One would expect that at a time of high inflation and skyrocketing prices, the U.S. should have the highest fiscal policy. This would include any measures to limit the amount of money flowing into the country uncontrolled, including COVID relief. However, sound fiscal policy is not the main goal for Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will release a government Omnibus Spending Bill that includes upwards to $22 billion more in COVID-19 relief.
White House also asked for $22.5 billion to help with coronavirus relief. Republicans are not happy with the request, saying that they need to know how past coronavirus funds were spent.
“We have been working on a bipartisan, bicameral basis through the weekend to finish work on an omnibus package that includes robust assistance to the people and government of Ukraine and additional funds to ensure our country is prepared if and when the next COVID variant strikes,” Schumer wrote in the letter.
The timing seems strange considering that COVID-19 reporting almost vanished after the Democrats realized it was hurting their poll numbers. While many Americans continue to suffer from an economic crisis, more money will only make matters worse.
Republicans have a right to demand a complete accounting of all previous funds, as it appears that special interests are attempting to grab large amounts of the money (again).
Are there more funds for COVID relief? Some supposedly “independent” music venues that are members of a group called NIVA. According to New Music Express, having already secured a federal bailout earlier in the pandemic (a program called “Save Our Stages”) NIVA now “is lobbying for additional funds to deal with ‘inflation and worker shortages compounded by the fact that COVID is still ongoing.’”
Let me start by saying that I was in a highschool garage band back in 2000. In a larger nearby city, we played at least two venues (bars). We made decent money, had fun and were successful. In a Battle of the Bands, I was among the top five and performed in the best-known venue in the state. You will never find me disrespecting smaller groups and artists, and you’ll never find me opposed to bars that serve as performance venues (or, frankly, bars in general). This is the heart of some of the finest performing arts.
NIVA seems to be a stealth operation, albeit it focuses media attention on smaller, struggling artists and independent venues. This is similar to any Beltway swamp advocacy organization.
A prominent beneficiary of “Save Our Stages” was Dayna Frank, who is the President of NIVA. She’s such a big deal on the Minneapolis-St. Paul music scene that their local magazine dubbed her the “Queen of Clubs”. Frank has so many political connections that she was Sen. Klobuchar’s “Virtual Guest”At the 2022 State Of The Union Speech. It’s not surprising that Schumer wants more taxpayer money. But the thing is, Frank has already had a ton of it, thanks to “Save Our Stages.” According to the Small Business Administration, which administered the program, she has had about $10 million of it. That’s right: $10 million.
Another prominent NIVA figure who has probably benefited— or certainly fought for the program– is more interesting: Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana. Grohl is a primary investor in DC’s Black Cat club, and he’s also on NIVA’s advisory board. Grohl has a reported net worth of $320 million, so I sure hope he/his club which he could easily have bailed out himself didn’t get a federal taxpayer bailout. Whether or not he did, he shouldn’t be eligible for one going forward— either through this Schumer omnibus, or through any other “relief” package Democrats have planned.
Here’s someone else that probably doesn’t need your and my money: Seth Hurwitz. Hurwitz is an “impresario” and builder of a “live-music empire” that includes DC’s 9:30 Club as well as other venues. On NIVA’s board, as their Vice President, is Audrey Fix Schaefer who represents Hurwitz’s interests. Research didn’t turn up a net worth figure for Hurwitz (it did for another guy with the same name), but in 2015 he bought a $1.349 million penthouse condo in DC. It is unlikely that Hurwitz is in serious financial difficulties, even though he may have some other musicians or venues.
Omnibus bills, as always, are not my favorite. Break them apart and piecemeal whatever it is you’re trying to do. Particularly in the case of Ukrainian aid, this is a problem right now. The Democrats are seeking to fund their friends’ special interests and trying to trap Republicans into doing so by tying it to government funding and Ukrainian aid. Regardless of how the package is dismantled, COVID-19 should be removed from this bill. It will only make problems worse and it appears to be going to groups who don’t need it.
Schumer is going to need Republican votes to get this thing across the finish line, so it’s imperative that Republicans put their foot down. Get rid of the omnibus bill that includes Ukrainian aid packages. Don’t vote on something like this omnibus bill, which will either make things worse, fund only special interests, or both.
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