♪♪ >> INDIANA'S NEW SECRETARY OF >> INDIANA'S NEW SECRETARY OF STATE.

INDIANA NOT GETTING ITS FAIR SHARE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

PLUS, CHANGES TO THE EMERGENCY POWERS BILL AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 19TH, 2021.

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

ICE MILLER IS A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO HELPING CLIENTS BUILD, GROW AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

MORE AT ICEMILLER.COM.

>> THIS WEEK, REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOLLI SULLIVAN BECAME INDIANA'S NEW SECRETARY OF STATE, SWORN IN TUESDAY AFTER THE GOVERNOR PICKED HER TO REPLACE RETIRING SECRETARY CONNIE LAWSON.

>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS SULLIVAN WAS AT THE TOP OF HIS LIST TO SERVE AS THE STATE'S NEW SECRETARY OF STATE.

HE LAUDS HER LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE.

SULLIVAN SERVED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SINCE 2014, HER PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE.

THE EVANSVILLE NATIVE HAS AN ENGINEERING BACKGROUND.

AND HER COMMITMENT TO HER COMMUNITY.

>> GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: THE WAY YOU LEAN INTO HELPING WOMEN DEVELOP AND STEERING YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> SULLIVAN WAS ASKED SEVERAL QUESTIONS BY REPORTERS ABOUT HER STANCE ON ELECTION ISSUES.

SHE LARGELY DEFLECTED, SAYING HER TOP PRIORITY IS TO “SAFEGUARD INDIANA'S RECORD OF FREE, FAIR AND SECURE ELECTIONS.

>> SECRETARY HOLLI SULLIVAN: ENSURE THAT HOOSIERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TURN OUT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT EACH OF THEIR VOTES WILL COUNT.

>> THE INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CRITICIZED SULLIVAN FOR REFUSING TO SAY, IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION, THAT THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS LEGITIMATE.

>> IS HOLLI SULLIVAN A GOOD CHOICE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE?

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

DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.

REPUBLICAN JOEY FOX.

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, IS HOLLI SULLIVAN A GOOD CHOICE?

>> YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A STRONG OPINION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

SHE'S NOT BEEN VERY VISIBLE IN THIS PART OF THE STATE.

I WAS VERY DISTURBED WHEN I HEARD HER PRESS CONFERENCE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT OCCURRED, NOT ONLY DID SHE PERPETUATE THE LIE THAT MIKE BRAUN AND TODD ROKITA ARE PUTTING OUT THERE THAT SOMEHOW JOE BIDEN IS NOT IT THE DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT.

THE OTHER THING, SHE WANTED TO PERPETUATE INDIANA'S OUTSTANDING RECORD IN TERMS OF ELECTIONS.

WE'RE IN THE BOTTOM 10 OF THE 50 STATES IN TURNOUT.

AND WE'RE THERE IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF A, GERRYMANDERING, AND B, THE KIND OF JIM CROW LAWS ADOPTED.

THEY DON'T BY THEMSELVES TAKE AWAY THE VOTES OF MASSES OF PEOPLE.

BUT INDIVIDUALLY THEY TAKE PERCENTAGES OUT OF IT.

YOU CAN'T VOTE BY MAIL, THEY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO VOTE EARLY IN A U AREA, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EXCUSE FOR ABSENTEES, YOU HAVE TO PRESENT ID EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE NEVER HAD A DOCUMENTED CASE OF FRAUD AT THE POLLS IN INDIANA.

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO BE THE TOP ELECTION OFFICIAL FOR THE STATE COULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE BIPARTISAN IN HER APPROACH AND SAID, LOOK, WE HAD A FAIR ELECTION HERE, WE HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT, I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR AS MANY HOOSIERS AS WANT TO VOTE TO VOTE.

AND SHE DIDN'T DO THAT.

THAT'S KIND OF DISTURBING.

