Jennifer McCormick launches a gubernatorial bid.

The final version of the anti-ESG bill.

Plus, no 13th check and more.

From the television studios at WFYI, it's Indiana Week in Review for the week ending May 5, 2023.

INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS.

This week, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick launched a bid for governor.

McCormick, who served in office as a Republican, is running as a Democrat.

McCormick, who's been touring the state for months, says she's running because she believes Hoosiers are "ready for change."

JENNIFER McCORMICK: EVERYWHERE I VISIT, NO MATTER WHERE I GO, ONE THING IS CLEAR: HOOSIERS DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE OUT-OF-TOUCH DIVISIVENESS COMING OUT OF THE STATEHOUSE.

McCormick cited strengthening public education, pausing the state gas tax and reducing health care costs as key tenets of her platform.

Even if she wins, she'd almost certainly have to work with large Republican majorities in the legislature.

McCormick says she's realistic about that.

JENNIFER McCORMICK: BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR COMMITTEES AND FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND FOR THAT PLATFORM TO REALLY REPRESENT HOOSIERS.

A Democrat hasn't won the race for governor in more than two decades.

Is McCormick the best candidate for Indiana Democrats?

It's the first question for our Indiana Week in Review panel Democrat Ann DeLaney, Republican Chris Mitchem, Jon Schwantes, host of Indiana Lawmakers and Niki Kelly, editor-in-chief of the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

I'm Indiana Public Broadcasting Statehouse Bureau Chief Brandon Smith Chris Mitchem, is this budget balanced between public and >>> SHE'S THE ONLY RIGHT NOW BUT I THINK EVEN COME THIS TIME NEXT YEAR SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE, I THINK SHE HAS A GOOD SHOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE NAME IRKD.

I THINK OUTSIDE THE TYPICAL CANDIDATES YOU SEE RUN ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE FOR HIGHER END SPOTS SHE HAS THE BEST ONE BECAUSE SHE CAN LITERALLY GO TO THEE COUNTIES CAN TALK TO REPUBLICANS AND MODERATES AND SAY YOU HAVE VOTED FOR ME BEFORE, IN FACT YOU ELECTED ME TO FEED THE LOUISIANA SITTING BREAK STATEWIDE OFFICIAL THIS STATE HAS HAD.

I THINKS THAT A UNIQUE ADVANTAGE AND SHE CAN USE WHEN SHE'S ON THE SCALE AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD CHANCE FOR THE DEMOCRAT PARTY OF INDIANA TO KIND OF REDREAM THEMSELVES BECAUSE FROM THE LAST TIME THAT A MODERATE HAS RUN FOR A STATEWIDE OFFICE IT DIDN'T GO SO WELL, AND THINK THEY KIND OF SAW THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF AN EFFICIENT AND COHESIVE PUSH TO SUPPORT HIM.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD CHANCE FOR HIM TO LEARN FROM THAT, GET BEHIND McCORMICK AND GET A COHESIVE PUSH GOING FORWARD.

>> I WANT DO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT IDEA OF SHE WAS A REPUBLICAN WHEN SHE SERVED AT STATE SUPERINTENDENT, NOW SHE'S A DEMOCRAT, SOME WOULD ARGUE SHE WAS LARGELY A DEMOCRAT WHEN SHE WAS SUPERINTENDENT, BUT CAN THAT BE A PROBLEM?

>> I DON'T THINK, I THINK THAT SHOWS THE FACTS SHE DID SWITCH PARTIES SHOWS SHE SUPPORTS EDUCATION, WHICH IS WHERE 93 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS IN STATE ARE, IN PUBLIC EGG EDUCATION AND SHE NEEDED TO BE A DEMOCRAT, SHE CAN'T BE A REPUBLICAN BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE DECIMATED FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, THEY'VE TAKEN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT SHOULD GO INTO EDUCATING OUR KIDS AND PUTTING IT IN THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR THEIR OWN PRIVATE EDUCATION.

SHE IS GOING TO BE A TERRIFIC ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT JOBS THE GOVERNOR HAS.

