>> A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN A FORMER LAWMAKER PLEADING GUILTY.

PLUS, NEGATIVE ATTACKS BEGIN IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND MORE.

FROM THE TELEVISION STUDIOS AT WFYI, IT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2023.

>> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA'S PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS.

>> THIS WEEK, THE U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED FOR A CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT ENSURES THE GOVERNMENT WILL REMAIN FUNDED THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

THE TEMPORARY SPENDING PLAN CRAFTED BY NEW U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON EXTENDS FUNDING FOR VETERANS PROGRAMS, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AGRICULTURE AND ENERGY THROUGH JANUARY 19, WHILE SPENDING FOR OTHER AGENCIES INCLUDING THE DEFENSE AND STATE DEPARTMENTS RUNS UNTIL FEBRUARY 2.

THAT SETS UP A CRUNCH EARLY NEXT YEAR TO PASS MULTIPLE SPENDING BILLS, OR AGENCIES FACE AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD 1% FUNDING CUT COME APRIL.

A MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS AND ALMOST ALL DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE SUPPORTED THE STOPGAP SPENDING BILL.

BUT A MAJORITY OF INDIANA'S REPUBLICAN DELEGATION OPPOSED IT - SENATOR MIKE BRAUN AND REPRESENTATIVES RUDY YAKYM, JIM BANKS, VICTORIA SPARTZ AND ERIN HOUCHIN VOTED NO.

IS THIS A BIG WIN FOR NEW SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAW MIXERS AND WHIT FOR THE INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE BUREAU CHIEF BRANDON SMITH.

MIKE O'BRIEN, COMPARED TO JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THIS SHUTDOWN WAS AVERTED WITH RELATIVELY MINIMAL DRAMA.

HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT FOR JOHNSON?

>> I DON'T WANT TO BE NAIVE AND SAY WE LEARNED OUR LESSON.

WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN, BUT THE PROXIMITY MADE AN IMPACT AND THE FACT IT TOOK SO LONG TO BE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND WHO IS THE SPEAKER GOING TO BE AND LET'S GIVE HIM A SHOT HERE.

RUDY YAKYM IS NEW.

I THOUGHT THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT IN, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR THESE CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR A SIGNIFICANT PLAN TO REDUCE THE SPENDING CURVE.

>> RIGHT.

>> YAKYM IS MORE OF AN OLD-SCHOOL GUY, I THINK WE WILL COME TO FIND OUT.

JUST HAVEN'T KNOWN HIM A LONG TIME AND HIS COMMENTS ARE, WE GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS RUNNING OUT OF MONEY EVERY 90 DAYS AND IF WE NEED TO RESTORE TO A BUSINESS CALENDAR.

THIS IS CHAOS, WE CAN'T DO THIS EVERY 90 DAYS.

HOPEFULLY, THE PROXIMITY OF THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AND EVERYONE GETTING OUT OF TOWN PUSHES THAT.

>> YEAH, TO THAT END, IT PUSHES TO JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING UP GREASED THE WHEELS.

>> I THINK FOR ONCE MIKE IS RIGHT.

THEY COULDN'T HAVE ANOTHER CONFRONTATION LIKE THAT PUBLICLY SO CLOSE TOGETHER.

BUT THE RUBBER IS GOING TO HIT THE ROAD IN JANUARY, AND YOU'VE GOT THE RIGHT-WING CRAZIES IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WITH MIKE BRAUN AND VICTORIA SPARTZ, RATHER SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN THAN MAKE AN AGREEMENT TO KEEP EVERYONE PAID IN THE INTERIM.

I DON'T SEE THEM COMING FORWARD WITH A PLAN THAT IS REALISTIC AND WILL SELL.

I'M NOT -- IF I WERE MIKE JOHNSON, I WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

>> TO THAT END, WE SAW SOME OF THE STORIES THAT MIKE JOHNSO GOT THE SPEAKERSHIP IN THE MESSIEST WAY POSSIBLE.

BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T STARTING FROM THIS PLACE WITH A LOT OF REPUBLICANS MISTRUST WITH KEVIN MCCARTHY.

WITH JOHNSON, FOR THIS, THEY WERE WILLING TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.

DO WE EXPECT THIS TO BE AS EASY GOING FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THEY HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO AID FOR ISRAEL OR Y UKRAINE IF THEY WANT TO KEEP THAT UP.

>> OR THE BORDER.

>> OR THE BORDER, WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THAT, HE SUGGESTED TAKING IT FROM WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE TO THE IRS, SO I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE BEING PRETTY MESSY AND LIKE MIKE SAID, IT WAS THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY BACK-TO-BACK MESSES, DIDN'T WANT TO REPEAT.

>> SHOULD THIS BE OF THINGS TO COME AT ALL?

>> HE HAD A GOOD WEEKEND WHERE NOBEL BOWED HIM IN THE KIDNEYS.

>> NOBODY BEAT HIM UP AND REMOVED HIS WEDDING RING, SO WHEN THEY MADE CONTACT TO HIS FACE WOULDN'T DO DAMAGE TO HIS HAND.

>> HAPPENED IN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

>> IN ONE CASE, THE LATTER NOT THE FORMER.

GOOD FOR HIM NOW, BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME FOR THINGS TO GO OFF THE RAILS AND I WOULD GUESS THEY WOULD.

THERE IS A SPENDING AGREEMENT, AGAIN, NAIVE THAT WAS HAMMERED OUT.

>> THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.

>> THEORETICALLY THERE IS A STARTING POINT AND IN TERMS OF THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION GIVE DEMOCRATS AN UPPER HAND THAT WE HAVE THIS DEAL IN PLACE, REPUBLICANS AGREED TO IT.

>> UNTIL MCCARTHY RENEGED.

>> CAN WE GET A LITTLE BIT BACK TO NORMAL WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET PROCESS?

II DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS REALISTIC.

TIME NOW YOU FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK, WE POST AN ONLINE POLL QUESTION.

IS THE LATEST STOP GAP SPENDING BILL TO AVOID A FEDERAL SHUTDOWN A WIN FOR NEW HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON?

A., YES, OR B.

NO.

LAST WEEK, WE ASKED YOU IF DANIEL ELLIOTT WAS RIGHT TO INVEST HEAVILY IN ISRAEL.

29% SAID YES, 79% SAID NO.

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

A FORMER INDIANA STATE LAWMAKER IS SET TO PLEAD GUILTY TO FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES RELATED TO THE STATE GAMING INDUSTRY.

U.S. ATTORNEY ZACHARY MYERS ANNOUNCED THAT SHELBYVILLE REPUBLICAN SEAN EBERHART AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO CHARGES THAT HE ACCEPTED PROMISES OF A JOB WITH SPECTACLE GAMING WITH A $350,000 SALARY IN RETURN FOR HIS SUPPORT OF A 2019 BILL.

THE MEASURE IN QUESTION ALLOWED SPECTACLE TO MOVE TWO CASINO LICENSES ON LAKE MICHIGAN TO OTHER AREAS "BENEFICIAL TO SPECTACLE."

THE PLEA AGREEMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE A SPECIFIC SENTENCE.

FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES FOR THE OFFENSE LEVEL ARE BETWEEN 37 AND 46 MONTHS.

THE GOVERNMENT DID AGREE TO RECOMMEND A SENTENCE ON THE LOWER RANGE, BASED ON EBERHART ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY.

HE'LL ALSO PAY $60,000 IN RESTITUTION, WHICH WAS HIS LEGISLATIVE SALARY.

ANN DELANEY, SPECTACLE IS OUT OF THE PICTURE WHEN IT COMES TO INDIANA'S GAMING INDUSTRY, IN PART, BECAUSE OF OTHER LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING FORMER STATE SENATOR WALLS.

IN TERMS OF THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT AND POTENTIALLY MORE TO COME, IT MENTIONS CO-CONSPIRATORS, IT DOES NOT SAY WHO THEY ARE, YET.

