♪♪ >> A BILL TO ELIMINATE INDIANA'S >> A BILL TO ELIMINATE INDIANA'S HANDGUN LICENSES.

A VETO OVERRIDE.

PLUS, A PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATIONS BILL THAT PROVIDES NO ACCOMMODATIONS AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 12TH, 2021.

>> 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.

>> THIS WEEK, INDIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUPS ARE ON BOTH SIDES OF A DEBATE OVER LEGISLATION THAT WOULD NO LONGER REQUIRE HOOSIERS TO GET A HANDGUN LICENSE.

>> THE PROCESS TO GET A HANDGUN LICENSE TYPICALLY TAKES JUST A FEW DAYS THOUGH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, IT'S TAKEN MUCH ONGER, AS MUCH AS A FEW MONTHS.

INDIANA STATE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DOUG CARTER SAYS THE BURDEN OF WAITING TO LEGALLY CARRY A HANDGUN IN PUBLIC IS OUTWEIGHED BY THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE LICENSES TO POLICE.

>> DOUG CARTER: YOUR KIDS AND MINE, IN YOUR COMMUNITIES - PLEASE DON'T PUT THEM IN JEOPARDY.

>> BUT HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF DENNIS QUAKENBUSH SAYS NOTHING SHOULD GET IN THE WAY OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS DEFENDING THEMSELVES.

>> DENNIS QUAKENBUSH: THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE YOUR PLAN A FOR PROTECTION OR SELF-DEFENSE.

THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OUR SAVIOR.

>> A HOUSE COMMITTEE DID NOT VOTE ON THE BILL WEDNESDAY.

THE DEADLINE FOR IT TO DO SO IS NEXT TUESDAY.

>> IS IT TIME TO ELIMINATE INDIANA'S HANDGUN LICENSES?

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, IT'S REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHETHER YOU THINK INDIANA SHOULD ELIMINATE HANDGUN LICENSES.

>> YOU KNOW, BRANDON, WE HAVE SO MANY RIDICULOUS PIECES OF LEGISLATION OUT OF THE NRA CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE.

JUST THINK ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND, IF THERE IS NO LICENSING AT ALL, FELONS COULD GET HANDGUNS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH, SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, IT IS RIDICULOUS.

WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY DYING FROM GUN VIOLENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND THEN YOU SEE THOSE BUNCH OF CRAZY WHITE SUPREMACISTS STORMING OUR CAPITAL, AND CREATING AN INSURRECTION, AND THE RESPONSE FROM THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS MORE GUNS?

REALLY?

REALLY?

IS THAT WHAT WE NEED THIS THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK WE NEED A LOT LESS IN THE WAY OF HANDGUNS.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT ISN'T SACRED.

EVERY OTHER AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION HAS PARAMETERS AROUND IT, THE SECOND AMENDMENT NEEDS THEM AS WELL.

AND A LICENSING IS A VERY, VERY MINIMAL RESTRICTION THAT'S NECESSARY.

>> MICHAEL O'BRIEN, AN ARGUMENT WE HEAR AROUND THIS BILL, PRETTY OFTEN, WE HEARD IT THIS WEEK WAS THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE BOTHERING TO GET THE LICENSES NOW ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

SO, IS THAT A REASON TO ELIMINATE THE LICENSE?

>> I THINK IT'S INSTRUCTIVE THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION AND THE PROSECUTOR ASSOCIATION DON'T TAKE POSITIONS ON THESE BILLS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH -- IT DEPENDS ON YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT IT DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

I'M SURE THE HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF IS REFLECTING -- COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE BE ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM WHAT THEY PER SEVERE AS PROBABLY VIOLENCE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, BUT OUT OF FEAR.

BUT YOU'LL HAVE A SHERIFF IN URBAN CENTER, MAYBE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE THAT OPPOSES THIS.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH GUN VIOLENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

FOR THE SAME REASON PROSECUTORS MIGHT OPPOSE IT.

VERY MUCH WHERE YOU'RE FROM, AND WHAT ARE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND THAT INSTRUCTS YOUR POSITION ON THIS.

BUT THIS IS A -- THE LATEST EXAMPLE IN KIND OF BRING YOUR ISSUE TO THE COVID CRISIS.

THE BACKLOG, THAT'S NOT INSIGNIFICANT THAT YOU GO FROM A DAY OR TWO TO MONTHS AT A TIME TO WAIT FOR IT.

I UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATION, I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, WHERE WE'RE AT IN TIME RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO PUSH IT.

>> NIKI KELLY, IN THE PAST FINANCIAL ISSUES HAVE ACTUALLY STOPPED THIS BILL FROM BECOMING LAW OR AT LEAST ADVANCING FURTHER IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS YEAR SO FAR THEY'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THAT AT LEAST AS A REASON TO STOP IT, RIGHT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, WE HAD ALREADY MADE THE FIVE-YEAR LICENSE FREE.

SO THE LIMITED -- I MEAN, IT IS ONLY LIKE A THREE-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLAR HIT STATE-WIDE, THAT IS PRETTY EASY TO ABSORB.

I WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS, WHILE SOME POLICE AGENCIES WERE NEUTRAL, THERE WERE A LOT MORE WHO WERE AGAINST T. THE INDIANA STATE POLICE, THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, THE INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE.

SO THERE WERE A LOT OF POLICE AGAINST THIS BILL.

AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO GET FINGER PRINTS TAKING MONTHS NOW, I THINK THEY SHOULD FIX THAT.

DON'T ACT LIKE NO ONE TRIES TO GET THIS WHO ISN'T ELIGIBLE.

THERE WAS TESTIMONY THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GET DENIED EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT -- THEY DON'T FIT THE INDIANA STATUTE OF A PROPER PERSON.

>> JON SCHWANTES, WITH SO MANY -- THERE'S A PARTICULAR DEBATE RIGHT NOW ON A SEPARATE TOPIC, BUT THERE'S A PARTICULAR DEBATE AROUND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN INDIANA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS TO SAY TO A LOT OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONS WE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT A POSITION THAT I THINK A LOT OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE USED TO FINDING THEMSELVES IN, AND NOT A POSITION THAT THEY ARE NECESSARILY EAGER TO ADOPT.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS IS A DONE DEAL.

I THINK WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE VOTE YET.

THERE ARE STRONG FEELINGS ON BOTH SIDES.

I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'RE SEEING THIS NOW, I MEAN, ANN ALLUDED TO THE INSURRECTION AT THE US CAPITOL, AND ANOTHER PANELIST TALKED ABOUT COVID.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY FUELING THIS.

THERE ALWAYS IS THE PUSH, OR HAS BEEN IN RECENT YEARS FOR SO-CALLED CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, DON'T GET ME WRONG THERE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATES OF THAT THROUGH THICK AND THIN, WHAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR IS BECAUSE OF THE UNREST, WHETHER INSTEAD OF BEING UNNERVED BY THE INSURRECTION, I SHOULD SAY THEY ARE UNNERVED BY IT, AND THE NOTION OF A PANDEMIC, AND HOW THIN IS THE SAFETY NET IN SOCIETY AND SORT OF CIVILITY THAT RUNS THROUGH SOCIETY, HOW EASY IS TO TO FRAY THAT DURING A PANDEMIC OR SOME SORT OF SOCIAL CRISIS.

AND I THINK THROW THAT IN WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IS OUT TO GET THEIR GUNS AND SO FORTH, AND YOU HAVE A GROUND SWELL OF SUPPORT FOR A BILL LIKE THIS.

>> AND IT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE HEARING THIS WEEK.

IT WAS THE PROTESTS, THE BLACK LIVES MATTERS PROTESTS, AND OTHERS THAT WE SAW ACROSS INDIANA, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER LAST SUMMER.

THOSE WERE BROUGHT UP DURING WEDNESDAY'S COMMITTEE HEARING.

I SHOULD SAY THERE IS NOW A COMMITTEE HEARING ON THAT BILL FOR AMENDING AND VOTING ON IT, SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY.

I THINK AT 11:30, WE'LL SEE WHAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENS THEN.

BUT TIME NOW FOR 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: SHOULD INDIANA ELIMINATE THE LICENSE REQUIREMENT TO CARRY A HANDGUN IN PUBLIC?

A, YES, B, NO.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: HOW MUCH SHOULD THE NEXT ROUND OF COVID RELIEF CHECKS BE?

I'M FASCINATED BY THE RESULTS.

NEARLY HALF OF YOU SAID THE $1,400 IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS PUSHING.

A QUARTER OF YOU SAID MORE THAN THAT, AND A QUARTER OF YOU SAID LESS THAN THAT.