>> ANN, I THINK THAT'S A HECK OF A SET OF ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND LEADERSHIP.

>> THEY'RE ALL TRUE.

>> WE HAVE JUST COME OUT OF WHAT WAS THE HIGHEST TURNOUT ELECTION.

>> AND 10% BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> 92.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE COMPETITIVE RACES, WHEN YOU HAVE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT, PEOPLE TURN OUT TO VOTE, HOLLI SULLIVAN IS A GREAT CHOICE, A COMMITTED ENGINEER, KNOWS HOW TO DO PROCESSES.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSET IN THAT OFFICE.

AND SHE SAID, JUST AS CONNIE LAWSON AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THAT OFFICE HAVE SAID FOR A LONG TIME, WANT IT TO BE REALLY EASY TO VOTE AND REALLY HARD TO CHEAT.

>> HA, HA.

>> ANN, YOU CAN LAUGH IF YOU WANT.

>> IT IS NOT TRUE.

>> THAT'S WHY OUR TURNOUT IS AS LOW AS IT IS.

>> OKAY.

IF WE'RE GOING TO JUST ARGUE AND YELL OVER EACH OTHER, THAT'S ONE OPTION.

>> THAT'S AN OPTION.

>> IT IS, RIGHT.

WE DO ENJOY THAT.

>> [LAUGHTER].

>> WE CAN'T HAVE -- ACCUSED OF JIM CROW LAWS, THAT IS COMPLETELY OFFENSIVE TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

>> IT IS OFFENSIVE TO VOTERS.

IT IS OFFENSIVE TO VOTERS.

>> AND LEADERSHIP IN THE STATE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> DOES HOLLI SULLIVAN MAKE SENSE AS THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE?

BE IN THAT OFFICE FOR THE NEXT NINE, TEN YEARS?

>> THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE, DOES SHE MAKE SENSE ON PAPER AS A GOOD CANDIDATE?

AND YES, SHE CHECKS ALL THE BOXES.

SHE'S SOMEBODY WHO HAS HAD A LONG TENURE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SHE WAS FROM A PART OF THE STATE THAT GIVES THE PARTY SOME GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION, NOT FROM INDIANAPOLIS.

SHE -- THE ENGINEERING BACKGROUND SEEMS TO BE A POPULAR THINGS THESE DAYS IN TERMS OF APPROACHING PROBLEMS IN A METHODICAL WAY.

SO, YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, AND, YES, SHE WAS AN OFFICER IN THE STATE, FOR THE STATE COMMITTEE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SO SHE'S FAMILIAR TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ALREADY THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

ALL OF THAT.

THE SECOND QUESTION, AS I SAY, HOW DID SHE HANDLE HER DEBUT IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ASKED.

AND MAYBE THAT WAS NOT AS STELLAR IN TERMS OF MAYBE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT THERE WOULD BE THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS.

IN SOME WAYS, HER ANSWERS ACTUALLY PUT HER AT ODDS WITH LEADERSHIP OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN HER OWN CHAMBER, AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM WHO HAVE EFFECTIVELY SAID THAT JOE BIDEN WAS ELECTED IN A DULY -- IN A PROPER MANNER, IN A PROPER ELECTION.

SO MAYBE SHE WOULD WANT A MULLIGAN ON HER COMING OUT PARTY.

BUT, IF YOU ASK THE TWO QUESTIONS DID SHE MAKE SENSE?

YES.

WOULD SHE MAYBE ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS DIFFERENTLY IN HINDSIGHT?

YES, >> SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE THAT CERTAINLY HER PREDECESSOR HAD, CONNIE LAWSON, DOES THAT REALLY MATTER IN THAT OFFICE THAT MUCH?

>> I THINK AT HER POSITION, PROBABLY NOT AS MUCH OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE MORE WORKING DIRECTLY IN THE INDIANA ELECTION DIVISION, YOU IMMEDIATE TO MEET ON HOW EVERY PROCESS WORKS, EVERY FORM, AND BALLOT INSTRUCTIONS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT AT HER LEVEL, I THINK SHE'LL PROBABLY DO FINE.

