Leading Entertainers Fight for Art Funding

The National Endowment for the Arts testified in front of Congress today to discuss appropriations for the 2009 fiscal year. President Bush has lowered the amount given to the arts and the NEA, and supporters are lobbying for support in restoring the funding level to $176 million, a recorded high from 1992.

A panel of speakers was present including Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of American for Arts, Mayor Mufi Hannemann of Honolulu, acclaimed actress Kerry Washington, five-time Grammy winner John Legend and Academy Award-winner and activist Robert Redford. All were on hand to offer their stories and how the arts influenced them in where they are today.

Lynch pronounced at the end of his testimony that "a great nation deserves great art" while John Legend offered his musical education as a way to keep him grounded. Coming from a musical family, Legend also said that music was a way to stay away from trouble. Kerry Washington and Robert Redford spoke for an extended period of time with Robert Redford offering an account on his childhood. Redford stated that in his childhood, he was accused of being "dumb" due to his personality, but he ended up finding his calling in the arts which has led to him being one of the most prominent figures in the arts today.

Furthermore, testimony given showed the relationship of arts to the stimulation of a society and economy. Attention was also given to the furthering of arts programs nationally and internationally including reading and general education programs.

Super Tuesday Colorado Coverage-- a few photos

Welcome to the Centennial State and our earliest caucus ever!


Supplies for the Caucus


A Mama for Obama!


The Boulder County Democratic Headquarters

President George W. Bush speaks about the economy

President Bush laid out his principles for framing an economic stimulus package today from the Roosevelt room in the White House. “Our economy has a solid foundation, but there are areas of concern,” he said. His speech outlined some broader principles for economic growth legislation, but did not mention specific components beyond tax relief.

The president pointed out that both consumer spending and jobs are growing but at a very slow rate. He also acknowledged that other sectors like housing are declining.

He said that his advisors and other outside experts expect slow growth, but “there is a risk of a downturn.” The White House has been careful not to use the word “recession” often when speaking about the economic situation.

Among his principles Bush noted that the economic stimulus package must be large enough to affect an economy as large as the U.S. He recommended tax relief amounting to about 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, or about $145 billion in relief. Bush called for "broad based tax relief" targeted to business and consumer spending. He cautioned against new taxes and spending project, which are being discussed by congressional Democrats.

Tax incentives for businesses must encourage businesses “to make major investments in their enterprises this year,” Bush said.

He also called for “direct and rapid income tax relief” in the form of tax rebates to the American people. He noted that taxpayers can spend this check any way they want, giving examples of paying bills and fueling up. He said that this infusion of cash into the hands of consumers should increase spending.

The president called on Congress to resolve two versions of legislation regarding the Federal Housing Administration and get that bill to his desk as quickly as possible.

Bush said that his phone call with Treasury Secretary Paulson and congressional leadership yesterday was encouraging and led him to believe that economic stimulus could be passed quickly with bipartisan support. He was quick to point out that while the administration has taken the subject of his tax cuts off the table for the discussion of a short term solution, the most pressing economic priority after a stimulus packaged is passed is making his those cuts permanent.

The president defended the market system while acknowledging that there are times when “swift and temporary actions” can insure that inevitable market adjustments do not become long-term down turns. Bush called a growth package “a shot in the arm to keep a fundamentally strong economy healthy.”

White House Gaggle with Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto

The president had his normal briefings and will meet this morning with Ambassador Richard Williamson, special envoy to Sudan. Fratto said that the White House continues to push for movement of peace keeping troops in Sudan and is firmly committed to working with the United Nations on the peace process in Sudan. Fratto said that the president was pleased with his trip to the Middle East and might give some kind of recap or briefing to that effect early next week.

This afternoon the president will have a conference call with congressional leaders about the "economic landscape." The meeting will include Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulsen. The participants are expected to talk about economic data and the possibility of an economic stimulus package. Fratto was quick to point out that no matter what short term measures might be decided on, the White House supports making permanent the Bush tax cuts as they believe they will be beneficial in the long term. "The president does believe that in the short term some boost is necessary," Fratto said.

Fratto referred to the economic data the president has been examining for week "mixed."

"Most economists in the private sector are not predicting a recession," he said. He said that the president wants to work together with congressional leaders on what should be done about this "soft patch in the economy." He said the White House sees this as an economic slowdown in the short term, but would not elaborate on what kinds of components the administration support in a solution. Fratto said that the call was an opportunity for the president to listen to the congressional leadership and what their advisors are saying about economic conditions.

"We would like to see Congress act quickly on the housing issue," Fratto said. He pointed out several factors the White House believes to be contributing to the slowdown and mentioned the housing and mortgage problems and rising energy costs. In terms of a possible legislative solution, Fratto said that President Bush is leaving all options on the table.

On the NIE on Iran, Fratto said that the president stands by the "full scope of the NIE findings, including the fact that Iran had a weapons program."

The Economists

Buzzword alert! A new vocabulary for a new year. Watch out for the three T's of economic stimulus. Timely, Targeted and Temporary. Lawrence Summers, Secretary of Treasury under the Clinton administration, testified before the Joint Economic Committee today and specified that any economic stimulus package passed by Congress would have to be passed quickly, have focused objectives, and last for a finite amount of time. Both the Joint Economic Chairman Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D- Mass) echoed Summers' recommendations. Later today House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) will give his input on the subject in a town hall meeting on Capitol Hill.



In a Pen and Pad session with reporters House Majority leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) "Clearly our country is challenged today with substantial slowdown in our economy," he said. "We want to address it quickly." Then he made a reference Lawrence Summers' testimony and later incorporated the three T's. Hoyer said that what we do, ought to be short term. He is going to meet with Republican House leadership today to act quickly, and Hoyer believes that they can sign a bill in the next 30 days to create a stimulus. When asked what he would tell the public, "You tell the American people there is a problem and you need to address it." Though he admitted, "The housing issue is not going to be solved by a stimulus package."

Hoyer said that the goal is infusion of dollars in people's hands that need it. The subject of Paygo (Pay As You Go) came up, which prompted Hoyer to say that any economic stimulus should not increase the ever-growing deficit. Hoyer made a reference to the Clinton Administration saying, "People were much better off eight years ago than they are today. The country was much better off eight years ago than it was today." Hoyer also said he thought simply undoing Bush tax cuts will not have an effect.

But in the bipartisanship that usually blossoms in the beginning of the session (only to wither on the branch by midterm) was evident in Hoyer's outlook. "We are very hopeful in discussions with administration," Hoyer said in reference to his meetings with Bush economic advisors. He said that his meeting Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) was an unusual show of bipartisanship. He said that there is general agreement that Congress should act quickly and that there is a "risk" of recession, though it is debated whether or not the U.S. economy is already in or headed toward a recession. For now Hoyer said he will leave everything on the table, "the goal no matter what is to get money to people who need it and will spend it."