Take Action!

Build a Relationship with your State Legislators

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:59:30 -0700

1. Identify your House and Senate Member (every citizen of Colorado has both a Representative who serves in the Colorado House and a Senator who serves in the Colorado Senate.)**

www.vote-smart.org
www.leg.state.co.us

2. A few general points:

Don’t be scared. Legislators are regular people – just like you. They are generally very open to hearing from constituents.
Be patient and know that timing matters. Legislators, like all of us, have busy lives. In addition to serving in the legislature, which is a part-time and relatively low-paying job, they may have another job. Being a legislator means attending a lot of weekend and evening meetings which can be challenging for those who are trying to balance young families with their jobs. It may take some time to schedule a meeting – start early and be patient.
Always be respectful. Legislators are asked to consider thousands of issues every year. It may take a little time or more than one conversation to get them to focus on your concerns. They may ask hard questions. They may disagree or say they don’t support your position. Thank them for listening and keep the conversation polite and respectful.

3. Ways to Interact

Website. Most legislators maintain two websites – an official one through the state and a campaign related one. Google your legislators, read their pages.
Email List. Many legislators have email lists to which they send periodic updates. Email your Representative and Senator, identify yourself as a constituent and ask to be added to their list. Legislators email addresses follow this format: firstname.lastname.house@state.co.us or firstname.lastname.senate@state.co.us. Or send to an email address specified on the website.
Town Hall Meetings. Many legislators hold monthly or seasonal town hall meetings. When you email to get placed on the email distribution list ask about upcoming meetings. Once you are on the email list you should get notice about upcoming meetings. Go to the meeting! Listen – what are other people talking to your legislator about? What does your legislator care about? Stick around afterward to introduce yourself and say hello.
Individual meetings. It is perfectly acceptable to request an individual meeting with your legislator. In making the request, be flexible regarding timing and tell them specifically what you want to discuss.
Donate. It takes money to run for office and communicate with constituents. Colorado has very strict contribution limits: individuals can give a maximum of $400 to a legislator during each election cycle. If you want to and can make a donation, it is to your advantage to make it as obvious as possible. Best options are to host a fundraiser (need to raise $1000 minimum from your contacts to make it worthwhile) or join others who are putting on a fundraiser as an event sponsor. You can also make a contribution on their website or mail a check but this is a less visible method of giving.

** Colorado is currently reapportioning legislative seats, a process that occurs every ten years. This means that the boundaries of your House and Senate district may change, effective for the 2012 election. You may be in different districts for the 2012 Legislative Session and the 2012 election.

Bennet Releases his Position on the Arts: Ask Ken Buck to Release His

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:56:28 -0600

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, running for re-election in November, just issued this statement about his position on the arts:
MICHAEL BENNET: SUPPORTING THE ARTS
"One of the great strengths of America is our creativity and individuality. Art galleries, museums, theaters, recital halls and libraries all stand as monuments to what Americans can achieve when that creativity is unleashed. Art, at its best, has the capacity to inspire, and to fill the next generation with bold visions for the future. A great country needs great artists, writers, musicians, actors and other varieties of talent. That is why, as a U.S. Senator, I am committed to supporting artistic achievement and encouraging artistic growth in the next generation of Americans."
--Michael Bennet
As school districts come under increasingly severe budget pressures in a recession, too many schools are being forced to cut funding for art and music programs. As the president of National Public Radio, Michael Bennet's dad instilled in him a healthy appreciation for the importance of the arts. Now, as a U.S. Senator, Michael is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to the tools of creative expression that are fundamental to a free society. Michael will pursue fiscally responsible policies to support the arts, and fight for the resources that our artists need to flourish.
• Invest in Public-Private Partnerships to Support Artists. Provided any new spending is offset, Michael supports increased funding for the U.S. Department of Education's Arts Education Model Development and Dissemination Grants, which encourage public-private partnerships between schools and arts organizations.

• Engage More Young Artists To Help Low-Income Schools. Michael supports recruiting and employing young artists to Work with students in low-income schools and their communities. Studies suggest that test scores improve faster for students who are enrolled in low-income schools that link arts across the curriculum.

