Each December, Senator Rand Paul releases his ‘Festivus Report’ showing how much the federal government wastes in spending.
This year he revealed that some popular music acts received millions in COVID pandemic relief.
Nickelback got $2 million. Other bands got far more.
Paul’s report cited a Business Insider report from August, “The program, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, was a lifeline for the live-entertainment business. Administered by the Small Business Administration, it doled out $14.5 billion to institutions like movie theaters, ballets, operas, talent agents, performing-arts venues, and museums. Unlike the Paycheck Protection Program, which many venues didn’t qualify for, the Shuttered Venue program was a grant, not a loan. Qualified applicants were eligible for up to $10 million with no obligation to repay it.”
But like many aspects of COVID payments, this program was rife with corruption.
“But the Shuttered Venue program was also plagued by ineffective oversight and loopholes that allowed some of the biggest names in the music industry to get huge payouts, an Insider investigation found,” Business Insider noted.
“R&B artist Chris Brown got $10 million,” the story listed. “Rapper Lil Wayne got $8.9 million. Nineties rockers The Smashing Pumpkins got $8.6 million. Nickelback — yes, Nickelback — received $2 million.”
Paul’s report states, “While some may claim these funds were used to keep supporting staff, artists were not required to do so, and we have no way of determining how these blank checks were used.”
He added, “These multi-millionaire musicians were cashing checks, instead of the intended recipients: America’s small businesses.”
Paul’s entire Festivus Report is worth a read in understanding just how reckless the federal government is with taxpayer dollars.
And for Rand Paul every year, this is how he reminds us.
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