Sen. Dick Durbin on Wednesday urged his Republican colleagues to vote against defunding public media, citing WGLT’s election events as one example of how local stations serve their communities.
During a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin said WGLT is one of many NPR stations that will be harmed if Congress approves President Trump’s request to claw back $1.1 billion in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting [CPB]. Trump argues the money “subsidizes a public media system that is politically biased and is an unnecessary expense to the taxpayer.”
The House has already approved it, and the Senate is expected to vote on it next week.
Durbin, a Democrat, pointed to WGLT’s election events, such as debates and open houses, as a success story. They attract local candidates from both parties and encourage more people to vote, he said.
“Their mission is to keep neighbors connected and talking to each other. Its goal is to keep polarization out of local government, and it does just that,” Durbin said. “For the president to say they’re politically biased is just plain false.”
Durbin framed Trump’s move to defund public media as an attack on rural America. He said public media is often one of few options for local news and emergency information in parts of downstate Illinois.
Durbin name-dropped WTVP, the Peoria-based PBS station, and its program A Shot of Ag, about farm life and the rural/urban divide in Central Illinois.
“Bottom line, do you think we’re better off with less information as Americans, or more? Bottom line, do you want a choice to pick your own source of information? Do you want that choice to include Corporation for Public Broadcasting? The president says no,” Durbin said. “Public media stations provide essential, nonpartisan news coverage, life-saving emergency and weather alerts, and educational programming for our kids.”
If approved, the rescission would eliminate $1.1 billion of previously approved funding for CPB, which funds NPR and PBS stations. Many stations could be forced to close.
“Once these stations are gone, they’re gone!” Durbin said.
WGLT, which is licensed to Illinois State University in Normal, is telling donors it will lose around $350,000 in funding if the rescission passes.
