The Republican senators to watch on cutting PBS, NPR and foreign aid funding
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Senate leadership is setting up votes, kicking off Tuesday, to claw back billions of dollars of appropriated federal funds. But first, there are GOP senators who need to be appeased.
Why it matters: There are two buckets of GOP Senate skeptics, despite President Trump's threat to withhold his support or endorsement from any Republican who does not vote for the bill.
1) Skeptical on principle: Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) made an argument last week that the process of cutting spending is supposed to be through the annual appropriations process.
- Also watch Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — the other top-ranked members on the Appropriations Committee.
2) Looking for tweaks: Others are more likely to get on board after changes.
- Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) fall into this category.
- The two biggest issues: Cuts to a global health program to prevent HIV and AIDS, as well as cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that could impact relied-on local radio stations. Collins also objects to PEPFAR cuts.
- OMB Director Russ Vought is expected to attend lunch Tuesday to answer additional questions from senators about the proposed cuts, per sources familiar.
The other side: Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) has been leading the charge on getting the rescissions package done.
- He noted senators are invested in "the good that PEPFAR has done" and making sure "the package is reflective of that."
- Schmitt called taxpayer-funded media a "vestige of a bygone era, and they violated the trust of American people."
- He argued stations "can do just fine on their own, going to their donors."
