The News Journal Strikes Again

Last night Founders Values had our annual membership meeting.  This meeting revolved around the 2nd Amendment and that is always a good draw.  Even with the expectation of poor weather and some late notices, we had a good turn out.  One of our members, Bob Wilson, approached me before the meeting and asked where I found some information that I had written about concerning Delaware's pension and retiree health care benefits.  I told him that I had taken my information from a Pew Center Study that was done in 2008 about our state of underfunding.  As you may note, the Pew Center is no right wing think tank, this isn't information from the Heritage Foundation, Americans for Prosperity or some other such conservative organization.  The Pew Center leans left and is far more optimistic about governments deficit spending than even most Americans are.  That's why when they say that our State Employee Pensions are underfunded to the tune of $600 million and our retiree health care plan is unfunded to the tune of $5.4 billion, I take notice.  When they post a study that says we should be concerned about the retiree plan that is LESS THAN 2% funded, I think it's worth citing. 

I soon found out why he was so interested in my source.  Bob had written a letter to the editor of the News Journal.  He's written letters before and almost always received a verification call from the same person.  This time the call came from a different person, John Sweeney.  Sweeney is the editor of the News Journal editorial pages so it's understandable that he might jump in and make a verification call on an editorial submission.  The problem comes when you read the letter Bob submitted, and the one that was printed.  I'll start with the version the News Journal printed:

In the March 11 News Journal, the spokeswoman for the Delaware State Education Association stated that it has a history of collaboration with the state government. My question would be, “Who are they collaborating against?” In this situation, it could only mean the taxpayers of Delaware. Is this a good thing?
The executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said that any kind of effort to change the status quo would cause the unions in Delaware to unite.

The only reasonable conclusion would be that they would unite against the taxpayers and citizens of Delaware.

You know, the ones who have to pay for all of this.

Does anyone think that all of the unfunded liabilities may have come from this type of cooperating and collaborating?

Bob Wilson, Newark

And here is what Bob ACTUALLY wrote:

According to the Common Sense Communities Society, Delaware's public employee pension fund is underfunded by $600 Million dollars and the public employee retirement health care fund has an unfunded liability of $5.4 Billion dollars.  Now what can possibly go wrong here?

In the March 11th News Journal the spokeswoman for the Delaware State Education Association stated that they have a history of collaboration with the state govt.  My question would be who are they collaborating against?  In this situation it could only mean the taxpayers of Delaware.  Is this a good thing?

In the same piece the Executive Director of the AFL-CIO, who happily is also a member of the state House of Representatives, stated that the Unions have been so successful in the political process that they don't even have to negotiate with the state.  What!!  All they have to do is tell the state what they want and they get it?  That's a sweet deal!

The executive director of AFSCME said that any kind of effort to change the status quo would cause the Unions in Delaware to unite.  The only reasonable conclusion would be that they would unite against the taxpayers and citizens of Delaware.  You know the who have to pay for all of this.

Does anyone think that all of the unfunded liabilities may have come from this type of cooperating and collaborating?

Nah, nothing to see here, just keep on moving.

Bob Wilson
Newark

Now, I understand that the editorial pages retain the right to edit submissions, but to TOTALLY change it in such a drastic way by omission is rather pathetic.  I'm urging you to call the News Journal and demand an answer as to why this letter was edited to such an enhanced degree.  The removal of all of the facts make the op-ed almost entirely incoherent.  You can call the News Journal at the number below:
302-324-2500
Be sure to mention that John Sweeney should apologize for his actions publicly.