Ah, I love the smell of fresh conservatism in the morning....or afternoon...or evening.

I think even R. Dean Taylor would change his mind with these kind of results.

$800 million deficit into a $1.2 billion surplus

A surplus is better then a deficit, but its still not a good thing, it means that the government is taking in more than it needs to operate, which it shouldn't be doing.

I heard about Gov. Daniels about a month ago....on NPR.

All this proves is that deficits don't matter.

Andy, he did it with huge tax cuts so he can give it back if he likes.

Unless you like the other way around where you are always on the hook for more to the government out of your pocket.

Give me surplus any day.

"A surplus is better then a deficit, but its still not a good thing, it means that the government is taking in more than it needs to operate, which it shouldn't be doing."

Gee, how about using it to pay off back debts, which are costing us about a half-trillion a year in interest?

In Oregon that surplus goes back to the tax payers in the form of checks.

Dan - I agree 100%, when it's being used to pay down debt its good. I would be concerned if the Gov found a way to spend that money.

Many - I wasn't aware of that, has that happened often?

Why the GOP grab someone like this instead of Palin?

"In Oregon that surplus goes back to the tax payers in the form of checks."

We thought about it in Washington but in the end decided to spend all of it and more. Then when the surplus was gone but he programs it funded were still in place more taxes had to be levied to keep from deficit which we got anyway.

Further Proof that the GOP picked Palin as a bullshit stunt to counter the dems if Clinton had been nominated.

Unless there is something else wrong with this guy.

"In Oregon that surplus goes back to the tax payers in the form of checks."

I wish it would go in a state legacy fund instead, unspendable by the legislature unless certain triggers are hit (say, revenues drop over 10%). That way, good years would help cover for the lousy years. As it is, lawmakers have to pretend good times or bad times will go on forever, and budget accordingly. States will expand during flush times, only to have to hack and slash in lean years. Did you see the Colbert piece on a state that was trying to sell it's capitol building? He asked what (probably) no other interviewer asked: If you sell the building this year, what are you going to do about the shortfall next year? The stunned interviewee's answer: "Ummm....I don't know". As if no one had ever considered that fact.

With some pension plans, for example, any gain or loss is amortized over the following five years, so benefits aren't added and subtracted at whim. Why states return overages, only to get in binds like they are now, is beyond me.

It's kind of funny reading this thread and talking of surplus and deficit.

Most states I know lost their money spending wildly but also lost it because the states lost it in the market crash......now that should spark a sense of huh in people.....the tax dollars are invested in the stock market?????

#12 | Posted by Danforth

Nope.

That would require our politicians to be:

Honest
Forthright
Responsible...

and...

Forego opportunistic partisan bullshit in lieu of the above.

Mr. Daniels continues to play Cassandra...

Oh, now we get to it....he is a closet homo.

LOL

on June 29 2006 Indiana received $3.8 billion from a consortium made up of the Spanish construction firm Cintra and the Macquarie Infrastructure Group (MIG) of Australia in exchange for the right to maintain, operate and collect tolls for the following 75 years.
=================
State gets a one time wind fall of $3.8 billion pays off debt of $800 million has surplus of $1.2 billion. What happened to the rest of the $1.8 billion inquring minds want to know?

Wonder what the condition of the roads will be when the state takes over in 75 years?

#8 | Posted by andyuhenet

Yeah. Every 2 years. If there is a surplus, we all get money back based on how much state tax we paid.

#10 | Posted by salamandagator

Right, if they spend the surplus, then they will continue to over tax us and still spend whatever they get.

The solution? If you over tax the tax payers, you give them their money back. A rainy day fund is like a business saying, "We charged you too much money, but we are going to use that money to make our company better for you the next time we overcharge you."

"The solution? If you over tax the tax payers, you give them their money back. A rainy day fund is like a business saying, "We charged you too much money, but we are going to use that money to make our company better for you the next time we overcharge you." "

Tell that to christine gregoire

""We charged you too much money, but we are going to use that money to make our company better for you the next time we overcharge you.""

No, it's the next time they undercharge you.

Do you really expect states to, for example, kick people off Medicaid rolls every time they experience a shortfall?

The reform-minded conservative

Two postings on the puff-piece for this new 'true conservative'? That's too much of a coincidence. No doubt the GOP drones were instructed to get the word out on this new snake-oil salesman, the new great white hope of the GOP.

#21 The paranoia is strong in this one...

Gov. Daniels denied he's interested in "seeking higher office".

Why do I get the feeling that You and JeffJ actually get paid to spew bullshit on the internets. First time I have felt this way but it all makes sense.

Larry

Chap,

Mr. Daniels tackled that with the largest public-private partnership in U.S. history, a lease of the Indiana Toll Road

4Billion? to whom?