♪♪ >> THE DISASTROUS AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL.

THE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION.

PLUS, BIDEN'S NURSING HOME ORDER AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 20TH, 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, INDIANA US SENATORS TODD YOUNG AND MIKE BRAUN ROUNDLY CRITICIZED PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FOR THE WAY THE U-S MILITARY'S WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN UNFOLDED.

>> THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN THE ASIAN NATION HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AS THE TALIBAN QUICKLY RETOOK THE COUNTRY AS AMERICANS WITHDREW.

SENATOR MIKE BRAUN CALLED THE SITUATION “AN UNFORCED ERROR.” >> U.S. SEN. MIKE BRAUN (R-IND.

): IT'S DISGRACEFUL THAT WE'RE LEAVING IN AN EMBARRASSING WAY LIKE THIS, REMINISCENT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN VIETNAM.

>> SENATOR TODD YOUNG'S STATEMENT WAS LESS CRITICAL.

HE FOCUSED ON THE SACRIFICES AMERICAN TROOPS HAVE MADE FOR TWO DECADES IN AFGHANISTAN AND CALLED IT “TRAGIC” HOW FAST THOSE GAINS WERE LOST.

PRESIDENT BIDEN DEFENDED HIS DECISIONS, SAYING THE SITUATION DETERIORATED FASTER THAN EXPECTED, BLAMING AFGHAN POLITICAL LEADERS FOR FLEEING AND THE AFGHAN MILITARY FOR FAILING TO ADEQUATELY FIGHT.

>> IS THIS A DEFINING MOMENT FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN?

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 LINDSEY ERDODY, WFYI DIGITAL EDITOR FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH JENNIFER HALLOWELL, IS THIS A DEFINING MOMENT FOR THE PRESIDENT?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS A DEFINING MOMENT FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAS FAILED IN EVERY ASPECT OF THIS, AND JUST CONTINUES TO DIG IN WITH DEFENSIVE AND UNBELIEVABLE COMMENTS BLAMING REALLY EVERYONE BUT HIMSELF.

WE'VE GOT HIT LEADERS, ALLIES, PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WHORL JUST IN DISBELIEF, AND OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS WE'VE LOST THOUSANDS OF LIVES AND SPENT HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ONLY TO HAVE IT END IN THIS JUST TERRIBLE UNTHINKABLE WAY.

NOW WE'VE GOT THOUSANDS OF AFGHAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN COOPERATING WITH U.S.

TROOPS AND OUR ALLIES, AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN JUST BEING SLAUGHTERED, IT'S HEART-WRENCHING.

BUT ALSO, IT'S POTENTIALLY A DEFINING MOMENT FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE SENDING TO TERRORISTS AND WOULD-BE BAD ACTORS ACROSS THE WORLD.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THE WILL TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THESE SITUATIONS WE'RE POTENTIALLY CHANGING OUR ■ROLEINTHE ORLD.

I THINK WE'VE REALLY GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT TO BE, WHAT AMERICA'S ROLE IN THE WORLD IS GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THIS IN PARTICULAR, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS FAILED ALL ALONG THE WAY.

IT IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

THIS IS THE SAME PERSON WHO CAMPAIGNED TELLING US THAT HE WAS GOING TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA'S POSITION ON THE WORLD STAGE AND HAS JUST COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY FAILED.

>> ANN DeLANEY, CRITICISM HAS BEEN COMING FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT HERE, CERTAINLY NOT JUST ONE PARTY.

DOES THIS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT THE REST OF BIDEN'S PRESIDENCY?

>> I THINK SO.

FRANKLY THIS OUTCOME WAS DETERMINED AS SOON AS DONALD TRUMP DECIDED TO SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE DIRECTLY WITH THE TALIBAN WITHOUT THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THAT.

HE OBVIOUSLY INDICATED BY ISSUING A TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL THAT HE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONFIDENCE IN THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT OR THE AFGHAN ABILITY TO RESIST THE TALIBAN, HE EVEN SPECULATED THAT THE TALIBAN WOULD MAKE GOOD GOVERNING.

OKAY.

THAT WAS FROM DONALD TRUMP.

