State budget balanced for third year

I'm sure many on the left side of the aisle will tell us why this is a bad thing.

TroyM wrote:

I'm sure many on the left side of the aisle will tell us why this is a bad thing.

I'm not on the left by any stretch. But I wish we would have had a little bit less surplus and a little higher specs required for the asphalt put down on the interstate. The political paving done on 69 is breaking up after only two years. Lowest bidder is fine until they use low quality materials just to get the bid.

Yes the state itself is in the black but at what cost for the average Hoosier? Many Hoosiers are loosing their jobs, their homes, and some are loosing their families due to the financial hardships brought on by "Our Man Mitch". And the services that the state does offer leave a lot to be desired. Many Hoosiers are moving out of state just so they can make ends meet. I myself will not be fooled by our man Mitch. It's time to ditch Mitch and bring in someone that really cares about the people of Indiana and not the dry black ink that he is so proud of.

People are losing their houses - not because of the governor. People are losing their homes because they did not have the forethought to think what a balloon mortgage causes. Quit blaming everyone else and take responsibility for one's own actions.

littletroll45 wrote:

Yes the state itself is in the black but at what cost for the average Hoosier? Many Hoosiers are loosing their jobs, their homes, and some are loosing their families due to the financial hardships brought on by "Our Man Mitch". And the services that the state does offer leave a lot to be desired. Many Hoosiers are moving out of state just so they can make ends meet. I myself will not be fooled by our man Mitch. It's time to ditch Mitch and bring in someone that really cares about the people of Indiana and not the dry black ink that he is so proud of.

I agree with the post above this one. Making excuses because you were not responsible enough to live within your means is not the fault of the governor. When I see the phrase "ditch mitch" I relate it to a group of stupid people that need to blame everyone else for their problems. No one forced you to get into a debt you couldn't maintain the payments on. Lack of patience and ignorance made you by that big screen tv on credit and take on a large car payment so you can have a new car you can't afford and buying the most expensive house a mortgage broker told you that you could afford without even putting down a budget on paper to see if you could indeed afford it and everything else. Gotta have it now and gotta have the biggest and best. Blame yourselves for your mess!

Please be specific about what financial hardships were brought on by Mitch.

littletroll45 wrote:

Yes the state itself is in the black but at what cost for the average Hoosier? Many Hoosiers are loosing their jobs, their homes, and some are loosing their families due to the financial hardships brought on by "Our Man Mitch". And the services that the state does offer leave a lot to be desired. Many Hoosiers are moving out of state just so they can make ends meet. I myself will not be fooled by our man Mitch. It's time to ditch Mitch and bring in someone that really cares about the people of Indiana and not the dry black ink that he is so proud of.

True, some people are loosing their homes due to some stupid decisions that they themselves made. I will give you that. But what about jobs? Yes Mitch has brought some new jobs to Indiana, but the ones he brought in do not replace all the good paying jobs that were lost. And Privatization is not the answer to everything either. People lost their jobs there also. Another reason we are in the black is because he is running all the state agencies below the manning tables. I guess that would be Ok in some places, but would you think that would be a good idea in places like our state prisons? You all can think what you want, but in the long run, he has really hurt our state. Also, if we are in the black for the 3rd year running, why won't he suspend the gasoline tax? They can afford it. O' I forgot, that would not look good on paper. I guess getting re-elected is more important than helping out our fellow Hoosiers.

littletroll45 wrote:

And Privatization is not the answer to everything either. People lost their jobs there also. Another reason we are in the black is because he is running all the state agencies below the manning tables. I guess that would be Ok in some places, but would you think that would be a good idea in places like our state prisons?

Amen. This is a problem we in the DOC are dealing with...barely...every day. It is one thing to cut waste, but it is another to cut back to the point where safety and security is compromised. And even though most people don't think there is any reason for education or other programming to exist in prisons, the fact is that if these offenders get out without having had any chance to be educated or learn new skills, etc.(and they do all get out), then it is the Hoosier tax payer that is going to pay for it...by being the victim of more crime, and paying for more prison beds.

Mitch's "balanced budget" is a fiction, and we will all be paying for it for years.

littletroll45 wrote:

True, some people are loosing their homes due to some stupid decisions that they themselves made. I will give you that. But what about jobs? Yes Mitch has brought some new jobs to Indiana, but the ones he brought in do not replace all the good paying jobs that were lost. And Privatization is not the answer to everything either. People lost their jobs there also. Another reason we are in the black is because he is running all the state agencies below the manning tables. I guess that would be Ok in some places, but would you think that would be a good idea in places like our state prisons? You all can think what you want, but in the long run, he has really hurt our state. Also, if we are in the black for the 3rd year running, why won't he suspend the gasoline tax? They can afford it. O' I forgot, that would not look good on paper. I guess getting re-elected is more important than helping out our fellow Hoosiers.

