GOP Talks Deficit Reduction, But Top Republican Would Spend $270 Million On Art

[groundloop]

Source: ABC News


Just as Republicans in Congress have been calling for an aggressive crackdown on federal spending, one powerful House leader has declared that his desire to expand the National Gallery of Art -- at an estimated cost of $270 million -- has become his singular, top priority on Capitol Hill.

Rep. John Mica, the Florida Republican who chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, has spent years pushing legislation to evict the Federal Trade Commission from its stately historic building on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C., to make space for the art gallery expansion. Even after taking the helm of a committee that helps set the nation's policy on everything from air safety to mass transit to highway construction, Mica has maintained his laser focus on winning approval for this pet project.

.............

Rosch said he couldn't understand how the expansion rose to become Mica's top priority even before he held a single hearing as committee chairman, before he identified where the FTC was going to go, before anyone had determined the fair market value of the FTC building, and before anyone had conducted an impartial evaluation of what it would cost taxpayers.

............

Adding to the confusion was the announcement last week from the independent Congressional Budget Office, which released the first cost estimate for the proposal, saying the government may need to set aside $270 million to relocate the Federal Trade Commission.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/gop-talks-deficit-reduction-top-republican-spend-270/story?id=13418238

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Not that I'm against setting aside money for the arts, but this guy has decided he's going to get what he wants no matter what it costs and no matter who he has to trample to get it. Oh, and never mind that it's going to cost taxpayers over a QUARTER OF A BILLION dollars at a time when other Publican leaders are telling us they're going to cut medicare, social security, Head Start, and many other programs in order to balance the budget.

[Frisbee]

1. Somewhere, somehow...

he's getting something out of this.

[valerief]

6. Damn straight! nt

[Recursion]

*shrug* that building is perfectly situated

just north of the National Gallery. Maybe he's pissed at the FTC or something.

[Demit]

2. It's actually not a bad idea, once you read abt it. And it's been this guy's pet project for years.

Bad timing on his part now, though. I doubt Republicans are going to sign on in this cost-cutting atmosphere. Plus there's a DC Dem who fiercely opposed. But Mica is utterly sincere about his interest in art.

If you're really interested in the background—both of the National Gallery's need for expansion and the FTC's need (but reluctance to leave their lovely prestigious building)—here's some good links:

http://blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes/2011/02/is-the-national-gallery-of-art-expanding-after-all/
http://theblogofthecourtier.blogspot.com/2011/03/still-uncertain-fate-for-dcs-manly-art.html
http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/artsfun/8424.html (which I'm still reading)

Thanks for posting this! I was all set to look for Mica's angle, being suspicious, but the reading you prompted me to do puts some nuance into the topic.

[nyy1998]

3. Interesting nt

[groundloop]

8. I got the impression the FTC was against this.

Thus my opinion of the proposal. In any case now is an extraordinarily bad time to be proposing such a huge expenditure unless it's an absolute necessity (and IMHO this is not).

[Demit]

13. They are, from what I read. But it's a human thing...the bigwigs have their offices there

There are satellite offices scattered elsewhere (demonstrating that they too have run out of space) but the honchos like the prestige of being in that central location. They're talking about how they'd like to expand in their present location, but that doesn't make any sense. There's no feasible space.

Mica's idea is that the upfront cost of shifting everybody around will be recouped later, and that providing more & better space for art & visiting artist activities (something art commenters say is sorely needed, just in terms of what other major museums do) will, additionally, draw tourist dollars & be a money maker. I'm not a city planner or financial expert but it sounds logical. Prolly will stay on the drawing board though, for the foreseeable future.

[elleng]

10. Makes sense logictically/geographically, but BAD TIMING, as you say.

[mopinko]

4. why does this guy hate the ftc?

is the missing piece of the puzzle that he has a plan to pull some sort of shit while the ftc is packing up their boxes?

[Po_d Mainiac]

5. Wonder if he wants a mural? n/t

[PatSeg]

7. I thought republicans

didn't like art.

[AlbertCat]

11. I thought republicans didn't like art.

The NY State Theatre.... built for NYCB, and home to NYC Opera... is now the David H Koch Theater.


When the government does not support the arts, someone else has to.

And why doesn't the government support the arts? Every other civilized government does. It's not like art is a luxurious frivolity. It improves the quality of life. (even prisoners will decorate their cinder block cells, y'know)

America is only interested in quantity, not quality.

[PatSeg]

12. I see David Koch's name on Pbs frequently

as a contributor. That's about the only positive thing I can say about him.

It is pretty sad when art and music are treated as unnecessary and trivial. They are usually the first classes to be eliminated in cash strapped schools.

[xchrom]

9. beyond his pet project -- is there anything in mica's background

that indicates an abiding love for art?

[Demit]

14. There's info on that in the links I provided above.

I think you'll enjoy reading it!