SO THIS PARABLE EXIT WAS GUARANTEED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THAT KIND OF COURSE, THAT DONALD TRUMP SENT US ON IN 2020.

EARLY IN 2020.

FRANKLY, I WAS OPPOSED TO BEING IN AFGHANISTAN.

OKAY, I THOUGHT WE SHOULD GO GET OSAMA BIN LADENEN, ONCE WE GOT OUT OF THERE, ALEXANDER THE GREAT, THE RUSSIANS AND THE BRITISH ALL TRIED TO CONTROL AFGHANISTAN UNSUCCESSFULLY.

THIS IS NOT A COUNTRY.

IT IS A SERIES OF TRIES.

IT IS NOT IN THIS CENTURY OR THE LAST, MAYBE NOT IN THE CENTURY BEFORE.

NOW, WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DONE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL AMERICANS AND ALL THE -- AND HOPEFULLY ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED AMERICANS GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY SAFELY.

AND IF PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT THAT, I SUGGEST THAT THEY START GIVING TO GROUPS LIKE EXODUS TO HELP RESETTLE THESE REFUGEES WHO HAVE RISKED A LOT TO BE LOYAL TO THE AMERICANS.

NOW IS THE TIME TO WELCOME THEM TO OUR COUNTRY, NOT REPUDIATE THEM.

WELCOME THEM, MAKE THEM FEEL AT HOME AND HELP THEM GET SETTLED.

I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN IS DOING AS GOOD A JOB AS HE CAN, DESPITE THE TERRIBLE HAND THAT WAS DEALT TO HIM BY DONALD TRUMP.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN ALEXANDER THE GREAT IS BROUGHT UP ON THIS SHOW.

LINDSEY ERDODY.

>> THERE'S A MESSAGE IN THAT.

>> ANN DeLANEY JUST REFERENCED REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, IS THAT THE NEXT POLITICAL BATTLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE UNFOLD FROM AFGHANISTAN?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

I MEAN, YOU TALK ABOUT THIS BEING A DEFINING MOMENT FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

I THINK IT'S HARD TO SEE HOW IT IS NOT, BUT IT IS ALSO STILL UNFOLDING.

SO NOW WE HAVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, AS WE KEEP BRINGING AMERICANS BACK HOME, AND HOW HE HANDLES THE WHOLE REFUGEE SITUATION, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO PLAY INTO THIS AS WELL.

THAT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, THIS IS STILL ONGOING.

BUT THE IMAGES WE'VE SEEN SO FAR OF PEOPLE CLINGING TO AIRPLANES AND HANDING BABIES OVER FENCES, EVEN THOUGH IT'S EARLY ON IN HIS PRESIDENCY, IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW THIS IS NOT A DEFINING MOMENT EVEN THIS FAR INTO THE WHOLE SITUATION.

>> JON SCHWANTES, THE REALITY IS THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A BLAME GAME IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

AND YES, THE IDEA OF THE WITHDRAWAL WAS STARTED, AND NEGOTIATED IN PART BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, BUT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS THE PRESIDENT NOW, AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE ACTUAL WITHDRAWAL IS UNFOLDING DOES IT ALL FALL ON HIS HEAD?

>> EARLIER IN THE WEEK HE GAVE A SPEECH WHERE HE INDICATED THAT HE DISH THINK HE USED THE PHRASE THE BUCK STOPS HERE, THAT HE DID TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT IT SORT OF RANG HOLLOW IT SEEMED TO ME, BECAUSE THEN AT A SUBSEQUENT SPEECH THAT TOOK PLACE JUST BEFORE THE TAPING OF THIS PROGRAM, HE STILL SEEMED TO -- ON ONE HAND, THE BUCK STOPS HERE, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, LOOK OVER THERE, IT MIGHT BE HERE, IT MIGHT BE THERE, HE SEEMED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE NOTION THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION IS SOMEHOW DOING ALMOST A GOOD JOB THE WAY HE TALKED ABOUT IT AGAIN AT THIS EVENT THAT PRECEDED THE TAPING OF THIS PROGRAM, TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE US MILITARY HAD SECURED, DOWN TO THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN AIR LIFTED OUT AND SO FORTH.

