>>BRANDON: WE LOOK AHEAD INTO 2021.

COVID-19'S IMPACT ON THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

A POTENTIAL FIGHT OVER EMERGENCY POWERS.

PLUS, REDISTRICTING, THE BUDGET AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 1ST, 2021.

>>>THIS WEEK, WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION...A SESSION THAT'S ALMOST CERTAIN TO BE DOMINATED, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BY COVID-19.

THE TONE OF THE SESSION WAS LIKELY SET ON ORGANIZATION DAY IN NOVEMBER, WHEN LEADERS OF BOTH PARTIES TALKED ABOUT THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND HOW THEY WOULD INFLUENCE LAWMAKERS' AGENDAS THIS YEAR.

HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON SAID HE'S LEARNED THAT THE HOOSIER STATE'S POOR PUBLIC HEALTH HAS HAD A DISPROPORTIONATELY NEGATIVE IMPACT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>>REP.

TODD HUSTON: WE HAVE TO CREATE INCENTIVES AND POLICIES TO HELP HOOSIERS BE HEALTHIER.

AND THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS WILL BRING LEGISLATION FORWARD THIS SESSION TO DO JUST THAT.

>>BRANDON: SENATE MINORITY LEADER GREG TAYLOR SAYS THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED SHARP DISPARITIES THAT ALREADY EXISTED.

>>SEN.

GREG TAYLOR: AND YES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE NOW MOVED TO THE FOREFRONT AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM THIS VIRUS.

>>BRANDON: THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION'S SCHEDULED START IS JANUARY 4.

JUST HOW MUCH WILL COVID-19 DOMINATE THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL: DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY REPUBLICAN JENNIFER HALLOWELL 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.

JENNIFER HALLOWELL, HOW MUCH -- IF YOU ARE A LAWMAKER THAT WANTS TO GET SOMETHING DONE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO COVID HOW DIFFICULT WILL THAT BE IN THE 2021 SESSION?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

IT'S A BUDGET SESSION AND EVERYTHING WILL BE DOMINATED BY COVID AND THE SCHEDULE MAY END UP CHANGING.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF ISSUES, SOME DIRECTLY COVID RELATED AND SOME FRANKLY, ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE BROADBAND ACCESS, ISSUES AS THE SPEAKER MENTIONED, A LOT OF THINGS THAT REALLY WE REALIZED OUR BIGGER ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THIS TIME PERIOD.

AND SO THERE WILL BE SECOND AND THIRD LAYER EFFECTS OF ISSUES THAT COME TOGETHER.

ULTIMATELY THEY HAVE TO PASS A BUDGET.

THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO MUCH MORE THAN THAT CERTAINLY READ DISTRICTING WILL HAVE TO TAKE PLACE ALSO.

BUT I THINK THAT IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE SOMETIMES FOR US TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT MAY NOT FALL DIRECTLY IN LINE.

>> WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT REDISTRICTING AND THE BUDGETING AND A SECOND.

ANN DELANEY, IN SOME WAYS IT'S COVID NINETEENS FOCUS WILL BRING NEW LIFE TO ISSUES WE'VE DEBATED FOR YEARS.

I THINK ABOUT INCREASING THE CIGARETTE TAX SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DEBATED AND PASSED BY THE HOUSE IN MULTIPLE PAST SESSIONS.

WITH THE RENEWED FOCUS ON HEALTH OUTCOMES AND THE NEED FOR REVENUE GIVE LIFE TO THAT AMONG COVID-19?

>> YOU WOULD HOPE SO.

THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO PUT CAPS ON CIGARETTES AND IT WOULD GIVE US MONEY.

I'M HAPPY TO HEAR SPEAKER HOUSTON TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO ADDRESS PUBLIC HEALTH AND I HOPE AS PART OF THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE REVENUE THAT WE ARE 48 OUT OF THE 50TH STATES AND WHAT WE SPEND ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND THAT REFLECTS THE FACT THAT NATURALLY OUR POOR HEALTH SHOWING REFLECTS THE FACT THAT WE ARE 48 OUT OF 50 ON WHERE WE STAND ON EDUCATION AND EARLY TREATMENT AND INTERVENTION IN NUTRITION AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC HEALTH SO I AM GLAD TO HEAR HE WILL MAKE THAT A FOCUS BUT TO DO THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE REVENUE.

THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE OFF THEIR NO CAPS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES HANG OUT AND START THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE PUBLIC CITIZENS OF INDIANA NEED TO GET AND STAY HEALTHY AND REALLY TO REWARD THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SO EXEMPLARY SINCE THIS CRISIS.

YOUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND WORKERS IN THE NURSING HOME, TEACHERS ABOVE AND BEYOND.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE STEPPED UP DESPITE THE RISK, WE NEED TO HAVE OUR PRIORITIES REFLECT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> NIKI KELLY, JENNIFER HOLLOWELL ALLUDED TO THIS WHICH IS WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THE SESSION WILL LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF HOW COVID MIGHT DIRECTLY IMPACT IN TERMS OF PEOPLE GETTING THE VIRUS AND HAVING TO QUARANTINE AND DOES THAT POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A SHUTDOWN.

DO WE HAVE THOSE ANSWERS FOR HOW THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE SORT OF TRYING TO AVOID SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

>> I THINK THEY ARE STILL FINALIZING PROTOCOLS ON TESTING, WHO THEY HAVE TO LET KNOW IF THEY'VE HAD EXPOSURE, THAT TYPE OF THING.

EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH EXPECTS SOME SORT OF SLOW DOWN OR SHUT DOWN AT SOME POINT.

TO GET THAT MANY PEOPLE AROUND EACH OTHER DAY-AFTER-DAY AFTER DAY AND NOT EXPECT SOME CASES JUST IS NOT REALISTIC.

AND DEPENDING HOW BAD THE SHUTDOWNS ARE, MAYBE SWITCHED TO TAKING SOME TIME OFF AND WORKING MORE IN MAY AND JUNE INSTEAD.

AND THAT MIGHT ALSO HELP SOME LOGISTICAL ISSUES.

>> THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT THE INFORMATION TO REDISTRICT AND I WILL REMIND THE AUDIENCE THAT THE DEADLINE TO ADJOURN THE SESSION IS APRIL 29 BUT THAT DEADLINE EXIST IN STATE LAW AND IS EASY TO CHANGE OR SAY ONE YEAR IF THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON.

JON SCHWANTES, LAWMAKERS HAVE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO LIMIT THE BILLS THEY ARE CONSIDERING BECAUSE THE REALITY OF ALL OF THIS IS IT WILL NOT BE A NORMAL SESSION IN EVERY SINGLE WAY AND THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET NEARLY AS MUCH DONE AS I WOULD LIKE TO.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HOOSIERS SHOULD EXPECT FOR ONE YEAR?

>> THERE WILL BE A CONTRACTION INCAPACITY AND IT MAY TRANSLATE INTO A LAMENT MEANING THERE ARE FEWER BILLS INTRODUCED BY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

I DO THINK THE VAST MAJORITY WILL EITHER HAVE A DIRECT FOCUS ON COVID-19 ISSUES OR TO THE EXTENT SOMEBODY CAN TAKE AN ISSUE AND ARGUE IN SOME TANGENTIAL FASHION THIS WILL BENEFIT THE STATE IF AND WHEN THE NEXT PANDEMIC ROLES AROUND, WE WILL SEE THAT.

I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED FOR INSTANCE, DURING THE BUDGET PROCEEDINGS TO SEE ANY AND ALL THE UNIVERSITIES CERTAINLY THE RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AND STATES MAKE A PITCH FOR ANY PLANS THEY'VE HAD STORED IN THE CLOSET FOR ADDITIONAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, VACCINATION RESEARCH, CUTTING EDGE IN TERMS OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

IF THERE WOULD BE AN APPETITE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET OR OPERATING FOR EXPANSION IT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN.

