♪♪ >> AN EYE-POPPING REVENUE >> AN EYE-POPPING REVENUE FORECAST.

ANOTHER HOURS-LONG HEARING ON HOUSE REPUBLICANS' VACCINE MANDATE BILL.

PLUS, CRIME BILLS AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 17TH, 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 IS SET TO COLLECT THREE BILLION MORE DOLLARS IN THE CURRENT BUDGET THAN STATE FISCAL LEADERS PLANNED FOR, ACCORDING TO A NEW REVENUE FORECAST UNVEILED THURSDAY.

YET HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS REMAIN AT AN IMPASSE OVER HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE NEW FORECAST PROJECTS INDIANA WILL END THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS WITH UNPRECEDENTED BUDGET RESERVES - FIVE-POINT-ONE BILLION AND FOUR BILLION DOLLARS, RESPECTIVELY.

>> HOUSE REPUBLICAN FISCAL LEADER TIM BROWN SAYS HIS CAUCUS WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH HARD IN THE 2022 SESSION FOR TAX CUTS.

>> REP. TIM BROWN (R-CRAWFORDSVILLE): THIS REVENUE FORECAST, I THINK, SUPPORTS OUR POSITION.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOW CITIZENS HAVE WORKED HARD AND DESERVE A BREAK.

>> SENATE GOP FISCAL LEADER RYAN MISHLER, HOWEVER, PREACHES CAUTION.

HE NOTES THAT LAWMAKERS ALREADY CREATED PROVISIONS IN STATE LAW THAT WILL LIKELY SEND TWO AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS TO PAY DOWN A TEACHER PENSION FUND NEXT YEAR AND POTENTIALLY TRIGGER ANOTHER AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND IN 2023.

>> SEN. RYAN MISHLER (R-BREMEN): SO, I THINK WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION AND COME NEXT DECEMBER, WHEN WE HAVE THE NEXT FORECAST AND WE'RE PUTTING OUR NEXT BUDGET TOGETHER, YOU MIGHT SEE SOME MORE PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN DO.

>> NEITHER MISHLER NOR BROWN ANTICIPATE THE STATE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS IN THE 2022 SESSION WHICH IS WHAT STATEHOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR - INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR HEALTH CARE, TEACHER PAY AND STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

>> CAN SENATE REPUBLICANS HOLD OFF THE HOUSE GOP'S PUSH FOR TAX CUTS IN 2022?

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

DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

AND NIKI KELLY, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH.

ANN DELANEY, CAN SENATE REPUBLICANS AFFORD TO PREACH CAUTION WITH A PROJECTED $5.1 BILLION IN THE BANK?

AT THE END OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR?

>> YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SUPERMAJORITIES IN BOTH -- THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THE HECK THEY WANT TO DO, FRANKLY.

I JUST WISH THAT WEREN'T A ONE-TRICK PONY.

IT IS HOLD THE MONEY OR TAX CUTS.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE UNHEALTHIEST POPULATIONS IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF OBESITY AND DIABETES.

WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

OUR CITY STREETS ARE A DISGRACE, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

HIGHER EDUCATION IS TOO EXPENSIVE, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

AND WE'RE STILL NOT PAYING OUR TEACHERS ENOUGH TO LURE PEOPLE INTO TEACHING, PARTICULARLY IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.

AND WHAT ABOUT PRESCHOOL?

THERE IS SO MANY WAYS WE COULD INVEST IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE HAVE A WINDFALL LIKE THIS.

AND INSTEAD THEY FREEZE.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE FRANKLY THEY'RE DEVOID OF IDEAS.

WHEN A RECESSION COMES, GOD FORBID THEY SHOULD RAISE TAXES, NO, NO, NO.

YOU JUST CUT OUT THE PROGRAMS THAT HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY RECESSIONS.

