Indiana Dems push cannabis legalization.

Eli Lilly makes a stark assessment of Indiana's competitiveness.

Plus, disappointing Kids Count data and more on Indiana Week in Review for the week ending April 22, 2022.

>> Indiana week in Review is made possible by: >> This week, the Indiana Democratic Party launched a statewide tour to promote cannabis legalization.

And @coinciding with the launch on 4-20 - an unofficial weed holiday - Demoratic Senate candidate Tom McDermott released an ad i which he smokes a joint.

The tour launch event included several veterans groups, which have been among the chief voices calling for at least legalization of cannabis for medicinal use.

Veteran Destiny Scott Wells, a Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, says she sees an opportunity for Hoosier businesses and farmers.

>> Indiana is letting easy money leave the state, because we're watching it come before the revenue forming in the state.

>> McDermott admitted he was nervous filming the commercial - which was shot in Illinois, where cannabis is legal.

And he says while cannabis legalization isn't the most important issue facing Hoosiers, it's something he says needs to be fixed.

>> It should be treated like alcohol.

We don't think children under the age of 21 should be able to access it either.

>> Statehouse Republicans have refused to even hear legislation on cannabis legalization.

And Governor Eric Holcomb has repeatedly said he wants the federal government to act first.

Can Democrats turn this into a winning issue at the ballot box?

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 Lindsey.

I'm Indiana Public Broadcasting Statehouse reporter Brandon Smith Ann DeLaney, McDermott acknowledged this is not the most important issue facing Hoosiers.

But can it change votes?

>> Clearly it is not the most important issue.

There's a half a dozen that are more important It may motivate younger population, younger, veterans, people -- it is about time we put this issue aside.

We ought to be regulating it the same way we regulate alcohol.

We ought to be getting tax revenue from it.

People ought to have it available.

It is particularly a problem when you -- when you realize it does help people with terminal cancer, it does help veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorders and other kinds of injuries.

It is a useful product.

We're covering up.

It is senseless.

Illinois has it.

Michigan had it.

Other states had it.

It's still existing.

>> I don't know.

Some people think Illinois is chaos.

>> How about Michigan?

>> There's a democratic Governor.

>> Now it is chaos.

>> That's chaos.

>> We'll see how it goes in '24.

>> Can this be an issue?

It won't be the biggest issue?

Can it be an issue that changes votes?

>> I don't know.

I don't think so.

I think it falls in the bucket of Sunday sales, sports betting, other things if you poll it, I'm sure democrats have a poll sitting on the desk this is overall popular and it motivates zero people or few people that are probably already over there.

You know, I think it is one of those issues that polls well.

It is not a reason not to do it.

It is not going to turn the election.

I think two things.

One, the Governor is correct.

This should be taken care at the federal level first to create a national solution for it that has equitable standards across the board or actually permit states to do this.

This legalization movement is not legalization.

It is local.

It is local enforcement limits.

Logistical problems to the fact that it is still banned at the federal level.

Banking and things like that.

>> Right.

That's not an honest conversation.

One.

The legalization side.

Because of the federal inaction.

And two it is not an honest conversation to come and go we're leaving a lot of revenue on the table.

If you look at the other states that have done this.

This is pretty subtle this this point.

We're two decades in.

Colorado is always the people pointing to the the earliest and most developed market.

If you think at their revenue, for every $1, they are spending $4 somewhere else.

The motor vehicle deaths that are attributed to marijuana or enforcement has to change.

The black market you are trying to displace doesn't go away.

It becomes harder for law enforcement to go find it.

There's a lot of other things.

Those are not reasons to not legalize it.

I'm not a prude on this.

The Governor is not a prude on this.

There's a complete way to sell the story if you are going to go to the State House and try to sell it.

>> McDermott acknowledged until the press -- in the press conference he was nervous doing this.

Talk about how this has changed in such a rapid amount of time.

>> It's been rapid.

Many campaigns where the press corps would ask at some point if the office that was being soughs pertinent to law enforcement or not whether that person had used marijuana or drugs.

>> Before the Governor's race.

>> I remember sweating about it The state's drug czar.

How anguished he was to admit he had tried it.

Worried about it.

Perhaps being in the signaling the end of his political career Fast forward to this.

I mean it is -- I think we all knew and had that the issue had changed.

As much as we've seen gay marriage, gay rights, and gay recognition of alternative lifestyles.

