♪♪ >> HOLCOMB CUTTING OFF FEDERAL >> HOLCOMB CUTTING OFF FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

THE GOVERNOR NOT A FAN OF MONETARY INCENTIVES FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

PLUS, SEN. MIKE BRAUN ON THE JANUARY 6 COMMISSION AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 21ST, 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 WILL OPT OUT OF FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT PROGRAMS, EFFECTIVE IN MID-JUNE.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JUSTIN HICKS REPORTS GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB IS FOLLOWING OTHER STATES IN AN ATTEMPT TO PUSH PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

STARTING JUNE 19, INDIANA WILL NO LONGER PAY AN EXTRA $300 IN FEDERAL BENEFITS EACH WEEK FOR ALL UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.

IT WILL ALSO COMPLETELY END BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SELF-EMPLOYED OR GIG WORKERS THAT ROUGHLY 70 THOUSAND HOOSIERS ARE ACCESSING.

ALSO SET TO END IS AN EXTENDED BENEFIT PROGRAM FOR THE LONG-TIME UNEMPLOYED ANOTHER 62 THOUSAND PEOPLE CURRENTLY BENEFIT FROM.

HOLCOMB SAYS THE MOVE IS IN RESPONSE TO EMPLOYERS COMPLAINING THAT THEY CAN'T GROW IF THEY CAN'T HIRE ENOUGH WORKERS.

HE SAYS THERE'S JUST UNDER 120 THOUSAND JOBS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED.

BUT ECONOMISTS SAY THERE'S NO EVIDENCE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE BY AND LARGE KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF JOBS.

INSTEAD, THEY POINT TO STAGNANT WAGES AND A LACK OF CHILDCARE OPTIONS DURING THE ONGOING PANDEMIC.

>> WILL CUTTING OFF FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS REDUCE LABOR SHORTAGES IN INDIANA?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL.

DEMOCRAT ELISE SHROCK.

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.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WHAT I COUNTED AS 433 DAYS, WE HAVE THE FULL PANEL BACK AT OUR DESK.

AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS.

ELISE SHROCK, WILL THIS MOVE FROM THE GOVERNOR HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT?

>> I'M WORRIED THIS IS A GOING TO BE AN OVERNIGHT CHANGE AND OUR EMPLOYMENT ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE FIXED.

I DON'T THINK THIS EXTRA $300 IS ENOUGH TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, BUT WITH THE FOLKS WHO NEED IT, MONTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 3.9%.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED HLP.

I THINK IT WILL BE HARMFUL TO THEM, BUT OVERALL IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE OUR EMPLOYMENT ISSUES BECAUSE I THINK IT IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN WE'RE MAKING IT OUT TO BE.

I THINK WE'RE LAGGING IN VACCINES, PEOPLE ARE HESITANT TO GO BACK TO WORK.

WE ARE SEEING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.

THIS IS AN EASY ONE TO SAY LIKE, A PLUS B EQUALS C. WE'LL SEE.

BUT I'M CONCERNED.

>> I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR, LEADERS TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA THAT WE'RE BACK TO PREPANDEMIC LABOR SHORTAGES.

AND IT'S NOT -- >> WE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.

>> EXACTLY.

SO IS GETTING RID OF ALL THIS STUFF MORE THAN TWO MONTHS EARLY, EARLIER THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CUT OFF BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IS GETTING THAT GOING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

I THINK THE POPULATION YOU'RE TARGETING WAS ECONOMICALLY FRAGILE TO BEGIN WITH.

BEFORE ALL OF THIS.

YOU PUT ANOTHER $300 IN THEIR POCKET EVERY WEEK, THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY TO THEM, THESE ARE HOURLY WORKERS, LOW SKILLED JOBS, AND THE ONES OPENING UP LAST IN TERMS OF RESTAURANT CAPACITY, HOTELS, TOURISM.

CERTAINLY IN CENTRAL INDIANA, THAT DEPEND ON THOSE PEOPLE.

LET'S NOT DISCOUNT THAT $300 IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR SOMEONE WORKING A LOW SKILL HOURLY JOB.

YOU'VE PROVIDED AN INCENTIVE NOW FOR OVER A YEAR FOR THEM TO MAKE MORE MONEY EVERY WEEK.

AND THAT'S RELEVANT.

BUT WE DO HAVE TO GO BACK TO WHAT WE WERE DOING BEFORE WITH COVID, BUT IT'S COMPREHENSIVE.

