♪♪ >> BANNING COVID-19 VACCINE >> BANNING COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES IS THE GOP'S TOP PRIORITY.

THE OMICRON VARIANT.

PLUS, TODD ROKITA AND EDUCATION AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 3RD, 2021.

>> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS AND BY ICE MILLER, A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO HELPING CLIENTS BUILD, GROW, AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

MORE AT ICEMILLER.COM.

>> THIS WEEK, INDIANA HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE REVEALED THEIR TOP PRIORITY FOR THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

56 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE GOP CAUCUS SIGNED ON TO A REINTRODUCED BILL THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY BAN PRIVATE COMPANIES FROM ENFORCING COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES.

>> REPUBLICANS INITIALLY PLANNED TO PASS THEIR BILL THIS WEEK, SUSPENDING ALL RULES TO APPROVE THE BILL IN A SINGLE DAY SESSION.

BUT THE STATE'S TOP BUSINESS AND HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS LOUDLY OBJECTED, PROMPTING REPUBLICANS TO BACK DOWN.

BUT THE HOUSE GOP STILL WANTS TO PUSH FORWARD ON THE ISSUE ONCE LAWMAKERS RETURN IN JANUARY FOR THEIR REGULAR SESSION.

THE REINTRODUCED BILL IS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME, WITH A MINOR DIFFERENCE.

PREVIOUSLY, IT LISTED “PREGNANCY OR ANTICIPATED PREGNANCY” AS REASONS TO OPT OUT OF GETTING THE VACCINE.

THAT'S BEEN REMOVED.

ITS FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN.

EVEN IF THE HOUSE PASSES IT LARGELY UNCHANGED, THE SENATE GOP MAY HAVE OBJECTIONS TO THE BILL'S STRICT LANGUAGE.

AND GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB DIDN'T SEEM PARTICULARLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION.

>> WILL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EFFECTIVELY BAN ENFORCEMENT OF COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES?

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

REPUBLICAN CHRIS MITCHEM.

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.

CHRIS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO BALANCE THE CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES OF THE FREE MARKET WITH WANTING TO BAN RESTRICTIONS ON HEALTH CARE FREEDOM.

DOES THIS BILL ACCOMPLISH THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, I DO NOT ENVY THE POSITION THAT HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP FIND THEMSELVES IN RIGHT NOW.

I THINK NO MATTER HOW THIS BILL TURNS OUT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT, ONE BEING THIS BILL IS NOT GOING TO GO FAR ENOUGH IN PROTECTING BUSINESSES, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER SIDE THAT SAYS THIS BILL GOES TOO FAR IN LIMITING ANY KIND OF FREEDOM.

AND BUT I THINK ONE THING THAT IS FOR CERTAIN, WHEN YOU SEE THIS BILL, THEY REALLY TRIED THEIR BEST TO MAKE THAT BALANCE.

YOU ULTIMATELY WHAT IT IS, YOU'RE ASKING EMPLOYEES TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THESE MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE REQUESTING.

BUT THERE IS ALSO PORTIONS OF THE BILL THAT ALLOWS FOR EMPLOYERS TO STILL REQUIRE TESTING WHEN IT COMES TO THESE EXEMPTIONS AS WELL AS PART OF THE BILL THAT ENCOURAGING EMPLOYERS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST EMPLOYEES THAT REFUSE TO SUBMIT TO THESE TESTING REQUESTS.

LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A TOP PRIORITY, THE FACT THAT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED, YOU CAN EXPECT IT TO BE EXPEDITED THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AS WE'VE SEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AN INTRODUCED BILL IS LIKELY NOT GOING TO BE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT PASSES INTO LAW.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THEY DO AS THEY BILL WORKS THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THEY DID A GOOD JOB OF RECOGNIZING WHENEVER THEY PRESENTED THIS TO THE PUBLIC THAT THERE IS WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE RATHER THAN PUSHING IT THROUGH TO BECOME LAW >> ELISE SHROCK, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME QUESTION, DOES THIS BILL STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT TWO SIDES, THERE IS A SIDE THAT -- MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE SERVICES INDUSTRY, THE LEADING VOICES, AND THE HOSPITAL INDUSTRY, THE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION AND DEMOCRATS, WHO ARE ALL SAYING, WE THINK THAT THIS IS A BAD IDEA.

