House protects public broadcasting (NPR/PBSR)

Zeke

A few days old, but I figured it was noteworthy."The House on Wednesday evening overwhelmingly rejected President Bush's plan to eliminate the $420 million federal subsidy for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting[/b].The 357-72 vote demonstrated the enduring political strength of public broadcasting. The outcome was never in doubt, unlike a fight two years ago when Republicans tried but failed to slash public broadcasting subsidies.The move to kill subsidies for the CPB, which make up about 15 percent of its budget, was launched by Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado."Taxpayers are being asked to pay more in taxes because Congress is not willing to make hard choices and balance our spending with our income," Lamborn said.Congress created the corporation in 1967 to shield public broadcasting from political influence. The CPB distributes federal subsidies to PBS, National Public Radio and hundreds of public radio and television stations."It is providing a voice for America, a noncommercial, independent voice that is sadly lacking. It isn't available any place else in the million channels on our cable networks," said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon.The vote came as the House for a second day debated a huge spending bill funding job training, education and health programs.The underlying bill provides about $152 billion next year for programs whose budgets are set at lawmakers' discretion each year.Among the largest increases is $2.2 billion to finance an increase of $260 in the maximum Pell Grant for college students."Source: CNN

DB_Cooper

Although I would like to point out that my PBS/NPR organization receives 70% of its funding from individual members. I only mention it because many people are under the impression that we receive most of our funds from the government. Wholly untrue.

Zeke

Although I would like to point out that my PBS/NPR organization receives 70% of its funding from individual members. I only mention it because many people are under the impression that we receive most of our funds from the government. Wholly untrue.

Was this big news around the office or is this kind of protection sort of expected?

Keep on fighting the good fight.

DB_Cooper

It's actually pretty standard procedure. Just about every time federal budgeting comes up, someone proposes that CPB receive reduced funding or be cut completely. Then there's a backlash, and things stay pretty much the same, with the occasional moderate reduction in funding. Often, though, those reductions are balanced out by increases in later years. Most of us try not to think about it, since it's usually much ado about very little, and why get bent out of shape until things are settled?

batmon

Harvey Dent....

Cosmo