Arts to Receive Level Funding for FY 2000

By Tom McClimon

House and Senate negotiators were unable to reach agreement on a proposed $5 million increase for the National Endowment for the Arts for Fiscal Year 2000 and instead decided to keep the agency funded at its current level of $98 million.

While the Senate had earlier approved a $5 million increase to the arts agency, the House Republican leadership held firm in its position that the agency receive no increase in its funding. A Senate offer to compromise with a $2.5 million increase was also rejected by House leaders.

The budget for the National Endowment for the Humanities was increased by $5 million from $110 to $115 million.

Final congressional and presidential approval of the Interior appropriations bill which contains the arts funding is uncertain as President Clinton as indicated a possible veto over a number of environmental issues.