>>JON: THE BUZZER HAS SOUNDED ON THE FIRST HALF OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S 2021 SESSION, SENDING HOOSIER LAWMAKERS TO THE PROVERBIAL LOCKER ROOM TO CATCH THEIR BREATH, ICE DOWN BRUISED EGOS, AND REFINE THEIR GAME PLAN FOR THE COMING TWO MONTHS.

HI, I'M JON SCHWANTES, AND ON THIS EDITION OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS, WE'LL EXAMINE THE SESSION THUS FAR.

IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO DECLARE DEFINITIVE WINNERS AND LOSERS BECAUSE, AS LONGTIME UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS BASKETBALL COACH BILL SELF FAMOUSLY OBSERVED, "THERE AREN'T MANY THINGS LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE SCORE AT HALFTIME."

WHAT WE CAN, AND WILL, DO, HOWEVER, IS TELL YOU WHO HAS SCORED, WHO HAS TAKEN SHOTS, AND WHO HAS LANDED IN FOUL TROUBLE.

DON'T GO AWAY, INDIANA LAWMAKERS - FROM THE STATEHOUSE - AND THE FIELDHOUSE - TO YOUR HOUSE.

>>JON: JOINING ME TO ASSESS THE FIRST HALF OF THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION ARE, BRANDON SMITH, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND HOST OF INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW, WHICH, AS I LIKE TO SAY, AIRS ON MANY OF THESE SAME PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS... LINDSEY ERDODY, WHO COVERS STATE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, ARIKA HERRON, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR, AND WHITNEY DOWNARD, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR CNHI, THE PUBLISHER OF DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN TERRE HAUTE, ANDERSON AND KOKOMO.

THANK YOU ALL.

YOU COULD BE SLEEPING.

THIS ARGUABLY COULD BE A DAY OFF, BUT YOU CAME TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I OPENED THE SHOW WITH A QUOTE FROM A BASKETBALL COACH FROM THE BIG 12.

SO I FEEL IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE SINCE WE ARE SITTING HERE IN BASKETBALL CENTRAL OF QUOTING A HOOSIER BORN AND BRED COACHING LEGEND, JON WOODEN, WHO SAID, "NEVER MISTAKE ACTIVITY FOR ACHIEVEMENT"WHICH WHAT DO WE HAVE SO FAR THIS SESSION.

>>: YOU STARTED BY QUOTING A KANSAS COACH AND YOU ARE ASKING THEM AS THE REPORTER [OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] >>: ACTIVITY OR ACHIEVEMENT.

THERE WERE SOME ACHIEVEMENTS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST IS HOUSE BILL 1006 WHICH IS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILL THAT REPRESENTATIVE FROM AVON WROTE.

>>: BACKING DEMO [OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] POLICE AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE.

>>: THE INDIAN A BLACK LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS KEPT THE NAACP, SEVERAL OTHER KEY ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE, PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS.

FIND ME ANOTHER ISSUE ON WHICH THEY ALL AGREE OR A BILL ON WHICH THEY ARE ALL BACKING.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO IT.

TO DO THAT PARTICULARLY THIS YEAR AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, WHICH IS WHY IT'S BEING WRITTEN, OF COURSE, BUT I WOULD CALL THAT THE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIRST HALF.

WE WILL SEE IF IT GETS THROUGH THE SENATE UNSCATHED WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE BIG TEST AT THIS POINT, BUT IF IT DOES THAT COULD BE THE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT.

>>: INDIAN IS AT THE TAIL END OF ANY CHANGE OR REFORM BUT MAYBE NOT.

MAYBE NOT THIS TIME AROUND.

LET ME GO AROUND AND GET YOUR TAKE ON THE SAME QUESTION.

ACTIVITY OR ACHIEVEMENT.

>>: IT'S BEEN A MIX OF THE TUBE BECAUSE THAT CERTAINLY WAS AN ACHIEVEMENT AND NO SMALL FEAT FOR THE HOUSE TO GET THAT THROUGH PASSING IT UNANIMOUSLY KEPT THAT CERTAINLY IS AN ACHIEVEMENT AND WE ALSO SAW THE BILL TO PROVIDE BUSINESSES WITH SOME COVID-19 LAWSUIT, COMMUNITY THAT HAS GOTTEN THROUGH, SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SAYS THAT IS AN ACHIEVEMENT.

