Yep, it's true. Didn't we just go through this last year? The goal of these cuts is not to save money - the amount saved would be miniscule compared to the amount that is being wasted in the national budget (or on non-budget items, like the "Emergency Spending Bills" that fund Bush's Discretionary War.) It's a purely political act. Contact your Representatives and Senators and tell them to cut the crap.
Here's a message from MoveOn.org:
Subject: Save NPR and PBS (again)
Hi,
Everyone expected House Republicans to give up efforts to kill NPR and PBS after a massive public outcry stopped them last year. But they've just voted to eliminate funding for NPR and PBS—unbelievably, starting with programs like "Sesame Street."
Public broadcasting would lose nearly a quarter of its federal funding this year. Even worse, all funding would be eliminated in two years--threatening one of the last remaining sources of watchdog journalism.
Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS again this year:
http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/
Last year, millions of us took action to save NPR and PBS, and Congress listened. We can do it again if enough of us sign the petition in time.
This would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting. The Boston Globe reports the cuts "could force the elimination of some popular PBS and NPR programs." NPR's president expects rural public radio stations may be forced to shut down.
The House and Senate are deciding if public broadcasting will survive, and they need to hear from viewers like you. Sign the petition at:
http://civic.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/
Thanks!
P.S. Read the Boston Globe story on the threat to NPR and PBS at:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1864
The narcissistic primarily autobiographical blog of the pseudonymous d.b. echo
The thing that doesn't sit right about this is the NPR has some dollars these days. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1494600
ReplyDeleteYes, NPR received a very generous donation in November 2003, two-and-a-half years ago, all of which was earmarked for projects not covered by regular funding. But that was long ago and only goes so far and doesn't make up for having the NPR/PBS budget slashed the way House Republicans want to see it slashed. We can also say that NPR has "some dollars" these days because I contribute $120 a year (and I'm overdue right now, I really need to take care of that.) But money doesn't last - otherwise, why would we need a new "Emergency Spending Bill" to cover Bush's Discretionary War each year, when we had already spent so much money the previous year?
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