>>JON: GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB BEGAN HIS FIFTH STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS - THE FIRST OF HIS JUST-LAUNCHED SECOND TERM - BY LABELING IT A SPEECH - QUOTE - "UNLIKE ANY OTHER."

THANKS TO SOCIAL-DISTANCING MEASURES NECESSITATED BY COVID-19 AND PUBLIC-SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TAKEN IN THE WAKE OF THE ASSAULT ON THE U.S. CAPITOL, HOLCOMB SPOKE DIRECTLY TO HOOSIERS - WITH NO LIVE AUDIENCE, NO BREAKS FOR APPLAUSE, AND NONE OF THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE THAT NORMALLY ACCOMPANIES THE EVENT.

>>JON: HI, I'M JON SCHWANTES, AND ON THIS EDITION OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS, WE'LL STICK TO THAT THEME IN OUR ANNUAL CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNOR - NO RHETORICAL FLOURISHES - JUST VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THE THINKING OF INDIANA'S 51ST CHIEF EXECUTIVE AS HE GUIDES THE STATE THROUGH A SERIES OF UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES.

DON'T GO AWAY ...INDIANA LAWMAKERS - FROM THE STATEHOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE.

I>>JON: EVERY JANUARY, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE WEEK IN WHICH THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IS DELIVERED, WE ARE JOINED BY THE PERSON WHO DELIVERED IT - INDIANA'S GOVERNOR.

IT'S A TRADITION THAT BEGAN MORE THAN A QUARTER-CENTURY AGO WITH THEN-GOVERNOR EVAN BAYH, AND, THANKFULLY, IT'S A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES THIS YEAR, IN SPITE OF ONCE-UNIMAGINABLE CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

I AM VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME - VIRTUALLY - INDIANA'S 51ST GOVERNOR, SECOND-TERM REPUBLICAN ERIC HOLCOMB.

GOVERNOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>>: JON, THANKS FOR MAKING SURE THE SHOW GOES ON.

>>: I START WITH THE TOUGH QUESTION.

I DON'T WANT ANY DOUBLESPEAK POLITICAL DOUBLESPEAK OR PLATITUDES I JUST WANT A STRAIGHT ANSWER.

WHO HAS THE BETTER COVID BEER GOING?

YOU OR ME?

>>: USE.

>>: OKAY.

WE CAN END IT RIGHT THERE.

>>: ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE CONGRATULATIONS CERTAINLY ON YOUR ELECTION TO A SECOND TERM AND YOUR RECENT SWEARING IN.

HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED?

GIVE ME THE MINDSET OF THE ERIC HOLCOMB NOW VERSUS 4 YEARS AGO AND STIPULATE UP FRONT THE ISSUES CERTAINLY ARE DIFFERENT, THE CHALLENGES ARE DIFFERENT BUT HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED?

>>: PROBABLY A BIT MORE FOCUSED, A LITTLE BIT MORE INPATIENT.

THESE ISSUES THAT HAVE WASHED UPON ARE SURE CERTAINLY PUT THINGS INTO FOCUS AND WHETHER YU ARE DEALING WITH A VIRUS OR VIOLENCE, INSTABILITY, ON TOP OF ALL OF YOUR LEGISLATIVE AND TO-DO LIST AGENDA ITEMS, IT TENDS TO REALLY FORM UP THE TEAM AND GET EVERYONE FOCUSED ON THE PLAY OF THE DAY.

I THINK WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD OUR FIVE PILLARS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THOSE PRIORITIES, BUT WE ARE REALLY SET TO GET THINGS ACCOMPLISHED AND REALLY TRY AND STAND OUT AND THEY ARE VERY WEIGHTY ISSUES THAT ARE NOT HOW YOU COURSE CORRECT, THEY ARE NOT EASY.

THAT THIS FORCED ME TO REALLY MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT JUST FOCUSED ON THE FIVE PILLARS BUT THE INITIATIVES INSIDE OF THEM THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>>: I WILL TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS IN THE STATE OF THE STATE.

WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ELECTIONS AND INAUGURATIONS I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T GAUGE YOUR REACTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK.

THE INAUGURATION OF JOE BIDEN, 46 PRESIDENT.

YOUR THOUGHTS.

>>: LOOK, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ANYONE AND EVERYONE INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS TO STRENGTHEN AND BETTER THE STATE OF INDIANA.

