Round Up: “Cans Kicked…”

I have been known to kick the can down the road. Sometimes it is just easier to avoid dealing with something rather than dig in. Sometimes kicking the can is helpful and can allow you time to gain knowledge about something rather than acting in the moment.

The Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing on Wednesday, June 25th, to discuss the rescission package that could claw back more than 25% of KWMR’s federal funding. It was actually pretty compelling, for the most part. (You can view Susan Collins’ Opening Statement HERE, or watch the whole thing HERE.)

There were  valid and reasonable concerns on both sides of the aisle. I feel encouraged that Senators get the importance of Public Media, but it’s a big ol’ package of rescissions. I mostly hope that Congress can stay in integrity, that they hold the purse strings and not go down the path of endless rescissions and continuing resolutions. 

There is a kid’s game called kick the can. I don’t ever remember playing this particular game. I remember spin the bottle, hide and seek, and duck duck goose. We even made up our own game called trip or trap. The way you play trip or trap is one person has to stay down sitting or on all fours and they are blindfolded. The other person(s) runs around the person sitting who can’t see and tries to avoid not being caught or tripped. Mind you, this all done on a 10’ by 10’ rug, and you can’t go off the rug. Also, music should be playing loudly. 

We played trip or trap frequently, along with “block wars,” which are just exactly like it sounds. It always ended when someone was injured and in tears. We even had a really crazy game called “What is the Law,” that we played throughout the neighborhood with other kids. It was very improv and I can’t remember if anyone could actually win. It was sort of like hide and seek on steroids.

I think Congress could benefit from playing a game called “What is the Law.” Many reasonable senators seem to get that what is being proposed is actually not legal. Congress appropriated those funds, and the President signed them into law. Now, they want to take them back based on some vague details and the rarely used Impoundment Act of 1974. 

Congress has until July 18 to act on these rescissions or it just goes away. If that happens, the money must be dispersed how it was originally appropriated. I am down for this type of can kicking. Meanwhile, we are not kicking the can down the road here at the station. We are coming up with plans for the future, regardless of what it holds.

The word on the street is that there may be a Senate vote by July 7. There is still time to reach out.

Follow the issue and become an advocate at Protectmypublicmedia.org. 

Programming Changes Afoot!

As is often the case here at KWMR, things are shifting in the on-air schedule, so I want to give you a heads up! Most changes begin July 2.

What do you think?

We are curious what our listeners might think of KWMR adding “Democracy Now” back into the schedule. We have been repeating the Canadian Broadcaster’s “As It Happens” in the 7:30 to 8:30 AM spot for several years. We did carry “Democracy Now” when it started, but there were some technical issues with the delivery of the program. That has all been solved.

What do you think? Let us know by using THIS FORM.

And for now, I’m gonna go out and kick some cans around the newly paved roads of West Marin. Care to join me?

Amanda Eichstaedt
Station Manager and Executive Director

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