IT >> A DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE RACE.

CURTIS HILL FOR GOVERNOR?

PLUS, THE LATEST SCHOOL VOUCHER REPORT AND MORE.

FROM THE TELEVISION STUDIOS AT WFYI, IT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING JUNE 16th, 2023.

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

>> THIS WEEK FORMER LONGTIME ALCOHOL LOBBYIST MARC CARMICHAEL IS INDIANA DEMOCRATS' FIRST CANDIDATE THIS CYCLE TO ANNOUNCE A BID FOR U.S. SENATE.

CARMICHAEL WOULD FACE AN UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST THE LIKELY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, CONGRESSMAN JIM BANKS.

>> CARMICHAEL SPENT NEARLY FIVE YEARS IN THE INDIANA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE LATE 1908s AND EARLY 1909s.

HE ALSO RAN AN UNSUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS IN 1996.

HE SPENT TWO DECADES AS HEAD OF THE INDIANA BEVERAGE ALLIANCE, A TRADE ASSOCIATION FOR BEER DISTRIBUTORS, BEFORE RETIRING IN 2020.

IN A STATEMENT ANNOUNCING HIS CANDIDACY, THE DEMOCRAT LAID OUT TEN POLICY POSITIONS HE'D WORK TOWARDS AS A U.S.

SENATOR.

CHIEF AMONG THEM, CODIFYING ABORTION RIGHTS.

HE SAYS HE'LL ALSO SEEK TO BAN, IN HIS WORDS, MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS, TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, AND SUPPORT LGBTQ YOUTH.

THE LAST INDIANA DEMOCRAT TO WIN A RACE FOR U.S. SENATE WAS JOE DONNELLEY MORE THAN A DECADE AGO.

>> DOES CARMICHAEL HAVE ANY SHOT TO BEAT JIM BANKS?

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.

ANN DELANEY, IS CARMICHAEL THE KIND OF CANDIDATE WHO HAS THE CHANCE TO UPSET BANKS?

>> REMEMBER, HE BEAT A SETTING SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BY HARD WORK AND WAS OUTRAGED BY THAT SPEAKER AS WELL.

SO YOU SHOULD NEVER UNDERESTIMATE HIM.

IF HE IS THE NOMINEE, THERE COULD NOT BE A BIGGER CONTRAST BETWEEN THE POSITIONS.

HE KNOWS JOE BIDEN WON THE ELECTION.

HE KNOWS THOSE WEREN'T TOURISTS ON JANUARY 6th.

HE DOESN'T THINK A 10-YEAR-OLD SHOULD HAVE TO CARRY HER RAPIST'S FETUS TO TERM.

THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO MARK AND HE DOESN'T THINK AUTOMATIC WEAPONS OUGHT TO BE ISSUED TO EVERYBODY AND THEN WONDER WHY THE CRIME RATE GOES UP.

SO I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A MARKED POSITIONAL CONTRAST BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, AND I THINK THAT MARC'S POSITIONS ON THESE ISSUES MORE REFLECT THE AVERAGE HOOSIER THAN DOES JIM BANKS WHO GOES TO THE RIGHT OF ATILLA THE HUN ON VIRTUALLY EVERY ISSUE.

>> AS I MENTIONED, AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR ANY DEMOCRAT RUNNING STATEWIDE AT THIS POINT.

WE'VE SEEN THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL CYCLES.

IS MARC CARMICHAEL THE KIND OF PERSON THE DEMOCRATS, A, KNOW OR, B, WILL GET EXCITED ABOUT?

>> IT'S THE EXCITED PORTION JUST BECAUSE, I MEAN, HE IS VERY WELL KNOWN WITHIN THE STATEHOUSE, WITHIN THE LOBBYING WORLD.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HIM.

I THINK HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL, ESPECIALLY IN HIS ROLE WITH THE INDIANA BEVERAGE ALLIANCE.

A LOT OF THE ALCOHOL POLICIES YOU SEE TODAY ARE THANKS TO HIM.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO HELP HIM.

>> MOST HOOSIERS DRINK.

>> HE WORKED HARD AND MADE THAT ALLIANCE WHAT IT IS TODAY.

