Indiana 'a leader and laggard' on economic measures

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana has successfully created a low-tax, low-regulation business environment, but its future economic growth hinges on Hoosiers who, more often than not, lack the education and healthy habits needed to move the state forward.

DOUG ROSS: Good luck weaving around those spending gaps

In recent weeks, I've been weaving around on U.S. 30, U.S. 421 and other highways. My driving would look suspicious to anyone who couldn't see I've been dodging potholes.

Donnelly takes oath to represent Indiana in U.S. Senate

INDIANAPOLIS | Demonstrating the bipartisanship he's promised will define his tenure in office, U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., was sworn in Thursday with two of Indiana's former U.S. senators — Republican Dick Lugar and Democrat Evan Bayh — standing beside him.

Area lawmakers wanted more from fiscal cliff deal

INDIANAPOLIS | Three months ago, well before the United States sailed over the fiscal cliff, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, told The Times he expected Congress would "at best, kick the can down the road" on taxes and spending.

EDITORIAL: Lake cuts spending, but needs revenue

Lake County's new study showing it is one of the most frugal county governments in the state looks good on paper, but remember, this is looking at what the study identifies as core services and doesn't discuss other important issues, like public transportation, that are not universal across …

MARK KIESLING: I'm just saying, $111 will buy a lot of cheese

When it comes time to get your $111 share of Indiana's surplus, take the money and run.

Mourdock, Rokita plotting post-Obamacare reforms to Medicaid, Medicare

INDIANAPOLIS | As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to rule on the constitutionality of Obamacare, two Hoosier Republicans are standing by with plans to reshape the nation's health system.

Indiana earns top grade for state government transparency

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana remains one of the best states in the nation for transparency in state government spending.

Lake Council must spend millions to get out of jail mess

CROWN POINT | Millions of dollars in budget-busting expenses are rushing at the Lake County Council like prisoners in a jail break.

LARRY DeBOER: A gateway to Indiana local government

Just in time for Christmas, or the holiday of your choice, Indiana's Department of Local Government Finance has released its new Gateway data site. It contains a virtual ton of budget and tax information about counties, cities, towns and other local governments. You can see it at https://gat…

MARK KIESLING: State audit damning for 2010 sheriff's swan song

Reports released earlier this week by the State Board of Accounts paint a troubling, damning picture of 2010, Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez's final year as Lake County's sheriff.

EDITORIAL: A tax by another name is still a tax

Mad money. It's the leftover cash that many Lake County taxpayers once had in more prosperous times. It's a rare concept now as an ailing economy continues to plod along with many region residents just feeling lucky to have jobs. But the concept of mad money is still alive and well in Lake C…

Visclosky says national deal on debt requires a world of sacrifice

MUNSTER | More taxes and less government spending is the painful but only permanent solution to the nation's debt crisis, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky said Monday.

GUEST COMMENTARY: A short course on public debt and what can be done about it

Two questions come to mind when considering recent public debt accumulation by Indiana state and local governments and the federal government: How did we get ourselves into this situation? How do we get out? Here we first consider the short-run alternatives to dealing with existing debt and …

Economist: Don't play games with debt ceiling

GARY | Believe it or not, the U.S. economy is in a period of expansion, an Indiana economist told an audience Monday.

State auditor urges local government officials to post spending details online

Information about salaries, contracts and budgets for every state agency already is available on the Indiana Transparency Portal.

ANDREA NEAL: Are voters ready for Daniels' solutions?

When U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar declared his candidacy for president on April 19, 1995, he offered an ambitious domestic policy goal: balancing the federal budget in seven years. Central to his vision was a plan to replace the national income tax with a retail sales tax and to drastically cut gove…

Finding true budget number challenging

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois might have slightly more than $1 billion dollars that's not included in Gov. Pat Quinn's new budget, but lawmakers say just because they may have the extra cash, it doesn't mean they will spend it.

Purdue professor to dish budget advice to Northwest Ind. leaders

CROWN POINT | Purdue University economics professor Larry DeBoer will look into how Indiana's local government officials will make ends meet in an era of smaller budgets because of lower property taxes and other revenue sources depressed by the economic downturn.

EDITORIAL: Don't fight freeze on tax levy

When it's this cold outside, it's difficult to speak kindly about a freeze. But Lake County's frozen property tax levy is an exception. It has performed admirably.