Columnist's 'facts' disputed
This is in response to another misleading column written by Dick Trail whose habit is to try to pass off his personal opinions as fact. This time, he's relying on his memory. In the column his memory does not serve him well. It did not serve your readers well, either, because the facts show his recollections are incorrect.
On Sept. 13, Mr. Trail unfairly criticized Sen. Ben Nelson saying, "I fear that our own Senator E. Benjamin Nelson will not be lining up on the side of those intent on cutting government growth."
This despite numerous press releases sent to every media outlet in the state, that show Senator Nelson is an effective leader in the effort to cut federal spending.
Mr. Trail goes on to write, "Memory serves to remind that Gov. Nelson oversaw the largest increase in Nebraska State employees during his terms in office."
Fact Check: Governor Nelson, on March 31, 1993, initiated a cap on the number of employees in each department of the state of Nebraska.
As a result, during the eight years Nelson was Governor, the number of state employees increased less than three quarters of one percent per year, which is less than the administrations immediately before or after his time in office.
These are the facts and I hope readers will store them in their memory, and not the words of Dick Trail.
Jim Fagin
Deputy Director
of Communications
U.S. Senator Ben Nelson
Omaha, Nebraska