WE HAVE SEEN JUST A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER ACTIVITY GOING ON WITH BILL'S GOING AFTER THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS WHICH BUSINESS@LEAE SEEING.

AND THINGS NOT MOVING AS FAST AS SOME OF US EXPECTED THINGS TO MOVE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SECOND HALF AND HOW SOME OF THESE THINGS PLAY OUT.

EVERYONE KEEPS REMINDING ME IT'S EARLY AND A LOT IS GOING TO CHANGE ESPECIALLY -- >> USUALLY IT'S THE LAST 48 HOURS.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS A PRELUDE OR BUILDUP TO THAT.

>>: SO THAT ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE IN THE SECOND HALF TALKING ABOUT THE EMERGENCE OF POWERS THE BILL FOR THE GOVERNOR TWO DIFFERENT BILLS IN EACH CHAMBER SWAPPING SIDES NOW.

AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE INDIGO BILL, CERTAINLY IMPORTANT TO INDIANAPOLIS.

>>: YOU'VE GIVEN A FORESHADOWING OF ALL THE BILLS I WANT TO ASK ABOUT SO THIS WILL BE A GOOD CENTER FOR WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

LET ME ASK YOU ERICA, SAME QUESTION.

>>: IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATION THAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR AS SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATES WILL TELL YOU THERE'S A LOT OF ACHIEVEMENT AND IT DEPENDS ON THE FINAL VERSIONS OF THOSE BILLS LOOK LIKE.

>>: BASICALLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T FOLLOWED IT AS CLOSELY AS YOU HAVE IT TAKES THE 300 -- OF THE 370 -- $78 MILLION THAT THE GOVERNOR, AND ACTUALLY THE HOUSE BUDGET WHICH SET ASIDE K-12 EDUCATION AND IT WOULD TAKE 1/3 OF IT ROUGHLY TO EXPAND SCHOOL CHOICE WITH A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT EFFECTIVELY REMOVES ANY OTHER BARRIERS TO ATTENDANCE OF THOSE GOALS FOR MANY FAMILIES, A FAMILY OF FOUR BELOW 140, $2,000 A YEAR.

>>: CLOSE TO 150, 145.

>>: SO THAT REALLY OPENS IT UP.

>>: OKAY.

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST.

>>: I WOULD LEAN A LITTLE BIT TOWARD MORE OF THE ACTIVITY SIDE.

WE SAID WE WERE PRIORITIZING THE NECESSARY BILLS AND WE WERE NOT GOING TO WASTE OUR TIME WITH BILLS THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE AS IMPORTANT, BUT WE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME ARGUING WHETHER OR NOT INDIANAPOLIS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE ITS NAME AND NOBODY IS CALLING FOR THAT, RIGHT, NOW.

-- >> [OFF MIC] >>: NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT IT PASSED.

>>: [OFF MIC] >>: I WOULD SAY THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW BILLS THAT I AM SURPRISED ARE CONSIDERED BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE AS BIG OF A PRIORITY.

>>: LET'S GO FROM THERE BECAUSE THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE COVID-19 SESSION.

IT WAS GOING TO BE ALL COVID ALL THE TIME AND ONE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT IF IT WAS NOT RELATED IN SOME WAY TO COVID, YOU COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT ANYTHING COULD BE FRAMED IN THAT WAY BUT IF IT WASN'T RELATED IT WOULD BE ON THE BACK BURNER.

SURPRISE, SURPRISE, WE HAVE SEEN THE USUAL GUN BILLS AN ABORTION BILLS, POPCORN BILLS, THE OFFICIAL SNACK FOOD, REALLY IF YOU LOOK AT THE BILL MAKE UP, AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THEY COVID-19 SESSION, WOULD ANYBODY GET THIS IS SOMEHOW DIFFERENT?

>>: I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED HOW MANY WAYS IT RESEMBLES A NORMAL SESSION IN THAT SENSE.

THERE ARE SOME KEY BILLS.

THE COVID LIABILITY THAT LINDSAY TALKED ABOUT OBVIOUSLY WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT COVID-19.

I THINK ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF TELEHEALTH, WHICH INDIANA HAS BEEN SLOWLY DOING FOR A WHILE BUT THIS REALLY WIDENS THAT THE WEIGHT GOV.

