Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

Artists leaders and artist-run groups addressing policy issues that affect artists in Massachusetts

MA State House

Urgent! House 3702 needs your support!

Call to Action 

artistsunderthedome.org
Artists Under the Dome

Greetings. Below is a call to action by the MCC. Please forward this story to as many Massachusetts residents as possible. We need to generate as many calls in support of these two amendments!

Kathleen Bitetti
Artist & Co-Founder of ArtistsUndertheDome.org

Gambling Legislation

 

Dear Colleagues,

Please help us assure passage of two amendments to pending gambling legislation to mitigate the impact of casinos on nonprofit cultural organizations in Massachusetts.

Call your Representative today and urge them to cosponsor and/or support Amendment #s 98 and 46 to House 3702 (http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/House/H03702). Debate on the bill begins Wednesday, September 14, so legislators must hear from you before then.

Amendment # 98 would devote a portion of gambling revenues to grants for nonprofit arts, humanities, and science organizations. That was filed today by Rep. Paul McMurtry of Dedham, Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. The amendment would direct two percent of a proposed new Gaming Revenue Fund to the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). Half of those revenues would go to grants for organizations in MCC’s Cultural Investment Portfolio (CIP); the other half would be devoted to nonprofit performing arts centers most directly impacted by casinos. This amendment could create $3 million or more for CIP grants annually once casinos come on line in Massachusetts.

Amendment # 46 would give those centers – named in the bill as the Mass. Performing Arts Center Coalition – a stronger position in direct negotiations with casinos over how performances are booked and scheduled. That amendment was filed today by Rep. Vincent Pedone of Worcester, Chair of the House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading.

The House is scheduled to begin debate on H. 3702, An Act Establishing Expanded Gaming in the Commonwealth, next Wednesday. It has already been reported favorably by key legislative committees and has strong support from House leadership. The bill then will move to the Senate for its consideration. The legislation already contains provisions to restrict the seating capacity of performance spaces in casinos, a provision that MCC and the Coalition sought.

Contact information for members of the Mass. House of Representatives is online:

http://www.malegislature.gov/People/House

Find out who represents you in the House:

http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

We will update you as this legislation proceeds.

Thank you for your advocacy.

Anita Walker
Executive Director
Massachusetts Cultural Council