WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Lynn Woolsey, (D-Petaluma) issued the following statement regarding an amendment to protect the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) from a $100 million cut in funding. PBS and NPR member stations would be hit the hardest if the money is not restored. According to the CPB, the budget cut would force them to reduce grants to local, independent radio and television stations. These cuts are estimated to be 45.6% at KQED-FM in San Francisco and KRCB-FM in Rohnert Park, 39% for KRCB-TV and 44% for KQED-TV. The amendment was introduced by Rep. Obey (D-WI) to the FY 06 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Act, H.R. 3010.

 

“Mr. Speaker, now we’ve heard it all. Cutting Medicaid benefits to the poor and the sick, giving away billions of dollars in tax breaks to corporations and the rich, and now taking on ‘Big Bird.’

 

“The damange that this budget cut will inflict on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is dangerous to our freethinking and diverse society. Public broadcasting provides a forum for groups who otherwise would not be heard and provides underserved areas with quality programming.

 

“Public broadcasting teaches our children with the best educational programs on television like ‘Sesame Street’ and ‘Arthur.’ These shows not only help our children learn, but also motivate them to turn off the TV and pick up a book to read about their favorite characters featured on these shows.

 

“Public broadcasting is a favorite source for reliable information for Americans. Shows like “Now” and “The Newshour” are trusted by Americans to give them the straight story about current events in our world. By cutting funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting we are attacking our strongest source of unbiased, diverse, and cultured programming available. These proposed cuts are just another step in silencing one of the last objective voices in American media.

 

“I urge my colleagues to support the Obey amendment to restore the funding it needs and protect the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as a powerful voice of the people.”