HOLCOMB HAS DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR OSO DURING COVID-19.

THAT MAKES IT PERMANENT.

>>: THEY ARE WILLING TO TOLERATE A PROPOSED TAX INCREASE FOR CIGARETTES.

AND WE KNEW GOING INTO THIS THAT HOOSIERS WERE NOT QUITE THE HEALTHIEST GROUP IN THE COUNTRY AND IT PROBABLY DID NOT HELP US IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO WHETHER THEY COVID STORM.

>>: IT LENDS ITSELF TO THE ARGUMENT ON WHY YOU NEED TO DO THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME,, ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR A 2-DOLLAR PER PACK INCREASE FOREVER.

THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN BILL TO DO THAT WAS 1 DOLLAR WHICH ADVOCATES WERE LIKE, OKAY, BECAUSE THE DOLLAR INCREASES THE PRICE POINT AT WHICH YOU START TO AFFECT BEHAVIOR, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE GOAL OF THIS TAX INCREASE.

IT'S NOT FOR MONEY.

IT SO THAT YOU CAN GET PEOPLE TO STOP SMOKING OR QUIT SMOKING OR EVER SMOKED TO BEGIN WITH.

>>: IF IT WORKS RIGHT -- IF IT SUCCESSFUL THERE IS NO MONEY COMING IN.

>>: THE PUBLIC -- HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET PUT IT DOWN TO 50 CENTS.

AND ROD BRAY AT THE END OF THE HALFWAY POINT AND WE ASKED HIM THOUGH SHE WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT AND HE KIND OF INDICATED HE DOESN'T SEE THE POINT OF A 50-CENT INCREASE SO IF THE SENATE REPUBLICAN BUDGET HAS A CIGARETTE TAX HIKE WHICH I THINK IT WON'T BUT IF IT DOES I DON'T THINK IT'S 50 CENTS IT WILL BE A DOLLAR OR NOTHING.

>>: WE TALKED ABOUT A FEW BILLS THAT WERE FRAMED IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID BUT A LOT THERE WERE NOT EVEN ATTEMPTS MADE TO SAY THIS HAS TO DO WITH COVID IS THIS A COVID SESSION SO FAR.

>>: YES AND NO.

CERTAINLY IN THE WAY SOME THINGS ARE HAPPENING JUST PROCEDURALLY IT'S A COVID SESSION.

THE HOUSE ISN'T EVEN IN THE STATEHOUSE.

>>: THE SENATE IS DOING THIS MULTITIERED THING WHERE THEY ARE NOT EVEN TOGETHER IN THE SAME COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN ANOTHER ROOM DOING IT BY VIDEO.

>>: THAT IS CHANGING.

SO MAYBE THE SECOND HALF WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE NORMAL ALTHOUGH EVEN THOUGH THE HOUSES IN A SEPARATE CHAMBER IT FEELS KIND OF NORMAL TO ME AT LEAST, YOU DON'T HAVE STAFF WALKING AROUND LIKE YOU NORMALLY WOULD BUT LAWMAKERS ARE IN THERE AT THEIR DESK AND MEDIA ARE ON THE SIDES AND EACH SIDE OF THE ROOM AND WE ARE STILL HAVING AVAILABILITIES WITH THE HEADS OF EACH CHAMBER EVERY WEEK.

EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

SO SOME OF IT IS THE SAME, BUT IN TERMS OF THE COVID BILLS THAT WE HAVE SEEN, I THINK WE ARE FORGETTING ABOUT SOME OF THESE THAT ARE IN A WAY RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC LIKE SOME GRANT PROGRAMS.

THE HOUSE BUDGET INCLUDES ARE ALL BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE LEARNING LOSS GRANT THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT, THE HEALTH BRAND.

YOU DON'T SEE THOSE IN THE BUDGET IF NOT FOR COVID.

>>: ONE COULD ARE YOU THE ENTIRE BUDGET IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE AGENCIES THAT ARE STILL NOT GOING TO BE BACK TO PRE-COVID LEVELS.

SO I MEAN IT SEEMS THAT THE FIRST FEW DAYS OR WEEKS OF THE SESSION EVERYBODY WAS OBSESSED WITH THE IMPLICATIONS OF COVID AND WHO IS WEARING A MASK AND WHO IS NOT AND WHO IS STAYING BEHIND THE PLEXIGLAS AND WHO IS NOT.

