Originally published Friday, August 26, 2011 at 7:27 AM

Travel guru Rick Steves gives $1M to arts center

Travel guru Rick Steves says he's trying to make a political statement by giving $1 million to an arts center in his hometown.

The Associated Press

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Bush clearly was anything but a good leader. According to the records for the period... (August 26, 2011, by gdf) Read more

what is it about rich people who want to "make a political statement" (read:... (August 26, 2011, by creasy bear) Read more

what?? someone makes a $1 million donation and gets negative comments? sure, this... (August 28, 2011, by lrbee) Read more

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EDMONDS, Wash. —

Travel guru Rick Steves says he's trying to make a political statement by giving $1 million to an arts center in his hometown.

He says the amount equals what he saved from tax cuts approved by former President George W. Bush beginning in 2001. The Herald newspaper of Everett reports ( http://bit.ly/quuOap) that Steves says he's alarmed that the tax burden on rich people has dropped while public funding for important local programs has been slashed.

Steves is encouraging other people who are financially well off to make similar donations.

The Edmonds Center for the Arts will receive the money in 10 annual gifts of $100,000..

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Information from: The Daily Herald, http://www.heraldnet.com