Rep. Doggett's Floor Speech In Opposition to Republican Efforts to Defund NPR

Rep. Doggett's Full Remarks follow below:

While Republicans insist today that NPR is a four-letter word, their real attack is on KUT and similar local public radio across <?xml:namespace prefix = st1>America. 250,000 Texans rely upon KUT's in-depth radio news scrutiny of theTexas Legislature and local government. The only "bias" of those who begin with "Morning Edition," is a bias for truth. My constituents tune in to KUT because they want fact-based, not faux-based, Fox-based coverage. <?xml:namespace prefix = o>

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Like their continued assault on PBS, these Republicans just can't tell the difference between Big Government and Big Bird. Even as they pander to Wall Street, they continue to want to terminate support of "Sesame Street."

"All Things Considered," their attack really has nothing to do with balancing the budget. It is an ideological crusade against balanced news and educational programming. Cutting access to public knowledge decreases our ability to hold our government accountable.

Don't weaken our democracy today by weakening this vital source of reality-based journalism.

Whether slashing higher education, public education, public broadcasting, or public radio, there is a troubling pattern to these Republican attacks: if it promotes a well-informed citizenry, they don't like it.

Don't cut KUT. Public radio serves the public interest.

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