AND SHE'S WORKED ON SOME ELECTION BILLS, SHE HAS SOME EXPERIENCE IN THERE.

I DO AGREE WITH JON SHE PROBABLY DIDN'T HANDLE THE POLICY QUESTIONS SHE WAS GIVEN VERY WELL AT ALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

INDIANA HAS BEGUN TO LAG OTHER STATES IN GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED FOR COVID-19 AND OFFICIALS SAY THAT'S IN PART BECAUSE THE STATE ISN'T GETTING AS ANY DOSES.

>> NEIGHBORING STATES HAVE BEGUN TO OPEN VACCINE ELIGIBILITY TO ALL AGE GROUPS.

INDIANA THIS WEEK OPENED IT TO THOSE AGE 45 AND OLDER.

STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER DOCTOR KRIS BOX SAYS THE STATE IS WORKING TO OPEN ELIGIBILITY TO ALL BY MAY 1, THE TARGET DATE SET BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> DR. KRIS BOX: WHETHER WE HAVE VACCINE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE, THOUGH, DEPENDS ON OUR SUPPLY OF VACCINE.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CDC, ONLY SIX STATES HAVE RECEIVED FEWER DOSES PER 100-THOUSAND PEOPLE.

INDIANA IS 17TH IN THE COUNTRY IN POPULATION.

BUT BOX SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED THINGS SHOULD BE LOOKING UP SOON.

>> DR. KRIS BOX: WE WILL ALL BE RECEIVING LARGE AMOUNTS OF VACCINE BY THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH AND INTO APRIL.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS HE'LL DELIVER A STATEWIDE ADDRESS TUESDAY, CHARTING A PATH FOR THE STATE OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

JOEY FOX, DOES INDIANA HAVE A LEGITIMATE GRIPE WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION?

>> I THINK SO.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WHAT DR.

BOX ALLUDED TO IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE, IN SOME WAYS WE'RE BEING PUNISHED FOR OUR OWN SUCCESS, GETTING IT IN ARMS.

A LOT OF OTHER STATES LAGGING BEHIND AND GETTING THEIR AVAILABLE SHOTS INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FEMA ARE THEN MAKING THESE MASSIVE ALLOTMENTS FOR THESE BIG SUPER SITES TO TRY AND GET THE NUMBERS BACK UP.

THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THIS VACCINE IS GOING, IN STATES THAT AREN'T DOING AS WELL AS WE ARE.

IN SOME WAYS WE'RE BEING PUNISHED FOR OUR SUCCESS AT THIS.

BUT I THINK AS DR.

BOX ALLUDED TO, AS WELL, I THINK THAT PROBLEM NOW WITH SO MUCH PRODUCTION RUNNING AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND ALL THREE VACCINES MAYBE MORE OVER TIME, I EXPECT THIS TO BE CORRECTED SOON.

>> DR.

BOX IS TELLING STATES TO EXPECT A LOT MORE DOSES REGULARLY STARTING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO IS THIS REALLY A MOOT POINT PRETTY SOON, HOPEFULLY.

>> I THINK SO.

THE PRESIDENT PROMISED 100 MILLION VACCINATIONS WITHIN THE FIRST 100 DAYS, HE'S ALREADY EXCEEDED THAT.

SO HIS OBVIOUS EMPHASIS IS ON DEALING WITH THIS PANDEMIC, NOT SWEEPING IT UNDER THE RUG.

AND GETTING THE VACCINES OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK IT PANDEMIC.

>> THE SENATE'S ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE BLOCKED THE GOVERNOR FROM DECLARING A PUBLIC EMERGENCY FOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS.

