Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced that two local organizations, the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra Association and California Presenters, have been awarded grants by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Sacramento Philharmonic will receive $20,000 to support an educational outreach series featuring Carnegie Hall's LinkUP! for Music “Orchestra Rocks” program; and the California Presenters’ $15,000 grant will support their 28th annual Artist Information Exch... California05 thsas comment-50726 2011-05-17T21:38:44Z 2011-05-17T21:38:44Z Hobby arts. thsas 2011-05-17T21:38:44Z cogmeyer comment-50722 2011-05-17T20:50:04Z 2011-05-17T20:50:04Z Yes, it is pretty comical that she bothers to return to Sacramento, since her only interaction with voters is a very occasional telephone "town hall". I think we get a pretty good view of Doris Matsui's perspective on democracy when her "interaction" with voters is "you listen on a muted phone while I tell you what to think". How very progressive of her! cogmeyer 2011-05-17T20:50:04Z Davi Rodrigues comment-50719 2011-05-17T19:49:29Z 2011-05-17T19:49:29Z She holds very tightly controlled phone-in town hall's. I'm certain they're all pre-recorded with hand picked shills. The matsui dynasty needs to end Davi Rodrigues 2011-05-17T19:49:29Z Davi Rodrigues comment-50718 2011-05-17T19:47:26Z 2011-05-17T19:47:26Z If art is so valuable, why can't it support itself? Davi Rodrigues 2011-05-17T19:47:26Z cogmeyer comment-50716 2011-05-17T19:31:49Z 2011-05-17T19:31:49Z Maybe Doris Matsui missed the headline that our federal government brings in about $2.4T per year in tax revenue, but is spending around $3.7T per year. That is $4000 in federal debt for every man woman and child for this year alone! I also love how her press release makes this sound like a "gift" from the federal government, as if it was a birthday check from Aunt Betty. Remember, these are actual dollars that the federal government takes from your paycheck every single day, spends as it chooses in a maze of inefficient bureaucracy, and then gives you back a small piece of it the form of "Arts Grants". And then Doris Matsui instructs you to be grateful to her that you got a bit of your money back! Hey Doris, made any progress on that budget deficit yet? Maybe we can discuss this at your next townhall... oh I forgot.. you are one of those "representatives" that is above actually stooping down to talk to your irksome constituents. cogmeyer 2011-05-17T19:31:49Z