Governor Bob McDonnell will ask the General Assembly, which reconvenes on Wednesday, to approve legislation concerning the $83 billion budget for the Commonwealth that would cut $592,835 from public broadcasting in the second half of the biennial spending plan, reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
In fact, McDonnell proposes to increase spending by $42 million, and that means $51 million in cuts from the entire budget, including cutting funds originally sent to services for emotionally disturbed youth.
"I’ll probably oppose that," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Colgan, told the Times-Dispatch. "It’s quite a bit of money for those stations. That’s a pretty good hit." McDonnell’s cuts require a majority in both the House of Delegates and the Senate to pass, but the Governor could also exercise his item veto powers, which would require a two-thirds majority to overturn.
