>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB DELIVERED HIS SIXTH STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS - LIVE AND IN PERSON - TO A JOINT SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK, RESUMING A LONGSTANDING PRACTICE THAT WAS INTERRUPTED LAST YEAR WHEN COVID-19 FORCED THE GOVERNOR TO PRERECORD HIS ANNUAL UPDATE OFF SITE.

THIS YEAR, THE SECOND-TERM REPUBLICAN DEVOTED THE BULK OF HIS HALF-HOUR SPEECH TO A LONG LIST OF ECONOMIC SUCCESSES THAT HAVE MADE INDIANA WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS -QUOTE - "THE SHINY NEW BUCKLE ON WHAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS THE RUST BELT."

DESPITE HIS RETURN TO THE HOUSE ROSTRUM AND HIS UPBEAT ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE'S FISCAL FUTURE, THE GOVERNOR DID NOT IGNORE THE PANDEMIC.

HE CONCLUDED HIS ADDRESS WITH A PLEA FOR ALL HOOSIERS TO GET FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - EVEN IF THEY'VE DISAGREED WITH EVERY ACTION HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN TO SAFEGUARD THE STATE.

HI, I'M JON SCHWANTES, AND ON THIS EDITION OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS, WE'LL DIVE INTO THE PGOVERNOR'S MESSAGE WITH THE MN WHO DELIVERED IT - GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB.

WHENEVER A LEADING POLITICAL FIGURE DELIVERS A MAJOR ADDRESS, JOURNALISTS ARE WONT TO ENLIST AN ASSORTMENT OF POLITICAL PUNDITS AND SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTS TO PARSE THE SPEECH'S MEANING AND WEIGH ITS SIGNIFICANCE.

WHY DO THAT, HOWEVER, WHEN YOU CAN INSTEAD GO STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE - WHICH IS PRECISELY WHAT I'LL DO RIGHT NOW?

I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME GOVERNOR HOLCOMB.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU BEGAN YOUR SPEECH WITH A QUOTE ABOUT OPTIMISM IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTY FROM WINSTON CHURCHILL.

I WAS INTRIGUED BY THAT NOT JUST AT FACE VALUE, BUT AS A STUDENT OF HISTORY, YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT WINSTON CHURCHILL, REVERED NOW IN ENGLAND AND AROUND THE WORLD.

HE HAVE WAS AT ODDS WITH HIS GOVERNMENT.

HIS GOVERNMENT ALMOST DISSOLVED BEFORE WORLD WAR II, THERE WERE THOSE WHO WANTED TO NEGOTIATE WITH NAZI GERMANY.

HE SAID, NO, NO NEGOTIATION, YOU KNOW WHERE I'M HEADED.

>> I DO.

>> AM I GOING TO GET AN A PLUS IF I SAY THIS IS A MODERN ALLEGORY, A METAPHOR.

IS COVID THE MODERN DAY NAZI GERMANY, AND ARE YOU WINSTON CHURCHILL SOMETIMES AT ODDS WITH YOUR OWN PARTY.

>> FAR FROM BEING IN A LEAGUE WITH WINSTON CHURCHILL.

HE'S IN A LEAGUE WITH FEW OTHERS.

BUT, INCLUDING LINCOLN, AND OTHERS WHO HAVE FACED SIMILAR CHALLENGES.

BUT THIS IS, OF COURSE, A BATTLE.

AND THIS IS, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO SUMMONS THE COLLECTIVE WILL IN ORDER TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC HARDSHIPS, AND OBVIOUSLY WHAT I ADMIRE ABOUT WINSTON CHURCHILL SO MUCH, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE OR TORE, HOW HE COULD FRAME THINGS UP.

AND HUMOR.

HE COULD LIGHTEN THE MOOD AT TIMES, EVEN DURING THE MOST SERIOUS OF THREATS.

AND WHAT HE NEVER SACRIFICED WHAT IS COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

WHETHER FOLKS SAID THANKS FOR GETTING US THROUGH THAT, HERE'S YOUR DOOR, YOUR HAT, WHAT IS YOUR HURRY?

HE DID THE RIGHT THING, THAT IS SOMEWHAT LIBERATING WHEN YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT JUST DOING THE RIGHT THING.

