Posted on 04/01/2020 2:40:36 PM PDT by Kaslin
Last week The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, whose patrons tend to be very wealthy, received a whopping $25 million American taxpayer dollars. The funding was part of Washington's $2 trillion Wuhan coronavirus rescue package.
Politicians like Speaker Nancy Pelosi and lobbyists backing the center argued musicians, who are no longer working, needed financial stability like workers in other parts of the country.
But despite the pleading and justification for the emergency funding, musicians and other workers are being fired anyway.
NEW: According to internal discussions and documents obtained by RCP, the Kennedy Center intends to furlough 60% of their full time staff.
Furloughs are expected on a rolling basis
This after already furloughing 725 part time staff and accepting $25 million in federal relief.— Philip Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) March 31, 2020
Members of the National Symphony Orchestra fired off a letter to Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter Wednesday, slamming the decision.
“On the same day that President Trump signed the stimulus package that would send $25 million to the Kennedy Center for, among other expenses, employee compensation, Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter illegally decided to stop paying us, and refused to promise to continue our healthcare past May," co-chair of the Orchestra Committee Steve Wilson released in a statement.
“We were glad to learn yesterday that the Center has now decided that it will cover ‘full healthcare benefits for all furloughed employees.’ But it is unfortunate that Rutter and Kennedy Center management have opted to violate our contract and federal labor law rather than come to us to discuss a collective solution. We understand that the COVID crisis affects everyone. That’s why we have, throughout, been willing to collaborate and discuss ways to work with Kennedy Center management during this challenging time. Illegally breaking our contract isn’t an option here," he continued. “Much smaller and less-resourced organizations than the Kennedy Center have managed to take care of their workers. We’d hope that the Kennedy Center – part of the federal government - could be a standard-bearer, rather than leading the race to the bottom."
Republicans on Capitol Hill have introduced legislation to rescind the funding.
Thanks @SteveScalise for supporting my bill that takes back the $25 million from DC’s Kennedy Center. This money should be spent fighting the virus or in taxpayers’ pockets! WATCH on @seanhannity here: pic.twitter.com/HgmYGEdvE5— Bryan Steil (@RepBryanSteil) March 31, 2020
I would hope the public would back off supporting the center,
if that’s all the better they can do.
What is it with Leftists, who think they don’t need to pay
for anything?
Take the money back. This is malfeasance and fraud. Manipulation of funds. Jail the Kennedy Center SOB’s
Except the administrators of course.
The money will conveniently go from the Kennedy Center into Dem campaigns as contributions. That is what government money going to the Kennedy Center is for isn’t it?
My favorite part was the 5 million donation to the DNC, now that’s special.
Pelosi’s graft knows no bounds.
I’ve seen that accusation that the money given to the KCPA will circle back around into the DNC. Where is the documentation that this is happening?
Rush’s expose of the slush fund/money laundering operation is the documentation.
Not an ounce of decency in a lib, and a ton of hypocrisy.
Can you Imagine how happy the workers were when they found out the 25 million got approved?!?!
Talk about a high to a low in hours.
Well it appears i’m mistaken regarding the 5 million dollar donation. Looks like they’ll have to misappropriate it first before they get it to the DNC.
Feel sorry for the musicians. What will they do for health insurance?
This is standard operating procedure for the Dems/socialist/communist party. I have suspicions that this virus is somehow connected to communist China and their faithful democrat supporters.
The Kansas City Symphony has guaranteed salaries and benefits to all their musicians and staff through the 2019-2020 season. And they aren’t getting a bailout from the government.
Chump change. The truth will set u free!
Nancy got her 30% kickbacks.
Guess burning it to the ground is out of the question../s
“Nancy got her 30% kickbacks”
Probably it was her kid
Well, you’re not alone.
I’m not convinced China would bring this upon their own head.
This will bring about a large restructuring.
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