NOW, I THINK FROM A POLITICAL STAND POINT, I THINK HE NEEDS TO KIND OF TRY TO ADOPT MORE OF THE JOE DONNELLEY MOTTO.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT JOE DONNELLEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PRODUCT OF THE ENVIRONMENT WHENEVER HE WAS RUNNING, BUT A LOT OF HIS STANCES, IF YOU WANT TO APPEAL TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT MAY BE TURNED OFF BY THE BANKS FAR RIGHT, JANUARY 6th, ELECTION FRAUD, YOU WON'T DO THAT BY SAYING I WANT MEDICARE FOR ALL, I THINK WE SHOULD CODIFY ROE V. WADE.

I THINK WE SHOULD FUNDIT COULD -- >> CODIFYING ROE V. WADE WOULD NOT PUT FUNDS TOWARDS ABORTION.

I DON'T THINK MARC CARMICHAEL SUPPORTED STATE FUNDING FOR ABORTIONS EITHER.

>> I THINK HE IS CODIFYING ROE V. WADE.

>> I THINK MOST HOOSIERS WOULD AGREE WITH THAT IN SOME FORM.

>> I THINK CHRIS JUST HIT IT ON THE HEAD.

MARC CARMICHAEL IS A NAEM THAT THOSE OF US AROUND THIS TABLE KNOW VERY WELL.

MAYBE SOME VIEWERS KNOW VERY WELL.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, I DON'T THINK HE WILL BE A HOUSEHOLD NAME.

NOW, THERE'S A LONG TIME UNTIL THE ELECTION.

IS HE THE SORT OF CANDIDATE WHO PCAN BUILD UP NAME RECOGNITION AND GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT HIS CANVAS?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE FOUNDATION THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED.

THE ABILITY TO RING THE CASH REGISTER, THE ABILITY TO PUT TOGETHER A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG STATE, AND YOU CAN'T JUST RELY ON A COMMERCIAL HERE AND A COMMERCIAL THERE.

AN AIR WAR IS POLICY, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN.

THERE ARE TWO KIND OF CANDIDATES, AND I'M SURE THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THE MILLINGED.

THERE ARE THOSE THAT HAVE GREAT NAME ID AND THINK THEY CAN WALTS INTO OFFICE BASED ON THE NAME ID OUT OF THE REALM OF BUSINESS OR SPORTS OR WHATEVER.

BUT THEY GET THERE, AND THEY REALIZE, OH, WAIT, I HAVE TO MAKE MONEY, RING THE CASH REGISTER.

I HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER AN ORGANIZATION AND DO ALL THIS STUFF.

OR YOU HAVE THE CANDIDATE WHO MAY NOT HAVE A HIGH NAME RECOGNITION AT THIS POINT STATEWIDE AMONG HOOSIER VOTERS, BUT WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS AND CAN CALL IN THE IOUs AND DOES HAVE THAT SORT OF RESPECT WITHIN THE GOVERNMENTAL AND POLITICAL ARENA.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT, THE LATTER.

HE WOULD HAVE THAT.

HE HAS BEEN AROUND.

HE HAS COLLECTED A LOT OF IOUs.

I AM OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER COVERING HIM WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOUSE, AND THAT PHOTO THAT EVERYBODY -- THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ON TELEVISION -- PROBABLY GIGGLED AT, THAT'S HOW I STILL REMEMBER HIM.

>> I THINK THE PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRATS -- AND THIS IS NOT A SHOCK TO ANYBODY.

LISTENING TO JON JUST DESCRIBE THOSE TWO TYPES OF CANDIDATES, HOOSIERS HAVE SEEN THEM RUN FOR SENATE IN THE RECENT YEARS.

THE FIRST ONE WAS JOE DOBLY WHO HAD NAME RECOGNITION, AND MORE THAN THAT, KNEW WHO HE ALREADY HAD AN ORGANIZATION IN PLACE AND KNEW HOW TO BUILD IT OUT AND WORKED AS HARD AS ANY HUMAN BEING CAN WORK AT THAT JOB AND AT THAT CAMPAIGN, AND HE STILL LOST.

REALISTICALLY, DO DEMOCRATS HAVE A SHOT AT THE SEAT?

>> UPHILL BATTLE IS A NICE WAY TO SAY IT.

OBVIOUSLY, I HAD A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS REACH OUT WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHO MARC CARMICHAEL IS.

