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The Secretary pointed out that the proposed television series, entitled "The Buried Mirror: Reflections on Spain and the New World by Carlos Fuentes," while seemingly controversial at a few points, should serve to open a hemispheric dialogue and contribute to a better understanding of Hispanic history and culture at an important point in this nation's development. The Executive Committee agreed to view the final segment of the series and confer with the Secretary.

The Secretary noted that an expression of opinion recently received from the Association of Western Governors cites the proportion of the U.S. population which lives west of the Mississippi and makes two "policy" recommendations: (1) that more of the national collections should be more accessible to the citizens of the West and (2) that the process for selecting sites for new or expanding national museums, such as the Air and Space Museum, should be open to ensure all relevant factors are taken into account in selecting the site.

The Secretary reported that the Senate Ethics Committee has determined that a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee ought not be serving also on the Board of Trustees of the National Museum of the American Indian. The Smithsonian General Counsel agreed to explore reconsideration of this question with Senate Regents and Committee staff.

In response to a Regent's inquiry, the Secretary suggested that a special badge could be provided to the Regents to make known their affiliation with the Smithsonian at formal occasions, such as academic processions.

FINANCIAL MATTER, FISCAL YEARS 1991-1993

Mrs. Suttenfield gave an overview of and expanded upon the salient points of the written presentation on financial matters which is summarized below and which had been circulated in advance. Her presentation was divided into two parts: a status report on the Institution's pending budget requests and an analysis of the Smithsonian's financial condition.

While the fiscal year 1991 Federal budget remained unchanged through the third quarter, the trust fund projections have been updated, bringing total revenue reductions to the original budget to approximately $10 million. Current actions to balance the budget include further reductions in special programs for Scholarly Studies, Special Exhibitions, Research Opportunities, and the Regents' Publication Fund, in addition to various other one-time liquidations and savings. These cuts may be restored before year-end to the extent that each Assistant Secretary can identify alternative savings or reductions. It was

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the proposed revisions to the budget of the nonappropriated funds for fiscal year 1991 and authorizes expenditures by the Secretary in accordance therewith; any material changes in program plans incorporated in the revised budget or any changes of more than $250,000 in any general unrestricted Trust fund program or administrative