Are you sure about this? The left is very sneaky about phrasing their explanations about funding so as to mislead the Rubes (us). For example, the United Way tries to convince suckers that their donation won't go to left-wing wackos if you check the right boxes on the contribution form. This is absolute nonsense, of course.
I wouldn't be surprised if NPR didn't have some similar misleading arguments.
Changing the subject slightly, Bush should beware of any Democrat help in his efforts to allow public funding of religious volunteer programs. Look at what the gay marriage issue has done to a lot of church denominations. The left may be small, but they're often the first there with the most men, (to paraphrase someone the left reviles).