>> DEMOCRATS PUSH FOR GAS TAX RELIEF.

INDIANA TAX REVENUES CONTINUE TO SURGE.

PLUS, BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE AND MORE ON "INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW" FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 20, 2022.

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

>> THIS WEEK, HOOSIERS ARE CURRENTLY PAYING ALMOST 75 CENTS PER GALLON IN STATE AND FEDERAL TAXES WHEN THEY GET GAS.

STATEHOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE MAKING A RENEWED PUSH FOR INDIANA TO SUSPEND ITS GAS TAXES WHILE PRICES ARE THE HIGHEST THEY'VE EVER BEEN.

THERE'S A 32-CENT STATE GAS TAX ON EVERY GALLON YOU FILL UP.

INDIANA IS ALSO ONE OF ONLY ABOUT A DOZEN STATES THAT IMPOSES A SALES TAX ON GASOLINE.

THAT RATE IS CALCULATED EACH MONTH BASED ON THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE GAS PRICE.

FOR MAY, THE RATE IS ABOUT 24 CENTS PER GALLON.

DEM >> I THINK AT A TIME WHEN HOOSIER FAMILIES ARE FEELING PAIN AT THE PUMP, THE LEAST WE COULD DO IS PROVIDE SOME RELIEF BY SUSPENDING THE GAS TAX.

>> MOST OF INDIANA'S GAS TAX REVENUES GO TO HELP BUILD AND MAINTAIN ROADS AND BRIDGES, BUT GORE SAYS THE STATE CAN REPLACE THE DOLLARS LOST DURING THE GAS TAX SUSPENSION WITH THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INDIANA HAS IN ITS BUDGET RESERVES.

>> IT'S SORT OF UNCONSCIONABLE TO NOT PROVIDE SOME SORT OF RELIEF FOR FAMILIES.

>> THERE'S ALSO A FEDERAL GAS TAX ABOUT 18 CENTS PER GALLON WHICH INDIANA DOESN'T CONTROL.

WILL REPUBLICANS SUSPEND GAS TAXES?

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, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF STATES NEWSROOM INDIANA.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH.

MIKE O'BRIEN, WHAT IS THE UPSIDE FOR REPUBLICANS TO RESIST SUSPENDING THESE TAXES?

>> THERE ISN'T ONE, AT ALL.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS THIS IS ENTIRELY POLITICAL, LARGELY POLITICAL, HOW ABOUT WE BE FAIR AND SAY LARGELY POLITICAL.

IT'S A NATIONAL PUSH BY DEMOCRATS WE'RE SEEING IN EVERY STATE, ESPECIALLY ONES WITH MID TERMS, U.S.

SENATORS UP IN SWING STATES PUTTING THIS -- MOVING THIS FORWARD IN CONGRESS.

SO THIS IS A DEMOCRAT KIND OF PLAYBOOK NATIONALLY AND THIS IS HOW IT'S PLAYING OUT HERE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE IT A BAD IDEA.

DEMOCRATS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL HAVE BEEN POINTING TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

WE WERE WELL ON THIS PATH ALREADY, WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SUSPENSION OF FEDERAL LEASE ARRANGEMENTS WHERE THEY WERE DRILLING FOR OIL, SUSPENDING DRILLING IN ALASKA AND TRYING TO TIGHTEN THIS UP.

SO THE IDEA THAT DEMOCRATS DIDN'T WANT HIGH GAS AS A WAY TO DEFER PEOPLE AND START MOVING THE MARKETS TOWARD ELECTRIC CARS AND AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS, THIS HAS BEEN PART OF THE CLIMATE CHANG PLAYBOOK FOREVER.

SO IT'S PLAYING OUT, IT JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE AN ELECTION YEAR -- WHEN YOU SAY SUSPEND THE GAS TAXES, THAT'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

IN THE REPORT, FEDERAL TAXES, IT'S THE STATE SALES TAX AND IT'S THE SALES TAX ON THE TRANSACTION, RIGHT?

YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FEDERAL.

INDIANA IS ONE OF LIKE VERY FEW STATES THAT ACTUALLY COMPLETELY AND HOLISTICALLY AND HONESTLY FUNDS ROADS WITH THE GAS TAX.

WE WENT THROUGH A VERY DELIBERATE PROCESS YEARS AGO TO STOP MOVING DOLLARS AWAY FROM THE GAS TAX TO PAY FOR OTHER TANGENTIAL THINGS LIKE STATE POLICE AND OTHERS AND START KIND OF HONESTLY DRAWING A LINE STRAIGHT FROM THE PUMP TO THE ROAD WITH THAT TAX DOLLAR.

