GOP will push for defunding NPR despite firing

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Byron York:

After the release of the James O'Keefe sting video Tuesday, National Public Radio officials rushed to fire NPR head Vivian Schiller in hopes of slowing Republican efforts to cut federal funding for public broadcasting. But GOP leaders in Congress are vowing to push forward with their drive to cut off federal funding for National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- and they say the effort will not be affected by Schiller's departure.

"This latest development in what appears to be an internal meltdown at National Public Radio only strengthens my resolve to eliminate all federal funding for NPR and its parent organization, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting," said Rep. Doug Lamborn, the Colorado Republican who is leading the effort to defund both NPR and CPB.

"Our concern is not about any one person at NPR," said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. "Rather, it's about millions of taxpayers. NPR has admitted that they don't need taxpayer subsidies to thrive, and at a time when the government is borrowing 40 cents of every dollar that it spends, we certainly agree with them."

...

I am sure some in NPR we look at the lack of federal funding as giving them the freedom to be their liberal selves. Some have not been that constrained while they were getting the federal money. Democrats will continue to try to protect their propaganda arm and maybe willing to shut down the government to do so. That would be a gift to Republicans in the fight over the budget. It might be right up their with cowboy poetry reading.

Related articles

• NPR executive Vivian Schiller resigns under pressure from board and CPB - Washington Post (news.google.com)
• ...$450 Million Federal Funding At-Risk (abcnews.go.com)
• NPR Reels From Scandals While Fighting To Keep Federal Funds (huffingtonpost.com)
• NPR head steps down after remarks about the right (capitolhillblue.com)