AND SO THE GOVERNOR DIRECTED DWD TWO WEEKS AGO TO UNDERSTAND THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE PEOPLE MAKING THIS MONEY, HOW DO WE CONNECT THEM TO GET BACK INTO THE SCALE-UP PROGRAMS THAT THE STATE WAS GETTING THESE LOWER SKILLED WORKERS INTO.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING OVERNIGHT.

BUT, IT DOES CREATE AN INCENTIVE TO GO REFILL THESE POSITIONS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED AND THAT IS A PROBLEM.

ANECDOTALLY, I LIVE DOWNTOWN, AND IT IS A PROBLEM DOWNTOWN.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO A RESTAURANT OR TWO SOMETIMES TO FIND LIKE A FULL SERVICE STAFF.

>> I AGREE, $300 IS A LOT.

BUT IS IT ENOUGH TO COVER CHILDCARE WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO WEIGH GOING BACK TO WORK.

>> THOSE ARE PROBLEMS THAT DO NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND SOLVED.

WE'VE GOT TO STOP THESE -- SUBSIDIZING PEOPLE TO NOT GO TO WORK AND NOT TRY TO -- WE CAN'T ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS UNTIL THEY'RE ACTUAL PROBLEMS, FOR SOME PEOPLE THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE MAKING MORE MONEY ON UNEMPLOYMENT THAN THEY ARE WHEN THEY WERE WORKING.

>> AT A VERY MINIMUM DOES REMOVING THESE EXTRA BENEFITS GIVE EMPLOYERS NO MORE EXCUSES?

>> IT PROBABLY REMOVES ONE OF THE EXCUSES THAT THEY'VE BEEN POINTING TOWARD.

I'M NOT SURE, THOUGH HOW MUCH OF A CORRELATION THERE REALLY IS HERE.

I GUESS ELISE, I THINK IS MAKING A POINT THAT I WOULD PROBABLY ECHO, WHICH IS YOU HAVE SOME PORTION OF THE WORKFORCE THAT IS FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS DIFFICULT TO PLACE.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY -- EITHER AT THE END OF THE PANDEMIC, OR CERTAINLY NOW, I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE GOING TO JUST WALZ RIGHT INTO THE FIRST POSITION THAT COMES ALONG, WE'RE NOT GOING TO IRRAID KATE UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE OF INDIANA, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A PIPE DREAM.

WHAT MAY HAPPEN, THIS MAY NOT MOVE THE NEEDLE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF WORKERS, BUT IN THE MEANTIME IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MUCH FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE ECONOMY IN INDIANA WILL NOT GO INTO THE ECONOMY IN INDIANA NOW BECAUSE THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING TURNED BACK.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS, UNDERSTANDABLY SO ON THE EXTRA $300 BENEFIT THAT EVERYONE ON UNEMPLOYMENT IS GETTING.

HE HAVE ALSO IS CUTTING OFF THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WHICH DOES NOT EXIT WITHOUT THAT FEDERAL PROGRAM.

FOR THOSE FOLKS, THEY'RE GETTING EVERYTHING CUT OFF.

IS THAT THE POPULATION THAT'S GOING TO BE HURT A LOT WORSE HERE, AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO DOWN THE ROAD LOOK AT A LITTLE HARDER?

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT'S DEFINITELY MORE THAN THE 300.

THAT WHOLE POPULATION IS 60,000 GETTING THOSE BENEFITS, ALSO THE EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS GOES AWAY.

IN ALL 700,000 HOOSIERS WHO ARE GOING TO LOSE BENEFITS OF SOME KIND.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THERE AREN'T SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING TO STAY AT HOME BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK AND THEY STILL GET PAID, YOU KNOW.

BUT I THINK IT'S TOO SIMPLISTIC TO BE LIKE OH, THIS WILL JUST END, WE CAN FILL THOSE 120,000 JOBS NOW, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE.

>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB ISN'T A FAN OF THE STATE USING MONETARY INCENTIVES TO PUSH MORE PEOPLE TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

HIS COMMENTS THIS WEEK CAME AFTER OHIO ANNOUNCED IT WILL GIVE AWAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

>> OHIO GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE ANNOUNCED A MILLION-DOLLAR LOTTERY SYSTEM FOR VACCINATED OHIOANS LAST WEEK, USING FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF DOLLARS.

