The Citizens’ Response Network of Wayne County (CRN) held a protest outside of Congresswoman Tenney’s "Mobile Office Hours" in Macedon on Thursday. Claudia’s representative, Dan Martini met with  both CRN members and other constituents at the Macedon library.

Over 41 people left comments with him. There were about 12 protesters out front of the Town Hall earlier.

CRN is a group of people who have stated that sitting on the sidelines is not a good option and that being an active and informed citizen is what the U.S. Constitution and current events require.

CRN’s 196 members believe it is important to live in a community, state and Country which embraces our American values of fairness, equality, integrity, respect and opportunity for all. "We are not affiliated with a political party, but rather, we are a values-led, grass roots organization founded in March of 2017. CRN arose from the need for important and relevant information to be shared with the people of Wayne County. We want to ensure that people understand the potential consequences of legislation and so that their voices are heard.

So our goal is simple: We want to make it easy for people to be knowledgeable advocates and engaged citizens. Our members stand together to remind our community and our representatives that there are better ways to practice politics and that our American values should never be compromised."

Their purpose posted on their Facebook account states, "Our vision is to live in a community, state, and country that embraces fairness, equality, respect, and democratic ideals while valuing diversity."

One of the group’s opposition was to a recent Congresswoman Tenney’s introduction of a bill she is proposing, alongside Republican Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), to "Defund Government Sponsored Propaganda Act to prohibit federal funding for the National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)" due to their partisan bias.

Tenney’s beef is that both NPR and PBS newscasts have included  stories and posts critical of Trump’s methods and agenda in their news presentations. Both NPR and PBS appear to have left leanings in their news and opinion presentations, along with the vast majority of news organizations, but is that bias, or simply reporting?

Tenney stated in her announcement that public dollars should not promote a political agenda, but rather report the facts. 

"Under the influence of radical left-wing ideologues like Katherine Maher, PBS, and NPR no longer uphold the American principles of free thought and open discourse. Taxpayer dollars should not fund political propaganda disguised as journalism."

The Defund Government Sponsored Propaganda Act ensures that federal funding is no longer used to perpetuate the blatant media bias that has overtaken these platforms," said Congresswoman Tenney.

“Americans have hundreds of sources of news and commentary, and they don’t need politically biased, taxpayer-funded media choosing what they should see and hear. PBS and NPR are free to compete in the marketplace of ideas using donations, but their public subsidy should end," said Senator Lee. 

Both NPR and PBS receive federal funding through numerous education, scientific and community grants, along with the majority of funding through membership, corporate sponsors and local ad support.

If Tenney’s proposal was adopted by the Republican house and senate current majorities, it would indeed have an effect on public broadcasting. 

It calls into question news reporting and  its coverage as political tides change.

The CRN is also in opposition to President Trump’s proposed dismantling of federal agencies and goals of perceived strengthening executive powers.

This all calls into question: Is the news media biased? 

A new company about to launch this week,  AllSides™Technology Group,  is attempting to answer this question. (see graph at right)

The Times has received complaints that its reporting has a left leaning bias.

"I admit that, in my editorial "In This Corner", I have many leftist views, but we do not carry those views beyond the editorial page and never have," stated Times editor Ron Holdraker. "Bias is formed in the minds of the reader, it always has been,"" he added.