IT IS DISHEARTENING TO SEE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY WHICH COULD DO SO MUCH GOOD FOR THE FUTURE, AND MAKE THIS SUCH A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYBODY, AND THEY WON'T DO IT >> MIKE O'BRIEN, IT SEEMS LIKE REPUBLICANS AT THE STATEHOUSE AND THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW ARE PROPOSING TWO IDEAS FOR 2022 WITH ALL OF THIS MONEY.

PERMANENT TAX CUTS, OR PAYING DOWN DEBT IN THE SHORT-TERM.

ARE THOSE REALLY THE ONLY OPTIONS?

>> NO, THEY'RE NOT.

I THINK WHAT YOU SAW AT THE END OF THE LAST SESSION WAS A WILLINGNESS FOR STATEHOUSE REPUBLICANS TO SPEND WHAT WAS THE LAST WINDFALL THAT WE HAD, NOT ALL OF IT, BECAUSE IT'S STILL INDIANA AND WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE CAUTIOUS AND NOT SET OURSELVES UP FOR FAILURE IF THESE REVENUES DON'T MATERIALIZE, IF INFLATION DOESN'T LAST AS LONG AS THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS IT IS ESTIMATED TO LAST.

WHICH IS OF COURSE A BENEFIT TO THE GOVERNMENT, WHEN PRICES ARE HIGHER, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN TAX REVENUE.

INFLATION IS A SHORTER RUN THAN WHAT'S BEING ANTICIPATED.

SOME OF THESE REVENUES MAY NOT TOTALLY BE REALIZED.

THIS IDEA THEY'RE SITTING ON A PILE OF MONEY IS UNTRUE.

THEY ONLY HAD A WEEK TO DO IT ONCE THE REVENUE FORECAST CAME OUT IN APRIL TO SPEND ABOUT $1.9 BILLION, A PORTION OF THAT NEW REVENUE, AND THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY, WENT TO K-12.

ALL WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS RENEGOTIATING CONTRACTS WITH TEACHERS TO PAY THEM MORE.

NOW, TO HIT THAT BASELINE, $45,000 MINIMUM SALARY FOR TEACHERS STATE-WIDE.

THEY'RE DOING ALL THOSE THINGS.

PUT ANOTHER $3 BILLION IN THE MIX, YOU MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO AREN'T REALLY -- THEIR ONLY DISAGREEMENT IS ON TIMING AND MAKING SURE THERE IS SOME RELIABILITY ON THESE REVENUES, IT IS NOT THAT THEY'RE HAVING SOME FUNDAMENTAL IDEOLOGICAL DISAGREEMENT ON WHETHER OR NOT TO REDUCE TAXES, ALTER THE TAX -- JUST A MATTER OF PRUDENCE AD TIMING.

IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MORE MONEY, AT WHAT POINT ARE WE REASONABLY SURE -- INCREDIBLE, INSANE INCREASE IN TAX REVENUE IS SUSTAINABLE >> JON SCHWANTES, TO THAT POINT ABOUT TIMING.

MIKE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

SENATE REPUBLICANS AREN'T SAYING WE'LL NEVER CUT TAXES, LET'S HOLD OFF UNTIL THE 2023 SESSION, AND HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF LONG-TERM REVENUES TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

BUT WITH ALL THIS MONEY PROJECTED TO COME IN, AND WITH HALF OF THE SENATE UP FOR REELECTION IN -- NEXT YEAR, CAN THEY AFFORD TO HOLD OFF WHEN IT COMES TO THE VOTERS?

>> YOU KNOW, THE ELECTION ISSUE IS A VERY POTENT AND REAL FACTOR IN THIS, BRANDON, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND THAT MIGHT PUSH SOME LAWMAKERS WHO ARE UP FOR REELECTION TO GO WITH SOME SORT OF TAX INCREASE WHEN IN FACT THEY MIGHT USUALLY WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BUDGET IS WRITTEN.

BUT IT'S -- CAUTION DOESN'T SEEM TO REIGN SUPREME AT THIS POINT.

ALTHOUGH FORECASTS CAN BE WRONG.