SO I THINK XI GOING TO BE AN EXCELLENT CANCEL DATE AND THE FACT SHE'S FEMALE IS A HUGE PLUS AND SHE CAN SPEAK AND DO ALL THESE THINGS, BUT REACH OUT TO THE EXTENT THERE ARE MODERATE REPUBLICANS AND I THINK THERE ARE A FEW OF THEM OUT THERE, VERY FEW BUT THERE ARE SOME BUT MORE ENDS.

SHE WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE WAY HER PARTY WAS DEALING WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION SO SHE CHANGED.

SO THINK THAT SHE IS -- WITHOUT HAVING AN EYE NEXT TO HER NAME SHE IS AS CLOSE TO UNAIMED AS YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

>> IS SHE SOMETHING THE DEMOCRATS HAVE OBVIOUSLY STRUGGLED IN INDIANA FOR PRETTY OBVIOUS REASONS IS A LACK OF RESOURCES.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS GOING TO -- SHE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS, SHE KNOWS THAT WHATEVER RAIN SHOWERS SHE HAS LEISURE LARGELY BE SMALL DONATIONS.

YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SEE A LOT OF NATIONAL GROUPS SPENDING BIG ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE HERE, MAYBE THE SENATE RACE BUT NOT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

IS SHE A CANDIDATE WHO CAN EXCITE PEOPLE AND PARTICULARLY THE DEMOCRATIC BASE TO DONATE TO HER CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THE EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE KIND OF AUTOMATICALLY ON HER SIDE CAN THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

MY ONLY CONCERN ON THE ISSUE ABOUT YOU KNOW REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, WHATEVER IS THE REPUBLICANS I TALK TO, THEY TAKE IT PERSONALLY AND I'M WORRIED THAT IT'S GOING TO IN SPIRE THEM TO WORK AGAINST HER HARD.

THEY'RE LIKE REALLY PEEVED THAT SHE LEFT AND IS NOW CALLING THEM OUT KIND OF THING, SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT ONE GOES.

>> THOSE FOLKS, THEY WERE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SUPPORT HER NO MATTER WHAT, SO IS THAT GOING TO -- >> NO, IT'S JUST ABOUT ENERGY, ENERGY OF THE BASE AND I DO THINK IT'S HELPFUL IF SHE STAYS DEMOCRAT, WHETHER THE REPUBLICAN FIGHT OUT A ROUGH PRIMARY THEY CAN SPEND A LOT OF THEIR RESOURCES THERE WHICH CAN HELP HER.

>> ALL THAT BEING SAID IS SHE STILL A MASSIVE UNDERDOG BECAUSE OF THE POLITICS OF THE STATE?

>> UNTIL THEY'VE REDONE THE BOUNDARIES, YES THIS IS INDIANA AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF LUCK WITH DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THERE IS IS CYCLE TO THESE THINGS AND GENERALLY SPEAKING BACK TO THE DAYS OF EVAN BYE WHEN SHE WAS THE MASTER MIND OF THAT CAMPAIGN, GOES ABOUT 20, 24 YEARS AND THEN WE HAVE A CHANGE IS.

>> THAT'S WHAT MITCH DAN YES, MA'AMS -- >> YES, HOOSIERS HAVE A LOT OF HOSPITALITY BUT MAYBE AFTER 24 YEARS THEY GET IT OF THE GUEST SO THAT'S ONE CONSIDERATION.

I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD HOLD THAT AGAINST HER WOULD HOLD THAT AGAINST HER ANYWAY.

I THINK SHE HAS A FEW CONNECTIONS, PEOPLE WHO DID ALIGN WITH HER FILL FILL PHILOSOPHICALLY WHO MIGHT STICK WITH HER, I MEAN DONALD TRUMP USED TO BE A DEMOCRAT, SO PEOPLE DO TEND TO CHANGE AND I'M NOT SURE PEOPLE HOLD THAT AGAINST THEM.

BUT KEEP IN MIND SHE IS A KNOWN COMMODITY BECAUSE OF HER WORK IN EDUCATION AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT SHE'S BEEN RUNNING FOR FOUR YEARS.

