Flake Questions Grammy Foundation Subsidy

We don’t make these names up: a woman named Bush is Paul Reubens’ spokesperson regarding porno charges, and now Representative Flake is decrying federal support for the Grammy Foundation:

The GRAMMY® Foundation, a non-profit arm of the Recording Academy, has a challenging responsibility to bring national attention to important issues such as the value of music and arts education and preserving our rich cultural legacy for future generations. Through its nationwide efforts, the Foundation has made great inroads. Former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley said, “By helping students discover and appreciate music and the arts, organizations like the GRAMMY Foundation are opening up new opportunities in education for America’s young people.” But our work is far from over.

Rep. Flake objects to public funding for such things:

Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents the state’s Sixth District, today was left scratching his head upon finding out the Grammy Foundation, a non-profit arm of the Recording Academy, received $800,000 in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for 2003, which was recently signed into law.

“The mission of the Grammy Foundation is certainly noble,” said Flake, “but why is an organization affiliated with thousands of multi-millionaire musicians and record executives receiving taxpayer money?”

“Norah Jones won a handful of awards last night for a song called “Don’t Know Why.” I think that could probably describe a lot of taxpayers trying to figure out why their tax dollars are going to the Grammy Foundation.”

It does seem odd that this project can’t be privately funded, since it’s all tax-deductable anyway, but I am also happy to see msuic return to the schools under almost any circumstances.