Did the 50 Million NEA Stimulus Survive?, Official Answer Expected Today

Various news reports are indicating that the $, which was feared lost due to the amendment offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK).

The Coburn amendment stated that "None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, art center, and highway beautification project."

Signs are pointing out it might actually have survived the reconciliation process between the House and Senate packages of the bill. The Los Angeles Times 'Culture Monster' blog reported that "by early afternoon yesterday, Pacific time, less discouraging word had come down from Capitol Hill, with "multiple Congressional sources" telling Americans for the Arts that the stimulus bill would include the $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts".

The U.S. House of Representatives passed their version of the Economic Recovery Package on January 28 by a vote of 244 to 188 which successfully included $50 million in supplemental grants funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

There will be no official answer if the NEA stimulus survived until later today, when the final bill is expected to become public. It then will be up for a vote in each house of Congress.

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