♪♪ >> THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL SUING OVER BIDEN'S VACCINE POLICY.

WINDING DOWN THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

PLUS, CURTIS HILL'S POLITICAL FUTURE AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 5TH, 2021.

>> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS, AND BY ICE MILLER, A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO HELPING CLIENTS BUILD, GROW AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

MORE AT ICEMILLER.COM.

>> THIS WEEK, ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA IS SUING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HALT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S WORKPLACE COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS.

THE REPUBLICAN AG, IN COOPERATION WITH GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB, IS FILING THREE LAWSUITS - TARGETING POLICIES FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND A BROAD RULE FOR ANY COMPANY WITH AT LEAST 100 EMPLOYEES.

>> ROKITA CALLS THE PRESIDENT'S COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICIES AN "“EGREGIOUS .. INSIDIOUS"” OVERREACH OF FEDERAL WORKPLACE SAFETY AUTHORITY.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA: THIS IS NOT A WORKPLACE ISSUE.

IT'S BEEN WITH US.

IT'S BEEN WITH US AT OUR HOMES, IT'S BEEN WITH US ON OUR SPORTS TEAMS, I'S BEEN WITH US IN OUR KIDS' SCHOOLS.

IT'S BEEN WITH US EVERYWHERE.

>> THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION'S RULE FOR EMPLOYERS WITH AT LEAST 100 WORKERS GIVES THEM A CHOICE: EMPLOYEES GET VACCINATED OR GET REGULARLY TESTED AND MASK UP.

ROKITA CHIEF OF STAFF LORI TORRES SAYS THAT'S NOT A REASONABLE CHOICE.

>> DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL LORI TORRES: I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE WAITED FIVE DAYS TO GET A TEST SO, A WEEKLY TEST TIMES THE MILLIONS WHO MAY NOT GET VACCINATED - WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE WHETHER THAT'S FEASIBLE.

>> ROKITA WILL WORK WITH OTHER STATES ON SOME OF THE LAWSUITS.

>> WILL BIDEN'S RULES SURVIVE LEGAL SCRUTINY?

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.

ANN DELANEY, IS IT A REASONABLE LORI TORRES MADE AN INTERESTING POINT AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY.

IS IT A REASONABLE CHOICE TO ASK WORKERS TO VACCINATED OR TESTED - ON THEIR OWN DIME?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I FRANKLY THINK IF THEY GET SICK WHEN THEY DON'T GET VACCINATED OUGHT TO BE ON THEIR OWN DIME AS WELL.

I AM TIRED OF THIS NONSENSE WHERE PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO INFECT THE REST OF US.

THEY DON'T.

VACCINES HAVE BEEN REQUIRED IN THIS COUNTRY WAY BEFORE I WAS A KID.

IN FACT, GEORGE WASHINGTON MADE -- VACCINATIONS WITHOUT CDC OR TESTING.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS, ROKITA AS USUAL A WRONG LEGALLY AND MORLEY.

HE HAS NO STANDING TO BRING THIS LAWSUIT.

THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS AN OVERREACH, I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS.

WE SETTLED THIS WHEN WE WENT TO 55 MILE SPEED LIMITS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MONEY IS INVOLVED OR THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS ARE INVOLVED.

THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY.

AND HE DOES NOT, BY THE WAY, HAVE STANDING TO BRING THIS INSTITUTE.

HE IS NOT EITHER AN EMPLOYER OR SOMEONE WORKING IN A MEDICARE OR MEDICAID FACILITY, ET CETERA.

IT'S GOING TO BE THROWN OUT ON ITS EAR, IT'S GOING TO BE LITIGATED BY AN EMPLOYER WHO HAS TO COMPLY WITH THIS.

AND HE'S WRONG ON MORAL GROUNDS.

HE OUGHT TO BE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THE SAFETY.

WE ARE 5th -- THERE ARE ONLY FIVE STATES WORSE THAN INDIANA IN TERMS OF THE VACCINATION RATE.

FIVE STATES WORSE.

AND THE STATES BY THE WAY, HE'S JOINING WITH IN BRINGING THIS ARE MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA.

SO THE IDEA THAT HE'S TRYING TO MAKE US THE MISSISSIPPI OF THE NORTH IS PRETTY VALID.

THE WHOLE THING IS GOING TO BE THROWN OUT.