GOVERNOR HOLCOMB SAYS HE'S GOT A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

>> GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: I'VE TAKEN APPROACH TO TRY TO ENTICE PEOPLE BY MAKING IT UBER-CONVENIENT TO GET VACCINATED AND APPEAL TO THEIR BETTER SENSES ABOUT, THIS IS HOW WE ALL GET THROUGH THIS QUICKER.

>> HOLCOMB SAYS HE'S NOT COMFORTABLE WITH MONETARY INCENTIVES.

>> GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: SOME PEOPLE WILL NEVER GET VACCINATED AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT WAIT UNTIL THEY WAITED FOR THAT MONETARY ENTICEMENT.

SO, I DON'T WANT FOLKS TO WAIT.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CDC, ONLY TEN STATES ARE WORSE THAN INDIANA IN THE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR POPULATION WITH AT LEAST ONE SHOT OF THE VACCINE.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, INDIANA IS STRUGGLING, COMPARED TO OTHER STATES, TO CONVINCE FOLKS TO GET VACCINATED.

SHOULD THE GOVERNOR BE SO QUICK TO REJECT THIS IDEA?

TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

OR SITTING LIKE IT?

>> YES, HE SHOULD, AND LET ME BE UNPOPULAR IN MY POSITION ON THIS AND RAIN ON EVERYONE'S PARADE.

THIS IS AN ABSURD PROPOSAL, BUT THE MOST AMERICAN THING I'VE EVER HEARD OF.

NOT ENOUGH THAT ALL OF THE INCENTIVES ARE ALIGNED ENOUGH TO GET A VACCINE, THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IS REOPENING, YOU CAN GO TO A BAR, A BASEBALL GAME, TO WORK, CERTAINTY THAT YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, NOW WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM A SCRATCH-OFF LOTTERY TICKET TO DO IT.

IT IS INSANE, TO ME.

I UNDERSTAND WE'RE BEHIND, AT SOME POINT, THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE DONE -- I KNOW WE'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT RATES, UPTAKE RATES, AND THE SPREAD AND ALL THAT STUFF, IN HINDSIGHT, IT IS A REMARKABLE THING THAT IN SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS, THE UNITED STATES PRODUCED A VACCINE, BROKE DOWN THE REGULATORY BARRIERS, PULLED EVERY LEVER, LEVERAGED INDUSTRY TO HAVE AUTOMAKERS MAKE RESPIRATORS, NOW THEY'RE AT THE END AND PEOPLE ARE, OH, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE.

THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IS HEY, WE DID OUR JOB, TAKE IT OR DON'T TAKE IT.

I DON'T WANT POLIO, OR MENINGITIS, OR COVID-19, SO I GOT THE VACCINATION.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT'S MORE THAN A LITTLE.

>> SHOULD THE GOVERNOR CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING, MAYBE NOT THE MILLION DOLLAR GIVE-AWAY THAT OHIO IS DOING, BUT MARYLAND, NEW YORK, ILLINOIS IS GIVING AWAY 6 FLAGS TICKETS, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT IS STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO?

>> YOU CAN BE ANNOYED, THAT IS FAIR, YOUR OPINION, HERE'S THE THING, REALITY IS WE'RE LAGGING, WE'RE NOT DOING WELL WITH THIS.

GIVE THEM COOKIES, GIRL SCOUT COOKIES, MONEY, WHATEVER IT TAKES.

GET PEOPLE VACCINATED.

>> OHIO SAW LIKE A 28% INCREASE.

>> THEY DID.

THE DAY IT WAS ANNOUNCED, THEIR RATES VERSUS OURS, TRACKING THEM A WEEK, WE ARE STILL LIKE OUR RATE IS FASTER THAN THEIRS, THEY'RE AHEAD OF US OVERALL, BUT IN THAT WEEK SINCE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, INDIANA GREW, HAD MORE VACCINATIONS THAN THEY DID.

SO, AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, MIKE, WHETHER YOU'RE OFFENDED OR NOT, MY PARENTS LIVE IN OHIO, AND THEY HAVE TEN SHOTS FOR THIS MILLION DOLLARS.

>> I HOPE THEY WIN IT.

>> TAX MONEY, GIVE IT BACK.

