Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

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

Where Senate Budget Amendments Stand As Of 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 25th

Today is slated to be the last day of the Senate budget debate. You can still call your state senator to support the amendments not yet voted on!

To find out who your state senator is, click here:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx

How to watch the Senate debate: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/events/watch-ma-senate-budget-debate/

To view all the amendments that were filed and to track their status: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2017/Senate/ChamberActions

You might want to open another window to monitor what actions the House “chamber” takes on the filed amendments by using the following link. The House clerk is tasked with keeping this page as up-to-date as possible: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2017/Senate/ChamberActions

Here is the round up of where the amendments MALC is following stand:

Senator Eric P. Lesser’s Amendment 315 “Massachusetts Cultural Council” to line item 0640-0300 has been redrafted from $17 million to $14.5 million. This is an unfortunate blow to attempts to achieve a meaningful increase in MCC funding. Essentially, the MCC is now on track for only near level funding. Of course, since it has yet to be voted on it could also be redrafted again to a higher (or lower) number.

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S4/Amendment/Senate/315/Text

The Senate budget proposal sets MCC funding at $13,000,000. The final House FY2017 budget funded the MCC at $12,189,000. The Senate Ways & Means Committee, which created the budget proposal being debated this week, funded the MCC at a higher level than the final House FY17 budget. That’s good news. Unfortunately, the Senate’s proposal represents an almost $1 million cut from last year’s final state budget. (Governor Charlie Baker level funded the MCC in his budget).

MOTT and RTC Amendments

The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) and the Regional Tourism Council (RTC) are a vital part of our state’s economy. They promote our state globally as a tourist destination. The MA Film office is funded under MOTT. There are 3 related amendments MALC supports:

REJECTED: Amendment 696 “Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism” boosts MOTT funding from$343,666 a little more than $2.8 million. It corresponds to line item 7008-0900. https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S4/Amendment/Senate/696/Text

YET TO BE VOTED ON: Amendment 821 “Regional Tourism Councils” authorizes RTCs to spend up to 20 percent of their funding on administrative services. It corresponds to line item 7008-0900. https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S4/Amendment/Senate/821/Text

YET TO BE VOTED ON: Amendment 823 “Regional Tourism Councils Funding Allocation” further authorizes fiscal assistance to RTCs. It corresponds to line item 7008-0900.
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S4/Amendment/Senate/823/Text

Library Amendments

The state’s library system is crucial to providing intellectual resources to all residents, especially economically disadvantaged individuals.

REJECTED: Amendment 274 “Center for the Book” ensures the Center for the Book organization continues its work as a public-private partnership. It corresponds to line item 7000-9506.
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S4/Amendment/Senate/274/Text

YET TO BE VOTED ON: Amendment 285 “Board of Library Commissioners” boosts board funding by a little over $77,000. It corresponds to line item 7000-9101.
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S4/Amendment/Senate/285/Text

YET TO BE VOTED ON: Amendment 286 “Library Technology and Resource Sharing” boosts library funding from $2.3 million to $2.7 million. It corresponds to line item 7000-9506.
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S4/Amendment/Senate/286/Text

REJECTED: Amendment 309 “Library for the Commonwealth” funds the Massachusetts Library System (MLS), which is headquartered in Marlboro and Northampton, and the Library for the Commonwealth (LFC) at the Boston Public Library. Together, they provide statewide library services that are an integral part of the library resource sharing across Massachusetts. The request for this MBLC line of $10,940,475 in Senate amendment number 309 addresses the funding needs of MLS and LFC so that each organization can maintain their current services and support to the libraries in the Commonwealth and the residents they serve. It corresponds to line item 7000-9401.
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S4/Amendment/Senate/309/Text

To find out who your state senator is, click here:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx

How to watch the Senate debate: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/events/watch-ma-senate-budget-debate/

To view all the amendments that were filed and to track their status: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2017/Senate/ChamberActions

You might want to open another window to monitor what actions the House “chamber” takes on the filed amendments by using the following link. The House clerk is tasked with keeping this page as up-to-date as possible: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2017/Senate/ChamberActions