IT IS JUST AN APPEAL TO THE ANGRY RIGHT WING OF HIS PARTY.

AND HE WANTS THAT GROUP TO GET HIM THE NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE >> MIKE O'BRIEN, YOU'RE NOT A LAWYER, NOR AM I, I WON'T ASK YOU TO GIVE ME LEGAL ANALYSIS HERE.

KIND OF TO ANN'S POINT THERE FOR A SECOND.

DOES IT REALLY MATTER FOR TODD LOCATE POLITICALLY SPEAKING WHETHER HE LOSES?

>> THIS ISN'T TODD ROKITA ON A PERSONAL CRUSADE.

HIM AND 23 OTHER GOP ATTORNEYS GENERAL WROTE A LETTER TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN SEPTEMBER.

THIS ISN'T INDIANA OUT ON A LIM.

IT IS HALF THE COUNTRY.

HALF THE STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> HE'S THE ONLY ONE BRINGING SUIT.

>> PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN THIS LAWSUIT.

I THINK YOU HAVE -- ON THE LEGAL SIDE, YOU'RE RIGHT, I'M NOT A LAWYER, FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, YOU CAN SPLIT THE ARGUMENT A LITTLE BIT.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I THINK, DOES HAVE THE RIGHT FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS, PEOPLE THAT ARE -- CONTRACTING PAYING TO LIVE BY CERTAIN CRITERIA.

FACILITIES THAT RECEIVE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID DOLLARS, THEY CAN MUSCLE INTO DOING CERTAIN THINGS, INCLUDING HAVING THEIR STAFF VACCINATED.

THE 100 OR MORE EMPLOYEES CREATES A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

ONE, THERE IS ALREADY CONFUSION, WE SAW IN TEXAS A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THIS WAS FIRST SUGGESTED, AND GOVERNOR ABBOTT AT THE TIME SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT, YOU GOT THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE IN A LURCH.

THE PROPER PROBLEM -- OSHA IS THERE TO EXERCISE THIS AUTHORITY FOR THE EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARDS, WHICH IS THE AUTHORITY THAT THEY'RE BASING THIS ON.

THAT IS FOR WORK RELATED HAZARDS, THEY ARE NOT TELLING ME HOW TO CLIMB A LADDER AT MY HOUSE, THEY ARE CREATING A SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

IT IS A STRETCH THAT -- IT IS NOT A WORK RELATED HAZARD, THAT I CAN GET ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

AND TODD ROKITA IS RIGHT ABOUT THIS, THIS THING IS WITH US EVERYWHERE WE GO.

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT FOLLOW US AROUND AND MAKE SURE WE'RE SAFE FROM IT.

>> IN YOUR WORKPLACE -- >> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO EXPAND AUTHORITY AT A TIME -- I'M WITH ANN, I'M FRUSTRATED WITH THE UNVACCINATED.

BUT THIS IS A PRETTY DUBIOUS WAY TO GO >> JON SCHWANTES.

>> YOU CAN'T IN YOUR WORK, ONE SECOND ON THAT, BRANDON.

IN YOUR WORKPLACE, YOU CAN'T TELL YOUR EMPLOYER YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAND WITHIN SIX FEET OF ANOTHER EMPLOYEE.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

DEPENDING HOW YOU'RE WORKING.

AND IT IS INTERESTING THAT A LOT OF THE LARGE EMPLOYERS LIKE TYSON, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAD THE PROBLEM EARLY, IS REQUIRING EVERYBODY TO GET A VACCINE.

>> WELL THEY'RE IN MANUFACTURING.

THIS IS DIFFERENT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THE JOB MARKET IS SO ROBUST, ONE, I DON'T THINK IT IS A PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO BE UNVACCINATED, THEY'RE GOING TO WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> LET THEM.

>> BUT THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED, IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> WILL BIDEN'S RULE'S SURVIVE SCRUTINY.

DOES IT DEPEND ON WHICH RULE I'M ASKING ABOUT?

>> WELL, PROBABLY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

YOU GAVE THE NON-LAWYER DISCLAIMER EARLIER, AND I'LL OFFER MY NON-LAWYER DISCLAIMER AS WELL.