OUTSIDE THIS SORT OF SMALL FISHBOWL, HE IS A COMPLETE UNKNOWN IN MOST OF THE STATE.

I MEAN, HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A TON OF IOUs TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

I AM HOPING, THOUGH, THAT -- MAYBE HE'LL AT LEAST LEVEL UP THE DEBATE A LITTLE WITH BANKS AND TRY TO GET AT SOME -- MAKE BANKS BASICALLY WORK HARD FOR IT AND MAYBE HAVE TO MODERATE A LITTLE.

>> I THINK JIM BANKS IS WILLING TO WORK HARD.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY.

>> HIS POSITIONS ARE NOT WHAT THE AVERAGE HOOSIER WANT.

>> BUT ARE THEY AT THIS POINT WHAT THE AVERAGE HOOSIER VOTER WANTS?

THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT POPULATIONS.

>> I KNOW THAT, BUT I STILL THINK IF YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE 10-YEAR-OLD, I THINK IF YOU POLLED ON THAT, THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION ON THAT WOULD WIN.

HANDS-DOWN.

YET, BANKS IS GOING TO ARTICULATE A POSITION NO ABORTIONS.

>> YOU COULD SAY THE SAME THING THE OTHER WAY.

IF YOU POLL ON TRANSGENDER SPORTS, FOR INSTANCE, IT POLLS THE REPUBLICAN WAY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER -- >> OR QUITE FRANKLY GUNS.

>> FEW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CAST THEIR VOTE ONLY ON TRANSGENDER SPORTS.

>> PEOPLE ARE REFLECTING ON THEIR VIEWS AND COMING TO A MENTAL COB CENSUS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY, AND THEN THEY COMPARE THAT WITH THE CANDIDATE.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

BASICALLY PEOPLE EMERGE FROM UNDER THE ROCK, A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THEN THEY GO AND -- >> THAT'S TRUE.

THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

WE KNOW THAT.

>> THEY SAY R OR D. THAT'S, SADLY, WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

>> WELL, SPEAKING NOT OF THE SENATE RACE, BUT THE GOVERNOR RACE.

CURTIS HILL RECENTLY TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HE'S CONSIDERING A RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

HILL WAS DEFEATED IN HIS RE-ELECTION BID FOR AG IN 2020 AFTER THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT SAID HE CRIMINALLY BATTERED FOUR WOMEN.

>> HILL ALSO LOST IN A REPUBLICAN CAUCUS LAST YEAR TO REPLACE CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE WALORSKI AFTER HER DEATH.

IN A STATEMENT TO THE AP, THE FORMER ELKHART COUNTY PROSECUTOR SAID INDIANA NEEDS A STRONG CONSERVATIVE WHO HAS THE GUTS TO CHALLENGE WHAT HE CALLED THE INDIANAPOLIS STATUS QUO.

IF HE RUNS, HILL WOULD JOIN AN ALREADY CROWDED REPUBLICAN FIELD THAT INCLUDES U.S.

SENATOR MIKE BRAUN, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SUZANNE CROUCH, FORT PANE BUSINESSMAN ERIC DODEN AND JAMIE REITENOUR.

>> IS THERE A PATH FOR CURTIS HILL IN THIS PRIMARY?

>> THERE'S A PATH.

THERE'S ALWAYS A PATH FOR ANYBODY THAT HOPS IN, BUT HOW WIDE THAT PATH IS UP FOR DISCUSSION.

I THINK THE PATH YOU SAW IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, CURTIS HILL FINISHED IN SEC.

HE DID GET BOO THE RACE KIND OF LATE, AND HE FINISHED A DISTANT SECOND, BUT THAT SHOWS YOU HE HAS A BASE.

PEOPLE ARE STILL FAMILIAR WITH HEM WHEN HE RAN FOR AG AND WHEN HE GOT THE MOST VOTES IN THE STATE FOR THAT RACE.

HE HAS A BASE.

NOW, CAN HE TRANSLATE THAT BASE TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

I'M NOT SURE.

I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IF IT WASN'T FOR HIS PAST TRANSGRESSIONS, YOU CAB TALKING ABOUT THE FRONTRUNNER CURTIS HILL BECAUSE THAT'S JUST HOW POPULAR HE WAS.

