Bush Is Said to Seek More Money for Arts [$15 million to $20 million for NEA]

New York Times ^ | January 29, 2004 | ROBERT PEAR

[yonif]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 — President Bush will seek a big increase in the budget of the National Endowment for the Arts, the largest single source of support for the arts in the United States, administration officials said on Wednesday.

The proposal is part of a turnaround for the agency, which was once fighting for its life, attacked by some Republicans as a threat to the nation's moral standards.

Laura Bush plans to announce the request on Thursday, in remarks intended to show the administration's commitment to the arts, aides said.

Administration officials, including White House budget experts, said that Mr. Bush would propose an increase of $15 million to $20 million for the coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. That would be the largest rise in two decades and far more than the most recent increases, about $500,000 for 2003 and $5 million for this year.

The agency has a budget of $121 million this year, 31 percent lower than its peak of $176 million in 1992. After Republicans gained control of Congress in 1995, they cut the agency's budget to slightly less than $100 million, and the budget was essentially flat for five years.

In an e-mail message inviting arts advocates to a news briefing with Mrs. Bush, Dana Gioia, the poet who is chairman of the endowment, says, "You will be present for an important day in N.E.A. history."

Mr. Gioia (pronounced JOY-uh) has tried to move beyond the culture wars that swirled around the agency for years. He has nurtured support among influential members of Congress, including conservative Republicans like Representatives Charles H. Taylor and Sue Myrick of North Carolina. He has held workshops around the country to explain how local arts organizations can apply for assistance.

Public support for the arts was hotly debated in the 1990's. Conservatives complained that the agency was financing obscene or sacrilegious works by artists like Robert Mapplethorpe and Andres Serrano. Former Senator Jesse Helms, Republican of North Carolina, repeatedly tried to eliminate the agency.

Some new money sought by Mr. Bush would expand initiatives with broad bipartisan support, like performances of Shakespeare's plays and "Jazz Masters" concert tours.

Mrs. Bush also plans to introduce a new initiative, "American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius." This would combine art presentations — from painting and literature to music and dance — with education programs. The program would give large numbers of students around the country a chance to see exhibitions and performances.

New York receives a large share of the endowment's grants. But under federal law, the agency also gives priority to projects that cater to "underserved populations," including members of minority groups in urban neighborhoods with high poverty rates.

The president's proposal faces an uncertain future at a time of large budget deficits.

Melissa Schwartz, a spokeswoman for the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, an advocacy group, said, "We'll be fighting tooth and nail for the increase."

Some conservatives, like Representative Tom Tancredo, Republican of Colorado, vowed to oppose the increase. Even without support from the government, he said, "art would thrive in America."

Representative Louise M. Slaughter, a New York Democrat who is co-chairwoman of the Congressional Arts Caucus, said she was delighted to learn of Mr. Bush's proposal.

"There's nothing in the world that helps economic development more than arts programs," Ms. Slaughter said. "It was foolish for Congress to choke them and starve them. We should cherish the people who can tell us who we are, where we came from and where we hope to go."

Mr. Tancredo expressed dismay. "We are looking at record deficit and potential cuts in all kinds of programs," he said. "How can I tell constituents that I'll take money away from them to pay for somebody else's idea of good art? I have no more right to do that than to finance somebody else's ideas about religion."

The agency has long had support from some Republicans, like Representatives Christopher Shays of Connecticut and Jim Leach of Iowa.

"Government involvement is designed to take the arts from the grand citadel of the privileged and bring them to the public at large," Mr. Leach said. "This democratization of the arts ennobles the American experience."

[Miss Marple]

So, you will turn the presidency over to the democrats because of a proposal to spend extra on the NEA?

Geoge Bush has earned my vote many times over, by prosecuting the war on terror, reducing my taxes, putting the UN in its place, and acting in a dignified and decent manner.

To me, the pittance this will cost is the price I pay for all of those things for which I heartily approve.

It doesn't bother me one bit that you will jump ship. I am loyal to the president. If you don't care to be, vote for the Rat candidate. I am sure the Rat will give your opinions every consideration.

[OWK]

Geoge Bush has earned my vote many times over...

That's because you're a leftist, and you honestly never cared about limited government to begin with.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

...GWB needs to wake up a smell the coffee. Hopefully he will.

I no longer have any illusions about Bush "smelling the coffee". At this point, I'd be happy if he'd just quit dumping piping hot cups of it in my lap.

[Miss Marple]

I am not united in dismay.

And I think you should probably concentrate on PM Howard's budget.

[OWK]

I am not united in dismay.

Of course not.

You're a big-government fan.

[Miss Marple]

I am only a leftist to those who are so far right that they appear as teeny tiny people to mainstream conservatives.

[RiflemanSharpe]

HAHAHA!!

We need to wake him up somehow.

[NittanyLion]

I am only a leftist to those who are so far right that they appear as teeny tiny people to mainstream conservatives.

Do mainstream conservatives support the rapid expansion of government we've seen under this administration?

