House Republicans announced today that they will force a floor vote to eliminate taxpayer-funded support for NPR in response to the firing of Juan Williams. A proposal to defund NPR was the winner in the GOP’s weekly “YouCut” contest, in which the public votes online for various spending cuts — GOP leaders have pledged to force votes on the winning items (so far nearly every such vote has failed to pass the Democratic-controlled House). House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia and Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado, who authored the proposal, announced the winner in a statement:
This week’s winning spending cut is a proposal developed by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) that would eliminate taxpayer funding for National Public Radio. When NPR executives made the decision to unfairly terminate Juan Williams and to then disparage him afterwards, the bias of their organization was exposed. Make no mistake, it is not the role of government to tell news organizations how to operate. What is avoidable, however, is providing taxpayer funds to news organizations that promote a partisan point of view. Eliminating taxpayer funding for NPR is precisely the kind of commonsense cut that we have to begin making if we want to fundamentally alter the way business is conducted in Washington.
Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring tells NRO the vote will likely happen tomorrow.
There really is no alternative. What was done to Juan Williams was an insult.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhy now? Why in the lame duck session? Why not wait?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAgreed. What is the point of this during the lame duck session? I guess the GOP wants to make the gesture and get credit for that rather than risk it actually happening.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAbout 25 years past due. Next up, PBS.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTo quote a subpar Starbusrt knock-off. Why not Now & Later?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow about they defund NPR because it is not the role of government to fund news organizations?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseReally, the bias here is irrelevant to the defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. (I don't think there is any direct funding of NPR, is there?) The issue is that, in this day and age, there is absolutely no reason for the federal government to fund NPR or Sesame Street or any other media.
If the Republicans are basing this on the firing of Juan Williams, then I despair that they understand limited, constitutional government at all.
This YouCut stuff is good and was great as a campaign issue. What the GOP needs to do is bring all those losing issues back after the first of the year when they'll actually pass.
That'll put Uriah Heep Reid on the spot.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI agree with GWB. I'm disappointed in the wording and thought process. This should have nothing to do with Juan Williams or bias. If NPR was not biased, they STILL should not receive ANY money from the government. The government has no right to use taxpayer money like this. Cut all funding of the NEA too. If people want to support NRP or artists, that is their choice. Let them do it with their own money.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseStop the funding for NPR, PBS, and The National Endowment For the Arts. Truly, they can take care of themselves. Truly a good place to start.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI support the defunding of PBS, NPR, CPB, etc. What I do not support is the GOP acting as though a gimmick such as YOUCUT is a rational basis on which to legislate. Even proud conservative partisans like myslef will readily admit that YOUCUT is something which appeals to a very small slice of the electorate. Not only is this a form of populism, it is STUPID populism, as it is based on an unrepresentative sample of American public opinion.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFred Rodgers (that's Mister Rodgers to you) isn't around to go to Congress and give testimony to save PBS anymore. Plus his argument that you can't find decent kids shows on for-profit TV just doesn't hold water so much anymore. This is not to say we don't miss you, Fred. Never was of fan of Make Believe land, but your other stuff was always on the money.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis will obviously fail in the Senate, but why not defund it in the next budget bill? Just leave it out and make the Senate try to argue for keeping it. Is there something I'm missing here?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTheir instincts are good, but I'm with Jonah...there's a limited supply of ammunition and it needs to be directed at spending reduction. NPR funding reduction can be rolled into that serious effort in the new term. This is no time to antagonize the independents.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOh, this bill isn't going anywhere.
I'd settle for when they read those inane blurbs for their patrons, like
"...the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world..."
they add, AND THE TAXPAYERS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
I don't ask much from NPR, just a reality check now and then.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI support this cut. Mainly because gov shuld not be funding any media, although the NPR bias is disturbing too.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusea modest proposal ... how about a checkoff on fed income tax return ... I donate $X to PBS ... then those who want to can and the rest of us don't have to
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSteve asks:
"Why now? Why in the lame duck session? Why not wait?"
To put those other guys on RECORD. The ones who will be
returning in January can't play games. With a recorded
vote the 'D's won't be able to weasel again in 2012.
"Run Sarah Run!"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCut NPR funding please. Be prepared to handle the Jekyll/Hyde transformation to an blatant MSNBC style in the coming nanoseconds.
It'll be quite fun to watch. Show us Yer Balls congress and get ot it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusethey're doing it now because it won on the you cut web site now.
I agree it's a good idea on it's own merits and not because of williams.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat's sweet. Force a vote during the lame duck session, so it fails, and say "Well we tried". How much do you want to bet that at the end of January, Boehner will 'reluctantly' accept a private jet for travel, because the Secret Service insisted on it. And the earmark ban?... that will last til Jan 20, 2011. Our work is not yet done!
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