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Gov. Mitch Daniels shares how Indiana went from a deficit to a surplus in his new book
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What did governor -- then you do to get his state Indiana from deficit to surplus.
-- didn't hurt and couldn't be done on the national level government standards just wrote a book that hits the stores say called keeping in the republic He went on the record.
Government sits there needs it and congratulations on a new book well hold that thought we don't know maybe nobody will read it well I I read it sets a good start out of some things -- actually quite fast.
Eight to me an -- person would let America is going on is that when He came in office in 2005.
Huard down in the -- seven million dollars I get a billion surplus -- What happened what's the track.
Always tricky very mysterious.
We spend less money than we took the end okay and I got that yeah I figure that one up academy -- -- you know how.
No one way a lot of things into the slick looking at every expenditure -- -- this government need to do this at all sometimes the answer was no.
The answer was yes how can we and stretch those dollars do a better job spending.
Them.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And if you get that thousands of people all looking for ways to economize it's works a lot better than just somebody at the top trying to give orders.
I don't mean to take away from the the great success financially they've had I'm curious -- anything unique about the industry.
In Indiana yes it -- everyday good -- done and you know Tennessee Wisconsin Idaho what government is there anything special about Indiana.
I can't think what it would be I don't run around.
Prescribing the things we did our right for other states every state ought to decide for itself but I do think that.
Most will be they did is is a fairly general application.
You know in some cases we contract -- with the private sector.
A told our folks have you confided in the yellow pages may it may -- and government.
It shouldn't be doing it directly people who do something for a living and all day every day might be better at it.
The government.
It when you can -- 2005 -- issued an executive order.
About the government unions some minute governor Skywalk and it Wisconsin He -- if you've looked at the streets in fact we're -- Wisconsin never -- crowding into the capital.
Most unhappy you didn't have protests.
First of all.
In Indiana it admit they've never been a bit -- a statute to legalize this and that's a difference from Wisconsin.
Could have been done by the stroke of the governor's -- sixteen years before.
And down my option was to undo -- the same way so I was able to do it one day that probably it was that was certainly different than what.
Governor Walker faced He had to fight a bill all the way through his legislature and that gave.
Lots of time for people to come express -- disagreement.
Have been hurt in their effort to -- -- to get your budget under control men in Texas we hear that the education system got slashed.
The -- people get slashed to near state and take a beating any any big groups.
No.
We -- we had to finally won very very modest reduction in.
Public education after years of increases and -- this year we resumed increases.
Public education just.
Might be interested to know is a higher percentage of the Indiana state budget than any state -- America 56 cents of every state tax dollar goes to K12 so.
That's a priority that we have protected.
But down.
You know we'd.
We have found as I sometimes say you'd be surprised how much government you'll never miss and maybe it was helpful in our case that the state was broke in good times when we came in 2005 most states are doing -- ours -- not.
And we were able to make reductions that made sense in some cases -- gradual.
While the economy is still growing.
And then now we never let up when when things turn down and never got in the shape that other states did so we didn't have to do those.
Very unfortunate things.
In your book you read about president Reagan's a lot of the benefit them many Republicans are very familiar -- -- which -- speak no ill of another Republican but.
You add a twelfth commandment which is speak no ill.
Of another American Andy say that went off hands will be necessary divert the -- does -- disaster -- do we need to invoke a twelfth speak no it ill.
Have another Mac.
I really think that.
Our national leadership -- ought to be a calling all Americans together.
We can't agree on a lot of things with that one or two that we really.
-- agree on because with their common problems that we share the threat the -- -- threat it's not philosophical not ideological difference the mathematical threat that we face from the debts we've piled up in our.
Scheduled to pile up.
Threatens every American and threatens the the heart of the American promise that somebody can.
Start with nothing and rise through their own efforts and I think that it would be very helpful if people on both sides of the argument.
-- to.
Step back a little from the personal attacks and ad hominem.
Rhetoric which has been so dominant lately.
That the question wasn't if they let me ask you since you're sneaky fashion.
Out what you did an Indiana.
With your financial situation and in light of the twelfth commandment could you do that on the national level somebody could.
Could you do that on Echelon.
But you know we -- -- hidden nothing important -- life ever happens because of one person.
And so would take that the the efforts of a lot of people obviously a majority of congress most of what.
And needs to happen nationally would need to happen by congressional enactment.
And but I honestly believe this is serious serious is the problems are only wrote the book -- I really am alarmed if we don't do anything.
You know people talk about pain and sacrifice and so forth you -- pain just keep drifting along failing to act on our problems.
And but on the other hand this -- -- told somebody is constantly optimistic both that there are answers.
That are.
Will not.
Unduly burden of people if we move on quickly enough.
And also that the American people up to -- you know they're up to the job of governing themselves not spending ourselves into bankruptcy is.
Mania.
Philosophers over the years predicted democracies would.
I guess is because you're at it if successful financially Indiana.
But I can't help but think that'd that dates to the challenge to try to do it on the -- -- and they've said do not gonna run for president back -- -- wouldn't -- like have been.
The -- to do it on -- you know the next step up.
I don't know about it she.
You know.
I said elsewhere on nine your network -- not -- any sane person wants to go through what you do but.
On the other hand if here.
If you love the country is most Americans do you read U arithmetic and the only way I think it can be read.
And you really do wanna see -- make a big change national policy.
And but there -- a lot of ways to contribute.
For some might might be run for president in my case it was to try to put these thoughts on Paper and and hope to make a small constructive contribution.