SO IF YOU SUSPEND THAT, EVEN IF YOU DO IT FOR SIX MONTHS, IT'S SEVEN, EIGHT, $900 MILLION IN ROAD FUNDING THIS YEAR, BUT -- >> HOLD ON -- >> I'LL FINISH RIGHT HERE.

I DO THINK THERE'S LEGITIMATE DEBATE TO HAVE A SALES TAX.

ALMOST NO STATES DO THAT.

IT PILES ON.

YOU'RE TAXING THAT TRANSACTION THREE DIFFERENT WAYS, THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT >> EVEN SUSPENDING BOTH THE STATE SALES TAX AND GAS TAX FOR SIX MONTHS, I AGREE WITH YOU SIX MONTHS IS PROBABLY 7, 8, $900 MILLION, THAT JUST WHAT WE TOOK IN APRIL -- >> EXACTLY, WHICH IS WHY IT OUGHT TO BE DONE.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE ALL BIG ON CUTTING TAXES WHEN IT'S FOR BUSINESSES OR FOR WEALTHY.

THEY'RE NOT SO BIG FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S SUFFERING.

AND THE REASON THE PRICE HAS GONE UP AS DRAMATICALLY AS IT IS IS BECAUSE OF THE RUSSIAN AGGRESSION IN UKRAINE.

PERIOD.

END OF DISCUSSION.

>> IT'S NOT THE ONLY -- >> IT'S GONE UP, IT HASN'T JUMPED LIKE IT HAS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE WAR IN THE UKRAINE.

AND IT SEEMS TO ME, THAT SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE REPUBLICANS' WILLINGNESS TO SAY WE HAD THIS WINDFALL OF CASH.

WINDFALL OF CASH.

WE OUGHT TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SUFFERING AT THE PUMP AND SUSPEND BOTH THE USAGE TAX AND THE SALES TAX ON GASOLINE.

>> SHE JUST POINTED OUT THIS DOES HELP EVERYBODY WHO FILLS UP AT THE TANK, BUT IT DOES HELP BUSINESSES, IN FACT, IT DOES HELP BUSINESSES -- >> IT HELPS EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, TO GET ANY GOOD RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE PAYING FOR THAT.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT INFLATION, GAS PRICES IS PART OF THAT TOO.

>> THIS FALSE EQUIVALENCY WE'RE GETTING, IF WE CUT THAT, WE'RE CUTTING ROAD FUNDING.

WE ARE NOT.

THE POINT IS THE PROPOSAL BY MANY DEMOCRATS IS WE WOULD USE THAT $6 BILLION SURPLUS TO FILL IN THAT GAP.

AND IT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE THAT FULL 6, 7, 800 MILLION BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TAKING IN MORE THAN PROJECTED FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THAT WOULD BE PART OF IT AS WELL.

>> I'M GOING TO END WITH YOU WHERE I STARTED, WHICH IS, WHAT IS -- IS IT ALL DOWNSIDE FOR REPUBLICANS IF THEY CONTINUE TO RESIST THIS AND WILL IT ULTIMATELY HURT THEM?

YES, THEY'RE TRYING TO PROJECT A LOT ON TO -- AND SOME OF IT VERY FAIRLY, ON TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS POLICIES.

>> THAT IS FAIR ON THE WHY, BUT THEN THE NEXT QUESTION IS HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE?

>> RIGHT, ARE THERE GOING TO BE CONSEQUENCES FOR REPUBLICANS IN THIS STATE IF THEY CONTINUE TO RESIST THIS?

>> AS I ALWAYS SAY, ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE OTHER SIDE CAN SHOWCASE THEIR RELUCTANCE TO GO ALONG.

>> BUT THIS IS A PRETTY EASY ONE TO DO.

>> IT IS MORE CLEARCUT THAN SOME BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THE TREE FALLING IN THE FOREST, NOBODY HEARS IT.

BUT THIS TIME BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST HEARING IT, THEY'RE FEELING IT IN THEIR WALL ET CETERA AND THEIR PURSES.