BUT CLEARLY, IT'S DAMAGING.

HERE'S A TIME WHEN KAMALA HARRIS IS MAKING A TRIP TO SOUTHEAST ASIA.

NORMALLY THAT WOULD BE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION, IT IS AN IMPORTANT TRIP TO TRY TO MEND SOME OF THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WERE STRAINED PERHAPS DURING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

IS ANYBODY PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT?

NO.

AND I DON'T THINK THEY WILL.

BECAUSE OF THIS.

SO IT'S -- LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT HIS -- THAT THE PRESIDENT'S OWN STATE DEPARTMENT, AND THIS WAS REPORTED INITIALLY BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND SUBSEQUENTLY OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, THERE WERE CABLES ISSUED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYING THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO HAPPEN.

IT IS UNFOLDING TO QUICKLY.

WE'RE NOT -- WE DON'T HAVE A VISA PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD HAVE, WE HAVE HAD MONTHS TO PREPARE, WE KIND OF DIDN'T GET IT DONE.

THAT'S HIS OWN STATE DEPARTMENT, OR I SHOULD SAY THEORETICALLY OR NON-PARTISAN CAREER PROFESSIONALS WHO DID SOUND AN ALARM AS WE NOW KNOW BECAUSE OF REPORTING IN WALL STREET JOURNAL THIS WEEK.

>> MOVING ON.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS HEALTH IS INDIANA'S “ACHILLES' HEEL” - AND HE'S CREATING A PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION TO TRY TO IMPROVE IT.

THE COMMISSION WILL SPEND THE NEXT YEAR DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS MEANT TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

>> STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER DOCTOR KRIS BOX SAYS THE NEW COMMISSION WILL LOOK AT THE FUNDING, OPERATIONS AND STRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY ACROSS THE STATE'S 94 LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

>> DR. KRIS BOX: WE BELIEVE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO BETTER SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH, REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND ENSURE THAT WHERE YOU LIVE WILL NOT BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR WITH REGARDS TO YOUR ACCESS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES YOU CAN RECEIVE.

>> THE COMMISSION, HOWEVER, FACES AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH MANY HOOSIERS DON'T BELIEVE OR TRUST LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS, WHILE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE IGNORED HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE STRIPPED AWAY SOME OF THEIR POWER.

>> HOLCOMB SAYS HE AND THE COMMISSION WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN.

>> GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: WHAT WE CAN DO IS MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE GOOD, LOCALIZED, TRUSTED, VERIFIED STATE INFORMATION.

>> THE COMMISSION WILL BE LED BY FORMER STATE SENATOR LUKE KENLEY AND FORMER STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER DOCTOR JUDY MONROE.

>> ANN DELANEY, CAN THIS COMMISSION BE EFFECTIVE?

>> THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS WHEN INDY HAS HOVERED BETWEEN 47th AND 49th IN SPENDING ON HEALTHCARE.

47th IS WHAT WE ARE NOW.

OKAY.

THEY ARE SITTING ON HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT THEY CAN'T DECIDE WHAT TO SPEND.

SO WHAT DO THEY DO?

THEY CREATE A COMMISSION TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD SO THAT THE NEXT TIME THIS ISSUE COMES UP THEY'LL SAY THE BUDGET IS TOO TIGHT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

WE HAVE A VERY UNHEALTHY POPULATION.

WE'RE OBESE, WE SMOKE TOO MUCH, WE HAVE DIABETES, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE ISSUES, AND WE HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AS A MAJOR ISSUE.

THE GOVERNOR COULD STEP FORWARD RIGHT NOW AND ADDRESS A LOT OF THESE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE VACCINE ISSUE AT THE MOMENT, WHICH HE IS SO AFRAID OF TOUCHING.

BUT HE COULD DO SOMETHING TANGIBLE WITH THE MONEY HE HAS AVAILABLE, AND INSTEAD LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE HE DOES, HE CREATES A COMMISSION.

HE CREATED A COMMISSION ABOUT DIVERSITY.

OKAY.

AND THEN THEY BRING IN THE NEW CLASS OF STATE TROOPERS THAT ARE ALL WHITE.

