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Governor signs local government reforms

Governor Mitch Daniels signed several local government reform bills into law Monday, but think it’s still not enough.

The three bills reduce local governments, eliminate or consolidate obsolete boards and commissions, and outlaw nepotism and conflict of interest in local government.  Daniels says getting reforms like these passed has been tough.

“This really modernizes Indiana state government in a way that’s overdue and there’s more to do, honestly.”

A commission led by former governor Joe Kernan and Chief Justice Randall Shepard laid out more than two dozen local government reforms for Indiana to undertake.  But the General Assembly only passed about eight.

Daniels says he’s not satisfied but remains hopeful even as he leaves office.

“At least we’ve maintained some forward momentum and I hope that people will pick up the report in the future and keep going.”

The governor says the "spring cleaning" the bills takes care of is impressive. Those eliminated 30 boards and commissions.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.