'TIS the season for SNEEZIN' -- but we ALLERGY sufferers shouldn't be TOO quick to blame Mother Nature and her LEGION of pollen-spewing plants, trees, and grasses.

AFTER ALL, the Indiana General Assembly's 2023 session wrapped up last week, and the abundance of DUST generated by four MONTHS of wheeling, dealing, and sometimes-HEATED debate is very much STILL SETTLING.

Hi, I'm Jon Schwantes, And on this week's show, we'll crank up the FANS -- or at least the General Assembly's occasionally windy caucus leaders -- in hopes of gaining a clearer view of what did And DIDN'T happen this session and, perhaps more important, a better UNDERSTANDING of what it all MEANS for you.

INDIANA LAWMAKERS -- from the Statehouse to YOUR house.

I am pleased to welcome BACK to this table the SAME four people who helped us KICK OFF the 20-23 season back in January -- the General Assembly's CAUCUS LEADERS...Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, a Martinsville Republican, Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor, an Indianapolis Democrat, House Speaker Todd Huston, a Fishers Republican, and House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, a Fort Wayne Democrat.

>>> THANK YOU ALL.

HOPE YOU'VE HAD A LITTLE SHUT-EYE AND THAT VACATIONS ARE SNEER IN OUR FUTURE.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO SOME SPECIFICS BUT I WANT TO START WITH A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS, WE'LL GO AROUND THE TABLE.

STARTING WITH YOU SENATOR BRAY, WHAT'S YOUR TAKEAWAY FROM THE SESSION?

>> I THINK THE I WOULD FOCUS ON MOST IS HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH WHICH IS OUR SENATE BILL NUMBER ONE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH, AS WELL AS THE HEALTH CARE COSTS.

WE SPENT A LOT OF ENERGY TALKING ABOUT THOSE ITEMS THAT PERTAIN TO THE HEALTH OF INDIANA HOOSIERS AND I FELL FEEL LIKE WE HAD GOODS SUCCESS IN THAT REGARD.

>> SENATOR TAYLOR.

>> WE DID SPEND MONEY ON MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BUT I THINK THIS WAS THE SESSION OF WHAT I'VE CLASSIFIED AS MISSED OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.

I DON'T CARE I DON'T THINK WE DID WITH A WE COULD HAVE DONE TO HELP THE HOOSIERS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA AS MANY OF MUCH AS WE COULD HAVE.

>> THERE WERE SIZE TECHNOLOGICAL ALLEGATIONS BUT NOT AS MUCH AS THE TASK FORCES IS THAT LOOKED AT THE ISSUES AND RECOMMENDED SO WE'LL GET INTO IS THAT.

>> AT GREAT INDIANA BUDGET, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE STRONG INVESTMENTS THIS EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCELERATE TAX CUTS, GIVING FAMILIES MORE CHOICES FOR THEIR STUDENT'S EDUCATION EXPERIENCE, SO THINK IN THE BUDGET SESSION THE HIGHEST PROFILE THING IS THE BUDGET AND I THINK WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL ONE.

>> THE ONLY THING YOU'RE OBLIGATED TO DO, THAT'S YOUR ONLY DUTY I GUESS, YOU FORMED THINGS TO DO ALONG THE WAY.

>> I WOULD ECHO WHAT SENATOR TAYLOR SAID ABOUT MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

WE DID ALLOCATE SOME DOLLARS TO THOSE THINGS, BUT WE COULD HAVE GONE FURTHER AND STILL THE SHORTCOMING OF FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION, I SNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THAT BUT WHEN WE GO TO OUR SCHOOL AND SEE HOW OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS CONTINUE TO COME UP SHORT SO VERY DISAPPOINTING.

>> AND I BELIEVE ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS AND WE'LL GET INTO THIS IS IN NEGATIVE TERRITORY.

>> YES.

>> THE SECOND YEAR.

GOOD STAGE SETTER HERE BUT I HAVE ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION AROUND THE BUDGET, OF COURSE IS THE WITHIN THING YOU HAD TO DO.

