John Mica: “I consider myself one of the most conservative Members of this body, and my record as one of the fiscal conservatives is…”

“I consider myself one of the most conservative Members of this body, and my record as one of the fiscal conservatives is a matter of record. But let me tell my colleagues, regarding the arguments I have heard today, this is a question about whether or not we give any money to the arts. It is that basic; that simple. This government has always supported the arts. From Washington, from Thomas Jefferson, from Abraham Lincoln, we have always, as a Nation and its founding leaders and through every administration, supported the arts. Now, I admit that some mistakes have been made, and I have highlighted those mistakes. But it is not our responsibility or duty here to abolish Federal Government participation in the arts. With those mistakes that have been made, it is our responsibility to correct those mistakes. If we need tax credits, if we need to change the project basis, let us do that. But this is about funding our museums, this is about funding our symphonies. Mr. Chairman, I have never seen a child who has attended or heard a symphony or visited a museum who would not benefit from this effort to fund the arts.”