I WON'T PRETEND TO ASSUME WHAT A JUDGE AT THE CIRCUIT COURT LEVEL OR APPELLATE COURT LEVEL OR SUPREME COURT MIGHT SURMISE, THE NOTION THAT THE 100 EMPLOYEE THRESHOLD, THAT THAT REPRESENTS PAN UNPRECEDENTED, WHAT WAS THE WORD THAT ROKITA USED.

>> INSIDIOUS.

>> INTRUSION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IF YOU LOOK AT FEDERAL LAWS THAT APPLIES TO THE WORKPLACE, THAT'S NOT A VERY -- THAT'S NOT -- YOU KNOW, AS LOW AS IT GOES, YOU MIGHT SAY, YOU HAVE FEDERAL LAW THAT -- IN CERTAIN TYPES OF AREAS APPLIES TO 15 OR MORE EMPLOYEES IN TERMS OF CERTAIN TYPES OF APPLICANT SCREENING AND HIRING.

YOU HAVE COBRA AND FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT, I THINK 50 EMPLOYEES.

SO 100 IS REALLY -- I MEAN IT COULD GO A LOT LOWER IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS.

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS REGULATES ALL SORTS OF WORKPLACE SAFETY RULES.

SO THERE IS NOTHING NEW NECESSARILY ABOUT THAT.

COVID MAKES IT NEW, BUT THESE ISSUES OF FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE IN TERMS OF WORKER SAFETY AND IN TERMS OF ENFORCING FEDERAL LAWS RELATED TO DISCRIMINATION, AND THE EXTENSION OF BENEFITS IS NOT NEW.

THE FINAL POINT THE NOTION THAT THIS IS TODD ROKITA DOING THE BIDDING OF HIS GOVERNOR AND HIS ROLE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL SEEMS ODD BECAUSE HE'S NOT AGREED WITH ERIC HOLCOMB ON MOST OF ANYTHING HAS, I THINK I CAN DISMISS THAT ARGUMENT OUT OF HAND.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

>> TODD ROKITA WOULD HAVE FILED THESE LAWSUITS WHETHER OR NOT ERIC HOLCOMB HAD ASKED HIM TO -- >> JUST A SUGGESTION -- >> NIKI, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT GOVERNOR HOLCOMB STANDING UP AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO WORK WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO TRY AND STOP THIS RULE.

DOES IT SURPRISE YOU, AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT?

NOBODY HAS BEEN MORE PRO VACCINATION AS A REPUBLICAN THAN ERIC HOLCOMB, HE OBVIOUSLY NEVER WANTED TO DO A MANDATE.

BUT DOESN'T THIS SORT OF ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE WANTS ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT HIM HAVING TO BE UNPOPULAR AND DO IT HIMSELF?

>> WELL, I MEAN, HE CAME OUT AND SAID HIS POSITION.

SO IF IT IS UNPOPULAR, IT IS UNPOPULAR.

I WASN'T SURPRISED BY IT AT ALL.

WHILE HE HAS BEEN VERY PRO VACCINATION THIS ENTIRE TIME, HE HAS ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, STRESSED THAT IT SHOULD BE YOUR CHOICE.

AND I DO THINK YOU CAN BE PRO VACCINATION AND NOT BELIEVE IN MANDATES.

AND I DO THINK IT IS A FAIR CASE.

I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT HAS OSHA OSHA EVER MANDATED ANY OTHER VACCINE IN THE WORKPLACE.

THE HEALTHCARE LAWSUIT, THAT WILL PROBABLY WILL BE A LITTLE OF ALL OF THEM, I THINK THAT ONE MIGHT SURVIVE CHALLENGE JUST BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH A DIRECT NEXUS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE YOU'RE CARING FOR AND THAT SORT OF UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THEY V AND THE POSITION THAT THEY'RE IN.

THEY'D HAVE TO BE CARED FOR, THEY CAN'T MAKE A CHOICE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN -- WHETHER OR NOT HIS ABILITY -- WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO DO THIS SURVIVES IS ONE QUESTION, WHETHER OR NOT TODD ROKITA CAN CHALLENGE IT IS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

LIKE HIM SAYING, NIKI, I THINK YOU WERE UNFAIRLY TREATED AT WORK, I'M GOING TO FILE A LAWSUIT ON YOUR BEHALF.

YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

YOU HAVE TO BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED.

IF THEY WERE REALLY CONCERNED -- >> TO BE FAIR, THERE IS STATE -- TO BE FAIR, THE STATE WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF ACTUALLY ENFORCING THE LAW.

