Arts = Rotating Pastel Lights

Matt Gray has passed on news I'd missed regarding a proposed amendment to the economic stimulus bill that affects (or potentially affects) many of us in the arts and crafts (and some other potentially positively stimulated areas).

It uses some lovely weasel language to equate the Arts (and aquariums and zoos, for that matter), which, yes are not NECESSARY but which have been shown to actually provide economic stimulus (and eventual increased tax revenue) by equating these pursuits with a number of outright luxury fripperies ("zero-gravity chairs?").

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has introduced an amendment to prohibit funds in the economic stimulus bill from going to theaters and arts centers.

The language of the amendment, (Amendment No. 175, as filed) is, "None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, arts center, or highway beautification project, including renovation, remodeling, construction, salaries, furniture, zero-gravity chairs, big screen televisions, beautification, rotating pastel lights, and dry heat saunas."

This amendment may be offered as early as today, Wednesday, February 4th. Call your Senators today and urge a NO vote on the Coburn "Limitation of Funds Amendment No. 175." To reach your Senators, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senators' offices.

Or if, like me, you have a phone phobia (though phoning is ALWAYS better than emailing), you can find your senators through the home page HERE and leave the message. Unfortunately, it appears that new New York Senator Gillebrand does not as yet have an online presence or comment form, so you have to call her office (202-224-4451).

Thanks for your attention.