MCC Budget Amendment & the House Budget Amendment Process

The House Budget amendment process is now underway. Representatives are filing amendments to the budget and they and advocates are asking other Representative to co-sponsor and sign on to those amendments. MALC is following this process and will do our best to keep everyone informed.

Representative Corry Atkins has filed an amendment to increase the budget of the Mass Cultural Council to $17 Million:

Amendment #184 to H4400 (links to page that lists all amendments filed)

Massachusetts Cultural Council

Representatives Atkins of Concord, Goldstein-Rose of Amherst, Muratore of Plymouth, Ayers of Quincy, Walsh of Peabody, Balser of Newton, Crocker of Barnstable, Walsh of Framingham and Barrows of Mansfield move  to amend the bill in section 2, in item 0640-0300, by striking out the figures “13,950,699” and inserting in place thereof the figures “17,000,000”.

As of yesterday these are the representatives who have signed on to it: Atkins, Goldstein-Rose, Muratore, Ayers, Tom Walsh, Balser, Crocker, Chris Walsh, Barrows, Poirier, Puppolo, Ultrino, Hecht, Provost, Whelan, Ferguson, Vega, Tosado, Whipps, Cutler, Linsky, Madaro, O’Day, Stanley

From Joanne Muti- Office of Representative Atkins/Research Director for the Joint Committee of Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development:

“On Tuesday morning (April 17th) , the reps or aides can sign on to the amendment in the LAWS system and then their names will be visible on line”

Representatives, constituents, and advocates have up until the day that the amendment is taken up in the budget debate to ask for co-sponsorships.

It is important that state representatives hear from their constituents to sign on to amendments. If you don’t see your state representative listed as above as signed on to the amendment, please contact your state representative to ask them to sign on to Amendment #184 to H4400

While emailing your state representative is good, it is best  if you can take the time to call your state representative’s office and ask them to sign on to Budget Amendment #184. If you can’t reach to someone in their office, leave a voice mail message and follow up with an email.

Remember to share with them the budget amendment number (#184) and who is the key sponsor (Rep Corry Atkins) and that is for the Mass Cultural Council to increase its budget. Also share with them the MCC budget line item:  0640-0300 Massachusetts Cultural Council

To find out who your state representative is and the link on how to connect with them: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx

(Remember Monday, April 16th is Patriots Day and the State House is closed!)

MALC is in the process of tracking down other key amendments to the House Budget and will post them soon! So stay tuned!