THE ONLY PEOPLE MAKING IT A PRIORITY ARE THE REPUBLICANS.

AND I WOULD VENTURE AS FAR TO SAY IT IS SOME OF THE MORE EXTREME RIGHT REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE TAKEN CONTROL OF STATEHOUSE REPUBLICANS AND HOUSE POLICY HAS LED THERE.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF THOSE INDUSTRIES AREN'T TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.

I THINK THAT THEY ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT A GREAT IDEA, AND THEY CAME HERE AND THEY SAID THAT, AND THEY KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS KNOW THAT, AND I THINK MOST -- KNOW THAT >> NIKI KELLY, A LOT HAS HAPPENED ON THIS ISSUE SINCE WE TAPED A NEW EPISODE OF THIS SHOW.

SO COULD YOU FOR A SECOND CATCH US UP ON EVERYTHING THAT HAS GOTTEN US TO THIS POINT AND WHAT I THINK ALL OF THAT PORTENDS FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS BILL ONCE WE GET TO THE REGULAR SESSION IN JANUARY?

>> YEAH, LAST WEEK WE HAD A MARATHON 7-HOUR HEARING ON ESSENTIALLY THE LANGUAGE IN THAT BILL.

THE THING THAT STRUCK ME SITTING THERE THE WHOLE TIME IS REALLY NO ONE LIKED IT.

LIKE THERE WERE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF IT.

AND IN FACT EVEN THE SORT OF FAR RIGHT PEOPLE WHO WANT IT, I NOTICED ON INSTAGRAM THIS WEEK, EVERY SINGLE COMMENT WAS THIS IS TERRIBLE, IT SHOULD BE A STRAIGHT OUT BAN ON VACCINE MANDATES, THAT KIND OF THING.

SO, THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT GIVING EVERYONE WHAT THEY WANT.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYONE WHAT THEY WANT, SOMETIMES PEOPLE MIGHT SAY IS THE WAY TO LEGISLATION.

BUT I THINK IT IS INTERESTING THEY'RE KEEPING THESE TWO ISSUES TOGETHER.

THAT MIGHT CAUSE AN INTERESTING THING.

THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE, I MEAN, IT WOULD PASS, YOU KNOW, VERY OVERWHELMING JUST TO LIFT THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXPIRE, BUT BY TYING IT TO THESE VACCINE MANDATE LEGISLATION, YOU MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVE TO VOTE THAT BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE OTHER PART.

>> JON SCHWANTES, SEEMS TO ME REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO WALK A LINE HERE A LITTLE BIT, WHICH IS THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO UPSET BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TOO MUCH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME RESPONDING TO AT LEAST PARTS OF THEIR CONSTITUENCY WHO ARE VERY ANGRY ABOUT ANY VACCINE MANDATE WHETHER BY THE GOVERNMENT OR BY A PRIVATE BUSINESS.

AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY'RE MAKING ANYBODY HAPPY HERE.

SO IS THIS ONE OF THOSE WHERE THAT JUST MEANS THEY FOUND THE RIGHT COMPROMISE OR ARE THEY RUNNING THE RISK OF UPSETTING THE WRONG PEOPLE?

>> I THINK THEY RUN THE RISK OF UPSETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT, THE QUESTION IS, WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THEY ARE UPSETTING.

THEY ARE UPSETTING THEIR TRADITIONAL ALLIES, IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND MANUFACTURING COMMUNITY.

SOME OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS CERTAINLY IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

WHAT THEY ARE SPEAKING TO, AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE NOT ANGERING WITH THIS PUSH, WOULD BE THE RIGHT WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THOSE WHO FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE BANS ON THESE TYPES OF WHAT THEY PERCEIVE TO BE DRACONIAN BIG BROTHER TYPES OF MEASURES.

