Dolly Parton Imagination Library Cut From Indiana Republicans’ Budget

Indiana Republicans have proposed cutting state funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, which provides books to young kids in an effort to promote literacy.

According to the South Bend Tribune, legislators in the Indiana House of Representatives recently proposed a biennial budget that did not include the usual 50 percent matching funds the state provides to finance the program. The other half is provided by the United Way and local community foundations. The program would be unable to bear the full cost if the state reneges its funding.

Parton’s Imagination Library serves young readers across the country, providing one book a month to kids from birth until age five. In Indiana, the program was heavily embraced and now serves every county in the state. It’s been credited with helping to push Indiana up the nationwide rankings in child literacy rates from 19th to sixth. 

Just this past January, Indiana’s outgoing Republican Governor, Eric Holcomb, hailed the program in an end-of-term op-ed for the IndyStar. Noting the state’s investment in literacy education, he said, “One of these days, Dolly Parton will pay us a visit to celebrate the statewide embrace of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, another tool to help our kids read.” 

It’s unclear why exactly funding for the program was cut from Republican legislators’ proposed budget. Maureen Bauer, a Democratic state representative for South Bend said the initial budget was based on the priorities of Indiana’s new Republican Governor, Mike Braun. (Braun’s office did not immediately return Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.)

“It was a disservice to remove [the funding]” Bauer told the South Bend Tribune. She did add that House Democrats would aim to put the funding back when they presented their version of the budget. The budget will then be debated and combined with the Republican’s version before going to the state Senate. 

In a statement shared with Rolling Stone, Jeff Conyers the Vice Chair and President of the Dollywood Foundation (which oversees Imagination Library), said he was “hopeful that Governor Braun and the Indiana Legislature will continue this vital investment by restoring the state’s funding match for local Imagination Library programs. The beauty of the Imagination Library is that it unites us all — regardless of politics — because every child deserves the chance to dream big and succeed.”

Conyers continued: “Indiana’s leaders have the opportunity right now, during this legislative session, to reaffirm their commitment to our Imagination Library partnership and the future of the state’s youngest children. We are currently seeking to work closely with key decision-makers to ensure that every child in Indiana, no matter where they live, can continue to receive the gift of books each month — free to their families and full of possibility.”

This story was updated at 2:43 p.m. ET with a statement from JeffConyers of the Dollywood Foundation.