Update on Public Broadcasting Budget Cuts
At yesterday’s meeting of the full House Appropriations Committee, public broadcasting scored a victory with the passage by voice vote of an amendment put forward by Ranking Member David Obey. Mr. Obey’s amendment restores the full $400 million of advanced appropriation for CPB in FY 2008, and this amendment passed by voice vote, although there were some loud No’s. While this is a step forward, it is still far short of our goal: To Get Members of Congress to Commit to Support Level Funding for Public Broadcasting in FY 2006.
The Committee action does not address the fact that House appropriators have proposed more than $220 million in crippling funding cuts for public broadcasting in FY 2006. So, we are still facing the prospect of imminent funding cuts that represents 45% of federal financial support. The main messages of our outreach remains the same - we want all Members to do the following:
· Support action to restore level funding for public broadcasting in FY 2006.
· Oppose the $100 million rescission of FY 2006 funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
· Oppose the elimination of funding for the Ready To Learn Program.
· Oppose the elimination of funding for the PTFP program (when its considered in conference)
· Oppose the elimination of funding for the digital conversion program - a federal mandate.
· Oppose the elimination of funding for the satellite interconnection program for programming distribution to local stations.