Political Quotes

“I rise, Mr. Speaker, to express my support for the arts and to highlight the important world of the arts and the educational development of our children and the economic growth of our country. The arts and humanities have absorbed their fair share of budget cuts over the past 2 years. Funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities has been slashed by 40 percent. I oppose any efforts to eliminate or make further cuts in funding for the NEA and the NEH. I wholeheartedly believe that Government should support the arts, and according to a Lou Harris Poll I am in sync with most of the Nation. The latest Lou Harris public opinion poll concludes that 79 percent of the American public favors a governmental role in funding the arts. Sixty-one percent would pay $5 more in taxes to support the arts, and 56 percent would pay $10 more in taxes for the arts. Mr. Speaker, 86 percent of America's adults participate in one or more of the arts. Frankly you know that is 33 percent more than participate; by that I mean vote in Presidential elections. Cultural funding is a mere two one-hundredths of 1 percent of our multi-billion-dollar budget.”