I THINK WHAT IS BEING PROVEN IS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THAT DELICATE BALANCE OF OUR LIVES, OF COURSE, AND OUR LIVELIHOODS, AND BOTH ARE DEPENDENT ON ONE ANOTHER.

AND SO WHAT I TRIED TO EXPRESS WAS AS WINSTON CHURCHILL ALWAYS DID, WAS I WAS EXTREMELY OPTIMISTIC HOW WE HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH, OUR PERSEVERANCE, THIS LAST COUPLE TWO YEARS OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, IS IN OUR LIFETIMES, THE MOST CHALLENGING TIME OF ALL.

>> I NOTICED THE HUMOR SEVERAL TIMES.

ONE THAT STOOD OUT WHEN YOU OFFERED YOUR PLEA TOWARD THE END OF THE ADDRESS, I THINK YOU USED THE WORD PLEA, BEG, HOOSIERS TO GET VACCINATED.

YOU FRAMED THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF SAYING, THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO DISAGREE ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THERE ARE LARGE PORTIONS OF STATE, INCLUDING MANY IN YOUR OWN PARTY AND MANY IN YOUR OWN PARTY WHO HAPPEN TO BE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO HAVE BEEN VOCAL IN OPPOSITION TO SOME OF YOUR POLICIES.

>> IT IS JUST NOT A PARTY THING WITH ME.

THIS IS ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING.

THERE ARE BIG DISAGREEMENTS IN FAMILIES, NOT JUST IN POLITICAL PARTIES.

BUT IN FAMILIES.

ONE THING I CONTINUE TO HEAR IS I'M TRYING TO CONVINCE MY MOTHER OR FATHER, OR GRANDPARENTS TO GET VACCINATED.

I CARRY AROUND A COUPLE CHARTS WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO.

AND WE KNOW, AND I EXPRESSED THIS IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, WE KNOW IF YOU GET VACCINATED, BOOSTERED, ODDS ARE YOU DON'T END UP IN THE HOSPITAL, OR IN THE ICU, OR LOSING YOUR LIFE.

WE CAN DISAGREE ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS, AND WE NEED TO, THAT'S HEALTHY WEEK, CAN DO THAT WITH CIVILITY, I'M TRYING TO PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH AND LEAD MY EXAMPLE.

BUT IT DOESN'T EVER REMOVE THE FACT THAT IF YOU GET VACCINATED, IF YOU GET BOOSTED, YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING YOUR PART TO, ONE, SAVE LIVES, FOLKS YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW, MAYBE EVEN YOUR FAMILY.

AND LESSEN THE LOAD ON OUR HEALTHCARE NETWORK THAT IS SO CRITICALLY, CRITICALLY BEING OVERRUN RIGHT NOW.

>> IN FACT, THE SAME DAY THAT YOU DELIVERED YOUR ADDRESS, TUESDAY, I BELIEVE, WAS SOMETHING OF AN UNFORTUNATE MILESTONE.

THAT WAS A RECORD HIGH IN TERMS OF HOSPITAL CENSUSES FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ADMITTED, AND ARE RECEIVING CARE FOR COVID.

SORT OF A HARSH REMINDER THAT WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THIS YET.

AND YET AT THE SAME TIME YOU WERE SPEAKING IN THE CHAMBER, WE HAD LAWMAKERS, MANY NOT WEARING MASKS, THE LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE, CERTAINLY STARTED THE SESSION BY SAYING WE'RE BACK TO NORMAL, THE PLEXIGLASS PANELS ARE GONE, PUBLIC TESTIMONY NOW IS TAKING PLACE IN PERSON, NOT VIA CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION.

THE CHAMBER IS ACTUALLY BUZZING AGAIN THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR THE HOUSE MET CERTAINLY AS YOU KNOW, IN INDIANA GOVERNMENT CENTER SOUTH WHERE IT CAN BE MORE SPACED OUT.

IS THAT SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE?

DO YOU THINK LAWMAKERS, THIS SENSE -- THIS OSTENSIBLE SENSE OF A RETURN TO NORMAL IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, HEALTH STANDPOINT, OR MORE BROADLY, FROM AN OPTIC STANDPOINT AND A MESSAGING STANDPOINT?