NOW, GRANTED, AS NIKI SAID, MANY PEOPLE WITHIN THAT FACTION OF THE PARTY DON'T THINK THIS BILL GOES FAR ENOUGH, HENCE BRINGING UP YOUR SET-UP ABOUT THIS BEING SORT OF ENOUGH TO ANGER ALL SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

I GUESS THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT WAS THEY COULD HAVE DEFERRED TO THE CDC AND MEDICAL COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS, NOT WEIGHED INTO IT, THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD ALSO SOME FRUSTRATION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

I THINK IN THE END, CERTAINLY THE HOUSE IS ENTHUSIASTIC, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE IN THE SENATE WILL NECESSARILY BE AS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT AT LEAST PUSHING IT THROUGH VERY QUICKLY.

IN PART BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE FULL STORY OF COVID.

OMICRON IS HERE, WE DON'T KNOW, WHERE WILL THAT LEAD US, THERE IS A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, THERE IS STILL THE DELTA VARIANT CAUSING A LOT OF HEADACHES.

STILL CONFUSION, AND BIG BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BRISTOLED AT REGULATIONS, THESE TYPE OF ACTIONS, SAY, IN TEXAS AND OTHER STATES, YOU KNOW, INDIANA'S POSITIONED ITSELF AS THE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY STATE, AND IF WE'RE SEEN AS THE ONE THAT PUTS THE THUMB ON THE SCALE IN TERMS OF, WELL, TO MIX METAPHORS, TYING THE HAND OF BUSINESS LEADERS, THAT COULD BE A BLOW TO OUR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME.

>> 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 LAWMAKERS EFFECTIVELY BAN PRIVATE COMPANIES FROM ENFORCING COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES?

MANY A, A YES, OR B, NO.

LAST WEEK, TWO WEEKS AK.

WE ASKED WHETHER INDIANA LAWMAKERS SHOULD CUT TAXES DURING THE SESSION.

40% SAY YES, 60% NO.

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

THERE IS A NEW COVID-19 VARIANT MAKING HEADLINES: THE OMICRON VARIANT.

WHILE THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSIBILITY OF THIS VERSION OF THE VIRUS, SOME COVID EXPERTS SAY THE NUMBER OF MUTATIONS IT POSSESSES MAKES IT EASY TO DETECT.

>> DR. LAURA MORRIS IS THE VACCINE CO-CHAIR AT MU HEALTH CARE IN MISSOURI.

SHE SAYS OMICRON HAS A MOLECULAR SIGNATURE THAT CERTAIN PCR TESTS CAN PICK UP - QUICKLY.

THOSE SAMPLES CAN THEN BE PRIORITIZED FOR GENETIC SEQUENCING.

BUT MORRIS SAYS MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN.

>> DR. LAURA MORRIS: SO, IS IT GOING TO BE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE?

IS IT GOING TO MAKE PATIENTS SICKER?

SO FAR, THAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE CASE, BUT THERE ARE SO FEW CASES AND NOT ENOUGH TIME HAS PASSED TO REALLY BE ABLE TO SAY THAT FOR SURE.

>> MORRIS SAYS SO FAR, THERE'S NOTHING TO SUGGEST THAT CURRENT BEST PRACTICES - MASKING AND VACCINATION - WILL CHANGE.

>> ELISE SHROCK, FORMER SURGEON GENERAL DR. JEROME ADAMS RECENTLY SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH COVID, GIVEN THAT THE NUMBER OF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE MEANS IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.

IS THAT JUST WHERE WE'RE AT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE?

>> YES.

BUT THERE IS A WAY TO STOP IT, AND THAT IS GETTING VACCINATED.

BUT I DO HEAR WHAT DR. ADAMS IS SAYING, AND I THINK HE, LIKE MOST OF THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM, ARE LOOKING PRAGMATICALLY AT THE ACTUAL FIELD OF PLAY WE'RE IN.

THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEE REPUBLICANS, DR. ADAMS, AND DEMOCRATS LIKE PRESIDENT BIDEN, OUR OWN CONGRESSMEN CENTERING HOW THEY REACT TO THIS BY HELPING HOOSIERS GET THROUGH IT BY INVESTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY POLICIES, AND THINGS THAT EVERY-DAY HOOSIERS NEED LIKE ROADS, CHILDCARE INFRASTRUCTURE, ASSISTANCE WITH HUNGER ISSUES.

I THINK THAT IT IS THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF UNVACCINATED, HURTS OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES >> WHEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT OMICRON DOES TO CHANGE THE STATE'S PLANS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALIZING COVID IS GOING TO BE HERE A LONG TIME.