THE LANGUAGE APPROVED THURSDAY ALLOWS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - A PANEL OF LEGISLATIVE LEADERS - TO CALL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTO A SPECIAL SESSION DURING AN EMERGENCY.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY SAYS THE BILL ALSO CREATES A NEW ADVISORY GROUP OF LAWMAKERS TO ACT AS A GO-BETWEEN FOR THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>> SEN. RODRIC BRAY (R-MARTINSVILLE): THIS WOULD LARGELY BE DONE AS A KIND OF A CONDUIT FOR CONVERSATIONS AND DATA AND INFORMATION TO PASS BETWEEN THE TWO BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

>> THE MEASURE ALSO EMPOWERS THE LEGISLATURE TO PLAY A BIGGER ROLE IN SPENDING FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY.

THERE ARE STILL CONCERNS THE LEGISLATION IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL - BRAY SAY HE HOPES IT DOESN'T GO TO COURT.

>> JON SCHWANTES, I'LL ASK YOU THE IS THIS THE COMPROMISE WE EXPECTED?

>> WE WERE ALL EXPECTING SOME SORT OF MEASURE THAT WAS NOT NEARLY AS STRIDENT OR DRASTIC AS THOSE COMING OUT OF THE GATE.

YEAH, I THINK IT CERTAINLY IS MUSTACHE -- MUCH MORE OF A MIDDLE GROUND APPROACH.

I'M NOT A LAWYER, ON LAWMAKERS, PLUG FOR THE OTHER SHOW, ON MANY OF THESE SAME DIVISION STATIONS, WE DID HAVE FORMER JUSTICE FRANK SULLIVAN OF THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT WHO IS A LAWYER, AND HAS BETTER CREDIT DEN SHALS THAN I, SAID IF YOU READED INDIANA C COON -- CONSTITUTION.

IT IS NOT A PROBLEM UNLESS SOMEBODY CHALLENGES IT, AND I DON'T KNOW, DOES SOMEBODY CHALLENGE IT.

THAT'S THE BIGGER QUESTION.

>> A REALLY GOOD QUESTION WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE LAST DAY OR SO AMONG OURSELVES.

NIKI, IF YOU'RE GOVERNOR HOLCOMB, LET'S SAY THIS DOES BECOME LAW AND SOMEHOW FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL, ARE YOU THAT UPSET WITH THE BILL AS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW?

>> I MEAN HE HAS MADE AN ISSUE IN RECENT WEEKS ABOUT TH CONSTITUTIONALITY.

SO, I THINK HE HAS TO STAND UP FOR THAT, AND AS SEPARATION OF POWERS, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATION, HE HAS TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE GOVERNORS, AND WHETHER THEY'RE GETTING PUT IN A BOX.

I MEAN, COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THEY WERE DISCUSSING, IT'S NOT ALL THAT HATEFUL, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE HAS TO LOOK [LAUGHTER].

>> TALK ABOUT -- >> I WATCHED THAT COMMITTEE HEARING, TOO.

AND WE ASKED SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY RIGHT AFTER THAT COMMITTEE HEARING, IS THIS GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO COURT?

AND HIS ANSWER WAS I HOPE NOT.

>> THERE IS NO WAY IT DOESN'T GO TO COURT.

THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THE GOVERNOR CALLS PERIOD, IT DOESN'T SAY COUNCIL, LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP.

IT SAYS THE GOVERNOR.

I UNDERSTAND THE LEGISLATURE, AT LEAST SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE ANGRY ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

ALL OF US WOULD RATHER IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

BUT THEY'RE TAKING THEIR ANGER OUT ON THE GOVERNOR WHO IS TRYING TO DO, FRANKLY, THE BEST THAT HE CAN DO WITHIN THE CONFINES OF HIS RIGHT WING PARTY, AND THE PANDEMIC THAT THREATENS THE ECONOMY.