CAN HE TRANSLATE THAT TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, I'M NOT SURE.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY ALREADY IN THAT RACE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ALREADY HAVE KIND OF TAKEN THE SIDES ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

WOULD HE PUSH IT FURTHER RIGHT?

MOST LIKELY BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE HE GOT HIS CREDIBILITY IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS BEING FURTHER RIGHT ON THESE SOCIAL ISSUES, WHICH COULD KIND OF ACCESS A NEW POT OF MONEY FOR HIM PER SE.

THERE IS CERTAINLY A PATH, BUT IT MAY BE A LITTLE TOO LATE JUST BY HOW ESTABLISHED THE THREE FRONTRUNNERS ALREADY ARE.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH CHRIS WHEN HE SAYS IF IF NOT FOR THE TRANSGRESSIONS, I THINK HE WOULD BE FRONTRUNNER BECAUSE HE WAS INCREDIBLIABLY POPULAR AND A RISING STAR.

THOSE TRANSGRESSIONS ARE GOING TO WEIGH HEM DOWN.

ARE THEY ENOUGH TO WEIGH HIM DOWN TO KEEP HIM OUT?

>> REPUBLICANS HAVE A BET OF A HIT OF NOMINATING GROPERS.

IF WE REMEMBER THE TAPES FROM DONALD TRUMP'S FIRST RUN IN HOLLYWOOD.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO NECESSARILY BE A DETRIMENT.

HENEVER YOU HAVE A PRIMARY THAT IS THAT WIDE OPEN AND YOU HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF VOTERS IN THERE, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

IS IT POSSIBLE THEY WOULD NOMINATE HEM AFTER WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID ABOUT HIM CRIMINALLY ABUSING WOMEN?

ABSOLUTELY.

>> DOES CURTIS HILL HAVE A PATH IN THE PRIMARY?

>> I THINK IF RON OR CROUCH WEREN'T IN, YES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE OVERCOMES THEIR, A, MONEY THAT THEY'VE RAISED, THEIR NAME ID, AND, OF COURSE, THE ISSUES WITH HIM HARASSING, TOUCHING WOMEN INAPPROPRIATELY.

YEAH, I DON'T SEE HIM GETTING PAST THE FRONT RUNNERS.

>> TO ME THE BIGGEST THING HERE IS I THINK CHRIS ARTICULATED IT, WHICH IS THERE IS -- IF YOU THINK ABOUT SUZANNE CROUCH ON THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, ON THE TRAIL HAS BEEN TRYING TO TACK RIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S -- >> WELL, TRYING.

>> THAT'S A POSITION SHE'S NEVER REALLY ARTICULATED BEFORE NOW.

MIKE BRAUN IS MIKE BRAUN.

ERIC DODEN NOT HARD RIGHT.

>> AND THE OUTSIDER.

>> AND THE OUTSIDER.

BUT THERE IS A HARD RIGHT BASE THERE THAT CURTIS HILL ALREADY HAS QUITE A LOT OF INFLUENCE WITH, BUT THE MONEY, THE MONEY, THE MONEY.

YOU'RE FACING SELF-FUNDERS AND PEOPLE WHO WILL GOBBLE UP A LOT OF JUST -- THERE'S A FINITE AMOUNT OF VOTERS AND A FINITE NUMBER OF -- OR AMOUNT OF CASH REALISTICALLY THAT'S GOING TO BE PUT INTO THIS RACE.

>> YOU CAN REACH THAT FINITE UNIVERSE WITHOUT TELEVISION.

IT'S NOT THAT BIG.

>> BUT IS HE GOING TO BE -- >> HE NEEDS TO GET IN NOW.

>> IS HE GOING TO BE ABLE TO -- >> YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT MONEY.

YOU HATE TO SAY THAT MONEY IS EVERYTHING, BUT IT IS A BIG THING.

CERTAINLY IN A RACE, A STATEWIDE RACE.

HE IS NOT ABLE TO SELF-FUND, I DON'T THINK, UNLESS HE HAS DONE SOMETHING AND WON THE LOTTERY SINCE WE LAST SPOKE.

THAT PUTS HIM AT A DISADVANTAGE.

GETTING INTO THE GAME A LITTLE BIT, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, LATE.

>> WHAT USED TO BE RIGHT ON TIME IS NOW VERY LATE.

>> NEW RULES.

