A bipartisan majority of the state House of Representatives rejected a bill that aimed to minimize government oversight by eliminating some state boards, commissions and councils.
House Rep. Alexander Kolodin introduced the bill, and he said it is designed to target overreach and redundancies. For example, a special license plate to spay and neuter animals and its related fund would be discontinued, as well as the Companion Animal Spay and Neuter Committee.
Kolodin also said he included the arts commission for elimination.
"The arts are far better when they are independent of the government," Kolodin said. "When they can be critical of the government and those who fund them because it's really hard to be critical of certain agencies and certain people within the government when that's where you're getting your money from."
House Rep. Selina Bliss tried to amend the legislation to keep the commission, which she said is essential for her northern Arizona district to thrive.
"According to the analysis by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Arizona’s arts and culture sector contributes more to the state's economy than mining, agriculture and forestry combined," Bliss said. “Guys, this is a big, big deal.”