LASTLY, I'M NOT SURE THEY WOULD EVEN NEED TO CHANGE THE LAW AND THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT, BUT WITHOUT A STATE BUDGET THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION IS FOR THE GOVERNOR TO CALL THEM BACK INTO SESSION I WOULD ASSUME SINCE THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS AND HOUSE AND SENATE AND A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER WITHOUT HAVING TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO CHANGE THE SCHEDULE AND THE MANNER IN WHICH SPECIAL SESSIONS ARE CALLED.

>> SPEAKING OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAJORITIES WORKING TO GATHER ... >>>A MAJORITY OF HOOSIERS SAY THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS SHOULD BE MORE LIMITED - THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE LATEST EDITION OF THE BALL STATE HOOSIER SURVEY.

THE LATEST POLL OF 600 HOOSIERS SHOWS THAT 60 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS SUPPORT CHANGING INDIANA LAW TO REQUIRE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO APPROVE ANY EXTENSION OF A GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY ORDER BEYOND 30 DAYS.

THAT INCLUDES 56 PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS AND 63 PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS IN THE SURVEY.

THE SURVEY RESULTS COME AHEAD OF A LIKELY DEBATE IN THE 2021 SESSION OVER MANY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS' DESIRE TO CURTAIL THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS.

BALL STATE POLITICAL SCIENTIST CHARLES TAYLOR SAYS IT WILL BE A TEST OF GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB'S LEADERSHIP AND SWAY OVER THE GOP-CONTROLLED GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>>CHARLES TAYLOR: TO TRY AND TALK THEM DOWN FROM ANY PROPOSALS THAT WOULD SEVERELY LIMIT FUTURE GOVERNORS OR LIMIT HIM IN HIS SECOND TERM.

>>BRANDON: LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY INTEND TO AT LEAST DEBATE THE ISSUE.

AND ALIGNING, WE ARE 9-10 MONTHS WITH THE GOVERNOR ESTABLISHING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ISSUING EXECUTIVE ORDER AFTER EXECUTIVE ORDER TO CONFRONT IT WITH NO LITERAL INPUT FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE'S TALKED TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SO SHOULD THEY TIGHTEN THEIR CONTROL OR ASSERT MORE AUTHORITY OVER THESE -- THE GOVERNOR.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I TAKE THE GOVERNOR AT HIS WORD BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON AND I DON'T KNOW HOW REALISTIC IT IS TO SET AN ARBITRARY 30 DAY DEADLINE.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEVERE PANDEMIC AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CAN'T GET A QUORUM OR YOU HAVE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE EITHER WORRIED ABOUT CONTRACTING WHATEVER THE NEXT PANDEMIC IS OR ARE ALREADY UNDER THE WEATHER?

WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

THE EMERGENCY ORDER JUST EXPIRES EVEN AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED IT THE MOST.

WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.

GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB DID NOT MAKE HIS RIGHT WING HAPPY BECAUSE HE PRESUMABLY DID SO MUCH AND DIDN'T MAKE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF HOOSIERS BECAUSE HE DID TOO LITTLE.

I THINK YOU CHALK THAT UP.

THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN EVERY YEAR BUT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND A GOVERNOR, WHEN YOU CAN'T PREDICT WHAT THE NEXT CRISIS IS IS NOT VERY GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.

>> JENNIFER IS HOLCOMB HEADED FOR A FIGHT OVER THIS ISSUE?

>> I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE RAISED CONCENS, BUT ULTIMATELY AS ANN AND OTHERS HAVE INDICATED, THE GOVERNOR HAS TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE AND RUN THE STATE AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS FEASIBLE OR ADVISABLE TO BRING 150 LEGISLATORS TO INDIANAPOLIS DURING A PANDEMIC.

SO I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME DISCUSSION AROUND THIS BUT I DON'T EXPECT IT WILL BE A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE.

>> JON SCHWANTES, WOULD YOU PREDICT WE WOULD SEE CHANGES TO THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWER AUTHORITIES?

