Expenditure of Funds for a Reception for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

A Member of the House of Representatives requested our opinion concerning the expenditure by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting of $9,802.75 for a reception in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building. The reception was held as a part of a week-long annual meeting of public radio stations held for the purpose of convening working groups on public radio policy and operational matters, in order to give local stations a chance to meet and exchange views with one another and with representatives of National Public Radio and with the Corporation's staff. The Corporation states that the reception was to allow public radio representatives to meet with their representatives in Congress. The reception was paid for, in substantial part, from registration fees paid by conference registrants. The member contends that this type of reception is an unwarranted use of Federal tax dollars and constituted, in affect, using Federal monies to lobby for additional appropriations from the Congress.