That's been another dramatic change, I think.

Still to see a -- an office seeker at that level doing drugs in an ad is a bit of a surprise.

It is an indication of just how far we've come.

Democrats are clearly hoping to get to your question this breaks out from the clutter.

We have some issues.

Is it economy?

Inflation?

Is it China?

Is it this?

If they want to do it, it would be inflation and marijuana and say, look at the camera and say do you know what's happened to your marijuana pricing because of supply chain issues?

You are paying 50% more than than last year at this time.

Only we can solve your problem.

>> I like that ad.

Is there any downside for McDermott?

>> That's a good question.

I guess we'll find out.

The question that you asked does it work and get more people to vote for him.

Does it work as a downside?

Was it a positive for him?

I think you would have, you know, this isn't just a democratic or republican issue.

You have some republicans who support this.

You have libertarians who support this.

You obviously have democrats who support this.

I think the big question is that a big enough issue to make them say, okay, I don't agree with him on X, Y, and Z issues.

I agree with him a lot on this.

I'm going to vote for him on this and cross party lines in some way.

I don't know.

Are the democrats who will probably vote for him regardless because he's a democrat, they are going to support the party.

Does this defer them from voting for him?

I don't think so.

>> I think the veteran groups are the real X factor.

That's been a growing voice at at the State House for obvious reasons Ann talked about that.

If they mobilize in any significant way, the veterans are powerful.

>> That's what has taken the stigma away more than anything.

The fact that when you have people standing in front of the American flag saying I fought for this country.

I need this.

[inaudible conversations] >> Formally, it takes the notion it is a hippy/60's trend.

>> It may be.

>> Cheech and Chong.

>> Time now for viewer feedback Each week we pose a poll question.

The question is will Indiana fully legalize cannabis within the next three years?

A.

Yes B.

No Last week's question: Should Indiana University recognize its graduate worker union?

A.

Yes B.

No If you would like to take part in the poll go to WFYI.org/IWIR and look for the poll.

Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly's CEO David Ricks told a crowd at the Economic Club of Indiana this week that the Hoosier State isn't keeping up in key areas of competition for economic development.

That's according to a report in the Indianapolis Business Journal.

The IBJ story reports that Ricks acknowledged Indiana's low cost of living, positive business tax climate and transportation investments.

But Ricks reportedly said that Indiana doesn't measure up in the education attainment of its workforce, health care costs, green energy and the inclusion of minority groups and immigrants.

IBJ notes that Ricks's comments come amid recent announcements that Lilly is investing $3 billion in new facilities outside of Indiana.

Mike O'Brien, how concerned should Hoosiers be about the Lilly CEO's comments?

>> I noticed the price of insulin wasn't on the list of things he could easily address.

I notice if you compliment, there are things that legislature and Governors passed to focus on.

Great benefit and affordability.

There's a new emphasis in quality of life and quality of place.

Which is why you've seen, you know, huge investments in communities to bring projects online.

The state went through another version of that.

If you look at State House the last couple of sessions, as the utility market is moving towards renewables, so is the legislative regulation.

They are focused on stopping locals from killing the projects, because coal has been in their backyard forever.

We've had huge fights over siting.

As the legislature's focus kind of continues to move that direction, we'll improve in the areas.

>> The Ready Grant Program, the latest round which was paid for by federal dollars.

Isn't that getting at exactly the sort of thing.

>> I don't think it gets at exactly the same sort of thing.

He's basically saying the one-trick pony of cutting taxes which is what the republican-controlled legislature and Governor's office has done for the last 18 years is not sufficient.

You've got to invest in the future.

You've got to invest heavily in education.

Not just to play catch up, but for higher ed and other things.

And you need a healthy population.

What he's saying to people is we are a major employer in the State of Indiana.

When we're expanding, we're looking to states that are, like, for example, Taxachussetts is what they used to call Massachusetts.

They want to go there because they used the money to invest.

In sharp contrast to Indiana.

>> They don't have the same economy.

>> Well, it is partly his early adoption of ObamaCare, you are right.

>> She brought it right back.

>> It is not only that.

It is also the emphasis on education.

That's where we're missing the boat.

We're missing the boat deliberately because the republicans are question void of ideas.

The one party in control for the last 18 years has meant -- they don't look at whether the ideas work.

We don't have report cards or score cards after they do the projects.

He's giving the score card to Indiana.

