Thank you again for your membership support of WTVP during the March drive. Whether you responded by phone, by mail, online, or in person, we are very grateful for your generosity. Contributions like yours are the lifeblood of Public Television. Without you, we would not be here.

The situation regarding federal funding is still fluid. Congress is on recess this week, and there is nothing new to report at the moment, it appears that the action will be shifting to the Senate.

• The proposed cuts to funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and for National Public Radio that passed the House of Representatives have moved on to the Senate. Depending on what happens there, the action then will move to a Conference Committee for resolution.

In other action, when the Senate returns next week, it will be considering the Small Business Act Reauthorization (S. 493). Three amendments have been filed to that legislation which target funding for public broadcasting. The following are highlights of the amendments:

• Coburn Amendment: Senator Coburn’s (R-OK) amendment proposes to prohibit any funds to CPB after 2012 and rescinds $100 million of the 2012 funding leaving the remaining funds to CPB to wind down their operations.

• DeMint Amendment: Senator DeMint’s (R-SC) amendment would rescind the unobligated balances of FY 2011 and totally eliminates funding for FY 2012 and beyond.

• Paul Amendment: Senator Paul’s (R-KY) amendment seeks to eliminate $200 billion in funding from the federal budget, which includes the elimination of CPB funding.

Thank you for exercising your rights as a citizen and for educating your Congressman and Senators as to your views on public broadcasting.

It is very likely that we will continue to see similar efforts on any bills that reach the Senate floor. We will keep you apprised of any developments. Meanwhile, it’s hurry up and wait. Stay tuned.

Please call your representatives in Washington and ask them again to support public broadcasting:

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