I MEAN, DO SOMETHING INSTEAD OF SITTING AROUND AND TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING WOULD BE MEANINGFUL.

HE'S NOT UP TO DOING THAT.

>> JENNIFER HALLOWELL, GIVEN THE STRAIN, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF A NICE WAY TO PUT THIS, THE STRAINED RELATIONSHIP THAT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS SEEM TO HAVE WITH THE PUBLIC AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN SOME CASES EVEN SEEM TO HAVE WITH THEIR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO MUCH OF THE MESSAGE OF THIS COMMISSION AT LEAST AT THIS POINT IS WE ARE LOOKING TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT SYSTEM ACROSS THE STATE.

IS THAT GOING TO BE AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION?

>> I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PROCESS TO UNDERTAKE AS FAR AS IT RELATES TO WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH ACROSS THIS STATE.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS PLAYING DIFFERENT ROLES, AND THE PANDEMIC CERTAINLY BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT THIS ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

MOST PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN AWARE OF THEIR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IN MANY CASES IT IS INVESTIGATING RESTAURANTS, ET CETERA, BUT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IN AN OVERALL KIND OF PERSPECTIVE.

SO, YES, THE STATE DOES HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO IMPROVE OUR POSITION ON PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND PART OF THAT IS FUNDING.

AND FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, ANN EXPRESSED HER DOUBTS ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THE WHOLE MAKEUP OF THE COMMISSION.

BUT I CERTAINTY HOPE THAT THERE ARE CURRENT STATE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE A PART OF THAT.

BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE MONEY AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO DON'T REALLY LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE AND UNDERSTAND THE FUNDING AND WHERE WE ARE VIS-A-VIS OTHER STATES.

BUT ALSO WHAT THAT FUNDING CAN GO TO, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, VARIETY OF THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AND BUT IT REQUIRES DOLLARS AND A COMMITMENT, AND TO THIS POINT, I THINK PEOPLE HAVE VIEWED IT IN DIFFERENT -- THEY VIEW HEALTHCARE, DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH OBVIOUSLY VERY DIFFERENT AND IMPACT EACH OTHER, AND THE COST OF HEALTHCARE IS MORE WHEN WE HAVE AN UNHEALTHY POPULATION.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND A COMPELLING MESSAGE TO LEGISLATORS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THESE FIND OF PROGRAMS.

THE LAST THING I'D SAY, DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE SOME LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THAT LIKE SHUT DOWN AT THE TIME WHEN THEY WERE REALLY NEEDED, THEY WERE CLOSED.

BUT I.U.

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH ACTUALLY JUST DID A STUDY THAT WRAPPED UP I THINK AT THE END OF THE YEAR THAT EVALUATED A LOT OF THESE THINGS, THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTING DATA IN THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY PULLED OUT AS A POSITIVE WAS THE CITY OF FISHERS, THAT CREATED THEIR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE THEY WANTED THEIR RESIDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO EXPERTS, AND THEN WHAT ENDED UP BEING TESTING AND VACCINES, ET CETERA, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT EVERY COMMUNITY SHOULD DO THAT, I DON'T THINK IT IS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH ACROSS THE STATE, AND I'M GLAD THAT THERE IS A GROUP THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED TOGETHER TO DO THAT.

>> JON SCHWANTES, JENNIFER JUST TALKED ABOUT IT, THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT IT AS THE PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THIS, BUT FUNDING IS GOING TO BE KEY TO A LOT OF THIS.

THE GOVERNOR COMPARED THIS PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION TO THE TEACHER PAY COMMISSION.

AND THE LEGISLATURE LARGELY IGNORED THE TEACHER PAY COMMISSION WHEN THEY DID ENACT MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AFTER A FINANCIAL BONANZA, THE LIKES OF WHICH WE ARE UNLIKELY TO SEE ANY TIME SOON.

SO IF THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE LEGISLATURE TO REALLY OPEN UP THE POCKETBOOK, IS THERE MUCH HOPE FOR THAT ON THE HEALTH FRONT?

>> IT'S A TALL ORDER.

WE'VE TALKED MOSTLY SO FAR ABOUT MONEY.