THINK BANG WHEN SHE AND SENATOR EDDY MELTON WERE GOING AROUND THE STATE WITH A LISTENING TOUR WHEN EDDY MELTON WAS THINKING SHE WOULD RUN FOR GOVERNOR, SHE WOULD BE THE RUNNING METAL AND HE WON AN ELECTION THIS YEAR, PROBABLY BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF GARY INDIANA, BUT NOW THIS OF THE DOOR FOR HER, BUT SHE HAS BEEN MAKING THOSE SORT OF HEY HERE'S WHO I AM AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO VISITS SINCE FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> ONE OTHER THING I'LL ADD TO THAT IS WHENEVER SHE DID RUN LAST TIME SHE WAS RUNNING FOR A PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION, WITH HER BACKGROUND, I THINK THAT WAS VERY EASY TO CAMPAIGN ON THAT, I'M QUALIFIED FOR THAT POSITION.

I THINK GOVERNOR IS MORE POLITICAL BUT YOU HAVE OTHER CHARACTERISTICS.

>> THE FIRST THING THE STATE BUDGET DEALS WITH AND SPENDS MONEY ON IS EDUCATION.

>> I WISH EDUCATION WAS ON THE FOREFRONT OF VERY POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> IT HAS BEEN -- >> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS OR HURTS HER.

>> REMEMBER THE BUDGET WAS HELD UP IN THE FINAL HOURS BECAUSE OF REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE WHO WERE LOOKING AT THE RUNS ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SAYING I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO GIVE THEM A THIRD OF THE INCREASE OF THE NEW MONEY TO THIS UNIVERSAL CHOICE PROGRAM, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME PUSHBACK -- >> SO MANY ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT -- NOT NECESSARILY THE CREDENTIALS BUT WHICH IS THE ISSUE THAT CANDIDATES MAKE THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR VOTERS AND IF PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE THING THAT THEY MAKE MOST IMPORTANT IT COULD HELP HER.

>> IT COULD BE THE DOMINANT PART OF HER CAMPAIGN BUT SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DIVERSIFY.

>> AND DON'T FORGET THERE COULD BE THE ROLE OF CHOICE, IN PERSONAL HEALTH ON THE AGENDA.

>> EDUCATION AND PERSONAL HEALTH.

>> HER PARTY WE ALSO SAW ANOTHER THIRD PARTY CANDIDACY, WE HAD DONALD RAINWATER WHO GOT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OF VOTES LAST ELECTION, MORE SO THAN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HIS CANADA -- CANDIDACY NEXT WEEKEND, BUT TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

Each week we pose an unscientific, online poll question.

This week's question: Who will win the 2024 race for governor?

A.

The Republican candidate B.

The Democratic candidate C. The Libertarian candidate Last week's question: Should Indiana statewide elected officials get a significant pay raise?

JUST 20 PERCENT OF YOU SAY YES, 80 PERCENT SAY NO.

If you would like to take part in the poll go to WFYI.org/IWIR and look for the poll.

A bill that aims to cut ties between the state and financial institutions with certain E-S-Gs was signed by the governor this week.

E-S-Gs are policies that consider the environmental or social impacts of their investments.

Indiana Public Broadcasting's Rebecca Thiele reports lawmakers have debated whether the bill would keep politics out of state pensions or add it in.

The bill would require the state treasurer to make a list of financial investment managers with E-S-Gs and provide evidence as to why the state shouldn't invest its pension funds with them.

With few exceptions, the Indiana Public Retirement System then wouldn't be allowed to have a contract with those managers.

The author of the bill, Republican Representative Ethan Manning, says these institutions are discriminating against Indiana businesses like coal companies and firearm makers.

ETHAN MANNING (R-DENVER): ESG SUBJECTIVELY SUPPRESSES A FREE MARKET BY TARGETING INDUSTRIES FOR WHAT THEY ARE WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACT ON FINANCIAL RETURNS - WHICH IS WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE FOCUSED.

But Democratic Representative Ryan Hatfield says if it passes, state pensioners will suffer for a political message.

