Kansas Governor Vetoes Funding for the Kansas Arts Commission

The governor used line-item veto authority to eliminate state funding of the Kansas Arts Commission, effectively undermining the agency's ability to operate. He prefers financing of the arts be performed by a privately financed foundation.

The action by Brownback ran counter to votes by the House and Senate to retain state support of KAC and to preserve the organizational structure of a 45-year-old agency sending arts grants to every corner of the state.

Henry Schwaller, chairman of the Kansas Arts Commission, said the governor's removal of $689,000 in state financing would prevent Kansas from qualifying for grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Kansas will be the only state to miss out on this federal aid, he said.

“With a stroke of his pen, the governor cost the state of Kansas $1.2 million,” Schwaller said. “On July 1, nearly 200 local arts organizations and artists will lose critical support for local arts programs, operational funding and professional development.”