PBS: Eliminating Public Broadcasting Would Be ‘Devastating’

How to cut the deficit? Mitt Romney suggested in last night’s debate that eliminating federal subsidies for PBS would be a good start, and said the Arlington-based organization would be his first target if he wins the White House.

This is not setting very well at PBS.

“We are very disappointed that PBS became a political target in the Presidential debate last night. Governor Romney does not understand the value the American people place on public broadcasting and the outstanding return on investment the system delivers to our nation. We think it is important to set the record straight and let the facts speak for themselves,” PBS said in a prepared statement not attributed to any individual.

“The federal investment in public broadcasting equals about one one-hundredth of one percent of the federal budget. Elimination of funding would have virtually no impact on the nation’s debt. Yet the loss to the American public would be devastating,” PBS said.

PBS gets about $430 million from the federal government each year, which it said is about 15 percent of its total funding.

“As a stated supporter of education, Governor Romney should be a champion of public broadcasting, yet he is willing to wipe out services that reach the vast majority of Americans, including underserved audiences, such as children who cannot attend preschool and citizens living in rural areas,” the PBS statement asserted.