>> I THINK IF IT'S COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT YOU EXPRESSED JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AS HAVE MEMBERS I'VE TALKED WITH, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET VACCINATED, AND TO GET BOOSTED, THEN YOU CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, OF COURSE.

AND I'M ALWAYS UBER POLITE WHEREVER I GO IF ON THEIR POLICIES, ON THEIR GROUNDS.

SO IF THERE IS CERTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING PUT IN PLACE, FOR FOLKS VACCINATED OR NOT, I'M GOING TO PLAY BY THOSE RULES WHEN I'M IN A CERTAIN BUSINESS.

THE SAME GOES FOR UPSTAIRS.

I'VE SAID EARLY ON, THEY RULE THE ROOST UP THERE, AND I RESPECT THAT.

AND WE DO IN OUR OFFICE.

SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS WITHIN THIS VERY SAME BUILDING, BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT WHAT WE NEED TO BE EXPRESSING, EVERYONE, IS TO GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

THAT WILL BE THE SINGLE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO BRINGING DOWN THOSE CENSUS NUMBERS.

>> SO MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID TO THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND SOME OF THE MOST VOCAL OPPONENTS OF THE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER.

THAT WILL BE LITIGATED STILL POST SESSION, INDIANA SUPREME COURT.

WE HAVE THAT IN A COUPLE MONTHS TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

IF YOU GET INTO THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, SOME RELATED TO COVID, SOME NOT, ALTHOUGH I GUESS YOU COULD ARGUE THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE EVERYTHING IS RELATED TO COVID.

THERE IS STILL THAT DICHOTOMY, THE DIFFERENCES, IF SOMEONE WERE TO COVER UP THE LOWER THIRD, WATCHING YOUR ADDRESS, OR PUT A BOX OVER YOUR FACE, IT COULD BE, SOME WOULD ARGUE, EVEN A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LARGELY INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM AN EVAN BAYH IN THE STATE OF THE STATE, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND SHORING UP THE WORKFORCE.

AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, AND INVESTING IN HEALTH, AND SO FORTH.

MEANWHILE YOU SEE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, THINGS SUCH AS ROLLING BACK THE ORDER ONCE AND FOR ALL, MAKING SURE GOVERNORS, YOU AND OTHERS WHO SUCCEED YOU, DON'T HAVE AS MUCH POWER IN THAT REGARD.

THEY'RE FOCUSED ON THINGS LIKE CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN SCHOOL CURRICULA.

I MEAN, DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE -- REMIND, YOU'RE THE PERSON, I BELIEVE I'M CORRECT IN SAYING YOU'VE RECEIVED MORE VOTES IN THE HISTORY OF INDIANA AS A STATE-WIDE CANDIDATE AT THE STATE LEVEL THAN ANY OTHER HUMAN.

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE, I SHOULD REMIND THEM OF THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK I NEED TO REMIND THEM OF THAT.

TO ME, IT IS NOT ABOUT -- WHILE IT HAPPENS TO BE HOW I GOT ELECTED, I RAN ON MORE OPPORTUNITY, IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I RAN ON MORE OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND MORE OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THAT MEANING, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, K-12, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS, WHAT THOSE THREE FRONTS REPRESENT TO ME IS MY AGENDA.

AND EVERYTHING FEEDS INTO THAT.

NOW, THERE IS ONLY ONE OF ME.

THERE IS 150 OF THEM.

AND I WOULD JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE ALWAYS START -- I'VE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE, I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUILDING NOW, I USED TO THINK I WAS A NEWCOMER, BUT I WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF MY PREDECESSORS, I HAVE NO EXCUSES, I KNOW WHAT THE JOB IS ABOUT, I KNOW WHERE WE START AND I KNOW WHERE WE FINISH.

AND I KNOW HOW MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS, WE'RE GOING TO SOON COME UP ON THE MILESTONE OF SEEING HOW MANY BILLS ARE FILED AND MOVED FORWARD, HOW MANY BILLS ARE ACTUALLY PASSED ON A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

AND UNANIMOUSLY.

