New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey has proposed elimination of the state’s entire spending on the arts – $31.7 million in cultural funding in next year’s budget. Cuts include “all $18 million from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts budget, as well as $3.7 million from the historical commission and the next $10 million installment for the New Jersey Cultural Trust, a public-private partnership meant to stabilize struggling cultural groups.” Cultural groups are stunned: “We went to our own funeral today. We understand the fiscal crisis facing New Jersey. What we don’t understand or accept is why we are being singled out (and) … eliminated.”