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."

[F16Fighter]

"Oh gosh, now you are traducing my psephological skills..."

For now, I'll refrain from using my thesaurus and merely assume you mean to say you have no emergency need for a proctologist...at this time.

BTW, is there confirmation on your assumed status as an "elitist country club RINO"?

[Ol' Sparky]

Unpleasables? This is a President that has increased spending at a greater rate than any President since Lyndon B. Johnson, who one the biggest socialist in the history of the nation. That's a lot to be unpleased about it.

[Map Kernow]

BTW, is there confirmation on your assumed status as an "elitist country club RINO"?

Well, if not, you can be sure he's put in his application...

[FairOpinion]

Bush has been busy keeping us safe -- fighting terror and a couple of wars in a couple of years.

[Torie]

I think Masterpiece Theatre is money well spent, as is much of the Arts programming on PBS. Should it really be tax subsidized for my pleasure, because it is elevating to those that would not otherwise be exposed, and thus an uplift in the aesthetic pleasure of those that don't go to the theatre? I don't know, but don't worry much about it, because the absolute dollars spent are so low. What I worry more about, is government spending which involves big bucks, that in some way must be paid for by more than just those that are RINO country clubbers, who live off trust funds, or maybe even made their money honorably. By the way, I don't belong to a country club. I don't play golf - at least not yet.

[MJY1288]

Things have got to be a little boring for you around here now that Congressional Republicans told Bush that they can not support his Temporary Worker Proposal? Especially considering you are our resident expert on the subject!

[Diddle E. Squat]

"elitist country club RINO"

In the future present, everyone using FR will be called an 'elitist country club RINO' for 15 minutes.

[Map Kernow]

Bush has been busy keeping us safe -- fighting terror and a couple of wars in a couple of years.

Yeah...We sure do feel "safe" here in Southern California...bet we'll feel "safer" after the amnesty goes through....

[Sabertooth]

Thanks, I have seen the hypocrisy from these guys from day one, it's the same 20 or 30 everyday, repeating the same claims over and over that "This is it, Bush has lost my vote", and I know for a fact that several of them never voted for him to begin with, it's just part of the mantra of the perpetual pouting pitchforkers: Complain about everything and contribute absolutely nothing

Well, we all have our fixations. Take your post, for example.

[Ol' Sparky]

So, he has to increase spending at the greatest rate since Lyndon Johnson and run up huge deficits to represent all Americans? Isn't that what Clinton tried to do.

Great Presidents are principled and lead. They don't stick their finger in the air, lick and find out which way the wind is blowing.

[FairOpinion]

"Conversely, don't you think Bush ought to think long and hard about the conservative vote?"

==

I am sure he is and I am afraid he is overestimating the analytical capabilities of said conservatives.

The way conservatives attack Bush over every little thing, ignoring the tremendous amout he has done, just boggles my mind.

I keep wanting to ask ( don't take it personally, I don't mean you, it's just a general question), whether said conservatives divorce their spouse for doing one small thing they don't approve of, even if they do approve of some real important things their spouse does and is.

[KantianBurke]

There's a bit of a difference between cutting the funds of a legitimate constitutional govt. function such as the FAA; it manages interstate and international travel for one, and increases in unconstitutional immoral pap. Laura likes art and thinks its underfunded? She should hit Dubya up for the cash, not hardworking Americans. He makes 400+ grand a year and is "compassionate." What's stopping him?

[Ol' Sparky]

We're not discussing ram conservative ideas through. We're simply asking he doesn't spend taxpayer money faster than liberals. He has a Republican congress and has increased spending faster than any President since the greatest socialist of all, Lyndon B. Johnson.

[Diddle E. Squat]

This is a President that has increased spending at a greater rate than any President since Lyndon B. Johnson,

So using your logic that it is the President, not the Congress, who ultimately decides how much is spent, you thus blame Ronald Reagan, and not the Dem congresses he dealt with, for the budget deficits of the 80's? You'd be in agreement with Tom Daschle, but...

And don't forget the effect of Jim Jeffords.

[Torie]

I didn't mean to do that. I think you do a good job at whatever you do, and admire it, even though I am annoyed I don't have the energy to keep up with you, in order to post my dissent each and every time I think it is warranted. But often it is not so easy, because you posts are not easily impeached, and thus it takes a bit more work. And then of course, we are on parallel trajectories to some extent, rather than collisional ones. I hope I have been sufficiently elliptical and confusing. I get paid the big bucks for that.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Why does Tom Delay get a pass?

[Sabertooth]

Things have got to be a little boring for you around here now that Congressional Republicans told Bush that they can not support his Temporary Worker Proposal? Especially considering you are our resident expert on the subject!

Another attempted threadjacking on my behalf?

Naahh... if you really want to know, there are places where you can ask.

[TomasUSMC]

Some people say There's just too much at stake to toss away out of petulance and spite so Bush will still get their vote.

The question is what is there to toss away? 8 million Illegals, 15 billion for Aids in Africa, More Rinos in the GOP, More money for the Arts? More Spending, More Deficits, More rebuilding of our enemies countries while our troops are reduced to bullet magnet duty. yep there is alot to toss away, and it is sitting in the White House now.

Yes we'd get a democrat but who's fault is that. Not the electorate. The fault is squatly on The President. NOT U.S.
His actions cause him to be elected or not. That is how it works. Mr. President:

- your actions are not representative of the Peoples will,

and the People have the right and moral obligation to kick you the heck outta town.
Nowadays we are being told that its the other way around. We are being told to be loyal to the party.

We are told:
we are supposed to be representative of the Presidents will. WRONG

The President represents U.S. Our will. He no longer does, which is why we will not vote for him.
Or as the say south of the Border Adios Papi.

[Ol' Sparky]

You mean like the Teddy Kennedy education bill and prescription drug benefits were supposed to win him votes? Polls show the general public still overwhelmingly favors the Democrats on both issues. Meanwhile, future generations are going to pay trillions to pay for this lame attempt at buying votes.

[Sabertooth]

I didn't mean to do that.

No worries, I took it in fun.

And then of course, we are on parallel trajectories to some extent, rather than collisional ones. I hope I have been sufficiently elliptical and confusing.

Yes, getting back to Mars...