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WOULD HAVE THEIR HANDS TIED FROM ENACTING MEASURES TO INCREASE RENTER RIGHTS AND PENALIZE LANDLORDS IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVERRIDES THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF A 2020 BILL.

WFYI'S JILL SHERIDAN REPORTS THE SENATE COMPLETED ITS HALF OF THAT EFFORT THIS WEEK.

>> SENATE ENROLLED ACT 148 WAS OPPOSED BY A LARGE COALITION OF HOUSING RIGHTS ADVOCATES WHO SAY IT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS RENTERS ACROSS THE STATE AND INCREASES EVICTIONS.

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TIM LANANE SAYS HOLCOMB VETOED THE MEASURE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> SEN. TIM LANANE (D-ANDERSON): HE SAID I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME FOR SUCH LANGUAGE TO BECOME LAW AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EMERGENCY.

>> THE LAST MINUTE LANGUAGE WAS ADDED TO ANOTHER BILL AND SEEMED TO TARGET NEW INDIANAPOLIS ORDINANCES THAT SEEK TO INCREASE TENANT RIGHTS AND FINE BAD-ACTING LANDLORDS.

THIS PAST YEAR, EVICTION MORATORIUMS HAVE PREVENTED MANY FROM LOSING THEIR HOMES.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR AARON FREEMAN SAYS IT'S TIME TO OVERTURN THE VETO.

>> SEN. AARON FREEMAN (R-INDIANAPOLIS): FOLKS, THIS MATTERS.

I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF LANDLORDS THAT ARE HURTING.

>> THE HOUSE ALSO NEEDS A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE TO OVERTURN THE VETO.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, HOW BAD DOES THIS LOOK FOR GOV.

HOLCOMB IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVERRIDES HIS VETO?

>> PRETTY LOW BAR IN INDIANA.

YOU NEED A -- WE HAVE SUPERMAJORITIES WHO PASSED IT.

ONE, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE PROCEDURALLY LOOK THAT CLOSELY, AVERAGE PEOPLE, I THINK THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN PRETTY WELL OUTLINED OVER THE LAST TEN MONTHS SINCE HIS FIRST PASS AND THE GOVERNOR VETOED IT.

ON ONE HAND, WE CONTINUE TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE THAT ARE THE MOST ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PROBABLY LIVING IN APARTMENTS AND NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR RENT.

I DO APPRECIATE SENATOR FREEMAN'S POINT THAT MOST OF THE TIME WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THESE HUGE CONGLOMERATE CORPORATIONS THAT OWN THESE APARTMENT BUILDINGS, WE'RE USUALLY TALKING ABOUT INVESTMENTS, RETIREMENT PLANS, PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT WEALTHY, THEY'RE JUST INVESTORS IN THESE FACILITIES.

AND IT HURTS DOWN SREAM TEN MONTHS LATER IF YOU PUT IN AN EVICTION MORATORIUM IN PLACE, AND PEOPLE ARE NOT PAYING RENT, THAT EVENTUALLY DOES HAVE A SEVERE IMPACT.

SO IT'S BAD FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT AGAIN, I MADE THIS POINT BEFORE, I DON'T THINK IT IS THE RIGHT TIME TO TAKE AWAY LOCAL CONTROL OF THIS.

WHEN YOU HAVE MAYORS WHO ARE GOING TO UNDERSTAND, MAYORS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO UNDERSTAND BETTER THAN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN THAT COMMUNITY FROM A HOUSING STANDPOINT.

>> ANN DeLANEY, REALISTICALLY IF THE HOUSE DOES DECIDE TO OVERRIDE THIS VETO, AND IF THEY DON'T, BY THE WAY, THERE WAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION ON THE HOUSE SIDE THAT DOES THE EXACT SAME THING.

BUT EITHER WAY, REALISTICALLY, IF YOU THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA, WHICH I KNOW THAT YOU DO, IS THERE ANY CONSEQUENCE FOR LAWMAKERS WHO VOTE TO OVERRIDE OR VOTE FOR THAT MEASURE?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THERE IS MUCH CONSEQUENCE, EXCEPT THE GENERAL OUTCRY WHEN WE'LL HAVE EVICTIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

THIS IS LESS ABOUT OVERRIDING THE GOVERNOR'S VETO AND LESS ABOUT PROTECTING LANDLORDS, MOM AND POPOLOGICALS, FOR YOUNG, AND FREEMAN AND STAN LYNN TO GET OVER THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC MAYOR AND A DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED COUNCIL, THEY DON'T LIKE THAT.

