>>BRANDON: A BILL TO BLOCK MANY COVID RESTRICTIONS.

A HARDER BALLOT ACCESS HURDLE FOR LIBERTARIANS.

PLUS, CHANGES TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK >>BRANDON: THIS WEEK, AN INDIANA LAWMAKER WANTS TO BAN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM EVER AGAIN IMPOSING MANY OF THE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE OVER THE LAST YEAR.

REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BOB MORRIS'S LEGISLATION WOULD BAN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM: LIMITING A BUSINESS'S HOURS OF OPERATION OR OCCUPANCY...REGULATING WHAT PROCEDURES HOSPITALS CAN DO...AND REQUIRING MASK-WEARING OR SOCIAL DISTANCING IN A CHURCH, UNLESS THOSE THINGS ARE ALREADY IN STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.

ALL OF THOSE ARE EXECUTIVE ORDERS GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB HAS ISSUED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

JOSEPH CERUTI RUNS A CATERING COMPANY IN FORT WAYNE THAT HE SAYS HAS BEEN DECIMATED BY HOLCOMB'S RESTRICTIONS.

>>JOSEPH CERUTI: SO MANY INCONSISTENCIES WITH THESE RULES - THEY'RE ARBITRARY; THEY DON'T ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL.

>>BRANDON: AS AN EXAMPLE, CERUTI SAYS IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT A RESTAURANT IN HIS COUNTY CAN BE AT FULL CAPACITY WHILE HE'S ONLY ALLOWED TO HOLD EVENTS OF 25 PEOPLE OR LESS IN HIS MUCH LARGER BANQUET HALLS.

THE BILL ALSO SAYS LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS CAN'T CLOSE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES IN ORDER TO "PREVENT AND STOP EPIDEMICS."

A HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARD THE MEASURE MONDAY BUT DID NOT VOTE ON IT.

DURING THE HEARING, MORRIS QUESTIONED WHETHER MASK-WEARING WAS EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

IN REALITY, EXPERTS AGREE THAT WEARING A MASK CAN HELP PREVENT THE VIRUS'S SPREAD AND MAY EVEN HELP REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF THE ILLNESS WHEN INFECTED.

SHOULD GOVERNMENTS BE REINED IN WHEN IT COMES TO THESE FUTURE RESTRICTIONS?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL: DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS AND NIKI KELLY, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH.

MIKE O'BRIEN, IS THIS AN OVERREACTION TO COVID...OR AN APPROPRIATE HANDCUFF TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY?

>>: I THINK IT'S BOTH I DON'T THINK BOB MORRIS IS THE RESIDENT MASS EXPERT, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, HE'S REFLECTING A REAL FRUSTRATION AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THIS LAST WEEK IS CHANGE TO POLICY THAT'S BEEN LEGITIMIZED AND THAT IS YOU MAY HAVE A CATERER WHO HAS A LARGE BANQUET FACILITY SHUT DOWN BUT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT THAT CAN STAY OPEN.

A CABINETMAKER IN A SMALL TOWN IN INDIANA THAT IS FORCED TO CLOSE BUT THE LOWS IN THE NEXT TOWN OVER CAN BE OPEN WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN IT.

THOSE ARE THE INEQUITIES THAT ARE DRIVING THE FRUSTRATION YOU ARE SEEING REVEAL ITSELF IN SOME LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE TONE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE TOPIC UP TO THIS POINT REFLECTING THE FRUSTRATION OF HOOSIERS TRYING TO FIND THE BALANCE OF WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT ISN'T.

GOV.

HOLCOMB MOVING FROM ACE CAPACITY NUMBER TO A PERCENT OF CAPACITY AS A COMMONSENSE WAY TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE ISSUES SO MORAL -- MORE PEOPLE CAN STAY OPEN SAFELY.

WE ARE GETTING SOME THINGS RIGHT NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN WRONG TO BEGIN WITH AND THAT LEAD TO FRUSTRATION WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

>>: HE JUST LAID OUT SOME INCONSISTENCIES IN THE RESTRICTION WE'VE SEEN PLAY OUT OVER THE LAST TEN MONTHS.

IS THIS SORT OF ROUTE THAT BOB MORRIS IS TAKING THE RIGHT WAY TO ADDRESS THOSE INCONSISTENCIES?

>>: IT'S NOT.