AND TO TRY TO PENALIZE HIM FOR SOMETHING OVER WHICH HE HAD NO CONTROL IS RIDICULOUS, AND THIS WILL BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> LEGISLATURE ALL ALONG SAID AT THE VERY MINIMUM THEY WANT TO HAVE MORE OF A VOICE IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS WERE EVER TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

A WIDE SCALE EMERGENCY WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN SESSION.

IS THE FACT THAT THIS RELATIVELY TAME SOLUTION TO DOING THAT MIGHT BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL SHOW HOW TOUGH A NEEDLE THAT IS TO THREAD?

>> OF COURSE THIS IS A TOUGH NEEDLE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO KEEP IN MIND IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS YOU REALLY HAVE TWO THINGS GOING ON, YOU HAVE A POLITICAL PROCESS, AND YOU HAVE A POLICY-MAKING PROCESS.

SOMETIMES THOSE ARE THE SAME THING, AND OFTENTIMES THEY'RE NOT.

I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING UP TO THIS POINT A LARGELY POLITICAL PROCESS PLAY OUT WHERE MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE STATE, AND IF WE -- I'M CLEARLY STUCK IN THE KIND OF INDIANAPOLIS NEWS BUBBLE, NIKI'S NOT, SOME OF THE REST OF US.

THIS IS VIEWED AND THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS ARE VIEWED VERY DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES BRING THAT PERSPECTIVE BACK.

TO ANN'S POINT, I THINK SOME ARE ANGRY HOW THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED AND WANT TO HAVE MORE INFLUENCE IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THE DIALING IN OF GETTING THIS CLOSER TO A TRUE POLICY ANSWER THAT I DON'T THINK THE BILL IS DONE YET.

>> THEY CAN VOTE FOR IT, AND IT WILL BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND THEY'LL HAVE DONE SOMETHING, AND IT WON'T HAVE ANY IMPACT.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT -- IF YOU ARE BORED, GO TO A WEBSITE, YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER STATES, CONFERENCES STATE LEGISLATURES, AND MAYBE A WAY AROUND THIS, I'M NOT SUGGESTING SOMETHING BE DONE IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, NOT MY PLACE, A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN SOME PLACES CAN PROVIDE THE APPROVAL.

THAT MEANS THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK INTO SESSION IF THEY ALREADY HAVE A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT'S ALREADY APPOINTED AND COULD WEIGH IN.

>> SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, I THINK KAREN TALLIAN MENTIONED THIS YESTERDAY IN A COMMITTEE, WE SHOULD BE CHANGING THE EMERGENCY POWERS STATUTE, WHICH YOU CAN DO BECAUSE IT IS THE LEGISLATURE THAT GAVE THE POWER, THE GOVERNOR ALL THIS POWER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> INDIANA LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAY THEY WANT TO END THE 2021 SESSION MORE THAN A WEEK EARLY.

AND THEY PLAN TO TAKE THE UNUSUAL STEP OF MOVING UP THEIR DEADLINES TO DO SO.

STATE LAW SAYS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS UNTIL APRIL 29 TO FINISH ITS WORK.

BUT SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY SAYS LAWMAKERS HOPE TO WRAP UP BY APRIL 21.

>> SEN. RODRIC BRAY (R-MARTINSVILLE): IT'S MORE EFFICIENT, SAVES THE STATE MONEY IF WE'RE NOT HERE A WEEK AND JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF WE GET OUR BUSINESS DONE AND GET BACK HOME, I THINK MOST HOOSIERS WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

>> LAWMAKERS OFTEN TRY TO END SESSION EARLY.

BUT THEY ALMOST NEVER MOVE UP OTHER DEADLINES TO DO SO, ONES THAT SAY WHEN BILLS MUST MOVE OUT OF COMMITTEES AND PASS THEIR SECOND CHAMBERS.

HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON SAYS THE LEGISLATURE MAY ALSO MOVE THOSE DATES UP A WEEK.

