Public broadcasting money gets split vote from STL-area Reps.

By Tom Weber, KWMU/AP

St. Louis, MO – St. Louis area Congressmen mostly supported Thursday's vote in Washington to restore funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Republican John Shimkus joined Democrats Russ Carnahan, Lacy Clay, and Jerry Costello in voting to restore money that had been previously cut.

The Corporation funds public radio and television stations across the country, including KWMU and KETC-Channel 9.

A committee in the U.S. House had previously voted to cut $100 million from the CPB. Thursday's vote restored it with a final tally of 284-140. Every Democrat in the House voted to restore the money, as did 87 Republicans.

Republicans Todd Akin and JoAnn Emerson voted against the money. In a statement, Akin said restoring the money will mean reductions in job training funds and funding for higher education and health-related programs.

"I do not believe any federally-supported program should go without careful fiscal scrutiny," Akin added.

Another area Republican, John Shimkus, noted that many public broadcasting stations are owned by universities or non-for-profits and are already being told to update equipment for digital broadcasting. "It is unfair for us to force costs on to these stations, while at the same time reducing the funds to make the changes," Shimkus said in a statement.

"While I have serious concerns about the growth of the federal budget, public broadcasting is not growing, it is remaining flat at last year's levels."

To hear a report from NPR's David Folkenflik about the vote Thursday, click here.