John Harris, president and CEO of Prairie Public Broadcasting. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
. North Dakota Monitor) – Prairie Public supporters are urging Senate lawmakers to defeat a bill that removes taxpayer support for North Dakota’s mainstay public broadcasting organization.
But even if House Bill 1255 is defeated, Prairie Public would still need to convince lawmakers to add state funding back into a budget bill.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jorin Johnson, R-Fargo, passed the House on a 48-41 vote in February after two House committees recommended the bill be voted down. The bill would prohibit state officials from using state or federal tax dollars to support the organization.
A Senate State and Local Government Committee hearing was the first time members of the Senate had the opportunity to weigh in on the matter.
Johnson told state senators that Prairie Public won’t need to close its doors because of the loss of $1.2 million in state funding. He added it could even be a good thing for the organization because he believes donors would rally behind the organization to keep it funded, just without state tax dollar