BECAUSE SPECTACLE IS OUT IN INDIANA, DO YOU THINK IT IS CONTAINED TO THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY IN INDIANA?

>> NO I DON'T THINK SO.

YOU KNOW THERE ARE RESOURCES OUT THERE IN THE CONTEXT OF GAMING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT COMES AFTER THIS.

THE CHARGING AFFIDAVIT ITSELF IS VAGUE.

I MEAN, REALLY VAGUE EXCEPT TO SPELL OUT THEY HAVE E-MAILS AND AUDIO AND -- >> TEXT MESSAGES.

>> WHICH TELLS YOU THEY HAVE SOMETHING ON SOMEBODY AND THERE WILL BE PEOPLE OUT THERE IF THEY ARE NOT HEARING FEDERAL FOOTSTEPS BEHIND THEM, THEY NEED HEARING AIDS.

I DON'T KNOW WHO COMES AFTER THIS.

I ASSUME SINCE THIS HAS BEEN DRAGGING OUT, I MEAN THE FIRST TWO INDIVIDUALS CHARGED HAVE SERVED THEIR SENTENCES.

AND IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME KIND OF THING WITH THE SAME SPECTACLE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT.

I THINK YOU'RE IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY IN INDIANA, YOU WILL BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION THAT THE U.S. ATTORNEY IS LOOKING CAREFULLY AT THIS AND HOPEFULLY, WE WON'T HAVE A REPEAT.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY QUESTION THAT THE GAMING COMMISSION IS PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.

THEY HAVE WON AWARDS ON THINGS THEY DO.

>> THEY HAVE NOT IMPOSED FINES.

>> THEY FORCED SPECK SPECTACLE OUT OF THE STATE.

>> THEY DID THAT, BUT DESPITE REGULATIONS, NOW ANY AGENCY HAS TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, THAT HAS NOT BEEN ON THE AGENDA.

WHY IS THAT IF WE'RE LOOKING CAREFULLY AT THIS?

>> I WANT TO GET BACK TO THAT BUT BUT IN TERMS OF THE SAME QUESTION, CERTAINLY WE EXPECT MORE TO COME AS THIS UNFOLDS, BUT IS IT GOING TO BE, I THINK WE WERE JUST SAYING BEFORE WE STARTED THIS TOPIC, IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR ESSENTIALLY?

>> IT FEELS LIKE THIS BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT WON'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING.

ONE THING I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS WE DO A GAMING BILL ONCE EVERY DECADE IN INDIANA BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED, IT AFFECTS COMMUNITIES, IT AFFECTS GAMING REVENUE AND IT GOES TO THE CITY AND AFFECTS KIDS GOING TO COLLEGE AND IT GOES TO PHARMACISTING AND WE HAVE A HORSE RACE INDUSTRY IN INDIANA.

I DID WORK, IN FULL DISCLOSURE, I DID WORK ON THAT BILL.

IT IS HUGE.

IT HAS IMPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM FARMERS TO CASINOS.

THE IDEA THAT AND THE FRUSTRATING THING FOR OUR PEOPLE IN THE POLITICAL WORLD IS THAT TWO GUYS CAN CUT SOME DEAL ON THIS IN THE BACK END AND IT IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THE DEAL.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIVERSE INTERESTS THAT HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND IT IS A PUZZLE THAT HAS TO COME TOGETHER AND IT IS A HUGE INDUSTRY IN INDIANA.

IT IS IS SO -- THE HUBER RIS IN THIS.

>> YOU HAD A DEAL THAT TOOK A $150 MILLION FINE DOWN TO $20 MILLION IN TAX TAX INCENTIVES.

>> IT MAKES THE WHOLE THING LOOK CORRUPT.

>> I KEEP SAYING CONGRESSMAN.

HE DID NOT WIN THAT RACE.

>> HE IS NEVER GOING TO WIN THAT RACE.

>> THIS IS STATE SENATOR BRENT WALLS HAD NO INFLUENCE OVER GAMING LEGISLATION AND WAS NOT INFLUENTIAL IN THAT CAUCUS.

