WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Markey, the ranking member on the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet made the following statement in response to today’s breaking announcement that Patricia S. Harrison, former Republican Party co-chair, was named as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

“The Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB) Board should reconsider the wisdom of naming the exchairwoman of the Republican National Committee to a non-partisan position, especially at a time when the Chairman of CPB has failed to uphold the non-partisan nature of the system.

“Rather than acting as a political heat shield, protecting public broadcasting from politics, Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson has become a human lightning rod with his efforts to inject party politics into public broadcasting programming and pushing employment for candidates cleared by the Bush White House.

“Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson says he conducted a “nationwide search” but it seems he looked no further than his own party’s revolving door.

“Public broadcasting does not belong to any political party – it belongs to the people of the United States who, according to recent polling, find it to be one of the “most valuable” institutions in America. I strongly urge the CPB board to reconsider this historical move to paint this traditionally non-partisan institution red.”

Rep. Markey, a leader of the efforts to restore funding for public broadcasting, called on Tuesday for the resignation of Ken Tomlinson, Chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), who has come under recent criticism for his campaign to inject partisanship and conservative viewpoints into PBS programming. Today, as the debate begins on the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill, Rep. Markey is urging members of the House of Representatives to join him in calling for Tomlinson’s resignation by signing a letter to the CPB Chair.

For more information Representative Markey’s work to preserve children’s television check out http://www.house.gov/markey/.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2005
 CONTACT: Tara McGuinness
Colin Crowell
202.225.2836