Chorus Of Lawmakers Want Money For Minnesota’s State Band

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A group of Democrats in the Minnesota House want to set aside $50,000 over the next two years to help the state band make sweet music.

The band has been around for more than a century and played in Europe several times. But it currently practices in a basement cafeteria and can't afford new instruments.

Band conductor Chuck Boody says the money would help the group expand its percussion section and travel across the state rather than staying in the metro area.

Another bill would require the state to provide free rehearsal space for the band. It's not clear where that space would be.

About 50 people make up the state band, including a handful of state employees. It currently gets about $5,000 in annual state funding.