AND MONEY, OF COURSE, IS AT THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM, THE LACK OF SPENDING.

ANN TALKED ABOUT THE RANKS, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT SPENDING ON PUBLIC HEALTH IN OUR STATE, WE ARE DOWN BASICALLY ALMOST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.

BUT I DON'T THINK MONEY ALONE IS THE ISSUE.

THE ONLY ISSUE.

BECAUSE AND YOU TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER, BRANDON, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE SENSE OF ANTI-MEDICINE OR ANTI-SCIENCE SENTIMENT THAT YOU SEE ACROSS LARGE PORTIONS OF THE STATE.

FOR INSTANCE, WHEN WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH H.I.V.

AIDS INFECTION BECAUSE OF SHARED NEEDLES, A FEW YEARS DOWN IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE, THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF MONEY TO PAY FOR A NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.

THE PROBLEM THERE PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT A NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS SOMEHOW BAD.

SO I THINK IN ADDITION TO THROWING MONEY AT THE PROBLEM, WHICH CLEARLY HAS TO HAPPEN, THERE ALSO HAS TO BE SOME WAY TO HELP HOOSIERS.

THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT JUST HOOSIERS, BUT HELP THEM UNDERSTAND SCIENCE IS GOOD.

IT SOLVED A LOT OF OUR PROBLEMS IN SOCIETY AND MADE US MUCH BETTER.

KENLEY KNOWS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WELL, AND CLEARLY QUALIFIED ON ALL HEALTHCARE MATTERS, BECAUSE HIS BROTHER, A PHYSICIAN, DR. DAVID KENLEY DELIVERED MY MIDDLE CHILD.

WHAT MORE CREDENTIALS WOULD HE NEED?

LINDSEY ERDODY, DO THIS ISSUE THAT JOHN JUST TALKED ABOUT, THIS IDEA OF IT IS MORE THAN JUST MONEY, WE HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH PEOPLE REJECTING WHAT EXPERTS ARE TELLING THEM.

WE ASKED GOVERNOR HOLCOMB THAT QUESTION, WE AT THE STATE LEVEL ARE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO, PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH LOCAL TRUSTED INFORMATION.

IS THE GOVERNOR BEING OPTIMISTIC, OR NEW YEAR'S EVE?

>> I THINK HE'S BEING OPTIMISTIC.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THIS COMMISSION, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING SOME THINGS DONE, ON THE ONE HAND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH WITH OBESITY, INFANT MORTALITY, SMOKING RATES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE RANK POORLY.

ON THE OTHER HAND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING THE BUREAUCRACY OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THAT, AND THE POLICIES, AND I THINK THE THING YOU MIGHT SEE MORE OF MORE QUICKLY IS THE BUREAUCRACY SIDE OF THINGS.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO COME UP WITH THIS REPORT NEXT SUMMER, I THINK THAT'S A THING WE MIGHT SEE THE NEEDLE MOVE ON FASTER.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES ARE NOT THINGS THAT CAN BE SOLVED QUICKLY, EVEN IF YOU ARE THROWING MONEY AT THEM, EVEN IF YOU ARE CREATING NEW PROGRAMS, EVEN IF YOU ARE GETTING PEOPLE TO TRUST.

ARE THESE THINGS GOING TO MAGICALLY BE DRASTICALLY IMPROVED BY 2024, OR 2025?

PROBABLY NOT.

BUT THEN THAT RAISES ANOTHER QUESTION HOW LONG DO YOU WAIT BEFORE YOU IS AN I WHETHER OR NOT THIS COMMISSION WAS SUCCESSFUL?

>> WELL, YEAH.

THAT WILL BE A TOPIC FOR A FEW SHOW DOWN THE LINE, I GUESS.

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: IS GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB OPTIMISTIC OR NAÏVE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF HIS PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION?

A.

OPTIMISTIC.

B. NAÏVE.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: WILL THIS BE ANOTHER “LOST” SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID-19 DISRUPTIONS?

55% OF YOU SAY YES, 45% SAY NO.