A FEW WEEKS AGO ON THE SHOW I POINTED OUT THAT THE STATE BUDGET COMMITTEE BACK IN SUMMER OF 2020 PROJECTED A $3 BILLION DEFICIT FOR THE BIENNIUM AT THAT POINT.

SO $3 BILLION DEFICIT, NOW WE HAVE A PROJECTION OF A $3 BILLION WINDFALL.

THAT'S A PRETTY BIG PENDULUM SWING, PANDEMIC NOTWITHSTANDING, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH SORT OF THE MACHINATIONS OF THAT AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS AND HOW IT WILL PLAY OUT.

SO THERE WILL BE VOICES OF CAUTION, BUT I THINK BECAUSE OF THE ELECTORAL FORCES THAT YOU DESCRIBE, THAT PROBABLY TIPS THE SCALE TOWARD DOING SOMETHING IN THE COMING SESSION.

>> YEAH, BUT NOTHING -- THEY WON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON THIS BEFORE THE PRIME -- WELL, THEY WILL BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

THAT'S THE ONLY THREAT TO THEM.

THAT'S THE ONLY THREAT TO THEM >> NIKI KELLY, WHEN WE TALK TO SENATOR MISHLER AND DR. BROWN YESTERDAY, THEY SEEMED TO RULE OUT ONE-TIME SPENDING.

MIKE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE END OF LAST SESSION, THERE WAS A LOT OF ONE-TIME SPENDING, THINGS FOR IN FISCAL YEAR, WITH NEXT FLEESHGS WITH ALL OF THAT CASH THAT THEY SUDDENLY FOUND THEMSELVES WITH.

WE FIND OURSELVES WITH EVEN MORE CASH AND THEY'RE RULING OUT ONE-TIME SPENDING IN THE OTTAWA 2002 SESSION.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE HOW IT PLAYS OUT?

>> PROBABLY.

BECAUSE WHILE THERE IS SORT OF A LITTLE DISPUTE ABOUT WHAT COUNTS AS OPENING UP THE BUDGET, THEY BOTH AGREE THAT IN THE APPROPRIATION IS OPENING UP THE BUDGET.

THEY DON'T AGREE WITH WHETHER HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND DR. BROWN SAID, YOU KNOW, IF WE CUT TAXES, THAT IS JUST DECREASING REVENUE.

THAT'S NOT -- THE BUDGET.

BUT SENATOR MISHLER HAD A DIFFERENT VIEW ON THAT.

THEY COULD DO BOTH -- MEANWHILE DEMOCRATS ARE LIKE, HEY, WHY AREN'T WE DOING SOME ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS OR LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS.

OE EXAMPLE, ANN MENTIONED EARLY CHILDHOOD, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A FULLY FUNDED PRE-K PROGRAM.

AND IN THIS SITUATION NOW WITH A LOT OF CHILDCARE ISSUES, THAT COULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE WAY TO GET A HEALTHY ECONOMY, TOO.

>> EXACTLY.

>> 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: I SUPPOSE WE SHUT -- SHOULD PUT TO STATE LAWMAKERS.

SHOULD STATE LAWMAKERS FOCUS BIG REVENUE INCREASES ON CUTTING TAXES OR SPENDING ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS?

A, CUTTING TAXES, OR B, PROGRAMS.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: SHOULD THE STATE REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LOCAL INCOME TAX REVENUE IT KEEPS IN RESERVE, IN CASE OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS?

JUST 5 3% SAY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE POLL.

LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK TOOK HOURS OF TESTIMONY - AGAIN - ON A BILL THAT WOULD WEAKEN EMPLOYER VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JUSTIN HICKS REPORTS MOST WERE UNHAPPY IT DOESN'T BAN COMPANY MANDATES, WHILE BUSINESS GROUPS SAY IT GOES TOO FAR IN REGULATING EMPLOYERS.

>> HOUSE BILL 1001 WOULD ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO REQUIRE VACCINATIONS, BUT FORCE THEM TO MAKE EXCEPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO RECOVERED FROM COVID-19 IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS ALONG WITH STANDARD MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS.

