Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today renewed his call for members of Congress to cosponsor legislation by Representative Doug Lamborn (R-CO) that would defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the parent company of National Public Radio.
So far, only 19 House members out of 435 have signed on as cosponsors for HR 5538, all House Republicans. “19 cosponsors is not nearly enough,” said Wilson. “The budget will never be balanced, and the $13.6 trillion debt never paid down, if members cannot cut unnecessary spending from the budget like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.”
“House members need to show the courage of their convictions, and cosponsor Representative Lamborn’s bill to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,” Wilson added.
In an exclusive interview with Americans for Limited Government, Lamborn said he needs the help of the American people to persuade members to sign on. “People need to contact their congressmen and say ‘Cosponsor HR 5538 to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’,” Lamborn said.
Lamborn blasted NPR over the firing of Juan Williams: “We see now with the Juan Williams fiasco that they’re not a neutral news organization. They have a left-leaning bias.”
Lamborn continued, “But even more than that, even if they were neutral, why should taxpayers spend $420 million a year to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is the parent of NPR, when it could survive on its own? It could be out there in the private marketplace, and compete along with everyone else. Why should government be in the broadcasting business at all?”
Wilson agreed, saying, “The Corporation for Public Broadcasting only gets about 13 percent of its total budget from federal taxpayers, which the corporation itself is quick to point out. They can finance themselves via donations, or move toward a profit model if they choose, but taxpayers should not be obligated to pay for programming which does not treat all sides fairly.”
ALG launched a national petition drive last week to defund public broadcasting in the wake of National Public Radio’s firing of Juan Williams. The petition is at: www.defundpublicbroadcasting.org.
Also Read:
“Defund Public Broadcasting Once and For All,” by ALG President Bill Wilson, October 25th, 2010.
ALG Praises Boehner’s Call to Defund Public Broadcasting, October 22nd, 2010
“Where to cut, you ask?” Video by Frank McCaffrey on Doug Lamborn’s legislation, October 19th, 2010.
“The Bare Minimum,” by Rick Manning, ALG Communications Director, October 20th, 2010.
“Time to Stop Funding Luxuries, Like Public Broadcasting,” by Rebekah Rast, ALG News Contributing Editor, June 14th, 2010.
“Is Public Broadcasting Hurting the Arts?” by Robert Romano, ALG News Senior Editor, June 15th, 2010.