• Resist Irresponsible Efforts to Slash Funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. Money allocated toward the NEA is money well spent - roughly $200 million in federal funds in 2009 helped the NEA raise over $600 million in matching private support, funding that is bolstering the arts and promoting economic development in countless communities. That's why Michael was proud to support $50 million in funding for the NEA through the Recovery Act, and why Michael will fight back against those, like his opponent, who falsely suggest the federal deficit could be eliminated if only we cut funding for the NEA.

• Use Artists to Engage the Rest of the World. We should expand public-private partnerships, and increase the resources available for cultural diplomacy, in order to facilitate more foreign exchanges, and send American artists, musicians, actors, writers, and thinkers abroad to engage with other cultures. At the same time, we must streamline our own legal pathways to immigration, as part of a broader push for comprehensive immigration reform, so that America welcomes well-intentioned artists from other nations with open arms.

• Fight for Tax Policies that are Fair. Michael supports passing the Artist-Museum Partnership Act, which amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow artists to deduct the fair market value of their work, rather than just the costs of the materials, when they make charitable contributions.

Interested in finding out how Bennet's opponent, Republican candidate Ken Buck, views the arts? Click here to encourage Buck to release his position paper on the arts.
Thank you for supporting the arts in Colorado!
Arts for Colorado

Are you a member? If not, please join us! A membership in Arts for Colorado is a vote for support of arts and culture. The bigger our membership, the louder our voice. Please click here to visit our membership page.

Action Alert: Contact YOUR LEGISLATOR TO SUPPORT STATE FUNDING FOR COLORADO'S ARTS & FILM OFFICES!

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:05:04 -0600

The Colorado legislature has passed the state budget for next year (HB10-1339), but is now considering the final numbers for the arts and film in what is being called the "Long Bill." In the 2009 fiscal year, funding for the Colorado Council on the Arts (CCA) was cut by 25%, and funding for the Office of Film, Television and Media (OFTM) was cut 10.7%. However, in the Joint Budget Committee's budget proposal for next year, funding for the CCA is scheduled to take an additional budget cut of 2%, bringing it to a level of $1,178,071. The OFTM budget will stand at $428,556. While additional cuts are unfortunate, these modest reductions do reflect the current difficult economic period we all have to manage, and the cuts would have been worse without the work of Arts for Colorado and its advocates at the Capitol. Thus, at this time, please contact your representatives in the House and Senate to ask them to support the Joint Budget Committee's budget proposal.

The time is NOW to support the arts in Colorado!

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION NOW!

Show Your Approval/Disapproval About Senate Anti-Arts Amendment

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 13:07:31 -0700

Senate Vote Prohibits Arts Recipients in Economic Stimulus Funding

During their consideration of the Economic Recovery bill, the Senate approved an egregious amendment offered by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) that stated “None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, art center, and highway beautification project.” Unfortunately, the amendment passed by a wide vote margin of 73-24, and surprisingly included support from many high profile Senators including Chuck Schumer of New York, Dianne Feinstein of California, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, and several other Democratic and Republican Senators.

If the Coburn amendment language is included in the final conference version of this legislation, many arts groups will be prevented from receiving economic recovery funds from any portion of this specific stimulus bill. It is clear that there is still much work to be done in the Senate and in the media about the role that nonprofit arts organizations and artists play in the nation’s economy and workforce.

Visit the page dedicated to opposing this recent Senate action at the Americans for the Arts Web site to take action now! http://capwiz.com/artsusa/issues/alert/?alertid=12612041

Tell Your Local Media that the Arts Need Support in National Economic Recovery Efforts

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 10:09:10 -0700

Send a Letter to the Editor Today! Click here for a list of Colorado media outlets with contact information for each.

As Congress considers the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, it is important that arts and culture be included in helping to revitalize America's economy. We have provided a sample “Letter to the Editor” to send to your local media to let them know that you support the arts. It’s vital that arts supporters let local media know that the arts must be included in economic recovery efforts!

Take Action!
Below is a sample letter. You may alter and edit this letter or write your own letter. You are not required to use all of the information in this letter. You are strongly urged to offer your own thoughts, stories, and examples to help illustrate the vital need to include the arts and culture sector in national economic recovery efforts.