I THINK ALL OF THEM MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE CITY COUNCIL, GOT OFF BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE BEING THE MINORITY AND THEY WANT TO FLEX THEIR MUSCLE.

THEY NEED TO GET OVER IT.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE PARTY OF LOCAL CONTROL.

AND THEY'RE FINE WITH LOCAL CONTROL AS LONG AS IT'S HAPPENING THE WAY THEY LIKE IT AND AS LONG AS THE CONTROL IS BY REPUBLICANS.

THEY NEED TO -- BUSINESS IN TERMS OF THAT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND INDY GO AND THE REST OF THE TIMES THEY TRY TO MUDDLE IN THINGS THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS HAVING ANY ROLE IN.

ALL THREE OF THEM ARE GUILTY OF THIS.

>> TO THAT VERY POINT, NIKI KELLY, WE SAW A LETTER FROM INDIANA BUSINESSES ON EXACTLY THAT TOPIC THIS WEEK, DID WE NOT?

>> YEAH, THERE WAS SOME VERY LARGE BUSINESSES, AND -- WHO CAME OUT AND SAID, LOOK, YOU GUYS GOT TO STOP INTRUDING ON INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS FROM THIS SESSION, IS TEACHER PAY WE HEAR WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE BIG STATE, NOT GOING TO BE THE INDIANA SCHOOL BOARD, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM BEING LIKE THE INDIANA CITY COUNCIL, BECAUSE THEY'RE PASSING LAWS, YOU KNOW, ON PRESIDENTIAL BUILDING DESIGN THAT AFFECT ALL THE STATE, LANDLORD TENANT THAT AFFECTS ALL THE STATE.

SO, I MEAN, I THINK THEY'RE DEFINITELY STARTING TO FEEL SOME PUSHBACK ON THAT FROM SOME BIG DONORS.

>> JON SCHWANTES, MORE BROADLY, WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE LANDLORD TENANT BILL, AN ISSUE ON THIS SHOW.

I WANT TO ASK A LITTLE MORE BROADLY ON WHAT ANN BROUGHT UP, THIS IDEA THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE MORE ATTENTION THIS YEAR THAN EVER BEFORE ON THE AMOUNT OF LEGISLATION COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT INDIANAPOLIS.

WILL THIS CREATE A PUSHBACK THAT WILL MAKE LAWMAKERS CHANGE COURSE?

>> WE'RE ALREADY SEEING A PUSHBACK AS NIKI POINTED OUT.

I'M NOT SURPRISED, THE NOTION OF PREEMPTION BY THE STATE OF LOCAL ORDINANCES NOW HAS JUST BEEN BUILDING OVER TIME.

AND IT'S NOT JUST IN THE AREAS THAT YOU DESCRIBE, BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND HOUSING RIGHTS.

YOU'RE SEEING IT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY SOURCES, WITH WIND FARMS, SOLAR FARMS, WITH WHERE THINGS CAN BE LOCATED, WHERE THEY CAN'T BE LOCATED.

REALLY, IT'S DOZENS OF AREAS WHERE YOU SEE THIS TYPE OF PREEMPTION OR AT LEAST ATTEMPTS AT PREEMPTION.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE A PUSHBACK BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH A DICHOTOMY BETWEEN THAT KIND OF APPROACH AND THE OFF-STATED COMMITMENT OF THE MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, THEIR PARTY, TO LET LOCAL GOVERNMENT DO WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES BEST, WHICH IS LISTEN TO THEIR CITIZENS AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.

SO, I THINK CLEARLY THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF BALANCE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE PUSH THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM INDIANAPOLIS.

AND I THINK THERE WILL INEVITABLY BE A PUSH BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

PREGNANT WORKERS COULD ASK FOR WORKPLACE ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER A NEW BILL HEADED TO THE HOUSE FLOOR, BUT EMPLOYERS WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED TO GRANT THEM.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JUSTIN HICKS REPORTS SEVERAL GROUPS SAY IT'S A START TO HELP EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES, BUT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

>> ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PREGNANT WORKERS COULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE EXTRA BATHROOM BREAKS OR LIMITING HEAVY LIFTING.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO RECEIVE REQUESTS AND RESPOND TO THEM IN A “REASONABLE TIME FRAME” AND WITHOUT RETALIATION.

EMPLOYMENT LAW EXPERT DEBORAH WIDISS TESTIFIED THAT UNDER TWO FEDERAL LAWS, MANY EMPLOYERS MAY ALREADY BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS.

