Keep the Pressure On

A month ago, I put out an appeal to help to save funding for public broadcasting (read the post).  Despite many of us calling or emailing our congressmen, the House voted to cut funding.  Now the vote goes to the Senate.  Here's an email that I received that explains more:

As you know, last Saturday the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1), which eliminates federal funding for public broadcasting. Early next week, the Senate will begin work on their version of the bill and it is critical that they hear how important public broadcasting is to their constituents.

Please call Sen. Bob Casey at (202) 224-6324 and Sen. Patrick J. Toomey at (202) 224-4254 today and tell them that public broadcasting funding is too important to eliminate!

Federal funding is critical for public broadcasting, allowing local public radio and television stations to provide educational services, in-depth news and public affairs programming, and world-class cultural content. Without the investment of this funding, many public radio and television stations across the country will be forced to go off the air.

It is now up to the Senate to restore funding for what the Roper Poll has found for seven straight years to be Americans’ most-trusted source of news and information, and considered the best use of federal funding after national defense.

Please contact your Senators now and tell them to oppose cuts to public broadcasting funding and urge your friends and family to contact their Senators and join 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting.

Thank you for your continued support. Your voice is making a difference.

Sincerely,
Jeff Nelson and Stacey Karp
170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting

170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting is a collaboration of public radio and television stations, national organizations, producers and our viewers and listeners throughout the country in favor of a strong public media in the United States. This project receives no government funding .

Think of the informative programming we could lose.  Think of the artists that would lose their main source of public access.  Think of the kids who would lose entertaining and educational programming.  It's too important to let die. 

Time for Action

Back on January 25, I posted a message about a movement in Congress to cut funding for public broadcasting (read the post). 

The House of Representatives votes TOMORROW on a budget bill that will eliminate--not just cut, but eliminate--funding for public broadcasting.  If public broadcasting programming is important to you and your family, please call your representative (for those of you in Bucks, it's Mike Fitzpatrick--202-225-4276).  Or go to this link and send an email.  There is already a message composed, but you can edit it if you wish.  It goes to both your representative and senators. 

Sorry for the lateness of this post.

Thanks!

Help Save Public Broadcasting

Sesame Street, America's Test Kitchen, NPR, Nova, Masterpiece Theatre, American Experience, Antiques Roadshow.  The list of quality educational, entertaining and important television and radio on Public Broadcasting goes on and on.

Right now, there are three separate bills before Congress to severely decrease or even eliminate all federal funding for Public Broadcasting.  If passed, not only could these bills prevent us and our children from watching and listening to these great shows, but local stations such as WHYY, WDIY, WLVT and others could be put in jeopardy.  Shows like World Cafe out of WXPN and distributed by NPR could also be terribly affected.

Do your kids watch PBS Kids shows like Jake does? Is it part of your routine to watch cooking shows on the weekends on PBS or listen to All Things Considered each afternoon on NPR?  If you love the shows on public television and radio, please sign the survey at 170MillionAmericans.org.