Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) was joined by other members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) in announcing his support for “Operation Offset,” an RSC plan to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief operations by making cuts in wasteful and duplicative government spending. Congressman McHenry made the announcement at a Capitol Hill press conference this morning.

“Operation Offset” highlights over 100 projects and programs in the federal budget that could be reduced or eliminated to cover the cost of recovery without raising taxes or adding to the budget deficit. Congressman McHenry explained the need for government to tighten its purse strings, “When the families of my district in western North Carolina have unforeseen expenses arise, they have to look for other, less-important items to cut from the family budget. Government needs to apply that same common sense. We must not allow the liberals in Congress to politicize this issue and use it as their latest excuse to raise taxes.”

Congressman McHenry specifically pointed to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as a prime area where savings could be achieved. “Today, I heard the Governor of Mississippi say that every school in four entire counties was destroyed,” the Congressman explained. “Eliminating the federal share of CPB funding would free up $400 million this year. That is enough money to build 40 elementary schools!” Initial Department of Education statistics show the number of schools destroyed by Katrina to be 28 with 280 suffering severe damage. These numbers will only continue to rise as damage reports become more complete.

The Congressman also pointed out that 85% of CPB funding comes from private sources. “Certainly, public television has its benefits, but we have to be responsible and choose our priorities. What is more important, funding the Lehrer News Hour or building schools to educate our children?”