Governor Sam Brownback this week signed an order to eliminate the Kansas Arts Commission. It’s part of Brownback’s efforts to handle a 500 million dollar budget deficit. The order will take effect July 1st, unless it’s rejected by the Legislature. Brownback says the move would save the state around 600 thousand dollars next fiscal year. As KPR’s Stephen Koranda tells us, supporters of the Arts Commission say it costs the state just 29 cents per Kansan per year. They say cutting the Arts Commission will cost the state much more than that.
Supporters of the Arts Commission have a rally planned for later today (THUR) at the Statehouse in Topeka. It's scheduled for 12 noon at the Judicial Center, across the street from the Capitol.