Topeka ? Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of Kansas Arts Commission funding stands, and Kansas is now the first state in the nation to eliminate funding for the arts.

An attempt in the House on Wednesday to override Brownback’s veto fell short as the Legislature met briefly for the ceremonial end of the 2011 session.

The override vote won a majority, 50-44. But to succeed it would have needed a two-thirds majority, or 84 of 125 votes, before it even could have been considered in the Senate.

“This veto makes Kansas the laughingstock of the nation,” said Rep. Ann Mah, D-Topeka.

Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, said art, music and dance are all important in helping children develop. And she said the veto of Arts Commission funding will hurt small towns and rural areas the most.

In vetoing the $689,000 appropriation to the Arts Commission, Brownback said that the arts was not a core function of government. His line-item veto was applied to a $13.8 billion state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

He said he will participate in efforts to raise funds privately for the arts. He has appointed a private, nonprofit foundation to the task.

While many defended the Kansas Arts Commission as the proven entity to attract federal arts funding, Brownback said federal funding of the arts was bound to decrease because of budget pressures and the national deficit.

“While we may be a trendsetter now in the area, I think you are going to see a number of states pursue this same avenue that we are doing in the state of Kansas,” Brownback said.