Public TV Spending Is Approved
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a spending package Thursday that included money for public broadcasting near current funding levels, the latest indication that public television and radio stations might be able to avoid drastic budget reductions next year.
The bill would provide the system with a total of $511 million, which would fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, technology upgrades and children’s programs.
The Senate panel approved the spending recommended by a subcommittee without discussion, a contrast to the strident debate over a similar measure in the House last month.
The House version of the bill originally included a 46% reduction in funding for public broadcasting, but about half of the proposed cutbacks were restored.
In the coming weeks, the full Senate will take up its version of the measure, which public broadcasting officials hope will prevail when the House and Senate bills are reconciled, likely this fall.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
