THE GOP CONGRESS PUT ELMO, AND WE THE PEOPLE, ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK

From the WaPo today… “When a 7.3-magnitude earthquake rumbled beneath the Bering Sea on Wednesday 50 miles south of Sand Point, Alaska, authorities sent their first tsunami warnings directly to the nearest public radio station, KUCB in the Aleutian Islands town of Unalaska. Along with other local NPR and PBS stations, it immediately broadcast alerts for residents and tourists to get to higher ground. By the time the Alaska Emergency Management Agency contacted Sand Point and other island communities, the word was already out, said the agency’s director, Bryan Fisher. The earthquake struck as senators in Washington were debating whether to eliminate all of the $1.1 billion in federal funding for public broadcasting set to be doled out over the next two years to PBS, NPR, and local radio and television stations across the country. “If the funding goes away and KUCB can’t stay on the air, we lose that vital warning channel to the public, mariners, and tourists in our coastal communities,” Fisher said. The Senate narrowly passed the bill, which rescinds previously appropriated funds. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was one of only two Republicans to vote against it, citing “the incredible public service these stations provide,” including “emergency alerts that save human lives.” Early Friday, the House of Representatives passed the bill and sent it to President Donald Trump for a signature.” Can we please just stop with the fiction that the GOP Congress cares about we the people? You gave DJT billions for protecting us against immigrants simply trying to live their lives. But you happily rescind funds you yourselves allotted to actually help protect us against Mother Nature’s vengeance. You should be ashamed. But I know you’re not. Thank you for your service.