Companion House and Senate bills to end taxpayer-funding of the propaganda pushed by PBS and NPR were introduced on Tuesday, as the Trump Administration continues its effort to root out and stop the government’s waste of taxpayers’ money.
“Americans have hundreds of sources of news and commentary, and they don’t need politically biased, taxpayer-funded media choosing what they should see and hear,” Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) said in a statement announcing his introduction of the “Defund Government-Sponsored Propaganda Act” (S. 518).
Sen. Lee said his bill isn’t about abolishing the Public Broadcast System and National Public Radio, but simply designed to save taxpayers from being forced to subsidize them:
“PBS and NPR are free to compete in the marketplace of ideas using donations, but their public subsidy should end.”
Under the bill, all previously approved, but unallocated, tax dollars that would’ve gone to PBS and NPR will instead be used for other purposes, such as reducing the public debt.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY) introduced the bill in the House. In her announcement, Rep. Tenney cites her prior experience as a newspaper owner and publisher. While balanced, non-partisan media serve the public interest, PBS and NPR do not, Tenney said:
“Unfortunately, these taxpayer-funded outlets have chosen advocacy over accuracy, using public dollars to promote a political agenda rather than report the facts.
“Under the influence of radical left-wing ideologues like (NPR CEO) Katherine Maher, PBS, and NPR no longer uphold the American principles of free thought and open discourse.”
“Taxpayer dollars should not fund political propaganda disguised as journalism,” Tenney said.