– 2008-02-10 22:29:01

http://act.credomobile.com/campaign/save_pbs/i3bnix7r98dexim?

Don’t Let Bush Decimate Public Broadcasting

If you enjoy the programming carried by your local public radio and television stations, it’s time to tell Congress: save public broadcasting from Bush’s budget axe.

This week brought the news that once again, President Bush has proposed deep budget cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which supports public stations across the country. In previous years, Congress has heard overwhelmingly from their constituents and restored this funding; can we count on you to chime in again this year and save public broadcasting?

• Take action and tell Congress — reject Bush’s cuts to public broadcasting.

If this seems to you like dejá vu all over again, you’re not alone. This is the eighth straight year that Bush has tried to de-fund public broadcasting, but this year the proposed cuts are the deepest ever. Even Patricia Harrison, a former co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee who now serves as the President of CPB, has called these cuts “draconian.”

Please sign our petition to your senators and representative to save the PBS budget.

More and more, the free press that is so essential to our democracy is controlled by a shrinking number of mega-corporations. Never has it been more essential to have a publicly funded, noncommercial media outlet that provides thoughtful rather than partisan news and won’t waste our time covering Britney Spears and the baseball steroids scandal.

Click here to tell Congress to restore full funding for public broadcasting.

This past week, the New York Times reported that the Bush administration has once again proposed deep cuts in federal funding for public broadcasting. Unfortunately the cuts proposed this year are even more severe than in past years — but with your help, we can convince Congress to restore this funding.

If it seems like we go through this process every year, you’re not mistaken. For eight straight years, the President’s budget requests have attempted to cut or entirely eliminate funding for public broadcasting. For seven of those years, Congress has responded to massive public pressure and restored the funding. Let’s convince them to do it again.

This year’s proposed cuts are the deepest ever proposed by the administration. Even Patricia Harrison, a former co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee who currently serves as the President of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), has called these cuts “draconian.” In addition to slashing current and future funding, this year’s proposal even tries to go back and withdraw funding already approved in previous years.

Practically every day we hear a new story about media consolidation. More and more, the free press that is so essential to our democracy is owned and controlled by a smaller and smaller number of mega-corporations. Never has it been more essential to have a publicly funded, noncommercial media outlet that provides thoughtful rather than partisan news and doesn’t waste our time covering Britney Spears and the baseball steroids scandal.

In his last year in office, don’t let Bush pull the plug on Bill Moyers, the NewsHour, Big Bird, and the Cookie Monster. Please read the petition below and then sign at right to tell Congress: fund public broadcasting.

We ask that all members of Congress join us in supporting full funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in fiscal year 2009, as well as rejecting the President’s proposed rescissions of funding already approved in prior fiscal years.

This administration’s proposed cuts to the CPB budget are short-sighted and unnecessary. Overwhelmingly, polls show that the American people — of all political persuasions — enjoy the publicly-funded, noncommercial programming offered by CPB and PBS.

Many families do not have access to cable and depend upon PBS for kid-friendly programming that is not offered by the major networks, especially in the prime time hours. Cuts to public broadcasting would threaten such programming. To end this debate once and for all, Congress should guarantee permanent funding for CPB and full independence from any partisan meddling.

Thank you for working to build a better world.

Will Easton is the Activism Manager for CREDO Action from Working Assets. While the executives of other big telecom companies donate to conservative politicians who keep trying to shut down public broadcasting, CREDO Mobile is on the front lines of supporting PBS in the budget battles year after year.

What’s more, when you join CREDO Mobile, 1% of your phone bill will go to support progressive nonprofit groups, including those working for a fair and independent media. Like Alternet. Like Media Matters for America. Like the Center for Independent Media. And other great groups.