Dr. Barnes Goes to Congress

This just in from the office of U.S. Congressman Jim Gerlach:

Congressman Gerlach will be joined by members of the Friends of the Barnes Foundation tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2:00 pm., at 275 North Latch Lane, [across the street from the Barnes] in Merion, to discuss what he plans to do to help block the efforts by the Barnes Foundation trustees to move the museum to Philadelphia.

Specifically, he plans to introduce a bill (when Congress reconvenes in November) that "would impose a penalty on any tax-exempt organization, and in this case the Barnes Foundation, for accepting a donation that would be used to move the organization contrary to the intent of the donor. The penalty will be equal to the value of the donation, and prevent any organization from raising money for the purpose of relocating, against the terms and wishes of the original donor, in this case Dr. Albert Barnes."

According to a statement by Rep. Gerlach, whose district includes the Barnes:

Gov. Rendell's proposal to spend $25 million in taxpayer monies to facilitate the move of the Barnes Foundation collection from its rightful home in Merion, Pennsylvania to the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia is a shortsighted and ill-advised decision. This $25 million would be enough to keep the Barnes Foundation solvent in Merion, making the move to Philadelphia unnecessary. This fact underscores the truth that the Foundation Board's decision to move the priceless collection of artwork was a poor one. The decision was based on false assumptions, questionable motives, and inaccurate financial projections. But using precious taxpayer dollars to facilitate this move is adding insult to injury. Using public money to purloin an invaluable treasure from Lower Merion would be a travesty of artistic, economic, and legal justice.

CultureGrrl agrees that the Barnes should stay where its founder wanted it. I've said why in the Mainstream Media, both here and here. But my guess is that since the "intent of the donor" has been interpreted by the courts to allow "saving" the Barnes through its relocation, the bill may turn out to be more symbolic than productive.