>> SPEAKER TODD HUSTON (R-FISHERS): DEADLINES SPUR ACTIONS AND THAT'S THE ONE THING WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE OF.

>> LAWMAKERS MUST STILL PASS A NEW STATE BUDGET AND LIKELY DECIDE HOW TO SPEND THREE BILLION DOLLARS IN NEW FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS.

>> NIKI KELLY, IN A SESSION THAT'S ADDRESSING, IN PART, A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME PANDEMIC IS GETTING DONE A WEEK EARLY A GOOD THING?

SOMETHING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

THE FACT IS YOU'VE GOT TWO REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITIES.

SO IF THEY IRON OUT ALL THE BIG BILLS BEFORE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, YOU DON'T NEED AS MUCH TIME FOR THAT FINAL NEGOTIATION, AS YOU WOULD IF YOU HAD DEMOCRATS.

NOW, THE HOUSE DID NOT SEEM AS, I GUESS, EXERCISE ABOUT GETTING OUT EARLY, MAYBE A FEW DAYS, NOT NECESSARILY A WHOLE WEEK.

AND YES, THE SENATE DID MOVE THEIR DEADLINES, BUT THEY CAN MOVE THEM BACK THE NEXT DAY.

SO I DON'T SEE IT AS THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY'VE DONE EVERY TIME FOR RECENT YEARS.

THEY'VE ALWAYS GOTTEN DONE THREE OR FOUR, FIVE DAYS EARLY, AND I THINK THEY WANT TO BANK SOME TIME FOR THE INEVITABLE SPECIAL SESSION LATER IN THE YEAR FOR REDISTRICTING.

>> JON SCHWANTES, BRAY AND HUSTON REFERENCE TO THAT POINT, HUSTON NOTICED THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK LATER IN 2021 TO REDRAW THE DISTRICT LINES, CAN'T HAPPEN DURING THE REGULAR SESSION BECAUSE THE CENSUS WORK HAS BEEN DELAYED FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, THE PANDEMIC PRINCIPALLY.

THEY SITE THE COST, THE COST TO ATTACKS.

DO TAXPAYERS CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR COST?

>> THEY MAY THINK THEY DID -- I THINK THE BEST ANSWER IS THE ONE JOEY GAVE A MINUTE AGO, THERE'S THE POLITICAL SIDE AND THE POLICY AND PRACTICAL SIDE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SAVING PENNIES, BASICALLY, IS WHAT THIS COMES DOWN TO, IN THE SCHEME OF A $36 BILLION BIENNIAL BUDGET, I'M NOT SAYING CHUMP CHANGE, BUT NOT ALLOWING THEM TO BUILD A SWINE BARN.

>> DOING THAT WITH CASH.

>> IT'S MORE SHOW, I THINK, CLEARLY ON THE -- JOEY'S POINT, THIS IS THE POLITICS SIDE, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, THEY DO OFTEN END EARLY, ONCE LOCKED IN, THINK HOW FRANTIC THOSE FINAL HOURS CAN BE.

IT WASN'T TOO MANY YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE KILLING FIELDS IN A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE PASS, AND BROUGHT SUPPORT AND DIED FOR LACK OF TIME.

>> BUT THOSE DIED ON A REGULAR DEADLINE.

THESE THEY CAN MOVE AT ANY TIME.

>> BUT A DEADLINE BECOMES -- >> JOEY, IF YOU WERE TO PREDICT, ARE THEY GOING TO GET DONE A WEEK EARLY?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE A FULL WEEK.

I THINK THEY MAY GET A FEW DAYS.

ONLY THE SENATE KIND OF DECLARED ITSELF TO BE DONE WITH THEIR COMMITTEES EARLIER.

IF YOU'RE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RIGHT NOW, DON'T YOU SAY, OH, OKAY, RIGHT?

I MIGHT ENJOY THIS EXTRA WEEK OF GETTING MY STUFF DONE.

