Cross-posted on the Working Assets blog.

You may have heard that President Bush wants to cut about $145 million from the budget of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). That's the agency that distributes federal funding to public radio and TV stations.

That's small potatoes in a federal budget of nearly $3 trillion, and maybe you're even thinking we have more pressing problems. And that is precisely why this is a critical issue now.

Consider what's going on: We're debating how to proceed in Iraq and many other difficult domestic and foreign issues. We're entering into another presidential campaign. It is especially important that Americans have access to the diverse viewpoints and hard-hitting journalism that public broadcasting provides.

Public broadcasting was founded about 40 years ago to provide quality commercial-free programming. The idea was that without having to depend on ads for their revenues, the shows could be free to speak truth to power.

We need that today too.

Please join us in urging your representatives in Congress to restore funding for CPB and to preserve its editorial independence.

Something is noticeably missing from the $463 billion spending measure the House passed 286 to 140 last Wednesday. Leaders from both parties courageously agreed to remove all earmarks! Earmarks, or special provisions that set aside money for specific purposes, have been used in recent years to funnel billions of tax dollars toward pet projects and special interests.

This measure replaces the temporary budget that had been in place since last year, when Congress failed to pass 9 out of the 11 necessary budget bills. In addition, while the bill maintains most government agencies at 2006 level funding, it also includes some additional funding for veteran health care and Pell Grants, and an additional $1.6 billion to fighting diseases including A.I.D.S.

This year, many new congressmen came to office promising to control earmarks and special interest giveaways, and it is very encouraging to see them sticking to their word. We hope the Senate follows suit when it votes on the bill in the coming weeks.