What he's saying is you are getting an F. I'm moving elsewhere.

>> That's part of the sideswipe on Dave.

These are the guys we should be listening to.

Clearly they are the ones on the ground They are trying to bring here who we want to live here.

>> Stop social issues.

We have to stop with the social issues.

>> That was exactly the question that I wanted to ask you.

Part of the message to the economic club is you have to go and tell policymakers this is what we need.

Our policymakers at the Indiana State House and Republican Majority listening?

>> No.

>> I have to laugh at that question a little bit.

Are they listening?

These are issues that business leaders have been talking about for years at this point.

We've talked on the show about health care costs and business leaders going to the State House and saying this is not sustainable.

We're struggling.

We've heard things come up about work force development, about education, about inclusion.

That might be the biggest one that we've heard business leaders talking about with.

RIFRA and the trans gender and CRT.

Yeah.

We've heard their voices at the State House on the social issues not direct business issues a lot lately.

I think David Ribbings is just really shining a spotlight on it.

Again whether or not they listen, I don't know.

I mean, because they made tweaks to some of the issues that we just talked about.

The refresh sticks.

>> After the tsunami.

>> We had a hate crimes bill that some liked, some didn't.

We're not going to debate that.

>> He shines the spotlight on it.

He also shines the spotlight on the well educated, centrist, progressive central Indiana.

And everybody out of the state and legislatures coming from out of state.

Drive 20 minutes or 20 miles in any direction and start talking about how awful CRT and biological boys and girls playing sports in high school, and you get thrown out of the region.

>> Those are the issues that you emphasis.

>> This is where the people come from.

>> Where is your responsibility >> That's who they come home to -- (inaudible conversations) >> We're leaning into it.

That's the community between Dave Ribbings and diploma Ricks and.

>> That's the problem with your redistricting and gerrymanders.

>> Eli punished the state.

>> We saw Disney and Georgia where it wanted to play with legislation that gave Delta, based in Atlanta, a tax advantage with fuel and aviation fuel.

We've seen the same sorts of things in Texas.

Where you have red legislatures dealing with largely blue-run Fortune 500 -- >> Successfully run -- >> I don't know successfully run.

>> In terms of attitude.

>> Terms of the creative work force.

That's behind a lot of this.

It is cutting down on workplace smoking or RIFRA.

Go right down the line.

It seems to me the Governor could take the story and discussion and put it in the file folder.

When the session and budget session rolls around and he releases his budget, this is case exhibit A you might say to bolster the argument he had been making.

Not many republicans in the general assembly.

The Governor has been talking about quality of life and trails and interconnection and public health spending.

He's already telegraphed he wanted to do a lot in terms of public health spending.

He's been a task force looking at the mental health.

These are issues that don't resonate with all members of his party.

They are things he was shining a light on before it perhaps become fashionable.

This is for him to use against members of his own party.

>> I think it ends up being when it comes down to the money.

The IBJ article, Eli Lilly spent and invested $3 billion outside of the state.

They have invested here recently, not to the extent.

That's the thing that will get people's attention.

>> All right.

Indiana ranks in the bottom third.

Here's good news in the wake of the last one.

Indiana ranks in the bottom third of the country for the health of its children.

One spot worse than last year.

That's from the 2022 Kids Count Databook released by the Indiana Institute.

They measure from education, child poverty, and juvenile justice.

>> Indiana's worst ranking in the 2022 Kids Count That that is in health.

The latest edition captured much of the COVID-19 pandemic time frame which has only amplified the child health challenges.

>> A lot of them existed long before the pandemic started.

>> Youth Institute says Indiana struggles particularly with mental health.

>> In comparisons to the neighboring states, Indiana has the highest rate of children with mental health and behavior conditions who did not receive counseling or treatment.

>> Indiana is worse than the national average for children without health insurance, overweight or obese children, and child and teen death rates.

>> I've asked this a lot.

How much of what's in the report because it captured the 2020 for the most part timeline of the height of the pandemic.

How much do you go that was the pandemic and shrug your shoulders?

>> I'm sure some people will.

The problem was this trend was in place well before the pandemic.

We already were not spending as much as other states in terms of intervention with young people in the kinds of health issues whether physical health or mental health they faced.

And if anything, all of the pandemic did was shine a spotlight on it and maybe exacerbate a problem and trend that was there and problematic.

Again this is a tough one.