>> IS IT A PROBLEM, THOUGH, THAT THERE ARE MORE AND MORE STATES DOING STUFF LIKE THIS, SO NOW IF INDIANA STARTS TO BECOME SOMEWHAT OF AN OUTLIER, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE, WELL, COME ON, GIVE US SOMETHING.

>> I WANT TO HAVE A HEALTHY LIFE.

BUT TO YOUR POINT, I NEED SOMETHING TO INCENTIVIZE ME TO DO IT.

>> A HEALTHIER LIFE.

>> HERE'S WHAT -- [CROSS TALKING].

>> YOU DO GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON, I WILL SAY WHAT I THINK IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE LONG HAUL IS WHAT INDIANA UNIVERSITY DID THIS WEEK, WHICH IS A JOYOUS OCCASION IN MY HOUSE WITH TWO KIDS LOOKING FORWARD IN THE FALL TO GOING BACK TO, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, NORMAL, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING BACK TO FOOTBALL GAMES, AND THAT IS MANDATORY VACCINATIONS.

>> NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF.

>> RIGHT.

>> STEALING THE TOPIC FOR NEXT WEEK, JON.

>> I LIKE TO BE TIMELY.

I JUST THINK THAT KIND OF THING, AND I'M SURE THIS WILL BE CONTESTED, YOU THINK YOU'RE UNPOPULAR, MY DISCUSSION IS, WILL MAKE ME -- I WILL BE MORE UNPOPULAR WITH A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION, BUT NOBODY HAS -- YOU KNOW, YOU CHOOSE WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL OR NOT, I GUESS FACULTY MAY BE DIFFERENT.

THEY CHOOSE TO WORK THERE.

AND WE DO IT WITH MENINGITIS, TO YOUR POINT, POLIO, ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, I REMEMBER THEM DIGGING THROUGH THE FILES TRYING TO FIND THEIR VACCINATION RECORDS BACK TO INFANCY TO PROVE THEY WERE LEGIT.

SO IT DOES BEG THE QUESTION WHY SHOULD THIS BE ANY DIFFERENT?

I THINK NOTRE DAME DID THIS A FEW MONTHS AGO, I.U., I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE WILL.

I THINK THIS WILL HAVE MORE OF AN IMPACT IF IT HOLDS THAN THE NOTION OF A LOTTERY, OR NO LOTTERY >> 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 DO BIG, MONETARY GIVEAWAYS - LIKE OTHER STATES - TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

A.

YES.

B.

NO.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: SHOULD GOV.

HOLCOMB CUT OFF THE EXTRA $300 IN FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR OUT-OF-WORK HOOSIERS?

AS HE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK.

38% OF YOU SAID YES, HE SHOULD.

62% SAY NO.

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

INDIANA US SENATOR MIKE BRAUN ECHOED TALKING POINTS FROM PROMINENT CONSERVATIVES THIS WEEK IN DISMISSING CALLS TO CREATE A COMMISSION TO STUDY THE JANUARY 6TH US CAPITOL INSURRECTION.

>> THE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION WOULD FORM A PANEL MODELED AFTER THE 9/11 COMMISSION.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL CAME OUT AGAINST THE MEASURE AND BRAUN FOLLOWED SUIT.

THE HOOSIER LAWMAKER SAYS THE COMMISSION WOULD DISCOVER NOTHING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVEN'T ALREADY FOUND WHILE INVESTIGATING AND CHARGING HUNDREDS IN ASSOCIATION WITH ATTACK.

MANY CHARGED IN THE ATTACKS TESTIFIED UNDER OATH THEY WERE INCITED BY REPUBLICANS AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CALLS TO “STOP THE STEAL.” BRAUN, WHO VOICED MULTIPLE, UNFOUNDED CONCERNS OVER THE VALIDITY OF ELECTION RESULTS, ULTIMATELY CERTIFIED RESULTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INSURRECTION.

THIS WEEK, THE SENATOR SAID MANY OF HIS INITIAL QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED.

>> U.S. SEN. MIKE BRAUN (R-IND.

): WERE THERE SOME IRREGULARITIES?

I FOUND OUT MOST OF OUR RESEARCH THAT A LOT OF WHAT HAD BEEN DONE HAD BEEN DONE LEGALLY BY LOCAL ELECTION COMMISSIONS, LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.

>> AT LEAST A HALF DOZEN HOOSIERS FACE FEDERAL CHARGES FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL.

