Economy Indiana is doing something right- 410 million budget surplus

[AGGAMEMNON66]

Not always. Some “quality of life factors” are as objective as life and death...

So, using that link, why not list the top ten vs. bottom ten states; since, you wanted to obfuscate by cherry picking.

I noticed you skipped my 1st offer there bud..

 

[luckyshot]

I noticed you skipped my 1st offer there bud..

Did you also notice my implied questioning of your priorities? Let’s start by figuring out whether the ladder is on the right wall before we start counting rungs.

 

[AGGAMEMNON66]

Did you also notice my implied questioning of your priorities? Let’s start by figuring out whether the ladder is on the right wall before we start counting rungs.

You’re dancing around here. I’m sure you just did a few google searches before responding and they didn’t go how you wanted them to. If there’s one thing I know about you lot in here it’s that you’re quick with a link or ‘pie chart’ when it suits you.. just like your 1st response to me. That thing was locked and loaded.


This response? Not so much. That’s telling.

 

[luckyshot]

Lucky isn't overly aggressive in his criticism of Republicans, although I certainly am. But I'm also very critical of the Democratic Party, particularly at the state and municipal level (where there isn't so much distance between the parties in terms of good faith governance).



I do not know. Just taking a cursory look at their numbers, it looks the state's unemployment rate is consistently better than average but it consistently falls behind in poverty/wages, innovation, and overall growth. If you're asking if I have any problem with either of the governor or assembly's wishes for the surplus, I do not. I'm assuming the bidding and contracting processes will be the same no matter what, so deciding which path is better would be fact intensive, I imagine.

I’m moderately moderate. Which actually make me the most Moderate of all.

You’re dancing around here. I’m sure you just did a few google searches before responding and they didn’t go how you wanted them to. If there’s one thing I know about you lot in here it’s that you’re quick with a link or ‘pie chart’ when it suits you.. just like your 1st response to me. That thing was locked and loaded.


This response? Not so much. That’s telling.

Could not be more wrong. I’ve done a grand total of two quick searches.

My point is of another order entirely, which you seem unable or unwilling to grasp. Let me try to illustrate with a hypothetical:

Let’s say, just for shits and giggles, that eight of the ten states with the “best” budgets are also eight of the ten states with the highest infant mortality rates and shortest life expectancies... are those really the “best” budgets?

Do you see what I am saying?

 

[AGGAMEMNON66]

I’m moderately moderate. Which actually make me the most Moderate of all.

Could not be more wrong. I’ve done a grand total of two quick searches.

My point is of another order entirely, which, unsurprisingly, you seem unable or unwilling to grasp. Let me try to illustrate with a hypothetical:

Let’s say, just for shits and giggles, that eight of the ten states with the “best” budgets are also eight of the ten states with the highest infant mortality rates and shortest life expectancies...

Are those really the “best” budgets?

You’re halfway between a straw man and an entire troupe of backup dancers on stage with a pop star during the Super Bowl halftime show here.


Do you see what I’m saying?

 

[luckyshot]

You’re halfway between a straw man and an entire troupe of backup dancers on stage with a pop star during the Super Bowl halftime show here.


Do you see what I’m saying?

No idea. Now I just don’t think you know the right way to use “straw man.” A hypothetical argument is not a straw man.

 

[Jack V Savage]

Nice, rare to see in this day and age.

California's surplus was about $30B last year and is about $21B this year. I think about half (don't have a handy source) of state budgets are balanced or better, and most are required to be balanced.

 

[HockeyBjj]

California's surplus was about $30B last year and is about $21B this year. I think about half (don't have a handy source) of state budgets are balanced or better, and most are required to be balanced.

Well damn. You're correct on this. Seems I'm mistaken on my Idiana admiration

I've gotten too used to the hole Illinois is in, 3.2 billion deficit, and a neighboring state with the polar opposite stuck out to me.

I don't know about requirements, but it's about 50/50 surplus vs defecit from 2018

 

[VivaRevolution]

https://www.wibc.com/news/local-news/indianas-largest-budget-surplus-and-whats-be-done-it

https://www.wishtv.com/news/indiana...-wants-to-spend-indianas-410m-budget-surplus/

They went into the year with an actually balanced budget, and then received more in state income tax and corporate tax than they expected. Now they're left with the very nice problem to have of deciding how to spend the extra 410 million, since they also have 2.3 billion is reseveres

Saw this story and thought holy balls is that in stark contrast to other states.

There is a disagreement between the Republican governor who wants to use that extra money to pay in full a large highway project on hwy 31 from Indianapolis to South bend and pay down other debts seeing it as freeing up more money in the years to come since not paying the accruing interest there. Minority house Dems are against this as they see that money going to projects which already have funding allocated for them, and would prefer to use this extra money, as well as some money from the reserves, to fund more projects.

Minnesota has been doing this for years. They also have the highest voter turnout in elections, and are economic progressives.

 

[VivaRevolution]

Minnesota projects $1.5 billion surplus

http://m.startribune.com/minnesota-projects-1-5-billion-surplus/502071881/

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

I would like to hear a policy expert chime in on this as well though.

As residents and voters, we're all policy experts.

 

[Deleted member 484047]

Minnesota projects $1.5 billion surplus

http://m.startribune.com/minnesota-projects-1-5-billion-surplus/502071881/

Oooh, maybe they can fix 5 miles of highways with that for them to fell apart in a few years!

 

[Jack V Savage]

Yea they're killing it lol. Like Hockey was saying I see a lot better than I thought. You hear so much about the states doing bad in this area and wonder what they can do better, that you can tend to overlook the ones doing really good.

It's largely a cyclical issue (like federal budgets, though, alas, less so since 2017). When the economy takes a downturn, tax collections fall and spending naturally rises (i.e., without any change in policy). Conversely, when the economy is running normally (like now), collections tend to be relatively high (again, barring anything stupid) and spending tends to be relatively low. Remember, the press disproportionately covers budgets when they are in deficit so people hear all about how bad it is and how it can never get better and then when it gets better, they hear nothing and keep the same mental image.

Ideally, we'd get away from the idea of wanting to do something with surpluses (tax cuts or new spending) and with trying to balance budgets during downturns (which slows recoveries).

 

[floivanus]

Median income 28k
Ranked 40th in healthcare
36th in infrastructure
34th in crime and corrections
48th in environment
36th overall

Yeah, they’re killing it.

But, hey, at least they have that surplus...
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/indiana

Cool, Im 4x the median income of my fellow Hoosiers.