Public Broadcasting Funds Restored, Then Cut

A Kansas House committee has rejected a

request from public broadcasters to restore $800,000 in state

funding.

Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget proposal included $600,000 for

public broadcasting, a cut from the current $2 million state

appropriation.

A House budget subcommittee restored $800,000. But Thursday, the

full House Appropriations Committee removed that $800,000 and

returned the state appropriation to $600,000 for the next fiscal

year.

State Rep. Pete DeGraaf, a Mulvane Republican, said government needs to

get out of public radio. Others said the state’s financial problems

required them to make difficult funding cuts.

But several western Kansas legislators said their constituents

depend on public radio and public television. Others said public

television’s emphasis on early learning and children’s programming

was a service to the state.