House moved to defund CPB in July, ahead of Romney's 'Big Bird' comment

Fresh off GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's promise to eliminate federal funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), House Republicans are reminding voters that they already advanced a bill several months ago that would wean the CPB off of public money.

Back in July, the House Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services approved a funding bill that would have removed all federal funding for the CPB by 2015.

The CPB received more than $400 million in 2012, but under the bill, $111 million would be taken away in 2013, and $222 million more would be removed in 2014.

The CPB funds the Public Broadcasting Service, which distributes shows including "Sesame Street" to member stations around the country.

While the GOP bill moved out of subcommittee, it was overtaken by the six-month spending bill that Congress approved in September. Still, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) said that he agrees with Romney's assessment that it is time to eliminate federal aid for the CPB.

"Like Mitt Romney, I like Big Bird. That is not the issue," Lamborn said Thursday. "The governor recognizes the larger problem is out-of-control government spending. I like the governor's test for what programs to keep and what to cut. It's common sense. If we have to borrow money from China to keep Big Bird in his nest, it's time for him to go!"

Romney said Wednesday night at the first presidential debate that he "love[s]" Big Bird, and "like[s]" debate moderator and former PBS NewHour host Jim Lehrer. "But I'm not going to keep on spending money on things to borrow money from China to pay for."

Lamborn has sponsored legislation to eliminate federal funding for National Public Radio and a separate bill to end funding for the CPB.

---