I THINK WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS SORT OF ACCOUNTING EXERCISE OR GOVERNMENTAL EXERCISE OF, WELL, THE MONEY GOES HERE, THIS POT OF MONEY, THIS GOES HERE, PHILOSOPHICAL, WE DON'T WANT TO CUT -- IT REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE, FRANKLY, HOOSIERS ARE SUFFERING NOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BLAME JOE BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD IN INDIANA A DIFFERENT SITUATION, YOU KNOW, WITH DIFFERENT OCCUPANTS -- >> LET ME PUT TO YOU THIS WAY, TO THAT POINT, IF PRESIDENT TRUMP IT-RE-ELECTED AND WERE STILL IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WOULD REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY SUSPENDED THE GAS TAX?

>> YES.

>> YES.

WE'VE GONE TO A POINT -- >> THIS HAS BEEN IN THE PLAYBOOK FOR LIKE 15 YEARS.

>> BUT WE DON'T REALLY DEBATE -- >> BUT PRICES HAVEN'T BEEN THIS HIGH.

>> IT'S ALL RELATIVE.

>> THIS IS AN INFLICTION OF PAIN, I THINK.

WE'VE GOT MID TERMS COMING UP, WE'VE GOT -- >> THAT'S WHY PAT BAUER WAS CALLING FOR THIS IN 2008.

>> EVEN MITCH MCCONNELL, BACK WHEN BARACK OBAMA WAS ELECTED, NUMBER ONE JOB IS TO MAKE THIS ADMINISTRATION FAIL.

AND THERE'S A SENTIMENT ABOUT THAT EVEN IN THE STATEHOUSE HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC ONLINE POLL QUESTION.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: SHOULD INDIANA REPUBLICANS SUSPENDS GAS TAXES THROUGH LABOR DAY?

A, YES.

B, NO.

LAST WEEK, WE ASKED YOU TO PREDICT IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL MAKE A MAJOR -- JUST 12% OF YOU SAY YES.

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

INDIANA, WE WERE SORT OF JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS, INDIANA COLLECTED NEARLY $1 BILLION MORE IN TAXES LAST MONTH THAN THE STATE BUDGET PROJECTED.

WITH JUST TWO MONTHS LEFT IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THAT PUTS INDIANA ON PACE FOR BUDGET RESERVES THAT COULD TOP $6 BILLION, AND APRIL MARKS THE FIRST TIME EVER THE STATE HAS COLLECTED MORE THAN $3 BILLION IN TAXES IN A SINGLE MONTH.

APRIL'S EYE-POPPING REVENUE COLLECTIONS WAS LED ENTIRELY BY A HUGE SURGE IN INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAXES.

IN A STATEMENT, HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAY INDIANA IS WELL POSITIONED FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENTS IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET SESSION NEXT YEAR.

THE DEMOCRATS' FISCAL LEADER SAYS REPUBLICANS HAVE PRACTICED SHEEPISH FRUGALITY.

HE CITES NEEDS FOR HELP WITH GAS PRICE, EDUCATION INVESTMENTS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ANN DELANEY, DOES THIS SHOW THAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS WERE RIGHT ABOUT PUSHING FOR SUCH A HUGE TAX CUT IN THIS PAST SESSION?

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT AMAZES ME ABOUT THIS IS, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THEY'VE HAD SUCH A WINDFALL IN THIS STATE SINCE THE HELP THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GAVE AND THE ECONOMY COMING BACK FASTER THAN THEY THOUGHT AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON, THAT'S EXACTLY WHY THE TAX CUTS OUGHT TO BE TARGETED TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING AT THE PUMPS.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHY.

BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

THE BUDGET PROJECTION WAS ALREADY ROSY, AND THEY HAVE SQUIRRELED ALL KINDS OF POCKETS OF MONEY AWAY IN DIFFERENT PLACES TO SPEND AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

SO IT IS MUCH, MUCH MORE MONEY THAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BILLION FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.

AND IT'S TIME THAT THEY STOP ACTING LIKE THEY'RE A BANK, AND START PUTTING IT BACK IN THE HANDS OF HOOSIER VOTERS AND HOOSIERS WHO DRIVE CARS AND ARE PAYING EXORBITANT AMOUNTS AT THE PUMP.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DON'T DO IT.

I REALLY DON'T.

>> WHENEVER YOU TALK TO BUDGET WRITERS AT THE STATEHOUSE, FOLKS LIKE DOC BROWN AND WHOEVER WILL REPLACE DOC BROWN AS WEIGHS AND MEANS CHAIR THEY OFTEN SAY THE HARDEST PART OF THEIR JOB IS HAVING TO SAY NO TO SO MANY PEOPLE.

