The Jan. 20 Citizen-Tribune article, the “State Economy Is Not All Good News”, covered a Center of the American Experiment (CAE) report, presented by John Phelan at a Jan. 17 Community Partners forum sponsored by Sherburne County. CAE uses the report “Minnesota’s Economy: Mediocre Performance Threatens the State’s Future”, to justify key initiatives to cut social security and lower corporate taxes. It has been denounced by economists including Louis Johnston, St. John’s

 

Economics professor, who appeared with Rep. Tom Emmer at an SJU forum recently. In his 8/23/16 MinnPost article, he said the report is “politics not economics” and “though it looks like research, with 30 figures, 5 tables, and a page of tiny footnotes, it is actually an advocacy document more akin to a 40-page op-ed than an academic study.”

 

Unfortunately, Phelan presented the report as factual, thereby misinforming the audience. Through its coverage, the Citizen-Tribune also duped its readers.  

 

Sherburne County can do better. Staff must vet speakers and refuse to provide a free forum for those whose agenda is to further their political cause at the expense of misinforming the public. And the Citizen Tribune needs to seek and present the truth.