National Endowment Fight: Days of Blank Checks Over

Having been a financial supporter of the Newport Harbor Art Museum, I am on their mailing list and received one of their pleas to oppose the move by Congress to weed out support for blatantly anti-religious or grossly obscene works by the National Endowment for the Arts.

I was disappointed by the museum’s attitude that the taxpayers should fund art, no matter how offensive it might be.

Therefore, I understand perfectly (Mayor) Peter Buffa’s attempt to be careful with the taxpayers of Costa Mesa’s money with regard to South Coast Repertory’s lobbying on the issue.

Buffa, Congresssman Dana Rohrabacher and their allies should be commended for doing something about such a blatant abuse of government funds, particularly given the monetary crunch in government today.

The days of blank checks from the taxpayers are over, and rightfully so.

RANDY SMITH

Yorba Linda