AND SO WHILE IT'S -- IT DOES MAKE FOR A GOOD COPY, OR GOOD PRINT, OR GOOD AIR TO JUST FOCUS ON THE DIFFERENCES.

I NEVER -- WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS, ONGOING CONVERSATIONS, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

I THINK I DO.

ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

AND I'LL CONTINUE TO PRACTICE, AGAIN, WHAT I PREACH WITH CIVILITY, AND TRY TO GET THINGS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO THE LONG-TERM BETTERMENT OF OUR STATE DONE.

AND THAT'S WHAT MY AGENDA DOES REFLECT, HAS REFLECTED AND WILL OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT THREE YEARS -- >> AND THAT AGENDA IS NOT HARMED BY THE LIKELIHOOD THAT HB1001 FOR INSTANCE IS ENACTED, THAT IN FACT THE ORDER ENDS AND LET'S PRESUME THAT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE IS PRESERVED IN SOME AREAS, MEDICAID AND FOOD ASSISTANCE, SO THAT -- IN TERMS OF THE EMPLOYER, THE NOTION THAT EMPLOYERS WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO ENFORCE, SAY, A VACCINE MANDATE, DOES THAT AFFECT ECONOMIC IMPACT?

THIS IS AN AT-WILL STATE, YOU AND YOUR REPUBLICAN PREDECESSORS HAVE ALWAYS SAID IT IS A GREAT BUSINESS CLIMATE, BUSINESSES AREN'T FETTERED BY A LOT OF REGULATION, DOES THIS CHANGE THAT POTENTIALLY?

>> I THINK IT COULD.

AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I HEAR FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE ASSOCIATION OR LEADERSHIP LEVEL, BUT THOSE SMALLER BUSINESSES WHO JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THAT CHANCE.

AND SO I'M LISTENING TO THEM I'M PHILOSOPHICALLY IN WITH THEM.

I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO DERAIL OUR MOMENTUM.

AND ANY LITTLE THING IN TODAY'S WORLD CAN DO JUST THAT.

>> ARE YOU SAYING YOU'RE STILL WILLING -- YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE MAT TO TRY TO PREVENT THAT ASPECT OF 1001.

>> I'M GOING TO THE MAT TO GET THE THREE THINGS I'VE ASKED FOR.

EVERYTHING ELSE, TO ME, I THINK IS COUNTER PRODUCTIVE TO OUR COLLECTIVE GOALS.

>> ONE OTHER AREA OF DISAGREEMENT, I KNOW YOU JUST CHIDED THE MEDIA FOR FOCUSING ON THE AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT.

ON THE SURPLUS, IT IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.

YOU'RE SITTING POTENTIALLY ON MAYBE UPWARDS OF THREE, FOUR, FIVE BILLION DOLLARS.

AND WE ALREADY ARE GOING TO HAVE AUTOMATIC TAX REFUNDS, $125 ON AVERAGE FOR HOOSIERS.

THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS WANT TO SEE A PERMANENT TAX CUT FOR PERSONAL INCOME TAX.

IT WAS 3%, NOW I HEAR THERE IS A MOVE TO MAKE IT LOWER.

SOUNDS BETTER, 2.9 SOUNDS BETTER, AS ANY RETAILER WILL TELL YOU DURING SALES SEASON.

BAD IDEA, YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I'M BEING CAUTIOUS, BECAUSE WE'RE LIVING IN THIS TIME OF A COUPLE YEARS NOW WHERE WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS, FACTORS THAT GIVE US AN INFLATED OR COULD BE MISLEADING, OR FALSE RADAR SCREEN.

THAT BEING OBVIOUSLY COVID, BUT ALSO THE TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE COME IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT ALL SPENT YET, BUT MUCH OF IT HAS BEEN.

AND IT IS ENTERED INTO OUR ECONOMY, ENTERED INTO OUR REVENUES IN SALES TAX COLLECTIONS, ET CETERA.

AND SO AS I LOOK AT THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 11, YOU KNOW, MONTHS, GOING INTO THE BUDGET SESSION, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO, I DON'T WANT TO -- I WANT TO MEASURE TWICE AND CUT ONCE.