JON SCHWANTES, SELL ME ON REJECTING THE CREATION OF THE JAN. 6 COMMISSION.

>> Interview: GOT NOTHING FOR YOU.

IT'S HARD TO SELL THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS IS NOT A WORTHWHILE EXERCISE.

IT WAS SO DISRUPTIVE TO OUR COUNTRY, AND POTENTIALLY DISRUPTIVE TO OUR DEMOCRACY LONG-TERM, THERE IS SO MANY QUESTIONS STILL THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ANSWERED, AND WE STILL HAVE NEW EVENTS OR HAPPENINGS CONNECTED TO THAT EVENT WHICH ARE TROUBLING.

WAS IT LAST WEEK, ABOUT A WEEK AGO THAT WE SAW THE FIRST ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER WHO WAS CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THAT BEFORE IT HAD BEEN RESERVISTS, OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE RETIRED.

SOMEHOW WHEN YOU THINK PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS INSURRECTION WERE, IN THIS CASE, AT LEAST THIS ONE MARINE WAS ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE.

THIS CALLS IN MY MIND FOR A THOROUGH LOOK AT WHAT WENT WRONG, AND NOT JUST THAT DAY, BUT WHAT LED UP TO IT, AND HOW IT CAN BE PREVENTED IN THE FUTURE.

>> YEAH, SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE REJECTING THE IDEA FOR THIS COMMISSION SAY THERE WERE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONS INTO SME OF THESE FOLKS.

THEY WILL FIND OUT WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW.

BUT ISN'T THERE A LOT MORE THAT WE CAN FIND OUT?

>> SOME OF THE REAL BASE DECISIONS AREN'T REALLY CRIMINAL QUESTIONS, BUT WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF WHAT RESPONSE THAT DAY, WERE THE GUARD TOLD TO STAND DOWN BEFORE THEY WERE TOLD TO COME IN.

THOSE THINGS THE LOCAL POLICE AREN'T WORRIED ABOUT.

ALSO I WANT TO POINT OUT, WE'VE HAD COMMISSIONS LIKE THIS FOR LIKE 9/11, OBVIOUSLY THE POLICE AND THE FBI AND EVERY -- >> AN HISTORICAL EVENT.

>> WE STILL DID A COMMISSION, WHO SHOT JFK.

THE WARREN COMMISSION.

THIS IS NOT A THING THAT WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

>> IT SEEMS TO ME A LOT OF THE FOLKS OBJECTING TO THIS SEE IT AS AN INVESTIGATION OF DONALD TRUMP.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY WHAT IT IS, BUT IF YOU WERE SERVING HOOSIERS, WHO OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP, IS THAT A REASON TO REJECT IT, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK THIS IS?

>> NO, THIS ISN'T.

I DON'T KNOW HOW DUMB HE THINKS HOOSIERS ARE, THE THING WORKING AGAINST HIM TRYING TO SWEEP THIS UNDER THE RUG, WE ALL WATCHED THIS LIVE, WE WATCHED THIS HAPPEN LIVE.

AND WE DIDN'T GET TO GO TO WORK THE NEXT WEEK AT THE STATEHOUSE BECAUSE THERE WERE UNRAVELLING SECURITY CONCERNS THAT STEMMED FROM THAT.

THIS WAS A MAJOR EVENT, IT DESERVES TO HAVE A STUDY, A COMMISSION, IN A TRANSPARENT WAY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED SO WE CAN LEARN FROM IT AND MOVE FORWARD AND DO BETTER.

AND YOU CAN TRY AND PRETEND LIKE IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL, IF YOU'RE SENATOR BRAUN.

>> YOU STILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE CONVINCED THAT THIS AS ANTIFA PROTESTORS, THAT'S WHAT CONGRESSMAN MATT GATES WHEN HE HAD OTHER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> MATT'S GOT A LOT MORE TO WORRY ABOUT THAN THIS.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO STILL BELIEVE THAT.

>> LONG-TERM, IN TERMS OF THE SORT OF ELECTORAL IMPACT ON SOMEONE LIKE MIKE BRAUN, DOES HE HAVE WORKING FOR HIM IN THIS CASE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS WHO ARE AGAINST IT.

AND SO INCREASINGLY, I'M SURE IT WILL BE PAINTED AS A PARTISAN COMMISSION OUT TO ATTACK REPUBLICANS, IS THAT GOING TO HELP HIM WITH ANY SORT OF IMPACT ELECTORALLY FROM THIS?