BUT IF THAT ISN'T MIRRORED IN STATE LAW, SHE SAYS EMPLOYERS COULD BE CONFUSED ABOUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

>> DEBORAH WIDISS: I THINK IT JUST CREATES THE RISK THAT BUSINESSES END UP EXPOSING THEMSELVES TO MORE LEGAL LIABILITY WITHOUT REALLY TAKING A STEP FORWARD FOR PREGNANT WORKERS.

>> OTHER BILLS THAT WOULD REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN SCHEDULED FOR COMMITTEE DISCUSSION.

>> NIKI KELLY, GOV.

HOLCOMB ADDRESSED THE PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATIONS ISSUE AT HIS WEEKLY BRIEFING THIS WEEK.

WHAT DID HE HAVE TO SAY?

>> YEAH, HE WAS FRUSTRATED.

I MEAN, HE BROUGHT THAT UP ON HIS OWN.

BASICALLY ADMITTED THAT THAT FIGHT'S OVER.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO PASS A BILL THAT HONESTLY DOES NOTHING.

IT SAYS YOU CAN ASK FOR THINGS.

I GET HIS FRUSTRATION, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE HONEST, HE'S TAKEN SOME -- HE'S GOT BILLS AND LEFT CURBING HIS EXECUTIVE ABILITY FOR THE FUTURE, LOST THE VETO OVERRIDE, WHICH WILL LIKELY DO THE SAME IN THE HOUSE, NOT GOING TO GET HIS PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATIONS BILL, THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET HAD SOME VERY DIFFERENT PRIORITIES THAN HIS.

SO, I THINK HE'S MAYBE SHOWING FRUSTRATION FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS IN THAT.

>> BEFORE WE GET TO THE ISSUE OF THE PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATIONS BILL THAT DOESN'T PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS, JON, WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON NIKI'S POINT THERE, WHICH IS IS THE GOVERNOR -- THE GOVERNOR JUST WON REELECTION BY A PRETTY BIG MARGIN.

WHY IS THAT SORT OF SEEMINGLY PUBLIC SUPPORT NOT SHOWING UP IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

>> WELL, I THINK HE DOES ENJOY BROAD PUBLIC SUPPORT, NOT JUST DID HE HAVE A WIDE MARGIN, BUT AS WE POINTED OUT BEFORE HE RECEIVED MORE VOTES THAN ANY OTHER PERSON WHO HAS EVER BEEN ON THE BALLOT IN THE STATE OF INDIANA IN ANY RACE IN ANY YEAR.

ANN IS SHAKING HER HEAD.

>> YEAH, I MEAN THE POPULATION HAS GROWN, OKAY.

>> YEAH, BUT USUALLY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL -- >> IRRELEVANT FOR TWO OR THREE CYCLES.

>> HOLD ON, USUALLY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE GARNERS THE MOST VOTES, THIS YEAR WAS THE GOVERNOR.

>> IT WAS THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

AND IT'S A THREE-WAY RACE.

WE DON'T NEED TO GET BOGGED DOWN WITH THAT.

THE POINT IS HE ENJOYS WIDESPREAD POPULARITY.

SO WHY IS HE NOT GETTING HIS DUE?

I WOULD SAY IT IS BECAUSE OF THE MAKEUP OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

IT IS NOT THE TRADITIONAL, IN MANY CASES NOT THE TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, YOU HAVE THE SAME SORTS OF VERY CONSERVATIVE FACTIONS WITHIN THE CAUCUS THAT YOU SEE IN CONGRESS.

AND SOME OF THE SAME BATTLES, AND SOME OF THE SAME IN-FIGHTING THAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE US HOUSE AND SENATE.

NOT SURPRISINGLY ARE TAKING PLACE HERE IN INDIANAPOLIS.

SO, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHOSE AGENDAS ARE FRANKLY MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THE GOVERNOR'S.

AND SO JUST BECAUSE THERE IS AN R REMIND THEIR NAMES, DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE ALL GOING TO FALL IN LINE IN LOCKSTEP BEHIND THE GOVERNOR >> MIKE O'BRIEN, WHY IS THIS PREGNANCY -- THIS IS SESSION NUMBER TWO ON PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATIONS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL FAIL FOR THE SECOND SESSION IN A ROW.

WHY IS THIS SUCH A HARD SELL?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A COMPELLING CASE FOR MORE WOMEN IN ELECTED OFFICE.

