Steve Chabot: “I know a very good way that we can save the $9.5 million in the next fiscal year, and that is to defund the NEH. Even…”

“I know a very good way that we can save the $9.5 million in the next fiscal year, and that is to defund the NEH. Even the most distinguished former chairman of the NEH, Lynn Cheney, has concluded that the NEH does more harm than good and should be eliminated. I urge support for this amendment. Mr. Chairman, again, I want to emphasize something very strongly, and that is that I am not against the arts, and neither are any of my colleagues who are in favor of defunding the NEH. What we are in favor of is finally balancing the Federal budget. I have people in my district, mothers and fathers who work two jobs to pay their taxes, and they are willing to make some sacrifices. I would argue very strongly that if we are serious about balancing the budget, things like the NEA and the NEH should be supported by private dollars, not by our Federal tax dollars.”