>> YEAH.

>> HOW HARD IS IT GOING TO BE FOR THEM TO SAY NO WHEN THEY'RE WRITING A NEW STATE BUDGET?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD.

AND I THINK -- I'M NOT ONE OF THESE GUYS THAT THINKS THAT, LIKE, POLITICS OF HAVING A SURPLUS ARE ALWAYS GREAT.

I THINK WE ARE AT A TIPPING POINT, THERE IS A TIPPING POINT AND I THINK IT'S BEHIND US.

I'M HEARING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER FROM FRIENDS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE RIGHT-LEANING BUT NOT REALLY POLITICAL, AND THEY'RE LIKE, CAN WE GET SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK?

THEY'RE NOT TO, LIKE, GOING AND STARTING SOME NEW SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAM, WHATEVER, SPENDING THE GAS TAX ON WHATEVER, BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION TO, LIKE, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY SITTING THERE.

AND NOW THE GOOD NEWS IS, THE LAST BUDGET SESSION AT THE END OF IT, WE WERE DEBATING HERE AT THE STATEHOUSE, IS THIS REVENUE REAL?

NOW WE CAN KIND OF SAY, WE THINK IT IS, RIGHT?

WE THINK IT'S REAL.

>> AT LEAST FOR A WHILE LONGER.

>> AT LEAST FOR THE WINDOW WE'RE IN.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, WHEN THEY PUT LIKE ANOTHER $2 BILLION IN INTO K-12 EDUCATION, THEY KIND OF DID THAT WITH ONE EYE CLOSED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SURE LIKE IN TWO YEARS, WE MAY HAVE A HARD TIME HITTING THAT -- AS A STARTING POINT, BEING UP $3 BILLION IN 1 CYCLE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE PROBLEM.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM CLEARLY NOW.

BUT YEAH, I THINK AT SOME POINT, YOU DO GET TO THE POINT POLITICALLY WHERE PEOPLE START GOING, ALL RIGHT, THEY'RE LIKE, EITHER GIVE IT BACK OR GO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

>> YEAH, GO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE.

>> WELL, TO THAT POINT, GIVING IT BACK OR GO DO SOMETHING WITH IT, IS IT LIKELY WE'RE GOING TO SEE BOTH?

WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE THINGS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TOKED- CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR MORE TAX CUTS, PARTICULARLY THE HOUSE AND THE BUSINESS PERSONAL TAX REDUCTIONS.

IS EVERYTHING NOW ON THE TABLE?

>> THAT WAS THE ARGUMENT THAT REPUBLICANS MADE AND SORT OF WHAT THEY HAD TO WIN OVER, IF YOU WILL, THE GOVERNOR, WHO OF COURSE WAS SORT OF A LATE ARRIVAL TO THE CUT TAX PARTY.

AND SO THAT IS THE MANTRA.

WE CAN DO ALL OF THESE THINGS.

WE CAN CUT TAXES NOW AND WE CAN STILL INVEST IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS CITED RECENTLY AS BEING A REAL PROBLEM, POTENTIALLY FOR RECRUITING IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

I GUESS WE CAN DO IT ALL.

BUT KEEP IN MIND, ONE REASON THE REVENUES HAVE BEEN SO ROBUST IN THE SALES TAX ARENA IS, INFLATION IS GREAT FOR GOVERNMENT COFFERS, SO IRONICALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU BENEFIT ON THE BACKS BASICALLY OF TAXPAYERS WHO FIND THAT THEY'RE PAYING 10, 20% MORE.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT THE MAJOR ISSUE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, AND IT DOES MAKE IT HARDER, YOU'RE RIGHT, FOR BUDGET ARCHITECTS, AND I WAS GOING TO SAY REPUBLICAN BUDGET ARCHITECTS BUT THAT WOULD BE REDUNDANT BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER KIND IN INDIANA, MAKES IT TOUGHER WHEN THEY'RE FLUSH WITH CASH.

THE BEST SCENARIO IF YOU WANT A SIMPLE EXISTENCE FOR THEM, LOOK, OUR CUPBOARDS ARE BARE.

DON'T EVEN COME TO US BECAUSE THE CUPBOARDS ARE BARE.

THAT'S EASY.

THIS IS MUCH TOUGHER AS YOU SUGGEST.

>> WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING IN THESE NUMBER, IT'S NOT THE SALES TAX THAT'S GROWING, IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX.