IT ALSO ALLOWS EMPLOYEES TO OPT OUT FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS WITH “NO FURTHER INQUIRY” FROM THE BUSINESS.

>> MANY CITIZENS WHO TESTIFIED SAID IF IT DOESN'T BAN VACCINE REQUIREMENTS, THEY DON'T WANT IT.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, KEVIN BRINEGAR FROM THE INDIANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS IT PREVENTS BUSINESSES FROM PROTECTING THEIR WORKERS.

>> KEVIN BRINEGAR: EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH WHAT THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS ARE AND THEIR WORK RULES INCLUDING VACCINATION MANDATES.

>> LAWMAKERS DON'T PLAN TO VOTE ON THE LEGISLATION NOW, BUT HAVE PROMISED TO REVISE AND ADVANCE IT IN JANUARY.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, IS THIS RESERVE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE TAKE ABOUT A DEBATE AT THE STATE HOUSE, AND BOTH SIDES ARE UNHAPPY, MEANS THE BILL IS IN A GOOD SPOT IN TERMS OF COMPROMISE.

IS THAT THE CASE WITH THIS BILL?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS HAPPY WITH ANY OF THIS.

I WILL SAY, THE WAY THIS BILL WAS CRAFTED REFLECTED VERY CLOSELY WHAT THE BALL STATE UNIVERSITY POLL THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK, THAT YOU'RE JUST PAYING ATTENTION TO DEBATE, THREE BUCKETS OF PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THE EMPLOYER MANDATE, ABOUT 30% IN THAT POLL.

40% JUST WANTED EMPLOYERS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR EMPLOYEES, OR PROVIDE SOME KIND OF NON-BINDING INCENTIVE TO DO THIS.

AND 28% OUT OF IT COMPLETELY.

SO, THERE ARE -- THE STATE'S REALLY KIND OF DIVIDED IN THIRDS HERE.

THE PROBLEM YOU'VE GOT WITH EMPLOYERS -- I TALK TO EMPLOYERS ALL THE TIME, CLIENTS -- THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- A REAL CHALLENGE TO FIGURE OUT IF THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE THIS -- MAYBE IF IT IS EVEN ALLOWED TO IN A FEDERAL MANDATE, STILL HUNG UP IN THE COURTS AS WE ALL PREDICTED IT WOULD BE WHEN IT CAME OUT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS ARE REALLY KIND OF LEFT IN A LURCH HERE.

I THINK WHAT THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO DO IS GIVE FLEXIBILITY TO EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES AND TRY TO BALANCE THAT OUT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOOSIERS ARE LANDING ON THIS >> ANN, HOW MUCH IS -- YOU JUST -- WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE LAST TOPIC.

WITH THIS ONE, PARTICULARLY FROM HOUSE REPUBLICANS, THE COURT OF NOT JUST THE PUSH WE'RE SEEING FROM THEM, BUT ABOUT THE SPEED WITH WHICH THEY WANT TO DO THIS.

HOW MUCH ARE THE WORRY THAT THEY HAVE ABOUT PRIMARIES PLAYING INTO WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND-THE-SCENES?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S PLAYING IN HERE.

I MEAN, THE SUBJECT OF THESE HEARINGS IS EVEN ALL WRONG.

WE OUGHT TO BE HAVING HEARINGS ON HOW TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED DAILY BY THIS VIRUS, OR HOW TO HELP THE HOSPITAL WORKERS WHO ARE OVERWHELMED AND THE BEDS THAT ARE COMPLETELY FULL IN THESE HOSPITALS.

INSTEAD WE'RE DOING THIS NONSENSE AND WE'RE DOING THIS NONSENSE BECAUSE OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, BECAUSE OF THE RIGHT WING PART OF THEIR PARTY THAT THINKS THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO INFECT EVERYBODY, AND NOBODY SHOULD INTERFERE WITH THAT.

AND IT'S WASTING TIME AND ENERGY.