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

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED THAT NURSING HOMES MUST VACCINATE ALL THEIR STAFF AGAINST COVID-19 OR RISK LOSING FEDERAL MEDICARE AND MEDICAID FUNDING.

>> ACCORDING TO CDC DATA, ONLY ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF NURSING HOME STAFF NATIONWIDE ARE VACCINATED.

HERE IN INDIANA, THAT NUMBER IS ONLY ABOUT 52 PERCENT.

THE BIDEN MANDATE COULD TAKE EFFECT AS EARLY AS NEXT MONTH.

AND HE WOULD USE REGULATORY AUTHORITY SIMILAR TO HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FORCED NURSING HOMES TO PROHIBIT VISITORS LAST YEAR.

SOME NATIONAL NURSING HOME LEADERS PRAISED BIDEN'S ANNOUNCEMENT THOUGH THEY WARNED THAT IF ALL HEALTH CARE WORKERS ACROSS THE NATION AREN'T REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED, NURSING HOMES COULD FACE SERIOUS STAFFING PROBLEMS.

>> LINDSEY ERDODY, JOE BIDEN HAS LARGELY USED THE CARROT APPROACH SO FAR WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES.

WILL THE STICK BE MORE EFFECTIVE?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

WE'VE SEEN IN SOME VARIOUS OTHER CASES WHERE THE MANDATES COME DOWN AND IT DOES MOTIVATE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BUT I THINK THE KEY THING HERE IS THAT IF YOU'RE A NURSING HOME AND YOU SAY, OKAY, ALL THE STAFF HAS TO BE VACCINATED AND YOU'RE AN UNVACCINATED STAFF MEMBER, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE VACCINATED, THEN WHAT'S TO STOP YOU FROM GOING AND GETTING A DIFFERENT JOB IN HEALTHCARE?

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE'S BURNOUT ACROSS THE BOARD, THERE ARE JOB OPENINGS ACROSS THE BOARD.

OBVIOUSLY IT VARIES FROM POSITION, OR WHICH -- WHERE YOU MIGHT BE GOING TO WORK.

BECAUSE SOME OTHER PLACES DO HAVE THE MANDATES IN PLACE.

BUT IF YOU CAN FIND A JOB SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT IS NOT GOING TO REQUIRE YOU TO BE VACCINATED ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS LIKE THOUSAND DOLLAR SIGN-ON BONUSES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T SEE WHY YOU DON'T GO DO THAT, THEN IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME PEOPLE ALREADY IS FOR THIS TO WORK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THE MANDATE NOT BE AT NURSING HOMES, IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ACROSS THE ENTIRE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM >> YEAH, TO THAT POINT, JON SCHWANTES, IS THAT THE KEY TO MAKING THIS WORK, IT CAN'T JUST BE LIMITED TO NURSING HOMES?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE CARROT CLEARLY DID NOT WORK, THAT'S WHY WE'RE SITTING IN OUR RESPECTIVE LOCATIONS, NOT THE STUDIOS AT WFYI, CLEARLY THE CARROT APPROACH WASN'T WORKING.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF THIS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR ARE BITING DOWN AND SAYING THIS IS SOMETHING OUR WORKFORCE NEEDS TO DO.

I'M SORRY IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.

>> JENNIFER HALLOWELL, THIS MIGHT SEEM BROAD, I SUPPOSE, BUT IS THIS THE RIGHT THING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE DOING?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S -- I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS THE RIGHT THING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO.

BUT AND AGAIN I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT BEFORE WE HAVE LIKE FULL APPROVAL ON THESE VACCINES, THAT STILL IS A HESITATION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE.

BUT LOOK, GENERALLY, I AGREE THAT IF YOU'RE WORKING IN A NURSING HOME, YOU SHOULD BE VACCINATED, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT, I APOLOGIZE.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

I UNDERSTAND, IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY THE NEED AND CONCERN FOR THAT, ESPECIALLY IN A NURSING HOME WHERE YOU HAVE MORE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS RISING HOSPITALIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS THAT IT IS AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED.

SO I THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S THE EMPLOYER'S CHOICE, AND IF YOU AS THE EMPLOYEE CHOOSE NOT TO, THEN YOU CAN FIND A DIFFERENT PLACE TO WORK.

