Editorial Roundup

The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, on states trying to consolidate agencies (June 13) — Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin spent time during the 2011 legislative session asking lawmakers to approve cost-saving consolidation measures. She wasn’t alone. A number of governors took the same course this year as they sought to deal with budgets considerably smaller than in years past. As was the case in Oklahoma, results were mixed. ...

Stateline.org says “an unusually large” number of governors, most of them newly elected, have merged agencies or are considering doing so. John Thomasian with the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, told the website that the trend nationally has been to create larger agencies overseen by directors who answer to the governor. ...

Nationally, referendums on city-county mergers have only been approved about one-fourth of the time in the past 100 years. The last one was in Louisville, Ky., in 2000. But fiscal concerns are forcing state and local officials to explore cost-saving options. ...

The Free Press, Mankato, Minn., on a “brief” default on American debt (June 12) — There is a dangerous idea gaining hold in the Republican Party that a brief default on American debt could be acceptable if it forces deeper cuts by the White House.

As the Aug. 2 deadline to increase the nation’s $14.3 trillion borrowing limit fast approaches, the idea — once limited to the fringes of the party — is becoming more mainstream.

... The concept of allowing the nation to go into default — even a short-term “technical” one — for the first time in its history is irresponsible.

It’s true that the government could likely shift funding to cover the payment of most or all debts for a short time. But even if that were to occur, the damage would be severe, long-term and increase government spending. ...

Republicans and the Obama administration must stop their game of chicken and find compromise that will deeply cut spending, possibly increase tax revenues and, at all costs avoid a default on national financial obligations.

The Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colo., on Delta Air Lines’ military baggage fees (June 9) — Delta Airlines and several others beat a hasty retreat after coming under attack from some U.S. soldiers upset about the airline’s fees for excess baggage. ...

The attack on Delta was actually a complaint posted in a YouTube video by two Army Reserve staff sergeants who were on their way home from a year’s deployment in Afghanistan. They said many in their unit had four bags, as they were ordered to bring. On a flight from Baltimore to Atlanta, 14 members of their 36-man unit were charged $200 apiece for their fourth bags.

After the video went viral, Delta quickly revamped its policies, allowing active-duty military personnel four bags with no extra charge. United Airlines did the same, and American Airlines said it will now allow up to five bags for those in the military.

The changes are welcome. Americans who have served their country in dangerous places shouldn’t have to pay extra to get themselves and their gear home.