I BELIEVE THEY FEEL THE SAME.

WE KNEW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON, DC IN THE PAST ADMINISTRATION.

THANKFULLY WE KNOW SOME IN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, INDIANA DOES.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING, WHY WE ARE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING.

IF WE CAN EVER BE EXHIBIT A, HOW TO DO THINGS, HAPPY TO DO THAT.

I'VE PUT IN A LOT OF WORK ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WITH THE PAST ADMINISTRATION AND WORKED IN A VERY BIPARTISAN ON THAT COMMITTEE WORKED IN A VERY BIPARTISAN ENVIRONMENT WITH FOLKS FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE HOW WE APPROACH DOING OUR JOB ONE BIT.

WE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THOSE FOLKS THAT WANT TO HELP AND I WILL BE THERE TO HELP AS WELL.

>>: YOU ENDORSED DONALD TRUMP.

WHEN YOU WERE ON WITH ME A YEAR AGO THIS TIME I PRESSED YOU ON THAT ISSUE WITH THE ELECTION WAS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND YOU ENDORSED HIM AT THAT POINT.

THE FINAL DAYS OF HIS PRESIDENCY, ANY REGRETS ABOUT ENDORSING HIM?

WITH THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE IN THE HOUSE, IS THAT THE RIGHT THING?

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A PROCEED IN THE SENATE?

>>: I SAID BACK THEN I THINK, THIS IS JUST WHO I AM, WE ARE ALL JUDGED BY OUR OWN ACTIONS.

THAT IS RIGHTLY SO AND FOR FOLKS THAT SEEK ELECTIVE OFFICE THEY HAVE TO STAND BEFORE NOT ME, BUT BEFORE THE ELECTORATE.

OBVIOUSLY WHILE DONALD TRUMP WON THE STATE OF INDIANA BIG, HE DID NOT IN OTHER STATES.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT.

I RAN THE VERY SAME TIME AND WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO RECEIVE THE MOST VOTES THAT ANYONE WHO'S EVER RUN FOR GOVERNOR HAS IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

>>: WHICH IS SAYING SOMETHING IN A THREE RAY -- THREE WAY RACE.

>>: WHAT I'M DRIVING AT THE CREDIT TO PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO MAKE DECISIONS ON WHO SPECIFICALLY OFFICE.

I LEAVE THAT TO THEM.

I CERTAINLY DID NOT RUN FOR A FEDERAL OFFICE.

MY PLATE IS FULL.

MY MEAT AND POTATOES ARE SPILLING OFF THE SIDE SO I'M FOCUSED IN THE STATE AND I WILL LET WASHINGTON SORT OUT THEIR AFFAIRS AND CHANGES AND SEEMINGLY BY THE HOUR OR DAY WITHIN BOTH OF THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES.

THAT IS FOR THEM TO SORT OUT.

WE WILL STAY FOCUSED AND HOPEFULLY AGAIN THAT WILL SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE AS TO WHY WE ARE HERE.

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AND WHO CAN WORK FOR IT.

>>: IF THEY CALL YOU UP AND SAY WHAT DO WE DO ON THIS BOAT BACK ON THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL?

I HAVE TO TRY ONE MORE TIME YAY OR NAY.

>>: THEY WON'T.

I TALKED -- TALK TO THEM FREQUENTLY.

AND THEY ARE WELL INFORMED.

THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCE.

THEY ARE GOOD MEN AND I TRUST THEM TO DO JUST THAT.

>>: IN THE STATE WE HAVE GOOD CONNECTIONS IN WASHINGTON ONE I THINK WAS MIKE PENCE, THE VICE PRESIDENT OR WHO WAS YOUR PRESENT ASSESSOR AS GOVERNOR AND TO A LARGE EXTENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CURRENT POSITION IN THAT HE ELEVATED YOU TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNORSHIP IN EFFECT WAS YOUR FORMER BOSS.

HAVE YOU TALKED TO HIM?

I KNOW HE WAS IN BLOOMING HIM ABOUT A MONTH AGO HAVE YOU TALK TO THEM IN RECENT DAYS?

>>: I HAVE, I HAVE.

I AM WISHING HIM THE BEST.

OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LOT OF TIME SORT OUT THE ROAD AHEAD AND WHICH PATH TO TAKE, BUT I WILL LEAVE IT TO HIM AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HIM IN PERSON.