WHAT HE IS SAYING AS THE GOVERNOR FAILED IN DEALING WITH COVID WHICH IS STRIKING COMING FROM A FELLOW REPUBLICAN.

THERE IS NO GOOD WAY, THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.

MY GUESS RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE TO GIVE THOUGHT TO THESE VARIATIONS THEY CAME ON SO FAST AND PART OF THE INCONSISTENCY CAME FROM WASHINGTON WHEN YOU HAD DONALD TRUMP TELLING PEOPLE WHERE MASKS AND ON AND ON.

SO THERE WERE A LOT TO THIS END I HAD ONE CRITICISM OF GOV.

HOLCOMB IT'S THAT HE LESSENED THE RESTRICTIONS TOO SOON.

NO ONE TRIED TO HURT THE CATERER AND BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT PEOPLE DID GET HURT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT HURT WITH THIS BUT IT'S A NATIONAL AND A STATEWIDE CRISIS AND I GUESS HE WOULD RATHER SEE OR BE WILLING TO SEE MORE PEOPLE DIE THAN ANYBODY INCONVENIENCED OR PEOPLE PUT IN A BOX.

AND MAYBE WHAT HE SHOULD BE SAYING AS WHY ISN'T GOV.

HOLCOMB HANDING OUT MONEY TO HELP THESE BUSINESSES WHO HAD TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF THIS.

BUT THE IDEA THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COULD DO IT IN THE TIMEFRAME WHEN WE ARE FACING A NATIONAL PANDEMIC IS RIDICULOUS.

THE GOVERNOR HAS TO HAVE POWER.

>>: WE HAVE SEEN TWO METHODS OF REINING IN THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWER AT LEAST DISCUSSED AND BROUGHT UP SO FAR IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION.

ONE MATT LEHMAN'S BILL WOULD JUST SORT OF GIVE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ITS OWN SAY IN A FUTURE SORT OF LONG-LASTING EMERGENCY SITUATION.

THE OTHERS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE MORRISES AND LIKE THE SENATE SIDE GETS MORE TO THE NITTY-GRITTY OF WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO NOT HOW IT CAN DO IT.

TALKING TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO BEGIN THE SENSE OF WHICH WAY THEY WANT TO GO.

>>: THEY DIDN'T REALLY CRITICIZE BOB MORRISES BILL, BUT THEY DID FOCUS MORE ON THE OTHER WAY AND I GUESS I WOULD COMPARE IN TERMS OF SORT OF THE BIG PICTURE BILLS AND THE MACRO HOW LONG AN EMERGENCY CAN GO BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAYS IN VERSES THE MICRO BILL THAT MICROMANAGES EACH INDIVIDUAL DECISION SO THIS BASICALLY TAKES THE DECISIONS THEY DIDN'T LIKE AND SAY THEY CAN'T DO IT IN THE FUTURE AND THE PROBLEM IS THIS EMERGENCY APPLIES TO A LOT MORE EMERGENCIES THEN JUST A COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF NOT THINKING THROUGH TO WEATHER WHAT IF THERE IS A TORNADO OR HURRICANE OR NUCLEAR FALLOUT.

ALL THOSE THINGS COULD BE IMPACTED BY THAT.

>>: JON SCHWANTES I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT BOB MORRIS SAID WHICH IS WE DON'T KNOW THAT MASKS WORK.

WE DO.

BUT WHEN ASKED ABOUT THOSE COMMENTS SPEAKER TODD HUSTON THIS WEEK DIDN'T ADDRESS THEM HE JUST SAID HE BELIEVES HE HAS PREACHED MASK WHERE IN THE SCIENCES THERE TO SUGGEST MASK WEARING WORKS AND IS THAT A STRONG ENOUGH RESPONSE FROM THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE?

>>: ONE COULD ARE YOU IT'S NOT STRONG ENOUGH, BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT NO MATTER HOW STRENUOUS THE COMMENTS ARE OR THE REBUKE MIGHT BE FROM SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE OPINION OF THE CAUCUS WHICH HAS MADE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THEY ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE MASK MANDATES AND THEY DON'T THINK IT BEHOOVES THEM TO WHERE MASKS WHETHER OR NOW THEY ARE TOLD TO.

