House of Representatives Approves Economic Investment Act

Dear Friends,

We won in the House!

Last night shortly before 11 pm, the House of Representatives approved the Economic Investment Act, House Bill 4404, creating the cultural facilities fund that plans to invest $250 million in Massachusetts' cultural and heritage facilities over the next ten years, with some funds to be available before June 30, 2006. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

We thank Speaker Sal DiMasi and Chairman Dan Bosley for their visionary leadership on this issue. Prior to the final vote, Chairman Bosley gave an eloquent speech noting that Massachusetts will become the leading state in cultural facilities funding and that many states are watching what is being done in Massachusetts. He hailed the chamber for its visionary recognition of the role that culture and tourism play in our economy.

I thank everyone for your advocacy. With your support, MAASH generated 844 e-mails, phone calls and letters to members of the Massachusetts House. Our proposal was endorsed by 6 major newspapers across the state. Listening to the debate and reading the amendments, I marvel at how far we have come since the 62% MCC budget cut in 2002: there was no significant opposition to this funding.

We have achieved this success because of the coalition of the Boston Foundation, the Massachusetts Cultural Council and MAASH. I want to thank Paul Grogan, Mary Kelley and the statewide steering committee for the Campaign for Cultural Facilities for their leadership.

This is major victory-the first critical step to secure significant cultural facilities funding. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Please be ready to respond when the call for advocacy comes in the Senate.

Thanks again,

Dan Hunter