+++ A state House committee will conduct a hearing Thursday morning on a measure that could consolidate three agencies into the Tourism, History and Cultural Department. Those agencies are the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Arts Council. The House Government Modernization panel will discuss the issue at 10:30 […]
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Bill pulled that would have defunded Oklahoma Arts Council
House Bill 2850, which proposed a 25 percent reduction in funding over the next four years, was pulled by its author. In a to Oklahoma Gazette, his administrative assistant, Lindsay Gasaway, confirmed that pulled the bill “rather than run a bill that was going to fail” and would not get the necessary votes needed to […]
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Why fund the Oklahoma Arts Council?
I’ve watched state policymakers and legislators ask this question and inexplicably seem unable to come to a fairly simple conclusion. The Oklahoma Arts Council (OAC) is one of the leanest-operating state agencies in Oklahoma, improving the lives of Oklahomans from Frederick to Miami and Broken Bow to Black Mesa, seeding the success of hundreds of […]
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Letters to the Editor: Feb. 11, 2014
Not to be flippant, but I ask, “Why would we not?” Creating and appreciating art is one of our most basic instincts and is one of the first steps any primitive people take toward becoming a civilized society. At the first breath of ease when we rise above sheer survival mode, we create art. We […]
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Art funding cuts proposed
House Bill 2850 is a measure to cut public funding for the Oklahoma Arts Council on what is phrased an “emergency basis.” The bill lays out a plan to defund the OAC and is cued for consideration when the Oklahoma Legislature convenes Feb. 3. Bill author Rep. Dan Fisher proposes that OAC funding be cut […]
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Shut ’em down?
Two Oklahoma Republicans — Rep. James Lankford and Rep. Tom Cole — distributed press statements condemning the national health care program while also claiming to keep the government operational through Dec. 15. Some Republicans have said they’re willing to shut down the government if they can defeat Obamacare. Lankford claims he’s “proud” to join his […]