Pulling plug right move

Opinion

Discussion

October 27, 2009

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Tue Oct 27, 2009, 11:38 PM EDT

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

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Opinion

Forever thankful
Monday is Memorial Day, a national holiday to remember those who have died while serving our country.

Memorial Day officially

May 26, 2012
Cheers and Jeers - Saturday, May 26, 2012
Thanks for your kindness

Terry Siegrist, a paralegal in Salina, Kan., sends this Cheer:

“The family of the late Esther Sprinkle wishes to send our heartfelt thanks to all who gave so generously of their kindness and sympathy in the death of our beloved mother and grandmother. We especially want to thank those who visited us at the funeral home and sent flowers, cards, memorials or food.

May 25, 2012
USPS scales back plans
The issue: Postal Service plans to keep smaller post offices open.

Our view: Agency deserves credit for listening to the concerns of customers.

May 25, 2012
Sign change is overdue
A colleague of ours years ago said Indiana lawmakers should change the state motto to “We’ll Get Around to It.” His observation is both funny and sad.

May 23, 2012 1 Story
Tips on flag etiquette
Monday is Memorial Day – set aside to honor those Americans who gave their lives in this nation’s wars. Lots of folks fly the flag every day as a show of patriotism, but what many might not know is that there are specific rules outlined in the U.S. Flag Code concerning its display.

May 21, 2012
Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, May 19, 2012
Carriers collect 19 tons of food

Brian S. Kidwell of Branch 533 of the letter carriers union sends this Cheer:

May 19, 2012
Walk a lap, fight cancer
Before you read any farther, stop for a second and think about what this one word means to you: cancer.

May 18, 2012
Program eyes troubled kids
If you know a teenager who has gotten off track, Elissa Andersen might be just the person to call.

May 16, 2012
Editorial - May 15, 2012: Hard work still pays
The issue: The Class of 2012.

Our view: Congratulations on your achievement, graduating high school seniors, and remember to thank those who helped you along the way to success.

May 15, 2012
de la Bastide: Indiana, the nation lose true statesman
During his 36 years in the U.S. Senate, Richard Lugar was noted for his ability to compro-mise when it came to legislation impacting the nation, and as a statesman when it came to foreign policy issues.

May 15, 2012
More Opinion Headlines

Opinion

Search Results

Discussion

Pulling plug right move

Site Map

Contact Us