The U.S. Senate approved a three-week continuing resolution on current-year federal spending yesterday, one day before the last continuing resolution was set to expire. Iowa’s Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin both supported the measure, which passed on an 87 to 13 vote (roll call). Harkin was one of only nine senators to vote against the last temporary budget fix two weeks ago.

According to Josiah Ryan’s report for The Hill,

The new measure will keep the government funded through April 8. If the two sides do not reach a deal by then, the government would shut down. […]

The bill would reduce spending this year by $6 billion. Both the Obama administration and Senate Democrats supported many of the cuts.

The measure approved Thursday includes $2.1 billion in rescissions of funds that have not been used; $2.5 billion in earmark terminations and  $1.1 billion to financial services/general government programs.

This includes $276 million for a fund to fight flu pandemics; $225 million in funding for community service employment for older Americans; and $200 million in funding for Internet and technology projects.

In other Congressional news, the House of Representatives voted yesterday to “permanently prohibit direct federal funding to [National Public Radio], ban public radio stations from using federal funds to pay their NPR dues and prevent those stations from using federal dollars to buy programming.” The 228 to 192 vote went mostly on party lines. Iowa Republicans Tom Latham (IA-04) and Steve King (IA-05) both voted yes, while all Democrats present voted no, including Bruce Braley (IA-01), Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Leonard Boswell (IA-03). In a speech to the House floor,

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) compared to the current move to strip NPR of federal funding to previous battles to strip ACORN and Planned Parenthood of the same, both of which were sparked by sting videos by conservative activists.

“Of all of the data that we’ve seen, we still had not absorbed the culture of NPR until we saw the video of that dinner,” Rep. King said.

That “sting video” was heavily edited to take certain comments out of context.

As far as I know, Braley was the only member of the Iowa delegation to issue a statement on the NPR funding vote. I’ve posted that after the jump. Both the White House and Democrats who have a majority in the U.S. Senate oppose defunding NPR.

UPDATE: I’ve added a March 18 e-mail blast from Loebsack after the jump.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2011

Braley Works to Protect Iowa Jobs

Opposes Job-Killing Bill to Cut Funding for Public Radio

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) stood up to Republican efforts to kill funding for public radio and the jobs that depend on it. After voting against the job-killing bill, Rep. Braley released the following statement:

“Voters spoke clearly last November: we’ve got to get our deficit under control. So it’s a little confusing to me why Republicans in the House would try to kill 9,000 jobs and cut a program whose cost has absolutely no effect on the deficit according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.  

“Public radio provides thousands of jobs across the country, including in my home state of Iowa. Why would we jeopardize these jobs if it will do nothing to bring down our deficit? Why are we taking up this bill to cut a valuable, educational program when we don’t even have a budget agreement? I know my constituents are scratching their heads as much as I am. I’ve received thousands of letters, emails and calls asking me why Congress is focusing on this instead of creating jobs and bringing down the deficit.

“Well I think it’s past due time we gave them an answer – and actually started voting on bills that create jobs instead of killing them.”

Washington, DC

March 18, 2011

I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to supporting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).  As a long-time listener of the programming offered by Iowa Public Radio and Iowa Public Broadcasting, I do not support the elimination of CPB’s public financing.  Since 1968, the CPB has supported investments in locally owned and operated public television and radio stations that reach nearly 98 percent of Americans and provide them with high quality educational resources for children, relevant local information, and access to cultural and artistic events from across the country

This week, the House Majority tried once again to eliminate public funding for National Public Radio (NPR) by introducing H.R. 1076.  I voted against defunding NPR and the CPB when the House Majority passed the Fiscal Year 2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 1) on February 19, 2011.  I also opposed this second attempt to defund NPR.  Unfortunately, the Majority passed H.R. 1076 on Thursday, March 17th.  This bill has now been referred to the Senate for further consideration.  I have heard from thousands of Iowans like you who strongly support the CPB and NPR, and I will continue to oppose efforts to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  While in recent days there have been some concerning reports in the news, we should never forget how important the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s mission is to our children and communities, particularly in rural areas and we shouldn’t throw Big Bird out with the bathwater.

I am committed to continuing to promote economic recovery and to getting our fiscal house in order. Please be assured I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address our nation’s pressing challenges and to promote an economy that works for Iowa families.  Should you have any questions or comments that you would like to raise on this issue or any issue of importance to you, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (202) 225-6576 or through my website at www.loebsack.house.gov.

Sincerely,

Dave Loebsack

Iowa’s Second District