IF THAT MEANS A BIGGER CUT, 11, 12, 13 MONTHS FROM NOW, SO BE IT.

I'M NOT ADVERSE TO CUTTING TAXES.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT -- CUTTING, YOU KNOW, TAXES OR FEES, 19 TIMES OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.

YOU JUST MENTIONED A COUPLE AREAS, I'M PUSHING ONE FOR BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY, ELIMINATING THAT 30% TAX FLOOR.

SO WHERE WE CAN DO IT RESPONSIBLY.

WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS GET OUT THERE ON A LIMB AND THEN WISH, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT, AS I'VE MENTIONED, I'M PASSIONATE FOR $5 MILLION FOR READI GRANT.

ROUND TWO, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE FUTURE OF WORK FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, WHICH WILL INCLUDE SOME SALARY AND WAGE CONSIDERATIONS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WE LOOK AT MODERNIZATION GRANTS, I WANT THAT TO CONTINUE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT DOING MORE IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE READI GRANTS, EMPLOYER TRAINING GRANTS, I WANT TO DO MORE OF THAT.

THAT'S WORKING.

THAT'S WHAT I TALKED ABOUT, TO TRY TO MAKE THE CASE OF LET'S DO MORE OF WHAT'S WORKING.

WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING, THEY GENERATE MORE REVENUE AS THE ECONOMY, AS THE PIE GROWS, AND SO WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THIS RESPONSIBLY.

THAT'S MY POINT RIGHT NOW, DURING A SHORT NON-BUDGET SESSION.

AND GIVING US A LITTLE TIME WHERE TENS OF BILLIONS BEFORE DOLLARS ISN'T CONTINUING TO COME INTO OUR STATE ON TOP OF WHAT ALREADY DOES.

>> DOES YOUR CONCERN RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A VETO POTENTIALLY ON THAT FRONT?

>> JON, YOU AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER MANY YEARS, I'VE SAT AT THE TABLE WITH YOU.

AND IF THE BUSINESS HAS BEEN HURT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS IS THE PREDICTION BUSINESS.

AND SO I'M NOT MAKING PREDICTIONS THIS EARLY IN A SHORT SESSION WHEN I'M HAVING VERY CONSTRUCTIVE GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADERS.

AND I WASN'T CHIDING THE MEDIA FOR EARLIER, YOUR BUSINESS MODELS DIFFERENT THAN MINE.

I'VE GOT WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD OF ME.

>> HEY, WE'RE NON-PROFIT, WE DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS MODEL.

>> WELL, WE'RE NON-PROFIT, TOO.

SO BUT I'VE GOT WEEKS, DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS AHEAD OF ME TO MAKE SURE WE LAND PLANES SAFELY, AND WE'RE HAVING DAILY DISCUSSIONS TO DO JUST THAT.

AND SO I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE A PREDICTION ABOUT TODAY AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT TODAY'S DISCUSSIONS.

>> I'M REMINDED IT WAS THE STATE BUDGET COMMITTEE IN JUNE OF 2020, WE'RE PREDICTING A THREE BILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL FOR THE BIENNIUM.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> THE CRYSTAL BALL MIGHT HAVE BEEN BROKEN ON THAT FRONT.

A LOT OF WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR SPEECH AND YOUR MESSAGE, WE'RE IN GREAT SHAPE AS A STATE, CERTAINLY PEOPLE ARE STILL HURTING INDIVIDUALLY.

WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

THERE ARE JOBS THAT HAVE GONE UNFILLED.

WE'LL STIPULATE THAT.

THINGS ARE GENERALLY GOOD COMPARED TO MOST OTHER STATES, YOU'RE SAYING LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT BUDGET SESSION, YOU HAVE A LOT OF TASK FORCES LOOKING AT MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH.

ARE YOU SAYING BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELTS BECAUSE 2023 IS WHEN THE REAL ACTION TAKES PLACE?

>> I THINK 2023 IS GOING TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE YEAR.

WE'VE GOT SO MUCH -- I DIDN'T EVEN MENTION THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION.

AND WHAT THAT'S UNCOVERING.

AND THE FISCAL NEEDS THAT THAT WILL EXPOSE.