COULD MORE PROPERLY BE PUT INTO TRYING TO SAVE LIVES.

WE'RE LOSING TWO DOZEN PEOPLE A DAY.

BLOOMINGTON HOSPITAL JUST OPENED JUST OPENED, IT IS NOT ONLY COMPLETELY FULL, THEY'RE REPOSITIONING BED IN AREAS THAT THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING TO HAVE BEDS.

AND ALL THE COST OF THIS REACTION FROM THE RIGHT WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND IT JUST IS -- IT'S -- THE DYNAMIC OF THIS IS COMPLETELY WRONG.

AND IT IS COUNTER PRODUCTIVE TO KEEPING HOOSIERS SAFE.

BUT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THE LEGISLATURE HAS WEIGHED IN AGAINST EMPLOYERS.

AND THEIR RIGHTS TO ENFORCE THE WORKPLACE.

REMEMBER, THEY DID IT WITH GUNS.

THEY SAID YOU CAN BRING YOUR GUN INTO THE PARKING LOT OF AN EMPLOYER'S PLACE OF BUSINESS.

I MEAN, NEXT THING THEY'LL SAY YOU CAN'T TEST FOR DRUGS IN THE WORKPLACE.

I MEAN, THEY OUGHT TO JUST STAY OUT OF THAT THE SAME WAY THEY OUT TO -- >> I THINK THAT'S A A DEMOCRATIC PARTY LINE.

LOOK, IF YOU BELIEVE THE POLLING OUT OF BALL STATE, WHICH I THINK IT FEELS RIGHT IN MY GUT, THIS ISN'T A RIGHT WING REPUBLICAN ARGUMENT.

UNLESS 70% OF THE RIGHT -- >> IT IS A RIGHT WING REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT REDISTRICTING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NICK -- OKAY, OKAY.

NIKI, I WANT TO ASK YOU, WE SAW KROGER THIS WEEK ANNOUNCE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE CHARGING ITS UNVACCINATED EMPLOYEES MORE FOR HEALTHCARE, CUTTING SOME OF THEIR SICK TIME THEY WERE ALLOWED FOR COVID-19 IF THEY'RE UNVACCINATED.

THEY DON'T HAVE A VACCINE MANDATE, I DON'T BELIEVE.

BUT IS THAT THE NEXT THING THAT LAWMAKERS TAKE AIM AT AFTER THIS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO TESTIFIED ON THE BILL, THEY WANT SOME SORT OF -- THEY WANT UNVACCINATED TO BE A PROTECTED CLASS.

NUMEROUS -- >> [LAUGHTER].

>> SAYING THEY SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR NOT GETTING THE VACCINE.

SO I DON'T THINK LAWMAKERS WILL GO THERE.

I ALMOST WONDER IF REPUBLICANS ARE REGRETTING THE DECISION TO JUMP INTO THIS.

BECAUSE EVEN CONSERVATIVES WHO WOULD NORMALLY SUPPORT THEM, MAN, THE VITRIOL THAT WAS GOING, REPUBLICANS, WAS PRETTY AMAZING, BECAUSE THIS BILL, IN ESSENCE HELPS WHAT THOSE PEOPLE WANT, BUT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GO 100% THEIR WAY, WOW, COMPROMISE IS NOT IN THEIR VOCABULARY.

>> -- THAT OPPOSE WHAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE DOING IS THE SLIPPERY SLOPE ARGUMENT, IF YOU'RE STOPPING BUSINESSES FROM DOING THIS NOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO STOP THEM FROM DOING NEXT, ANN ALLUDED TO THAT A MINUTE AGO, I DON'T USUALLY BOOT SLIPPERY SLOPE ARGUMENT, IS THERE A POINT TO THAT HERE?