IN ADDITION TO THAT YOU PASSED 251 OTHER BILLS OUT OF ABOUT 1150 THAT WERE -- SO NOT A BAD BATTING AVERAGE.

ONE GOOD BILL FOR GOOD REASON OR BAD WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE AVERAGE HOOSIER?

>> I WOULD SAY OUR FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ALL KNOW BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE WE HAD THROUGH COVID IS MENTAL HEALTH THAT IS A CHALLENGE SO THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT AND PUT IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S GOING TO HELP PEOPLE USE THE THE 988 LINE AND IMMEDIATELY FIND HELP IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER FOR A LOT OF FOLK.

>> WHAT BILKER FOR GOOD REASON OR BAD IN YOUR MIND?

>> FOR ME HERE IN MARION COUNTIES AND MY COLLEAGUES IN LANG COUNTY AND ST. JOE COUNTY IT'S THE IS IT SHARING OF PROPERTY TACK REF REMEMBER UPDATES WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS, I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INTERESTING MOVE TO HAVE THOSE FOUR COUNTIES BE DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER 88 IN THE STATE OF INDIANA AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME INTERESTING OUTCOMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SHARING -- >> PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTSES HAVE THEIR REFERENDA TO GET SECURITY MEASURES OR OTHER -- THE MONEY IF THERE IS A BRICK AND MORTAR CHARTER SCHOOL IN THAT JURISDICTION, THEY WILL GET A SHARE OF THE -- THAT'S -- BUT ONLY FOR THOSE FOUR COUNTIES.

SOMEHOW IT WAS NOTED THAT ALLEN COUNTY EVEN THOUGH IT'S SIMILAR IN POPULATION, SOMEHOW MISSED OUT BUT THAT IN YOUR MIAMI-DADE -- >> GOING TO BE AN INTEREST OUTCOME.

>> ONE BILL.

>>IVELY SEISM EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE THE TUNNEL TO SHARE THE BILLS BUT FOR US IT'S HOUSING.

WE RECOGNIZE IN INDIANA ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES WE HAVE IS WE HAVE A SNEED NEED AND DEMAND FOR NEW HOUSING STOCK.

TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE HOUSING, I THINK WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND WE'RE PLEASED TO ADDRESS THAT.

>> THIS IS A REVOLVING FUND THAT WOULD HELP BUILDERS THAT ARE CREATING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS BUILD OLDS AND SEWER LINES AND YOU CAN -- >> ENCOURAGE MORE HOUSING OPTIONS AND IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS FOR GROWTH IS MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE HOUSING AVAILABLE AND I THINK WE TOOK A LEADERSHIP POSITION ON THAT.

>> ONE BILL, GOOD OR BAD?

>> I'LL BE FAST, THE 21ST CENTURY SIMILAR -- BOTH OF THESE BILLS AUTHORED BY HOUSE DEMOCRATS, WE TALK ABOUT MISS OPPORTUNITIES, PARENTS ARE MISSING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, THE 21ST CENTURY THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, IT HELPED -- >> YOU CANNILY EBB ENROLLED -- >> YES AND RIFF SMITH LAD AN ANTI-BULLYING BILKER HE SAW EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY WITH THE INCIDENT THAT HANDEDDED IN THE WEST SIDE SIDE OF THE STATE AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GO TO HELP WHAT WE FEEL IS A REAL PROBLEM IN SCHOOLS THESE DAYS WITH THE BULLYING OF KIDS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO TO THE BUDGET, AGAIN $44 BILLION WITH A B.

A LOT OF MONEY, AND THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF COURSE IS AS IT ALWAYS IS K-12 EDUCATION.

EIGHT PERCENT OVER ALL TUITION SUPPORT INCREASE BUT THAT NUMBER, SOME SAY IS MISSION MISLEADING BECAUSE A THIRD OF THE NEW DOLLARS ARE GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE FORM OF WHAT IS FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES A UNIFORM VOUCHER PROGRAM.