SAMPLE LETTER:

[Name of Newpaper/Media Org.]
[Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Re: Include the Arts in National Economic Recovery Efforts

Dear [Editor, Name of Newspaper/Media Org.]:

As Congress considers the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the arts and culture sector must be included. The arts are essential to the health and vitality of our communities. They enhance community development; spur urban renewal; attract new businesses; draw tourism dollars; and create an environment that attracts skilled, educated workers and builds a robust 21st century workforce. According to Americans for the Arts, a $50 million investment to the National Endowment for the Arts will provide critical funding to save 14,422 jobs from being lost in the U.S. economy. This is based on the ability of the NEA to leverage $7 in additional support through local, state and private donations, for every $1 in NEA support.

Nonprofit arts organizations are proud members of the business community—employing people locally, purchasing goods and services within the community, and involved in the marketing and promotion of their cities. In fact, there are more full-time jobs supported by the nonprofit arts than are in accounting, public safety officers, even lawyers and just slightly fewer than elementary school teachers. There are approximately 100,000 nonprofit arts organizations, which spend $63.1 billion annually. Without an economic stimulus for the nonprofit arts industry, experts expect about 10% of these organizations (ranging from large arts institutions like museums and orchestras to small community-based organizations in suburban, urban and rural areas) to shut their doors in 2009 - a loss of 260,000 jobs.

In a report released in mid-January, the National Governor's Association stated, "Arts and culture are important to state economies. Arts and culture-related industries, also known as "creative industries," provide direct economic benefits to states and communities: They create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases."

Then-NEA Chairman Dana Gioia issued the following statement prior to his departure, "Arts organizations have been hit enormously hard by the current recession. They've seen their support drop from corporations, foundations, and municipalities. This infusion of funds will help sustain them, their staffs, and the artists they employ. We are hopeful that Congress and the new administration will support this important investment."

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Federal: Urge Congress to Include the Arts in the National Economic Recovery Plan

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 09:59:12 -0700

Contact your legislators today! Click here to find contact information for your legislators.

The arts are essential to the health and vitality of our communities. They enhance community development; spur urban renewal; attract new businesses; draw tourism dollars; and create an environment that attracts skilled, educated workers and builds a robust 21st century workforce. As Congress considers the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, urge them to include the arts and culture so that they can continue to help revitalize America's economy.

Take Action!
Below is a sample letter. You may alter and edit this letter or write your own letter. You are not required to use all of the information in this letter. You are strongly urged to offer your own thoughts, stories, and examples to help illustrate the vital need to include the arts and culture sector in national economic recovery efforts.

SAMPLE LETTER:

February 6, 2009

The Honorable Michael Bennet
United States Senate
702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0605

Re: Support the Arts in the National Economic Recovery Plan

Dear Senator Bennet:

As Congress considers the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, I hope they will include the arts and culture sector. It is thoughtful economic policy to invest in our nation's arts infrastructure. According to the Americans for the Arts, a $50 million investment to the National Endowment for the Arts will provide critical funding to save 14,422 jobs from being lost in the U.S. economy. This is based on the ability of the NEA to leverage $7 in additional support through local, state and private donations, for every $1 in NEA support.

Arts organizations employ performers and curators, but also employ accountants, designers, plumbers, union workers and engineers. In fact, there are more full-time jobs supported by the nonprofit arts than are in accounting, public safety officers, even lawyers and just slightly fewer than elementary school teachers. There are approximately 100,000 nonprofit arts organizations, which spend $63.1 billion annually. Without an economic stimulus for the nonprofit arts industry, experts expect about 10% of these organizations (ranging from large arts institutions like museums and orchestras to small community-based organizations in suburban, urban and rural areas) to shut their doors in 2009 - a loss of 260,000 jobs.

For those arts organizations that do not go out of business due to the poor economy, it is expected that on average, the remaining arts organizations will experience up to 20% in budget cuts in 2009, resulting in losses of approximately 468,000 jobs. In a report released in mid-January, the National Governor's Association stated, "Arts and culture are important to state economies. Arts and culture-related industries, also known as "creative industries," provide direct economic benefits to states and communities: They create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases."

Then-NEA Chairman Dana Gioia issued the following statement prior to his departure, "Arts organizations have been hit enormously hard by the current recession. They've seen their support drop from corporations, foundations, and municipalities. This infusion of funds will help sustain them, their staffs, and the artists they employ. We are hopeful that Congress and the new administration will support this important investment."

Sincerely,
[Your Name]