>> AT THE EDGES WE MIGHT SEE SOME CHANGES AND IT MIGHT BE SOME SORT OF ADDITIONAL LAYER OF REVIEW BY THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH WHETHER -- I'M NOT SURE IT WOULD NECESSARILY REQUIRE A QUORUM FOR THE REASONS ANN MENTIONED.

HOW DO YOU GET 150 PEOPLE OR 2/3 OF THOSE PEOPLE TO INDIANAPOLIS TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.

MAYBE SOME SORT OF LEADERSHIP REVIEW OR SOME OTHER GROUP THAT MIGHT BE EASIER TO CONVENE.

BUT I DOUBT WE WILL GO BACK TO WHAT WE HAD FOR INSTANCE, THIS ALL CAME OUT OF HURRICANE KATRINA AND THE AFTERMATH ONE STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE SAYING IF NOT A HURRICANE I DOUBT A HURRICANE WILL HIT INDIANA, BUT IF SOME SIMILAR DISASTER WITH THAT SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, WHAT WOULD WE DO SO I DON'T THINK WE WILL GO BACK TO BEFORE THAT WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE BOOKS.

JUST SOME WORK AT THE MARGINS.

>> NIKI KELLY IN TERMS OF THE CHALLENGES OF SOMETHING HAPPENING TO THAT EMERGENCY AUTHORITY, WE BOTH TALKED TO REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND THERE'S NOT A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE ALL THE POWER THAT ERIC HOLCOMB HAS HAD FOR THE LAST TEN MONTHS.

>> VIRTUALLY EVERY GOP LAWMAKER I TALKED TO WANTS SOME SORT OF DISCUSSION.

THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN A 30 DAY OR NOTHING OR NINE MONTHS OR TEN MONTHS AND KEEP REVIEWING IT AND SOME THINGS I'VE HEARD ARE BASICALLY SAYING MAYBE DO IT FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEN THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE TO ACT.

SO TO ANN'S POINT FROM EARLIER, IF THEY COULDN'T GET THERE OR WHATEVER IT WOULD REQUIRE LIKE A PROACTIVE VOTE TO STOP IT.

SO THAT IS ONE OPTION ON THE TABLE.

>>>2021 IS A REDISTRICTING YEAR, AND INDIANA VOTER ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE CREATING WHAT THEY'RE CALLING A "SHADOW" REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TO GIVE HOOSIERS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRAST WHEN LAWMAKERS REDRAW LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT LINES.

GROUPS LIKE COMMON CAUSE INDIANA HAVE LONG CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TO DRAW INDIANA'S LEGISLATIVE MAPS.

TAKING IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF LAWMAKERS, THEY SAY, WILL RESULT IN FAIRER, MORE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY - WHOSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS HAS LONG OPPOSED SUCH A COMMISSION - HAS SAID A TRULY INDEPENDENT BODY WOULD BE DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO PUT TOGETHER.

>>SEN.

RODRIC BRAY: YOU CAN SAY IT'S A NONPARTISAN BOARD THAT YOU WOULD APPOINT.

BUT EVERYBODY COMES TO THE POLL OR ANY POSITION WITH SOME POLITICAL INTEREST.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO APPOINT THAT NONPARTISAN PERSON ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN WHAT THAT PERSON'S PHILOSOPHY IS EITHER, WHETHER IT'S PUBLICLY KNOWN OR NOT.

>>BRANDON: BUT COMMON CAUSE INDIANA DIRECTOR JULIA VAUGHN SAID THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS SHADOW COMMISSION HOPES TO DISPEL.

SHE SAYS THE GROUP WILL INCLUDE REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELONG TO EITHER PARTY.

THE SHADOW COMMISSION HAS NO ACTUAL POWER.

IT SERVES AS A PUBLIC ALTERNATIVE TO WHATEVER MAPS LAWMAKERS DRAW IN 2021.