NOW IF YOU'RE MAKING A FAMILY OF $4,220,000 A YEAR OR 400 PERCENT IS THE TECHNICAL WAY OF THE FREE LUNCH THRESHOLD, YOU'RE GOING TO -- THE PATH WAYS ARE GOVERN, THE OTHER CRITERIA THAT STEER PEOPLE.

IS THIS A WIN FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION OR IS THIS A REASON FOR THEM TO PERHAPS BE WARY?

>> IT'S A HUGE WIN FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 3:00 BEENS WE PASSED 763 MILLIONS TO K-12 EDUCATION, IN 2021, $1.1 BILLION AND AGAIN NOW IN $20,231.5 BILLION SO WE HAVE EVALUATIONED IS THAT RECORD EVERY TIME AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD OTHERWISE INTERPRET IT BUT A BIG WIN FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> WHAT WAS IT THAT YOUR CAUCUS WAS NOT GOING TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION?

YOU HAD HAD NO NEW DOLLARS FOR VOUCHERS.

IS IT JUST THE FACT THE APRIL 19 REVENUE UPDATE HAD 1.5 ABILITY IN REVENUE OR WAS THERE A DEBATE THAT WAS PHILOSOPHICAL AS OPPOSED TO FINANCIAL?

>> WE HAVE 40 MESHES BUT NOT EVERYBODY THINKS A LIKE AND SAME THING REGARD TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SENATE AND HOUSE WE HAVE MAJORITIES ON EACH SIDE BUT PEOPLE DON'T THINK ALIKE NECESSARILY.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS POSITION OVER THE LAST COUPLE BEEN WHERE THE HOUSE HAS A LARGER NUMBER OF EXPANSIONS BUT OUR CAUCUS IS FIRMLY IN FAVOR OF PARENTAL CHOICE FOR VOUCHEST AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THE FACT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN OUR BUDGET WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A NEW FORECAST COMING UP AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NEGOTIATE AND PULL THAT IN AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

>> YOU DID HAVE ONE MEMBER OF YOUR CAUCUS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE I THINK% PANGS.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOL ISSUE AND THE IMPACT THAT COULD HAVE ON SAY INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER DISTRICTS THAT IN OR YEAR YOUR DISTRICT.

IS THAT A BIGGER CONCERN OR IS THE EVER INCREASING SOLUTION OF PIE THAT SEEMS TO BE GOING TO PAROCHIAL EDUCATION, BANG WHEN WHEN THIS STARTEDDED IN 2011 IT WAS A PILOT PROGRAM WITH 4,000 STUDENTS THEN IT'S UP TO 53,000 NOW AND THE PROJECTION IS IT WILL BE 95,000 PLUS BY 2025.

WHICH IS THE BIG ISSUE FOR YOU?

>> THEY'RE BOTH BIG ISSUES.

THE PROPERTY TAX IS A BIG ONE FOR ME, I STILL DON'T KNOW WHY WE CHOSE THOSE FOUR COUNTIES.

THE SECOND PIECE I THINK IT'S CLEAR WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE WHEN OVER 90 PERCENT OF OUR CHILDREN GO TO TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WE SEE A THREE PERCENT INCREASE IN ONE OF MY PUBLIC SCHOOLINGS AND A 1.5 INCREASE.