He questioned why the House voted down an amendment that would have required the state to look at the rate of return on E-S-G investments.

Ann DeLaney, will this bill do anything?

>>> I DON'T THINK SO, AND I'M GLAD IT DOESN'T.

THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN COAL WHEN COAL FACTORIES -- THE COAL MINES ARE ON THE SCENING AND NOBODY IS INVESTING THIS COAL OR WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EVER MORE GUNS, THAT'S WHAT THE AUTHOR OF THIS BILL WANTED.

IT'S RIDICULE.

THEY HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE PENSIONS TO INVEST IN THOSE COMPANIES THAT PRODUCE THE MAXIMUM RETURN, AND ESG, BELIEVE IT OR NOT DOES BECAUSE PEOPLE THIS COUNTRY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE IN INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO CLIMATE CHANGE, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE THE QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE.

AND FORTUNATELY I THINK THAT THEY'VE DRAFTED THIS IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S IMPACT IF ANY WILL BE VERY MINIMAL.

>> THE ORIGINAL -- THE HOUSE VERSION OF THIS BILL ORIGINALLY HAD A $6 BILLION PRICE TAG, WHICH I THINK PUT A BIG HALT TO THE BILL FOR A WHILE AND THEN THE FINAL VERSION, I THINK IT'S A FEW MILLION DOLLARS POTENTIALLY.

SO I ASK THE QUESTION TO YOU TOO, WILL THIS BILL DO MUCH OF ANYTHING?

>> I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S WHY THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WORKS.

SHOUT-OUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON THAT BILL THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS BUT I THINK A LOT OF CREDIT GOES TO THE TREASURER OF THE STATE DANIEL ELLIOTT, I'VE SEEN HE WAS TESTIFY IN COMMITTEES AND HOLDING MEETINGS AND I THINK THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BILL SHOWS HIS WORK BECAUSE IT GIVES HIM A LOT OF AUTHORITY OF HIS OFFICE IS SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESEARCHING ANY COMPANY THAT MIGHT BE USING THESE ESG INVESTMENTS TO NEGATIVELY AFFECT FINANCIAL RETURN AND REALLY THE WHOLE POINT OF ESG CONFUSING ME BECAUSE THE POSSIBLY IS TO INVEST IN DIFFERENT COMPANIES BECAUSE OF CERTAIN SOCIAL ECONOMIC THINGS.

THAT ALONE IS NOT PUTTING FIDUCIARY -- >> AT RISK.

>> AT THE FOREFRONT.

SO THE IDEA OF NOT WANTING TO GET INTO THE ESG.

>> IT DOESN'T SAY THEY PUT THE ESG AT THE FOREFRONT.

THEY HAVE TO MAKE A RETURN FOR THEIR INVESTORS TOO BUT IT'S A CONSIDERATION AS IT AUTOTO BE, AND ALL THIS BILL DOES IS ALLOW THE RIGHT WING REPUBLICANS TO PUT A CHECKMARK.

>> TO THAT POINT, THIS DID FEEL AT TIMES LIKE A MESSAGE BILKER WHICH IS THERE'S PEOPLE WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT THIS; IT'S ONE OF THE LATEST NATIONAL BUZZ WORDS IN POLITICS, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.

DID THEY -- THAT SENSE, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY NOT AS STRINGENT AS TEXAS WHERE THERE IS A 500 MILLION-DOLLAR IMPACT ALREADY ACCORDING TO A STUDY FROM ONE OF THE IVY LEAGUES, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED OR MAYBE IT'S BEEN INTRODUCED EVERYWHERE BUT THOSE STATES WHERE IT IS GAINED TRACTION, THEY TEND TO BE THE STATES THAT ARE SENDING THESE CULTURE WAR MESSAGES, AND WITH SOME EFFECTIVENESS, SO I'M SURE THEY CAN CHALK IT UP AS A VICTORY, BUT IT'S A REMINDER TO ME THE BULK OF THE SUPERMAJORITIES NOW IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE NOT THEIR FATHERS OR HEADQUARTERS REPUBLICANS TO A LARGE EXTENT BUZZ KEEP IN MIND THAT TWO COMPANIES THAT HAVE SPENT IMPORTANCE LITERALLY, TENs OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE GOOD CORN RAT CITIZENS AND TO BE GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS CAN TO BE ALL THE THINGS ESG, THE ENGINE WHICH IS A LARGE EMPLOYER BASED IN THIS IS STATE AND ELI LILY AND COMPANY, WHICH I DON'T THINK THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE INTRODUCTION.