AND SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHEN WE MAKE, YOU KNOW, 100, 200, 300, 400, $500 MILLION DECISIONS, PROBABLY BEST TO DO THAT IN A BUDGET SESSION, AND TO DO THAT WITH BROAD SUPPORT.

SO WHEN YOU'RE ASKING ME WHAT MY AGENDA S I'M TELLING YOU, AND NONE OF MY AGENDA IS AT ODDS WITH THAT.

>> AND WE SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT YOUR AGENDA IN YOUR SPEECH, THEY DON'T MENTION SOCIAL ISSUES.

AND THAT'S A TRADITION YOU'VE MAINTAINED AND SORT OF THE DANIELS.

NO TALK OF CONSTITUTIONAL GUN CARRY, BAIL LIMITATION TO COMBAT CRIME.

I'M SURE THAT'S INTENTIONAL.

ARE YOU WORRIED THAT ISSUES LIKE THAT WHICH TEND TO SUCK OXYGEN OUT OF A ROOM, INCLUDING THE STATEHOUSE AND THE CHAMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

WILL GET IN THE WAY OF SOME OF THE ISSUES YOU WANT TO SEE ADDRESSED THIS SESSION?

>> NO, I THINK -- AGAIN, I WANT TO BE VERY RESPECTFUL TO EVERY MEMBER THAT RUNS, AND WHAT THEY'RE PASSIONATE -- THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, WHERE YOU'VE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES.

AND BRING YOUR AGENDA THAT YOU WERE ELECTED ON TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, AND LET'S GET AT IT.

BUT I'M ALSO REMINDED EVERY SINGLE SESSION THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF IDEAS THAT NEVER MAKE IT TO THE POST.

THAT NEVER GOT WHOLE DISTANCE.

AND THERE HAS TO BE SUPPORT IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT TAXES.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE ON TAXES, AS WELL.

SO WHAT GETS TO MY DESK ULTIMATELY AND WHAT I START TO SEE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SESSION SHORT OR LONG, THAT'S -- WE'RE FOLLOWING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE WEIGHING IN ON EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.

I'M FOCUSED ON MY AGENDA LIKE THEY'RE FOCUSED ON THEIR AGENDA, RIGHTFULLY SO.

AND I'LL WEIGH IN WHEN I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WORRY THIS SESSION?

WHAT DO YOU WAKE UP -- IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAKE UP, WHAT WOULD BE WORRYING YOU ABOUT THIS SESSION?

>> JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT INTERRUPTS THE MOMENTUM THAT WE'RE HAVING.

WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON SO MANY FRONTS.

YOU'RE RIGHT, WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO IN A LOT OF AREAS.

BUT LOOK, WHEN YOU LOOK AT POPULATION GROWTH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WAGE GROWTH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT REVENUES, WHEN YOU LOOK AT NEW JOB COMMITMENTS, ET CETERA, WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE ARE A LEADER IN THE MIDWEST, IN THE MIDWEST, THAT GOES OUT TO SOUTH DAKOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, OVER TO OHIO.

AND WE'RE LEADING IN VIRTUALLY EVERY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ECONOMIC CATEGORIES IN THAT WHOLE REGION, IN A TIME WHERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS LEFT THE MIDWEST, WE GAINED.

AND SO -- AND GAINED BY MORE THAN EVERYONE ELSE.

THE IMPORTANT THING IS ARE WE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON ALL THESE FRONTS, AND WHERE WE'RE NOT IN TERMS OF SOME OF OUR HEALTH INDICATORS, WE NEED TO GET AT THAT.

THAT ALSO REQUIRES THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL, COMMITMENT, COURAGE, ET CETERA, TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M SO, YOU KNOW, HYPER SENSITIVE AND LASER FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE HAVE THE MEANS, COME 2023, WHEN THERE WILL BE SO MUCH IMPORTANT ISSUES TO GO OVER AND DISCUSS, AND HOPEFULLY PROMOTE, THAT WE ARE IN A POSITION OF STRENGTHEN AS WELL.

>> I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU SEE STATE GOVERNMENT LARGELY AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR GOOD, FOR POSITIVE CHANGE, AS A CATALYST.

