The Symphony has had enough

Back in 1993 somebody in Jefferson City actually came up with a good idea. Create a trust fund for the arts funded by personal income taxes collected from out-of-state professional athletes and entertainers. The plan was to to take as much as $10 million a year and put it into an account until the amount reached $100 million and the fund would become self-sustaining. The Missouri Arts Council could then use the interest from that fund for matching grants to arts organizations across the state. Only one problem. The amounts transferred never came near the $10 million amount. In fact, very little was ever transferred. State legislators and Governors Holden and Blunt couldn't help themselves and had to use that money for other things. The Kansas City Symphony has finally had enough. If the Governor and state legislature won't follow their own rules, the symphony has decided to ask the courts to force them to. “We’re simply asking that everyone just follow the law,” said Frank Byrne, the symphony’s executive director. “The symphony took this step very reluctantly … but I think it was a sense of responsibility about the long-term security of the arts. … Sometimes someone has to step forward and take action.” Now the governor's office is sending thinly veiled threats that they're going to yank arts funding all together. Word on the street is all potential arts funding in the budget that the governor will announce on Jan. 24 has been withdrawn from consideration. I think this just goes to show how politicians can't help themselves when it comes to money. Even when the law says to do something, they don't! Fiscal responsibility is what it is. The law was passed. The law was ignored. Now the symphony is asking for that law to be enforced. I say bravo KC Symphony!