Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Does Stove Top Go Well With Big Bird?
The Republican attack on public broadcasting continues. First, they targeted PBS and NPR news programs for signs of "liberal bias" (even though John McLaughlin has two shows, along with the Wall Street Journal). Now members of the House of Representatives are sharpening their knives for Big Bird.
House Appropriations Committee members are now deciding whether to slash more than $200 million in funding for public broadcasting, including $23.4 million earmarked for "Ready to Learn" children's educational programming; the money that keeps shows like "Sesame Street," "Arthur," and "Clifford the Big Red Dog" on the air.
The proposed action would cut the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's budget by $100 million and "zero out" all federal money for CPB within two years. Small television and radio stations that serve rural communities and minority audiences will be devastated by these cuts.
The CPB is already embroiled in controversy over Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson's attempts to withhold funding from PBS programs that don't follow his conservative political line. Apparently dissatisfied with this effort to make public broadcasting more "fair and balanced," the Republican majority is now trying to bankrupt the entire system. They call it "starving the beast."
For you rabid homophobes, keep in mind that the episode of "Postcards from Buster" featuring lesbian farmers/parents never actually aired.
Help stop this madness. Click here.
House Appropriations Committee members are now deciding whether to slash more than $200 million in funding for public broadcasting, including $23.4 million earmarked for "Ready to Learn" children's educational programming; the money that keeps shows like "Sesame Street," "Arthur," and "Clifford the Big Red Dog" on the air.
The proposed action would cut the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's budget by $100 million and "zero out" all federal money for CPB within two years. Small television and radio stations that serve rural communities and minority audiences will be devastated by these cuts.
The CPB is already embroiled in controversy over Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson's attempts to withhold funding from PBS programs that don't follow his conservative political line. Apparently dissatisfied with this effort to make public broadcasting more "fair and balanced," the Republican majority is now trying to bankrupt the entire system. They call it "starving the beast."
For you rabid homophobes, keep in mind that the episode of "Postcards from Buster" featuring lesbian farmers/parents never actually aired.
Help stop this madness. Click here.
