Congresswoman McCollum Vows to Fight Irresponsible Republican Cuts to Public Broadcasting

Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov

U.S. House Republicans Effort to Blindly Slash Funding Will Deny 170 Million Americans Access to Public Media

Washington, DC - As the U.S. House GOP-Tea Party continues its assault on essential government initiatives, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) vowed to fight a budget cut that would eliminate the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports Minnesota Public Radio and Twin Cities Public Television. The latest threat comes from House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers (R-KY). He proposes to terminate all federal funding to the CPB.

"Republican-Tea Party Members in Congress are determined to eliminate all funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and deny 170 million Americans access to public media," said Congresswoman McCollum. "Why are my Republican-Tea Party colleagues determined to destroy access to unbiased information that keeps millions of Americans informed? Federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting keeps our families educated and makes our communities stronger. I will fight against these cuts because Minnesota Public Radio and Twin Cities Public Television are critical community assets that deserve our support."

Public broadcasting is considered by the public to be the second-best use of taxpayer dollars, outranked only by defense spending.