But as reported in the it is:

The extra $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts is a significant boost for the agency, whose annual budget, without the additional money, was $145 million. The bill calls for 40 percent of the new money to be distributed by formula to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations. The remaining 60 percent will be set aside for individual arts projects competing for Endowment grants.

It’s even more rewarding to hear that Representative Louise Slaughter—from New York’s 28th district, which includes Rochester—was one of the people who made this happen.

Sure, not everything arts people wanted was reinserted into the bill. Pieces of the Coburn amendment are still there, including restriction that no stimulus money can be spent on zoos, aquariums, and swimming pools. But still, as others have said, there might be money from other pieces of the bill (such as education funding) that end up benefiting artists and the arts in general.

The has a great piece by Christopher Knight about this, including a bit comparing the F-22 promotional materials to info from Americans for the Arts:

The F-22 provides $12 billion annually in national economic activity through 25,000 jobs in 44 states, as well as another 70,000 that are indirectly affected by the program. Meanwhile, the national lobbying group Americans for the Arts says the country’s 5.7-million workers in the nonprofit culture industry contribute $166 billion to the annual economy.

But rather than spend a dime on culture, we piss away spend $62 billion on obsolete, and unneeded, fighter jets. Greatest. Country. In. The. World.

I couldn’t agree more with Knight’s conclusion:

Sounds good — but do I really think a beneficial cultural stimulus package has a snowball’s chance in Hades of happening? No. How about that wasteful F-22 funding? Yes; in fact I’ll be shocked if it doesn’t.

Why? Because ever since a bunch of farmers, merchants and other small-businesspeople fought the American Revolution against the East India Company and its nominal CEO, King George III, corporations have been the nation’s primary obstacle to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They still are.

Culture is all about pursuing happiness, so even in a crisis it barely stands a chance. If you doubt it, ask the Wall Street bankers who have gotten hundreds of billions in bailouts and bonuses — and stand to get more. Then ask your senator or representative, who can’t get elected without them.