McDonnell amendment would eliminate funding for public broadcasting

Gov. Bob McDonnell is adamant that Virginia completely eliminate state funding for public broadcasting.

“In a world of broad and diverse options for news and entertainment, government should not be funding one specific channel as it competes against others in a free market. Television and radio broadcasts are not core functions of government,” said McDonnell on Wednesday.

The Virginia General Assembly had included in its 2010-2012 budget amendments a 10 percent cut in funding for public television and public radio in fiscal-year 2012. McDonnell’s amendment would cut 50 percent of existing funding in FY 2012. The governor has said he will call for the elimination of remaining funds for public broadcasting in his budget proposal for 2012-2014.

The $4.2 million in the state budget that had been slated to go to public broadcasting over the next two years “can be better used elsewhere,” McDonnell said.

“In tough budget times we must have the will to determine what government must fund and what it should not, and act accordingly. We are not going to raise taxes in Virginia. Every dollar counts and must be spent wisely,” McDonnell said.