Budget Cuts For Public Broadcasting - Zelda of The Urban Grind

It looks like the budget for public television and radio will be cut in half.

The House Appropriations panel on Thursday approved a spending bill that would cut the budget for public television and radio nearly in half and eliminate a $23 million federal program that has provided some money for producing children's shows that include "Sesame Street," "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Between the Lions" and "Dragon Tales."

By a voice vote, the House Appropriations subcommittee adopted a measure that would reduce the financing of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the organization that directs taxpayer dollars to public television and radio, to $300 million from $400 million. The subcommittee also eliminated $39 million that stations say they need to convert to digital programming and $50 million for upgrading aging satellite technology that is the backbone of the PBS network.

The Democrats, as you have probably surmised by now, are not happy campers. They are crying "censorship" and lamenting that poor people will lose their "right" to public television.

Now call me ignorant, but can someone please explain to me why public television is a "right?"

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posted by Ace at 11:46 PM

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