Bush's 2009 Budget Calls For Slashing Public TV Funding

Public broadcasting officials vowed Monday to fight drastic cuts President Bush is seeking to make to federal financing for public television and radio, warning that the reductions would seriously impair station operations.

Bush's proposed 2009 budget, released Monday, would more than halve the federal allocation to public broadcasting over the next two years, the deepest cuts to the system that he's proposed during his administration.

Under Bush's plan, the Corp. for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit that distributes the funds to local stations, would lose $420 million of the $820 million in federal funds it was set to receive over the next two years. In addition, the White House budget does not include advance funding for the 2011 fiscal year. The corporation is usually financed three years ahead of time to insulate the system from politics.

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Comments

[drblack]

One day in Iraq would pay for this cut. Three days in Iraq pay for the whole year of PBS.
The Soviet Union destroyed itself by spending too much on defense and the USA is heading that way.
PBS is TV for smart people and it is worth the minuscule amount it adds to taxes.

[chirps]

Take heart, there’s only 347 more days of this creature's reign.

[grannysharp]

gotta love that Bush, cut any spending that is of the people by the people and for the people and heaven help us if any freedom still exist after he leaves office, but McCain will be on hand if elected to be sure the Bush administration still reigns. Only unbiased media left in the nation so can"t allow that can they

[JScott]

Sad that we're even having this debate this is a 'public asset' to be protected. Interesting that in the UK they seem to hold their BBC in very high regard, and that A LOT of the PBS programming does come from the BBC (ie News, Keeping Up Appearances etc.)

[PaulRaymond]

This can probably all be blamed on Bill Moyers for doing such GREAT work at PBS. GW and his bunch just hate it when their lies are explained to the public...on Public Television of all places.

[OhgReaTone]

Conservative mentality - Drop Public TV and support Rush Limbaugh. It is enough to be proud of being an illegal alien.
Ohg
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/01/31/ohg-rea-tone-on-demise-of-rush-limbaugh/

[esgabel]

PBS is a treasure...you do not have to pay extra to have shows on Cooking, Travel, Home Repair, Children's Programming, Musical Theatre, Regional Theater, British Comedy, History, Biography, Religion, News and Commentary. Everyone has access to premium entertainment for free.
But Bush has tried everything to shut down Public TV--stack the board, change the administration and now cut funding. Just as with Katrina he put in place someone who was unsuited to the job and who had admitted that he had never watched PBS before he was appointed--we wouldn't appoint a person to be Commissioner of Baseball who admitted that he never saw a baseball game!
Are Bush and Co. afraid of PBS for a perceived liberal slant or maybe they just want to sell the very same programming to the American People that is now free?

[ibivi]

The Bush administration hates PBS. So of course it's on their agenda to damage it as much as possible while they still can.
No surprise there.

[askmeificare]

Why is there a government funded media outlet?

[GoodwithWood]

NOOoooo. This must be stopped. NPR and PBS are the only news that can claim to be anywhere near fair and balanced. PBS is a national treasure and is so because it is a “non-profit” uncorrupted by extreme capitalism.
If the Dems can’t stop this one then.......then .... Oh Fuuuuuuck

[Gary47]

George: the man who never stops giving us reasons to hate him.

[Ramirez]

Good idea and it's about time. Why should the government be in the broadcasting business anyway?

[leftbehind2000]

One last salvo, a parting shot at thoughtful, thinking people.

No doubt something to remember him by.

[Bobleblah1]

Sometimes I think Bush is actively helping Democrats win national election this year.
Pretty dumb if you ask me. It brings a huge amount of bad publicity.

[CalculatedRiskTaker]

PBS is the only TV in this country that isn't trash and idiot wants to cut it.