THAT SEEMED TO WEAR OUT PRETTY QUICKLY.

>>: WE WERE REALLY LOOKING AT WHO WASN'T WEARING A MASK ON THE FIRST DAY BUT THE NUMBER OF LAWMAKERS ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE CHITCHATTING WITH EACH OTHER HAS REALLY GROWN OVER THAT WEEKS.

I THINK MAYBE SOME OF THIS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THEIR IS A LOT OF COVID BILLS AT THE BEGINNING OF SESSION AND I THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO GET THAT DONE BECAUSE WE DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG -- EVERYONE WAS EXPECTING AN INTERRUPTION AT SOME POINT DUE TO COVID A SHUT DOWN OR SLOW DOWN.

>>: CONVENTIONAL WISDOM.

>>: AND WE HAVEN'T SO THEN THEY HAVE GOTTEN TO A LOT OF NON-COVID THINGS AS EVERYONE'S GOTTEN MORE INTO THE GROOVE AND IT STARTS TO FEEL LIKE A MORE REGULAR SESSION.

>>: [OFF MIC] ACTIVITY OR ACHIEVEMENT THEY MANAGE TO GET THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF THE SESSION WITHOUT HAVING A MAJOR STOPPAGE BECAUSE OF COVID OUTBREAK.

>>: AGAIN A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY QUESTIONED WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT OR RUN AS SMOOTHLY AS IT HAS.

WHEN HISTORY BOOKS ARE WRITTEN WILL THIS BE THE COVID SESSION OR WILL THAT BE A OESTREICH AT THE BOTTOM THAT NOBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO?

>>: I'M SURPRISED BY THE BILLS NOT BEING INTRODUCED I EXPECTED TO BE MORE CONCERNING HEALTH AND WE'VE SEEN INEQUALITIES THAT WERE EXPOSED NOT JUST RACE BUT ESSENTIAL VERSUS NONESSENTIAL PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCED TO CONTINUE WORKING IN THOSE THAT CAN WORK FROM HOME, BUT I'M ALSO SURPRISED BY WHAT LITTLE MOVEMENT WE'VE SEEN FROM NURSING HOMES.

THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY SORT OF BILL TO INCREASE STAFFING LEVELS OR BEEF UP INFECTION CONTROL PROTOCOLS.

SO I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED THE LEGISLATURE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH REALM OTHER THAN THE PUBLIC HEALTH GRANTS THAT LINDSAY MENTIONED WHICH KIND OF SEEMED TO BE A ONE-TIME INFUSION OF DOLLARS AND NOT AN OVERALL STRENGTHENING OF THE SYSTEM.

>>: NURSING HOME, THE ONLY LEGISLATION ON POINT WAS THE A FOR MENTIONED LIABILITY, CIVIL LIABILITY.

>>: CAREGIVER VISITATION RIGHTS.

>>: THAT IS TRUE AS WELL.

YOU SAY YOU ARE SURPRISED THESE BILLS HAVEN'T COME UP HEALTH INEQUITY BILLS AND OTHER ATTEMPTS TO SHORE UP THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE STATE.

IS THAT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO AT LEAST SEEM TO BE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THESE BILLS ARE IN SUPER MINORITIES IN BOTH CHAMBERS AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN ON THE AGENDA OF THE PARTIES THAT HAVE CONTROLLED BOTH CHAMBERS.

>>: I'VE NOT SEEN ANY PUSH FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CONTROLLING PARTY OF THE CHAMBER.

I ASKED THEM ABOUT IT LAST WEEKEND BOTH OF THEM KIND OF SAID WE DID NOT THINK ANY BILLS WERE INTRODUCED IN THE FIRST PLACE SO I WOULD SAY IT IS KIND OF ON BOTH PARTIES THAT THERE WERE NOT VERY MANY BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT IT IS DEFINITELY WHAT FEW BILLS WERE INTRODUCED.

>>: DEMOCRATS WERE CHAMPION THOSE CAUSES BUT, AGAIN, NOT TO THE EXTENT THEY WERE ABLE TO PREVAIL ON THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO GET THE BILLS TO HEARING.

ANOTHER THEME, COVID-19 WAS A THEME THIS SESSION AND ANOTHER SURPRISE IS I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FRAME THIS BUT, MAY BE LACK OF RESPECT OR THE DEFERENCE THAT HAS BEEN PAID THE GOVERNOR, NEWLY ELECTED TO A SECOND TERM.

