03/01/1995 09:05 AM Senate HES

 SHES - 3/1/95                                                                 
                                                                               
          SJR 17 NAT'L ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES                          
                                                                               
 Number 435                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN called the committee back to order at 9:40 a.m. and            
 introduced  SJR 17  as the last order of business before the                  
 committee.                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RIEGER, prime sponsor, stated that SJR 17 addressed the               
 National Endowment for the Humanities which is under federal                  
 consideration for reauthorization.  He noted that the National                
 Endowment for the Humanities is a far-reaching organization in                
 Alaska.  He supported budget reductions at the federal level, but             
 all aspects of federal spending should be reviewed.  SJR 17 does              
 not request a hold harmless for this endowment, but it would                  
 request a fair and equitable solution.  He encouraged the committee           
 to review the backup of SJR 17, a lot of benefits have been                   
 achieved with little money.                                                   
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN asked if there were other questions.                           
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN agreed that the National Endowment for the Humanities           
 has achieved many beneficial programs.  However, should the general           
 public be forced to contribute to these programs through taxation?            
 He reiterated that there are benefits gained, but he objected in              
 principle to this non-core governmental function.  Obtaining                  
 private donations or other funding mechanisms in order to end                 
 federal funding and control would seem more appropriate.                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER stated that he shared some of the concerns of                  
 Senator Leman.  He asked at what point should the government be               
 involved in the arts and when should private donations come into              
 play.  Government funding carries government control.  He did not             
 want censorship;  do not require that everyone fund these programs            
 some of which are felt to be objectional to some people, use your             
 own funding.  The vast majority of the programs in the Alaska                 
 Humanities are good programs, however, programs regarding political           
 issues do not seem appropriate.  Perhaps, the funding of political            
 programs should be obtained elsewhere.  In conclusion, this                   
 legislation seems to be a philosophical debate.                               
                                                                               
 Number 499                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RIEGER acknowledged that he had given that point some                 
 thought, but throughout history most great cultures have devoted a            
 portion of their national resources to the arts and humanities.  In           
 a historical context, the amount of funding of this would be                  
 considered low in comparison to previous cultures.                            
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN moved that SJR 17 be moved out of committee with               
 individual recommendations.  SENATOR LEMAN objected to the funding            
 mechanism.                                                                    
                                                                               
 Upon a roll call vote, Senators Green, Ellis, and Salo voted "Yeah"           
 and Senators Leman and Miller voted "Nay."  The motion passed and             
 SJR 17 was passed out of committee with individual recommendations.