[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2905-2906]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              BILL NANGLE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 4, 2009

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
today to honor one of Northwest Indiana's most devoted citizens, Bill 
Nangle, Executive Editor of The Times. I have known Mr. Nangle for many 
years and can attest to a life dedicated to maintaining the integrity 
of the press and improving the governance of all those he serves. Not 
only is Bill a distinguished journalist, but he has used the power of 
his pen to be a force for progress and change in the community. Last 
week, the Hoosier State Press Association recognized Bill for his 
commitment to the pursuit of open government by presenting him with its 
Distinguished Service Award.
  Throughout his illustrious career, which spans five decades, Bill has 
taken his role in the Fourth Estate seriously, leading the charge for 
openness and transparency in government. For example, in 1989, he 
pushed state legislators and then-Governor Evan Bayh to enact a state 
law reversing a court decision that closed county coroner records to 
the public.
  And in 1998, Bill assembled Indiana's seven largest newspapers to 
collaborate on ``The State of Secrecy,'' an investigation of government 
sunshine and First Amendment rights in which investigative journalists 
went undercover as ordinary citizens to try to access records in each 
of the state's 92 counties that are lawfully open to the public. The 
flagrant legal violations that they uncovered prompted action from 
then-Governor Frank O'Bannon and spurred similar projects on openness 
and transparency in 32 other states. For his efforts, Bill Nangle was 
awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, the state's highest honor at the 
time.
  Bill has also exercised his commitment to open, effective government 
locally. In 2005, he joined me in a consortium of local civic and 
business leaders to create Northwest Indiana's Good Government 
Initiative. He was a driving force behind that effort to study 
government efficiency across the many levels of our local

[[Page 2906]]

government, including my office, and to implement solutions that 
improve government services while cutting costs. The Good Government 
Initiative became the model for the statewide Kernan-Shepard Report on 
Indiana government, which is the basis for government reform 
initiatives currently underway in the State House in Indianapolis and 
throughout the state.
  Last year, Bill and his colleagues at The Times took the lead on 
establishing the One Region: One Vision concept with the goal of 
uniting local leaders to advance all of Northwest Indiana as one 
community. In the past, Northwest Indiana has been plagued by a 
limiting provincialism that has inhibited our area's growth and 
potential. Under the One Region: One Vision concept, Bill and his 
colleagues have already brought local leaders together from across the 
area to start collaborating on projects that will make Northwest 
Indiana a better place for everybody to live.
  Finally, any praise for Bill would be incomplete without mention of 
his business instincts and acumen. With the print media industry 
struggling nationwide, and with the economic downturn exacerbating the 
industry's problems, The Times continues to thrive under Bill's 
direction. Last March, Editor and Publisher Magazine bestowed upon The 
Times the distinction of fastest growing English-language daily 
newspaper in the United States. By the most recent published reports, 
that growth has continued.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in honoring 
Bill Nangle, who has worked tirelessly to maintain a vibrant and free 
press and has used his influence to positively enhance the lives of the 
people he serves. Bill is an unparalleled leader who deserves our 
recognition.

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