HE HAVE ALSO CONTINUED TO BANG THE DRUM ON GETTING VACCINATED, OBVIOUSLY THAT IS THE BEST PATH TO BOTH CURBING THE WIDESPREAD OF THE VIRUS AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT YOU YOURSELF ARE PROTECTED FROM MORE SERIOUS ILLNESS AND DEATH.

BUT DOES IT SEEM SILLY FOR THE GOVERNOR AND REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO TALK ABOUT WE NEED TO END THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE HAVE HOSPITALS WORRIED ABOUT A WINTER SURGE AND THE UNKNOWN SIDE EFFECTS OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.

>> I WOULDN'T CALL IT SILLY, JUST BECAUSE AS ELISE MENTIONED, THE SOLUTION IS OUT THERE.

AND THAT'S TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED AND AS PEOPLE AS WE CAN.

I THINK GOVERNOR HOLCOMB HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF BOTH NOTING THAT, YES, ALL THE SOLUTION ARE OUT THERE, WE KNOW THAT VACCINES ARE WORTH, THE BEST PRACTICES ARE OUT THERE, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN, WHEN IT COMES TO ENDING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, WE KNOW SOLUTIONS ARE OUT THERE, WE KNOW WHAT TO DO, WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING OUR STATE UNDER THIS CONSTANT CLOUD OF A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, WHEN IS IT GOING TO END?

AS DR. JEROME ADAMS MENTIONED, IT IS GOING TO BE AROUND FOR A WHILE AS LONG AS THERE ARE UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, WE HAVE SEEN WAYS BEFORE OF COVID, AND AT THIS POINT WE KNOW WHERE THE SOLUTIONS ARE, AND WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO FIGHT THIS BETTER.

>> JON SCHWANTES, BY THE TIME LAWMAKERS COME BACK FOR THEIR LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN JANUARY, ASSUMING THEY'LL WAIT UNTIL THEN, AT THIS POINT I THINK WE CAN ASSUME, ALTHOUGH I THOUGHT THAT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND HERE WE ARE, ASSUMING THEY DON'T COME BACK UNTIL JANUARY WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH ABOUT A MONTH OF WHAT HOSPITALS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING A BAD WINTER SURGE OF THIS VIRUS.

OMICRON OR NOT.

DOES THAT -- WILL A BAD WINTER SURGE IF IT IS HERE LIKE WE EXPECT, DOES THAT CHANGE THE WAY LAWMAKERS VIEW ANY ISSUE RELATED TO COVID ONCE THEY GET BACK INTO SESSION?

>> I THINK BREAKING NEWS, HEADLINES, DO HAVE A WAY OF CHANGING AGENDAS, AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WE'VE SEEN IT ON ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES, THE EXTENT THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, FOR INSTANCE, GUN SAFETY AND SCHOOL SAFETY, ALWAYS SPIKES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND ELSEWHERE, UNDERSTANDABLY, AFTER, SAY, A HIGH PROFILE SCHOOL SHOOTING.

SO IN THIS INSTANCE, IF WE WERE TO SEE THE OMICRON VARIANT BECOME DEADLIER THAN IT APPEARS TO BE, OR IT'S NOT AS CONTROLLABLE AS IT APPEARS TO BE, OR IF DELTA VARIANT SPIKES IN SOME WAY.

I THINK IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT, I'M NOT SAYING IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR LAWMAKERS TO MOVE WITH SPEED TO JETTISON INTO THE EMERGENCY -- DECLARED EMERGENCY, AND ALSO THEN TIE THE HANDS OF LARGE BUSINESSES WHO WANT TO INOCULATE THEIR WORKFORCES, KEEP IN MIND I JUST SAW AN ANALYSIS OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN THE COUNTRY AND THE VACCINATIONS.

ARE REQUIRING - SO THIS REALLY WOULD PUT INDIANA SORT OF IN AN AWKWARD SPOT, AND IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AT A TIME IF IN FACT THE KIND OF SPIKE AND THE DISEASE THAT YOU -- THE SCENARIO THAT YOU DESCRIBE WERE TO COME TO PASS >> NIKI KELLY, GOVERNOR HOLCOMB AS WE TALKED ABOUT ASKING FOR THESE THREE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SO HE CAN END THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, THE ONLY THINGS IN EFFECT AT THIS TIME, NOT THE ONLY TOOLS HE'S USED, THIS YEAR ALONE, THOUGH.