MORE VOTES THAN ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN ON A BALLOT IN THE STATE OF INDIANA AND YET FELLOW REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROL WITH SUPER MAJORITIES BOTH CHAMBERS HAVE BASICALLY SHUT HIM DOWN SEVERAL TIMES.

THEY OVERRODE HIS FIRST-EVER VETO FROM LAST SESSION ON TENANT RIGHTS, THEY BASICALLY WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR EDUCATION, WHICH I'M NOT SURE HE'S OVERLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT TAKING A THIRD OF THE ADDITIONAL MONEY AND DIRECTING IT THAT WAY.

CURBING HIS EMERGENCY POWERS HE'S EMPLOYED.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>>: SECOND [OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] >>: HE WAVED THE WHITE FLAG ON THAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

>>: DID THEY FORGET TO CHECK HIS PARTY AFFILIATION OR LOOK AND SEE HE VOTED IN A PRIMARY IN 1968.

WHAT HAPPENED.

>>: I THINK THEY DON'T CARE WHAT HE THINKS ON A LOT OF THESE ISSUES.

THEY HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES AND CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND WITH SUCH A WEEK VETO ON THE STATE AS WE JUST SAW AS YOU ALLUDED TO I AM NOT SURE IT MATTERS THAT MUCH WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS.

>>: WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF WORKS HARD BEHIND THE SCENES.

>>: THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE STORY.

BEHIND THE SCENES.

>>: BUT I'M NOT -- AND HE -- WE JUST ASKED HIM YESTERDAY ABOUT -- OR HE WAS JUST ASKING YESTERDAY ABOUT SOME OF THE GOVERNOR POWERS EMERGENCY POWERS BILLS THAT ARE MOVING ALONG PARTICULARLY THE SENATE ONE WHICH IF PASSED AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS WOULD STOP THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION PRETTY MUCH THE MINUTE IT IS SIGNED BY THE TIME YOU GET TO EARLY MAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, HE PLAYED THE OLD THERE'S A LOT OF TIME LEFT.

AND HE COULD BE RIGHT.

MAYBE WE WILL SEE A LOT OF THESE THINGS SIGNIFICANTLY WATERED DOWN BY THE TIME WE GET TO SIGNING IT BUT, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRACK RECORD OF THE FIRST TERM AND LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS TERM, IN THIS YEAR, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD EXPECT THINGS TO CHANGE DRAMATICALLY IN HIS FAVOR.

>>: IT STILL TIME FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE.

>>: CERTAINLY THERE IS STILL TIME UNTIL THINGS DO CHANGE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE GOVERNOR CHANGE THE WAY HE ASK ABOUT THINGS.

HE'S BEEN KNOWN TO NOT COMMENT ON LEGISLATION AS IT WORKS ITS WAY THROUGH.

I CAN SEE THAT SHE OR HE IS COMMENTED MORE THAN YEARS PAST SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES EVERY WEEK AND HE IS ASKED ABOUT THEM.

BUT HE NORMALLY DOES NOT TALK ABOUT IT.

HE IS NOT EVEN PARTICULARLY VOCAL AND OUT THERE SPEAKING ABOUT THINGS ON HIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

THINK ABOUT HATE CRIMES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

HE DID NOT GET WHAT HE WANTED FROM IT.

HE DID SPEAK AT THE HALFWAY POINT TRYING TO REALLY PUSH THAT THE WAY HE WANTED IT TO GO AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE END.

NOT THE WAY HE WANTED [OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] >>: HE DECLARED VICTORY, WHICH I WONDER IS HE IN POSITION TO DECLARE VICTORY WITH A STRAIGHT FACE?

TYPICALLY A GOVERNOR HAS A BIG EASEL AND A CAN FEW DAYS AFTER THE SESSION THEY HAVE CHECKMARKS AND BOXES AND LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS I DID.

CAN HE DO THAT THIS SESSION?

>>: I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A PATH FOR THAT, RIGHT, NOW NOT AT THIS POINT.

THINGS CAN CHANGE LIKE EVERYONE SAID THINGS CAN CHANGE BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLS POINTED DIRECTLY AT HIM AT RESTRICTING HIS POWER AND TAKING THINGS AWAY FROM HIM AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO DECLARE VICTORY ON THAT.

