CPB’s Funding Slashed, Restored

A House committee approved a bill Thursday that would reduce funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, by $100 million — a 25% reduction. The original bill by Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Ohio, would have eliminated funding for CPB in 2008. An amendment supported by Democrats restored $400 million for CPB, which funnels funds to non-commercial stations, in the future.
The monies are part of a larger, $142.5 billion, spending measure that must still be passed by the full House and by the Senate. The Senate historically restores funding for public broadcasting.
The cuts come amid debate over alleged liberal bias in public broadcasting with chairman of the CPB Board Kenneth Tomlinson leading the critics.