Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

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

Update on the MA Legislature Budget Overrides

On Wednesday, July 29, the Legislature (both the House and Senate) took up the budget to override Governor Baker’s line item vetoes and his changes to outside sections of the state budget. The House has just completed their budget session and the Senate is still in session and will by all reports be working well after 5pm today on override votes.

Here are the results:

  • Both the House and Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto to restore the FULL funding for the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) back to $14.6 million  (line item  0640-0300) on July 29. The final votes in favor of the MCC override were 153-2 in the House and 38-0 in the Senate.
  • Vote to override the Governor’s veto to restore funding for Massachusetts Office of Tourism & Travel (MOTT) back to $14.6 million (line 7008-0900).

Today the House voted to restore MOTT’S funding – 146 to 8.  The Senate has yet to take up this vote but our sources say they are hopeful the Senate will restore MOTT’s funding. Calls are needed on this line item.

  • Reverse the Governor’s amendments to the Massachusetts percent for art program (MPAP) – SECTION 28, Chapter 7C of the General Laws – but keep it a statewide program, as the Governor amended it to be.

The House did not change the Governor’s amendments to the MPAP. This basically means the Governor’s language will stand (i.e., won’t be changed) for this program.

Link to explain the Governor’s changes to this program: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/governor-baker-amends-the-ma-percent-for-art-program-mpap/

[note color=”#FFCC00″]Please call your State Senator to vote to restore MOTT’S full funding to line item 7008-0900![/note]

How to find out who your State Senator and Representative are and how to contact them. (Please call and email them!)
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx