Earlier this month, public broadcasting survived an effort in the House to slash its state funding by half. Now, a subcommittee in the Senate has axed the appropriation entirely.
Mat-Su Republican Mike Dunleavy chairs the Department of Administration subcommittee, and he warned that the cuts would be deep before announcing them at a Thursday meeting.
“There’s going to be a lot of good across the board that may not be funded,” said Dunleavy. “As we go through this, it’s not necessarily a judgment on those programs, but it has to do with the fact that we may not have the money to pay for everything.”
Juneau Democrat Dennis Egan attempted to restore $5 million in funding to the budget proposal.
“I am a 45-year private sector broadcaster. I programmed, managed, and owned a bunch of private stations here in Southeast Alaska and in Anchorage,” said Egan. “And here I am, speaking up for public broadcasting, because I am not sure everyone realizes how much is going to be lost.”
Via alaskapublic.org
image credit APEonline
Keith / March 27, 2015
This is a mixed blessing. I get that Dunleavy is a fiscal conservative. I like his vigor to reduce the budget. The entire amount of this program though? How about demand all programs and divisions shave off 10%?? Or 20%….
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Keith / March 27, 2015
This is a mixed blessing. I get that Dunleavy is a fiscal conservative. I like his vigor to reduce the budget. The entire amount of this program though? How about demand all programs and divisions shave off 10%?? Or 20%….
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