By AP
Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. lawmaker looks to cut funding for public TV
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A lawmaker says she will introduce a bill next year to eliminate state funding for public television in Oklahoma.
Rep. Leslie Osborn says she hopes to reduce state appropriations to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority by 20 percent each year for the next five years. The Tuttle Republican held an interim study on her plan Tuesday before the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education.
Osborn says she believes OETA is a worthy project, but that funding should come from the private sector.
OETA Executive Director John McCarroll says state appropriations amounted to about 39 percent of the agency's funding last fiscal year.
The agency has seen its budget slashed 26 percent over the last three years. It received about $3.8 million in state funding for the current fiscal year.