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Congressman DeFazio Vows To Protect NPR And PBS From Trump's Budget

Gage Skidmore
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Flickr.com

In his latest budget plan, President Donald Trump proposes axing federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting over a two-year period. The CPB supports PBS and NPR stations, including KLCC.

Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio says he’ll work with allies on Capitol Hill to preserve funding for public broadcasting.

“I’m hopeful that as we negotiate this two-year budget deal, since we do still have some clout, because of the United States Senate being split 51-49, that they will not get away with decimating NPR or they won’t get away with decimating other critical domestic programs,” says the Oregon Democrat.

Credit Brian Bull / KLCC
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KLCC
Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio at the Eugene Airport last week.

CPB supporters say without federal funds, emergency alert systems, rural communities, and childhood education will suffer.

While conservative critics have argued taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for a service they consider biased towards the left, the Trump proposal simply says the money isn’t necessary.

Copyright KLCC, 2018.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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