SO I GUESS THE CALCULATION ON THE PART OF THE SPEAKERS DO I CREATE BIGGER RIFTS WITHIN MY CAUCUS MANAGING A SUPER MAJORIY IS CHALLENGING ENOUGH DO I WANT TO JUST CREATE MORE TENSION AND ILL WILL WHEN IT WON'T DO ANY GOOD OR SHALL I JUST KEEP THE POWDER DRY, SO TO SPEAK AND WAIT UNTIL WE GET FURTHER DOWN THE LINE.

IT'S AN ISSUE.

CLEARLY WHAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IS WE WON'T SEE THE RESOLUTIONS THAT SAID THE POWER ENDS NOW SORRY, GOVERNOR YOU DON'T HAVE ANY POWER.

THOSE WERE SENT TO THE EQUIVALENT OF QUARANTINE FOR THE MOST PART SO WE WILL SEE SOMETHING CLOSER AS NIKI SUGGESTED TO SOME ABILITY FOR THE LAWMAKERS TO WEIGH IN AND THAT'S THE FRUSTRATION BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE CONSULTED WHEN NOT IN SESSION AND THEY CAN'T CALL THEMSELVES INTO SESSION.

>>: MAY BE BOB MORRISES CONFUSED ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MASK WEARING.

BECAUSE THE GIRL SCOUTS SUPPORTIVE.

>>>REPUBLICANS IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK VOTED TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR LIBERTARIAN PARTY CANDIDATES FOR INDIANA GOVERNOR AND US SENATOR TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

LEGISLATION WOULD IMPOSE SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS ON LIBERTARIANS THAT MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES MUST ALREADY MEET.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO WANT TO RUN FOR US SENATE OR GOVERNOR MUST COLLECT 4,500 SIGNATURES OF REGISTERED VOTERS (500 FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT) IN ORDER TO GET ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT.

DOING SO ISN'T EASY - IT REQUIRES TIME AND, IMPORTANTLY, RESOURCES.

LIBERTARIANS DON'T HAVE PRIMARIES IN INDIANA; INSTEAD, THEIR CANDIDATES FOR THOSE OFFICES ARE CHOSEN AT THEIR STATE PARTY CONVENTION.

REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ETHAN MANNING SAYS LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATES SHOULD ALSO MEET THE SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT.

>>REP.

ETHAN MANNING: REALLY JUST WANTED TO MORE CLOSELY ALIGN THOSE PARTY CANDIDATES FOR THOSE STATEWIDE OFFICES.

>>BRANDON: DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MATT PIERCE QUESTIONS WHY.

>>REP.

MATT PIERCE: A CYNICAL PERSON MIGHT THINK THAT THIS BILL ARRIVED BECAUSE THE LIBERTARIANS DID EXTRAORDINARILY WELL FOR WHAT WE MIGHT CALL A THIRD PARTY.

>>BRANDON: THE 2020 LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR GOT MORE VOTES THAN ANY OTHER SUCH CANDIDATE IN STATE HISTORY.

ANN DELANEY, SHOULD LIBERTARIANS HAVE TO MEET THE SAME THRESHOLD AS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS?

>>: YOU KNOW, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO RAN AGAINST A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE WITH NO RESOURCES BARELY IN TELEVISION AT ALL AND A LIBERTARIAN WHO HAD NO TV TO SPEAK OF EITHER HE HAD A VERY POPULAR -- GOV.

HOLCOMB HAD A PRESIDENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND HE GOT 50 PERCENT OF THE VOTE AND THE FEAR IS TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO ORDINARILY VOTE REPUBLICAN ARE MORE COMFORTABLE AS LIBERTARIAN WHETHER TRUMPETS OR WHATEVER THEY ARE.

THEY ARE MORE COMFORTABLE VOTING LIBERTARIAN SO THE FIRST RESPONSE OF THE PARTY IS OKAY LET'S KEEP THEM OFF THE BALLOT.

AND THEY THINK OF THE CREATIVE WAY TO KEEP DEMOCRATS OF THE BALLOT THEY WOULD DO THAT TOO BECAUSE THEY WANT A ONE PARTY RULE.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE RESOURCES TO QUALIFY.

QUALIFYING FOR THE BALLOT IS A PAIN IN THE NEXT.

IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS TO DO AND TO DO IT CORRECTLY AND THE MISTAKE IF YOU MAKE IT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE THE RESOURCES I DON'T THINK LIBERTARIANS DO AND I THINK THEY NEED A VOICE.