IS THIS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT PRETTY MUCH NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE VIRUS AT THIS POINT THE STATE IS NOT GOING TO DO MORE THAN IT IS CURRENTLY DOING?

>> YEAH, I THINK GOVERNOR HOLCOMB HAS BEEN CLEAR ABOUT THAT SINCE THE VACCINE BECAME WIDELY AVAILABLE.

TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, THERE ISN'T ANYTHING LEFT IN IT THAT IS ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING TO ACTIVELY STOP THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

SO, IN SOME WAYS, THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION IS JUST SYMBOLISM.

SO, ABOUT WHETHER TO END IT OR NOT.PAS LONG AS HE GETS THOSE T THINGS THAT KEEPS FEDERAL MONEY FLOWING, ALLOWS FOR VACCINE CLINICS FOR YOUNG HOOSIERS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE ONLY THINGS IN THERE ANYMORE THAT ARE REALLY NEEDED TO DEAL WITH COVID ON AN ONGOING DAILY BASIS >> ALL RIGHT.

SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE CONDEMNING INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA'S LATEST PUBLISHED REMARKS DISCUSSING BLACK LIVES MATTER IN SCHOOLS AND ISSUES LIKE CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LINDSAY REPORTS, ROKITA HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT SCHOOLS LATELY - UPDATING HIS SO-CALLED "PARENT BILL OF RIGHTS" AND RECENTLY ISSUING A FORMAL ADVISORY OPINION ON BLACK LIVES MATTER IN SCHOOLS.

>> PRESIDENT OF THE CONCERNED CLERGY OF INDIANAPOLIS, REVEREND DAVID W GREENE SENIOR SAYS ROKITA'S PUBLISHED REMARKS ARE RACIST.

HE SAYS ROKITA'S ONGOING CRITICISMS OF HOW SCHOOLS TALK ABOUT RACE AND EQUITY UNDERMINES EFFORTS TO SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS AND DIVERSIFY THE TEACHING WORKFORCE.

>> REV.

DAVID GREENE, SR.: HIS REMARKS LEAD TO DISUNITY.

THEY ARE DIVISIVE, WHILE HE'S TRYING TO CLAIM THAT HE'S TRYING TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING.

>> GREENE SAYS CHILDREN NEED A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION - INCLUDING ON UNCOMFORTABLE TOPICS - AND HE ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO GET INVOLVED WITH THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> NIKI KELLY, WHAT IS TODD ROKITA DOING GETTING INVOLVED IN THESE ISSUES AS ATTORNEY GENERAL?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, FOR INSTANCE, HIS OPINION ON THE BLACK LIVES MATTER ISSUE WAS AN ADVISORY OPINION SOUGHT BY INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

THAT WAS A LITERAL LEGAL QUESTION PUT TO HIM.

SO HE HAS AN OBLIGATION AS A STATE'S ATTORNEY TO RESPOND TO THAT.

GOING FURTHER, THE PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS, I WOULD LIKE HIM TO EXPLAIN WHERE THAT FITS INTO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ACTUAL DUTIES.

IS IT CONSUMER PROTECTION?

IS IT -- I CAN'T REALLY FIND IT.

BUT THEN AGAIN, HE'S A STATE-WIDE ELECTED LEADER.

AND I GUESS HE CAN USE HIS PLATFORM ANY WAY HE WANTS AS LONG AS HE'S NOT AFOUL OF ANY SPENDING LAWS, OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> TO THAT POINT, JON SCHWANTES, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VIEWING ROKITA'S MOVES HERE AT PARTICULARLY ON THE PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS, AS NIKI POINTS OUT LAWMAKERS SOUGHT HIS ADVISORY OPINION.

A LOT OF WHAT HE IS DOING IS PURELY POLITICAL.

ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT?

>> IT IS PURELY POLITICAL.

IT IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED.

WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST BOTH PARTIES, SECRETARIES OF STATE VENTURE OFF INTO INTERNATIONAL PONTIFICATING ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, AND SO FORTH, AND EDUCATION, WHICH, AGAIN, IS NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THE PURVIEW OF THE OFFICE.

