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.

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.

Pence signs six laws championed by region legislators

INDIANAPOLIS | Republican Gov. Mike Pence has signed 25 proposals approved by the General Assembly into law over the past two weeks, including six measures primarily sponsored by Northwest Indiana legislators.

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.

Senators back Griffith, refuse to change plan limiting Calumet Twp. spending

INDIANAPOLIS | If some day Griffith succeeds in separating from Calumet Township, no one can say state Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, didn't try to stop it from happening.

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.

Senate panel halts Griffith bid to leave Calumet Township

INDIANAPOLIS | The possibility of Griffith leaving Calumet Township and joining another faded significantly Wednesday after a Senate committee substituted new limits on township poor relief spending for House-approved Griffith separation legislation.

Senate sends several region-sponsored proposals to governor

INDIANAPOLIS | The Senate passed several House-approved legislative proposals sponsored by Northwest Indiana lawmakers Tuesday that are now headed to Gov. Mike Pence for his signature or veto. They include:

Senate panel delays hearing on Griffith-Cal Twp. separation

INDIANAPOLIS | A Statehouse hearing on legislation that could enable Griffith to leave Calumet Township and join another township was postponed due to Tuesday's region snowstorm.

Griffith-Calumet Twp. showdown near

INDIANAPOLIS | A House-approved proposal that could enable Griffith to separate from Calumet Township will be among the first measures considered by an Indiana Senate committee during the second half of this legislative session.

House backs referendum on Griffith leaving Calumet Township

INDIANAPOLIS | Griffith is halfway toward winning legislative permission to hold a referendum on whether to leave Calumet Township and join another Lake County township.

House approves Niemeyer's township gov't reform bill

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House voted 96-0 Monday to approve the first legislative proposal sponsored by new state Rep. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell.

Griffith's attempt to leave Cal Twp. advances

INDIANAPOLIS | Griffith's latest attempt to divorce itself from Calumet Township cleared its first legislative hurdle Tuesday.

Niemeyer still looking out for townships from new Statehouse perch

INDIANAPOLIS | Using the power of his new job to improve the work product of his old one, state Rep. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, won committee approval Thursday for a proposal changing the meeting date for consideration of a mandatory township report.

EDITORIAL: Calumet Twp. is poster child for reform

Most of Indiana's 1,008 townships have such small budgets and low visibility that many people don't even know what township they live in, much less what the township government's responsibilities are. And then there are statistical outliers like Lake County's Calumet Township.

Statehouse interest in local government reform fading

INDIANAPOLIS | The effort to reform local government in Indiana, prompted in part by a 2007 bipartisan report that recommended eliminating townships and making other changes, appears headed for the dustbin of history.

Ind. Chamber of Commerce skeptical of Pence's tax cut plan

INDIANAPOLIS | The state's most powerful business organization on Monday added its voice to the chorus of legislative leaders skeptical that Indiana can afford the 10 percent income tax cut proposed by Republican Gov.-elect Mike Pence.

New anti-nepotism law may transform local government employment

INDIANAPOLIS | A new state law that took effect Sunday signals the end of Northwest Indiana's tradition of nepotism in local government jobs.

Munster duo vying for GOP House seat nod

INDIANAPOLIS | Both Republicans running for the 12th Indiana House District in Munster, Highland and Griffith believe newly drawn district boundaries make it likely three-term state Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, will be defeated.