>> RIGHT.

WE ALL KNOW, THOUGH, THE STATE OF INDIANA IS VERY LAX IN ITS ENFORCEMENT OF OSHA.

IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO PDO.

>> WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUTTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OSHA, MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE TO ENFORCE A VACCINE MANDATE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING?

>> NO.

WHAT I'M SUGGESTING, IF YOU WERE INTERESTED IN MAKING CERTAIN IT WASN'T MANDATED, WHAT YOU WOULD SAY IS WHATEVER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THAT ON EMPLOYERS AT OVER 100 AND BE A DEFENDANT IN A LAWSUIT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

INSTEAD OF GRASPING, IS WHAT THEY'RE DO, STANDING TO BE THE PLAINTIFF.

HE'S MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN THE POLITICAL PART OF THIS THAN HE IS THE LEGAL PART OF THAT.

AND THAT -- >> COULD I JUST -- >> NO.

I -- WE HAVE OTHER THINGS.

>> HE SHOULD HAVE PULLED OUT FOR INTERVENTION BY TODD ROKITA ON HER BEHALF.

I WOULDN'T HOLD OUT ON THAT >> MOVING ON.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS INDIANA IS AT A POINT WHERE HE "“THANKFULLY CAN CONTEMPLATE"” ENDING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AROUND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

STILL, HOLCOMB ISN'T RULING OUT ANOTHER EXTENSION OF THAT EXECUTIVE ACTION AFTER NOVEMBER.

>> DECLARING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ENSURES HOOSIERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL AID.

AND IT TRIGGERS THE GOVERNOR'S ABILITY TO ISSUE A BROAD RANGE OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

IN HIS LATEST RENEWAL, HOLCOMB SAID HE'S ASKED HIS ADMINISTRATION TO EXPLORE WAYS TO END THE EXECUTIVE ACTION.

BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT DOING SO WON'T MEAN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER.

>> GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT OVERLOOKING ANYTHING AND TO ASK THE CABINET REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT TOOLS DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE OUR WAY OUT OF THIS.

AND HOLCOMB SAYS NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.

>> GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: I DIDN'T GIVE THE CABINET MY ANSWER.

I ASKED THEM TO BRING ME DATA AND INFORMATION.

>> HOLCOMB AGAIN URGED HOOSIERS TO GET VACCINATED AS THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, IS IT TOO SOON TO THINK ABOUT THIS?

>> NO.

WE HAVE LARGE VACCINATION RATES.

WE HAVE PLUMMETING CASES.

AND LARGELY -- I STRUGGLE TO EVEN JUST THINK ABOUT WHEN IT ENDS HOW ANYONE'S LIFE IS GOING TO CHANGE.

WHAT IS LARGELY LEFT IN THIS EMERGENCY ORDER IS HOW OTHER PARTS OF GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH THEMSELVES, HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COORDINATES BENEFITS WITH STATE GOVERNMENTS, HOW STATE DOES IT WITH LOCALS?

DAY-TO-DAY STUFF, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STILL RUNNING INTO A STORE AND SEEING PEOPLE WEARING A MASK.

AND THAT'S FINE, A LOT OF THIS IS COMING DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

IT'S HARD TO CONCEIVE OF A TIME WHEN YOU WOULD END IT, AND THIS IS NOT EVER GOING TO END.

COVID IS NEVER GOING TO END.

WE WILL HAVE VACCINATED PEOPLE, BREAK-THROUGH CASES, PEOPLE WITH BOOSTER SHOTS WITH BREAK THROUGH CASES.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL DEAL WITH TO THE END OF TIME.

AT SOME POINT YOU'VE GOT TO LIFT THIS EMERGENCY ORDER IN PLACE AND GET BACK TO NORMAL >> TO THAT POINT, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT GOVERNOR HOLCOMB HAS LEFT REGARDING COVID-19.

WE SAW A BUNCH OF THEM IN FACT GO AWAY WHEN HE RENEWED THE LARGE DECLARATION AT THE START OF THIS MONTH.

SO WILL ENDING THE PUBLIC HEALTH DECLARATION, EMERGENCY DECLARATION MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE, ANN DeLANEY?

>> I'M NOT SURE IT WILL MAKE AN AWFUL LOT OF DIFFERENCE, THE MOST ENCOURAGING THING WE CAN GET ALL CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 5 VACCINATED.

THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PARENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ANXIOUS TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED.

AND THAT'S GOOD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- I MEAN, CASES ARE DOWN.

THAT'S ALL GOOD.

THE PROBLEM IS, IT'S NOT GOING AWAY AS LONG AS LARGE SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION ARE REFUSING TO GET VACCINATED.

MIKE IS WRONG.

REELIMINATED POLIO BECAUSE EVERYBODY GOT VACCINATED.

HERE YOU'VE GOT THIS AS A POLITICAL ISSUE ON THE REPUBLICAN RIGHT WING, AND THE RESULTS OF THAT ARE IT CONTINUES.

AND OKAY, THE CASES ARE DOWN, THAT'S WONDERFUL, I HOPE IT CONTINUES.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS ANOTHER VARIANT?

AND IT COMES BACK AGAIN?

BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE REFUSE TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE AND ALTRUISTIC THING OF GETTING THEMSELVES VACCINATED TO PROTECT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHY IT IS STILL HERE.

BUT I DON'T THINK -- >> BUT THAT'S DEMOCRATS ARGUMENT TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT INVOLVED.

WHAT IS THE NEXT THING WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT?

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> NIKI KELLY, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, IF THE GOVERNOR ENDS UP ENDING THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND AT SOME POINT THINGS REALLY DO GET WORSE, NOT ONE OF THESE SMALLER SURGES WE'VE SEEN, BUT LIKE REALLY BAD WHERE HE WOULD HAVE TO DIRECT HOSPITALS TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OUT OF HIM IN THE COURSE OF 2021?

IS THERE REALLY ANY CHANCE HE REIMPOSES THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARATION?

>> TO BE HONEST, THERE IS NOTHING IN THERE RIGHT NOW THAT IS DOING ANYTHING TO PREVENT THE VIRUS SPREAD OR DEATHS.

WE ARE DOWN TO BASICALLY FINANCIAL REASONS TO HAVE THAT ORDER IN PLACE.

SO, YEAH, I MEAN, I DO THINK THAT IF WE HAD SOME SORT OF MASSIVE SURGE HE WOULD PUT STUFF IN PLACE AGAIN.

ESPECIALLY ON HOSPITALS TO MAKE SURE CAPACITY IS UP THERE.

BUT I DOUBT WE'RE EVER GOING TO HIT A PEAK WE ALREADY HIT LAST YEAR.

>> LET'S MOVE ON.

FORMER INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL CURTIS HILL SAYS HE'S OPEN TO RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE AGAIN, WFIU'S BROCK TURNER REPORTS, HILL HAS BEEN MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS SINCE HE LOST RE-ELECTION LAST YEAR INDIANA'S EMBATTLED FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL CURTIS HILL SAYS HE'S CONSIDERING A FUTURE RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE.

BUT, SPEAKING AT AN EVENT IN NOBLESVILLE ABOUT RACE, EDUCATION AND COVID RESTRICTIONS - HILL DECLINED TO SPECIFY A PARTICULAR RACE HE IS EYEING.

>> CURTIS HILL: I'VE BEEN FIRMLY IMPLANTED IN THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC SERVICE SINCE I WAS A PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FROM YEARS BEFORE.

SO, I ANTICIPATE CONTINUING THAT PROCESS.

>> HILL'S TERM ENDED LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS DEFEATED IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BY CURRENT AG TODD ROKITA.

HILL'S LAW LICENSE WAS TEMPORARILY REVOKED, AFTER THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT FOUND HE GROPED FOUR WOMEN AT A PARTY IN MARCH 2018.

>> JON SCHWANTES, WILL VOTERS ALLOW CURTIS HILL TO MAKE A POLITICAL COMEBACK?

>> WELL, I THINK THE VOTING PUBLIC HERE IN INDIANA AND ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY GENERALLY IS FORGIVING, THEY LIKE TO SEE COMEBACK KIDS TO BORROW BILL CLINTON'S PHRASE.

BUT, IN THIS CASE, YOU JUST HAVE AS FAR AS I KNOW, DENIALS, STILL ON THE PART OF THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THERE IS NO SUGGESTION ON HIS PART THAT MAYBE HE HAS LEARNED, EVEN IF HE DIDN'T INTEND THE -- HIS ACTIONS WERE MISJUDGED, HE CERTAINLY HAS LEARNED FROM IT AND MOVED ON, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THAT, HARD TO SAY FORGIVENESS IS ELECTRIC WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SHOWING REMORSE.

