Associated Press
Nov. 15, 2005

Report: Former PBS chair violated law
Is accused of trying to turn public radio, TV into GOP mouthpiece

WASHINGTON - The former chairman of the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting broke federal law by interfering with PBS programming and
appearing to use political tests in hiring the corporation's new
president, internal investigators said Tuesday. Kenneth Y. Tomlinson,
a Republican, also sought to withhold funding from PBS unless the
taxpayer-supported network brought in more conservative voices to
balance its programming, said the report by CPB inspector general
Kenneth A. Konz. Tomlinson was chairman of the corporation until
September and resigned as a board member earlier this month after Konz
privately shared his findings with the board. The report was publicly
released Tuesday...

Specifically, the report said Tomlinson violated the Public
Broadcasting Act of 1967 and ethical standards by dealing directly
with one of the creators of the conservative-leaning "Journal
Editorial Report," hosted by the editor of The Wall Street Journal
editorial page. In internal e-mails, Tomlinson told CPB staff to
threaten to withhold funds from PBS "if they didn't balance their
programming," the report said. There was evidence, the report said, to
suggest that "political tests" or qualifications were used as a major
factor in the hiring of new CPB President Patricia S. Harrison, in
violation of federal rules. Harrison, who was backed by Tomlinson, is
a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

The report also faulted Tomlinson for hiring a consultant to review
program content on PBS shows such as "Now With Bill Moyers." The IG
said Tomlinson didn't obtain the proper authorization from the board
for the consultant's $20,000 contract. The consultant kept track of
whether guests on the shows were "anti or pro-Bush," and "anti or
pro-Tom DeLay."

"The report shows that Mr. Tomlinson was willing to ride roughshod
over the law to impose his political mindset on PBS programming," said
Rep. David Obey, D-Wis. "The Corporation for Public Broadcasting needs
significant reform and vigorous oversight." Obey and Rep. John
Dingell, D-Mich., had called for the IG investigation...