OMG! Stop the presses! Congress actually eliminated a government program! Three actually.

It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t by a huge number, but the Republicans in the Senate yesterday made history by enacting the first rescission package (a cancellation of previously appropriated funds) since the mechanism was created over 50 years ago. That’s a big taxpayer victory.

The bill cancels spending on wasteful foreign aid and on PBS and NPR.

Here is how they voted:

The package heads back to the House for a final vote, which we expect to pass on party lines, before heading to a signing ceremony at the White House.

NPR and PBS were started many decades ago when there were very limited programming options. Now there are hundreds of TV and radio stations. Some of our liberal friends have complained that public broadcasting has indispensable programs. If that’s the case, the viewing and listening audience will surely pony up to keep favorite shows on the air – minus taxpayer subsidies.