THEN YOU HAD HIM MORE INVOLVED IN THE CAUCUS BUT HE HE WAS NOT THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, HE WAS NOT THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL.

WHY ARE YOU GIVING MONEY TO THESE PEOPLE, AND DOES IT, UNFORTUNATELY, BEG THE QUESTION IS THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE YOU GAVE MONEY TO IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE?

>> IT DOES BEG THE QUESTION.

I THINK IT IS AN INDICATION OF HOW HIGH THE STAKES ARE HERE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN INDUSTRY THAT IS HUGE, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

MIKE IS RIGHT.

WHEN WE HAVE THE -- I WOULD SAY MORE THAN EVERY 10 YEARS.

>> THE BIG ONES.

>> YEAH, I MEAN THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES, THE STAKES COULDN'T BE HIGHER BECAUSE THEY ARE CARVING UP, ESSENTIALLY, THE POT OF GOLD.

YOU GET THIS MUCH AND YOU GET THIS MUCH.

THIS IS NOT A STATIC INDUSTRY.

NOW, EVERYONE HAS HIS OR HER PIECE, WE CAN SIT BACK AND RELAX.

>> SO MANY OUT OF INDIANA'S CONTROL.

>> BUT NOW, AND THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PUSH TO TAKEAWAY SEE KNOW -- TAKE CASINO GAMING ONLINE AND LOTTERY TERMINALS, THE EFFORTS TO PROTECT ATHLETES, COLLEGE ATHLETES IN THIS NEW ERA OF BETTING.

THIS IS ALL ON THE HORIZON AND IT IS GOING TO BE COMING UP.

UNTIL THIS IS COMPLETE AND EVERYTHING IS DONE, SPOILER ALERT, IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN, THESE TEMPTATIONS AND THESE ISSUES WILL ARISE.

>> MORE THAN THAT, WITH WHAT HAPPENED HERE WITH THE BILL IN 2019, JON JUST MENTIONED IT, WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO SEE THE ONLINE GAMING BILL GO THROUGH LAST SESSION AND THEN IT DIED.

WE DON'T EXPECT THAT CONVERSATION TO GO AWAY, NOT IN A SHORT SESSION, IT IS NOT GOING AWAY, BUT IT IS GOING TO MAKE IT EXPONENTIALLY HARDER TO DO BECAUSE IT IS LIKE, IS EVERYBODY PLAYING THE RIGHT RAY WAY NOW?

>> LAWMAKERS MAY HESITATE AND SAY, MAYBE NOT THIS YEAR AND LET'S LET THE HEAT DIE DOWN.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO WHAT ANN SAID ABOUT IT BEING LEFT OFF OF THE AGENDA THIS WEEK.

I WAS THERE AND I TALKED TO THE LAWMAKERS.

HEY, WHAT'S UP, WHY WERE THEY NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE THE GAMING COMMISSION IS ONE OF THE EXPEDITED COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE TO GET THEIR FEES AND FINES BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

CHRIS GARDNER IS THE BIG PUSH BEHIND THAT FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND AND SENATOR MISHLER SAID WE ARE NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THE GAMING COMMISSION IS CONDUCTING ITSELF.

WE WANT TO EVALUATE HOW IT IS BEING CALCULATED.

>> WOULDN'T YOU PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA TO DO THAT?

>> I GUESS THEY WANTED MORE TIME.

>> THEY ONLY HAVE UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER.

>> IT'S A GAMBLE.

>> THE FIRST SUBSTANTIVE, NEGATIVE STRIKE IN THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY DROPPED THIS WEEK, AS FORT WAYNE BUSINESSMAN ERIC DODEN RELEASED A VIDEO ATTACKING U.S.

SENATOR MIKE BRAUN OVER A LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.

THE VIDEO FEATURES HENRY COUNTY SHERIFF JOHN SPROLES ENDORSING DODEN WHILE CRITICIZING BRAUN FOR OFFERING LEGISLATION IN 2020 TO REFORM QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, WHICH LARGELY SHIELDS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM LAWSUITS RELATED TO ALLEGED UNLAWFUL CONDUCT WHILE ON THE JOB.