>> CERTAINLY, THAT'S WHAT LARGE BUSINESS OWNERS WOULD SAY THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT THE CHAMBER -- STATE CHAMBER HAS INDICATED, AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, IT WOULD BE HARD TO ARGUE AGAINST THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS A STATE WHERE TRADITIONALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEGISLATIVE RECORD, YOU HAVE LAWMAKERS WHO FOR THE MOST PART HAVE BEEN VERY RELUCTANT TO WADE INTO THE BUSINESS AFFAIRS, AS THEY PERCEIVE IT OF THE STATE'S EMPLOYERS.

AND THIS DOES WADE INTO THE BUSINESS AFFAIRS OF THE STATE'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS.

AND TO YOUR POINT, I'M NOT SURE THE NEXT TIME SOMETHING COMES UP THAT IS PERCEIVED TO BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO A VERY POWERFUL FACTION OF THE PARTY, MAYBE IT IS MORE THAN A FACTION, A BIG CHUNK OF THE PARTY.

>> IT'S THE PARTY.

>> WILL THEN IN FACT, IT WILL BE HARD TO ARGUE THAT PRECEDENT DOESN'T SUGGEST THAT WE COULD DO IT AGAIN AS A STATE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, A GROUP OF REPUBLICAN SENATORS FROM MARION COUNTY UNVEILED A PACKAGE OF BILLS THIS WEEK THAT SEEKS TO ADDRESS WHAT THEY VIEW AS A WORRYING TREND OF VIOLENT CRIMES.

THE NUMBER OF VIOLENT CRIMES IN MARION COUNTY HAS GONE DOWN EACH OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

>> THE MEASURES INCLUDE GREATER COOPERATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS, A PILOT PROGRAM TO TARGET MONEY TOWARDS SO-CALLED VIOLENT CRIME HOTSPOTS AND GREATER OVERSIGHT OF ELECTRONIC MONITORING.

SENATOR MIKE YOUNG SAYS THE BILLS TARGET THOSE CHARGED WITH THE STATE'S LIST OF 21 VIOLENT CRIMES, WHICH INCLUDES BATTERY, KIDNAPPING, RAPE AND BURGLARY.

>> SEN. MIKE YOUNG (R-INDIANAPOLIS): WE KNOW THE ODDS ARE, IF YOU'RE A SERIOUS VIOLENT FELON, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE THE ONE THAT KILLED SOMEBODY.

>> YOUNG'S MEASURE WOULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES TO BE RELEASED ON BAIL.

THAT INCLUDES MAKING THEM PAY THE FULL MINIMUM BAIL AMOUNT IN CASH.

HE INSISTS THAT WON'T UNFAIRLY PUNISH LOW-INCOME HOOSIERS.

>> SEN. MIKE YOUNG (R-INDIANAPOLIS): THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MILLIONAIRES THAT I KNOW THAT ARE GOING AROUND KILLING CITIZENS OF INDIANAPOLIS TODAY.

>> THE MEASURES WILL LIKELY GET A HEARING IN THE SENATE IN EARLY JANUARY.

>> JON SCHWANTES, ARE THESE SORTS OF BILLS THE ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEMS REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE TALKING ABOUT?

>> I'M NOT SURE ANYONE SADLY KNOWS THE ANSWERS TO DEALING WITH THE KINDS OF CRIME SPIKES, VIOLENT CRIME SPIKES WE'VE SEEN.

A LOT OF THESE TYPES OF MEASURES HAVE BEEN TRIED HERE, HAVE BEEN TRIED ELSEWHERE.

WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS.

I THINK SADLY THE CRIME ISSUE IS BIGGER THAN ANY SET OF BILLS SHORT OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SOMEHOW SUSPEND HABEAS CORPUS AND JUST TAKE HALF, ANYBODY WHO IS SUSPECTED OF A CRIME PUT THEM BEHIND BARS AND THROW AWAY THE KEY.

I HOPE I'M NOT GIVING ANY LAWMAKERS IDEAS FOR FUTURE BILLS THEY MIGHT WANT TO INTRODUCE.

AS LONG AS THEY STAY WITHIN THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON US, THANKFULLY.

