House Speaker Rejects Funding Request
On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson turned down New York Senator Chuck Schumer’s proposal for Congress to allocate $500 million to certain media organizations, stating, “We haven’t done that.”
The House passed a short-term funding measure and a resolution honoring Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, who was assassinated. Meanwhile, Democrats are pushing for over $1 trillion in funding, which includes reinstating financial support for public broadcasting.
Johnson expressed his views post-vote, saying, “Chuck Schumer and Democrats have issued counter offers filled with poison and partisan demands that disrupt the system—Schumer knows it.” He emphasized that Schumer is attempting to impose an additional $1.4 trillion in spending on taxpayers.
“He also aims to restore healthcare benefits, which are provided at no cost by American taxpayers to illegal immigrants. We’re not doing that either,” Johnson added. “And he wants to allocate $500 million to support a left-leaning media organization, which we haven’t agreed to.”
The conversation surrounding government spending has intensified since President Donald Trump took office, with reports indicating $200 billion in cuts have already sparked debates among Democrats. These cuts even include the shutting down of the U.S. International Development Agency.
Public Broadcasting (CBP) funding was reduced after a rescue package passed in July. During Trump’s presidency, tensions rose between him and White House reporter Yamiche Alcindor, which included disagreements over Trump’s remarks at Mount Rushmore.
A recent PBS News Report noted that the term “right” was used significantly more than “left,” with research suggesting a disparity in coverage patterns.
