In the News

MAASH Wins $1.75 million Proposed Increase for the MCC

May 17, 2006

Dear Friends,

The Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee today released its proposed budget for fiscal year 2007, which begins July 1. MAASH is very pleased to announce that the budget proposes to increase funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) by $1.75 million.

This is a major victory that builds upon our success last month in the budget proposed by the House. MAASH thanks Senate President Robert Travaglini, Senator Therese Murray (Chair of Senate Ways and Means), Senator Jack Hart and Senator Stan Rosenberg for their leadership in growing the state’s investment in the arts, sciences and humanities.

MAASH and our allies have been successful thanks to an earlier than usual advocacy push. Thank you to all our advocates across the state who wrote, called and e-mailed their state senators. Since 2004, we have seen the MCC budget increase by 56% (if this budget passes) and the successful introduction of cultural facilities legislation.

The Senate is expected to begin debate on the budget next Wednesday, May 24th. We will continue to advocate for the protection of this substantial increase.

Once the Senate finalizes its budget proposal, the House and Senate appoint a six person conference committee that is charged with negotiating the differences between the House and Senate version of the budget. They will then present a compromise version to the budget in June.

Visit the our web site www.maash.org for more information, to join and to make a contribution.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Dan Hunter

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