BY THE CONSTITUTION, AND YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL REALITIES OF LARGE SCALE INCARCERATION, WHICH IS NOT SUSTAINABLE, YOU'RE REALLY, I THINK, WE'RE -- THAT WE KNOW THE PROBLEM, AND IT'S EASY TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM.

COMING UP WITH THAT ANSWER AND THE SOLUTION IS CERTAINLY A LOT TOUGHER.

BUT IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT LAWMAKERS FACE WITH THIS KIND OF CONCERN IN THEIR HOME DISTRICTS WOULD LOOK FOR SOME SORT OF ANSWERS TO HELP COMBAT THE PROBLEM >> MIKE O'BRIEN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN INDIANA JAILS WHO ARE ALREADY LOCKED UP AWAITING TRIAL.

IN FACT, IN A LOT OF JAILS IT'S THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.

AND A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THIS STATE WHO END UP CONVICTED OF CRIMES SERVED MORE TIME AWAITING TRIAL BEHIND BARS THAN THEY END UP GETTING FOR THEIR SENTENCE FOR THAT CRIME.

ARE THESE BILLS REALLY GOING TO HELP THE JUSTICE PROBLEM WE HAVE IN INDIANA?

>> I THINK IN SOME CASES.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET AHEAD OF IT.

MIKE CITER'S BILL.

I THINK IT IS INSTRUCTIVE, AND IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OF THE -- INSTEAD OF THOSE ONE THROUGH TEN AND HOUSE BILLS 1001 THROUGH 1009 ARE THE CAUCUS PRIORITIES, FIVE OF THE TOP TEN SENATE REPUBLICAN BILLS ARE FOCUSED ON CRIME IN MARIAN COUNTY.

SO THAT TELLS YOU, THAT'S THE ENTIRE CAUCUS STATE-WIDE, THAT TELLS YOU, ONE, IT IS GOOD THERE IS A RECOGNITION THAT A SAFE INDIANAPOLIS IS GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, THE CAUCUS TAKING THIS ON AS FLAIR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2022.

I THINK THE BAIL QUESTION IS A COMPLICATED ONE.

THERE ARE BILLS IN HERE THAT ARE TRYING TO FOR EXAMPLE -- WALKER'S LEGISLATION TO TIGHTEN UP ELECTRONIC MONITORING SO YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE IN JAIL AWAITING TRIAL.

MIKE CRIDER'S LEGISLATION TO TRY TO FOCUS MORE STATE RESOURCES IN PARTS OF THE CITY THAT ARE HIGH CRIME, SO OVER TIME CAN BE SUBSIDIZED, SO ADDITIONAL DOLLARS CAN BE SPENT HERE.

I THINK THERE ARE REALLY GOOD KIND OF COMMON SENSE WAYS FOR THE -- A BILL TO COORDINATE STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES, STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMET, ESECIALLY IN MARIAN COUNTY WHERE YOU HAVE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE -- A LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE THE STATE POLICE AND IMPD AND THE SHERIFF WORKING HAND IN HAND.

THERE IS A LOT OF COMMON SENSE PROVISIONS OUT THERE >> ANN DeLANEY, I'M GOING TO GUESS YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THESE BILLS.

TO MIKE'S POINT, ARE SOME OF THESE SMART SOLUTIONS THAT MAY EVEN END UP WITH DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE IN THERE THAT COULD HAVE DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT, SOME ARE SMART, THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING, FOR EXAMPLE.

HAVING SAID THAT, VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN, THE PROBLEM IS MURDER.

AND MURDERS IN LARGE PART ARE COMMITTED WITH GUNS.

AND WHAT DO THE REPUBLICAN PARTIES STAND FOR, EVERYBODY NEEDS AT LEAST ONE GUN, MAYBE TWO OR THREE.

THEY'RE JUST GOING TO START ISSUING THEM IN THE CRADLE THEY WANT THEM OUT THERE SO MUCH, YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO LICENSE THEM.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM, WE HAVE MORE GUNS IN THIS COUNTRY THAN WE HAVE PEOPLE.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE THEM IN THE HAND OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VOLATILE OR GET ANGRY, YOU GET -- WHEN YOU GET -- THE MURDER RATES GO OCCUPY.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH.