THERE IS -- SOMEBODY ALLUDED THIS, THERE IS AN INVERSE CORRELATION BETWEEN PREDICTABILITY AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE RACE.

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE SOMETHING FIGURED OUT, THE MORE PEOPLE GET INTO THAT RACE, THE PREDICTABILITY, THE CERTAINTY GOES OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

>> YEAH,IST NOT LIKE YOU'RE SHOOTING FOR 50% OF THAT.

>> NO.

>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW DEDICATED YOUR 30% IS.

THAT'S WHAT COUNTS.

>> YOU SEE ALL KINDS OF HORSETRADING.

I'LL BACK OUT AND BRING YOU.

I'LL BRING MY PEOPLE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

>> YOU DO WONDER HOW MUCH HIS PAST TRANSGRESSIONS DID HAVE AN IMPACT IN THAT SECOND CONGRESSIONAL KIND OF PRIVATE GOP RACE BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT IT, EVEN DATING BACK TO THE AG'S OFFICE, HE JUST SAID, OH, IT'S FINE.

IT WASN'T FINE, BUT THAT'S IN THE PAST.

WE CAN MOVE PAST THAT, ACCIDENTND I'M NOT SURE IF HE TRIES TO COME BACK TO THAT TO THE ADDRESS THE PEOPLE COULD BE A HALFWAY POINT.

>> HE HAD A SOLID LITTLE BASE OF SUPPORT IN THAT SECOND DISTRICT PRECINCT CAUCUS -- OR IN THAT CAUCUS, BUT IT WAS A DISTANT SECOND.

RUDY WON ON THE FIRST BALLOT IN A LARGE FIELD OF CANDIDATES, WHICH IS HARD TO DO WITH THAT MANY CANDIDATES IN A PRIVATE CAUCUS.

WE'LL SEE.

TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC ONLINE POLL QUESTION.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION IS CAN CURTIS HILL WIN FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR?

A YES, B NO.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION WAS WILL MICAH BECKWITH BE THE GOP NOMINEE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

46% SAY YES.

86% SAY NO.

I'M NOT SURE I'M QUITE AS CONFIDENT AS THAT.

GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL.

>> INDIANA'S VOUCHER PROGRAM TO PAY FOR STUDENT TUITION IN PRIVATE AND -- STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED VOUCHERS ARE LESS RACIALLY DIVERSE THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

>> THE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM IS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO HELP LOW-INCOME STUDENTS.

IN THE PAST DECADE THE STATE'S REPUBLICAN MAJORITY EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY.

A NEW STATE REPORT DESCRIBES THE AVERAGE STUDENT NOW USING A VOUCHER AS WHITE AND COMING FROM A HOME WITH AN YM OF $81,000.

INDIANA'S MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS MUCH LESS THAN THAT.

THE REPORT SAYS MORE THAN 53,000 STUDENTS USED A VOUCHER LAST SCHOOL YEAR.

THE PROGRAM COST THE STATE MORE THAN $300 MILLION.

NEXT MONTH A NEW LAW WILL MAKE NEARLY ALL STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR A VOUCHER.

>> NIKI KELLY, AFTER WHAT THE LEGISLATURE JUST DID THIS PAST SESSION, DOES IT MATTER ANYMORE WHO THE VOUCHER PROGRAM SERVES?

>> IT MATTERS IN THE SENSE OF WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE STATE DOLLARS ARE GOING.

FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, AFTER THE NEW LAW GOES INTO EFFECT JULY 1, IT COVERS VIRTUALLY EVERY CHILD IN THE STATE.

>> EXCEPT THE WEALTHIEST OF THE WEALTHY.

>> VIRTUALLY.

IT'S LIKE 3% THAT IT WON'T COVER.

BUT I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WHO WE'RE GIVING THE MONEY TO.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF IT ENDS UP SKEWING EVEN MORE ALL WHITE, ALL RICH, ALL SUBURBAN, I MEAN, AT SOME POINT IT'S AN UNFUNDED LIABILITY THAT'S GOING TO RIVAL -- THAT'S JUST GOING TO KEEP RIVALLING THE OTHER.

OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO I HOPE THAT LAWMAKERS READ THESE REPORTS, ALTHOUGH I'M PRETTY SURE, AT LEAST REPUBLICANS, WOULD BE PRETTY HAPPY WITH IT.