AT THE SAME TIME CHARTER SCHOOLS WILL SEE AN AVERAGE IN MY DISTRICT OF A NINE TO 12 PERCENT INCREASE AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE VOUCHER RAMTHA TO ME WAS JUST A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WEALTHY PEOPLE, $220,000 A YEAR, THOUGH STUDENTS WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN THE INSIDE OF A PUBLIC CLASSROOM, THEY WERE ALREADY IN THE SCHOOLS, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SWITCH OVER TO VOUCHERS AND TO ME THAT IS NOT SUPPORTING TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL WHERE 90 PERCENT -- AND I KEEP EMPHASIZING THE 90 PERCENT OF SCHOOLS OF CHILDREN GO TO THOSE SCHOOLS AND WE KNOW INFLATION IS AT 4.8 PERSIAN YET WE ONLY FUND AN INCREASE OF THREE PERCENT AND 1.5 PERCENT IN SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> LET ME SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, SENATOR TAYLOR IS RIGHT IN THAT WILL TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL KIDS HAVE 90 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION BUT IT'S WORTH NOTING THEY GET 91 PERCENT OF THE EDUCATION DOLLARS AND THEY GET MORE THAN THEIR PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT SO THE VOUCHER STUDENTS, THEY'RE -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS BUT IF THEY'RE SIX PERCENT OF THE POPULATION OF SCHOOL KIDS THEY GET LESS, MAYBE FIVE PERCENT OF THE DOLLARS SO TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL STILL GET MORE THAN A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THE DOLLARS THAN THEY ARE THE PERCENTAGE OF SCHOOL KIDS GOING THROUGH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> WE SHOULD DO THAT, I DON'T LIKE GIVING CREDIT FOR THINGS WE SHOULD DO I LIKE GETTING CREDIT FOR THINGS WE GO OVERAND ABOVE.

WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM AT $20 MILLION I WAS THERENINGS I WAS THE SOLE DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE TO VOTE FOR THE VOUCHER PROGRAM.

IT WAS ABOUT CHILDREN WHO DIDN'T HAVE TO TUNNEL OPPORTUNITY -- THEY HAD TO START -- THEY HAD TO BE AN F SCHOOL AND NOW WE'RE AT -- I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE $700 MILLION AND OVER 53,000 -- LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE NOW.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE CHARTER SCHOOL INCREASE, I'VE SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T MENTION THE INCREASE I'VE SEEN -- 69 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BY BIENNIUM IN TERMS OF THE VOUCHER PROGRAM AND 14 PERCENT -- AND AGAIN I KNOW THAT'S -- BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM THAT'S PROBABLY NOT A FAIR WAY TO BRING UP THE NUMBERS.

>> A LONG TIME INDIANA STOPPED FUNDING SCHOOLS, WE FUND STUDENTS AND WE DON'T SAY -- DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU GO, IT JUST MATERS WE FUND STUDENTS.

WE DON'T FUND SCHOOL CORMS WE FUND STUDENTS WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL.

BY THE WAY THE LARGEST SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM IS TRADITIONAL PUBLIC TO PUBLIC CHOICE AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE, THAT'S BEEN OUR HISTORY, THAT'S WHAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT WE FUND STUDENTS.

WE LET FAMILIES AND PARENTS CHOOSE WHERE THEY THINK IS THE BEST TO GO TO BE EDUCATED AND THINK THAT'S GOOD PUBLIC POLICY AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE IT AND IT'S WORKED WELL.

>> WE HAD BOB BANING WHO WAS THE ARCHITECT OF THIS IN 2011 AND SMILED WHEN I SAID WOULD YOU SOON SEE THAT NINE PERCENT BECOME 100 PERCENT AND ESSENTIALLY I THINK HE WOULD.

PEOPLE DISTURB NINE PERCENT PRIVATE BUT WON'T THIS ENCOURAGE THAT NUMBER TO INCREASE?

>> I DON'T CARE, AT THE END OF THE DAY FALL FATHOMS ARE GOING TO SEND IS THEIR KIDS TO THE BEST SCHOOLS, I WAS ON AING LEEK PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD BUT THAT WAS THE BEST CHOICE FOR MY FAMILY.

AND IN THE STATE OF INDIANA WE HAVE A SUPREME COURT CASE THAT RULED 5-0 THAT THIS IS THE COMPLETELY STATUTORY AUTHORITY, WE HAVE THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO DO THIS.

I WE FUND STUDENTS IN FACT SYSTEMS.

>> IF YOU COULD BE KEPT WHOLE WOULD THIS BOTHER YOU?

>> FOR ME IT'S PHILOSOPHICAL, IDENTIFY NEVER SPORTED VOUCHERS, NEVER HAVE NEVER WILL.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO AS A STATE THAT'S NOT WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS WE SHOULD DO.

