On Thursday, Celia Wexler, Common Cause's vice president for advocacy, attended
crucial meeting of the Senate Commerce Committee when Senators approved Chairman
John
McCain's (R-AZ) bill to reauthorize the CPB, without adding any
harmful amendments. In another pro-reform move, the Commerce Committee approved
legislation sponsored by Senators McCain and Patrick
Leahy (D-VT), that would permit the growth of low-power FM radio
stations throughout the country. The vote was a victory for the cause of
localism and the priorities of community groups, and a rare defeat for the
powerful National Association of Broadcasters.
We continue to keep fighting to uphold the ideas of visionaries such as Common
Cause founder, John Gardner – who promoted the idea of a public broadcasting
system free to present hard-hitting investigative journalism without the threat
of political or corporate pressure.
