Lawmakers slap Smithsonian over Showtime sellout deal

Xeni Jardin 12:48 pm Thu May 4, 2006

Following up on previous BB posts about Congress' sharply-worded letter to the Smithsonian, news today that the Interior subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations put their money (or lack thereof) where their mouth is.
Details of the FY07 budget allocation include:

[S]tatutory language limiting the Smithsonian's ability to execute any contract or legal agreement which could limit public access to the Smithsonian collections. In addition, the bill reduces the Smithsonian's salaries and expenses account by $5 million.

Link to Committee on Appropriations press release dated May 4. (thanks, Carl Malamud)

Previously:

– Smithsonian becomes Showtime's exclusive first-refusal archive
– Smithsonian's Showtime deal: critical attorneys shred it
– Hundreds ask Smithsonian not to sell out to Showtime
– Smithsonian's Showtime sellout needs FOIA sunshine
–
Smithsonian's sellout to Showtime slammed by Congress

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