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Thursday, March 17, 2011

NPR Funding On The Block Today

In wake of conservative James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas sting videos of National Public Radio (NPR) senior executives, House Republicans are set to vote Thursday to defund NPR completely. They’re expected to pass a bill that would pull all taxpayer money out of NPR, including the money that’s funneled through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

The bill’s sponsor, Congressman Doug Lamborn, Michigan Republican, told The Daily Caller he thinks NPR will survive in a free market situation. But, even if it wouldn’t, he questions the need to fuel it with taxpayer money.

“Certainly, it would survive,” Lamborn said. “They have a loyal following. With the turnover in leadership we’re seeing there, I hope we see new leaders with a free market approach, a private-sector approach.”

By turnover in leadership, Lamborn is referring to how NPR CEO Vivian Schiller and NPR foundation nonprofit president Ron Schiller (no relation) were ousted after O’Keefe’s videos.

Lamborn admits, though, that “the Senate will be more of a problem” than getting a bill through the House. “I’m kind of relying on the Senate sponsor of a very similar bill, Jim DeMint of South Carolina,” he said.

Media Research Center president Brent Bozell told TheDC that it’s possible that Republicans could get Senate Democrats to support defunding NPR if they frame it the right way.

“This is such a no-brainer, both from the standpoint of ideology and the standpoint of money and a complete lack of need, that if someone is not willing to consider hacking this out of the budget, then that person is just simply not serious about reining in deficit spending,” Bozell said.

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In wake of conservative James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas sting videos of National Public Radio (NPR) senior executives, House Republicans are set to vote Thursday to defund NPR completely. They’re expected to pass a bill that would pull all taxpayer money out of NPR, including the money that’s funneled through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

The bill’s sponsor, Congressman Doug Lamborn, Michigan Republican, told The Daily Caller he thinks NPR will survive in a free market situation. But, even if it wouldn’t, he questions the need to fuel it with taxpayer money.

“Certainly, it would survive,” Lamborn said. “They have a loyal following. With the turnover in leadership we’re seeing there, I hope we see new leaders with a free market approach, a private-sector approach.”

By turnover in leadership, Lamborn is referring to how NPR CEO Vivian Schiller and NPR foundation nonprofit president Ron Schiller (no relation) were ousted after O’Keefe’s videos.

Lamborn admits, though, that “the Senate will be more of a problem” than getting a bill through the House. “I’m kind of relying on the Senate sponsor of a very similar bill, Jim DeMint of South Carolina,” he said.

Media Research Center president Brent Bozell told TheDC that it’s possible that Republicans could get Senate Democrats to support defunding NPR if they frame it the right way.

“This is such a no-brainer, both from the standpoint of ideology and the standpoint of money and a complete lack of need, that if someone is not willing to consider hacking this out of the budget, then that person is just simply not serious about reining in deficit spending,” Bozell said.

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

hope they cut it!!!

Anonymous said...

De-fund NPR Now!!!!!!

dan said...

Glad to see the GOP on top of the important issues facing America. Another great step towards getting this economy moving again!!

But I may be too harsh on them, I mean, they got us all those jobs and fixed the econmy like they said they would.

Wait. What?

Anonymous said...

Dan,
It is an important issue. Wasted tax payer money. On the jobs and economy issue, I believe you can give them a little more time. 3.5 months in office isn't enough time to turn the economy around. Obama and the Democratically controlled Congress had 2 years to do something and nothing happened. Are you upset with them? Probably not. Please exercise a little common sense.

dan said...

3:53 -sorry that you are so wrong.

I am upset with how Obama has performed so far, and was a loud opponent of Pelosi and Reid (who did more damage to Obama than any GOPer could.)

The GOP could have done a lot more in 3.5 months if they would have actually FOCUSED on jobs and the economy. Instead, they read an abridged version of the Constitution, work hard to outlaw abortion, vote to overturn the health care law knowing that it would not pass the Senate, and they defund PBS and NPR.

Real ground-breaking, game-changing, brave stances to take. But I am sure you can explain to all of us how much better America is now for all of their effort.

Is that enough common sense for you, Mr. I can't use my real name?