THE OTHER THING, IT DEPENDS ON THE ABILITY OF HIS POTENTIAL OPPONENTS TO BRING UP THIS ISSUE.

IF HE'S RUNNING AGAINST SOMEBODY WHO MAKES, YOU KNOW, IS AIRING LOTS OF SPOTS, DOING DIRECT MAIL, REALLY BEING PUBLIC WITH DO YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS DOING THIS AND HAVE SORT OF THE SHADOWY FIGURES OF WHAT HE WAS ACCUSED OF DOING ON THE SCREEN, THAT'S PROBLEMATIC.

IF YOU HAVE A CANDIDATE WHO EITHER ISN'T ENINCLINED TO BRING THAT UP, OR ISN'T WELL FUNDED ENOUGH TO MAKE THE MESSAGE OUT, WELL, THEN, IT'S SORT OF THE TREE FALLING IN THE FOREST, WHO HEARS IT?

>> NIKI KELLY, I WANT TO GET TO JON'S FIRST POINT IN A MINUTE.

I WANT TO FIRST ASK YOU, IF CURTIS HILL TRIES TO MAKE A COMEBACK, IS THERE AN OFFICE THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR HIM?

>> WELL, I MEAN OBVIOUSLY HE'S A LAWYER.

SO A COUNTY PROSECUTOR POSITION, BUT HE'S KIND OF BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

OBVIOUSLY HE LOST THE BID FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE SECOND TIME AROUND.

SO, I MEAN, I GUESS HE COULD GET INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF HE WOULD REALLY BE INTO THAT.

AND FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH IN THE LAST DECADE, I DON'T EVEN THINK.

WE HAVE PEOPLE SERVING, AND RUNNING FOR OFFICE WITH MAJOR ISSUES HANGING OVER THEM.

PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO CARE ANYMORE.

SO I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED AT ALL IF HE MADE A COMEBACK >> ANN DeLANEY, JON MENTIONED THE IDEA THAT HE HASN'T SEEN ANYTHING FROM CURTIS HILL SORT OF ACKNOWLEDGING WRONGDOING AND APOLOGIZING FOR WRONGDOING.

AND I AGREE, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING PUBLICLY LIKE THAT FROM HIM EITHER.

IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IF HE WANTS TO MAKE A COME BACK IN POLITICS, IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT NECESSARY, OR TO NIKI'S POINT, DOES IT NOT MATTER ANYMORE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, CURTIS HILL WAS DEFEATED IN A CONVENTION, NOT IN A PRIMARY.

SO IT WAS REPUBLICAN INSIDERS WHO VOTED CURTIS HILL OUT.

>> AFTER SEVERAL BALLOTS, THOUGH.

>> WHAT?

>> SEVERAL BALLOTS.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

BUT IT'S NOT A PRIMARY.

IT'S NOT A MASS VOTING EFFORT.

AND IT SEEMS TO ME HE'S THE PERFECT KIND OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

SERIOUSLY.

I MEAN HE'S APPEALING TO THE CULTURAL ISSUES, THE NONSENSE ABOUT RACE BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS, AND THE NONSENSE ABOUT EARING MASKS, ALL OF THE CULTURAL ISSUES THAT REPUBLICANS USE TO STIR UP ANGER, HE IS APPEALING TO.

AND IN TERMS OF REMORSE, DID WE HEAR ANY REMORSE OUT OF DONALD TRUMP BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT FOR GROPING ANY NUMBER OF WOMEN AND SAYING THE KINDS OF THINGS HE SAID ABOUT WOMEN?

NO, WE DIDN'T.

AND THEY DID ELECT HIM ANYWAY?

THEY CERTAINLY DID.

HE LOST THE GENERAL VOTE, BUT HE STILL WAS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO I DON'T THINK THE REMORSE IS NECESSARY ANYMORE.

AND FRANKLY, THE WAY HE GOES ABOUT IT, HE'LL SAY THAT HE WAS A VICTIM OF, YOU KNOW, THE ESTABLISHMENTS ATTACK AND ALL OF THIS NONSENSE, AND HE'LL BE A PERFECT NOMINEE FOR A REPUBLICAN, MAYBE HE'LL RUN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL AGAIN, MAYBE HE'LL RUN FOR A GOVERNOR, WHICH WILL BE A SMARTER MOVE ON HIS PART BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO FACE A CONVENTION.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, THERE IS GOING TO BE NO SHORTAGE OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN INDIANA FOR ANY OFFICE HE WOULD RUN FOR.