[Miss Marple]

Do those who oppose Bush also oppose the tax cuts, the partial birth abortion law, and the posecution of the war on terror?

[whd23]

If I remember correctly and I just may be wrong about this, some of the money the NEA gets, goes into music appreciation and art classes in public schools. While a goodly part of the monies spent by the NEA, is spent on utter garbage, this part isn't. It's used to take kids to see operas,on field trips to museums, and to bring fine classical musicians to schools, where most of the children would never be exposed, at all, to this stuff.

Which is clearly the role of the Federal Government as shown in Article ??, Section ?? of the Constitution....

[Area51]

Here's a newsflash for you.

Conservatives don't support massive social spending.

Conservatives don't support Criminal Invader amnesty.

Conservatives don't support Minority Preferences for college entrance.

Conservatives don't support any plan to Increase Funding the Dept. of Education that Ted Kennedy wants.

Conservatives don't support steel tarriffs.

Conservatives don't support Millions for Aids to Africa

Conservatives don't support Re-authorizing the AWB

But "loyal" sheeple that never raise their heads from grazing at the feet of their Royalty do.

Bush IS NOT A CONSERVATIVE!

IF there is any reason that Bush is doing this crap is because there are way to many "Loyal" supporters that put Party before principle.

Now if you want to say you are a Loyal RINO Republican Bush backer, and will cast a vote for him irregardless of what he does, that would be accurate based on your comments. But conservative, Ha you aint even in the ballpark babe!

[Area51]

Do those who oppose Bush also oppose the tax cuts, the partial birth abortion law, and the posecution of the war on terror?

369 posted on 01/29/2004 5:28:42 AM PST by Miss Marple
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 368 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

---

I once met a man that was quite decent in my presence.
Later I learned that he had molested 3 kids.

Does his behavior in my presence make him any less of a child molester?

[OWK]

You'd have a much easier time of it, if you simply admitted that you didn't care about limiting government size and power at all.. and that you simply liked George Bush for personal reasons.

You'd look a lot less silly anyhow...

[Diddle E. Squat]

I've lived in the Philly suburbs

So have I.

Having had experience wooing these women, I completely stand by my comments.

[KevinB]

His " base " is motivated; the UNAPPEASABLES on FR, has NEVER been his " base"!

I consider myself to be part of his base. He has finally lost me, however. I couldn't care less if he gets reelected.

[OWK]

Why do you keep beating this tax cut drum, as if it meant anything at all in the context of this president's ridiciulous spending increases which DWARF the size of the tax cuts..?

Does it make you happy to saddle your children with debt?

Is that your idea of conservatism?

[Area51]

The Bush Administration announced on Monday that Matthew Lesko will be in charge of the additional NEA funding program

Just ask BushCo!!!

Get $10,000 for a crucifix in urine!

Get $8,000 for burning the Pope in Effigy!

Get $15,000 for painting rectums!

Or work on your own abominaaaaation!

"All you have to do is take advantage of one of the largest and most powerful sources of free cash grants and know-how in the world-The US Government. And best of all, you can get as little services and money you need just by dialing the right phone numbers. Let me tell you more about how you can cash in on this endless well of free government giveaway programs.

Free Money: Winning The Free Government Giveaway Game

No where else can you get your hands on this much for nothing. In fact the government has $350 billion up for grabs in over 14,322 money give-away programs that hand out free grants, loans, direct payments, loan guarantees, contracts-- even cold cash you can deposit in the bank! It's literally like a 24 karat goldmine just waiting to be found by anyone who has ever dreamed of enjoying financial freedom and beating out the system.

It's easy to get FREE Money: You don't need good credit, experience, a job history or a higher education

The secret is knowing who to contact and how to ask for your money. Once you know the right people to call, it could take you less than 20 minutes to get anywhere from $20,000 to $250,000 or more in free government startup money to get your new life rolling.

The government is the world's LARGEST EMPLOYER with a payroll of 18 million people. That's bigger than General Motors, IBM, AT&T and Exxon combined! You could spend a year's worth of Sundays and go in circles... unless you take advantage of my experience and contacts. "

[Lazamataz]

Anyway, I think it will be interesting to see what this proposal exactly is, and I don't think it is a bad thing.

Fascinating. I'd be interested to find out what your limit is.

[Miss Marple]

You guys are not into winning converts. You are simply interested in hating Bush and insulting people.

For the record: I don't like the education spending, although I like the accountability.

I have never liked the farm bills, whether the latest one or the one under Reagan.

I don't much care about this NEA bill because it is a pittance compared to the total budget.

Apparently you think that if one disagrees with a portion of the president's policies, one should get on this forum and hurl insults at him and announce one's intention to vote for someone else.

I simply send notes to the White House. But then, I am interested in keeping the White House out of democrat hands, which apparently not everyone on this board is.

[Lazamataz]

Bush was doing a preemptive strike on that one, and on many of his other programs.

He could make the head of Planned Parenthood into a Cabinet position; declare a Gun Ban Czar; and propose an across-the-board 50% income tax hike, too.

STRATEGERY!