>> TO THAT POINT IN THE SENSE THAT DOES IT MATTER WHO IT SERVES?

I GUESS THE WAY I'LL ASK IT TO YOU IS, TO REPUBLICANS DOES IT MATTER WHO IT SERVES AS LONG AS WHOEVER WANTS IT GETS IT?

>> NOT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ENVISION THIS WHOLE THING BACK A DECADE AGO AND WERE THE ARCHITECTS OF IT.

I THINK THEY WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE IT BE TRULY UNIVERSAL, WHICH, AGAIN, FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES IT IS, AND IF THAT MEANS THAT FAMILIES, WELL-HEELED FAMILIES, ARE SENDING KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOL USING VOUCHERS AND THEY WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE SAME SCHOOLS OTHERWISE, SO BE IT.

THE QUESTION IS, THERE ISN'T ANY -- PEOPLE -- ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS WE HEARD THIS SESSION WAS, IT'S, WHAT, 93% OF PEOPLE GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT 7%.

THERE'S NO CAP.

THERE'S NO GUIDELINES.

>> REMEMBER WHEN THAT WAS 2%.

>> THEORETICALLY, IN THEORY, IF YOU HAD ENOUGH PEOPLE GETTING INTO THE EDUCATION BUSINESS, AND THEY TEND -- THE DOLLARS IN EDUCATION TEND TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE GAME, YOU COULD HAVE 80%.

AGAIN, NOT LIKELY.

YOU COULD HAVE IT THE OTHER DIRECTION.

THEN, YOU DON'T ROLL IT BACK BECAUSE THAT'S THE REAL CHALLENGE.

GOOD LUCK TO ANYBODY WHO KNOWS AND TELLS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE WELL-HEELED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE POLITICAL CLOUT AND CAN SAY, YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THIS HARD-EARNED BENEFIT THAT I -- >> IT'S NOT HARD-EARNED.

IT'S A GIFT.

>> LET ME ASK THIS.

THIS BREAKDOWN WAS LARGELY ABOUT WHO THE STUDENT IS, BUT IS THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY UNIVERSAL, IS THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION GOING TO BE OUTCOMES?

ARE WE ACTUALLY SERVING THESE STUDENTS THAT WE ARE GIVING PUBLIC DOLLARS TO AS WELL AS WE COULD BE IF THEY WERE BEING SERVED IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL?

>> THERE IS A PUSH FOR THAT, RIGHT?

SENATOR RYAN MISHLER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SAID HE IS NOT THE BIGGEST FAN OF THIS BECAUSE THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY, NO OUTCOME.

WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON THE OUTCOMES.

AS OF RIGHT NOW I DON'T SEE THE OUTCOMES NECESSARY IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS HUGE EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY.

SO I DEFINITELY THINK THERE IS A VOICE NOT ONLY THE SENATOR, BUT MAYBE THOSE IN THE SENATE CAUCUS AND MAYBE SOME OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS AS WELL THAT WANT TO FOCUS ON THE OUTCOMES.

INFORMATION LIKE THIS IS NEVER BAD.

YEAH, IT'S EXACTLY KIND OF WHAT WE EXPECTED.

MORE WEALTHY, TYPICALLY MORE WHITE PEOPLE GETTING MORE INVOLVED IN THIS.

BUT I'M HOPING WITH THESE NUMBERS WE CAN ALSO START TALKING ABOUT OUTREACH AND HOW IF WE DO SEE THAT MAYBE THE BLACK POPULATION, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO THE WHITE -- DISPROPORTIONATELY IS NOT RAISING FAST ENOUGH.

THAT'S WHERE WE CAN START IDEALLY TARGETING THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS TO TRY TO PUSH THIS PROGRAM FURTHER.

>> THIS IS A CLASSIC BAIT AND SWITCH REPUBLICAN.

REMEMBER WHEN THIS STARTED?

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE POOR KIDS OUT OF FAILING SCHOOLS.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO PDO.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

WE'RE NOW GOING TO BE SUBSIDYIZING PARK TUTOR.

>> PARK TUTOR DOESN'T TAKE VOUCHERS.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> FOR NOW.

>> FOR NOW.

>> THAT'S ON THE RISE AS WELL.

>> THAT ISSUE ASIDE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY RURAL REPUBLICANS PUT UP WITH THIS.