IS IT LIKELY TO MAKE A POLITICAL COMEBACK THERE WOULD BE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, SAFER CANDIDATES OUT THERE?

>> NO.

I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HE RUNS FOR AND WHAT IT IS AND HOW PROFILE, HE WOULD HAVE WON ATTORNEY GENERAL IF HE WOULD HAVE SURVIVED CONVENTION.

LARGELY BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T CARE IN A GOVERNOR YEAR WITH -- 24 -- PEOPLE STOPPED CARING, I THINK MISOGYNY IS STILL BIPARTISAN.

DONALD TRUMP DIDN'T -- TO ANN'S POINT, HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING DONALD TRUMP DIDN'T DO, AND DONALD TRUMP BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S NOT PEOPLE DON'T CARE, THEY MAY NOT TRUST AND PRIORITIZE IT.

>> 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: WILL FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL CURTIS HILL GET ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE IN INDIANA WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE?

A, YES, AND OR B, NO.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: SHOULD INDIANA LANDLORDS BE REQUIRED TO TAKE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS BEFORE THEY CAN EVICT SOMEONE?

75 PERCENT PERCENT OF YOU SAY YES, 25% SAY, NO.

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

VOTERS IN NORTHERN INDIANA APPROVED ONLY ONE OF THE STATE'S TWO SCHOOL FUNDING REFERENDUMS UP FOR CONSIDERATION THIS FALL.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LINDSAY REPORTS THE TWO SCHOOL CORPORATIONS WITH REFERENDUMS ON THE BALLOT WERE HOPEFUL THIS YEAR'S ELECTION WOULD LOOK SIMILAR TO 2014, WHEN BOTH WON VOTER APPROVAL FOR THEIR TAX PROPOSALS.

>> MSD OF BOONE TOWNSHIP WAS SUCCESSFUL ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR.

ITS REFERENDUM SAW A LITTLE MORE THAN 66 PERCENT OF VOTERS SAYING YES THIS WEEK.

MEANWHILE, CONCORD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS' LATEST TAX MEASURE FAILED.

THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID LAST WEEK, REFERENDUM FUNDING HAS BEEN A KEY TOOL FOR THE DISTRICT TO OFFSET FINANCIAL LOSSES CAUSED BY THE STATE'S PROPERTY TAX CAPS.

THE CORPORATION ASKED VOTERS TO RENEW A TAX RATE LOWER THAN THE ONE APPROVED IN 2014.

BUT JUST OVER 51 PERCENT OF CONCORD'S VOTERS SAID NO, REJECTING THIS YEAR'S PROPOSAL.

>> NIKI KELLY, USUALLY, LOWER TURNOUT ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN MORE FAVORABLE FOR REFERENDA.

HOW MUCH CAN WE READ INTO THESE RESULTS?

>> OH, I DON'T THINK -- A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS VERY LOCAL.

TO BE FAIR, THE ONE THAT FAILED WAS INITIALLY PUT IN IN 2014.

SINCE THEN, STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE PUMPED IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO INCREASE EDUCATION FUNDING.

MAYBE LOCALS ARE JUST LIKE, OKAY, FINE, THE STATE.PONIED UP, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THE EXTRA.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF WE SEE THAT A LOT MORE.

>> JON SCHWANTES, TO THAT POINT, ESPECIALLY WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT HAVE ALREADY PUT REFERENDA ON THE BALLOT... >> MAYBE, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT AREN'T IN A PARTICULAR BAD FINANCIAL PREDICAMENT.

ONE WOULD ASSUME, AS NIKI MENTIONED, THERE WON'T BE MANY FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY, IT MIGHT BE WISE TO WAIT A CYCLE OR TWO, IF POSSIBLE >> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL CERTAINLY SEE A LOT MORE POSSIBILITIES FOR THAT WHEN THERE ARE BROADER ELECTIONS ON THE BALLOT.

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 GET VACCINATED IF YOU CAN.

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

♪♪ >> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS, AND BY ICE MILLER.

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"INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW" IS A WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS.