Letter to the editor: Report the facts about fracking pollution, not misleading false balance

I finally had it with a misleading false balance the press often use when reporting on fracking. The State Journal-Register published my snarky letter to the editor Sunday suggesting a more accurate description of the debate.

A recent Associated Press article published by The State Journal-Register needs correction. It included this claim about fracking: "Opponents fear it can cause air and water pollution and health problems, but industry officials contend the method is safe."

In fact, numerous studies by EPA and others confirm fracking does, in fact, cause air and water pollution that harms public health. To minimize the problem by calling it a mere fear by some opponents misleads readers. A corrected, factual sentence might read: "Multiple objective studies confirm fracking causes air and water pollution which threatens public health, but industry officials continue to lie about it."

Let's hope this reporting cliche is put to rest.

Springfield deserves a magnificent Capitol complete with restored doorways

Springfield welcomes hundreds of thousands of international visitors and other tourists every year. We don't have Chicago's Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium or the Art Institute. We don't have the Willis Tower, Grant Park, or the dozens of other sites in Chicago that use tax dollars to attract and impress visitors.

Springfield has the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. We have the Presidential Museum. And we have the Illinois Capitol Building. It's one of the most impressive capitol buildings in the nation. It's the lasting impression many visitors will have of Springfield and the state of Illinois. The recent Capitol restoration project made it even more magnificent and it's something Springfield residents should take pride in.

So, it's disappointing to see the press push the gimmicky non-story of how much it cost to renovate the Capitol doorways. Even the editorials and radio discussions I've heard admit the doorways have a minuscule impact on the state budget. Reporters know it's nonsense to blame doorways for the budget and pension problems. But, it's a cute hook. It's an easily understood visual. It's a fun accusatory question to ask candidates for Governor.

Even more disappointing is that this non-story was broken by a Springfield columnist who should show a little more pride in our community. But, what can you expect from a newspaper that editorialized in favor of public employee pension cuts in a town where state government is by far the largest employer? They might as well also attack what little state money is spent to make Springfield more appealing to visitors. The State Journal-Register editorial board is willing to show contempt for its readership when it fits the ideological agenda of their current owners.

You want a serious story about why Illinois can't fund pensions? Look at how much of the state is in enterprise zones that allow businesses to escape paying most taxes. It's far beyond the small number of economically depressed areas the program was designed to help. It's a huge drain on state finances and reveals that many of the complaints about businesses facing a high tax burden in Illinois are propaganda. But, I'm betting no reporter will be assigned that story because it would offend newspaper advertisers and the Chamber of Commerce.

Griping about new doorways on the Capitol Building is a poor substitute for covering actual news.

Besides, having a beautiful Capitol makes it a little easier to stomach watching the grotesque train wreck of Illinois government in action.