>>: HE WILL PROBABLY TRY TO DECLARE VICTORY ON PREGNANCY, DACIANS AT THE END BECAUSE THE BILL PROBABLY WILL PASS, BUT IT DOES NOT REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE ANY ACCOMMODATION SO I THINK IT'S A BIT OF A HARDER SELF.

>>: IT'S ANALOGOUS TO THE HATE CRIMES [OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] >>: IT DID DO SOMETHING.

>>: , BUT IT WASN'T NEARLY AS SPECIFIC CERTAINLY AS WHAT HE WANTED IT TO BE.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT THE GOVERNOR IS LICKING HIS WOUNDS.

>>: , YOU KNOW, HIS STATE OF THE STATE HIS ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE NOT ANYTHING SURPRISING SO EVERYBODY KNEW WHAT HE WAS PRIORITIZING GOING INTO THE SESSION AND EVEN WITH THE BUDGET THEY WERE CLEARLY GLARING DIFFERENCES.

HIS BUDGET ACTUALLY DID DO SOMETHING ABOUT TEACHER PAY BY PAYING DOWN TEACHER PENSION MENTIONED IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY HELPS WITH TEACHER PAY AND WHAT WAS IN THE RECOMMENDATION SALARY INCREASE REPORT BUT THE HOUSE BUDGET DOESN'T INCLUDE THE SAME AMOUNT FOR THAT.

SO I JUST DON'T THINK THERE IS MUCH HE CAN CLAIM AS A WIN THIS YEAR.

>>: AND THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO TEACHERS SALARIES.

>>: $300 FOR THE 377.

>>: NONE OF THE OTHER SALARY RECOMMENDATIONS WERE PICKED UP BY THE WRETCH OF THE LEGISLATION.

NOTHING FROM THAT REPORT.

>>: DECISIONS ARE MADE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL FOR THE TIME BEING AT THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD LEVEL ABOUT TEACHER PAY WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE TOPIC OF ANOTHER ENTITY OR GROUP OF PEOPLE THEY GOVERNOR IS NOT THE ONLY PERSON APPARENTLY WHO IS GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STRAW.

A LOT OF LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE SAYING WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOT CONTENT DOING THEIR OWN JOB BUT THEY WANT TO DO OUR JOB TO?

WE ARE SEEING THIS EVERYTHING FROM THE SITING OF WIND FARMS TO RESTRICTIONS ON -- WE SAW THE TENANT OVERRIDE WHICH AGAIN WAS BASICALLY SAYING HEY, LOCALS, YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TENANTS AND LANDLORDS AND WE ARE SEEING AT NOT AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, BUT COUNTY THEY WOULD SAY IF THE PROSECUTOR ELECTED COUNY PROSECUTOR DOESN'T WANT TO ENFORCE THE CRIMINAL CODE WE HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO HAVE A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR COME IN.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NOTION OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS BEST IS THAT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE.

>>: THAT'S THROWN OUT THE WINDOW THIS YEAR.

THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BIT OF A MYTH IN THE SENSE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECIDES LOCAL CONTROL IS BEST WHEN IT'S AN ISSUE THEY WANT DECIDED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND WHEN THEY DON'T THEY TAKE IT OVER.

THEY SPIN AND HAVE FOR A LONG TIME UNDER DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CREATED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGH THE CONSTITUTION SO WE CAN DECIDE WHAT THEY GET TO DO YOU CAN HAVE A PATCHWORK QUIT -- QUILT.

>>: IT'S TAKEN ITSELF TO A NEW LEVEL THIS SESSION TO THE EFFECT YOU REFERENCE THIS EARLIER BUSINESS LEADERS IN INDIANAPOLIS SENT A LETTER TO THE LEADERSHIP SAYING BACK OFF.

THAT WAS SPECIFIC ABOUT MARION COUNTY BUT YOU ARE SEEING THESE ACROSS THE BOARD ON BILL ABOUT LOCAL HEALTH ORDERS, THERE'S ONE THAT WAS HALTED THAT HAD TO DO WITH LOCAL BUILDING STANDARDS.

>>: WHETHER A COMMUNITY CAN HAVE ARCHITECTURAL STANDINGS.