WHEN I GOT THE SCHOOL RUN FROM THE HOUSE VERSION IT WAS 1.6 PERCENT INCREASE FIRST YEAR, THE SENATE VERSE WAS A LITTLE OVER THREE FOR FORT WAYNE, AND THAT WAS HOLDING THE LINE OF INVOLVERS AND I SAY WHAT IF WE LOWERED THAT?

BUT THEN TO BUMP IT UP YOU SEE A LILT OVER THREE PERCENT THE FIRST YEAR AND STILL NEGATIVE THE SECOND YEAR SO THE IMPACT HAS BEEN GREAT, IT'S NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION AND I THINK AS A STATE THESE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ASKED, ARE WE GIVING UP ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND I HOPE NOT BUT WHEN WE CONTINUE TO BUMP UP THE NUMBERS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS IT'S SIGNALING THAT MAYBE SOME OF US HAVE GIVEN UP ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> I PROMMED WE WOULD COVER A LOT OF TOPICS AND HERE WE ARE FOCUSING ON EDUCATION.

>> I THINK THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN PLICATIONS BECAUSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE BIGGEST SCHOOL CHOICE IS A CHILD GOING FROM ONE PUBLIC SCHOOL TO ANOTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL WHEN EVERYONE KNOWS THERE'S COMPETITION THERE AND THEY HAVE TO RAISE THEIR GAME IN ORDER TO GET THOSE STUDENTS, YOU SEE SCHOOLS TRYING TO COME UP WITH NEW IDEAS SO THEY CAN MAKE A BETTER PRODUCT AND THAT IS WHAT WE WARRANT.

IF EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL IS GOING TO GET MONEY ARMS IF CHILDREN GO THERE OR NOT YOU HAVE NO INCENTIVE.

>> .

>> THE SPEAKERRER SHADOOF BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE LAST DECADE, WHERE ARE WE AT FOR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT?

WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING AND WE SNOW THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE FALLING BEHIND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY FROM EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT.

>> THE LAST DATA WE HAD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND ALL THE TESTING WAS INDIANA WAS ONE OF THE TOP STATES AND NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO TESTING LARGELY BECAUSE OUR FRENCHEDS -- -- PEOPLE HERE IN INDIANA AREN'T EXCITING ABOUT ASSESSING STUDENTS BUT WE'RE THE FASTEST GROWING IN EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT.

I WILL STAND ON THAT AND OUR CAUCUS WILL STAND ON THAT PLATFORM ALL DAY LONG.

WE KNOW IT'S POPULAR WITH FAMILIES AND IT'S SUCCESSFUL FOR STUDENTS.

>> ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE FATHOMS THAT MAKE A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

>> THOSE WHO PAY PROPERTY TAXES, WHO ARE AS RESTED AS ANY FAMILY?

THE STATE.

>> I THINK YOU ALL AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT PARENTS WILL NO LONGER BE PAYING FOR TEXT BOOK RENTAL FEES, IS THIS A BEG DEAL?

>> IT'S A HUGE DEAL AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE MAJOR BRAY THAT IT'S IMPORTANT WE DON'T PUT THAT TEXTBOOK FEE ON THE BACKS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PICK UP THAT TAB.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AND WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND NOW THE STATE IS GOING TO PICK UP THAT TAB.

>> YOU MENTIONED TAXES SO YOU WERE TRUE TO FORM, YOU DON'T LABOR TAXES BUT YOU DID AWAY WITH INCOME TAXES FOR MILITARY INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE STATE, YOU SAID NO TO THE IDEA OF INCREASED PHONE SECURE CHARGE TO PAY FOR METHOD, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A COMMISSION TO STUDY DOING AWAY WITH THE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX EVEN THOUGH THAT'S GOING TO COMPRESSED FROM A SEVEN YEAR PHASE OUT TO A FIVE YEAR PHASEOUTS, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THE MONEY?

>> THE STATES THAT HAVE AN INCOME TAX IT'S TIED FOR LOWEST BUT WE WANT TO TAKE SENATE BILL THREE TO CREATE A STUDY COMMISSION TO LOOK AT OUR TAX STRUCTURE.