SO IT IS NOT WITHOUT PRECEDENT.

JUST PERHAPS TODD ROKITA HAS TAKEN IT TO A NEW LEVEL IN HIS DESIRE TO, WELL, FILL IN THE BLANK, EITHER STAY IN THE HEADLINES ON ISSUES THAT HE FEELS ARE IMPORTANT TO HIS CORE CONSTITUENCY, CONSERVATIVES WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND ONE WOULD PRESUME THEN THAT THE REASON PEOPLE SEEK HEADLINES AND SEEK THE ATTENTION OF CORE CONSTITUENCIES IS TO PURSUE ANOTHER OFFICE, WHATEVER THAT OFFICE MIGHT BE.

>> HE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, RIGHT?

>> SEEKING OTHER OFFICES, I MEAN, THAT IS SORT OF WHAT HE'S DONE.

SO, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S PRETTY APPARENT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

IT'S AN EXERCISE IN SOLIDIFYING THE BASE.

AND AS HE SEES IT, TRYING TO EXPAND IT.

CHRIS -- >> BUT I THINK IT REALLY AFFECTS THE OFFICE.

HE CONTINUES TO DO THIS.

HE CONTINUES TO OFFER OPINIONS TO STAY IN THE NEWS, TO RUN PROBABLY FOR GOVERNOR AT SOME POINT, WHICH IN TURN WILL WATER DOWN HIS OPINIONS OVER TIME.

THAT WILL DIMINISH THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SO I THINK IT DOES HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE OFFICE.

THAT IS UNFORTUNATE >> CHRIS, I WANT TO ASK YOU, THESE ARE THE ISSUES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS CONVERSATION THAT TODD ROKITA HAS ISSUED OPINIONS ON.

THOSE ARE SERIOUS DEBATES THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAD IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ABOUT THE CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IS TODD ROKITA OPINING ON THESE THINGS IN THE WAY HE HAS HELPING ANYBODY IN THOSE DEBATES?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN LAST SESSION TO SEE THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE BIGGEST FANS OF DIFFERENT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

SO, WHEN IT COMES TO HIM INPUTTING HIS OPINIONS INTO THESE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES, FOR ONE, LIKE IT OR LOVE IT, THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE IMAGE HE'S BEEN TRYING TO COME ACROSS.

NUMBER TWO, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT UNIQUE TO INDIANA, I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK JUST AS FAR AS MISSOURI, I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL OUT THERE THAT RECENTLY SUED A SCHOOL CORPORATION OVER SOME CURRICULUM THAT INVOLVES RACE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO AS LONG AS THERE IS A CONTINUES TO BE A NATIONAL TREND OF VARIOUS EXECUTVE OFFICERS KIND OF IMPLEMENTING THEIR OPINIONS INTO THESE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT TODD ROKITA ISN'T ONE TO PERHAPS BACK DOWN FROM IMPLEMENTING HIS OPINION AS WELL >> ELISE, I'LL WRAP UP WITH YOU, TO ASK, LIKE I SAID, WE EXPECT THESE ISSUES TO COME UP AT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AT THIS POINT, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT INDIANA REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SORTS OF ISSUES?

>> THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE PROBABLY IN THE SAME CAMP AS HIM.

IT COULD BE A WAY FOR THEM TO LEVERAGE THE AGENDA.

HE GETS TO KEEP OFFERING OPINIO OVER OPINION TO GET IN THE NEWS, TO BE DISCUSSED ON SHOWS LIKE THIS AS A TACTIC.

BUT IT WILL DIMINISH HIM, IT WILL DIMINISH THE OFFICE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S -- I THINK WE COULD ALL AGREE THAT IS NOT THE TYPE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HOOSIERS WANT TO SEE IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OR THE GOVERNOR OFFICE.

>> WELL, MANY SCHOOLS ACROSS INDIANA HAVE FINALIZED MAJOR TEACHER PAY RAISES IN RECENT WEEKS.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LINDSAY REPORTS, SOME SCHOOLS HAVE STRUGGLED TO STRIKE A DEAL, BUT MOST REACHED AGREEMENTS WITH THEIR EDUCATORS BEFORE THE STATE'S DEADLINE.

