Dan Meuser and Rob Bresnahan, the Republican congressmen from the Back Mountain in Luzerne County, both voted to eliminate $1.1 billion in federal funding for the next two years for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The House voted 214 to 212 Thursday to approve a rescissions package that also included slashing $8.3 billion to foreign aid programs.
WVIA Public Media receives approximately $1.2 million in annual federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is roughly 20% of its overall budget, WVIA president and CEO Carla McCabe said.
“This is a direct and unprecedented attack on public media. It’s no longer just political rhetoric or grandstanding — the threat is here. It’s happening now, and it’s at our front door,” McCable said in a statement on WVIA’s website. “If the Senate passes the bill, the funding will be eliminated immediately and permanently. That means cuts to trusted journalism, local programming, and educational content for the millions of residents in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.”
WVIA-FM is a National Public Radio member affiliate owned by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Educational Television Association along with WVIA-TV, a Public Broadcasting Service affiliate. WVIA is based in Jenkins Twp. and serves more than 22 counties in northeastern and central Pennsylvania.
McCabe is urging viewers, listeners and supporters to help defeat the legislation by contacting their senators. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill in July.
“If this funding is cut, local stations like WVIA could be forced to immediately reduce — or eliminate — the trusted local news, educational programs and resources, TV and radio programs, and emergency broadcasting services you rely on,” McCabe said. “This vote is not just about dollars — it’s about the future of independent, locally-owned and operated public media like WVIA. We need your help right now.
The legislation to cut $9.4 billion is the first request by President Donald Trump to claw back money already approved through annual spending bills.
“Americans have a right to know where their taxpayer dollars are spent. The rescissions package does not end these programs, it merely works to eliminate the waste and abuse of American citizens’ tax dollars by the federal government,” Bresnahan, R-8, Dallas Twp., said in a released statement.
Meuser, R-9, Jackson Twp., addressed the recissions package on the House floor Thursday.
” … why is the federal government still funding public television and radio when most people have hundreds of channels to get their news and information from? And these stations are some of the most partisan stations out there,” Meuser said. “Can you imagine, as I stated earlier, if a conservative station was funded? The left would have screamed, vilified and exterminated it a long while ago.”
Trump asked lawmakers to rescind nearly $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which represents the full amount it’s slated to receive during the next two budget years. About two-thirds of the money gets distributed to more than 1,500 locally owned public radio and television stations.
According to a 990 tax filing for the fiscal year ending in June 2023, the nonprofit owner of WVIA reported nearly $6.1 in revenue and $7.4 million in expenditures. Revenue from contributions was $4.1 million, and investment income was $1 million.
The organization had 71 employees with five receiving compensation of more than $100,000. Employee salaries and benefits cost more than $3.4 million.
Four Republicans voted against the recissions package — Reps. Mark Amodei of Nevada, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Nicole Malliotakis of New York and Mike Turner of Ohio. No Democrats voted for the measure.