INDIANA'S ONE OF TWO STATES THAT DOESN'T HAVE A PROHIBITION ON PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION OR ACCOMMODATION.

THE OTHER ONE IS NORTH CAROLINA, AND IT'S INSANE TO ME THAT WE HAVEN'T TAKEN MEANINGFUL STEPS TO PROTECT PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE, GIVE THEM SOME ACCOMMODATION ON THE BACK END.

PROLIFE, WE'RE THE PROLIFE PARTY, RIGHT?

AND WE CARE ABOUT THAT UNTIL THE BABY IS OUT, THEN WE SEEM TO JUST WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR THEM.

AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE, I THINK, IN THIS AREA AND PRE-K AND OTHERS.

THERE IS SOLID EVIDENCE THAT THE KIND OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORT LEADS TO A GREATER CHANCE OF UPPER MOBILITY IN THE FUTURE, THE IDEA THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING A MORE THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO THIS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE STATEHOUSE IS UNFORTUNATE >> ANN DeLANEY, HOW DO YOU SETTLE THIS?

>> YOU DON'T.

I MEAN, WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IS SAY THAT THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING WHEN THEY'VE DONE EXACTLY NOTHING.

I WOULD NOT SAY THEY WERE PROLIFE, THEY ARE PRO BIRTH.

YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WANT TO ASSIST WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT.

IT IS JUST SUCH A SMALL THING THAT CAN HAVE BIG IMPLICATIONS FOR A WOMAN CARRYING A CHILD, OR CARRYING MULTIPLE CHILDREN.

AND IT JUST SEEMS TO ME IT IS SO LONG OVERDUE THAT I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN PUSH FORWARD LEGISLATION LIKE THIS WITH A STRAIGHT FACE AND ACTUALLY TRY TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE.

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT.

>> INDIANA HOUSE REPUBLICANS WANT TO SPEND AT LEAST 65 MILLION DOLLARS LESS ON TRADITIONAL K-12 SCHOOLS IN THEIR STATE BUDGET PLAN THAN GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB PROPOSED.

THE HOUSE G-O-P BUDGET INSTEAD PRIORITIZES INCREASES FOR SCHOOL VOUCHERS AND VIRTUAL SCHOOLS.

>> THE HOUSE GOP BUDGET PROPOSAL INCREASES TUITION SUPPORT FOR K-12 SCHOOLS BY 378 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THAT'S ONE MILLION MORE THAN HOLCOMB'S PROPOSAL.

BUT THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLAN INCLUDES A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF SCHOOL VOUCHERS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, TAKING UP 66 MILLION OF THAT INCREASE.

REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE TIM BROWN IS HIS CAUCUS'S BUDGET ARCHITECT.

>> REP. TIM BROWN (R-CRAWFORDSVILLE): PARENTS BY FAR AND AWAY WANT TO MAKE CHOICES FOR THEIR KIDS.

THEY WANT TO HAVE OPTIONS.

>> IN A STATEMENT, DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE GREG PORTER SAYS THE HOUSE GOP BUDGET PRIORITIZES PRIVATE SCHOOLS OVER TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, “CREATING HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS” AND FURTHERING WHAT HE CALLS A “SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL” SYSTEM.

>> JON SCHWANTES, ARE YOU SURPRISED BY SUCH AN INCREASE IN VOUCHERS THIS SESSION?

>> YES, AND KNOW, AND I'LL EXPLAIN.

I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING PUSH FOR VOUCHERS, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THE HISTORY OF THAT IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

THE FIRST EXPERIMENTATION WITH THIS WAS ENACTED BACK IN 2011.

STARTED WITH 2500 OR SO STUDENTS, PILOT PROGRAM AND EXPANDED, AND THE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BROADENED WIDELY IN TERMS OF USED TO BE CERTAIN STUDENTS HAD TO BE IN SCHOOLS THAT WERE DEEMED TO BE FAILING IN SOME FASHION OR INADEQUATE BEFORE YOU COULD MOVE TO OTHER PROGRAMS, OR YOU HAD TO HAVE AN INCOME, A FAMILY INCOME OF A CERTAINLY LEVEL THAT SUGGESTED YOU WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAKE A MOVE BUT FOR A VOUCHER PROGRAM.