>> JENNIFER ALL COME TO YOU ON THIS QUESTION DO YOU THINK THIS SHADOW COMMISSION THEY ARE CALLING IT WILL HAVE ANY PRACTICAL EFFECT ON THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS THIS YEAR?

>> I DON'T THINK -- YOU KNOW I DON'T THINK IT WILL.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH PRO TEM SENATOR BRADY.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A GROUP WITHOUT BIAS.

EVERYONE IS GOING TO BRING BIAS TO THE SITUATION AND WHETHER IT'S DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS NONPROFITS ET CETERA THEY HAVE POLITICAL LEANINGS AND FRANKLY, I THINK IT IS BETTER TO LEAVE THE PROCESS UP TO PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THE VOTERS OF THE STATE.

THEY HAVE BOTH THE SPEAKER AND SENATOR PRO TEM HAVE SAID THAT THEY WILL HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS AND IT WILL BE A TRANSPARENT PROCESS AND SO THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND SHAPE THAT PROCESS.

BUT I BELIEVE IT IS AS IT SHOULD BE, A DECISION MADE BY LEGISLATORS WHO ARE ELECTED BY VOTERS.

>> ANN DELANEY WILL THIS COMMISSION HAVE ANY PRACTICAL EFFECT?

>> I THINK IT MIGHT SHAME THE REPUBLICANS INTO DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE FAIR.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THESE DISTRICTS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE A THEOLOGIAN TO JUSTIFY THE PARAMETERS OF THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN DRAWN.

I FIND IT REALLY IRONIC WHEN THE SENATOR SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE A NONPARTISAN COMMISSION.

YOU CAN HAVE NONPARTISAN FACTS AND STATISTICS AND ALL IN AREAS OF INTEREST AND BOUNDARIES AND THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE.

INSTEAD OF HAVING A NONPARTISAN BOARD, HE WANTS TO HAVE THE MOST PARTISAN GROUP MAKE THE DECISION.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOLDING THOSE PIECES AND YOU'D THINK THEY DON'T WANT TO PROTECT THEM.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT THINK THEY SHOULD CHOOSE THEIR VOTERS RATHER THAN HAVE VOTERS CHOOSE THEM AND THEY'VE TAKEN IT TO AN ART FORM WITH COMPUTERS SO IT'S THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY FOR HIM TO SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE NONPARTISANSHIP WHEN HE AND HIS CAUCUS AND THE CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE ARE THE MOST PARTISAN OF ALL.

>> JON SCHWANTES, I ASKED ORIGINALLY ABOUT PRACTICAL EFFECT AND I WANT TO ASK THAT AGAIN, BUT NOT IN THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM, VOTER ADVOCACY GROUPS CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO DRAW LINES INTO THE NEXT DECADE BEFORE WE DRAW DISTRICT LINES AGAIN TEN YEARS FROM NOW.

WILL HAVING THIS GROUP DESIGN A MAP AND BE ABLE TO CONTRAST THAT WITH WHATEVER LAWMAKERS COME UP WITH INTO THE FUTURE, WILL THAT GIVE THEM MORE HOPE THAT CHANGE COMES IN THE FUTURE?

>> MAYBE.

I DOUBT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME.

THE MAPS THE SUPER MAJORITY WANT TO PRODUCE WILL IN THE END BE THE MAPS THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES WANT TO PRODUCE.

CLEARLY AS WE SEE FEWER AND FEWER CONTESTED RACES, WHILE WE SEE VOTER TURNOUT SUFFERING ACCORDINGLY WITH THIS PAST ELECTION BEING A BIT OF AN EXCEPTION BECAUSE PERS BECAUSE PRESIDENTIAL CONTESTS.

I THINK WE GET TO A POINT WHERE PEOPLE SEE WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE RACES IN OUR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT SO WE CAN VOTE FOR IT.

CLEARLY THE CURRENT SYSTEM DISCOURAGES THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF IT YOU COULD SAY WITH THE EMERGENCE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE YOU COULD -- I'M ONLY BEING HALF FACETIOUS.

