OK, Indiana is back in the black. But, as even the governor acknowledges, that was not achieved without a gimmick or two:
Daniels warned that the state still has work to do. Most notably, it still owes more than $600 million in back payments to universities, public schools and local governments. Those payments were delayed to help lawmakers save money in past years, and only a fraction of the revenue has been repaid.
So I'm not sure this is the first thing the state should be doing:
Indiana's finances are in the black for the first time in three years, which could open the door for a state-financed full-day kindergarten program, Gov. Mitch Daniels said Tuesday.
Hey, we're out of the hole, so let's start a new $150 million a year (at least) program! Isn't that the kind of thinking that put us in hole in the first place?
