MAASH Wins Largest MCC Increase in Years - $12.1 Million in Cultural Funding for FY07

Dear Friends,

The Joint House-Senate Conference Committee Report on the FY 07 Budget has approved $12,093,520 in funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Council in FY 07, a $2.45 million increase over last year.

We thank Senate Ways & Means Chair Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) and House Ways and Means Chair Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) for the continuing support and leadership. We also thank the other the members of the Conference Committee: Senator Steven Panagiotakos (D-Lowell), Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield), Representative Marie St. Fleur (D-Boston) and Representative Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth).

We also thank our many friends and allies in both the House and the Senate that supported this funding, especially Senator Jack Hart (D-South Boston), Rep. Dan Bosley (D-North Adams), and Rep. Eric Turkington (D-Falmouth). Four years ago, amendments were filed to eliminate the MCC. This year MAASH worked with our friends to enlist 27 co-sponsors of a successful amendment to increase MCC funding.

Our success is thanks to your support. Today's victory demonstrates the strength of the cultural community when it embraces advocacy through a consistent message of the economic, social, and educational value of the arts, sciences and humanities. Since the first of the year, cultural advocates have sent 8082 e-mails in support of MCC funding and cultural facilities funding. Our consistent statewide advocacy over the past four years has worked to convince legislators that arts and culture make vital contributions to our economy, our communities, our children and our commonwealth.

Thanks again to all who joined in our advocacy campaign - let's keep building on this success.

Sincerely,

Dan Hunter