Debate Over Renewing Public-TV Aid Raises Fears of Cuts in 'Seed Money'

By Mark Walsh

WASHINGTON--A bill to reauthorize federal funding for public broadcasting has ignited a sharp legislative debate over a perceived liberal bias in programming and a lack of accountability for federal dollars, including those going to children's shows.

A Senate debate on the bill led by conservative Republicans early this month raised fears among public-TV officials about possible reductions in federal aid, or new restrictions on such money, that would undermine public broadcasting's educational mission and make it harder to raise private funds for children's shows and associated education projects.

The bill in question is a $1.1-billion, three-year reauthorization for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the private, nonprofit organization created by the Congress in 1967 to funnel federal aid...