>> WE'LL SEE.

THIS MEETS THAT THRESHOLD THAT MICKEY DESCRIBED, YOU'RE GOING TO REMEMBER IN 25 YEARS WHERE YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE WATCHING THAT.

TO ME, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A DATA DRIVEN EXERCISE, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE STANDARD.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE THEN, DID WE LEARN WHY?

DID WE LEARN WHO?

DO WE UNDERSTAND CAPITAL SECURITY BETTER.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAD FRIENDS IN THAT BUILDING AND KNEW PEOPLE, THAT WERE BEING RUSHED OFF THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE?

>> NOT TO MENTION MIKE PENCE, FROM INDIANA, HOWEVER YOU REGARD HIS POLITICS PERSONALLY, THEY WERE GOING TO -- WHAT IF THEY FOUND MIKE PENCE?

WHAT IF THEY MADE A WRONG TURN DOWN A HALLWAY.

>> APPARENTLY DOESN'T CARE.

>> IF SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING LIKE THAT ABOUT MY SISTER AND I HAD THE POWER TO VOTE THAT STUDY, YOU BETTER BELIEVE I WOULD BE -- >> IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

THEY DON'T EVEN WANT THE QUESTION ASKED.

LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED.

THIS WAS A HORRIFIC DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY FOR SURE.

>> INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA IS LEADING A MULTI-STATE EFFORT CALLING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO DROP A PROPOSAL AIMED AT FUNDING MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND INCLUSIVE CIVICS AND HISTORY PROGRAMS.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LINDSAY EXPLAINS, ROKITA SENT A LETTER TO U-S SECRETARY OF EDUCATION MIGUEL CARDONA OUTLINING HIS CONCERNS ABOUT PRIORITIZING ANTI-RACISM EDUCATION.

>> LAST MONTH, THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROPOSED TWO PRIORITIES IT'S CONSIDERING USING TO AWARD SOME CIVIC AND HISTORY EDUCATION GRANT FUNDING.

THE FIRST WOULD PRIORITIZE PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE DIVERSE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES AND CREATE INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.

THE SECOND AIMS TO IMPROVE STUDENTS' ABILITY TO SPOT FAKE NEWS AND UNDERSTAND BIASES.

BUT ROKITA'S LETTER CLAIMS THE PROPOSED PRIORITIES UNDERMINE WHAT HE CALLS "TRADITIONAL" AMERICAN HISTORY.

HE'S URGING THE DEPARTMENT TO DROP THEM FROM CONSIDERATION.

HE SAYS THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD MAKE CLEAR THAT FUNDING CANNOT BE AWARDED TO PROJECTS THAT PAINT THE COUNTRY AS "IRREDEEMABLY RACIST."

ROKITA'S LETTER WAS SIGNED BY 19 OTHER STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS YET TO RESPOND.

>> NIKI KELLY, WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SERVING HOOSIERS AS ATTORNEY GENERAL?

>> I CAN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING.

OBVIOUSLY IF THIS HAD COME FROM THE NEWLY APPOINTED SECOND OF EDUCATION, HAVE A SAY ON CURRICULUM AND CLASSROOMS, COOL, FINE, YOU KNOW, BUT HIS OFFICE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION POLICY.

AND SO I'M A LITTLE -- >> NOT A LAWSUIT.

>> EXACTLY.

NOT A LAWSUIT.

I DON'T GET IT.

ROKITA IS LIKE A MOTH TO A FLAME, HE WANTS TO BE PART OF IT.

THIS IS HIS WAY OF DOING IT.

>> STATE-WIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL GOING AFTER A POLITICAL ISSUE FOR ATTENTION IS NOT NEW TO INDIANA OR THIS COUNTRY.

SO, IN THAT SENSE, WILL MOST HOOSIERS LOOK AT THIS AND GO, WELL, IT'S JUST TODD ROKITA, WHO CARES?

>> NO, I THINK BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ENOUGH OR ZEALOUS ENOUGH.