>> THE SOCK IS GOING UP THROUGH THE SKY.

>> WHICH I'M GLAD TO SEE, SO IT'S A REMINDER THAT -- AND WE'VE SEEN THIS THROUGHOUT THIS SESSION.

THERE IS SOME TENSION THAT MORE SO THAN THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THIS THE PAST, THE OLD PHRASE WHAT'S GOOD FOR GENERAL MOTORS IS GOOD FOR AMERICA, I THINK IN SOME MINDS MAYBE TEN OR 20 YEARS AGO WHAT'S GOOD FOR ELI LILY IS GOOD FOR INDIANA AND YOU DON'T SEE IS THAT AS MUCH ANYMORE.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THESE CULTURE WAR MESSAGE BILLS THAT MAY NOT MAKE THEIR SUPPORTERS AS HAPPY BASED ON THE FINAL PRODUCT.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR IF THE LIBRARIES BILL LANGUAGE IN THIS THIS DECISION MIGHT COME UP AGAIN BECAUSE SUPPORTERS AREN'T HAPPY WITH HOW FAR IT WENT.

WITH THIS ONE AND GOING TO BE HADDER TO NOTICE WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IT'S PRETTY IN THE WEEDS AND EVEN IF THE THE TREASURER FINDS AN INVESTMENT MANAGER THAT THE STATE IS USING THAT IS QUOTE IN APPROPIATELY USING ESG FACTORS THEY HAVE TO BRING THAT TO IN PERS BUT ONLY IF THEY CAN FIND A QUOTE COMPARABLE INVESTMENT MANAGER, SO THERE IS AN OUT AND I THINK THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN IS LESS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES, LIKE LILY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MIDDLE MAN, THE INVESTMENT MANAGERS WHO ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS AND WHETHER THEY'RE PICKING AND CHOOSING COMPANIES BASED ON -- >> NOT PICKING AND CHOOSING ON THAT BASIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAVE RESULTS.

THEY'RE PICKING AND CHOOSING WINNERS.

>> A LARGE MAJORITY OF S&P 500 COMPANIES HAVE ESGS SO WE'RE NOT KICKING PEOPLE OUT SAYING YOU'RE NOT WELCOME IN INDIANA.

>> BUT THEY MIGHT DO THAT HAD THEY GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT.

>> IF IT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS IS IT FINANCIAL RESULTS.

>> 100 THINK PUBLIC INDIANA TEACHER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT RETIREES WON'T GET EXTRA PENSION HELP FROM LAWMAKERS IN THE NEW STATE budget In almost every budget going back three decades, the state has provided either a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, to monthly pension benefits, or it's given retirees a 13th check - an extra month's worth of benefits.

This year's budget includes neither, much to the frustration of Republican Representative Bob Cherry, a longtime advocate for such support.

BOB CHERRY (R-GREENFIELD): AT TIMES LIKE NOW WITH FOOD AND HEATING OIL AND EVERYTHING YOU TURN AROUND AND TOUCH COSTING MORE, IT'S NOT A WAY TO TREAT OUR RETIREES.

Cherry says Senate Republicans were the reason for no 13th check and will have to answer for it.

Senate G-O-P leader Rodric Bray explains he thinks the legislature should "get out of the 13th check business" and focus solely on the cost-of-living adjustment.

SENator RODRIC BRAY (R-MARTINSVILLE): WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FOR A COLA BUT IT WAS ABOUT 0.4 PERCENT, WHICH REALLY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE ENOUGH SIGNIFICANCE TO DO.