Will you stupid liberals make up your mind? Obama says suspending the gas tax is a gimmick and you all get on board with that. Mitch Daniels doesnt do it right away and you cry for relief(by a few pennies) If he does do it you will then revert back to calling it a gimick and saying the state will be bankrupt.

pretty good at putting words into someone else's mouths huh. No I would not say that, and would not say that. Problem is, it don't matter what anyone says on here, there is always going to be someone like yourself that is going to argue the point, right or wrong. So it don't matter. But thanks for your opinion anyway. P.S. Sounds like DOC knows what he's talking about. Isn't that right CO?

littletroll45 wrote:

True, some people are loosing their homes due to some stupid decisions that they themselves made. I will give you that. But what about jobs? Yes Mitch has brought some new jobs to Indiana, but the ones he brought in do not replace all the good paying jobs that were lost. And Privatization is not the answer to everything either. People lost their jobs there also. Another reason we are in the black is because he is running all the state agencies below the manning tables. I guess that would be Ok in some places, but would you think that would be a good idea in places like our state prisons? You all can think what you want, but in the long run, he has really hurt our state. Also, if we are in the black for the 3rd year running, why won't he suspend the gasoline tax? They can afford it. O' I forgot, that would not look good on paper. I guess getting re-elected is more important than helping out our fellow Hoosiers.

This state has lost some of it's high paying manufacturing jobs because of greedy unions. Simple as that. Daniels has no control over that. Since I work for the government full time and have many friends working different for government agencies, I will state that there are plenty of cuts that can be made without affecting efficiency. It just forces those that are left to have to actually work hard at doing there job! Hard work...what a concept!

Soldier in Iraq wrote:

<quoted text>
there are plenty of cuts that can be made without affecting efficiency. It just forces those that are left to have to actually work hard at doing there job! Hard work...what a concept!

Agreed. There are sensible and necessary cuts that can and should be made that will not affect efficiency. However that is not what we in DOC have seen...and I am sure there are other state agencies that can say the same. The cuts that have been made have Indiana's prisons running on skeleton staffing...very many of whom are new hires, who's training is now very very poor (computer based training and very abbreviated 'academy'...we are losing new people as soon as we train them...and THAT is not an efficient or effective way to spend tax dollars either.)

Ironically, it seems to us on the line that upper level administration positions have multiplied like rabbits over the last 3 years. Mitch and the inept JDD said they were going to trim fat from unneccessary managerial positions, yet turned around and did the exact opposite. The facilities have no money for basic operations, yet there are many more unnecessary new jobs down at top heavy Central Office.

And why is it that we hear about these many millions of dollars now in state surplus, but the facilities have been sternly told to cut ANOTHER 7% from their budgets again this year? These budgets have nothing left to cut...except personnel.

Yes there are state employees who don't like to actually work...same as any private company and yes even some in the armed forces too (I saw plenty), but there is a difference between asking your people to "work", and expecting that one person can do the work of 4 others...and then expecting the mission will be accomplished with the same level of efficiency and effectiveness. If at all.

on the news this mornig they say a guy escaped from a prison in Edinburg. so ya it sounds like DOC does sound like he knows what hes talking about

rehab is for quitters wrote:

Please be specific about what financial hardships were brought on by Mitch.
<quoted text>

Sales tax and property tax would be a start

Stuck In Indy wrote:

<quoted text>
Sales tax and property tax would be a start

Blame the state legislators for this, not Daniels. They alone are to blame. Them and out of control school board spending!

Soldier in Iraq wrote:

<quoted text>
Blame the state legislators for this, not Daniels. They alone are to blame. Them and out of control school board spending!

k.y

it wouldn't have anything to do with whoring out our toll road and lottery. would it?

1 of the 2000 wrote:

it wouldn't have anything to do with whoring out our toll road and lottery. would it?

I hear lots of whining from people like you about this. Tell me exactly why this was a bad idea and how it has hurt the Hoosier taxpayer in ANY way. I'm sure that I'll hear crickets chirping long before I get a credible reply which would be a good thing because it would mean that I would be home!

Soldier in Iraq wrote:

<quoted text>
This state has lost some of it's high paying manufacturing jobs because of greedy unions.

While I am not a union worker nor ever have been, I have seen you blame every job lost on unions. You do realize nonunion jobs are being lost also. Have you got a link to any numbers stating union job losses as compared to non union job losses?

You seem to blame all job losses on unions about as much as antismokers blame every sniffle in the world on second hand smoke.

Just Curious wrote:

<quoted text>
While I am not a union worker nor ever have been, I have seen you blame every job lost on unions. You do realize nonunion jobs are being lost also. Have you got a link to any numbers stating union job losses as compared to non union job losses?
You seem to blame all job losses on unions about as much as antismokers blame every sniffle in the world on second hand smoke.

What part of "lost high paying manufacturing jobs" was hard to comprehend? These are mostly union jobs. Now, had I of ever said that ALL jobs lost were because of unions you would have made a valid point. The fault in your current post is that I have never made such allegations. Nice try though!