The
news is out today that the 100 million dollar funding cut to CPB has been restored. This is true. But in place of that cut the GOP inserted 142 million dollars in CPB cuts in other areas.
This is the ultimate bait and switch. Republicans make the media think they're responding to the public outcry by restoring the 100 million dollars to PBS. Then they pass an even larger cut by breaking it up into bits and pieces so its hidden from our lazy <cough>journalists. Look at all the headlines relating to this story. Every single story claims this is a victory for PBS. Once again our <double-cough>journalists have failed again.
The new cuts include:
23 million for the ready to learn grant from the Dept. of Education. This is the money that funds programs like the infamous Postcards from Buster and many other childrens programs on PBS.
80 million in support for the required transition to digital broadcasting. This money will have to come out the 100 million dollars in restored cuts if this bill goes through.
40 million in addition cuts which I can't find on the web tonight because no one is reporting on this (I originally found out about this on our local PBS station's news program in Raleigh).
We must keep the pressure on. Call your representative and ask them if they voted for this bill. Call your senators and tell them to keep these funds for PBS.
Oh, some other goodys in this bill were cuts to heating assistance for low income families, and Bush's No Child Left Behind except when I need to give millionares an $80,000 tax cut Act. I guess this is part of Bush's commitment to the working man.