>> ANN DeLANEY, IS THAT PERHAPS THE MOST COMPELLING ARGUMENT HERE ON THIS PARTICULAR MANDATE IS NURSING HOMES HOUSE THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS VIRUS, SO OF COURSE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE SHOULD BE VACCINATED?

>> I THINK SO.

I FRANKLY APPLAUD -- FOR HAVING THE LEADERSHIP TO STEP UP AND MANDATE THIS.

MANY OF THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE GOING TO THAT SAME APPROACH.

WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO NEED HOSPITALIZATION OR A NURSING HOME BY DEFINITION YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MORE VULNERABLE.

SO IT IS ABSOLUTELY FRANKLY IMMORAL FOR PEOPLE TO WORK IN THOSE FACILITIES WITHOUT GETTING VACCINATED FIRST.

SO I THINK IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT THEY SHOULD GO BACK AND FIND ANOTHER JOB, CLEARLY THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED -- IN CARING FOR PEOPLE IF THEY'RE RILG TO RISK THE HEALTH OF THOSE PEOPLE BY NOT BEING VACCINATED.

>> INDIANA'S 2022 US SENATE RACE IS STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.

HAMMOND MAYOR TOM MCDERMOTT TOOK STEPS THIS WEEK TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGN, SEEKING TO UNSEAT INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN TODD YOUNG.

>> MCDERMOTT, A DEMOCRAT, RAN FOR THE U-S HOUSE IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE.

NOW, HE'S FILED PAPERWORK TO CHANGE HIS CAMPAIGN TO ONE FOR THE U-S SENATE THOUGH HE HASN'T FORMALLY ANNOUNCED A RUN.

THE ONLY OTHER DEMOCRAT WHO'S FILED PAPERWORK AND IS RAISING MONEY IS ATTORNEY HANEEFAH KHAALIQ.

REGARDLESS OF WHICH DEMOCRAT WINS THE MAY SENATE PRIMARY NEXT YEAR, THEY'LL FACE AN UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST TODD YOUNG.

HE'S ALREADY GOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN HIS CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT AS HE VIES FOR A SECOND TERM.

JON SCHWANTES, MCDERMOTT IS KNOWN AS A COLORFUL CHARACTER.

IS HE THE RIGHT FIT AS A SENATE CANDIDATE?

>> HE'S AVAILABLE, AND I GUESS HE WANTS THE JOB, WHICH -- QUALIFICATION FOR DEMOCRATS GOING AGAINST A REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT.

IN A STATE AT A TIME WHEN THE STATE SEEMS TO BE SOLIDLY REPUBLICAN AND WHEN TODD YOUNG SEEMS TO BE DOING MORE OR LESS WHAT THE STATE OF INDIANA WANTS HIM TO DO.

>> AWE... >> WE'LL DEBATE WHETHER HE'S BEEN MORE OF A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD MAVERIK ALA DICK LUGER.

HE'S TRYING, I THINK, TO SORT OF SATISFY BOTH CAMPS.

BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE AN INCUMBENT TRYING TO -- >> THAT'S A PRETTY -- >> REAL QUICK.

THIS IS GOING HAVE TO BE THE LAST WORD.

LINDSEY ERDODY IS THE REALITY FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN THIS PARTICULAR RACE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A SACRIFICIAL LAMB CANDIDATE?

>> I THINK SO.

TODD YOUNG HAS $4.5 MILLION CASH ON HAND AS OF THE END OF JUNE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY VERY QUICKLY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IT MIGHT BE JUST THAT THIS WAY HE GETS HIS NAME OUT THERE, HE GETS TO BE MORE WELL KNOWN AROUND THE STATE, AND THEN THIS SETS HIM UP FOR SOMETHING ELSE LATER ON.

BUT TODD YOUNG AS OF RIGHT NOW IS STILL IN A VERY GOOD POSITION.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.

REPUBLICAN JENNIFER HALLOWELL.

JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

AND LINDSEY ERDODY OF WFYI.

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 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.

ICE MILLER IS A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO HELPING CLIENTS BUILD, GROW AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

MORE AT ICEMILLER.COM.

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

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