When you look at ways to deal with the issues, at the state governmental level, you are talking about identifying mental health challenges and intervening, and identifying health risk.

A lot of people talking about the general assembly.

Many people say get government out of my kids' backpack.

Don't worry about little Joey smoking at age seven.

That's mom and dad's issue.

Same thing with mental health.

Now you can't do screening and reach out and find people and offer them counseling without parents who may, in fact, be part of the problem.

>> May be the problem.

>> May be the problem.

I don't see a lot of appetite for the kinds of young people because of the parental right issues that we need to see change.

>> That's what I was going to ask you.

Is the conversation on this pretty much a mirror image of the conversation that we just had about changing things at at the State House?

>> Yeah.

I mean it comes down to how much money is being spent; right?

Running these programs, having people available to help children, whichever way want to look at it costs money.

Making sure children have health insurance.

Making sure they are eating healthy.

All of these things take money.

That comes down to how much is the state going to put in the budget for these things?

It goes back to the Governor's public health commission.

They are all interrelated.

I'll get back to the point that Dave Ricks is making about this.

This is a problem.

If you can't -- if families are looking at this and seeing the report and seeing how we're 36th in the country.

They are not necessarily thinking Indiana is a great place for families.

Let me go there.

>> Let me ask the question this way.

The health of our kids become the health of our adults High health care prices -- everybody has a role to play.

The unhealthiness of he'ser -- Hoosier citizens, all of the things that don't seem business related but they are.

What is it going to take for lawmakers at the State House for some of the issues they've been resistant to go let's think about this a different way.

>> I think you have to change the lawmakers.

I do.

It isn't only the fact they don't want to spend the money.

They are obsessed with the tax cutting.

They cut the tax on vaping.

They would not increase -- they discussed cutting the tax on cigarettes.

There's plenty of data out there.

The cigarettes contribute to all of these things.

To health trouble and cancer and all kinds of things.

They don't want to hear it.

They don't want to do it.

They think the only function of government is only to cut taxes That's not going to change -- >> It is a moral issue.

(inaudible conversations) >> I'm going to ask you the same question I asked her.

On some of the issues -- the republican point of view is often government is not the solution.

It is often the problem.

I'm going to say on some of the issues government is the problem.

If we're stopping mental health screenings in school where the report said for kids getting access to kids happens in school if at all.

What does it take to get the legislature to consider doing something different?

>> We've experienced what was talked about here.

The issues do get manipulated into other issues.

With the meal exchange or mental health screens in schools becomes about abortion.

The kid things he's gay.

The parents go wait a minute.

Willingness and legislation for the board.

The Governor is coming out with and recently this week more public hearings on the recommendations of approving public health that's going to come with a gigantic and biggest price tag.

Now he says wait a minute.

>> He's been promising that.

>> I have a hole that you have to fill.

>> It will tell you the fate of a lot of this for public health.

>> Could we move to the 40th in state funding?

>> You could spend a lot of money and only move to 40.

Changing the congressional district race, labeling it more republican for republicans.

>> Both Cook Political Report and the Virginia Center for Politics changed the district from likely democratic to leans democratic.

They still have a 3-to-1 cash on hand.

How worried should Frank be?

>> I don't think he should be.

One you pointed out he has more cash on hand.

Two) she still has to win the primary.

That's no guarantee.

Three) he's an incumbent.

If you look at all of the data, they have an advantage at winning re-election.

It is just how it is.

How it ends up being.

I would say he could maybe start being worried if a couple of things happen.

If she wins the primary and he continues to be out fundraised.

That would signify this is safe.

We don't need to worry about it.

We end up sleeping on it.

We've seen incumbents lose that way.

>> How much is the republican come sent in >> I think he's going to be fine.

He's well known.

The family is well known.

He's done a good job.

He's raised money.

Is the turnout down in the offyear election?

It always is He's going to be fine.

>> Jerrymandering.

>> You tried.

>> Is Joe Biden's unpopularity going to cost the seat?

>> It can be.

To the point there's 28 toss up seats nationally right now.

The vast majority of those are democrat seats.

You got to save yourself here.

>> That's Indiana Review for this Week.

If you would like a podcast of the program, you can find it at WFYI.org/IWIR.

Starting Monday you can stream it or get it on demand.

Join us next time.

A lot can happen in an Indiana Week.

>> The opinions expressed are solely those of the panelist.