A one percent COLA in the last state budget cost 50 million dollars.

A 13th check in this budget would've cost 34 million.

The state is projected to have budget reserves of nearly three billion dollars.

Niki Kelly, how shocking was the -- AGAIN, MILLION, 3 BILLION IN RESERVES.

SO YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME NOW.

HOW SHOCKING WAS THE LACK OF INCLUSION OF EITHER A 13TH CHECK OR A COLA IN THIS BUDGET?

>> IN CREDIBLY SHOCKING AND I THINK ADDITIONALLY SHOCKING IS THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT.

THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THEY WERE NOT HE HELPING RETIREES.

THEY HAD BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SITTING THERE, THEY COULD FIND HUBS 100s OF MILLIONS AT THE LAST MINUTE TO HELP SCHOOLS BUT YOU CAN'T HELP RETIREES WHEN YOU'VE DONE THIS FOR 30 YEARS?

AND MAYBE THERE'S A LONGER TERM DISCUSSION, I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THE LONGER TERM DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW MAYBE YOU WANT TO RAISE THE BASE RATE OR SET A NORMAL COLA BUT IN THE MEANTIME THEY COMPLETELY WHIFFED.

>> I THINK THE ARGUMENT HERE IS A REASONABLE ONE, WHICH IS SENATE REPUBLICANS WANT TO GET OUT OF THE 13TH CHECK BUSINESS, I GET THAT AS A PHILOSOPHICAL IDEA AND MAYBE THAT'S WORTH DOING, BUT INSTEAD OF WE WANT TO GET OUT OF THE 13TH CHECK BUSINESS, WE HAVEN'T FIRST THING YOU HAD OUT HOW TO DO IT YET, IS THAT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> I THINK IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS IF THEY HAD THE CHANCE THEMED WANT A REDO, THERE'S THE PHILOSOPHICAL CONCERN THAT YOU WANT TO GET THIS ESTABLISHED WITH A COLA AND WE WANT THE MAKE SURE IT'S BUILT IN BECAUSE KEEP IN MIND IF IT WERE JUST THE 13TH CHECK, YOU TALKED ABOUT IT BEING -- THEORETICALLY IF THE ECONOMY FELL PERMANENT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GIVE A 13TH CHECK SO THAT'S NOT THE SAME AS BUILDING THIS A COST OF LIVING INCREASE THAT'S A ONE TIME ABOVE AVERAGE, SO I THINK -- THIS IS SOMETHING HE WILL EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A BUDGET YEAR NEXT YEAR THAT THIS WILL BE THE FIRST BILL HE INTRODUCES AND I DO THINK THE WAY THIS HAS ALL SHAKEN OUT IN A SESSION WHEN MILITARY GOT FULL EXEMPTION, YOU HAVE AN A PHASE OUT OF THE INCOME TAX, PAY RAISES -- >> DON'T FORGET VOUCHERS.

>> YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, EMPLOYEES HO DID WELL AND YOU HAVE THE SENATES -- YOU HAVE A SENATE WHICH HAS BEEN OBSESSED WITH THE PENSION LIABILITY OF OTHERS, SO THE IRONY IS THERE'S GREATER CONCERN PERHAPS SOME WOULD SAY WITH FULL PENSION MONEY THAN THE PEOPLE RECEIVING IT NOW.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE RETIRE RYES IS THEY ARE GOING TO GET A NICE COLA.

BIGGER THAN THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> THESE ARE -- THE NEXT BUDGET.

THINGS OLDER PENSION SYSTEMS SO THESE ARE NOT RECENT RETIREES SO THOSE ARE OLDER, OLDER HOOSIERS, ISN'T THAT LIKE A CORE CONSTITUENCY FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

>> YOU WOULD THINK SO, AS OPPOSED TOES LIKE THEY'RE COMFORT THEY CAN KEEP THEM.

IF THERE'S ANY CREDITU GIVE THE REPUBLICANS, THEY HAVE A STUDY IN THE BUDGET CAN THEY -- WE SO THE RESULT FROM THE STUDIES, THE HOUSING GOT A LOT MORE MONEY FROM A STUDY BUT TO SPEAKER HUSTON'S POINT NOTHING IS EVER FULLY FUND SOD I -- >> THEY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM.

