Posted on 02/06/2017 10:50:33 AM PST by Drango
Congressman Lamborn released the following statement following his introduction of two bills, H.R. 726 and H.R. 727, to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and National Public Radio (NPR):
“Republicans and the new Administration need to demonstrate that we take our fiscal responsibility seriously. American taxpayers do not want their hard-earned dollars funding superfluous government programs just because that is the way things have always been done.
That’s why I have reintroduced two pieces of legislation to permanently defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio. CPB received $445 million during Fiscal Year 2016, and this money could be put to better use rebuilding our military and enhancing our national security.”
- Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)
General Points
With the national debt nearing a staggering $20 trillion, the government cannot continue to subsidize a private organizations that are more than capable of being fully privately-funded.
This is not about content, as CBP certainly airs some quality programs; the point is that it is perfectly capable of standing on its own two feet and not on the financial shoulders of the American taxpayers.
I have led similar efforts in past Congresses. During the 112th H.R. my bill H.R. 1076 defunding NPR was passed by the House.
H.R. 726
1. Prohibits public radio stations from using federal funds to purchase programming from and/or pay dues to NPR
Current federal law requires that approximately 26% of federal grants to public radio stations be used for the production or acquisition of programming, including programming for national distribution.
Many stations use these “restricted” grants to purchase programming from NPR.
Current Corporation for Public Broadcasting Guidelines also allow public radio stations to use their federal grant funding for the payment of dues to NPR.
Programming fees and dues are the largest single source of NPR revenue, at $81 million in FY2015.
2. Prohibits direct federal funding of National Public Radio
NPR received approximately $5 million in direct funding in FY16 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Department of Education, Department of Commerce, and the National Endowment for the arts.
H..R 727
1. Defunds CPB
American taxpayers subsidized the CPB, the parent organization to NPR, to the tune of $445 million in FY2016 alone.
This is the same amount CPB has received for the past two fiscal years, and the amount they are scheduled to receive during the next two fiscal years.
Oklahoma GOP Rep. Tom Cole is the biggest problem. His constituents need to contact him stat.
I’ve contacted my House Congress critter and two Senators asking them to support this.
This is actually a pretty important move. I actually torture myself listening to NPR fairly often, and it’s pretty unreal the degree of left-wing bias that exists there, all delivered of course with an air of high-minded impartiality. They don’t deserve the support of a government that represents all Americans. And they’ll actually do just fine based on the various other kinds of grants, private donations and corporate sponsorship that they have access to.
LONG OVERDUE !
It is a government subsidized progressive propaganda media outlet !
He’s my Congress-critter.
Good work, Doug.
It’s a very, very small move in terms of budget reduction.
Yet in terms of symbolism it’s huge. Bigly.
The left will mobilize screaming about killing Big Bird, who ironically is an HBO show now.
Nathional Propaganda Radio and nobody listens to it except college professors. That’s where they get the garbage they spew at our students.
I’d prefer they keep the classical music @ 24/7 with a handful of techs to keep things running. Make it a $1 check box on my tax returns.
YES. Please let this happen.
This will be a VERY tough fight. Very. Let's see what Trump can do.
In 2005, the GOP-led House Appropriations Committee recommended cutting 25 percent from CPB’s $400 million outlay, leading to a weeklong public outcry. All but six of the House’s 202 Democrats voted down the proposal, with 87 of 140 Republicans joining.
I can't think of the conservative alternative...
yyyyyeeeeeessssssssssssssss!!!!!!!
Just defund the damn things - take their funding lines out of the appropriation and budget documents.
“If some wacko wants to stick a crucifix in urine and call it art, he should do it on his own time and his own dime.”
I’d pee on a koran for free!
Hey. Maybe this time it will actually happen. Unlike the dozen or so times before it was introduced and died under the “Republican” Congress and “Conservative” President Bush.
If a GOP congress and president can’t defund these democrat party propaganda machines, at long last, what good are they?
The defense of these dinosaurs is always the same. “Well it’s not that much money.”
Ok sure if it isn’t that much money then they won’t miss it!!
‘Cause Cole and others keep putting it back in... https://cole.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/apts-presents-champion-public-broadcasting-award-oklahoma-congressman
It’s good symbolism, but it’s even more important to reduce the volume of leftist claptrap. Defunded CPB/NPR will just not have the same amount of resources to deploy on behalf of their cause.
Let's see what they will offer to give up to keep it. Then we can do the same thing next budget.
Oh, NO! This means WETA (Washington PBS) General Manager may not get his $650K salary in the coming years. What a tragedy!
Drain the Swamp!
Let’s see what they will offer to give up to keep it”
I remember when Newt threatened this as speaker. They promised more balance, then they ran 1 or 2 conservative friendly shows not series’s mind you just 1 or two shows and this was it.
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