YOU DON'T HAVE CHOICE IN A LOT OF THESE RURAL COUNTIES.

THEY'RE TAKING MONEY FROM THE INSTITUTIONS THAT THESE PEOPLE IN RURAL COUNTIES VALUE, THEIR SCHOOLS, AND YOU'RE TAKING IT AWAY TO PUT IT INTO METROPOLITAN AREAS FOR RICH PEOPLE.

>> AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORE THAN DECADE SINCE WE FINALLY SAW THAT START TO REAR ITS HEAD IN THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS THIS YEAR, BUT LET ME ASK YOU THIS, NIKI.

BECAUSE WE JUST TALKED TODAY, THIS WEEK THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND TALKED TO ROB BRAY AND TODD HOUSTON ABOUT MANY SOME THINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ROB BRAY SAID IS THE THING THAT KEEPS HIM UP AT NIGHT IS MEDICAID.

IT'S THE FASTEST GROWING PART OF THE INDIANA BUDGET.

>> UNTIL NOW.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTEY TRUE PCERTAINLY IN THE DOLLARS, BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PERCENTAGE INCREASES, THE FASTEST GROWING PART OF THE BUDGET IS THE VOUCHER PROGRAM.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM -- WELL, THE SENATE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE HOUSE.

>> THEY'RE REPUBLICANS, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT IS HELPING PEOPLE THEY DON'T THINK ARE THEIR VOTERS THAN A PROGRAM THAT IS HELPING THEIR VOTERS.

>> GENERAL MOTORS THIS WEEK FINALLY ANNOUNCED A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT TO BUILD ITS ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PLANT IN ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

WBPE'S MAREK MAZUREK REPORTS ON THE IMPACT.

>> GENERAL MOTORS AND SAMSUNG WILL BUILD A BATTERY PLANT ON NEARLY 660 ACRES OF LAND IN WESTERN ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

ESTIMATES FOR THE PLANT CALL FOR A $3.5 BILLION INVESTMENT THAT WILL CREATE THOUSANDS OF CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND AROUND 1,600 FULL-TIME JOBS ONCE THE PLANT IS COMPLETED.

JEFF REA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH BEND REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CALLED THE PROJECT A GAME CHANGER FOR THE REGION'S ECONOMY.

>> THE WAGES ALONE WILL GENERATE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER $600 MILLION A YEAR, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL.

NEVER IN OUR LIFETIME HAVE WE SEEN A PROJECT THAT HAS THAT KIND OF AN IMPACT.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO START THIS YEAR AND THE PLANT COULD BE OPERATIONAL BY 2026.

>> JON SCHWANTES, THERE WAS ALSO NEWS RECENTLY THAT 91 OUT OF 92 INDIANA COUNTIES TRAIL THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IN WAGES.

ONLY MARION COUNTY IS JUST BARELY ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

EVEN ACCOUNTING FOR COST OF LIVING, INDIANA IS NOT DOING WELL.

HOW BIG IS A PROJECT LIKE THIS TOWARDS REVERSING SOME OF THAT TREND?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY BIG.

NOW IT WILL BE 90 INSTEAD OF 91.

YOU LOVE TO SEE THESE KINDS OF ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND YOU HOPE WE SEE MORE OF THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

THE ONUS NOW IS ON THE STATE, AND THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND OTHERS WHO HAVE SAID WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT CAN ADAPT TO THESE COMPANIES THAT COME IN WITH RELATIVELY HIGH-PAYING JOBS AND SO FORTH.

WE CAN'T BE IN A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE SHOW UP.

WE LIKE YOUR INCENTIVES.

THANK YOU, STATE, FOR HELPING SMOOTH THE PATH.

WE'RE HERE.

HANG OUT THE SIGN HELP WANTED, AND NOBODY WHO IS QUALIFIED SHOWS UP.

THAT'S WHERE THE PART TWO OF THE CHALLENGE IS.

>> TO THAT END, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

THE LEGISLATURE TALKS A LOT ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

THE GOVERNOR TALKS A LOT ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU STILL HAVE COMPANIES LIKE THIS ANNOUNCING THIS, AND AT THE SAME TIME THIS WEEK ALSO I THINK IT WAS -- IS IT THE GM PLANT IN FORT WAYNE, IS GOING TO INVEST MORE THAN $600 MILLION TO BUILD OUT THE PLANT THEY ALREADY HAVE THERE THAT'S GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANUFACTURING.