>>: THERE'S BEEN SOME ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT MAY BE -- >>: IT STILL SEEMS MUCH WAS ABOUT -- >>: THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR MASS TRANSIT.

AGAIN THAT'S A COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN FOLLOW CLOSELY.

INDIANAPOLIS SEEMS TO BE A TARGET.

>>: IT'S CERTAINLY A TARGET WHICH IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE BEEN A TARGET.

THE BILL CAME UP LAST YEAR AND DIED LAST YEAR AND IT'S BACK AGAIN.

WE'VE SEEN SOME CONTROVERSIAL BILLS FOR INDIANAPOLIS DIE, THE BILL THAT WOULD'VE TAKEN OVER THAT HAS MOVED FORWARD.

THE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED HOW ZONING IS DONE THROUGH THE COUNTY GOT TWEAKED SO IT'S NOT CREATING ZONING BOARDS IN EVERY TOWNSHIP ANYMORE.

IT'S KEEPING IT AS IS AND MAKING THEM MAKE ABOVE THE EXISTING BOARDS BUT SOME OF THE BILLS ARE STILL MOVING.

INDIGO IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

THAT'S HEADED TO THE HOUSE AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

>>: THAT TAKES THE KEYS AWAY FROM INDIANAPOLIS AND TURNS THE KEYS TO THE BUS.

>>: IT TURNS IT OFF.

>>: IT TURNS IT OFF BECAUSE THEY CAN'T RAISE THE MONEY THE MATCHING FUNDS NEEDED, BUT BASICALLY YEAH.

THEY NO LONGER HAVE CONTROL.

DO YOU SEE THIS AS AN ABERRATION OR JUST SOME WEIRD CIRCUMSTANCE BECAUSE YOU HAVE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP AND THAT SEEMS TO STICK IN THE CRAW OF THE SUPER MAJORITIES.

>>: MIKE EVERYBODY SAID CACTUS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN BILLS TARGETED AT LOCAL ISSUES IT DOES SEEM LIKE INDIANAPOLIS IS MORE IN THE CROSSHAIRS THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE ONLY LOCAL ISSUES.

THE BILL THAT KICKED OFF ALL THE CONTROVERSY LAST WEEK WAS LAWMAKERS THINK THIS WAS A BILL THAT WAS A LOCAL ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR THROUGH MECHANISMS WE HAVE BUT PEOPLE WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS OF THE BROADER TO THE STEAKHOUSE AND THEY ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT.

ONE TOWNSHIP AND WANTING TO SWITCH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND IT KICKED UP EVERYTHING LAST WEEK.

>>: OBVIOUSLY INDIANAPOLIS HAS BEEN UPSET WE HAD BUSINESS LEADERSHIP SAY WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOU ARE FOCUSING ON COMMUNITIES THAT TRADITIONALLY HADN'T BEEN IN THE BULL'S-EYE WITH TERRE HAUTE AND ANDERSON AND KOKOMO.

IS THERE CONCERN THERE OR IS THIS JUST SORT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOT TO BE WORRIED ABOUT IT.

>>: THEY WERE INDIANAPOLIS FOCUSED IS AFFECTING OTHER COMMUNITIES SENATE BILL 200 BY SENATOR MIKE YOUNG WOULD TAKE AWAY PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION TO NOT PROSECUTE SOME CRIMES AND SENATOR YOUNG HAS CLAIMED IT'S NOT INSPIRED BY INDIANAPOLIS PROSECUTOR RYAN MEARS NOT PROSECUTING SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA, BUT THAT WILL AFFECT EVERY PROSECUTOR WHO DECIDES NOT TO PROSECUTE A CERTAIN TYPE OF CRIME OR DECIDES TO PRIORITIZE THEIR OFFICES DECISIONS.

SO I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WILL GET THROWN UNDER THE BUS IF WE DECIDE THAT WE DON'T WANT SPECIFIC COUNTIES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONTROL.

>>: I HAVE INCREASINGLY A THEORY ABOUT WHY WE'VE SEEN SO MUCH LEGISLATION THIS YEAR TO EMPOWER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS LAST YEAR DURING COVID-19, THERE WERE SO MANY LAWMAKERS UNHAPPY WITH ALL THE DECISIONS BEING MADE BY THE GOVERNOR, LOCAL OFFICIALS AND THEY FELT POWERLESS.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS REPEATEDLY THAT HE CHECKED IN WITH LEADERSHIP AND SAID DO YOU WANT TO COME IN FOR A SPECIAL SESSION AND HE WAS TOLD NO.