>> RIGHT.

WAGES HAVE GONE UP.

>> RIGHT.

SO THAT'S VERY FASCINATING, WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY SEEING IT ON THE SALES TAX SIDE, AND I WONDER IF WE WILL.

I'M NOT SURE.

>> WHICH IS ALSO A HARBINGER OF GOOD, I THINK, IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY.

BECAUSE ONCE THE SALES TAX -- >> EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT MOST PROJECTIONS CALL FOR SOME SORT OF RECESSION, I DON'T KNOW HOW SIGNIFICANT, BUT -- >> WELL, TO THAT POINT, THOUGH, WE'VE HAD PREDICTED RECESSIONS FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW, AND WE HAD ONE, IT WAS ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LONG, AND NOW WE'RE FLUSH WITH CASH AGAIN, AT LEAST FOR THE SHORT TERM.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND THE U.S. HOUSE THIS WEEK TOOK STEPS AIMED AT ADDRESSING A NATIONWIDE BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE.

BIDEN INVOKED THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT TO SPEED THE PRODUCTION OF INFANT FORMULA AND HAS AUTHORIZED FLIGHTS TO IMPORT SUPPLIES FROM OVERSEAS.

THE ORDER REQUIRES SUPPLIERS OF FORMULA MANUFACTURERS TO FULFILL ORDERS FROM THOSE COMPANIES BEFORE OTHER CUSTOMERS.

THE PRESIDENT IS ALSO AUTHORIZING THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO USE COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT TO FLY FORMULA SUPPLIES THAT MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS FROM OVERSEAS TO THE U.S.

THE HOUSE PASSED TWO BILLS AIMED AT THE SHORTAGE.

ONE, WITH OVERWHELMINGLY BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE THE WIC PROGRAM TO PURCHASE FORMULA FROM ANY PRODUCER INSTEAD OF LIMITED TO ONE IN THE CASE OF SUPPLY DISRUPTION.

THE SECOND BILL, WHICH ALMOST EVERY REPUBLICAN OPPOSED, SENDS MONEY TO INCREASE FDA STAFFING TO BOOST INSPECTIONS OF DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL SUPPLIERS, PREVENT FRAUDULENT PRODUCTS FROM GETTING ON TO STORE SHELVES, AND ACQUIRE BETTER DATA ON THE MARKETPLACE.

JON SCHWANTES, ON THAT SECOND BILL, REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THAT MORE FDA STAFF ISN'T THE PROBLEM HERE, IT'S NOT WHAT CREATED THIS SHORTAGE.

WILL VOTERS ACCEPT THAT EXPLANATION?

>> YOU ALWAYS ASK THE QUESTION, WILL VOTERS -- I MEAN, THERE'S THE REALITY AND THEN YOU SAY WILL VOTERS ACCEPT IT.

>> THOSE ARE OFTEN NOT THE SAME THING.

>> SELDOM ARE THEY THE SAME THING ACTUALLY.

AGAIN IT GETS BACK TO THE ABILITY OF ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER TO FRAME THE DEBATE IN A MANNER THAT, WELL, IN THEIR MIND IS ACCURATE, WHICH MEANS -- TRANSLATES INTO COMPELLING AND MOTIVATIONAL FOR VOTERS IN TERMS OF DECIDING HOW THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE OR WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE AT ALL.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THERE HAS BEEN THE SLIMMING DOWN OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS HURT A LOT OF SECTORS, AND YOU'VE SEEN IT ABOU WITH THE FAA.

YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE BOEING CONTROVERSY, THEY HAD CREED A CEDED ALOT OF THE INSPECTIONS.

LOOK AT THE IRS.

NOBODY IS COMPLAINING ABOUT FEWER AUDITS BUT -- >> THE PROBLEM IS THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING AUDITING CAN'T AFFORD TO GET AUDITED.

>> THE I RS IS SAYING WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH -- YOU WANT TO PUMP MORE MONEY INTO THE FEDERAL TREASURY IS ENFORCE THE TAX LAWS AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE PAYING WHAT THEY SHOULD, AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU GET TO THE ISSUE WITH THE FDA.

BUT AGAIN, YOU COULD CITE ALMOST ANY SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY AND SAY THINGS DON'T WORK AS WELL WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO -- ENFORCE POLICIES AND INSPECT -- CONDUCT THE INSPECTIONS THAT ARE EXPECTED AND REQUIRED.

>> THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS BILL PASSES THE SENATE.

THE OTHER ONE MAY HAVE ALREADY, IF NOT, IT'S GOING TO SHORTLY.

SO WHETHER OR NOT IT PASSES, THOUGH, IF THE SHORTAGE IMPROVE, IF WE START SEEING SUPPLY BACK ON THE SHELVES, AND IF THE SITUATION GET BETTER, THAT'S ALL PEOPLE ARE GOING TO -- AT THE REGULAR LEVEL, THAT'S ALL THEY'RE GOING TO SEE, IS THE SITUATION IS IMPROVED.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATS CAN USE AGAINST REPUBLICANS TO SAY WE IMPROVED THE SITUATION AND LOOK, THEY TRIED TO STOP US?

>> I JUST DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN A REALLY GOOD ARGUMENT MADE THAT DIRECTLY TIED THAT FDA FUNDING TO HOW IT WOULD HELP THE SHORTAGE.

SO YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THAT ONE IS NOT GOING TO BE HURTFUL TO REPUBLICANS, THAT VOTE.

IT JUST WASN'T AS CLEARCUT AS, SAY, THE FIRST VOTE, WHICH WAS CLEARLY BIPARTISAN.

>> AND WE'RE ALREADY I THINK STRARTINGSTARTING TO SEE THE RIE EFFECT OF THESE ACTIONS AT LEAST THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN SO FAR.

IF THIS FORMULA SHORTAGE DOES DRAG ON, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THINGS HURTING DEMOCRATS RIGHT NOW, INFLATION, GAS PRICES.

IS THIS ONE THAT REALLY COULD HURT IN THE FALL?

>> I THINK HE'S TAKING PRETTY AGGRESSIVE STEPS AND WE DO HAVE THAT PLANE LANDING IN INDIANAPOLIS FROM ABROAD, SO HE'S LETTING FORMULA FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY COME, UNLIKE WHAT DONALD TRUMP DID WITH HIS REDONE NAFTA, WHICH CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS FOR IMPORTING THAT FROM CANADA AND MEXICO.

>> I KNEW THIS WOULD BE DONALD TRUMP'S FAULT.

>> IN FACT, PART OF IT WAS.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF IT, IT SEEMS TO ME, IT'S CHANGING THE WIC RULES IS GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE SINCE 80% OF THE FORMULA GOES TO WIC RECIPIENTS, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, AND IT SEEMS TO ME, WE NEED THE FDA EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE WE NEED TO TAKE SOME OF THE CUMBERSOME REGULATIONS FOR BRINGING IN FORMULA FROM ABROAD AWAY, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE, ABSOLUTELY, BUT NOT GO THROUGH ALL THE RIGMAROLE THAT FOREIGN IMPORTERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO BRING THEIR PRODUCT IN TO THIS COUNTRY.

>> SO TAKE MORE EMPLOYEES TO TAKE REGULATIONS AWAY?

>> I THINK IT TAKES MORE EMPLOYEES TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS, YEAH, I DO.

AND WE NEED TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN BRING THOSE IN WHEN SHORTAGES LIKE THIS OCCUR, AND THEN WE NEED TO MANUFACTURE AS WE DO A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY AGAIN TO AVOID OUR FOREIGN DEPENDENCE.

>> NOW YOU SOUND LIKE DONALD TRUMP.

NOW YOU'RE CHANNELING DONALD TRUMP.

>> I'M NOT CHANNELS DONALD TRUMP, BELIEVE ME.

>> IF THIS DOES DRAG ON AND WE HOPE IT DOESN'T BECAUSE IT WOULD BE REALLY BAD IF -- >> IT COULD BE VERY BAD.

>> IF IT DOES DRAG ON, DOES THIS BECOME A OR THE DEFINING ISSUE HEADING INTO THE FALL?

>> I DON'T THINK SO, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE POPULATION GENERALLY.

I MEAN, ET CETERA GENERALLY OF F CONCERN BUT VERY OF CONCERN WITH LOW INCOME -- WITH INFANTS ON FORMULA.

>> WE WERE SHORT AS A PLANET OF MICROCHIP, BUT WHEN PEOPLE GRUMBLE AND THEY CAN'T GET THEIR CARS, THIS AND THAT, BUT YOU CAN MAKE A COMMERCIAL ABOUT THAT, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE BABIES, YOU KNOW, MOUTHS OPEN AND THEY CAN'T GET THEIR NUTRITION, I MEAN, IT'S SO CLE CLEAR-CUT.

