In the News

MAASH Alert

April 30, 2004

Dear Friends,

We are climbing back!

Last night the Massachusetts House of Representatives approved a $1 million increase to the MCC budget for FY05. State funding for the MCC is now a total $8.3 million which includes $1 million for MAASH's cultural economic development proposal. We want to thank Speaker Thomas Finneran and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman John Rogers for their support and leadership in this session and I urge MAASH members and advocates to send them both a thank you note.

Working closely our friends in the House, MAASH succeeded in defeating 20 amendments to the MCC line item, including 7 earmarks and 13 amendments to eliminate or reduce the new funding. Please keep in mind that the state still faces an estimated $1.5 billion deficit.

The budget now moves to the Senate, where we look forward to working closely with our friends in the Senate to secure this cultural funding.

Thank you for your letters, e-mails and phone calls, we are making significant progress.

Sincerely,

Dan Hunter

<<back to News Archive