any portion of the bill.

This is a big win for the cultural community and establishes Massachusetts as a national model for recognizing the role of the arts, sciences and humanities in economic development.

The Campaign for Cultural Facilities formed by the MAASH, the Boston Foundation and the MCC, congratulates Speaker of the House Salvatore F. DiMasi (D-Boston) and Senate President Robert Travaglini (D-East Boston) and the chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies; State Rep. Daniel E. Bosley (D-North Adams)and Senator Jack Hart (D-South Boston) for creating an economic stimulus bill which recognizes arts, culture and heritage as a valuable economic development tool.

We congratulate the members of the House-Senate Conference Committee-Reps. Dan Bosley (D-North Adams), Bob DeLeo (D-Winthrop), and Brad Hill (R-Ipswich) and Senators Jack Hart (D-South Boston), Steve Panagiotakos (D-Lowell) and Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield-for completing the work on this legislation. This legislation launches a commitment by the state to invest $250 million to expand, restore, and improve cultural and heritage facilities all across the state. It is expected to leverage an additional minimum of $250 million in private funding for a total investment of $500 million over 10 years.

Please watch for the next MAASH Advocacy Alert.

Sincerely,

Dan Hunter