I THINK THE POWER DYNAMICS ARE JUST INTERESTING.

TO NIKI'S POINT, YOU CAN MOVE THEM, YOU CAN MOVE THEM RIGHT BACK IF WE'RE NOT MAKING ENOUGH PROGRESS >> DO YOU THINK THEY'LL GET DONE A WEEK EARLY?

>> NOT IF THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING.

WE'VE GOT THE STIMULUS PACKAGE.

A LOT OF THAT REQUIRES LEGISLATION.

UNLESS THEY'RE GOING TO LET THE GOVERNOR SPEND IT ALL... >> THEY DIDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> YOU'VE GOT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR TRANSIT, FOR INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN, FOR EDUCATION, AND NO INPUT FROM THE LEGISLATURE?

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CENSUS IS COMPLETELY SCREWED UP ON THE TRUMP WATCH, I GOT THAT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO REDISTRICTING.

AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN DISCUSSING THAT.

ON TOP OF THAT, IF THEY'RE GOING TO REDISTRICT AS LATE AS THEY'RE GOING TO REDISTRICT, THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE DEADLINES ON SOME OF THAT.

NOT ALL OF THEM.

SOME ARE CONSTITUTIONAL.

AND THEY'RE NOT DEALING WITH ANY OF THOSE ISSUES.

NOT ANY OF THEM.

>> AT LEAST NOT YET.

STILL WAITING ON THAT BILL TO CHANGE THE LAW ABOUT REDISTRICTING.

I GUESS WE'LL SEE AT SOME POINT.

>> THAT'S WHAT THE BUDGET IS FOR, BRANDON.

>> THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PUT IT IN THE BUDGET.

WELL, SIX REFEREES WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO OFFICIATE THE MEN'S DIVISION ONE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN INDIANA HAVE BEEN REMOVED THIS WEEK FOLLOWING A POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST.

>> ONLY ONE OF THE SIX WAS REPORTED TO HAVE ACTUALLY TESTED POSITIVE, BUT THE N-C-DOUBLE A SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE OTHER FIVE INTERACTED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL FOR A PROLONGED AMOUNT OF TIME AND MUST QUARANTINE.

THE RISK OF EXPOSURE MAKES THEM UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UPCOMING GAMES.

THERE ARE FOUR PRE-APPROVED REPLACEMENT OFFICIALS AVAILABLE FOR MARCH MADNESS, BUT TWO WILL NOT BE REPLACED.

THIS WAS THE FIRST REPORTED COVID-19 CASE AMONG THOSE WHO ARE INSIDE THE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS BEEN CREATED FOR MARCH MADNESS.

>> JOEY FOX, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY EXCITED ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT BEING HERE IN INDIANA.

IS IT FAIR TO WORRY WHETHER ALL OF THESE TOURNAMENT GAMES WILL ACTUALLY GET PLAYED?

>> HAVE YOU TO BE WORRIED A LITTLE BIT ALL THE TIME.

BUT NOT ONLY IS IT EXCITING, I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD AS A HOOSIER AND A CITIZEN OF INDIANAPOLIS, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER IN SHORT TIME LINES, THE SPORTS CORP AND EVERYBODY WORKED ON THIS, IT'S REALLY BEEN INCREDIBLE, FUN TO SEE DOWNTOWN ALIVE A LITTLE BIT AGAIN.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF.

>> I'M GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR PREDICTIONS ON THE ACTUAL SPORTING EVENT IN A SECOND.

DO YOU THINK THAT ALL 68 GAMES, WHATEVER IT IS, 60-PLUS GAMES, DO YOU THINK THEY'LL ALL BE PLAYED?

>> I REALLY HOPE SO.

I THINK THEY'VE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB TRYING TO MAKE IT AS SAFE AS YOU CAN.

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES ANYWHERE.

BUT I THINK THEY'VE DONE A MASTERFUL JOB OF ISOLATING AND TESTING, AND TRYING TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE PLAYERS ARE AS SAFE AS THEY CAN BE.