I HAVE NOT SEEN HIM IN PERSON SINCE WE WERE TOGETHER AT A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION DOWN THERE.

I GUESS HE IS BACK IN COLUMBUS, BUT UNCLEAR HOW LONG HE WILL STAY AND IN THE STATE OF THE STATE THERE ARE 110,000 OPEN JOBS OUT THERE SO I DON'T KNOW MAYBE SOMETHING FOR A FORMER VICE PRESIDENT.

WE WILL SEE.

>>: AT THE PACE WE ARE ON MORE THAN 110,000 NEXT WEEK.

>>: IN ALL SERIOUSNESS DOES HE HAVE ANY INTEREST IN STAYING IN INDIANA BE ON THIS BRIEF VISIT TO HIS HOMETOWN OF COLUMBUS OR IS THAT TO BE DETERMINED?

>>: HIS HEART AND MIND HAS ALWAYS STAYED IN INDIANA AND SERVICE HAS TAKEN HIM A FIRE OR A WAY TO OUR NATION'S CAPITAL IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES, BUT I THINK HIS HOME WILL ALWAYS BE HERE.

>>: WE INVITED YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF THE STATE.

>>: THAT'S JUST ME.

YOU WILL HAVE TO TALK TO KAREN PENCE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

>>: [CHUCKLING] WE WILL SEE IF WE CAN GET HER TO TAKE THE CALL.

STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS YOU MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET UNLIKE ANY THAT HAD COME BEFORE.

IT CERTAINLY WAS THE CASE.

YOU WERE FACING THE CAMERA, NO INTERMEDIARY AS YOU POINTED OUT AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF COVID AND CONCERNS ABOUT STATEHOUSE SECURITY.

LET'S TAKE THE SECOND ONE FIRST.

YOU DID CLOSE THE STATE HOUSE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THIS WEEK.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THIS SORT OF UNEASINESS WILL CONTINUE?

IS THE PHRASE NEW NORMAL, IT'S OVERUSED, BUT IS THIS WHAT WE WILL SEE THESE INCREASED TENSIONS THROUGHOUT THE SESSION FOR HIS THIS SORT OF THE WEEK WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE SORTS OF THINGS?

>>: WELL, WORRY IS MAYBE NOT THE WORD I WOULD USE AND I'M NOT TRYING TO QUIBBLE, BUT I WOULD SAY MORE CONCERNED BECAUSE WE WERE HEARING REPORTS ABOUT DIFFERENT POTENTIAL ACTIONS ESPECIALLY TALKING TO DIFFERENT GOVERNORS THE WEEK LEADING UP TO IT AND IMMEDIATELY SHARING BORDERS WITH US, WHAT THEY WERE HEARING AND WHAT THEY WERE PICKING UP ON ON DIFFERENT VARIOUS CHANNELS.

OBVIOUSLY YOU DO NOT HAVE COMPLETE AND FULL SITE OF WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT CHANNELS FOLKS USE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.

SO OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION AS I SAID, WE MADE THE DECISION THAT BECAUSE SPECIFIC DATES INCLUDING YESTERDAY AND INCLUDING LAST SUNDAY WERE MENTIONED IN VARIOUS REPORTS AROUND US, THAT IT WOULD JUST BE AS I SAID AT THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

NOW GOING FORWARD -- AND WE WERE PREPARED AND THAT WILL BE OUR MODE OF OPERATION ALWAYS GOING FORWARD THAT WE WILL BE OVERLY PREPARED TO RESPOND.

WE DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE OBVIOUSLY AT THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE PEOPLE PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND FOLKS EXPRESSING THEIR OWN OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR STATE AND IN THEIR NATION BUT THERE IS A WAY SO WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS AND THEY MESSAGE WE DID SEND WAS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SAFE NOT SORRY AND THAT WILL REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT ET CETERA TO BE ON THIS WHEN THEY NEED TO BE.

>>: FOR HOOSIERS WHO DO COME TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE EITHER TO TESTIFY BEFORE A COMMITTEE DURING COMMITTEE HEARINGS OR JUST TO TALK TO THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AS SENATORS, AND THEY FEEL SAFE IN THE COMING MONTHS?

>>: ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

WE WANT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME HERE AND DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS TO KNOW THEY ARE SAFE.

