What gives with this guy wanting to kill the arts in OK?

[jdagreek]

What a tool you are to jump on something like this without actually knowing what you are talking about. The money coming from the state's general revenue fund to the Arts Council doesn't fund art in schools. it funds pork that the legislature gives to local cities and towns to fund mostly art events etc. The public school arts funding is provided by the funding to the State Department of Education which goes to local schools based on a formula. The local schools themselves then fund their own arts education programs.

Here is a fact for you. The last time I looked at all State of Oklahoma funds going into public schools was in 2009 and the dollars from local ad valorem taxes and state appropriated dollars was about $3.8 billion dollars. You are whining about $4 million dollars to an Arts Council that is more pork than Arts. With recent budget cuts due to the state of our economy it is likely a little less.

So, if we follow your logic you would rather give the $4 million for pork projects then to the local schools who actually have the school arts programs that teach kids about arts.

You sir are more of a tool than the legislator who likely has his priorities on funding education rather than pork

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...arts-council-funding-20130124,0,1479670.story

What a tool. The funding provides money that supports school art programs. Why is it when people start cutting funding, they always go for education and arts. This is why we have problems with out children- no culture.

 

[jdagreek]

Again, you are just trying to make goofy points. You are just wrong as the money to the Arts Council doesn't go directly towards "arts education." It goes to a council that has a huge overhead budget that takes a significant slice of that $4 million state appropriation. Get your facts straight.

It is local public schools that provides "art education" to our children. You are just one of those folks that screams to cut other programs then screams like bloody murder when someone wants to cut yours. This is why governments can't make budget cuts which translate to lower spending etc. This state has a budget balance Amendment in it's Constitution. So, when tax revenues decrease then budgets are cut and funding to some programs are cut. You should be screaming at the recent roughly 20% budgets cuts for all of state government than the Oklahoma Arts Council

Com'on, now please enlighten us on what those other BS programs that you recommend the legislature cuts while leaving the "pork" funding to the Oklahoma Arts Council in place. Please, I beg you to tell us.

My problem is that they cut art funding but they won't pay for their own plane tickets, meals or transportation. They won't cut other BS funding, but they cut funding that goes directly towards arts education. That 29 million in art revenue has nothing to do with the fund, the fund is mainly for art education. I want art back in school as a daily class. I want gym back as a daily class. One of the main functions of the government is education, fund it the way it should be. Schools have to have several fundraisers each year just to keep the lights on. That is BS. Instead of paying for illegal immigrants and health care, fund the god damn school system the way it should be.

 

[71buickfreak]

Nope, you are a tool for thinking this is pork. The OAC money goes to help non-profit organizations, it helps them find funding and other resources they would otherwise not be able to acquire. Many of these non-profits offer arts education programs, especially during summer break for children. In the grand scheme of things, what is 4 million dollars to the OK budget? Nothing. They could save that by flying commercial and driving their own vehicles to work. Museums are mostly non-profits. History may not be important to you, but it is to others and it is an important part of tourism in the state. Get your head out of your ass.

I am all for small government, but until they gut everything, they need to start at the top.

 

[mons meg]

The decline of public school art education funding over the years MIGHT have something to do with the absolute WORSHIP of standardized math and reading tests due to NCLB and other nonsense.

 

[jdagreek]

Ha, you simply can't help yourself. You suggest the legislature could save by flying commercially and driving their own vehicles to work?

Where in the world does that come from?

The only time any member would fly commercially is for some trip out of the state that was on state business. If they fly to the Capitol for legislative sessions then they fly at their own expense. I only know of one member of the State Legislature that would fly to the Capitol. He paid his own way. Here is another fact you are obviously unaware. The members of the state legislature receive a perdiem allowance for mileage to and from the Capitol for one round trip a week when they are in session. They are also given an allowance for a motel room for those who live outside the OKC metro, assuming they don't commute back and forth every day.

My guess is that you are someone who either works for a non-profit that gets funding from the Arts Council or your spouse does or some other family member. Or, you are connected to the OKC Arts Festival that has lived off of the Arts Council etc.

