Republicans Propose Zeroing Out CPB Funding

[alp227]

Source: Broadcasting & Cable

Public broadcasters and their supporters fired back over the weekend following the release of a bill by the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee that would cut out its funding.

The bill is the Republican's version of the continuing resolution that would keep the government operating but take $100 billion out of its budget, including all the funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting not already obligated to be spent.

"Of the funds made available for Corporation for Public Broadcasting," read the bill, "the unobligated balance is rescinded. The amounts included under the heading 'Corporation for Public Broadcasting' in division D of Public Law 111-117 shall be applied to funds appropriated by this division as follows: by substituting ‘‘$0'' for ‘‘$86,000,000''; by substituting ‘‘$0'' for ‘‘$25,000,000''; by substituting ‘‘$0'' for ‘‘$36,000,000''; and by substituting ‘‘$0'' for ‘‘$25,000,000."

(snip)

Longtime public broadcasting supporter Ed Markey (D-Mass.) also decried the move, saying it was a case of Big Bird being robbed to pay Big Oil.

Read more: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/463878-Republicans_Propose_Zeroing_Out_CPB_Funding.php

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That chairman would be Hal Rogers of Kentucky. Let's holler at him.

[earcandle]

1. Remember, nothing these crazies do will get past the Senate, so just watch the dance.

There are just showing their colors.

[breadandwine]

2. Does this have to be approved by the Senate?

If the House says no to funding and the Senate says yes, then there is no agreement on funding. If there is no agreement on funding, then there is no funding. Are you sure the Senate has to go along with this?


~~~~~~~


Of course, Kermit the Frog was a communist ............


It's only right that he should be rounded up ...........

[earcandle]

16. The Senate is a check on the House. If they don't pass it, it doesn't pass.

But how did these extensions get passed when the vote was to
discontinue?  

Is the fraud on the American people? 

[LawnKorn]

3. We should respond by having Julius Genachowski deign license renewal to a few talk radio stations

Have the FCC let the licenses expire on the major stations where Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity appear. Then the Republicans will think twice about what the word 'Public' means in Public Air Waves and Public Broadcasting.

[CBHagman]

4. Oh, I've been on the phone with my congressman's staff...

...and with my senators' staffs, and with whatever poor volunteer at the White House took my call the other day. I think that last one was relieved to get someone concise and friendly on the line (I can only imagine the sort of rambling and/or hostile messages he is forced to hear day after day).

In any event, I got an early start on this last fall, when Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) and others had out the long knives for NPR because of the Juan Williams firing. The 'cans go after public broadcasting funds on a regular basis, so this is nothing new, but given the near-deafening mantra of cut, cut, cut, it's really war this time out.

[Thor_MN]

5. Reinstate the Fairness Doctrine and start enforcing the Equal Time rule

and then MAYBE we can start talking about CPB. Otherwise, STFU.

[Joanne98]

6. GOP spending cuts aim at public TV, Big Bird

Source: USA Today

When the GOP-led House takes up its plan tomorrow to slash spending for the rest of 2011, Big Bird and his Sesame Street buddies will get a starring role in the debate.

The Republican proposal calls for eliminating funding for the Corp. for Public Broadcasting, the largest source of funding for public television and a longtime partner in the Sesame Workshop, the non-profit behind the educational show. Public TV has long been in the GOP's cross hairs.

"This Republican budget would essentially kill Big Bird while continuing to subsidize Big Oil," Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said over the weekend.

Markey is no stranger to fights with the GOP over Big Bird and Elmo, defending public TV funding in 2008 and in previous years. The liberal group MoveOn.org has an online petition to save taxpayer dollars for public broadcasting.



Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/02/edward-markey-big-bird-public-television/1

[RKP5637]

7. On, this will surely solve the budget problems. They are so F'en clueless. n/t

[Blue Owl]

8. The new GOP brand should be Big Bird covered in toxic oil

n/t

[bergie321]

9. I was wondering

If anyone was going to frame the debate as the Republican "War on Sesame Street".

[proud patriot]

10. Republicans take Aim and plan on killing Big bird

[Bozita]

11. I signed the moveon.org petition earlier today. Here's a link to the page...

http://pol.moveon.org/nprpbs/splash.html?rc=homepage_splash

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[surrealAmerican]

14. Yeah, how dare he teach preschoolers their letters, colors ...

... and numbers without paying for the privilege!:sarcasm:

[bulloney]

13. No wonder Oscar's been a grouch.

Yeah, cut Public Television. That'll balance the budget.

But can we get some real cuts in the military budget? Oh hell no!

[Devil_Fish]

15. You fucking heartless ass holes. (GOP) I can't belive how low you have sunk.

defunding Big bird? are you serious? this is your idea to fix the budget? how fucking stpid can you be.