THE VIOLENT -- THE BURGLARIES ARE DECREASING, IT'S THE MURDER RATE THAT HAS PEOPLE CONCERNED.

AND TO DO THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH GUNS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WAY OF KEEPING GUNS OUT OF THE HAND OF FELONS, AND DOING BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND MAKING SURE THEY CAN'T BUY THEM ILLEGALLY.

THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO >> MAYBE RED FLAG THOSE COMPLAINTS.

>> THEY'RE OKAY.

>> THERE WAS A REPORT THIS WEEK THERE WERE 14 DIRECTS, DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE FROM RED FLAG NOT BEING FILED.

>> MICHAEL, THEY'RE FOR A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THEM.

AND LEGISLATION NEEDS TO BE TIGHTENED UP, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK EFFECTIVELY.

OKAY, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

>> THAT'S NOT THE REASON TO IGNORE IT ENTIRELY.

>> NOBODY'S IGNORING IT ENTIRELY.

OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

STATE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT ALL 17 REGIONAL PROPOSALS WERE AWARDED FUNDS UNDER THE STATE'S NEW 500-MILLION-DOLLAR READI GRANT PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ATTRACT AND RETAIN WORKERS.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN HAD BEEN TO AWARD 10 REGIONS 50 MILLION DOLLARS EACH.

INSTEAD, EVERY REGION RECEIVED AWARDS RANGING FROM FIVE TO 50 MILLION.

>> THE STATE INITIATIVE AIMS TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL DEVELOP COMMUNITIES WITH QUALITY OF LIFE IN MIND.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS READI WILL HAVE LONG-TERM IMPACTS.

>> GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: THERE WAS SOME UNPRECEDENTED RELATIONSHIPS THAT WERE BUILT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

AND THAT THAT IS GOING TO SERVE US WELL, NOT JUST OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR TO THREE YEARS.

BUT REALLY, OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE.

>> HOLCOMB SAYS HE'S HOPING TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE FUTURE.

>> NIKI KELLY, IS THERE HOPE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE FUTURE?

>> I WOULD SAY SO.

MAYBE NOT IN THE $500 MILLION RANGE.

BUT THEY COULD PROBABLY -- THE WAY THEY'RE LEVERAGING THE DOLLARS.

PUSHING HOLCOMB TO STAY ON THE SIDELINES ON THIS TAX CUT SO FAR.

ANYTHING THEY CUT NOW KIND OF TAKES AWAY THE FLEXIBILITY IN THE NEXT BUDGET FOR A READI TOO, FOR INSTANCE PUBLIC HEALTH INVESTMENTS IF HE REALLY WANTS TO MAKE NEXT YEAR BASED ON A PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION THAT HE -- NOW >> MIKE O'BRIEN, VERY QUICKLY, WE'VE SEEN REGIONAL CITIES BEFORE, HOPE TO GET MORE FUNDING, NEVER DID, NOW WE HAVE READI, IS THIS THE ONE THAT MIGHT BE MORE SUSTAINABLE IN THE FUTURE?

>> HOPE SO.

THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROJECTS, AND THE 17 COMMUNITIES, ARE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WERE AWARDED ARE GOING TO -- AS LONG AS THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL, THIS OUGHT TO CONTINUE FOR A LONG TIME.

WE SAW REALLY CREATIVE PARTNERS THROUGH THE STATE, COUNTIES, TOWNS, AND OTHERS TO COME TOGETHER.

SO IT IS PRETTY EXCITING.

THEY WERE ABLE TO FUND THEM ALL.

MONDAY, YOU CAN STREAM IT OR GET IT ON DEMAND FROM XFINITY AND THE WFYI APP, I'M BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, GET VACCINATED IF YOU CAN, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW AND JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATION, AND ICE MILLER, ICE PM 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