Slager applauded by Griffith council, residents

GRIFFITH | The Griffith Town Council and its audience applauded state Rep. Hal Slager on Tuesday for his efforts in helping ease the financial burden of Calumet Township.

Pence orders cuts in Calumet Township spending

INDIANAPOLIS | Griffith leaders were ecstatic Friday after Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed into law mandatory reductions in Calumet Township spending and a path for Griffith to exit the township if its excessive spending continues.

Pence signs law expanding school voucher eligibility

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence enthusiastically approved legislation Thursday loosening a requirement that students attend public school for at least one year to qualify for a private school voucher.

New law entitles recent vets to in-state college tuition

INDIANAPOLIS | Military veterans who return or move to Indiana after completing their service are entitled to in-state college tuition under a new law signed last week by Republican Gov. Mike Pence.

Senator drops plan to direct Lake income tax spending

INDIANAPOLIS | A controversial plan to have the General Assembly decide how revenue from a Lake County income tax could be spent likely is dead.

Lawmakers still divided on lifting Lake levy freeze

INDIANAPOLIS | A House-Senate conference committee, made up mostly of Northwest Indiana lawmakers, remained far apart Tuesday following more than an hour of discussion on whether the General Assembly should lift the Lake County property tax levy freeze.

Black lawmakers seek veto on Calumet Twp. spending limits

INDIANAPOLIS | Northwest Indiana's black state lawmakers want Gov. Mike Pence to veto legislation that would force Calumet Township to reduce its administrative spending and potentially enable Griffith to leave the township.

Plan capping Calumet Twp. spending headed to governor

INDIANAPOLIS | It took six years of explaining, arguing and working around legislative roadblocks, but Griffith is now just a few pen strokes away from having a path to exit Calumet Township.

Eight NWI lawmakers to decide on thaw of Lake levy freeze

INDIANAPOLIS | Eight state lawmakers from Lake and Porter counties, along with two senators from outside the region, have been tapped to decide whether the General Assembly lifts the Lake County property tax levy freeze.

WILLIAM NANGLE: Let math, not politics, rule on tax debate

The fray over how to fund government in Lake County has taken a definite political plunge.

Hal Slager

State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, represents the 15th House District.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Dirty tricks or good public policy?

In a recent editorial, this newspaper speculated that the removal of the property tax freeze might be a political dirty trick.

RICH JAMES: This political theater was a farce

I’ve never met state Rep. Jim Lucas, a Republican from Seymour.

EDITORIAL: House shifts blame, doesn't solve problem

One of the selling points, though not the only one, for enacting a local income tax in Lake County is to thaw the property tax levy that has been frozen by the state Legislature since 2007. Wednesday's action in the Indiana House of Representatives muddied the waters but didn't build a bridg…

Senator faces decision on lifting Lake levy freeze

INDIANAPOLIS | The decision on whether the Lake County property tax levy freeze is lifted, even if the county doesn't enact an income tax, is now in the hands of state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso.

House votes to unfreeze Lake property tax revenues

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House has agreed to remove a state-imposed limit on the amount of property tax revenue local governments in Lake County can collect, regardless of whether the county enacts an income tax.

RICH JAMES: Lake Republicans need to meet new reality

It’s time for Lake County Republicans to get in touch with reality when it comes to a county income tax.

Schools may get secret waivers for gun mandate

INDIANAPOLIS | Volunteers packing concealed, loaded firearms and known only to school board members soon may be patrolling the hallways of every public or charter elementary and high school in Indiana, or at least Hoosiers will be made to think so.

Senate OKs limits on Calumet Twp. spending, gives Griffith chance to leave

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Senate has approved legislation, long sought by Griffith residents, limiting Calumet Township spending and giving Griffith a chance to leave the township if spending continues at current levels.

Senate panel restores chance for Griffith to leave Calumet Twp.

INDIANAPOLIS | Griffith has won back the chance to leave Calumet Township, but only if the township fails to reduce spending on its own next year and a subsequent state takeover also fails.