OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Prohibiting Federal Funding of National Public Radio

Floor Speech

Date: March 17, 2011
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Technology and Communication Arts, Entertainment, and History

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1076.

As a broadcaster, I understand the importance of the free marketplace, the freedom to express yourself, but to do it on your own merit.

I brought an idea to the marketplace to develop a radio news network, started with four stations, and within 4 years was able to grow that to 50 stations serving five States. I did not ask for one thin dime from the Federal Government.

I think freedom to succeed in this country has to exist also with the freedom to fail. We have an open marketplace. We have an opportunity to sell advertising around the ideas that we express on the radio.

I'm a success story in using the open marketplace, the freedom to succeed. But it also comes with the freedom to fail. And earlier in the year, or last year, rather, I started a radio station, a small venture. I populated that staff with folks that were on unemployment; so I know what it means to create jobs.

And certainly this is not about further burdening our taxpayer with support of an industry that is perfectly capable of supporting itself.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward