A Jihad by any other name....

On Thursday the Republic printed yet another horror story about school tax credits, dutifully followedon Friday morning by yet another hand wringing editorial.  The Republic has been running this one-two combination every couple weeks for the last few months and last December I described the practice as the Republic's "Jihad against school tax credits." 

That prompted this email from Republic Editorial writer Doug MacEachern.

For the record, regarding your reference to an editorial “jihad” (is there a more overworked cliche in the language these days? Just wondering): The Republic recently published a series of editorials recommending changes in the tuition tax-credit law. We explicitly and repeatedly expressed our support for the program, which appears to save the state tax dollars. I urge you go back and read it again. I will assume your mischaracterizations aren’t intentional.

That set me back on my heels.  Wow, could I have been so clueless? Does the Republic actually support the Tuition Tax Credit Program and I have somehow missed it?  Or is it more likely that Doug has simply failed to notice the extent to which the Republic has piled on this issue?

Conveniently the latest Republic article linked to all the previous Republic articles so we have a nice little list--compiled by the Republic itself--to test my theory.  When you read the list, remember that most of the stories are either A 1 above the fold, or B 1 above the fold.  Also notice that the "Investigation" stories are what is called in the business "Enterprise" stories.  In other words, they have no triggering event--the reporter has an opinion and calls a handful of experts to see if they will confirm it.

Then recall that "news" stories on A1 and B1 are supposed to be neutral, while the opinions of the paper are supposed to be confined to the editorial pages.  I assume they still teach that at J school.   Read through the headlines and ask yourself if the news articles are neutral--or if they are simply editorials masking as news. 

Finally, assess for yourself whether Doug is right that the "We explicitly and repeatedly expressed our support for the program..." and then determine if my description of a "Jihad" (trite though it may be) has "mischaracterized" the Republic's coverage.

Here's the list of articles, simply cut and pasted from yesterday article.

Republic Investigations

8/1/09: Tuition-aid benefits wealthy families, raises worry
8/1/09: Tax-credit work raises ethical questions
8/1/09: Expenses hard to track for tax-credit groups
9/6/09: Charter schools tapping into private dollars
9/21/09: Tax-credit program scrutiny often lags in Arizona
10/2/09: Schools under scrutiny for financing private school with taxpayer dollars
10/14/09: 'Republic' analysis: Tuition tax credits drain state money
10/20/09: Private-school tax credits save $8.3 million
10/29/09: Tuition aid for Arizona kids in need not doled out
11/13/09: Arizona may sue tuition groups holding donations
11/15/09: Tuition aid not just to needy
12/13/09: Tuition aid continues to elude needy
12/27/09: Ariz. tuition-credit practices may violate federal tax laws

News Coverage

8/12/09:IRS urged to investigate tuition tax-credit offer
9/1/09:Diocese alters tuition-tax-credit rules for donors
9/22/09: Legislators expected to tighten school-tuition tax-credit rules
10/22/09:Attorneys to ask high court to review Ariz. tuition tax credits
11/17/09:Professor puts savings for state at up to $186 million
11/17/09:Clearer data on scholarships sought
12/11/09:Panel backs only some reforms on private-school tuition law

Republic Editorials

Act now to halt abuses of tuition tax-credit law
Lawmakers must save tuition tax-credit program
Steps to a better tuition law
Law failed to define just who is needy
Earmarking at the core of problem
Lack of detail rotting ideals of program
Legislators put school-choice efforts in peril
Legislators bet IRS won't catch on to shady practice

Comments

[RsMantra]

How do you propose stopping these seven figure welfare queens?

[Bryan_Hatfield]

Any break up of the public school monopoly terrifies liberals.

I make sure I donate to this program every year, and I would urge all Arizona conservatives to do the same.

[Kristen]

When I wrote for the Washington Times, many years ago, reporters did NOT titles their articles. Titles of articles were conceived by the editorial desk, usually with space limitations in mind.

[RonJ]

Kristen: Most people don't read the entire story. Often it is only the headline that is read. Everyone at the paper knows this (or should) so there is an intentional slant to headline writing. Besides, 20 "non-editorial" headlines comes close to a story in and of itself. Add in the editorial heads and it doesn't take a genius to figure out where the Republic stands. Sorry, Doug M., the obvious anti-STO bias is unequivocal and indisputable.

[foxfan]

Kristen, are you sure you wrote for a newspaper? No reporter I've known has ever called headlines "titles." Nice try. You've been exposed.

[Blackbird03]

Greg, is it not called "cognitive dissonance?" Doug is trying to rationalize his position which he subconsciously realizes is in total conflict with the reality of what the articles say -- not to mention the desires of the vast majority of people in this great State.

The real story should be about public unions continually manipulating the press and the press being too lazy (or too occupied looking for a new job) to realize it.

I would like to know how much this Jihad cost the tuition organizations, how many kids went without scholarships as a result and how much more the State incurred in costs as a result. How about looking into that Doug?

[Kristen]

Sorry -- not exposed, but it did make me laugh. Yes, I did write for the WT.

Regarding my use of "title" ... hmmm. Not sure. It could have come from too many years of grad school AFTER the couple years of reporting.

Who cares.

[Ken]

Score: Greg 1, Doug 0

The Republic's bias has been all too clear. They would like the program to be gutted or, better yet, eliminated.

Apparently they do not believe the courts that the donations are not yet tax monies but rather funds that still belong to taxpayers. They apparently do not even believe their own conclusion that the program saves the state (lower case "s") money. The public school monopoly must be preserved at all cost (even if the cost is to the students in the form a poor education).

[Benson]

Why doesn't this pathetic excuse for a "news" paper write about all tax breaks their organization receives?
Think of all the government schools that could be built with the money they are withholding from the government that so rightly deserves it.
Nauseating.

[Jim Torgeson]

How long has it been since there has been an unbiased news source?

[Editor]

One of the roles of the newspaper is to foster public discussion. The fact that this discussion is taking place here and elsewhere is proof that the paper is doing its job.

I would hardly call the Republic's series a "Jihad" and would cite use of that word as proof of someone's disdain for serious journalism. It's watch dog reporting. If it makes someone uncomfortable then so be it. The Republic is not here to cheerlead for people who want to bend the tax code for their own benefit.

[Jim Torgeson]

I always thought news papers were supposed to, well, report news.

[Benson]

Editor: The people are using the same tax code that your industry is using. Why no stories on how the media "bends" the code? I betcha if you look in the mirror.....

[Falcon9]

Tax credit was started in 1990's. Republic never supported its creation. Has never editorialized in support of it.

Even Bob Robb, of all people, took a shot at it.

[Tom Pettyes]

The tax credit program is part and parcel of the right wing ideology that runs this State. This is not about "school choice" it is about public subsidies for private schools, and gutting the politically powerful teachers unions. And public funds for private schools is about your precious little kid NOT going to school with "those" kind of people, but with the right kind of people. The tax credit program is about political power of the right wing elite, not education.

[Editor]

And I always thought people abusing the system was, well, news.

And if you're going to kvetch about tax abuses at the Republic you should specify what they are rather than lay out blanket accusations. Are they any different from tax breaks any other large employer gets?

[Alex Ovechkin]

MacEachern's response reminds of the ol' "I voted for it before I voted against it" or was it the other way around... Wants everyone to believe he's for, but works tirelessly to undermine. Welcome back John Kerry!

[Hopeful in Scottsdale.]

Editor: My wife and I have contributed to the tuition fund organization for both my son's and daughters' schools since the program began. Like most others, I never once asked for anything or expected anything other than to help some other deserving kids attend the school. I believe 70% of the kids at these schools receive some kind of help based on need or they would be trapped elsewhere in the public system. I don't know of any school that would have permitted any abuse - so for your paper to characterize the whole program as "abusive" is just editorial bull crap. But then again, you seem to excel in believing anything that fits your point of view - provided it comes from the right (progressive) source. Public unions are a problem and need to be reigned in. Don't trust them as a source.

I wish we had a paper that inspired some confidence and showed some real objective reporting. I'd sure support that! I bet others would too.

[RonJ]

Tom P.: Have you visited many charter schools? Your bigoted rant against White folks is telling. How about a few stats?:
According to an eight-year study (2000-2007 inclusive) by the National Center for Education Statistics, Arizona charter schools' attendees include 52% White; 34% Latino; 7% Black; 4% American Indian; and 3% Asian. Compare those attendee numbers with the U.S. Census numbers for Arizona: 58.3% White; 30.1% Latino; 4.2% Black; 4.9% American Indian; and 2.5% Asian. Latinos and Blacks attend charter schools at a higher rate than their demographic makeup--their is no "White flight" that your precious Arizona Republic contended in today's issue (see "Report: Racial gap grows in charter schools," by Emily Gersema). It would appear your comments (and the Republic's rants) are colored by your (and their) anti-White, anti-Consevative bias--and simply wrong.

[RRRRRRs]

RonJ
The statistics you cited are for public charter schools. The discussion is on private school tuition. Try to keep up.

[RonJ]

Uhh--never mind. (And it was such a good argument.)

[Stephen]

Why is it when there is obvious fraud or abuse in a particular program like this, one ideological wing will demand to scrap the entire thing, while the other wing refuses to even consider any fix or adjustment?

This could be a good program if there would only be some oversight. Instead, many of these STO's founders are lining their pockets, not disbursing funds (and collecting interest & fees), or doing tuition swaps.

[Bruce Goetze]

I couldn't agree more with Falcon9 unless I added that the state cost savings claimed by the tuition proponents is so misstated that it defies logic.

[Alena]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Alena

http://grantsforeducation.info

[Blackbird03]

They're at it again this morning. .. But really we support the program. Bravo Sierra.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2010/02/15/20100215mon1-15.html