(The Center Square) – More than $5 million in federal taxpayer funds could be withheld from public media across Illinois if a measure clears the U.S. Senate.
The U.S. House Oversight Committee heralded the passage of the rescissions measure out of that chamber last month, saying “Tax dollars will NOT go towards indoctrinating children with radical leftist ideology.”
“@SenateGOP, it’s your turn to act,” a post on X said.
Debating the $9 billion rescission measure, Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, explained what rescission means.
“So money appropriated by Congress, signed by a president sent to the administration. They decide they’re not going to spend,” Durbin said Wednesday on the Senate floor.
The measure if passed by the Senate would rescind $1.1 billion from CPB, including $700 million for public media across the country. Durbin warned rescinding the funds will impact local communities.
“This local broadcasting is especially crucial. Rural public broadcasting stations are often the only source of local news, the only source of emergency alerts in the region,” Durbin said.
A review of most Illinois public media annual financial reports for 2024 shows a total of at least $5 million coming from CPB to local outlets. The largest recipient was WSIU at Southern Illinois University with $2.9 million in federal funds for operations. That was followed by Illinois Public Media out of the University of Illinois with $1.7 million in CPB community service grants for operations.
“For us, it’s about 20%. It varies a lot among stations,” Maurice “Moss” Bresnahan, executive director of Illinois Public Media, told Smile Politely when asked how much federal funding makes up their overall revenues. “So, if you’re in Chicago, it’s probably closer to six or seven percent. There are some stations in Illinois where it’s over 50%.”
Bresnahan said in May that big cities will still have a big population base to fundraise off, but said “it’s safe to say that there’s been some modeling done that 30% or 40% of stations would go off the air” if federal tax funds are rescinded.
Republicans and President Donald Trump say taxpayers should not be funding public media that has a liberal bias. Durbin said one station proves that wrong.
“WGLT had 100% bipartisan participation from candidates in McLean County municipal election event,” Durbin said.
The latest financial report WGLT had listed on their website was from 2018. That report shows CPB community service grants totalling $142,506.
Public media outlets associated with public universities in Illinois also receive millions from state taxpayer funds for both operating and non-operating costs. Financial records show Illinois Public Media receiving $1.2 million for non-opearing costs from state taxpayers in 2024.
Illinois universities also subsidize the public media on their campuses. Financial records show Tri States Public Radio out of Western Illinois University got $220,000 from the university for donated facilities and administrative support. WSIU got $770,000 from Southern Illinois University in 2024 for operating revenues.
Public media also receives private donations and other support.
Senators could vote on the federal tax fund rescissions bill in the days ahead.
