As Congress and the White House clash over the federal budget, House Republicans hope to include the $430 million currently slotted for the Corporation For Public Broadcasting among the cuts.
Three-quarters of that appropriation supports public television, with the final 25 percent designated for public radio. And while most of that funding goes directly to approximately 1,300 television and radio stations around the country, federal funds make up about 10 percent of NPR's budget, either through competitive grants or indirectly from member stations that pay fees to carry NPR programs. CPB also provides funding to many specific programs, such as Nova, PBS Newshour, Sesame Street and Story Corps.
Public broadcasting has been targeted for spending cuts several times in the past decade, but in the face of record deficits — and pledges from both political parties to cut spending wherever possible — many in Washington think the proposed cuts have a strong chance of passing Congress as part of a continuing budget resolution.
I don't think I am entirely comfortable with a government funded radio or TV network. I do listen to NPR, however, more listening, less commercials. I am personally sick of radio "talk show" hosts who are nothing more than entertainers who have, for some reason, gained an audience. TV Anchor persons nauseate me. They take on a self importance that they do not deserve. So, what does that leave? Not much. I still like those announcements, though, "Bank robbery, at eleven."
Generally, here at Coventry, in our apartment, I turn on the TV, go to Easy Listening, and that is what is on almost all day. "Oldies and Goodies"
