7. HB 1 - Simpson Amendment

Adoption; April 1, 2011; RV #215; Journal Page 1240: 67 Yeas, 61 Nays, 17 Present-not-voting

YCT Yea. Amendment 6 transferred money from the Commission on the Arts to the Department of Aging and Disability Services. During tough fiscal times, the state is forced to prioritize where it spends money, and it is important that spending be prioritized for the provision of those services on which people rely for their health and safety, rather than being spent to subsidize luxuries, like the arts.  There was much hand?wringing over this issue, with Rep. Donna Howard even referring to it as a “Sophie’s Choice.” However, YCT believes that Amendment 6 offered an obvious public policy choice, as subsidies to the arts are completely unnecessary, especially when funds are needed to fund services for the elderly and the disabled.