KPCC to open Washington bureau

The L.A. Times may not have a Washington bureau of its own anymore, but soon KPCC will. Kitty Felde is heading east to open the first Washington bureau of any public radio station in the country. From the KPCC release:

"The California delegation, in general—and the Southern California delegation, specifically—is too important and too powerful to settle for pool or wire service coverage," said Bill Davis, President of SCPR. "At a time when Congress will debate and vote on legislation that's critical to the Southland—the financial and automotive industry bail-outs, immigration legislation, re-writing No Child Left Behind, environmental legislation, and union card-check proposals—it's critical for voters in the region to know how powerful legislators in our delegation work to shape and pass (or defeat) specific bills."

Felde will report on California's large and increasingly influential congressional delegation, and cover legislative, regulatory and other stories of interest to Southern Californians.

“The decision by SCPR to open a Washington, D.C., bureau and assign Kitty Felde to cover the California congressional delegation reflects the importance that the station places in bringing timely, accurate information to its listeners in Southern California,” said Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-31). “I congratulate Ms. Felde for this new step in her career and look forward to seeing her in the halls of Congress.” Representative Becerra is the House Democratic Vice Chair-elect and the only congressional member from Southern California on the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means.

"I've known Kitty Felde for many years and she's an excellent reporter with a keen interest in our nation's Capitol,” said Congressman David Dreier (CA-26). “She also knows her way around the Capitol building and will give Californians a real insider's view." Representative Drier is the ranking Republican on the Rules Committee since 1999. He also serves as Chairman of the California GOP Congressional Delegation.

KPCC add: If you want to ask playwright/screenwriter Peter Morgan why he made up all that stuff in "Frost/Nixon," he'll be on "Airtalk" with Larry Mantle at 11:40 a.m. tomorrow. [D'oh: Ron Howard directed the movie.]