roundtable: Republican Leaders Demand End To PBS Subsidy

roundtable: Republican Leaders Demand End To PBS Subsidy

Republican Leaders Demand End To PBS Subsidy

Vigdor Schreibman - FINS (fins@access.digex.net)
Fri, 20 Jan 1995 13:12:54 -0500 (EST) 

Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 13:12:54 -0500 (EST)
From: Vigdor Schreibman - FINS <fins@access.digex.net>
To: Vigdor Schreibman - FINS <fins@access.digex.net>
Subject: Republican Leaders Demand End To PBS Subsidy
Message-Id: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950120131057.19764C-100000@access4.digex.net>


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FINS SPECIAL REPORT                                        January 20, 1995
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REPUBLICAN LEADERS DEMAND END TO PBS SUBSIDY
Struggle Over U.S. Cultural and Social Goods Emerging

Washington, DC--Testimony was offered yesterday (Jan 19), supporting
Republican majority proposals to end federal subsidies for the Corporation
for Public Broadcasting CPB), at a hearing of the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services.  Rep. John E. Porter 
(R-IL), chairman of the Subcommittee, noted the extensive hearings already 
under way for "downsizing all agencies under the Subcommittee's jurisdiction." 
Porter said his concerns was for fiscal responsibility and he raised
questions about "the priority of public broadcasting as compared to other
programs, such as the entitlements" that included essential public needs.

  Rep. Robert L. Livingston (R-LA), chairman of the (full) House Committee
on Appropriations, blasted the CPB for its lobbying efforts, including
broadcasting his telephone numbers, which Livingston claimed may be illegal. 
However, members were assured that CPB had notified all public broadcasting
stations about the laws that prohibit lobbying, by CPB president and CEO,
Ambassador Richard W. Carson, a republican, who was named in 1985 by
President Ronald Reagan, as director of the Voice of America.  But Rep. Nancy
Pelosi (D-CA) questioned the seriousness of Livingston's concerns.  She noted
the fact that Livingston was offering his phone numbers to the open
microphones in the hearing room.  Moreover, she stated that the Republicans
should examine the extensive lobbying efforts by the Defense Department
agencies before Congress.

  Sen. Larry Pressler (R-SD), chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science
and Transportation, which authorizes broadcasting expenditures, delivered a
ringing demand for privatizing the CPB.  He stated that "Public broadcasting
subsidies are a frill we can no longer afford."  Pressler added that "It is
impossible to argue that America does not have enough TV or radio or that its
is a basic function of government to satisfy every programming taste
undeserved by commercial stations."  And on an on came the demands from one
Republican witness after another, to end the federal subsidy for CPB.

  The top officers of CPB staunchly defended the agency including Carlson,
and CPB chairman, Henry J. Cauthen, who is president of The South Caroline
Education Television Network.  Subcommitee member Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-NY),
gave a dramatic lift to the proceedings when she introduced the muppets Ernie
and Bert to the hearing (and viewing and listening broadcast audience). 
Lowey concluded her statement by admonishing her colleagues, "before you make
this cut, just remember Ernie and Bert."  Also supporting the CPB in the
morning session of the hearing was Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), and Rep.
Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY).  

  But, perhaps, the most powerful support for public broadcasting came from
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), former chairman of the House Telecommunications
Subcommittee, and senior expert in Congress on broadcasting matters.  Markey
told members that the debate unfolding is "about the culture of the United
States."  He noted that the decision was made by legislation approving NAFTA
and GATT, to forego low paying industrial jobs in favor of developing a high
skilled work force, and thus, the nation "must give children the skills to
get high end jobs."  Then he explained that "access to high quality
information" for some 100 million viewers, in 56.8 million homes, more than
56% of whom have annual incomes under $40,000,  including 29.5 million
children who watch public television, "costs less than $300 million a year-
-or about $1 per citizen."  Markey stressed that "the alternative technology
available to America's children is in the form of $79 hand guns." And he
noted that the problem of access to high quality information is exacerbated
by commercial TV programming that largely disregards children and emphasizes
violence and sex guided by profit pressures.  Finally, Markey warned members
"when you begin to tamper with this public service, be careful."

	In stark contrast to the Republican leadership's decision to cut public
broadcasting and other important cultural and social goods down to the bone,
the Republican "Contract With America" would re-emphasize materialism in
American governance.  The "Contract" would sanction expenditure of hundreds
of billions of dollars in new "Star Wars" defense systems (which were
previously discredited during the Bush administration), a new flying
borkbarrel for NASA (that scientists have denounced as being without
scientific merit), together with new tax benefits for the super rich (who
already take a grossly disproportionate share of the national wealth and
income).

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