The negotiated budget agreement brokered by congressional leaders to avoid a government shutdown includes money for National Public Radio despite efforts to cut funding of public broadcasting.In March, the Republican-controlled House easily passed a bill that stripped tax dollars from NPR, citing the $14 trillion debt and controversy surrounding the news outlet. The measure was opposed by the White House and stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate, however.From USA Today:The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which grants money to NPR and public television stations, will receive $445 million for a two-year period — about the level at which it was funded previously. The GOP-led House voted to strip all funding for NPR, amid a controversy over a secretly taped video in which an NPR fundraiser was caught denigrating Republicans and the Tea Party.
Details of the agreement were released by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., on Tuesday, which outlines nearly $40 billion in spending cuts.Political observers note there is still a chance the deal won't be approved by Congress, citing House Republicans such as U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-In., who said he can't support the deal.UPDATE:Responding to news that the budget deal maintains funding for public broadcasting, Louisville Public Media Vice President Todd Mundt praised the agreement, but indicated that the city's public radio organization must continue to look at other sources in the coming future."We're pleased that Congress will fund public radio and television for the next two years," he said. "But given the national debt, Congress will be forced to make tough choices ahead, and we must make sure we rely only on sources of support that are stable, long-term."LPM is currently holding its spring membership drive with a banner with a goal of raising $650,000 by Friday.