YOU COULD HAVE AN ALGORITHM THAT WOULD BE A STARTING POINT.

OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE WILL SAY HUMANS WRITE THE ALGORITHMS AND THAT'S TRUE, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE A STARTING POINT WHERE IT'S BLINDLY POPULATION CENTERS AND THE NOTION OF HAVING CONTIGUOUS AREAS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BE A STARTING POINT.

>> THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.

>>>LAWMAKERS WILL WRITE A NEW, TWO-YEAR STATE BUDGET THIS SESSION - AND IT'S NOT NEARLY AS ROSY AS ANYONE WOULD HAVE HOPED.

AS WE TAPE THIS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LATEST REVENUE FORECAST LOOKS LIKE...BUT IT'S LIKELY LEGISLATORS WILL HAVE TO MAKE PLENTY OF TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT SPENDING THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AS THE PANDEMIC HAS WREAKED HAVOC ON STATE FINANCES.

GOVERNOR HOLCOMB WAS ABLE TO ENSURE K-12 SCHOOLS GOT THEIR FULL FUNDING FOR THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR.

HOWEVER...NIKI KELLY, WILL SCHOOLS BE SPARED THE KNIFE IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO AVOID THAT.

MAYBE EVEN HOPING FOR STATUS QUO BUDGET WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU HAVE $7 MILLION A YEAR SPENT ON K-12 A 1 PERCENT INCREASE AS A AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIND NEW REVENUE OR TAKE IT SOMEPLACE ELSE.

>> TO NIKI'S POINT IS A STATUS QUO BUDGET GETTING THE SAME MONEY THEY GOT IN THE LAST STATE BUDGET IS THAT REALLY THE BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR A LOT OF FO FOLKS?

>> REALISTICALLY IT PROBABLY WOULD BE ABOUT AS GOOD AS WE MIGHT EXPECT WHICH IS TOUGH BECAUSE ONE COULD ARGUE IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC THERE NEVER HAS BEEN A GREATER NEED FOR EDUCATION FUNDING BECAUSE JUST THE FATE OF THE PANEMIC WE HAVE KIDS WHO REALLY HAVE BEEN DEALT A SIGNIFICANT BLOW IN THEIR FUNDAMENTAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT ESPECIALLY IN THE PRIMARY GRADES WITH MATH AND BASIC ENGLISH AND GRAMMAR.

YOU WOULD ARGUE IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME TO BUMP IT UP THIS WOULD BE IT BUT THAT WISH AND THE REALITY OF TIGHT BUDGETS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY COLLIDE.

>> THAT'S THE CASE WITH A LOT OF ISSUES WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY FOCUSED ON LOOKING FOR BROADBAND AND WHERE TO FIND THE MONEY FOR THAT WHEN YOU NEED IT MORE THAN EVER.

JENNIFER HOLLOWELL AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE STATE BUDGET HOW MUCH WILL END UP BEING DETERMINED BY WHETHER OR NOT WE GET MORE FEDERAL RELIEF AND WHEN I SAY FEDERAL RELIEF DIRECTLY TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

>> THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR AND CERTAINLY WHERE SHOULD THAT THE FOLKS IN WASHINGTON COULD COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WOULD HELP STATE AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

WE CLEARLY NEED MORE COVID RELIEF FUNDING AND THE SOONER THE BETTER.

I WILL SAY KEEP IN MIND GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB AND THE REPUBLICAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY INCREASE THE K-12 EDUCATION BUDGET IN THE LAST CYCLE BY $760 MILLION WHICH IS GREAT AND CERTAINLY A GOOD PLACE TO START.

THE GOVERNOR HAS STATED THAT EDUCATION IS A PRIORITY, THE HOUSE SPEAKER AS AS WELL AS THE SENATOR PRO TEM SO IT'S GOING TO BE A TOP PRIORITY BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS AND IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY DIFFICULT BUDGET CYCLE AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED.

>> ANN DELANEY IF EDUCATION SIMPLY CAN'T GET A BUDGET INCREASE IN THE NEXT TWO-YEAR STATE BUDGET IS IT HARD TO BLAME LAWMAKERS FOR THAT?

>> I THINK IT IS.

THE ENTIRE YEAR BUDGET IS CONFIRMED BY SPENDING AND IT'S ALSO BEEN DETERMINED BY REVENUE AND WASHINGTON SHOULD HELP AND LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE PROPOSE FUNDING FOR LOCAL AND STATE BUDGETS.

IT'S MITCH MCCONNELL WHO WON'T LET THAT OCCUR.

NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO THERE ARE REVENUE SOURCES.

THAT IS THERE.

WE COULD ROLLBACK THAT THE INCOME TAX MIKE PENCE PUT IN AND THE CORPORATE TAX THAT'S GOING THROUGH.

THERE ARE WAYS TO INCREASE REVENUE.

THE GOVERNOR HAD PROMISED TEACHERS NOT JUST THAT THEY WOULD BE, TOLD BUT THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY BEGIN TO FUND THEM COMMENSURATE WITH THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO FLAT LINE OR CUT THE BUDGET YOU WILL NOT DO THAT AND THAT'S INEXCUSABLE.

AND STOCKING OR HOUSES AND IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THE STATE HAVE THE INPUT AND IF THE GOVERNOR FAILS TO LIVE UP TO HIS PROMISE YES.

>> LET'S NOT FORGET TEACHER SALARY NOT DETERMINED BY THE STATE BUT THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.

>> IT'S DETERMINED BY WAYS TO MAKE IT DETERMINED BY THE STATE.

>> THEY HAVE RESISTED.

THEY'VE RESISTED DOING THAT.

VERY QUICKLY ... >>>2020 BROUGHT A RENEWED FOCUS ON RACIAL INEQUITY AND POLICE VIOLENCE IN THE WAKE OF THE KILLINGS OF GEORGE FLOYD AND BREONNA TAYLOR, AMONG OTHERS.

IT'S PROMPTED THE INDIANA BLACK LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS TO DEVELOP AN EVEN MORE ROBUST AGENDA FOR 2021.

AND REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE GREG STEUERWALD IS PRIVATELY WORKING ON WHAT HOPES TO BE A CONSENSUS AGENDA FOR POLICE REFORM ISSUES.

ANN DELANEY, WILL WE SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASS ANY POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION IN 2021...AND IF IT DOES, WILL IT BE SOMETHING THE BLACK CAUCUS WILL SUPPORT?

VERY QUICKLY.

>> I THINK THE REPRESENTATIVE IS WORKING HARD TO COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE SOLUTION THAT I THINK IT WILL NOT BE EVERYTHING THE BLACK CAUCUS WANTS BUT WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT.

WE HAVE TO GET REPUBLICAN RURAL LEGISLATURES TO SAY IT LET THE CITIES DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.

THIS IS PART OF THE DIFFICULTY.

THEY WANT TO INTRUDE THEMSELVES ON HOW DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF RACIAL INEQUALITY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

LET THE LOCALS DEAL WITH THIS AND A LOT OF THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO CAST THE TERRIBLE VOTES.

THAT WOULD BE THE WAY THE BLACK CAUCUS SHOULD HAVE THIS HAPPEN.

>> JENNIFER HOLLOWELL WILL THERE BE POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION THE KIND THE BLACK OFFICE WOULD SUPPORT?

>> ROBUST DISCUSSION WILL BE HAD AROUND THIS.

I DO THINK SOMETHING WILL PASS AND FRANKLY, I THINK IT WILL BE MORE THAN WHAT ANYONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED A YEAR AGO AND ALSO I WOULD JUST POINT OUT GOVERNOR HOLCOMB HAS TAKEN STEPS WITH THE STATE POLICE TO MAKE CHANGES AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> AT THE STATE POLICE ACADEMY.

>>>THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY, REPUBLICAN JENNIFER HALLOWELL 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.

STAYS SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, HAPPY NEW YEAR AND JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.