LET'S FACE IT, THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE IN YOUR PARTY, IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHO SEE GOVERNMENT AS SOMETHING -- AS AN EVIL, A MONSTER, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS GUT IT, SQUEEZE IT, STARVE IT, KICK IT OUT THE DOOR.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE.

HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT?

>> THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M HERE IS TO TRY TO LEAVE THE PLACE A LITTLE BETTER, AND WHETHER IT'S BREAK DOWN BARRIERS OR MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.

BUT IT IS SERVICE.

AND OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE THINGS THAT ONLY GOVERNMENT CAN DO.

AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE PCHARGED TO DO.

AND SO I LOOK AT OUR AGENDA AS A TO-DO-LIST, INFORMED BY CITIZENS.

THESE THINGS DON'T JUST APPEAR IN A DREAM.

WE ARE WELL INFORMED AROUND HERE, WE ARE TWEAKS THAT WE ARE OFFERING, WHETHER IT HAS TO DO WITH LEAD SCREENING, OR SUDDEN INFANT FATALITIES, WE ARE INFORMED, WHAT'S ACTUALLY OCCURRING, AND WHAT IS OUR PROPER ROLE, FOR SURE, STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL, DIFFERENT LEVELS, HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER TO, YOU KNOW, INDEED, AS YOU SUGGEST, MAKE THIS, LEAVE IT IN BETTER SHAPE THAN HOW WE FOUND IT.

GOVERNMENT HAS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THAT, AS DOES THE INDIVIDUAL, AS DOES THE FAMILY, AS DOES THE, AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY, BUT, YEAH, I SEEK TO WORK TOGETHER ON ALL THOSE FRONTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

BUT WE HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION.

YOU'RE FOCUSED ON THIS SESSION DAY-TO-DAY, CERTAINLY YOU'RE FOCUSED ALSO LOOKING AHEAD, LAYING THE GROUND WORK FOR 2023, WHICH YOU SAID PROMISES TO BE A REAL -- YOU DIDN'T SAY GANG BUSTER, SOUNDS INTERESTING.

WHAT IS BEYOND THAT.

YOU ARE, DARE I SAY, USE THE PHRASE, LAME DUCK, WHAT IS NEXT?

>> [LAUGHTER].

I HOPE IT IS NOT EASIER TO GET SHOT, WHEN YOU'RE A LAME DUCK.

NO, I DON'T KNOW.

I'VE GOT THREE YEARS LEFT, THAT'S AN ETERNITY IN THIS WALK.

WE'LL HAVE OPTIONS, AND I'LL GET SERIOUS ABOUT ENTERTAINING THOSE IN THE LATTER PART OF THE LAST YEAR.

>> I WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED A DIFFERENT ANSWER, BUT YOU CAN'T FAULT ME FOR ASKING.

YOU STARTED GROWING A BEARD IN RESPONSE TO COVID, AS MANY OF US DID.

IS THIS -- WILL WE KNOW THAT COVID REALLY IS OVER NOT WHEN YOU SIGN IF YOU SIGN 1001, AND THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER ON PUBLIC HEALTH IS -- COMES TO AN OFFICIAL END OR WILL WE KNOW IT WHEN WE SEE NO MORE FACIAL HAIR?

>> THIS IS BETWEEN ME AND MY DOG HENRY.

>> SO MUCH FOR OPEN DOOR GOVERNMENT.

>> THERE YOU GO.

NO, WE WILL ALLOW THE SUNLIGHT IN AND BE TRANSPARENT, A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK LIKE THEIR PETS, I'M IN GOOD COMPANY.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME DURING A BUSY WEEK.

PERHAPS THE BUSIEST TO SPEND TIME WITH US, WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE IN INDIANA AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO AN INFORMED CITIZENRY.

THANKS FOR TAKING TIME.

MY GUEST HAS BEEN INDIANA GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB, A SECOND-TERM REPUBLICAN.

TIME NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY CONVERSATION WITH INDIANA LAWMAKERS' REGULAR NEWS ANALYST, ED FEIGENBAUM, PUBLISHER OF INDIANA LEGISLATIVE INSIGHT, PART OF HANNAH NEWS SERVICE.