WE WOULD LIKED TO SOMETHING TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR THE STATE OF INDIANA, THAT'S A BIG BITE, THAT'S SEVEN AND A HALF BILLION DOLLAR THAT YOU HAVE TO COME UP BUT AT LEAST IT'S WORTHWHILE TO LOOK AT AND SEE WHAT ADVANTAGES WILL COME TO US IF WE DID THAT.

THE OTHER THING WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IS PROPERTY TAXES S AND WE DID A LOT OF THINGS IN HOUSE BILL 1499 THAT ARE GOING TO HELP LOWER THE PROPERTY TAXES AND GIVING LOCAL GOVERNMENT THE ABILITY -- >> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING A HILT.

>> AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO COME DUE AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE GOING TO BILLS AS WELL AS WE HAVE DONE SOME STEPS TO CURB THAT GROWTH AS WE ALL KNOW LOCAL TAX DOLLARS, PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS GO TO LOBE GOVERNMENTS AND SO IT'S WORTHWHILE TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THAT, BUT THE OTHER THING WE MIGHT BE ABLE THE TALK ABOUT IS YOU TAKE THE HOMESTEAD TAX, THAT'S WHERE THE CHALLENGE IS, SOMEBODY IS RETIRED BUT THEIR PROPERTY CONTINUES TO ADD VALUE ON ONE LEVEL THAT'S A GREAT THING BUT IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO AFFORD, SO MAYBE WE CAN GET RID OF THE HOMESTEAD TAX, THAT'S NOT AS BIG A NUMBER AS GETTING RID OF THE INCOME TAX BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THERE, I DON'T TO GET THE MAYORS EXCITED BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IN A TRANSFORMATIONAL WAY.

>> A LOT OF BIG TICKET ITEMS.

READY GRANTS, FIRE HUNDRED MILLION THERE, 500 MILLION FOR CLOSING DEALS, 150 FOR LAND ACQUISITION AND ECONOMIC DEPUTY, ARE THESE PRIORITIES?

>> AND INTERESTING SENATE BILL FOUR IS LOOKING AT THE -- I THINK HOUSE DEMOCRAT FOR THE ONES THAT PUT THAT OVER THE TOP, WE WERE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT AND APPRECIATE THE WORK OF FORMER SENATOR KENLY.

I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED -- WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT QUEEN ELIZABETH OF LIFE AND HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR CITIES AND TOWNS AND IF THAT MEANS MORE INVESTMENT THROUGH READY GRANTS AND THINGS LIKE THIS I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A SUPPORTER OF THAT OF WITH REGARDS TO TEXASS WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE LOCALS HAVE GOING TO HAVE TO STILL OPERATE SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT STUDY TO SEE WHAT WILL COME ABOUT BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T SHORTCHANGING FOLKS, TOWNS SO THEY CAN DO THEIR JOSH.

TIME WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT FOR THE SO-CALLED CULTURE WAR ISSUES, A BAN ON GENDER CONFIRMING PROCEDURES FOR MINORS THAT IDENTIFY AS TRANS, YOU HAD THE NO SECTIONS ED BELOW GRADE THREE YOU HAD THE PARENT TEACHERS BEING OBLIGATED TO NOTIFY PARENTS IF A CHILD WANTS TO BE REFERRED TO BY A DIFFERENT PRONOUN.

ALL THESE THINGS CRITICS WOULD SAY WERE IN STATUTE, WAS THAT TIME WELL SPENT?

>> EVERY TIME WE CUT TACKS WE GET MORE MONEY IN AND THIS BUDGET WILL KEEP BILLIONS OF DOLLAR THIS IS HOOSIER POCKETS.

WE SENT BACK TAX REFUNDS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THOSE DOLLARS STAY IN INDIANA COMMUNITIES SO I THINK WE SHOULD NEVER DOWNPLAY THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.

IT'S BETTER THAT THE HOOSIER SPENDS THOSE DOLLARS IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAN WE DO.