>> THERE'S NO WAY TO DID IT.

IT'S NOT JUST THE $220,000 FOR VOUCHERS, IT'S EVERYTHING ELSE IN THERE.

THE PENSIONS THEY HAVE HAVE PITIFUL TO BEGIN WITH AND THEY RELY ON THEM AND WE'VE DONE POORLY WITH THEM FOR YEARS AND NOW WE HAVE ALL OF THAT MONEY, IT WOULD BE THE PERFECT TIME TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING WHILE THEY'RE FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO.

SOMETIME IT TAKES THEM FIVE YEARS, ARE WE SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE THEM AT BONUS FOR FIVE YEARS?

MAYBE THEY'RE WAITING TO SEE HOW MANY OF THEM AREN'T AROUND.

>> THIS COULD BE IN THE CORNER OF THE McCORMICK GROUP?

>> IT COULD BE A CATALYST FOR SOME.

>> YOU CANNOT DEFEND IT.

>> A bill that would fund a handgun safety training program for teachers was signed by the governor this week.

Indiana Public Broadcasting's Violet Comber-Wilen reports teachers are already allowed to carry firearms in certain school districts.

This bill would reallocate funding for optional firearms instruction for school employees in districts where teachers can carry firearms.

Representative Jim Lucas is the bill's author.

In a previous committee discussion of the bill, he said he wants to avoid mandates but wants to offer this option as a way for teachers who do carry to feel safer.

JIM LUCAS (R-SEYMOUR): THIS TRAINING CLASS - 40 PLUS HOURS - IS DESIGNED TO TAKE THE AVERAGE PERSON ON THE STREET AND GET THEM TO A LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION, THEY WILL AT LEAST HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AND THOSE AROUND THEM IF THEY SO CHOOSE) Opponents of the bill argue that having more guns in schools could decrease safety for students and staff.

Concerns in testimony included children getting ahold of weapons and improper gun storage.

Jon Schwantes, one of the provisions Republicans rejected for this bill was parental notification if a teacher is keeping a gun in the classroom.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR IDEOLOGICAL CONSISTENCY BECAUSE THAT DOES NOT EXIST BUT ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT THE OPPOSITION TO THAT?

>> ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BIG DEBATE THAT HAD POPPED UP OVER PARENTAL% NOTIFICATION AS RELATED TO THE USE OF PRONOUNS OR NICKNAMES AND NAME CHANGES.

WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME AS GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOCUSED ON THAT ISSUE, THE NOTION THAT -- >> PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.

>> IT'S IRONIC, PERHAPS.

IT BRINGS -- THE CONTRAST MAKE IT INTERESTING.

YOU SAW SOME DEMOCRATS ON THIS BILL WHO SAID I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT GUNS ARE GOING TO BE IN SCHOOLS BUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE I WOULD RATHER HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S TRAINED.

>> SENATOR TRAVIS HOTELMAN WORKED FOR YEARS TO REQUIRE THIS TRAINING.

IS THAT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> PROBABLY NOT AND I DO THINK DEMOCRATS ARE STUCK AND WHAT I HEARD WAS THEY'RE PHILOSOPHICALLY AGAINST ARMING TEACHERS BUT THEY'RE ALSO THINKING PRAGMATICALLY, THEY'RE ALREADY ARM SOD SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE TRAINING?

SO I THINK THAT'S WHY IT PASSED.

That's Indiana Week in Review for this week.

Our panel is Democrat Ann DeLaney, Republican Chris Mitchem Jon Schwantes of Indiana Lawmakers, and Niki Kelly of the Indiana Capital Chronicle You can find Indiana Week In Review's podcast and episodes at wfyi.org/iwir or on the PBS Video App.

I'm Brandon Smith of Indiana Public Broadcasting.

Join us next time because a lot can happen in an Indiana Week .

>>> THE OPINIONS EXPRESSs ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS A PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH