ALG Encourages House Members to Cosponsor Lamborn Bill Defunding Corporation for Public Broadcasting

June 17th, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today called on members of the House of Representatives to cosponsor legislation being introduced by Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-CD5) that would cut the $420 million budget for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

“It’s time for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stand on its own two feet without taxpayer backing,” said Wilson. “In these troubled economic times, with such pressure on taxpayers with a $13 trillion national debt spiraling out of control, it’s time for Congress to consider cutting non-essential programs like public broadcasting.”

“With over 500 channels available on cable and satellite television, and thousands of radio stations nationwide, the rationale for funding television and radio programs with taxes is no longer even valid,” Wilson added, noting that the CPB’s original mission was to make “telecommunications services available to all citizens of the United States”.

Currently, for FY 2010, the CPB has $420 million appropriated, and has requested some $608 million for its next funding cycle beginning in FY 2013. The CPB is the parent company for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the National Public Radio (NPR) networks.

In an exclusive interview with ALG News, Congressman Lamborn stated, “If we don’t take the low-hanging fruit then where else will we save the money?”

Wilson agreed, saying, “Congressman Lamborn has a point. Congress refuses to cut spending anywhere ever — it has not been able to reduce the debt for over fifty years. If Congress can’t cut public broadcasting, which is absolutely non-essential, it won’t be able to cut anything ever.”

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