SHERIFF JOHN SPROLES: AND WHEN I DARED ASK HIM ABOUT IT, HE TOLD ME THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ONLY MADE UP A FEW THOUSAND VOTES IN THE STATE.

>> BRAUN HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL TROOPERS COALITION, WHICH REPRESENTS STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN INDIANA.

MEANWHILE, FORMER INDIANA COMMERCE SECRETARY BRAD CHAMBERS RELEASED A PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN THIS WEEK THAT INCLUDES CODIFYING QUALIFIED IMMUNITY INTO STATE LAW.

JON SCHWANTES, ARE YOU SURPRISED -- THE WHOLE TIMELINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED FURTHER, BUT ARE YOU SURPRISED THE ATTACKS LIKE THIS STARTED THIS EARLY?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

I THINK THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN ANY RACE, ESPECIALLY A STATE WIDE RACE, THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED, KNOWN, WELL-QUALIFIED CANDIDATES BETWEEN NEGATIVE ADVERTISING.

WHEN YOU HAVE A ROOM CHOCK-FULL OF PEOPLE VYING FAR JOB AND ARGUABLY MORE OR LESS EVEN KEEL IN TERMS OF THEIR NAME I.D.

AND FUNDING, THEY HAVE TO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES.

THEY HAVE TO DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES FROM THE PACK AND THEY ALL MADE SOME EFFORT, MOST HAVE MADE SOME EFFORT TO GO OUT WITH THE AUTOBIOGRAPHYICAL SPOTS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE FIELDS AND THE PARADES.

>> AND THE CHURCHS.

>> SOMEBODY IS SAYING, WE GOT TO MAKE THE MOVE, AND NEGATIVE DOES WORK.

AND NOW, THERE SEEMS TO BE A GREATER CAPACITY OR APPETITE FOR NEGATIVE MAYBE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL THAN THERE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, I'M NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISED TO SEE IT.

>> THE CONVENTION WISDOM IS BRAUN IS THE FRONTRUNNER BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CANDIDATES.

AND THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM SAYS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT ERIC DODEN HAS BEEN IN THE RACE BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE, RAISED MONEY BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE AND SPENT MONEY BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE, HE MIGHT BE THE TRAILER OF THE FOUR OR FIVE.

DOES THIS MAKE HIM LOOK DESPERATE?

>> THAT IS THE TACTIC THAT BRAUN TOOK.

HE SET UP A WEBSITE CALLING HIM DESPERATE DODEN.

>> TRUMP-ESQUE.

>> ADOPTING SOMETHING FROM HIS POLITICAL MENTOR PERHAPS.

IT SHOWS, I WAS SURPRISED THAT BRAUN EVEN BOTHERED TO PUNCH BACK.

IF HE IS CONSIDERED THE FRONTRUNNER, WHY BOTHER RESPONDING AND SAY SOMETHING HOW YOU SUPPORT QUALIFIED IMMUNITY NOWADAYS OR SOMETHING BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT IS GETTING MESSY ALREADY.

BRAUN WAS QUICK TO PUT THAT UP.

>> IN TERMS OF THAT, ARE YOU SURPRISED BRAUN RESPONDED THE WAY HE DID?

>> YEAH, EITHER IT ISN'T AS BAD AS PEOPLE HAVE ANTICIPATED OR IT IS SOFT, ONE OR THE OTHER.

THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WITH A FIELD THIS LARGE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, OKAY.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FOOD FIGHT BEFORE IT IS OVER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, AND THEY ARE GOING TO USE IT, AND IT'S GOING TO BE NASTY.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, IF YOU WERE ADVISING ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES, OH, HYPOTHETICALLY, SUSAN CROUCH.

WE DON'T EXPECT THIS TO BE THE END OF THE BACK AND FORTH, IF YOU ARE SUSANNE CROUCH, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO GET INTO THE MIX?

>> NOT YET.

THE ANSWER TO WHY DID BRAUN RESPOND THE WAY HE DID?

BECAUSE DODEN HAS UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF MONEY IN A RACE LIKE THIS AND THE TACTIC IS, IF YOU'RE PULLING ME DOWN, I'M NOT CHANGING THE MARGIN.

WE'RE ALL GOING DOWN, RIGHT?

>> I'M ALREADY AHEAD.

YOU WANT TO PULL ME DOWN.

>> YOU'RE DRIVING MY NEGATIVES AND I'M DRIVING YOURS, BUDDY.

>> AND THAT LEAVES ROOM.

>> THEY PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

AND YOU GOT THREE GUYS THAT LOOK THE SAME.

THEY ARE WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN.

>> WHITE GUYS.

>> IF YOU'RE JUST PICKING ONE, WHY WOULDN'T I PICK BRAUN BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD OF THAT GUY.

THE OTHER TWO HAVE TO CHANGE THAT AND THEY HAVE TO CHANGE IT BY STARTING TO GO AFTER HIM.

>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB DIRECTED THE INDIANA FINANCE AUTHORITY THIS WEEK TO TAKE OVER A STUDY LOOKING INTO WHETHER WATER IN TIPPECANOE COUNTY COULD BE USED TO SUPPORT A LARGE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT IN LEBANON.

WBAA'S BEN THORP REPORTS THAT STUDY WAS BEING OVERSEEN BY THE INDIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHICH FACES GROWING OPPOSITION ACROSS THE REGION.

LOCAL OFFICIALS AND SOME STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE BOTH QUESTIONED THE IEDC'S TRANSPARENCY AROUND THE WATER STUDY AND CALLED FOR ANY DATA COLLECTED TO BE SUBMITTED FOR AN INDEPENDENT, THIRD-PARTY REVIEW.

DAVID SANDERS IS A WEST LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCILOR WHO INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION OPPOSING A PROPOSED WATER PIPELINE AND FORMED A LOCAL GROUP, STOP THE WATER STEAL.

HE SAID MOVING THE STUDY AWAY FROM THE IEDC IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

DAVID SANDERS: PEOPLE CONTACTING THEIR LEGISLATORS IS HAVING AN EFFECT.

DEMOCRACY CAN WORK.

IN A STATEMENT, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE IEDC CALLED THE MOVE A QUOTE "NATURAL NEXT STEP IN TAKING THIS STUDY ACROSS THE FINISH LINE."

>> WHITNEY, THERE HAS BEEN GROWING CONCERN ABOUT THIS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, FROM LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

DOES THIS RESOLVE MUCH?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

SENATOR DEARY SAID IT THIS WAY, YOU USUALLY CONDUCT THESE STUDIES BEFORE YOU ANNOUNCE SOMETHING OF THIS SCALE, AND I THINK THAT IT'S INTERESTING THAT, YOU KNOW, NOBODY HAS REALLY STEPPED UP SO MUCH FOR THE BOON FARMERS WHO ARE MAKING THE SAME ACCUSATIONS, BUT THE NEW ONES, THEIR LEGISLATORS BOUGHT INTO IT A LOT QUICKER.

IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THE IEDC AND THE BUSINESS FOLKS BEHIND THIS DIDN'T THINK THERE WOULD BE AS MUCH RESISTANCE IN THE LAFAYETTE REGION.

>> I THINK IF YOU GO UP TO THE AVERAGE HOOSIER ON THE STREET AND SAY, DO YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE INDIANA LAW, I DON'T THEY WON'T HAVE MUCH REGULATION.

I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW WHAT THE INDIANA FINANCIAL COMMISSION IS.

>> GIVE THEM THE TASK OF DOING IT.

>> IN THAT SENSE, DOES IT MAKE THE RIGHT CALL TO HAVE AN AGENCY THAT NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT?

