Despite several ugly recent episodes and considerable movement by conservative activists to defund it, federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio survived an 11th hour deal on a spending bill to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year.
The continuation of funding for public broadcasting is one of several significant victories for Democrats regarding the policy riders in the bill still emerging 12 hours after Democratic and Republican leaders struck a deal to avert government shutdown.
Another Democratic victory-- of dozens of riders included in a House-passed spending bill curtailing strict new environmental regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency, zero were included in the final deal.
Several other controversial policy riders, including one to defund Planned Parenthood, America’s leading abortion provider, were used by Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner to secure steeper spending cuts in negotiations.
“The Speaker fought for the largest spending cut possible, and he fought for every policy restriction included in H.R. 1,” said Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith.
But NPR surviving stands out given the considerable momentum held by its critics following two recent episodes that brought its alleged liberal bias to national attention.
Congressional sources said Democrats rallied behind federal funds for public broadcasting. A Democratic Hill aide said scores of voters from the district his boss represents called to advocate maintaining public funding.
One conservative activist closely following the debate said Democrats relied heavily on NPR to deliver political messages in their districts. In that sense, they were loathe to abandon a key communications platform.
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10 comments:
So, NPR is still funded and America survived. Just like the Health Care bill becoming law, and America survived. Just like Obama becoming president, and America survived.
Is it possible, even in the slightest bit, that the neck-deep hyperbole that we wallow around it is in no relation to reality?
Is it possible that things are not quite as bad as everyone seems to think they are?
Is it possible that if everyone just inhaled deeply a few times before opening their mouths and spouting off some baseless, emotional opinion, we would realize that everything is really OK?
Is employment bad? Yes. Is the economy bad? Yes. But life goes on.
Memo to both sides: shut up and do some good.
Thank you for that lecture, dan.
Glad to know at least somebody is real smart.
You're right-- we should all just be real happy that we have a tax-funded propaganda channel that will be able to continue a bit longer.
It will give them at least a little more time to insult us and straighten us out.
What were we thinking?
McGruff, obviously you missed my point.
How, exactly, has NPR ever affected your life in a personal way? How has half of the mess that everyone prattles on about ever really affected your day to day life in any way at all? My guess is, unless you are talking about local (or maybe state-level politics,) the answer is not at all.
Why yell and scream about things that make no difference? I don't want my tax dollars funding any wars. I don't want my tax dollars paying for the health care of elected representatives who don't do anything for me in any way. Do either of these things make a big difference in my life in the grand scheme of things? No.
Relax a bit, and focus on what is in front of you. Loosen the tin-foil hat, switch to decaf, and remember that at the end of the day, this is still America. An America different than yesterday, and one where tomorrow will be different still.
What, McG, is wrong with that?
And in case no one was paying attention, by "neck-deep hyperbole," I meant:
-You're right-- we should all just be real happy that we have a tax-funded propaganda channel that will be able to continue a bit longer.
Thanks for the assist.
I didn't miss your point at all, dan.
It was clear, as was your intellectual dishonesty, which has become the trademark of the left.
I'm not going to waste any more time with it.
Yeah Dan...America is still here, but not for long if this keeps up!
There comes a point when people quit producing when there is no incentive to do so and we are marching agressively to that point. Why work hard when the Gov. takes more than they leave you with. You are probably saying we are FAR from that point, but I would argue that we are dangerously close when you add uo ALL of the fees and taxes we pay.
ENOUGH!
The Gov's role is to provide for things that citizens cannot provide for themselves - military, roads, etc. That's it!
It is surprising that the Liberal here is the only one with a positive attitude about America, and a genuine desire to discuss these issues.
Apparently, discussion of things he disagrees with bores McGruff (a typical sypmtom of being a Republican,) and 6:33 loves America so much that he wants to change much of it.
Dan it's not about what's going on at this brief moment it's about setting a course for the future and without spending cuts the future is bleak. Now it might not affect a selfish person like you but a lot of people care about the next generation. We have to stop funding things we don't need like NPR it really serves no purpose.
You little people need to understand, I want what's best for you and this country, I know what is best and you too, you just have to listen to me and my liberal friends. We will help you. We are smarter than you. All is well, take your Soma and relax. My intentions are good.
Dan your an idiot. The point is if we don't stop all these entitlements now we are not going to survive. We are just trying to fix the problem while we are still breathing.
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