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MARCH 7: ADVOCACY UPDATE - HOUSE VOTES TO KILL HB 561
We are happy to report that HB 561 was killed in the House on March 7. As expected, Representative Steve Vaillancourt (R, Hillsborough), the Bill's sponsor, pulled the bill off the consent calendar (where it was recommended by the ED&A Committee as Inexpedient to Legislate) and asked for a roll call vote. The roll call vote was 253 to 86 to kill the bill.
Again, many thanks to all who continue to speak effectively and work hard to demonstrate the positive economic and social impact the arts have on NH lives.
FEBRUARY 19, 2013: ADVOCACY UPDATE — HOUSE ED&A COMMITTEE VOTES UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST HB 561.
On Tuesday, February 19, the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee (ED&A) voted 17-0 that House Bill 561, which sought to abolish the Department of Cultural Resources, was Inexpedient To Legislate (ITL). This vote recommends to the full House of Representatives that the bill be killed. HB 561, marked ITL, will appear on the Consent Agenda at the next meeting of the full House, Wednesday, Feb. 27. ED&A Committee member Rep. Carol McGuire (R-Epsom) stated that once the Secretary of State's office testified that the bill would not save any money, it was not worth pursuing.
Thanks to all who contacted their legislators, attended the committee hearing and testified eloquently and effectively in opposition to the bill.
And thanks to NH Citizens for the Arts, www.nhcfa.org, for their updates. Please check their site for details and additional information.
Click here to download Marek Bennett's 2-page printable advocacy poster.
What Does the Constitution Say?
Artist-educator Marek Bennett's response to the potential funding cuts is to remind us what is written in the state constitution. Permission is granted to distribute these comics for educational and advocacy purposes, as long as you maintain the copyright notice and credit Marek Bennett, with a link to www.marekbennett.com from any online use.
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The Arts Alliance works with NH Citizens for the Arts to keep you informed about arts advocacy issues at the local, state and national level. If you would like to receive statewide arts advocacy alerts, please email NH Citizens for the Arts at info@nhcfa.org and ask to be put on their e-list; the Arts Alliance also has an advocacy email list, with a particular concentration on arts in education and North Country issues. Email us at info@aannh.org if you would like to receive our advocacy emails as well - or if you have advocacy news or questions.
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