THAT'S THE FUTURE.

AT THE SAME TIME THESE COMPANIES ARE SAYING, HEY, YOU NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON THIS, THEY'RE ALSO COMING HERE.

WHAT MESSAGE SHOULD WE BE TAKING AWAY FROM THAT?

>> INDIANA IS NOT THE ONLY ONE STRUGGLING WITH WORKFORCE ISSUES, SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MAKING THEIR DECISION BASED ON A HOST OF FACTORS.

NOT JUST THAT ONE.

I WILL SAY HAVING WATCHED ANNOUNEMENTS LIKE THIS FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT LIKE THIS.

BUT THOSE WAGE NUMBERS ARE REALLY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE DESPITE ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT, WE DON'T SEEM TO EVER MOVE THE NEEDLE IN A WAY THAT HELPS HOOSIERS -- >> WE'RE STILL -- >> TO GO TO THE OTHER COUNTIES -- OR THE OTHER STATES.

>> THIS IS UNQUESTIONABLY GOOD NEWS.

>> RIGHT.

>> HOW DO WE MOVE THE NEEDLE WHEN WE'RE GETTING THESE SORTS OF ANNOUNCEMENTS?

THIS IS NOT IN ISOLATION.

WE KEEP GETTING ANNOUNCEMENTS LIKE THIS.

>> IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE THE STATE THAT WORKS FOR LESS, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

PART OF THAT COMES FROM EDUCATION.

WE OUGHT TO BE FUNDING PRE-K EDUCATION IN THIS STATE.

WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING IT TEN YEARS AGO.

YET, NOW WHEN YOU CAN GET A VOUCHER MAKING $220,000 A YEAR, YOU CAN'T GET A PRESCHOOL VOUCHER IF YOU ARE MAKING, WHAT, LESS THAN $30,000 -- OR MORE THAN $30,000.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> I WILL SAY THAT IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE IS -- THAT GAP EXISTS, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECOGNITION AT THE STATEHOUSE THAT FINALLY WE NEED TO BE DOING -- RISING TIDE LIFT ALL BOATS KIND OF THING.

>> WE DO IT WITH LITTLE LEGGOS.

>> PURDUE AND INDIANA OFFICIALS FORMALLY AGREED TO SEPARATE IUPUI.

IU INDIANAPOLIS AND PURDUE INDIANAPOLIS.

ANN DELANEY, THERE'S STILL AN ATHLETICS PROGRAM, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD GET A NEW NAME AND MASCOT.

WHAT SHOULD IT BE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A GREAT THING FOR INDIANAPOLIS.

RICHARD LUGER PUSHED FOR THIS 30 YEARS AGO.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LEGGO STEPS, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY NEED A NEW MASCOT AT ALL.

IU HAS THE CANDY STRIPE, AND IT SERVED THEM PRETTY DARN WELL.

MAYBE THEY COULD DO IT HORIZONTALLY INSTEAD OF VERTICALLY.

>> HORIZONTAL CANDY STRIPES.

NOT SURE THERE'S ENOUGH DISTINCT BRANDING THERE.

NIKI, YOU HAD ONE FOR US.

>> FORT WAYNE WENT WITH THE MASTADON.

I THINK FOLLOWING IN THAT TRADITION, MAYBE THE FIREFLIES BECAUSE IT'S THE STATE INSECT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT MENACING.

>> YOU COULD MAKE A MENACING FIREFLIES.

>> YOU HAD THE TREES, AND THAT'S HARDLY MENACING TOO.

>> HOW ABOUT THE CAPITALS?

IT IS A CAPITAL CITY.

IT'S RIGHT NEAR THE STATEHOUSE.

>> I'M DISAPPOINTED, BUT THE SPEEDWAY IS RIGHT THERE.

LET'S CONNECT THE TWO.

>> RACERS, I DON'T KNOW.

>> THE RACERS WERE THE HOCKEY TEAM YEARS AGO.

>> IT'S ASKING FOR IT.

>> I JUST STOLE ALL THOSE NAMES.

>> 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 APP.

I'M BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.

♪ >> THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

IT'S AN WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA'S