>> INDIANA LAWMAKERS EARMARKED FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR TEACHER PAY RAISES DURING THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

STATE LEADERS SAID THEY EXPECTED SCHOOLS TO FUNNEL THOSE DOLLARS TO TEACHERS AFTER PROTESTS ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY - AND THE PANDEMIC INCREASED THE WORKLOADS OF EDUCATORS EVERYWHERE.

DENNY COSTERISON IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS.

HE SAYS OVERALL, INDIANA SCHOOLS HAVE HELD UP THEIR END OF THE DEAL.

>> DENNY COSTERISON: WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF VERY LARGE PERCENTAGE INCREASES THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN FOR MANY MANY YEARS.

>> BUT IT HASN'T BEEN EASY FOR EVERYONE.

ACCORDING TO THE INDIANA EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS BOARD, 15 SCHOOL CORPORATIONS DIDN'T FINALIZE THEIR BARGAINING AGREEMENTS BY THE STATE'S DEADLINE.

>> JON SCHWANTES, REALISTICALLY, IS THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY DONE TALKING ABOUT TEACHER PAY FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE?

>> I THINK IT WOULD LIKE TO BE DONE WITH IT.

IT MAY THINK IT'S DONE WITH IT.

BUT AS I SAID A QUESTION OR TWO AGO, HEADLINES, TRENDS, BREAKING NEWS, DEVELOPMENTS HAVE A WAY OF OVERRIDING AGENDAS.

AND IF THE SITUATION IS QUIET, THEY CAN AVOID IT, IF IN FACT THERE IS A MORE CRITICAL TEACHER SHORTAGE, OR WE SEE SOME SORT OF EXODUS OF TEACHERS IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS, AND TEST SCORES ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF IT, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE HAVING TROUBLE.

IT WON'T BE OFF THE RADAR, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL BE BACK ON.

>> NIKI KELLY, BASICALLY THE SAME QUESTION, HOW MUCH WILL REPUBLICANS POINT TO THE STATE AND SAY WE'RE DONE FOR A WHILE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN CERTAINLY FOR THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET CYCLE.

YOU CAN'T GIVE A HUGE INFLUX OF DOLLARS, AND USE THAT MONEY FOR RAISES IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE IT.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE FEAR, RIGHT?

IS THAT THEN WE'LL DROP THEM BACK DOWN, AND WHAT DO SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO IF SUDDENLY THEY'RE GETTING LESS THAN THEY GOT THE YEAR BEFORE, HOW DO YOU CONTINUE THOSE RAISES, THOSE BECOME IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY CONSIDER A LONG-TERM TAX CUT.

>> FINALLY, A NUMBER OF HIGH PROFILE HEAD COACHING MOVES RECENTLY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL - INCLUDING NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY LEAVING FOR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, LSU.

HIS CONTRACT THERE IS 10 YEARS AND AT LEAST 95 MILLION DOLLARS, NOT INCLUDING INCENTIVES.

AND THAT'S AFTER THE LSU POSITION CAME OPEN IN PART VIA A 17 MILLION DOLLAR BUYOUT THE UNIVERSITY IS GIVING TO FORMER COACH ED ORGERON.

ELISE SHROCK, WHERE OH WHERE WILL THESE POOR UNIVERSITIES EVER FIND THE MONEY TO PAY THEIR PLAYERS?

>> IT'S GREAT TO SEE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO SEE MARCUS FREEMAN TAKE THE REINS OF THIS PROGRAM.

CRACK INTO THAT 4 BILLION SURPLUS.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> IS THIS A GOOD MOVE, CHRIS, FOR NOTRE DAME?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

BECAUSE WHAT PEOPLE ARE FORGETTING, THERE IS A DECENT CHANCE THEY MAKE THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS IF RESULTS GO THEIR WAY, IT IS GOING TO BE A HECK OF A DEBUT FOR THEIR NEW COACH, IF COMPETING IS FOR A PIECE OF SILVERWARE >> THAT IS SOMETHING.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ELISE SHROCK.

REPUBLICAN CHRIS MITCHEM.

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 PBLIC BROADCASTING.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, PLEASE GET VACCINATED IF YOU CAN.

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