Senate Democrats are seeking to use taxpayer money to prop up another dying industry that is very near and dear to the hearts of leftists with a proposed $5 billion bailout of theater companies.
Because there are no better ways to use the money, Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) joined with Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Jack Reed (D-RI) to introduce their legislation which it titled the “Supporting Theater and the Arts to Galvanize the Economy (STAGE) Act of 2024” to subsidize the ongoing cultural degradation in America.
According to Welch – who hails from the same northeastern communist utopia that produced Bernie Sanders and Ben & Jerry’s – nonprofit theatres are in desperate need of a quick infusion of cash, having suffered greatly from the COVID pandemic during which Democrat-driven paranoia crushed businesses with their authoritarian lockdowns.
“Professional non-profit theaters and artists that support millions of jobs and boost local economies,” the left-wing senator wrote on X, touting his scheme. “That’s why I’m introducing the STAGE Act with my colleagues to support the industry that enriches us all.”
Professional non-profit theaters and artists that support millions of jobs and boost local economies.
That’s why I’m introducing the STAGE Act with my colleagues to support the industry that enriches us all. pic.twitter.com/4OqVuaY75L
— Senator Peter Welch (@SenPeterWelch) April 10, 2024
“Professional nonprofit theaters, which enrich communities and bolster local economies in every state, have experienced a lagging recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Theaters have been forced to reduce staff and productions, and many have closed permanently,” reads a press statement posted to the senator’s website.
“The STAGE Act will establish a new grant program, administered by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, that would provide $1 billion annually to support the industry. The grants would be used to pay rent and payroll, employ artists and support professional personnel, attract new audiences, invest in industry workforce development, study how to best sustain the long-term success of this industry, and– most importantly–ensure the show can go on,” according to the statement.
The $1 billion in taxpayer money will be doled out for the next five years if the legislation passes.
It’s worth noting that the theatre companies that the Democrats are looking to save have a history of producing vulgar sexual and violent anti-American plays, like the one that portrayed a mock assassination of then-President Donald J. Trump in a revisionist retelling of the killing of Julius Caesar.
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“The magic a professional nonprofit theater creates doesn’t end with the final curtain call—it reaches far beyond the theater and into our communities by creating and supporting jobs and generating economic activity in our local communities,” Welch said. “But post-pandemic, nonprofit theaters in Vermont and across America have struggled to keep the marquee lit. The STAGE Act is an investment in our communities, in jobs, and in our local economy.”
“The performing arts have long been a driving force for cultural and economic vitality in cities and towns across the country. But in recent years, theaters have faced unprecedented challenges and struggled to stay open,” Fetterman said. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in leading this effort to revive a critical industry. The STAGE Act isn’t just about saving theaters – it’s about investing in the communities in Pennsylvania and across the country that rely on these spaces to keep their economies strong.”
“Non-profit theaters bring people together to experience impactful live performances that resonate with diverse audiences. They put community, public good, and artistic expression above profits, while also driving additional economic activity whenever they stage performances,” Sen. Reed added.
Companion legislation has been introduced in the House by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) who said that the bill will be able to “unlock funding for these organizations so they can continue to provide quality arts programming and jobs.”
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Author: Chris Donaldson
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