• Newsmax.com, Friday, July 20, 2007 10:45 AM

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected a Republican plan to eliminate a $420 million federal subsidy given to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The outcome of the vote, which was 357-72, was widely expected, as the Democratic takeover of Congress has made moot Republican attempts to slash PBS' budget.

The latest move to kill public broadcasting's grant came from Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) who says that "taxpayers are being asked to pay more in taxes because Congress is not willing to make hard choices and balance our spending with our income." But Congress created PBS 40 years ago in an attempt to shield public broadcasting from partisan influence.

"It is providing a voice for America, a noncommercial, independent voice that is sadly lacking," says Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat. "It isn't available any place else in the million channels on our cable networks."

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