June 21, 2005
(Washington, DC) – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) announced her strong opposition to a provision in the FY 2006 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill coming to the House Floor this week that cuts FY 2006 funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by 25 percent – cutting the appropriation from $400 million to $300 million.
“Public broadcasting is a national treasure, and I will fight against these GOP efforts to kill Big Bird” said Lee. “For millions of parents, public broadcasting represents a children’s television network of unparalleled excellence and value. At a cost of just over $1 per year per person what parents and children get from free over-the-air public television and public radio is an incredible bargain.”
The provision in the bill would cut $100 million in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, upon which it heavily relies. The Association of Public Television Stations has stated that these cuts are “so drastic that they will severely impact every public television and radio station’s ability to provide educational, cultural and informational programming in local communities and throughout the nation.”
Lee pointed out that the cuts would mean an estimated loss of over $5,726,474 for California broadcasters, and would negatively impact several popular Bay Area programmers. Estimated cuts in grants for Bay Area public radio and television:
Radio TV
KPFA FM, Berkeley, -$134,834 (-25.5%) KQED TV, San Francisco, -$650,132 (-24.4%)
KALW FM, San Francisco, -$33,462 (-25.4%) KTEH TV, San Jose, -$227,742 (-24.4%)
KQED FM, San Francisco, -$349,580 (-25.6%) KCSM TV, San Mateo -$162,851 (-24.4%)
Lee, a member of the Media Reform Caucus and the Public Broadcasting Caucus, last week joined colleagues in sending a letter to CPB Chair Kenneth Tomlinson opposing the proposed appointment of former Republican National Committee Chair, Patricia Harrison as CPB President, protesting Tomlinson’s efforts to “convert public broadcasting into a mouthpiece for the republican Party” and calling for a transparent and non-partisan selection process. The CPB responded by postponing the selection of the President.
“I will not stand by while Republicans alternately try to defund public broadcasting or turn it into FOX News,” said Lee. “As this bill moves forward, I will fight to have this damaging cut in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting restored.”
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Barbara Lee Opposes Cut for Public Broadcasting Funds
Cites Local Impact of Cuts and Blasts GOP Efforts to Turn Public Broadcasting into FOX News
(Washington, DC) – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) announced her strong opposition to a provision in the FY 2006 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill coming to the House Floor this week that cuts FY 2006 funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by 25 percent – cutting the appropriation from $400 million to $300 million.
“Public broadcasting is a national treasure, and I will fight against these GOP efforts to kill Big Bird” said Lee. “For millions of parents, public broadcasting represents a children’s television network of unparalleled excellence and value. At a cost of just over $1 per year per person what parents and children get from free over-the-air public television and public radio is an incredible bargain.”
The provision in the bill would cut $100 million in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, upon which it heavily relies. The Association of Public Television Stations has stated that these cuts are “so drastic that they will severely impact every public television and radio station’s ability to provide educational, cultural and informational programming in local communities and throughout the nation.”
Lee pointed out that the cuts would mean an estimated loss of over $5,726,474 for California broadcasters, and would negatively impact several popular Bay Area programmers. Estimated cuts in grants for Bay Area public radio and television:
Radio TV
KPFA FM, Berkeley, -$134,834 (-25.5%) KQED TV, San Francisco, -$650,132 (-24.4%)
KALW FM, San Francisco, -$33,462 (-25.4%) KTEH TV, San Jose, -$227,742 (-24.4%)
KQED FM, San Francisco, -$349,580 (-25.6%) KCSM TV, San Mateo -$162,851 (-24.4%)
Lee, a member of the Media Reform Caucus and the Public Broadcasting Caucus, last week joined colleagues in sending a letter to CPB Chair Kenneth Tomlinson opposing the proposed appointment of former Republican National Committee Chair, Patricia Harrison as CPB President, protesting Tomlinson’s efforts to “convert public broadcasting into a mouthpiece for the republican Party” and calling for a transparent and non-partisan selection process. The CPB responded by postponing the selection of the President.
“I will not stand by while Republicans alternately try to defund public broadcasting or turn it into FOX News,” said Lee. “As this bill moves forward, I will fight to have this damaging cut in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting restored.”
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