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ARTS BUDGET UPDATE: $500,000 INCREASE FOR GRANTS
- BE READY FOR ANTICIPATED ARTS VETO
- THANK YOUR LEGISLATORS - ASK TO STAND FIRM
THANK YOU ADVOCATES and the GENERAL ASSEMBLY! The House and Senate have adopted the state budget that contains an additional $500,000 in one-time monies - all for grants - to the South Carolina Arts Commission's state budget of $1.9 million dollars.
Please take time to thank your legislators and in particular, the members of the Budget Conference Committee:
Senator Hugh Leatherman (Darlington, Florence) 803-212-6640; SFinComm@scsenate.gov
Senator John Land (Calhoun, Clarendon, Florence, Sumter) 803-212-6180; JohnLand@scsenate.gov
Senator Danny Verdin (Greenville, Laurens) 803-212-6230; SAgriComm@scsenate.gov
Rep. Brian White (Anderson) 803-734-3144; BrianWhite@schouse.gov
Rep. Harry Ott (Calhoun, Lexington, Orangeburg) 803-734-2998; HarryOtt@schouse.gov
Rep. Murrell Smith (Clarendon, Sumter) 803-734-3042; MurrellSmith@schouse.gov
-- and the sponsors of Amendment #113, which added the $500,000 to the budget:
Senator Wes Hayes (York) 803-212-6410;SEthicsComm@scsenate.gov
Senator John Land (see above)
Senator John Courson (Lexington, Richland) 803-212-6250; SEduComm@scsenate.gov
Senator Billy O'Dell (Abbeville, Anderson, Greenwood) 803-212-6350; SInvComm@scsenate.gov
Senator Brad Hutto (Allendale, Bamburg, Barnwell, Orangeburg) 803-212-6140; BradHutto@scsenate.gov
Senator Nikki Setzler (Aiken, Lexington, Saluda) 803-212-6140; NikkiSetzler@scsenate.gov
The next stop in the budget process is the Governor's desk. Yes, we still anticipate the Governor to veto any and all state funding for the arts. She has up to five days (excluding Sundays) to sign the budget or make her decision to veto funding. Please be ready to take action!
Don't miss the holiday as an opportunity to let your House and Senate member know that state arts funding is critically important for bringing the arts to communities of every size across the state; for its economic impact - $9.1 billion to the state's economy annually, supporting more than 78,000 jobs and a return of $570 million in tax revenues - and for innovative arts education programs in our schools.
We will need every vote to override the expected veto and will want to hear back from you as your legislator responds to your request to STAND FIRM and vote to override an impending veto of state funds to the South Carolina Arts Commission.
You can contact your Legislators at www.scstatehouse.gov or if you don't know who your Representative or Senator is, you can use this same site to type in your address and it will give you that information. You may also go to the SCAA web site: www.scartsalliance.net for access to a complete contact list of the 2012 General Assembly by clocking our "advocacy quick link". The email links in the contact list are "live". Thank you!
SCAA MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT:
You still have time to help us reach our membership goal by Saturday. Your financial gift will enable us to work effectively to insure continue preservation of the arts in our classrooms and in our communities. To maximize our successes in South Carolina, we need to all work together to give the arts a voice. Help us today by clicking HERE to go to the SCAA's website and make that 100% tax deductible contribution. Thank you for taking action by June 30th. We would really appreciate your support!
Betty Plumb, Executive Director
South Carolina Arts Alliance
PH: 803-325-2435 FX: 803-325-2463
www.scartsalliance.net
PS: Please feel free to share this message with your friends and colleagues who also value the arts and arts education in our state.
REMEMBER:
Follow the SCAA on Facebook and Twitter for more real-time information on what's happening at the State and Federal level regarding arts funding and policy news and opportunities.
You can always contact your Legislators at: www.scstatehouse.gov or if you don't know who your Representative or Senator is, you can use this same site to type in your address and it will give you that information. You may also go to our web site at: www.scartsalliance.net for access to a complete contact list of the 2012 General Assembly by clicking it under our "advocacy quick link".
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