ODE ED, YOU'VE -- YOUR IMPRESSION ON THIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> WE'VE SLEPT THROUGH A LOT OVER THE YEARS.

JON.

THIS WASN'T THE MOST INSPIRING, I THINK YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT THESE ADDRESSES FOLLOW A FORMULA.

AND HE REALLY CONFORMED TO THE FORMULA FOR THREE QUARTERS OF THE SPEECH.

TALK ABOUT THE GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE STATE'S SEEN IN THE LAST YEAR, HOW WE'VE HAD A GREAT FISCAL POSITION.

OUR TAXES ARE LOW, YOU KIND OF LOOK UP IN THE BALCONY, AND REFER TO A FEW HUMAN BUMP BETTER STICKERS TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN THE PAST YEAR.

HE THEN HUMBLY ACKNOWLEDGED SOME OF THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SHORTCOMINGS OF THE STATE, TALK ABOUT YOUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, PRAISE SOME GROUP, WHETHER IT IS THE MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, OFFICERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, STATE EMPLOYEES, WHATEVER.

AND THEN YOU GET INTO THE ONE BIG SURPRISE ELEMENT OF THE SPEECH.

THERE WASN'T ONE YESTERDAY.

EVERYBODY WAS WAITING FOR THE BIG REVEAL.

HE DIDN'T HAVE ONE.

ALMOST RESEMBLED MORE OF A FAIR WELL ADDRESS THAN THE 2010 CALL TO ARMS FROM GOVERNOR DANIELS AT THE TIME OF ECONOMIC CRISIS.

HE DIDN'T TALK AS HE DID TODAY WITH YOU, ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE SO-CALLED WEDGE ISSUES, THE SOCIAL ISSUES, AND PERHAPS SAYING LET'S LET THOSE THINGS SIMMER A LITTLE BIT MORE AND NOT LET THOSE GET IN THE WAY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENDA.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT SUGGESTED THAT HE -- YOU'RE NOT SAYING THAT HE IS WILLING -- WOULD LOVE TO SEE THOSE ENTERTAINED BY LAWMAKERS.

IS IT AN ISSUE OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND, MAYBE IF I DON'T TALK ABOUT THEM IT WON'T HAPPEN?

>> I THINK HE'S HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS PRIVATELY WITH THE LEADERS.

BUT AS WE TALKED LAST WEEK, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE THIRD FLOOR AND THE SECOND FLOOR.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT MESSAGE IS NECESSARILY GETTING THROUGH.

>> HOW DOES THIS PLAY OUT -- IS IT MORE IMPORTANT THE PUBLIC, THE BULLY PULPIT OR BEHIND-THE-SCENES ARM-TWISTING SESSIONS?

>> A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH HE CERTAINLY HAS ENOUGH CHITS TO USE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HIS ELECTORAL VICTORY, HE'S POPULAR WITH THE PUBLIC.

THE ONLY THING WORSE IS NOT USING ALL YOUR CHITS DURING YOUR FIRST TERM IS USING -- I'M SORRY, NOT USING UP ALL YOUR CHITS IN THE FIRST TERM IS NOT USING THEM IN YOUR SECOND TERM.

>> IT IS ODD TO REFER TO HIM THAT PHRASE LAME DUCK.

DO YOU THINK THAT AFFECTS HIS APPROACH THIS SESSION?

>> IT COULD.

BUT THERE IS ALSO TALK OF HIM RUNNING FOR OTHER OFFICE IN 2024.

HE STILL HAS A LOT OF POLITICAL CAPITAL AND A LOT OF CAMPAIGN CAPITAL THAT HE CAN THROW AROUND THIS YEAR.

>> THE CAPITAL, LITERAL AND FIGURATIVE.

THAT IS CERTAINLY THE CASE.

ED, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT.

APPRECIATE IT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING WITH YOU NEXT WEEK.

WHILE HOSPITALS ARE WRESTLING WITH RECORD NUMBERS.

SOME OF SAYING THINGS ARE BACK TO ISSUE.

WE WILL DISCUSS ON THE NEXT INDIANA LAWMAKERS.