House, in Shift, Backs Funding for Arts Agency

WASHINGTON —  The House agreed Tuesday to maintain funding for the National Endowment for the Arts at its current level, signaling a softening of conservative opposition to the agency.

Given the support the NEA enjoys in the Senate, the House’s 253-173 vote means the agency will avoid what had become an annual struggle for its existence.

For years, House conservatives have sought to wipe out the endowment, objecting to use of tax dollars for the arts in general and taking particular exception to past NEA funding of works they considered obscene or sacrilegious. The House effort was thwarted by the Senate and White House, but each year the endowment found itself under assault.

Now, however, reforms limiting the NEA’s grant-giving authority--coupled with a Supreme Court ruling allowing limits on the funding of indecent art--prompted some agency critics in the House to cease their attacks.

Rep. Cass Ballenger (R-N.C.), who voted against funding the endowment previously, said: “I think that we should give the NEA a chance to work under new guidelines and mandates of law that now govern the agency.”

NEA officials expressed relief at Tuesday’s vote, coming just one year after the House had recommended not giving the agency any funding.

“The old debate over the existence of the NEA finally has given way to a more thoughtful dialogue about the appropriate level of federal arts funding in America,” said William J. Ivey, who earlier this year replaced actress Jane Alexander as NEA chairman. “It is now time to move ahead with the important work of this agency.”

Still, the barrage of NEA criticism stretching back over the last decade--and intensifying since the GOP took control of Congress in 1995--has led to a significant drop in the NEA’s budget. Its funding reached a high of $176 million in 1992, but now stands at $98 million. Tuesday’s House vote would give the agency that same amount in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.

The Senate is prepared to give the endowment $100 million. If that happens, the two chambers will face low-key negotiations to reconcile the slight funding difference rather than a repeat of past battles over whether the agency would survive.

In the House, money for the agency is included in a $13.4-billion bill to fund the Interior Department, Indian and cultural programs. The motion to fund the agency was sponsored by Rep. Nancy L. Johnson (R-Conn.).

The budget is not all that has changed at the NEA, founded during the Johnson administration in 1965.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that “decency” can be a factor in awarding federal arts grants, rejecting a claim by artists in Los Angeles and New York that such a policy is censorship.

Last year, Congress set guidelines intended to spread more grants outside the big cities and favor arts groups and education programs instead of individual artists. Additionally, six lawmakers were appointed to the NEA governing council as part of the congressional effort to scrutinize the agency more closely.

Some NEA supporters also believe the endowment may have benefited from the Clinton administration’s choice of Ivey to head it. His background as an expert in country music was expected to help defuse arguments that the agency pushed an elitist agenda in awarding its grants.

The lessening of conservative criticism in the wake of these developments was evident in comments by a Christian Coalition spokesman following Tuesday’s vote. “We believe the NEA has an opportunity here to demonstrate it will be responsible in its grants and take decency into account,” Arne Owens said. “I think many members of Congress are giving them a second chance.”

Still, the House debate was a repeat of the clashes of years past, with many conservatives making clear that the NEA’s future will remain a subject of contention.

“Is it fiscally responsible to give taxpayer money to some artists who offend taxpayers? I don’t think so,” said Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas), one of those who condemned past NEA funding of exhibitions that included controversial work--such as the homoerotic photography of the late Robert Mapplethorpe and Andres Serrano’s depiction of a crucifix submerged in urine.

Arts advocates countered that reforms should prevent future controversies while continuing the NEA’s important mission of spreading the arts. NEA funding, supporters noted, covers everything from after-school ceramics classes for children to rural music festivals to the hit Broadway musical “Rent.” California receives about 10% of the endowment money.

“We must not forget the impact of the arts on our most important resource--our children,” said Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D-N.Y.). “It’s time to stop holding the NEA a political hostage.”

Ultimately, 58 Republicans joined with 194 Democrats and the House’s one independent in voting for the NEA funding. Voting against it were 166 Republicans and 7 Democrats.

Among the California delegation, Republicans who broke ranks to support funding were Brian P. Bilbray of San Diego, Stephen Horn of Long Beach and Jerry Lewis of Redlands.

The delegation’s sole Democrat to oppose funding was Gary A. Condit of Ceres.