Action Needed On Trump Budget
As expected, the Trump proposed budget is very bad news for arts and culture. It proposes to eliminate all federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), National Public Radio (NPR), the Institute of Museums and Library Services, and many many more programs that impact our sector, as well as needed programs for low income communities (Note: the budget also eliminates funding for the “Meals on Wheels” program).
The release of President Trump’s budget is the first step in the very long federal budget process. The National Priorities Project is a good resource to help one better understand this process: https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/
It is critical, however, that you contact your U.S. Congressperson and two U.S. Senators to support full funding for arts & culture in the Federal Budget – ( i.e., full funding for the NEA, NEH, PBS/NPR, etc.) At the end of this post are three good articles to read BEFORE you contact your elected officials.
How to find out and contact who represents you in Washington D.C. via Common Cause’s website: http://act.commoncause.org/site/PageServer?pagename=sunlight_advocacy_list_page&_ga=1.156620094.483638293.1489680073
Please share this call to action with others, especially your contacts who live in “Red States”*
Background articles to read about the Trump proposed budget cuts:
How to make the argument for funding arts & culture:
https://bullshit.ist/how-to-talk-about-saving-the-nea-7a62792ad22e#.2ivz3q7eu
Important article about the cuts to arts & culture:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/with-elimination-of-nea-and-neh-trumps-budget-is-worst-case-scenario-for-arts-groups/2017/03/15/5291645a-09bb-11e7-a15f-a58d4a988474_story.html?utm_term=.818ca715933a
Article specifically about PBS/NPR funding cuts:
http://deadline.com/2017/03/pbs-response-donald-trump-budget-proposal-1202044526/
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* Map of red and blue states from 2016 presidential election:
http://www.businessinsider.com/2016-election-results-maps-population-adjusted-cartogram-2016-11/#-7