Subject: Funding for NPR / NEA

PBS, NPR (National Public Radio), and the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) are facing yet again major cutbacks in funding. In spite of the efforts of each station to reduce spending costs and streamline their services, some government officials believe that the funding currently going to these programs is still too large a portion of funding for something which is seen as not worthwhile.

Currently, taxes from the general public for PBS/NPR equal $1.12 per person per year, and the National Endowment for the Arts equals $.64 a year.

A January 1995 CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll indicated that 76% of Americans wish to keep funding for PBS, third only to National Defense and Law Enforcement as the most valuable programs for federal funding. Each year, the Senate and House Appropriations committees each have 13 subcommittees with jurisdiction over many programs and agencies. Each subcommittee passes its own appropriation bill. The goal each year is to have each bill signed by the beginning of the fiscal year, which is October 1. The only way that our representatives can be aware of the base of support for PBS and funding for these types of programs is by making our voices heard.

Please add your name to this list and forward it to friends if you believe in what we stand for. This list will be forwarded to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, and Representative Newt Gingrich, who is the instigator of the action to cut funding to these worthwhile programs.

If you happen to be the 150th, 200th, 250th, etc. signer of this petition, please forward a copy to: wein2688@blue.univnorthco.edu. This way we can keep track of the lists and organize them. Forward this to everyone you know, and help us to keep these programs alive. Thank you.

NOTE: It is preferable that you SELECT the entirety of this letter and then COPY it into a new outgoing message rather than simply forwarding it.