WHETHER HE'S JUSTIFIED IN WADING IN THAT FRAY THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT PEOPLE, WE'VE SEEN IT WITH DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, SECRETARY OF STATE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO WOULD HAVE WEIGH IN ON THINGS THAT HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY DEALT WITH DIRECTLY, AND USUALLY, TO ME, THAT'S ALWAYS AN INDICATION THAT THIS IS NOT THE JOB YOU'RE IN RIGHT NOW THAT YOU WANT, THIS IS A CLEAR SIGN THAT YOU WANT SOMETHING ELSE, WHETHER -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT, BUT YOU DON'T LIKE THE JOB YOU HAVE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE MATTERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN YOUR POSITION.

AND AGAIN I SAY THAT ABOUT REPUBLICANS, I SAID IT ABOUT DEMOCRATS WHO DID IT AT THAT TIME, AND THEY'RE DEALING WITH TIANANMEN SQUARE IN CHINA, WHICH WAS A NATURAL THING.

>> YES, IT WAS.

>> WITH PEOPLE WEIGHING IN.

>> WE ARE LESS THAN SIX MONTHS INTO TODD ROKITA'S TENURE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

IS HE RUNNING FOR SOMETHING ELSE?

>> YEAH, PRETTY OPEN ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE ENTERING THAT SEASON, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I THINK THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS WITH HOW CURRICULUM IS CHANGING, AND HOW IT'S BEING TAUGHT.

AND BUT I THINK THIS IS ALSO IN THE BUCKET OF THE CIVIL WAR STATUTE, GETTING TORN DOWN OVERNIGHT.

IT'S THE EXTREMES GO TO THE OPPOSITE EXTREMES.

IF WE WANT TO INTRODUCE RACISM CURRICULUM AND EDUCATION ABOUT THAT.

THE FAR OTHER SIDE REACTS AND SAID, NO, WE GOT TO DO TRADITIONAL AMERICAN HISTORY.

WE CAN'T RIP DOWN A CIVIL WAR STATUTE, WE GOT TO KEEP IT UP FOREVER.

>> CAN WE JUST HAVE A RATIONALE CONVERSATION... >> CAN WE NAME THAT PEOPLE LIKE TODD ROKITA SAYING THINGS LIKE THIS IN THE POSITION OF POWER THAT HE IS IN IS WHY WE NEED DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING.

I MEAN WE HAVE TO STOP TALKING LIKE INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IS SOMETHING OF THE PAST THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT AND LEARN.

THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THIS IS SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO BLOCK DE&I, SOMEONE WHO ALSO THIS MONTH IS TRYING TO INVESTIGATE EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR TO LIFT UP PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THIS IS A PROBLEM.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS AND POLITICS AND HOW IT AFFECTS THAT REALM.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HOW IT ACTUALLY AFFECTS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.

AND I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE, I THINK WHEN HE SAYS TRADITIONAL EDUCATION, THAT IS WHITEWASHING OUR CURRICULUM, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

WE NEED TO BE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.

WHITE PEOPLE NEED TO BE CALLING OUT WHITE PEOPLE WHO SAY THINGS LIKE THIS, REPUBLICANS NEED TO BE CALLING OUT OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO DO THINGS LIKE THIS.

ANYONE IN POLITIC, DEMOCRATS, WE NEED TO BE CALLING OUT DEMOCRATS THAT DO THIS, THIS IS A PROBLEM.

AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT IN A POLITICAL REALM, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIFE AND SAFETY OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN THIS STATE WHO ARE AT RISK WHEN PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS DO THIS.

>> DON'T FORGET THIS ALSO TRAINING HAS TO DO WITH SPOTTING FAKE NEWS, WITH MAKING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THIS TRAINING BETTER AMERICANS, BETTER -- DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

I ARGUE THAT TODAY'S EPISODE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WHY PEOPLE NEED TO BE DISCERNING.

FINALLY, OHIO FINALLY, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, OHIO IS GIVING AWAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

ILLINOIS IS GIVING OUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TICKETS TO SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA.

MIKE O'BRIEN, WHAT'S AN INDIANA-THEMED GIVEAWAY THE HOOSIER STATE SHOULD GET BEHIND?

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW >> WHAT'S AN INDIANA THEMED GIVE AWAY?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M A BIG FAN OF WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS.

I WOULD LOVE JUST A LIFETIME SUPPLY OF JUST POP-IN HONESTLY.

>> I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE SHOTS, MAKING THREE POINTERS AT HALF TIME.

>> FIRST GET THE VACCINE.

>> YEP.

KIDS IN COLLEGE WIN THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WAY.

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

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ELISE SHROCK.

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.

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