Klobuchar defends public media as Senate rescission vote nears

WASHINGTON — As Congress considers rescinding federal funding already designated for public media, rural and tribal stations across Minnesota and the entire country face uncertainty.

President Donald Trump's proposed rescission package eliminates federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a nonprofit that funds mostly local public radio and television stations. It also gives a smaller portion of its funds to NPR and PBS.

Trump and his allies have questioned the political biases in the reporting from these national news organizations in their calls for taking back the funds. Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly voted 214-212 to rescind $1.1 billion of already awarded funds.

With a Senate decision expected by July 18, local stations like KAXE are highlighting the critical role public radio plays in delivering news, weather and community connection across the region.

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar gave a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, July 9, in support of public media and joined the KAXE Morning Show on Friday.

"This is different than everyone having a fight over the budget," Klobuchar said. "This is something that last year, a Republican-run house and a Democratic-run senate came together and made an agreement on the budget."

Klobuchar is concerned for the services public media provides, especially in rural places. She is also concerned about the balance of power of the United States' three distinct branches of government.

"The second argument is actually: this independent branch of government, we made a decision on this already, and we cannot start just letting the executive branch come in and mess with things that are already decided," Klobuchar said.

"Or we're going to set a precedent and go down the hill that ends the Constitution in terms of legislative power and the ability to do bipartisan bills."

Minnesota's Congressional delegation voted along party lines on rescission, with three of the four House Republicans voting in favor and the four Democrats voting against. Rep. Brad Finstad of New Ulm did not vote.

"You may see a different thing going on in the Senate," Klobuchar said.

Public media across the nation fulfills a role to supply emergency information to all people, free of charge. The House action, according to Klobuchar, may have a boomerang effect.

"The tragedy in Texas really called to question all of the emergency alerts," she said. " ... This has got to give our colleagues pause on the Republican side as they look at the decision that's coming upon us next week."

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