ONLY RODRICK BREAK, HOUSTON AND HOLCOMB KNOW THE TRUTH BUT I KNOW A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WANTED TO COME IN FOR SPECIAL SESSION OF EXTENSIVELY THE ONES I'VE TALK TO BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO HALT -- >> THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FEEL HELPLESS.

>>: I THINK THEY'VE SPENT THE LAST 9-10 MONTHS WITH PEOPLE JUST RAINING COMPLAINTS DOWN ON THEM I AM SURE AND FELT UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING AND THEY CAME INTO THE SESSION AND DECIDED WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING LIKE THAT EVER HAPPENS.

>>: THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED.

[OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] >>: I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IS -- >> CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTED.

ONLY A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE WE GO, BUT I ALSO -- THE END OF THE SESSION SORT OF WAS A BIT OF SOME SPARKS WERE FLYING AND CHARGES OF RACISM WERE LEVELED AND BOOING AND HECKLING OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEMBERS ON THE FLOOR WHEN THEY WERE AT THE MICROPHONE BY THE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES KEPT THE SPEAKER CALLED IT AN EMBARRASSMENT, BUT THAT STILL HASN'T SATISFIED THE BLACK CAUCUS WHICH SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING FOR EVERYBODY.

DO YOU THINK THE BREAK, LINDSAY, WILL CALM OR HEAL THOSE FRAYED NERVES OR HAS THAT FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE TENOR OF THE REST OF THE SESSION.

>>: IT MAY HAVE CHANGED HOW THE SESSION GOES.

THE BLACK LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS TALK THIS WEEK HOW THEY ARE BRINGING IN VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS TO COME TO THE STEAKHOUSE -- STATE HOUSE AND TELL LAWMAKERS HOW THEY FEEL.

THEY ARE ON BOARD WITH HOUSE BILL 1006 BUT THERE ARE SOME BILLS INCLUDING THE ONE THAT SPARKED ALL OF THIS THAT PEOPLE AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES HAVE REAL ISSUES WITH SO THEY WILL COME AND SPEAK OUT AND TELL LAWMAKERS TO BACK OFF.

>>: HAVE WE SEEN THE LAST OF THE HECKLING AND BOOING?

>>: I HOPE SO.

I DON'T THINK IT DOES ANYONE ANY GOOD.

HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON SAID HE'S GOING TO KEEP TIGHTER REIGNS AND WE SAW HIM AT LEAST TRY TO DO THAT THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS OF THIS WEEK, MAKING SURE TELLING LAWMAKERS TO STAY IN THEIR SEAT AND KEEPING A CLOSER EYE ON THINGS.

>>: SOME LAWMAKERS DON'T LOOK KINDLY UPON BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO AS THE SPEAKER WOULD SAY.

WE MAY HAVE THE LAST WORD HERE FOR YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE REST OF THE SESSION WILL BE IN TERMS OF IT'S THE VIBE.

WILL PEOPLE BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER OR WILL WE BE SO CONCERNED ANY TIME A RACE -- AN ISSUE RELATED TO RACE COMES UP THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE READY TO POUNCE EVEN ON BODY LANGUAGE.

>>: I DON'T KNOW.

I WAS NOT IN THE ROOM WHEN THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK BUT THE TENSION SEEM TO BE A LOT HIGHER AND THAT IS JUST SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

>>: IT SHOULD MAKE FOR AN INTERESTING NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRST TWO MONTHS.

SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE FIREWORKS TO FOLLOW.

>>>AGAIN, MY GUESTS HAVE BEEN ...BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, LINDSEY ERDODY OF THE INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, ARIKA HERRON OF THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR, AND WHITNEY DOWNARD OF CNHI.

ONCE AGAIN, THE PUSH IS ON TO DO AWAY WITH HANDGUN LICENSES BUT WILL IT PASS?

WE WILL SHOOT FROM THE HIP ON THE NEXT INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

>>: FOR MORE INFORMATION EPISODES THREE AND CONTENT VISIT US AT WFYI.ORG/LAWMAKERS.

WELL, THAT CONCLUDES ANOTHER EDITION OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

I'M JON SCHWANTES.

I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US,