Congressman Sings the Blues About $800,000 in Omnibus for the Grammy Foundation Why Does the Grammy Foundation Need Taxpayer Money?

News release

2/25/03

Washington, DC – 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.”