SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A Democratic proposal that seeks to allocate $100,000 for “circus arts” education in New Mexico is drawing ridicule from Republicans.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Republicans are attacking a bill sponsored by state Sen. Nancy Rodriguez that would educate children in circus arts such as trapeze, aerial fabrics, unicycling, juggling, clowning and giant puppetry.
House Republicans chided Rodriguez and Democrats for proposing to spend $100,000 on “clowning” while voting for a proposal that would exclude private schools from receiving state funding for textbooks.
Rodriguez says circus arts are effective with children and she didn’t think the idea was unusual.
The Santa Fe Democrat says she agreed to sponsor the bill after being approached by Wise Fool New Mexico - a nonprofit group that teaches circus arts.
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