Ten out of 13 North Country representatives voted against a bill that would have abolished the State Art Fund.
According to the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts the fund is also known as the Percent for Art Program and it was established by the legislature in 1979.
That 1979 action “authorizes one-half of one percent of the capitol budget appropriation for new buildings or significant renovations to be set aside in a non-lapsing account for the acquisition or commissioning of artwork.”
House Bill 1285would have repealed the fund.
On Wednesday the House voted 210 – 76 not to repeal the fund but instead to put the bill aside for interim study. That means the bill may - or may not - be taken up next year.
Ten North Country representatives to send the bill to interim study. They were:
* Lyle Bulis (Republican) of Littleton
* Gary Coulombe (Democrat) of Berlin
* William Hatch (Democrat) of Gorham
* Larry Rappaport (Republican) of Colebrook.
* William Remick (Republican) of Lancaster
* Herb Richardson (Republican) of Lancaster
* Kathleen Taylor (Democrat) of Franconia
* John Tholl (Republican) of Whitefield
* Yvonne Thomas (Democrat) of Berlin
* Marc Tremblay (Republican) of Berlin
Three North Country reps voted against interim study. They were:
* Duffy Daugherty (Republican) of Colebrook.
* Edmond Gionet (Republican) of Lincoln.
* Gregory Sorg (Republican) of Easton.
Three North Country reps were excused. They were:
* Stephanie Eaton (Republican) of Littleton
* Evalyn Merrick (Democrat) of Lancaster
* Robert Theberge (Democrat) of Berlin
The Concord Monitor has a story todaydetailing how art provided under the program turned out to be surprisingly popular at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton.