Where does History fit into this equation?

You just throw that in to confuse your pet issue?

Again, please tell me what you would cut that you think is less important than the Arts Council?

Would it be the school lunch program. Perhaps the breakfast program most schools are forced to do as so many of our parents send their kids to school without a breakfast. Or do you want to kill the program up at Enid that takes care of those poor kids who are so deformed and mentally damaged that they can't function without someone taking care of them every minute of the day? Do you know some of those kids have to have an adult actually and physically holding some of those kids 24/7 so they won't hurt themselves and/or others. Or do you want to cut the funding to the OU health center for all those crack babies who wind up in the state's care as their parents are drug addicts and abandoned their kids. Or do you want to cut the funding to our courts and prison system so we have to turn more of the felons/criminals loose to prey on society?

Just tell me what you would cut? Don't be afraid to make a statement and tell us where your priorities are.

Let me tell you something. I have a home in OKC that I don't live in. Last year, I rented it out to a long time friend whose health just went to hell. Her sorry husband abandoned her and her son kicked her out of her house. So, she is living in my house and only paying the bills. She can't work due to her health. DHS has cut her off, medicare has cut her benefits to the point where she is just barely able to pay the bills. Do you want to take another slice out of her benefits so you can have your Arts Council?

Nope, you are a tool for thinking this is pork. The OAC money goes to help non-profit organizations, it helps them find funding and other resources they would otherwise not be able to acquire. Many of these non-profits offer arts education programs, especially during summer break for children. In the grand scheme of things, what is 4 million dollars to the OK budget? Nothing. They could save that by flying commercial and driving their own vehicles to work. Museums are mostly non-profits. History may not be important to you, but it is to others and it is an important part of tourism in the state. Get your head out of your ass.

I am all for small government, but until they gut everything, they need to start at the top.

 

[tntrex]

This clown is an idiot. If he wants to save dollars, why don't he take on the tax rebates like the one the state gov gave the Thudner for alot more millions?

 

[LightningCrash]

my state senator drives his own car to work, a 2000 Toyota pickup.

If you drive out to the capitol building you can see all of the parking spots for the house and senate. If you go while they're in session you'll notice that there are a lot of piece of **** cars parked in those spots. When they get out of session you'll see some dude in a $70 walmart suit hop in and drive home.

 

[Lightsluvr]

There is so much I would like to rant about on this thread, but suffice it to say that anyone in Oklahoma who gets their news from the LA Times gives me a headache.

Do we really care what this rag says about Oklahoma politics? They should be more concerned that California is in the financial crapper - but is probably still funding the "arts".

Ya see, Oklahoma MUST balance its budget every year... the Federal and California governments could learn something from OUR Constitution.

JMO

LL

 

[LightningCrash]

There is so much I would like to say on this thread, but suffice it to say that anyone in Oklahoma who gets their news from the LA Times gives me a headache.

LL

I love how every time a proposal for Y is brought up, someone just says "we should be focusing on X instead."
However, said person didn't feel the need to bring up X until the proposed policy Re: Y was introduced.

 

[Lightsluvr]

This clown is an idiot. If he wants to save dollars, why don't he take on the tax rebates like the one the state gov gave the Thudner for alot more millions?

The representative is neither a clown nor an idiot. Any rebates given to the Thunder have been paid back to the State by other taxes generated by the most admired franchise in the United States. The Thunder Organization is a financial boon to Oklahoma. (and no, I don't work for the Thunder or any of its owners - just a fan)

The LA Times article cites an Arts oriented web site which says that the Arts contribute $29 Million a year to Oklahoma's economy. I have no reason to doubt that, though a large amount of that estimate likely comes from the for-profit Celebrity Attractions which brings big-time productions to OKC and Tulsa.

Well here's a link to a NPR article which estimates that the Thunder bring $59 Million a year into Oklahoma.
http://stateimpact.npr.org/oklahoma...economic-impact-but-its-hard-to-say-how-much/


LL