Where shall I start? There’s so much news!
Let’s start with the Republican hypocrisy irony, since the Stimulus Bill is on everyone’s mind. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but the final bill apparently really does cut the hoped-for $50 million in NEA funding.
UPDATE 2-12-09: A press release just sent out by the RNCC claims:
Democrats said they would fight for fiscal responsibility in Washington, but went back on their promise by voting for $335 million in STD prevention, $75 million for smoking cessation and even $50 million for the National Endowment of the Arts.
Does this mean the NEA funding is back in? Stay tuned.
The author of that cut in the Senate was Tom Coburn (R – Oklahoma), whose daughter Sarah, ironically, is a top-notch opera singer. The LA Times just ran this story about her. He considers museums, theaters and arts centers “wasteful and non-stimulative projects.”