Supporting NPR for Maine

Statement

Pingree says Congress should be focusing on more important issues

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today she plans to vote against a Republican effort to strip National Public Radio of all federal funding.

"This is an all-out attack on NPR and public radio programming in general," Pingree said. "Not only would it strip NPR of all their federal funding, it would seriously limit the ability of all public radio stations to pay for programming of any kind."

The bill being considered by the House today would strip NPR of all federal funding and prohibit all independent public radio stations from using federal funds to purchase programming.

"In Maine, MPBN provides an incredibly valuable service by bringing news and public affairs coverage to the entire state, including rural areas like Aroostook County and Downeast Maine," Pingree said. "This bill would make it much harder for them and all the 900 public radio stations across the country to continue to provide this service."

"I don't know what the Republican leadership has against Prairie Home Companion, Car Talk and in-depth news coverage, but with rising gas prices and continued high unemployment, I honestly think there are far more important issues that they should be focusing on right now," Pingree said.

Source