IN THE MEANTIME, I GUESS -- YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY THEY'RE WINNERS, YOU HOPE THIS PASSES QUICKLY BUT DAIRY ASSOCIATION, YOU HAVE PEDIATRICIANS AND OTHER MAKING RECOMME RECOMMENDATIONS G IN HALF THE AGE AT WHICH MOTHERS COULD -- AS A LAST RESORT.

>> I DID LOVE, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK, THERE WERE A COUPLE THAT SAID WHY CAN'T WOMEN GO BACK TO BREASTFEEDING?

HOW MEN DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WOMEN'S BODIES DON'T WORK?

IT'S NOT REALLY HOW IT WORKS, FELLAS.

>> IT'S ALL THE PEOPLE USING FORMULA IN THEIR GAS TANKS, THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, THE STATE -- WELL, THIS IS NOT A GOOD STORY.

THE STATE -- SORRY, I JUST REMEMBERED WHAT THIS STORY WAS.

THE STATE FOUND HARMFUL PFAS IN THE TREATED DRINKING WATER AT 10 INDIANA UTILITIES IN ITS FIRST ROUND OF TESTING.

EXPOSURE TO THESE CHEMICALS HAS BEEN LINKED TO CERTAIN CANCERS, PROBLEMS WITH THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES IN CHILDREN.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS WHILE NONE OF THE UTILITIES HAD PFAS ABOVE FEDERAL HEALTH ADVISORY LEVELS, THERE'S STILL CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

>> BECAUSE ALL OF THE UTILITIES HAD PFAS BELOW THE FEDERAL HEALTH ADVISORY LEVEL, THE STATE ISN'T REQUIRING THEM TO TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW.

BUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS EXPECTED TO SET LIMITS FOR HOW MUCH PFAS ARE ALLOWED IN DRINKING WATER SOON.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR LISA KAMENDULIS STUDIES THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF PFAS AND ALSO SITS ON THE EPA'S SCIENCE ADVISE REAL BOARD FOR THE CHEMICALS.

ADVISORY BOARD FOR THOSE CHEMICALS.

>> SO OTHER STATES ARE BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE IN HOW THEY'RE ATTACKING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE HEALTH EFFECTS, ADVERSE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FROM EX-PORE SURE O THESE CHEMICALS AT VERY LOW LEVELS.

>> MOST OF THE UTILITIES THAT HAD PFAS IN THEIR WATER WERE IN SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL INDIANA, LIKE TENNYSON AND DANVILLE WATERWORKS IN HENDRICKS COUNTY.

>> NIKI KELLY, HOW LONG CAN INDIANA WAIT TO ACT ON THIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

ALL I KNOW IS I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT PFAS WAS UNTIL TODAY, AND NOW I'M SCARED TO DEATH OF IT BECAUSE I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH, THEY CALL IT THE FOREVER CHEMICAL, LIKE THEY CAN'T BREAK IT DOWN, AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, IT ALREADY THERE.

THE CONCERN IS, AND WHAT NO ONE CAN AGREE ON, IS WHAT LEVEL IS OKAY, AND WHAT LEVEL ISN'T.

I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PRETTY MUCH IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ABOVE 1 PART PER TRILLION, IT'S HORRIBLE.

SO I WOULD HOPE THAT BRIGHTER MINDS THAN ME GET TOGETHER AND REALLY COME UP WITH A BETTER SYSTEM FOR HOW WE SHOULD JUDGE THIS, BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT THIS CHEMICAL IS IN EVERYTHING THAT OVER THE YEARS WE'VE USED, AND IT'S JUST LEACHING INTO THE GROUNDWATER.

SO I HOPE WE GET SOME CLARITY ON THAT.

>> THEY'VE BEEN TALKING AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE, TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR CRITICAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN INDIANA.

WE TOOK CARE OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN 2017 WITH THAT MASSIVE ROAD FUNDING PACKAGE.

BUT WE HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN TO THAT LEVEL WITH WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS GOING TO PUT INCREASED PRESSURE, ESPECIALLY WITH TWO TOPICS AGO ALL OF THAT MONEY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY WITH?

