Executive Summary: Over the years, the Texas Association of Public Employees Retirement Systems has called into question the objectivity of Pew Charitable Trusts’ reports on public employee pensions. In sum, the organization has proven itself biased against defined benefit plans for police, firefighters, teachers, and state and municipal employees. Their May 2019 report, “Municipalities Grapple with Retirement System Shortfalls,” is similarly biased in our opinion and should also be viewed skeptically with regards to Texas systems. This TEXPERS Backgrounder identifies problem areas in the Pew report with regards to the Texas pensions.