House votes to defund North Dakota public broadcasting, sends bill to Senate

By: Jeff Beach

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota members of the House on Monday voted to defund Prairie Public Broadcasting, with one lawmaker citing it as in line with federal cost-cutting.

The House Appropriations Committee had recommended continuing to fund Prairie Public with $1.2 million for the biennium. But House Bill 1255, sponsored by Rep. Jorin Johnson, R-Fargo, passed the House on Monday with a 48-41 vote, cutting the funding.

The bill prevents state officials from providing state or federal funding to Prairie Public. It will move on to the state Senate, which also will take up the bill.

Rep. SuAnn Olson, R-Baldwin, noted the House minutes earlier had passed a bill creating the North Dakota version of Department of Government Efficiency that has been generating headlines for the Trump administration.

“This may be our first opportunity to start looking for efficiencies,” Olson said. “Our hope would be that we’re not continually finding something that has the ability to fly on its own.”

Supporters of the bill noted that Prairie Public has significant backing from members and from charitable gambling.

Rep. Brandy Pyle, R-Casselton, said the bill wasn’t necessary and expressed reservations about the Legislature cutting off federal funding. She said the Legislature has the ability to address Prairie Public’s funding level in the budget for the Office of Management and Budget.

In written testimony, Linda Mork, education services manager for Prairie Public in Fargo, said cutting the funding would impact the organization’s educational mission.

“The loss of funding would not only affect educators but also students across the state, especially those in underserved communities,” she said.

Johnson said that the explosion of digital media sources means that Prairie Public is now just one of many sources of news and programming for North Dakotans.

Prairie Public CEO and President John Harris testified in committee that Prairie Public would continue to operate with the funding, but likely with less local programming.