>> A LOT OF OUR CHALLENGE AS A STATE, I THINK IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, HAD TO DO WITH THE SANITARY SEWERS BEING LINKEDIN SOME MANNER NO THE OVERFLOW FROM HEAVY RAIN AND SO FORTH, SO YOU HAD RAW SEWAGE GOING IN TO PLACES IT WASN'T DESIGNED TO, AND YOU HAVE THE OLD AGING PIPES, YOU KNOW, WHICH -- LEAD AND OTHER HEAVY METALS.

THAT'S A PROBLEM WE USED TO DEAL WITH.

THAT'S THE ONE WE WERE ALL FAMILIAR WITH.

THEN WE FIND OUT ABOUT PFAS.

REALLY IT'S NOT A NEW PROBLEM.

CERTAINLY THIS IS WHAT YOU MAY RECALL -- WE ACTUALLY KIND OF TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE SHOW IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT WITH BURN PITS IN THE MILITARY, AND THE PRESIDENT MENTIONED IT AT THE STATE OF THE UNION BECAUSE SOLDIERS WERE BEING EXPOSED AND WE ALSO -- THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE PROBABLY, I DON'T KNOW, FOR A DECADE MAYBE FOR FIREFIGHTERS, WHO HAVE SAID, HEY, PLEASE, THIS IS A PROBLEM.

WE ARE GETTING ALL KINDS OF CANCERS AND SO FORTH.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, I THINK I SAW A PIECE, MIGHT HAVE BEEN DREAMING THIS, THAT THERE IS SOME TECH NOTHING THAT MAY HOLDY HAS SOME PIECE OF THE ANSWER.

EITHER AS A CONSORTIUM OR SOMETHING ELSE.

>> WE JUST TALKED ABOUT SORT OF IN THE LAST DISCUSSION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE POTENCY OF AN ISSUE.

THIS ONE FEELS LIKE -- I MEAN, TO NIKI'S POINT, YES, THERE IS DISAGREEMENT OVER WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OR NOT, AND THAT WILL BE A DEBATE THAT PLAYS OUT BOTH AT THE FEDERAL AND I SUPPOSE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

BUT IT'S REALLY TO SAY HEY, AND INDIANA IS DOING THIS TESTING FOR A REASON, IT'S NOT JUST, OH, BY THE WAY, WE LAP TO HAPPEN T- THERE'S A PURPOSE BEHIND THIS.

IT'S REALLY TO SAY HEY, THERE ARE HARMFUL, DANGEROUS CHEMICALS IN OUR WATER, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IS NOW THE TIME, AGAIN, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WAYS TO USE THIS MONEY, TO REALLY START HONING IN ON THIS INFRASTRUCTURE?

>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS ALREADY BEEN MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

IT'S A $12 BILLION PROBLEM THAT IS LARGELY LOCALS PROBLEM.

>> THEY DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY.

>> FEDERAL DOLLARS TOO THAT HAVE GONE FOR IT.

>> THAT'S BEEN THE CHALLENGE.

BUT YEAH -- >> BUT DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS MAKE MAKING THE CASE EASIER?

>> I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

YOU CAN'T ASK THE LOCALS TO ABSORB THIS COST.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AS A STATE.

WE OUGHT TO DO IT BEFORE WE WIND UP LIKE FLINT, MICHIGAN WITH ALL KINDS OF KIDS -- >> I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF EFFORTS FROM THE STATEHOUSE OVER LEAD TESTING AT SCHOOLS AND OF CHILDREN AND THEY'RE DOING A LOT MORE IN THAT REALM, AND THIS FEELS LIKE ANOTHER STEP, AND WE'RE NOTICES ALL THESE PROBLEMS.

LET'S HOPE WE START TO -- >> WE SPENT THE WHOLE SHOW ON THE SURPLUS.

>> HOW MUCH DOES THIS CONTRIBUTE, HOW MUCH DOES THE FACT WE HAVE SO MANY SMALL UTILITIES AROUND THE STATE, TOO, CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM AND DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM?

>> ALSO SOME OF THE PROBLEM IS YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.

THERE ARE CERTAIN -- >> THAT'S MY QUESTION.

>> USE THESE CHEMICALS AND IT GOES DOWN RIVER.

>> G GOD FORBID WE SHOULD PENALE THOSE INDUSTRIES.

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE A HARDER CONVERSATION.

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

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY, REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN, JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF "INDIANA LAWMAKERS," AND NIKI KELLY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF STATES NEWSROOM INDIANA.

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.

JOIN US NEXT TIME, BECAUSE A LOT >> THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

"INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW" IS A WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA'S PUBLIC