I HOPE EVERY SINGLE GAME PLAYS.

>> IN THIS CASE, IT WAS AS I REFERENCED IN THE PIECE, ONLY ONE PERSON TESTED POSITIVE, BUT FIVE WHO WERE IN CLOSE CONTACT AND NOT WEARING THEIR MASKS, THEY ALL WENT OUT TO DINNER.

DOES THIS ALMOST SHOW HOW THE SYSTEM IS WORKING, IN A SENSE?

>> I MEAN, THEY'VE DONE 9100 TESTS BEFORE A PLAY KICKED OFF YESTERDAY, AND THERE WERE ONLY SOMETHING LIKE 8 POSTS.

I THINK TEAMS ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY, KEEPING SEPARATE, SPENDING TIME IN THEIR ROOMS.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS GOING OUT TO HANG AT THE STRIP CLUB, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> GOODNESS.

>> PUBLIC DIVISION.

>> JON, WHEN WE LOOK BACK ON THIS TERM ENTIRELY WITHIN INDIANA, ARE WE GOING TO BE PROUD OF THE RESULT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOBODY CAN DO IT THE WAY INDIANA CAN DO IT.

AND I THINK THE ONLY DANGER WE RUN IS THAT WE WANT TO DO IT THIS WAY EVER TIME.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT EAST, WEST, LET'S JUST DO IT ALL HERE, BLOOMINGTON IS FAR ENOUGH SOUTH, LAFAYETTE IS FAR ENOUGH NORTH.

WE COULD DO IT ALL HERE EVERY YEAR.

>> GOT MY VOTE.

FINALLY, THE NCAA DIVISION ONE MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT IS UNDERWAY HERE IN CENTRAL INDIANA, SO PANEL, I WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU'VE GOT WINNING THIS YEAR'S BIG DANCE.

ANN DELANEY, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> I WISH I COULD SAY I HAD AN INDIANA TEAM.

>> PURDUE.

>> I KNOW.

BUT I DON'T THINK -- >> YOU'RE AN I.U.

GRAD.

>> I'M GOING WITH GONZAGA.

>> JOEY FOX.

>> BAYLOR.

>> INTERESTING.

GONZAGA CERTAINLY ON PAPER, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A BIG TEN TEAM DO WELL, EVEN THE ONE THAT STARTS WITH P. >> I'M WITH YOU.

PUSHING THEM ALL TO THE SWEET 16.

JUST AFTER THAT.

>> THEN THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE LOYAL.

>> I'M GOING TO GO WITH GONZAGA.

>> I'M CHANGING MY ANSWER, THEN.

>> SHE TAKES IT BACK.

>> SHE NOW WANTS PURDUE.

>> ANOTHER FIRST ON THIS SHOW, ANN DeLANEY TAKES A BACK.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PICK MY MISSOURI TIGERS.

I EXPECT THEM TO GET OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND AND NO FARTHER AGAINST GONZAGA.

I'VE GOT MY HOME STATE, FLYING ILLINI.

I ASKED MIKE O'BRIEN, HE ALSO HAS ILLINI.

SO DOES GOVERNOR HOLCOMB.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.

REPUBLICAN JOEY FOX.

JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

AND NIKI KELLY OF THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

IF YOU'D LIKE A PODCAST OF THIS PROGRAM YOU CAN FIND IT AT WFYI.ORG/IWIR OR STARTING MONDAY YOU CAN STREAM IT OR GET IT ON DEMAND FROM XFINITY AND ON THE WFYI APP.

I'M BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, WEAR A MASK, GET A VACCINE IF YOU CAN.

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

♪♪ >> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS, AND BY ICE MILLER.

ICE MILLER IS A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO HELPING CLIENTS BUILD, GROW AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

MORE AT ICEMILLER.COM.

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

"INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW" IS A WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING