THE ISSUE:Indiana’s welfare system.
OUR VIEW:The decision to end IBM’s involvement will be forgotten if the state succeeds in reforming welfare.
Gov. Mitch Daniels will be remembered for his eagerness to try new things. From the lease of the Indiana Toll Road to the privatization of the welfare system, he has always looked for new approaches to the administration of state government.
Some of those changes have been great successes. The toll road lease has provided working capital that allowed the Indiana Department of Transportation to tackle much more quickly projects such as the new Kokomo bypass.
The governor should certainly be remembered for his success in transforming the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
He might also be remembered, though, for his failed effort to reform the welfare system.
The effort was based on the assumption that putting entitlement programs into the hands of private enterprise would cause them to operate more efficiently, but the theory did not match up with reality. Welfare recipients appearing at a public hearing last fall spoke of hours spent on the telephone and months of waiting to receive benefits.
For families in crisis, such delays can be devastating.
The Daniels administration should be applauded for listening to critics of the privatization effort and taking action to resolve their complaints.
The Family and Social Services Administration had announced in July that it was putting IBM on notice. Officials said they were giving the company a chance to take corrective action, but they said if they didn’t see progress, they would pull the plug this fall.
To their credit, officials followed through on that threat.
It had to be a difficult decision. Daniels had been a huge supporter of the privatization effort, and he certainly knew that to back away from it would leave him with a significant amount of egg on his face.
Still changing course was the right thing to do. A crucial part of any reform effort is the willingness to admit a mistake and change direction.
Change doesn’t always work the first time around. There will always be a certain amount of trial and error.
The key is to learn from our mistakes and move on.
The state says it will push ahead with efforts to reform what the governor has called one of the least efficient welfare programs in the country. If those efforts succeed, the embarrassing memories of this month’s course correction will quickly fade.
– Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, and Kokomo Tribune
Opinion
Pulling plug right move
- Opinion
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White shouldn’t return to office
The issue: The conviction of Indiana’s secretary of state.
Our view: Charlie White’s ouster from office should be permanent.
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Editorial - Feb. 8, 2012: Grand success for Indianapolis
The issue: The Super Bowl.
Our view: Indianapolis left a great impression on thousands of visitors.
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Letters to the Editor: Feb. 8, 2012
As Hoosiers celebrate the conclusion of a truly remarkable Super Bowl experience, there is even more good news that should fill us with pride. More Indiana students are graduating from high school than ever before.
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Which religions will we include?
The Indiana Senate last week approved a bill that would allow public schools to teach creationism, as long as they include theories from multiple religions.
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If you say so
In an opinion piece we published Thursday, state Rep. Mike Karickhoff announced why he voted against “right-to-work” legislation. His reason: The community told him to.
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Cheers and jeers - Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
Karickhoff acted ‘cowardly’
The Rev. Robin Wentworth Mayer and Horst G. Mayer of Kokomo send the Jeer for state Rep. Mike Karickhoff’s silence during the “right-to-work” debate:
“Mr. Karickhoff, for someone who’s new to office, you’ve certainly learned the art of talking out of both sides of your mouth.
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Let’s drug test our lawmakers
Perhaps it’s appropriate that a measure passed by the Indiana House this week would ask not only welfare recipients but Indiana lawmakers to consent to a drug test.
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Editorial - Feb. 2, 2012: Peru delivers a message
The issue: Peru’s collection of $20,000 last year from property owners who failed to keep their yards mowed.
Our view: Aggressive enforcement can help a city’s finances, but the benefits go beyond dollars and cents.
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Karickhoff: Reason behind my ‘right-to-work’ vote
There is no doubt the “right-to-work” debate has brought mixed emotions, not only to our state but District 30 as well. There were only a handful of House Republicans who did not vote in support of this legislation. Let me explain why I felt it was necessary for me to vote in opposition to right to work.
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Heinig: ‘Right-to-work’ law to arouse continued resistance
I wouldn’t call Gov. Mitch Daniels a charismatic leader, but he does possess some leadership skills. If he didn’t, he couldn’t have brought us this far along the happy trail to his economic Valhalla.
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