ON THE OTHER HAND WE HAVE PUBLISHED A GREAT DEAL OF THINGS AND WE'VE PUT THOSE THINGS UNDER THE COMMON SENSE CATEGORY SUPPORTED BY HOOSIERS ACROSS THE STATE.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE TO ADJOURN SINE DIE THIS WEEK, AND AS I ALWAYS SAY I WISH WE HAD A COUPLE HOURS, THANK YOU THOUGH, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE THIS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

Again, my guests have been Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, a Martinsville Republican, Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor, an Indianapolis Democrat, House Speaker Todd Huston, a Fishers Republican, and House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, a Fort Wayne Democrat.

Time now for our weekly conversation with Indiana Lawmakers analyst Ed Feigenbaum, publisher of the newsletter Indiana Legislative Insight, part of Hannah News Service.

WE ONLY STRAPPED THE SURFACE, WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SESSION?

>> THAT'S A PRETTY BROAD QUESTION.

LET ME ANSWER THAT WITH AN NAMING.

WE HAD A GREAT ROCK SINGER PASS AWAY EARLIER THIS WEEK AND LISTENING TO THE TRIBUTES I FOUND A LOT OF THE LEGISLATIONIVE SEWINGS IN THERE.

GORDON LIGHTFOOT WAS A GUY THAT THE CULTURAL I LEAD KIND OF LOOKED DOWN ON AND THEY THOUGHT HE LACKED ARTIST ARTISTIC VALUE BUT HE WAS THE GREATEST NEIL I DON'T THINK CANADA HAD TO OFFER AND THEY DIDN'T DEAL WITH THE KEY THINGS, OR THEY DID THIS THINGS THAT WERE OINTMENTED TOWARD THE GOODS BUT IN THE THE END THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE WANTED.

>> TRYING TO MAKE SOME QUIP ABOUT THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD BUT SHOULD WE EXPECT ANY SURPRISES FROM THE GOVERNOR?

>> NO, I THINK HE MAY HAVE SOME RESERVATION, HE VETOED A SIMILAR BILL A YEAR AGO.

>> IN THE HANDS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND LESS -- >> RIGHT BUT I THINK THAT BEGS THE BIGGER QUESTION ABOUT THE THINGS THAT GOT INTO THE BUDGET, PAY RAISEs FOR THE KEY STATE OFFICIALS, THERE WERE SOME OTHER LITTLE THINGS IN THERE, SOMETHING DEALING WITH THE IN FORMAL ADVISORY OPINIONS OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL BUT THINGS THAT HADN'T BEEN VETTED THROUGH THE PUBLIC, HAD NOT BEEN HEARD ON THE FLOOR, THOSE KIND OF THINGS AWE PEERED THIS THE BUDGET AND THAT KIND OF THING IS THAT LITTLE TROUBLING TO SOME.

AND THE FACT THAT IN THE THREE ITERATIONS OF THE FINAL BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT, THERE WAS YOU ENDED UP WITH $312 MILLION MORE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND TO BE ABLE THE COME UP WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THE PENSION AT THE LAST MINUTE, THAT DOESN'T REFLECT WRONG ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE FACT THIS THINGS ARE DONE AT THE LAST MINUTE INSTEAD AGAIN IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE MANNER IS TROUBLING.

>> AND THERE'S THE LIBRARYIES IN TERMS OF HARMFUL AND OBSCENE MATERIALS WHICH WAS DEAD AND CAME BACK, IS THERE ANY REP CAN YOU GO?

>> IN THE IS SHORT RUN THERE'S CONCERN BUT NO AND WE'LL SEE THAT IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> ED AS ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR insight The 2023 General Assembly session has wrapped up, and the final word goes to Statehouse journalists that covered the session.

We'll get their picks on the winners and losers, on the next Indiana Lawmakers.

Well, that concludes another edition of Indiana Lawmakers.

I'm Jon Schwantes, and, on behalf of commentator Ed Feigenbaum, WFYI Public Media, and Indiana's OTHER public-broadcasting stations, I thank you for joining us ...and I invite you to visit WFYI.org for MORE Statehouse news.

Until next week, take care.