National Public Radio Insults the Washington Policy Community

August 05, 2011

National Public Radio showed either its ignorance of the policy community in Washington or its bias in supporting Peter Peterson’s efforts to cut Social Security and Medicare in a news story on the deficit and taxes. It described Maya MacGuineas, the head of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, as:

“about as close to an independent voice on tax policy as you’ll find in the nation’s capital.”

While Ms. MacGuineas has been critical of both political parties, this is true of many of the people working on budget policy in Washington. It is remarkable if NPR is somehow unaware of this fact. 

Ms. MacGuineas has consistently taken positions that are consistent with those supported by Peter Peterson (whose foundation supports her work). Her organization has not shown in interest in proposals that focus on reducing the deficit by taxes on Wall Street speculation or reforming the U.S. health care system, the primary driver of the long-term deficit.

NPR’s comment is inaccurate and misleading to listeners, as well as insult to dozens of people doing policy work on budget issues in Washington. 

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