>>: MIKE O'BRIEN REPRESENTATIVE IN THAT COMMITTEE HEARING SAID THIS BILL WANTS TO TREAT LITERARY LIBERTARIANS LIKE MAJOR PARTY BUT DOESN'T GIVE THEM ANYTHING OR TREAT THEM LIKE MAJOR PARTIES AND THE REST OF THE WAY THAT STATE LAW DOES.

IS THIS BILL REALLY FAIR?

>>: THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

I AM FOR THAT.

I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS WANT ONE PARTY CONTROLLED.

WE ENJOY IT, BUT WE WERE VOTED BY VOTERS.

>>: GERRYMANDERING.

>>: WELL ONE PARTY CAN CONTROL AND CAN DRAW MAPS AND THAT'S WORTH NOTING.

[OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] SO TO THE PRIOR POINT THAT'S A GOOD POINT AND IT'S A HIGH BAR TO BECOME A MAJOR PARTY IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

IT MEANS YOU HAVE COUNTY CHAIRMAN A STATE COMMITTEE, THE STAFF PULLING LOCATIONS AND THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THAT.

THE LESS TIME LIBERTARIANS WERE CLOSE TO THAT WAS 2010 WHEN CHARLIE WHITE HAD TROUBLE DOWN THE STRETCH IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND THEY WENT TO A LIBERTARIAN WHO THREATENED TO HIT THAT THRESHOLD AND THEY THREATENED TO SUE HIM IF THEY DID BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ALL THAT.

THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY THEY WANT TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A DISTANT THIRD VOICE.

AND NOT HAVE TO DO THAT HEAVY LIFTING REQUIRED OF A MAJOR PARTY AND THE TIMING AND THE PROXIMITY OF RAINWATER PERFORMING THE WAY HE DID IS A LEGITIMATE QUESTION.

WHAT'S NOT LEGITIMATE IS BEING IN A STATE THAT ALLOWS ANYONE TO RUN STATEWIDE TO DO IT.

THERE ARE STATES LIKE THAT WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

THEY JUST HAVE TO SIGN THEIR NAME AND SHE'S RIGHT IT'S A PAIN IN THE BUTT.

SO TWO GET CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT IN THE PRIMARY IF YOU ARE GOING TO RUN FOR SENATOR OR GOVERNOR YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOU HAVE A LEGITIMATE SUPPORT BEHIND YOU.

>>: NIKI KELLY IN TERMS OF THAT IDEA OF GIVING THE LIBERTARIAN SOMETHING IN RETURN TO MEET THIS THRESHOLD WE WILL SEE IF IT COMES UP ON THE HOUSE FLOOR BUT ONE WOULD GO FURTHER IN TERMS OF GIVING LIBERTARIAN SOMETHING WOULD IT NOT.

>>: BASICALLY IT RECOGNIZES THEY HAVE TO DO MORE TO GET ON THE BALLOT SO IT WOULD GIVE THEM A VOTING POSITION ON THE ELECTION COMMISSION AND THE LOCAL COUNTY ELECTION BOARDS AND JUST ONE THAT HAS CONTROL BUT WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE IS A START.

>>: JON SCHWANTES TO THE POINT MIKE O'BRIEN MADE.

I AM NOT HERE TO SAY WHY THEY BROUGHT THIS BILL.

BUT DOES THE TIMING OF IT WORK AGAINST HIM?

>>: I THINK -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT WORKS AGAINST HIM.

IT DOES IF YOU WILL, THE SKEPTICS OR SUCH AS MATT PIERCE WHO YOU QUOTED IN THE INTRODUCTION THERE.

IT GIVES THEM FUEL TO POINT TO THIS AND RAISE EYEBROWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TIMING.

I DON'T THINK IT IS SO MUCH ABOUT A FEAR ON THE PART OF REPUBLICANS OF LOSING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BECAUSE AS ANNE POINTED OUT SHE SAYS THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ERIC HOLCOMB GOT BARELY 50 PERCENT BUT ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THAT YOU CAN CUT THE NUMBERS A NUMBER OF WAYS AND YOU CAN SAY HE GOT MORE VOTES THAN ANYONE WHO HAS EVER APPEARED ON ANY STATEWIDE BALLOT IN INDIANA SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1816 SO YOU CAN SAY HE HAD A GREAT SHOWING IN THE SELECTION BUT WHAT MAY BE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IS THAT IN 1/3 OF INDIANA COUNTIES YOU HAD THE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE RAINWATER WHO FINISHED SECOND TO ERIC HOLCOMB BEATING THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE WOODY MYERS WHICH POTENTIALLY ONE COULD SURMISE HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT IN TERMS OF OTHER RACES ON THE BALLOT LEGISLATIVE RACES AND OTHERS WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY DRIVEN TO THE POLLING PLACE BECAUSE OF AN INTEREST IN THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AND THAT TRICKLES DOWN.

