The Obama administration won’t stand for a cut to Rural Utilities...

which gives grants for building broadband infrastructure and setting up community centers offering free public access to broadband. The House approved the cut in a voice vote Friday night on an amendment by Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah. The RUS spokesman referred us to a Feb. 15 statement by the White House that “the Administration does not support deep cuts that will undermine our ability to out-educate, out-build, and out-innovate the rest of the world.” President Barack Obama will veto any continuing resolution that “undermines critical priorities or national security through funding levels or restrictions, contains earmarks, or curtails the drivers of long-term economic growth and job creation while continuing to burden future generations with deficit,” the White House said. Matheson said Friday that he wanted to cut even more than the House approved. “Cuts may be painful, they may be unpopular, but given what we are up against, they are necessary,” he said. The House resolution also included provisions targeting net neutrality rules, public broadcasting and the FCC’s chief diversity officer (CD Feb 22 p1). Congress must pass a continuing resolution by March 4 to keep the federal government running. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday he will bring to the floor next week a “clean” measure that extends government funding at current levels for 30 days.