SO WE WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO GET TO THAT LEVEL OF CERTAINTY AND WHAT WE DO HEAR EVERY DAY, IT'S NOT THAT WE WERE LAX OR LOOKING THE OTHER WAY, IT'S JUST AS YOU ALLUDED DO WE HAVE LIVED THROUGH SOME DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE MOST RECENT LAST MONTH.

AND TWO HAVE NOT RESPONDED IN KIND AND TO NOT BE OVERLY PREPARED GOING FORWARD WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE.

SO WE WILL BE AND IT'S NOT AS IF YOU ARE GOING TO ALWAYS SEE THE LEVEL OF SECURITY THAT IS PRESENT BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT WHEN THIS BUILDING IS OPEN WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE TO DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS JUST AS WE ARE.

>>: THE OTHER REASON THE STATE OF THE STATE WAS UNUSUAL WAS NOT ONLY THE SECURITY CONCERNS IN THE WAKE OF THE UNREST IN WASHINGTON BUT THE UBIQUITOUS OMNIPRESENT ISSUE OF COVID-19.

YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE STATE'S HANDLING OF THIS OBVIOUSLY WITH REGULAR BRIEFINGS.

YOU HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED CERTAINLY BY SOME WHO SAID THAT YOU DIDN'T SHOW ENOUGH LEADERSHIP.

YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE WITH MASKED REQUIREMENTS AND PUNISHMENTS FOR THOSE WHO IGNORED THE REQUIREMENT.

THEN THERE WERE THOSE CERTAINLY WHO THOUGHT YOU WERE TOO HEAVY-HANDED, THAT YOUR USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS WAS EXCESSIVE AND IT HURT PERHAPS HOOSIER BUSINESSES AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE MOST FRAGILE AND VULNERABLE.

WE USE TO SAY IN THE NEW SPACE PER BUSINESS IF YOU'RE CRITICIZED BY BOTH SIDES YOU MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

LOOKING BACK, HINDSIGHT 2020.

ANYTHING DIFFERENT YOU WOULD DO IN YOUR HANDLING OF COVID-19?

>>: I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE.

I DID NOT WEAR A MASK ONE DAY WHEN I WAS PICKING UP MY DINNER AND IT WAS ON ME.

MADE THAT MISTAKE.

WOULD HAVE DONE THAT IF I COULD HAVE A MULLIGAN OR TAKE THAT BACK I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE.

I WOULD'VE PUT THE MASK ON.

BUT, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN THIS EXAMPLE EASY TO LOOK BACK OR@HIK OF 2020 AS HINDSIGHT NOW AND THAT'S IN THE PAST AND EVERY SINGLE DAY WHAT I WOULD NOT DO DIFFERENT IS EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM VERY EARLY ON TO BARRY LATE AT NIGHT THIS TEAM IS WORKING TO GATHER INFORMING EACH OTHER AS IN JOINT OPERATION.

HOW OUR ACTIONS PLAY OFF OF ONE ANOTHER AND ALL THE INTEL COMING FROM EACH AND EVERY COUNTY AND MAYORS AND COMMISSIONERS, ALL THAT INFORMATION IS COMING IN AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION TO FIRST AND FOREMOST GET OUT THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO I AM NOT BEING CAVALIER OR ARROGANT ABOUT THIS.

I WOULD NOT CHANGE MUCH BECAUSE OUR PLAN HAS PUT US IN A POSITION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WEATHER THE INITIAL STORM WHEN WE NEEDED TO BUILD UP OUR STOCKPILES OF RESOURCES.

WE'VE ALWAYS SAID WE HAVE TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN BEST CONTROL WHAT WE CAN CONTROL AND MANAGE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS AND AS YOU SEE A STATE LIKE INDIANA WHICH I MENTIONED AT THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MORE BUSINESSES ARE COMING BACK ONLINE.

MORE AND MORE AND MORE HOOSIERS ARE GOING BACK TO WORK IN GREAT PART BECAUSE BUSINESSES ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO CONDUCT THEIR WORK SAFELY AND THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE HURDLE FOR THEM, NOT OF THERE DOING.

COVID-19 HAS FORCED THEM TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY DO THINGS, BUT IN DOING SO IT BUILDS UP CUSTOMER CONTACT -- CONFIDENCE.

FOLKS START TO RETURN IF THEY KNOW IT'S SAFE AND THAT'S THE REALITY WE HAVE TO PLAY AT THIS MOMENT, BUT I'M ENCOURAGED BY A LOT OF THE NUMBERS I'M SEEING.

ALWAYS KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE, FOLKS THAT COVID-19 REALLY WHACKED HARD, THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STILL FOCUSED ON TO MAKE SURE WE HELP THOSE FOLKS GET BACK ON TRACK AND THERE IS A PATHWAY FOR SOCIAL MOBILITY UPWARD SOCIAL MOBILITY FOR THEM AND THAT'S THE FORTUNATE THING ABOUT THE STATE AND THAT'S WHAT I AM SO PASSIONATE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, THE ECONOMY.

IT IS GROWING AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER STATES AND I'M LOOKING AT THEM GOING THROUGH SESSIONS RIGHT NOW AND MAKING MASSIVE CUTS AND WE ARE DOING THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

WE ARE NOT ONLY RESTORING OUR BUDGETS OR PROTECTING OUR STATE CREDIT RATING, NOT ONLY GOING TO PASS ANOTHER BALANCED BUDGET, WE ARE INCREASING FUNDING IN K-12 EDUCATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

>>: $77 MILLION THROUGH K THROUGH 12 AND 1 MILLION JUST TO RESTORE FUNDS WE SHOULD SAY IN HIGHER ED.

SO CERTAINLY A LOT OF OTHER STATES I'M GUESSING WOULD BE DROOLING AT THE PROSPECTS OF BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DIVVY UP DOLLARS LIKE THAT.

I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT REAL QUICKLY THE CURRENT DEBATE OVER THE EMERGENCY POWERS.

ONE RESOLUTION BASICALLY SAID IT'S OVER AND DONE AND YOU HAVE NO EMERGENCY POWERS.

THAT'S BEEN SENT TO LEGISLATIVE QUARANTINE NEVER TO BE HEARD FROM AGAIN AND OTHER MEASURES WOULD SAY YOU WILL CHECK IN WITH THEM AFTER X NUMBER OF DANCE AND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COULD BE THE CAUSE.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN ON THAT FRONT?

>>: I'M REMINDED ABOUT THIS TIME TWO OR THREE WEEKS INTO A SESSION.

ESPECIALLY THIS ONE.

IT IS A LONG SESSION.

FOUR MONTHS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE THAT LONG, BUT WE'VE BEEN AT COVID-19 FOR ABOUT TEN MONTHS.

THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO.

THE GOOD NEWS IS I MET WITH THE SPEAKER AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM YESTERDAY AS A MATTE OF FACT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES.

WE ARE IN A LOT OF AGREEMENT.

I ALWAYS KEPT THEM UP TO SPEED ABOUT ON A WEEKLY IF NOT MORE BASIS ON COVID-19 AND HAVE WELCOMED AND TAKEN NOT JUST INTO CONSIDERATION BUT SOMETIMES INTO ACTION THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS.

THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THEY ARE EQUIPPED AND INFORMED WITH THE SAME INFORMATION I AM SO THAT THEY CAN SHARE WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND WITH THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT THEY REPRESENT.

I GET THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT AND IF THERE'S A WAY TO GET TO THAT I'M ALL FOR IT.

WE TALK ABOUT EXECUTIVE POWERS.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT POWER IT'S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A HEALTH EMERGENCY AND THAT REQUIRES YOU TO BE NIMBLE AND FAST AND ACT NOT JUST ON A DAY IN AND DAY OUT BASIS BUT THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE IN AN EXECUTIVE SCENARIO NOT NECESSARILY A COMMITTEE SCENARIO SO WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AND YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.

YOU MENTIONED ONE THOUGHT BILL HAD BEEN QUARANTINED AND I THINK THAT RAN INTO SOME CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED BUT I'M WORKING WITH MEMBERS AND LEADERS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WILL CONTINUE TO.

>>: YOU MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO INDIANA IS IN BETTER SHAPE THEN MANY, MANY OTHER STATES.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE RESERVES THAT WERE IN PLACE HEADING INTO THIS WILL SERVE THE STATE WELL.

I KNOW YOU HOPE TO RETURN TO THAT LEVEL IF YOU'VE TARGETED K-12 EDUCATION.

FOR THOSE -- AND THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ILLNESS.

SOME SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY HAVE DONE WELL OR HELD THEIR OWN AND OTHERS HAVE DONE BUT DURING THE STATE OF THE STATE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE REGIONAL RECOVERY PLAN AND IT'S IN ITS INFANCY BUT ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>>: AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY.

IT IS MODELED AFTER THE THOUGHT WAS INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL CITIES INITIATIVE, WHICH HAS CLEARLY BEEN A SUCCESS IN THREE DIFFERENT REGIONS OF OUR STATE AND OUR WHOLE INTENT RIGHT NOW IS TO TRY FOR THE STATE OF THE INDIANA TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE PANDEMIC TIME AS FAST AND SWIFT AND SAFE AS POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO ALL OF OUR OTHER NOT JUST COMPETITION BUT NEIGHBORS.

WE WANT TO PROVE HOW THIS CAN BE DONE.

REGIONALLY DEVELOPING IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE.

AND MAKING SURE WE ARE EFFICIENT ABOUT OUR RESOURCES.

SO THAT HAS TO DO WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

IT COULD BE HOMELESSNESS, IT COULD BE HUNGER, YOU NAME IT.

WE NEED TO BE THINKING REGIONALLY AND THAT WAS A PROGRAM THAT ONE THING THAT'S LOST IN THE WHOLE CONVERSATION IS ONE REASON ORIGINAL CITIES WAS SUCCESSFUL IS IT BROUGHT EVERYONE TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT OFFICES, DIFFERENT COUNTIES, DIFFERENT PARTIES AND BROUGHT EVERYONE TOGETHER AND THEY AGREED IT BROUGHT AND THAT LEVEL OF COLLABORATION THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T NEED TO.

NOW THE SUM IS TRULY GREATER THAN THE PARTS IN THOSE AREAS ARE EXHIBIT A OF WHAT WORKS AND WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL.

WE WANT A LOT MORE OF THAT.

IT'S SIMILAR TO THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING THAT HELP MANUFACTURERS MODERNIZE TO GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF COVID AND REALLY PICK UP MORE MARKET SHARE.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT FOR QUALITY-OF-LIFE AND QUALITY OF PLACE.

THE THOUGHT IS GOING FORWARD WE WANT TO MAKE, THE STATE WANTS TO MAKE ANOTHER INVESTMENT IN THE COMPETITIVE APPROACH, JUST LIKE REGIONAL CITIES.

IT WON'T BE REGIONAL CITIES.

IT WILL BE A NEW PROGRAM, BUT IT HAS HELPED NOT TO JUST RECOVER BUT TO ACCELERATE OUT FROM SO WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER SHAPE POST COVID THEN WE WERE PRE-COVID.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF -- I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS A NUMBER OF HOOSIERS, OFFICEHOLDERS, AGAIN LOCAL, STATE HAVE SEEN THOSE PROGRAMS WORK IN THREE DIFFERENT AREAS AND NOT JUST IN FORT WAYNE, EVANSVILLE AND SOUTH BEND BUT THE WHOLE AREAS AND HAVE SAID OKAY, WE WANT TO PURSUE THAT AND WITH SOME STATE INVESTMENT THAT CAN REALLY LEVERAGE A LOT OF LOCAL, CORPORATE, PRIVATE PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT AND GET EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE.

IT'S ABOUT BEING EFFICIENT NOT JUST ABOUT TAX DOLLARS, BUT ABOUT OUR TIME WE SPEND AS WE BUILD UP OUR STATE.

>>: I CANNOT BELIEVE WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

WE SET ASIDE 24-25 MINUTES ALMOST AS LONG AS YOUR SPEECH AND IT WENT LIKE THAT.

I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE GOVERNOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE TIME DURING WHAT I KNOW IS A STRANGE TIME, CRISIS TIME FOR THE STATE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND, AGAIN, WISH YOU THE BEST NOT ONLY NAVIGATING THESE UNCERTAIN TERRAIN WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW, BUT WISH YOU THE BEST IN THE REMAINING 4 YEARS OF YOUR TERM.

>>>AGAIN, MY GUEST HAS BEEN INDIANA'S 51ST GOVERNOR, ERIC HOLCOMB.

>>>IF 2020 WAS THE YEAR OF BLACK LIVES MATTER.