IT'S MORE OF A STRATEGIC CONCERN HERE THAN THE LOSS OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>>: DONALD TRUMP IS NOT ON THE BALLOT THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY >>>TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC, ONLINE POLL QUESTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ICEMILLER E-MAIL AND TEXT ALERTS.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: SHOULD LIBERTARIAN GOVERNOR AND U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES HAVE TO GET 4,500 VOTER SIGNATURES TO GET ON THE BALLOT, JUST LIKE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES DO?

A.

YES B.

NO LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: DID GOV.HOLCOMB MAKE THE RIGHT CALL TO SHUT DOWN STATE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS OUT OF CONCERN FOR PROTESTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY NEVER MATERIALIZED?

82 PERCENT SAY YES, HE MADE THE RIGHT CALL.

18 PERCENT SAID NO.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE POLL.

>>>SENATE LAWMAKERS ARE WEIGHING A BILL THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY SHIFT THE BALANCE OF APPOINTMENTS TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM THE GOVERNOR TO THE LEGISLATURE.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 11 MEMBERS ON THE STATE BOARD.

ONE IS THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION (NOW APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR).

THE GOVERNOR ALSO APPOINTS EIGHT OTHER MEMBERS TO THE BOARD, WHILE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GET ONE APPOINTMENT EACH.

UNDER REPUBLICAN SENATOR JEFF RAATZ'S BILL, THE GOVERNOR WOULD NOW APPOINT ONLY SIX MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, INCLUDING THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, WHILE THE SPEAKER AND SENATE LEADER WOULD APPOINT FIVE MEMBERS.

THE MEASURE WOULD ALSO REQUIRE AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD TO BE BUSINESS OWNERS OR CEOS.

RAATZ SAYS HIS BILL ISN'T AIMED AT GOVERNOR HOLCOMB; RATHER, HE SAYS IT'S ABOUT THE FUTURE AND MAKING THE BOARD LESS LOPSIDED.

JON SCHWANTES, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK HOLCOMB PUSHES BACK ON THIS?

>>: I THINK HE HAS GROUNDS TO PUSH BACK OR A COMPELLING ARGUMENT TO MAKE IF HE WANTS TO PUSH BACK.

ALL HE NEEDS TO DO IS SAY LET'S THINK ABOUT THE RECENT PAST, NOT TOO MANY SESSIONS AGO, THE REASON THAT WE WENT FROM AN ELECTED STATEWIDE OVERSEEING K-12 EDUCATION IN INDIANA WHICH WAS AN ELECTED POST AS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

THE WAY WE DID AWAY WITH THAT IS BECAUSE VOTERS SAID WE ELECT THE GOVERNOR HE OR SHE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENS WITH K-12 EDUCATION.

THEY SHOULD DIRECT REFORM EFFORTS AND THAT'S WHERE THE BUCK STOPS.

NOW I THINK THE GOVERNOR CAN ARE YOU THIS RUNS TOTALLY COUNTER TO THAT.

YOU MAY HAVE AN APPOINTED SECRETARY THAT IS THEY ARE TO DO ARGUABLY THE GOVERNOR'S BIDDING OR ENHANCE THEIR AGENDA, BUT NOW YOU TAKE AWAY THE GOVERNOR'S CLOUT AS MANIFESTED ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SO IT SEEMS TO ME IT WOULD RUN TOTALLY COUNTER TO WHAT WAS DONE A YEAR OR SO BACK.

>>: NIKI KELLY IS THE BIGGEST THING WORKING AGAINST THE BILL THE FACT THAT ARE WE REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THINGS WITH THE STATE BOARD AGAIN?

>>: IT SEEMS LIKE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WE FIRST GAVE THE LEGISLATURE THEIR ROLE AND APPOINTEES SO AND I DO WANT TO POINT OUT EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNOR HAD THE MAJORITY OF THE APPOINTMENTS HE IS LIMITED BY THE NUMBER OF PARTIES THAT CAN BE ON THAT BOARD SO IT'S NOT LIKE HE CAN STOCK IT WITH EIGHT REPUBLICANS.

THEY'RE ALREADY ARE SAFEGUARDS.

>>: JUST WAIT UNTIL HE PUTS LIBERTARIANS ON THERE AS WELL.

>>: TECHNICALLY HE COULD PUT THEM ON RIGHT NOW.

MIKE O'BRIEN, SHOULD THE LEGISLATURE BE GIVING THEMSELVES MORE A VOICE ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS AT THE RIGHT COURSE FOR EDUCATION POLICY?

>>: I AGREE WITH JON.

THE POINT WAS TO CONSOLIDATE THIS TO THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE THAT'S PEOPLE WHEN THEY VOTE WHO THEY HOLD TO ACCOUNT WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSE HOLDS -- HOW SCHOOLS ARE PERFORMING AND SCHOOLS AND THE LEGISLATURE DON'T LIKE HOW THAT'S ADMINISTERED, THAT IS THERE ROLE TO PASS LAWS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS TO THEN SAY SEE INTO EFFECT AND ADMINISTER.

AND BEFORE TO JOHN'S POINT WE HAD A SEPARATE PERSON THAT THEY WERE CONSCIOUS OF AND OTHER THAN A SELECT FEW THAT WERE TEACHERS AND SO THAT WAS THE POINT FROM THE BEGINNING THEY HAVE A HUGE ROLE IN THAT WITH FUNDING IN THE POLICY SECTION.

>>: ANN DELANEY HE SAYS IT'S NOT ABOUT HOLCOMB IT'S ABOUT LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE.

ARE YOU BUYING THAT?

>>: I AM NOT BUYING IT.

WE'VE HAD A DECISION MADE IN THIS STATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATION.

THAT IS MADE.

OF A BETTER IDEA RATHER THAN QUARREL OVER WHO SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO THE STATE BOARD LET'S ABOLISH IT.

LET'S ABOLISH IT.

IT'S THE GOVERNOR WHO AN EXCESS POLICY THROUGH HIS HAND CHOSEN SUPERINTENDENT.

ANYTHING ELSE CLUTTERS IT UP AND ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DEFLECT BLAME OTHER PLACES.

THE GOVERNOR IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR K-12 EDUCATION AND HE SHOULD IMPLEMENTED THROUGH HIS HAND CHOSEN SUPERINTENDENT AND THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD SIMPLY PASS WHATEVER BILLS IT NEEDS TO AND STAY OUT OF IT.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS A RELEVANT.

>>: POINT.

>>>A SENATE BILL ADVANCING THIS WEEK WOULD REMOVE PROTECTIONS FOR STATE-REGULATED WETLANDS IN INDIANA.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS IT PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE BY AN EIGHT TO THREE VOTE.

>>SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL SAY THE STATE'S UNNECESSARY WETLAND REGULATIONS HAVE DRIVEN UP HOME PRICES AND CAUSED HEADACHES FOR FARMERS.

THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OPPOSES THE BILL.

ERIN MOORHOUS WITH IDEM SAYS THE STATE HAS ALREADY LOST ABOUT 85 PERCENT OF ITS WETLANDS - WHICH PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN INDIANA.

>>ERIN MOORHOUS: FLOOD REDUCTION, WATER STORAGE, WATER QUALITY AND WILDLIFE HABITATS.

WETLANDS ALSO ABSORB SNOW MELT AND SEASONAL RAIN, REPLENISHING GROUNDWATER.

>>THERE ARE SOME FEDERAL LAWS THAT REGULATE POLLUTION IN WETLANDS.

BUT IDEM SAYS - BECAUSE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CHANGED THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES RULE - NOW THE MAJORITY OF WETLANDS IN INDIANA AREN'T REGULATED UNDER THE RULE.

>>BRANDON: NIKI KELLY, INDIANA BUILDERS HAVE INCREASINGLY SIGNIFICANT POWER IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THIS BILL PASSES?

>>: IT'S FAIR TO SAY IT HAS A GOOD CHANCE.

IT WILL BE TIGHT.

THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR THE OTHER DAY AND SEVERAL REPUBLICANS JOINED DEMOCRATS ON THAT.

I FIND THAT BILL FASCINATING.

I'VE SEEN COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WE NEED A BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND HINDERING DEVELOPMENT.

THIS DOES NOT HAVE ANY BALANCE.

IT'S JUST COMPLETELY A FREE FOR ALL.

>>: JON SCHWANTES KICK TO THAT POINT THAT WAS THE POINT REPUBLICAN SENATOR SUE GLICK BROUGHT UP ON THAT VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HAVE SENT THIS TO A COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS DEFEATED.

WHICH IS THIS BILL DOES NOT TRY TO FIND A BALANCE.

LET'S TAKE THE TIME AND FIND THAT.

IS THAT WHERE THIS IS HEADED?

>>: THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF BILL TO PUSH IT RIGHT NOW FOR THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED.

I WILL GO OUT ON A LIMB.

GRANTED MY CRYSTAL BALL IS CRACKED AND FOGGY, BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS WERE PASSED THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD DO SOMETHING HE HAS DONE ONLY ON EXTREMELY RARE OCCASIONS AND CONSIDER VETOING THE BILL.

BECAUSE THIS IS A GOVERNOR KEEP IN MIND WHO HAS REALLY, HE HAS PILLARS THAT ARE THE BASIS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION AND ONE MORE OR LESS IS THE PRESERVATION OF QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH A ROBUST PARK PROPERTIES AND CONSERVATION AND TRAILS LINKING THIS TO THE NOTION WE CAN ATTRACT BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE TO OUR STATE WITH THE QUALITY OF OUR NATURAL WONDERS.

I THINK HE COULD ARE YOU THAT IT'S NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT AND IT FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE MESSAGE HE HAS BEEN PUTTING FORTH NOW SINCE HE BECAME GOVERNOR.

AS HE DID WITH THE TENANT RIGHTS BILL AT THE END OF LAST SESSION I COULD SEE THIS BEING SOMETHING THAT GETS VETOED.

>>: WE WILL PROBABLY TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AS IT ADVANCES THROUGH THE PROCESS.

FINALLY, SPEAKING OF BILLS THAT PASSED THE SENATE THIS WEEK ONE WOUD MAKE POPCORN THE OFFICIAL SNACK OF INDIANA.

MIKE O'BRIEN BEFORE WE GET IN THE ISSUE OF PASSING THE BILL THAT MAKES US THIS DATE SNACK OF INDIANA CAN YOU THINK OF A BETTER CHOICE?

>>: THERE IS TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

WE CAN ATTAIN MULTITUDES.

IN THE BIG IMPORTANT THINGS OF ALL THINGS LIKE PASSING THIS DATE SNACK.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD KILL INDIANA TO HAVE A VEGETABLE THERE THOUGH.

[CHUCKLING] >>: HEALTH INITIATIVES.

>>: ANN DELANEY?

>>: THE BETTER CHOICE WOULD BE DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC FOR GOODNESS SAKES THIS SENDS A TERRIBLE MESSAGE.

IN ADDITION, TO THIS THEY WANT TO REGULATE LEMONADE STANDS.

COME ON!

>>: THEY WANT TO DEREGULATE LEMONADE STANDS.

>>: ALL THE IMPORTANT ISSUES WHILE ROME IS BURNING THEY SET THEIR FIDDLING AND THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE DOING FIDDLING AROUND.

>>: JON SCHWANTES GET BETTER THAN POPCORN?

>>: I WON'T BE THE JUDGE OF THAT BUT THERE ARE PROMINENT CANDY MANUFACTURERS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

>>: NIKI QUICKLY BETTER THAN POPCORN OR IS POPCORN THE CHOICE?

>>: CANDY CORN IT COULD BE CONTROVERSIAL.

[CHUCKLING] >>: KETTLE CORN >>>THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS AND NIKI KELLY OF THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

IF YOU'D LIKE A PODCAST OF THIS PROGRAM YOU CAN FIND IT AT WFYI.ORG/IWIR OR STARTING MONDAY YOU CAN STREAM IT OR GET IT ON DEMAND FROM XFINITY AND ON THE WFYI APP.

I'M BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, PLEASE WEAR A MASK BECAUSE IN REALITY THEY WORK.

JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.