>> MAYBE IF YOU WANT TO SAY TAKE IT OUT OF THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT, PUT IT IN AN AGENCY THAT IS KNOWN AS A BUNCH OF ACCOUNTANTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL HAVE GREEN EYE SHADES, MAYBE THEY WILL WEAR THEM FOR THE OCCASION.

THIS IS A POLITICALLY-CHARGED ISSUE AND A PERFECT ONE TO COME AFTER THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED AND FOR THE CANDIDATES TO DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES.

MORE THAN THE ISSUE THAT PROMPTED THE FIRST NEGATIVE AD, THIS ISSUE HAS A POTENTIAL OF BEING A REAL WEDGE WEDGE IN TERMS OF DIVIDING CANDIDATES AND WE HAVE SOME SAYING, THIS SMART JOB CREATION, SHOVEL READY PROJECTS IS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

SOME SAY, THAT SMACKS OF BEHIND THE DOORS ELITIST AND NONTRANSPORT, SO WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE BATTLE LINES.

>> WE SAW IT ON THE STORY THIS WEEK.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CAME OUT AND CRITICIZED GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB AND SAID THIS ISN'T FAR ENOUGH.

QUITE FRANKLY, IS ERIC HOLCOMB RUNNING OUT THE CLOCK ON THIS?

WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENS WITH L.E.A.P.

IS GOING TO UP TO THE NEXT GOVERNOR IN.

>> THE NEXT GOVERNOR WILL OWN IT FOR SURE.

THEY KNOW ONE HAS TO OWN IT AND IT IS GOING TO TO HAVE TO WORK.

PAYING FOR THE STUDY AND THERE IS CRITICISM BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO SAID IT WAS FINE, OKAY, THE KNOCK ON THAT, SO YOU WENT TO THE FINANCE AUTHORITY.

THERE IS A DIFFERENT SET OF CRITERIA THAT IFA HAS TO LOOK AT.

THEY HAVE TO BE MORE ATTUNE TO THE DEBIT THEY ARE TAKING ON AND WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE BOND PROJECT AND OTHER PROJECTS.

HE IS SEEING THE WHOLE FIELD, INCLUDING L.E.A.P., AND THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE PAYING FOR STUDY AND THE GOVERNMENT NOT DOING IT WHEN IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S PROJECT IS WHOEVER YOU HIRE TO BUILD IT AND YOU WON'T LIKE THAT EITHER.

>> TO THAT END, NO MATTER WHAT STUDY IFA MIGHT COME OUT WITH, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WEARY OF THIS RIGHT NOW, UNLESS THAT STUDY SAYS, NO THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WATER, WE SHOULD SHOULDN'T DO IT, DOES IT MATTER WHAT THE STUDY SAYS?

>> PROBABLY NOT, ACTUALLY.

HAVING SAID THAT, THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS, ONE IS THERE ENOUGH WATER AND WE KNOW IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, WE ARE NOT AS WATER RICH AS THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT.

EVEN IF THERE IS ENOUGH WATER, THEN THE QUESTION IS, WHO IS GOING TO PAY TO BRING THAT WATER TO THAT SOURCE?

ONE ESTIMATE IT WAS GOING TO BE $200 MILLION TO PROVIDE 20% OF THE WATER NEEDED AND WHO IS GOING TO TREAT THAT WATER?

IT IS NOT ONLY USED FOR COOLING.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING IN THERE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KINDS OF PROJECTS OR WHAT KIND OF EMPLOYERS THEY ARE HOPING TO BRING.

BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO JUST GET IF THE WATER IS AVAILABLE JUST TO GET IT THERE, WHO IS PAYING FOR THAT?

WE'RE ALREADY PAYING $100,000 AN ACRE FOR THIS PROPERTY AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIND OUT WHO IS GOING TO PAY IT.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE GOVERNMENT WHO SETS UP THE PROGRAM.

>> I JUST SAID THE NEXT GOVERNOR IS GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS, BUT IS THE LEGISLATURE GOING TO STEP INTO THIS IN 2024 IN.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL STEP INTO IT IN 2024.

THIS IS A MULTIYEAR PROJECT.

>> RIGHT.

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