Session Ends with Many Arts Wins
05/22/07
1. Another Arts Victory!…and a Veto
2. Lots of Other Arts Legislation Moving
3. New Grant Funds Potentially Available with State’s Sesquicentennial
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1. Another Arts Victory!…And a Veto
As the legislature comes into the home stretch (session is supposed to end in just over a week) the action is thick and heavy and many arts votes have been taken since my last report.
Another Arts Victory!
Today SF6, the Sales Tax Dedication Bill, passed the Senate with a large margin of victory! The vote was 52 to 14, showing wide support for the final bill. The only Senators to vote against it were Senators Bakk, Dille, Gerlach, Hann, Johnson, Langseth, Limmer, Marty, Murphy, Neuville, Ortman, Rest, Skoe and Vandeveer.
Many Senators spoke both for and against the arts in the bill, with Sen. Frederickson making a most eloquent speech about the importance of the arts to Minnesota, in which he quoted the results of the economic impact study, The Arts: A Driving Force in Minnesota’s Economy. Other senators making speeches in support of the arts included Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, (the bill’s author), Sen. Ellen Anderson, and Sen. Chaudhary who said, “none of this dedicated funding discussion got anywhere until we broadened the tent” to include the arts. Senators speaking against the arts included Senators Wergin, Robling, Neuville, Ortman, most of whom asserted that the arts weren’t as important as other things and shouldn’t be included.
We had previously reported that the bill was stuck in the Senate Tax Committee. It was pried out of committee several days ago when an amendment changed the funding source of the bill. That amendment was reversed in a later hearing, so the bill has gone back to its earlier form. It would ask voters in 2008 to raise the state’s sales tax and dedicate the new money for fish and wildlife habitat, water preservation and the arts. It would add 3/8ths of one percent of the sales tax and generate about $291 million a year for 25 years. It has the potential to at least triple the funding available for the arts.
The House File, 2285, was passed by four House committees since my last report and has three more committees to get through before it gets to the House floor, hopefully early next week so that a conference committee can get down to work on a compromise between the two bills. In each committee, hostile amendments to the arts have been offered and voted down by a wide margin. Why are we winning all of these votes??? Because you are calling and emailing your legislators asking for their support. Way to go, team!
…And The Veto
Unfortunately, Gov. Pawlenty (GOP) vetoed the bill that included arts funding (and many other things) SF2089, in a dispute with the legislature over how much money is available to spend. The DFL House and Senate have advanced proposals to increase some taxes to pay for various investments in health care and education. The Governor wants to get out of session without increasing any taxes. Remember, Senate File 2089, the bill that funds regular appropriations to the arts, includes a significant increase in arts funding. Formerly at $8.593 million per year, funding for the arts will be increased by $1.743 million to $10.336 million per year. This bill was MCA’s #1 priority and we are very pleased so far at the outcome. This means that starting with the state’s next fiscal year, more grant funds will be available from the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) and Regional Arts Councils in every Minnesota county. We are working to make sure that no matter what changes are made to make the bill more attractive to the Governor that the arts funds are protected.
Use MCA’s easy Desktop Lobbyist to make your voice heard.
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2. Lots of Other Arts Legislation Moving
Many other arts bills are on the move:
• The Statewide Smoking Ban, passed by the Senate today, includes a provision that exempts smoking on stage as a part of a theatrical performance as long as notice is given to the audience beforehand.
• The Poet Laureate and Restoring the Percent for Art program were part of another vetoed bill (SF1997) but will hopefully ride out the process.
• The language to make schools accountable to the arts standards is under discussion in the Education conference committee.
• A provision to allow nonprofits to sell donated liquor at silent auctions is part of the Omnibus Liquor Bill, although it has not yet passed. (Apparently, nonprofits that have been selling donated bottles of wine at silent auctions should have gotten a liquor permit. This will remove the need for a permit).
So far, they are all still alive. We will report shortly on the outcomes of the conference committees considering these other bills.
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3. New Grant Funds Potentially Available with State’s Sesquicentennial
A legislative committee has decided to promote the state’s 150th birthday celebrations in 2008 with $1.3 million in one-time funding. Arts and community organizations may be able to access that funding for performances and activities related to the state’s Sesquicentennial. (These funds may also be a part of the bills vetoed by the Governor and reworked later this session, stay tuned on whether the money is approved). Here’s the scoop:
“Minnesota Sesquicentennial planning underway; website is www.mn150years.org
“Minnesota will celebrate its Statehood Sesquicentennial (May 11, 2008) with events, programs and a grant initiative throughout 2008. The Sesquicentennial is a unique opportunity to connect all Minnesotans in commemorating our past and can be a catalyst to help build a thriving, innovative future. Planning has been underway since last year led by a cross section of government, nonprofit and private sector organizations. To learn more, go to www.mn150years.org. At the website, you can register your interest in the grant program, download the official logo,and register your community, organizational or business events and programs to help commemorate Minnesota’s 150th anniversary as a state. The website will also be a place to keep up-to-date on the progress towards the statewide events, such as Statehood Day, May 11, 2008 and a planned Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial Exposition later in May. There will be events and activities throughout the 2008 year, from January to December.”
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MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone. MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail mca@mtn.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm.