Preservation in Progress

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Archive for the ‘Advocacy Update’ Category

Success! 4Culture Saved!

Call it 11th hour. Call it a “Hail Mary” pass. With only a couple hours left in the legislative special session last night, SSB 5834 passed in the House. This bill permits counties to direct an existing portion of local lodging taxes to programs for arts, culture, heritage, tourism, and housing. This means 4Culture’s funding will continue and we’ll all benefit from their fine work supporting arts, heritage and preservation in King County. Thank you all who contacted legislators. Thank you to the legislators who have voted for the various senate and house bills that support 4Culture. It has been a roller coaster ride but it’s finally over. The bill has been delivered to the Governor for her signature.

Positive Progress on Senate Bill for Arts & Heritage

Yesterday, May 17, SB 5958 was sent straight to the Rules Committee with a “do pass” recommendation from a majority of the Senate Committee for Government Operations, Tribal Relations and Elections which held a public hearing on the bill. Over 50 arts and heritage supporters attended the hearing. The bill next goes to the Senate floor for a full vote. For more details, go to Advocate4Culture’s website. If you haven’t contacted your State Senators, please do so NOW and ask them to vote yes on SB 5958. Here’s how to find your senator.

4Culture in Olympia

Many of you have been following the fate of 4Culture’s future during the current legislative session. Thanks to all who have emailed or called your state legislators and made trips down to Olympia to support 4Culture. The latest news is not a happy one. SHB 1997 did not move out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee last Friday, April 1. This is no joke. The bill was considered in Executive Session of the committee but did not garner the required 12 signatures to move it out of committee, onto Rules (scheduling) and then to full Senate floor vote. Support for the bill was short by one vote because two senators (members of the committee) were absent.

For more details go to Blog 4Culture and Advocate4Culture. We are still hopeful that the powers that be can still make something happen. Stay tuned…