*Co targets PBS again

[wtbymark]

The President released his FY2007 Budget today and again, funding for public broadcasting was targeted. Below is the summary of the proposed cuts, including a rescission in already appropriated advanced funding for FY2007.


Renewed Attack on Federal Funding for Public Broadcasting

Ignoring the tremendous response of the American people to proposed cuts to federal funding last June, the Administration has renewed the attack on public broadcasting by proposing $157 million in crippling funding cuts in FY 2007. The Administration’s budget proposes to reduce federal financial support of public broadcasting by almost 30 percent. This would devastate local public television stations, which are unique among broadcasters in providing educational, cultural and informational programming throughout the nation.

This past June, 87 Republicans joined 196 Democrats and the one Independent in the House of Representatives in voting to reject a $100 million cut in FY 2006 federal funding for public broadcasting. Today, the Administration proposes cutting $53.5 million in FY 2007, another $50 million in FY 2008 funding, and no funding at all in FY2009. Rather than embrace the overwhelming, bi-partisan majority who supported public broadcasting a few months ago, the Administration is charging ahead in laying the foundation for the elimination of public broadcasting in America.


The Proposed Cuts

• Rescission of FY 2007 CSG Funds: The Administration proposes a crippling cut of $53.5 million of the FY2007 appropriation previously made to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.


• Further Rescission of FY 2008 CSG Funds: The Administration goes further than the crippling cut in FY2007 with a recommendation to slash an additional $50 million from the FY2008 appropriation.


• Even Deeper Funding Cuts Proposed: The Administration continues its attack by proposing no new funding for digital infrastructure and interconnection programs, which combined received $65 million last year.


• Elimination of PTFP – the Sole Source of Emergency Funding for Stations Devastated by Hurricane Katrina: The Administration proposes eliminating the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program – which was the only source of emergency funding to help hurricane-ravaged stations serving Gulf Communities.


• Elimination of Ready To Teach: The Administration proposes completely eliminating this highly-successful program that provides funding for online resources for teachers seeking quality professional development that is easily accessible, flexible and tailored to local, state and national standards.

[1gobluedem]

1. Cripples public radio too

I work at an NPR affiliate and if these cuts go through they will be devastating for us. But, I don't think they'll pass.

[radio4progressives]

9. no, the RW has the key to the door, and nice offices to boot

there's no need to be concerned, they're bringing in Corporate advertising and News Hour is more right wing than ever..

NPR EDITED/CENSORED Loretta Scott King's 1968 reading of her husband's notes found in his pocket she called The Ten Commandments of Viet Nam.

Now Why would NPR censor that specific audio? hmm..

check it out, the content might surprise you.. (or maybe not)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=355176

[FormerDittoHead]

2. When will PBS get it that the Pugs will NEVER be their friend?

They have to realize it's like letting a shark eat you a LITTLE bit to make him happy. The shark will NEVER become your "friend".

So, PBS, PLEASE stop bending over backward to appease the right wingers - THEY'RE NOT LISTENING.

The only right wingers listening to PBS are those who, upon hearing ANYTHING good about a Democrat person or stance, or ANYTHING bad about a Republican person or stance, will be reassured that you're left wing wacko commies.

[Tesha]

4. PBS/NPR will *NEVER* get it. If they could, they would have by now.

PBS/NPR will *NEVER* get it. If they could, they would have by now.
Large institutions are just organizationally incapable of taking
bold leaps, hence the DLC, the Democrats' response to Republican
attacks, the "liberal" media's response to Republican attacks,
and PBS/NPR's response to Republican attacks. (Golly, there
seems to be a trend here!)

I used to be a very large NPR/PBS contributor, but I finally
quit about ten years after it became obvious to me that they
no longer wanted to cater to my views *AT ALL*. I'd be happy
to contribute again, but they'd really have to start featuring
soome honest-to-dog proud, uncensored lefty voices again, and
a *LOT* fewer editorials provided by Right Wingers.

Personally, I doubt it will ever happen. PBS and NPR will go
down in flames *STILL* trying to make their Republican abusers
love them while ignoring the folks on the left that actually
do love them and care about their safety and well-being. If
NPR and PBS were battered spouses, somebody would have
kidnapped them into a shelter by now.

Tesha

[JudyM]

5. They are still better than the commercially-funded alternatives.

Without PBS and NPR a lot of Americans would get nothing but commercial propaganda... a free press is essential to our democracy, as we have so painfully witnessed in the last election, where the * pablum was relentlessly regurgitated day after day. They may be imperfect but they serve an important purpose in balancing the spate of partisan media masquerading as factual reporting sources.

[guruoo]

6. But, IMHO, they're sinking fast in that regard

[JudyM]

7. Imagine the pressure they're under. Awful position but they apparently

are being forced to present opposing views in order to even survive.

[guruoo]

8. It's that obivous, isn't it?

Like they're just checking off required items from a list

[Double T]

3. bushco continues its quest to squash any opposition or destroy......

any media outlet that doesn't 'preach' its agenda. This would be a good action for DU Activists; another voice of truth and opposition is attempting to be silenced by the traitors of free speech and expression.

[sendero]

10. What needs to happen is..

... WE, the "liberals" need to fully fund NPR/PBS and let them tell the government to go to hell.

I would happily pay $100 a year for true LIBERAL, QUALITY progamming. We've seen over the last 10 years or so just how corrupting the threat of loss of govt funding, coupled with corporate funding, has been.

In a way, I hope the Fed dumps their funding - because that is the only way "people funded" idea would ever get even a chance. The folks that run this mess haven't the guts to go for it now.

[0007]

11. Help!

https://political.moveon.org/donate/breakingthelaw.html