Larry Pressler: “I also am pleased to release today draft legislation to reauthorize the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. The draft…”

“I also am pleased to release today draft legislation to reauthorize the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. The draft would provide a simple reauthorization of $250 million each year for the fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000. It is my hope that by then, public broadcasting would no longer need a reauthorization, but would have the resources to thrive on its own. Last year we began a very worthwhile debate about the future direction of public broadcasting. Survival was never a real issue. I believe public broadcasting will do more than just survive--it will thrive. Public broadcasting is a success story still being written. I am confident of this. Public broadcasting offers a quality product supported by quality individuals who care about what people, especially young people, see or hear on television and radio. It was in part due to my confidence in public broadcasting that I proposed last year to put public broadcasting on a glide path to independence from Washington--independent from Congress and independent from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. I support public broadcasting. Yet, I've never quite understood the logic of the funding process. There has to be a better way to fund public broadcasting than through CPB, which soaks up a large share of funding before it ever gets to the 350 public television stations and 629 public radio stations. A large chunk comes right back here to D.C.…”