For those of you keeping track: HB 1997, the bill that would help maintain funding 4Culture, passed the House ways and means committee a few days ago with a "do pass" recommendation. The vote was 16-11. HB 1997 is now in the hands of the House rules committee.

And who is chair of the rules committee? Good old Rep. Franklin Delano Chopp, the man who's given past 4Culture bills a hard time because they didn't do enough for affordable housing. "Arts and housing," he would always say. "Arts and housing."

Well, HB 1997 has got some damned housing in it: $5 million for housing, $3 million for arts and heritage.

This year, Chopp shouldn't have any reason to oppose—or ignore—the bill.