MAASH Scores Big Win! House Budget Increases MCC by $1.3 million

April 14, 2005

The House Ways and Means Committee has proposed a significant increase of $1.3 million for the Massachusetts Cultural Council in its proposed budget for FY 06, released at 12 noon today. The House budget restores the John and Abigail Adams Cultural Economic Development Fund that the Governor's budget eliminated and increased its funding by 50 percent, and represents a $2.3 million dollar increase over the Governor's proposed budget.

Under this budget, the total state cultural funding for FY 06 will be $9.6 million.

The House budget now goes to the floor of the House, where it is subject to amendment. The House budget is the second stage of the long budget process. In the first stage, the Governor eliminated the $1 million increase that MAASH won last year, cutting the MCC budget back to the level of the 2002 62% cut.

MAASH thanks Chairman Robert DeLeo-the new Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee-for joining with Speaker Sal DiMasi to recognize the value of increased investment in the arts, sciences, and humanities.

We invite cultural advocates to send a thank you note to Speaker Sal DiMasi and Chairman Robert DeLeo for their support:

http://capwiz.com/artsusa/ma/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7401536

Our advocacy is working and your MAASH membership dues are providing a growing return. To update your organizational membership, please contact MAASH at 617-725-0155.

For an individual membership or to make a tax-deductible contribution to MAASH-Ed please click here.

Sincerely,

Dan Hunter