House Votes To Cut Federal Funding For NPR

Dems criticize what they call GOP's attempt to punish National Public Radio

WASHINGTON — The House has voted to end federal funding to National Public Radio.

Republican supporters say it made good fiscal sense, and Democratic opponents calling it an ideological attack that would deprive local stations of access to programs such as "Car Talk" and "All Things Considered."

The bill, passed along partisan lines, bars federal funding of NPR and prohibits local public stations from using federal money to pay NPR dues and buy its programs. The prospects of support in the Senate are slim.

Bill sponsor Republican Doug Lamborn of Colorado, said that, with the current budgetary crisis, it was time for NPR to stand on its own. But the White House, in opposing the bill, said it could force some local stations that rely on NPR programs to shut down.

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