CLEARLY WE'VE REMOVED A LOT OF THOSE BARRIERS, AND WE CONTINUE TO PUSH AND BROADEN WHAT IS ALREADY BY MANY MEASURES THE LARGEST MOST EXPANSIVE AND PERHAPS MOST EXPENSIVE VOUCHER PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

SO, I'M NOT SURPRISED.

BUT, WHY I AM SURPRISED NOW IS IN THE WAKE OF COVID, WHEN YOU HAVE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS BATTERED AND BRUISED, AND REELING TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY AT THIS POINT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW BAD THE IMPACT OF COVID AND THE FORCE, YOU KNOW, FORCING STUDENTS TO MOVE TO VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A GOOD GRASP ON JUST HOW SIGNIFICANT THAT IMPACT WAS.

SO, TO ALLOCATE THIS KIND OF MONEY IN THE FACE OF THAT KIND OF UNCERTAINTY, THAT PART SURPRISES ME.

>> I KNOW THE REST OF OUR PANELISTS HAVE THINGS THEY WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE BUDGET.

WE WILL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET IN THE COMING COUPLE OF WEEKS AS IT FINISHES MOVING THROUGH THE HOUSE.

BUT I WANT TO GET TO OUR FINAL TOPIC, WHICH IS SUSAN BAYH, AN ATTORNEY AND FORMER FIRST LADY OF INDIANA, DIED THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 61 AFTER YEARS OF SURGERIES AND TREATMENTS FOR BRAIN CANCER.

>> EVAN BAYH WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR IN 1988, MAKING HIM AND SUSAN THE YOUNGEST INDIANA GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.

THE TWO MET WHILE INTERNING FOR FORMER U.S. REP. PETE STARK IN WASHINGTON, D.C AND MARRIED IN 1985.

SUSAN HAD THEIR TWIN SONS, BEAU AND NICK, WHILE EVAN WAS GOVERNOR, MAKING THEM THE FIRST GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY TO HAVE CHILDREN WHILE IN OFFICE IN THE LAST CENTURY.

SUSAN, LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN BOTH INDIANA AND DC, WAS APPOINTED BY THEN PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TO THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION IN 1994.

SHE SERVED FOR SIX YEARS, OVERSEEING COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER TREATIES FOR THE U.S.-CANADIAN BORDER.

>> ANN DELANEY, HOW WILL YOU REMEMBER SUSAN BAYH?

>> THERE WAS SO MANY HAPPY MEMORIES OF HER.

SHE WAS JUST -- HAD SUCH A JOY OF LIVING AND GRACIOUSNESS, OBVIOUSLY COMPLETELY DEVOTED TO EVAN AND HER SONS.

SHE WAS ABLE TO REACH OUT TO ANYONE AND MAKE THEM FEEL AT HOME, AND EVEN IN THE FACE OF THE LAST THREE YEARS WHEN IT WAS JUST NOT THE SURGERY AND THE TREATMENT BUT THE AFTEREFFECTS WERE SO BRUTAL ON HER BODY, SHE WAS UPBEAT AND CONCERNED ABOUT OTHERS AND JUST AS GRACIOUS AS SHE COULD BE, IT'S A REAL LOSS.

>> AND WHAT DID SHE MEAN TO INDIANA?

>> I'M SORRY?

>> WHAT DID SHE MEAN TO INDIANA?

>> WHAT DID SHE MEAN -- >> TO INDIANA?

>> OH, TO INDIANA.

SHE MADE SUCH AN ISSUE OF ADULT LITERACY.

WHEN THEY FIRST MOVED HERE AND SHE REALIZED THAT INDIANA HAD ONE OF OF THE HIGHEST ILLITERACY RATES AMONG ADULTS, SHE JUMPED INTO THAT WITH BOTH FEET.

SHE ALSO HELPED JUMP START A PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO SEEK OFFICE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

SHE CAMPAIGNED LIKE A TROUPER THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

I THINK HER IMAGE WAS SO POSITIVE.

SHE WAS ACCOMPLISHED, SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL, SHE HAD A CAREER IN HER OWN RIGHT.

SHE WAS A MOTHER.

ALL OF THAT I THINK HELPED PROJECT INDIANA AS A PROGRESSIVE AND FORWARD-THINKING STATE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS A BIG ADVANTAGE FOR US NATIONALLY AS WELL AS HER ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM WAS FOR THE STATE OF INDIANA.

>> OUR THOUGHTS ARE CERTAINLY WITH THE BAYH FAMILY.

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 WEAR A MASK, AND JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.

♪♪ >> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS >> 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.

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