WILL 2021 BE THE YEAR OF BI-PARTISAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM?

THE ANSWER MAY SURPRISE YOU.

ON THE NEXT INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

>>>TIME NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY CONVERSATION WITH ED FEIGENBAUM, PUBLISHER OF THE NEWSLETTER PART OF HANNAH NEWS SERVICE.

>>: THAT WAS AS THE GOVERNOR'S THAT THE STATE OF THE STATE UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

YOUR TAKE ON IT?

ANY SURPRISES?

>>: IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE A LIVE AUDIENCE SO YOU DID NOT HAVE APPLAUSE AND THAT ALMOST THROUGH THE GOVERNOR IN A COUPLE OF PLACES WHERE HE WAS KIND OF LOOKING FOR SOME OF THAT AND MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED IT IN SOMETHING THESE SEMBLANCE OF THESE ADDRESSES IS THERE WERE NO HUMAN BUMPER STICKERS THE GOVERNOR WASN'T POINTING TO THE NORTH BALCONY AND RECOGNIZING THIS YEAR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND TEACHERS, THE HEROES OF THE PANDEMIC.

>>: THAT'S BECOME A RECENT FIXTURE IN STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESSES.

>>: ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER PROPS THIS YEAR AS WELL.

IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC, HE OFFERED AND ALLOWED SOME COMFORT.

HE FRAMED THE MOMENT AND GIVE US SOME FAMILIAR THEMES WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO A.

>>: ONE THING HE TALKED ABOUT WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY GOING IN WAS THE REGIONAL RECOVERY PLAN AND HE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT DURING THE INTERVIEW.

ANY OTHER KIND OF SURPRISES THAT AS YOU WERE FOLLOWING ALONG YOU SAID I BETTER TAKE NOTE OF THAT?

>>: THERE WAS NO CIGARETTE TAX INCREASE MENTIONED.

PEOPLE TO NOTE OF THAT.

NO SPECIFICS ON TEACHER PAY RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE DEMOCRATS, OF COURSE, WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THE LACK OF TALK ABOUT THAT HUMAN CAPITAL ISSUES BUT THE ONE THING THAT REALLY STUCK OUT TO ME WAS WHEN THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE WAS IN FAVOR OF SCHOOL CHOICE AND PARENTAL CHOICE ON SCHOOL ISSUES.

BUT HE DID NOT WANT THAT TO COME AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES REALLY PICKED UP ON THAT AND SAID THE GOVERNOR MAYBE HAS TURNED THE CORNER ON THIS ALTHOUGH THE CHOICE ADVOCATES SAY MAYBE SOME PEOPLE ARE READING A LITTLE TOO MUCH INTO THAT.

BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE AND I THINK WE NOW KNOW AFTER TUESDAY WHERE HE IS SITTING ON THAT FENCE.

>>: WHERE DO YOU THINK HE WILL COME DOWN WITH THAT?

THAT'S INCREDIBLY BIG MONEY ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE CERTAINLY.

>>: IT'S EASY FOR HIM TO SAY YES, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE CHOICE FOR OUR PARENTS BUT AT THE SAME TIME LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

GIVING THE 2 PERCENT IN THE 1 PERCENT INCREASES IN THE BUDGET I PROPOSED AND THIS IS COMING AT A TIME WHEN THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR A FEW MONTHS AGO SAID ESSENTIALLY FLATLINING THAT K-12 BUDGET WOULD BE A WIN AT THAT POINT.

>>: VERY GOOD.

AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT AND LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU NEXT WEEK.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, EPISODE STREAMS AND OTHER EXTRA CONTENT VISIT US ON THE WEB AT WFYI.ORG/LAWMAKERS.

>>>YOU CAN ACCESS LIVE STREAMING COVERAGE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE INTERNET AS WELL.

AND, REMEMBER, YOU CAN GET OUR SHOW -- ON DEMAND --FROM XFINITY.

>>>WELL, THAT CONCLUDES ANOTHER EDITION OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

I'M JON SCHWANTES, AND, ON BEHALF OF WFYI PUBLIC MEDIA AND INDIANA'S OTHER PUBLIC-BROADCASTING STATIONS, I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND I INVITE YOU TO VISIT WFYI.ORG FOR MORE STATEHOUSE NEWS.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, TAKE CARE.