Harper's Index

From the September 2010 issue of Harper's Magazine - -

• Number of U.S. states with a projected 2011 budget shortfall of at least 10%: 31
• Estimated number of states that will hold less than 1 percent of their annual spending in reserve this year: 14
• Number of states whose pension plans were fully funded in 2000: 26
• Number whose are now: 3
• Projected change since last year in the amount of money states receive from corporate taxes: -$2,500,000,000

The following three should be under a special heading of "Only in America" - -

• Percentage change in new-home sales in the month after a federal first-time home buyer program expired in April: -33
• Number of prison inmates who received tax credits under the program: 1,295
• Number of them serving life sentences: 241