Is the story of the Supreme Court deciding on NEA funding, and therefore the future of NPR, true -- or is it an urban legend or hoax?
NPR: Will the Supreme Court Decision end the NEA?
Dear Friends: In NPR Morning Edition, Nina Totenberg said that if the Supreme Court supports Congress, it is in effect the end of NEA (National Endowment for the Arts). This situation creates great concerns about Congressional funding for creative arts in America, since NEA provides major support for NPR (National Public Radio) & PBS Public Broadcasting System), and numerous other creative and performing arts.
If NEA is lost or weakened, our lives are similarly diminished. In spite of the efforts of each station to reduce pending costs and streamline their services, some government officials believe that the funding currently going to these programs is too large a portion of funding for something which is seen as not worthwhile. Currently, taxes from the general public for PBS 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 who believe in favor of what this stands for. This list will be forwarded to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, and the Speaker Of The House, the office of which has in the past been the instigator of the action to cut funding to these worthwhile programs. This petition is being passed around the Internet.
Please add your name to it so that funding can be maintained for the NEA, NPR & PBS. Please keep this petition rolling. Do not reply to me. Please sign and forward to others to sign. If you prefer not to sign please send to the e-mail address indicated. This is being forwarded to several people at once to add their names to the petition.
It won't matter if many people receive the same list as the names are being managed. This is for anyone who thinks NPR/PBS is a worthwhile expenditure of $1.12/year of their taxes, a petition follows. If you sign, please forward on to others. If not, please don't kill it.
Editors Note: It's not true. It's a remake of an older urban legend about saving Sesame Street.