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News :: Elections & Legislation : Media : Regime : Right Wing |
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Congress Will Not Cut Public Broadcasting Funds |
Current rating: 0 |
by AP
(No verified email address) |
23 Jun 2005
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Public backlash against drastic cuts in public broadcasting reverses conservative efforts to kill it, but appointment of ex-Republican Party chair as the CPB president and CEO indicates the fight will go on. |
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Big Bird and National Public Radio won a reprieve Thursday as the House restored $100 million that had been proposed as a budget cut for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The 284-140 vote demonstrated the enduring political strength of public broadcasting, whose supporters rallied behind popular programs such as ''Sesame Street,'' ''Postcards From Buster'' and ''The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer.''
The Public Broadcasting Service undertook a high-profile campaign to rescind the proposed cut. Lawmakers were flooded with letters and phone calls.
The vote came as the House worked on a $142.5 billion spending bill for health, education and labor programs for the budget year beginning Oct. 1.
The Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee had cut $100 million from $400 million in previously enacted support. The committee also eliminated subsidies for educational programs and technological upgrades.
The corporation was set up by Congress in 1967 to shield public broadcasting from political influence. It distributes federal subsidies to PBS, National Public Radio and hundreds of public radio and television stations.
The corporation's chairman, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, a GOP appointee, has made news recently with his contention that public broadcasting is too liberal.
Also Thursday, the corporation's board selected Patricia S. Harrison, a former Republican Party co-chairman, as president and chief executive.
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On the Net:
Public Broadcasting Service: http://www.pbs.org
Corporation for Public Broadcasting: http://www.cpb.org |
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