♪♪ >> PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARD >> PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS.

THE HOUSE GOP'S TAX CUT PACKAGE.

PLUS, TREY HOLLINGSWORTH BOWS OUT AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 14, 2022.

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

>> THIS WEEK, LEGISLATION LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING WOULD FORCE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES TO DECLARE A POLITICAL PARTY.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LINDSAY REPORTS, EVERYONE WHO SPOKE AT THE BILL'S FIRST HEARING OPPOSED THE BILL.

>> HOUSE BILL 1182 WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES TO IDENTIFY WITH A POLITICAL PARTY, AND INCLUDE THAT DESIGNATION ON THE BALLOT.

THE BILL'S AUTHOR, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE J.D.

PRESCOTT SAYS HE BELIEVES IT WOULD GIVE VOTERS MORE INSIGHT INTO CANDIDATES' BELIEFS.

>> REP. J.D.

PRESCOTT (R-UNION CITY): WHEN I LOOK AT REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS I THINK YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MORAL CHARACTER IN SOME CASES.

>> BUT PUBLIC COMMENT INCLUDED ONLY OPPOSITION TO THE IDEA.

THE INDIANA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION SUGGESTED COMMUNITIES THAT MIGHT WANT THAT CHANGE CAN AND SHOULD DO SO LOCALLY.

ISBA AND OTHERS SAID PARTY AFFILIATION COULD ACTUALLY REDUCE VOTERS' AWARENESS OF WHERE CANDIDATES STAND ON ISSUES AND LIMIT QUALIFIED CANDIDATES' INTEREST IN AND ACCESS TO SCHOOL BOARD RACES.

>> SHOULD SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES DECLARE A PARTY?

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

DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

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

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH.

MIKE O'BRIEN, IS MAKING SCHOOL BOARD RACES MORE PARTISAN A GOOD IDEA?

>> WELL, WE MIGHT FIND OUT IN A FEW MONTHS, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DECIDES.

THERE ARE REASONS TO DO THIS.

IT DOES GIVE YOU A HINT INTO WHAT -- WHERE A CANDIDATE MAY BE GENERALLY, IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE PARTY AFFILIATION, SCHOOL BOARDS DO HAVE BROAD AUTHORITY OVER LARGE AMOUNTS OF TAX DOLLARS.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, SUBJECTING THESE GUYS TO -- IF YOU JUST READ THE BILL, BEING A PART OF THE PARTISAN ELECTION PROCESS IS NOT AN EASY THING, IT IS COMPLICATED.

PARTICULARLY COMPLICATED, I'M A FORMER COUNTY CHAIRMAN, WE RARELY HAD SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES, OR MEMBERS OF SCHOOL BOARDS INVOLVED IN THE COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS, AND THIS BILL NECESSARILY IN INDIANA, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IDENTIFIED TO RUN FOR OFFICE AS A PARTISAN, IN EITHER PARTY, COUNTY CHAIRMAN HAVE PRETTY BROAD AUTHORITY TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S TRUE IF YOU'VE NOT PARTICIPATED IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS LIKE MANY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS DO NOT, FOR THIS EXACT REASON.

THEY VIEW THEMSELVES AS NON-PARTISAN.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T AREAS OF THE STATE AND PARTS OF THE STATE THAT ARE ENDORSED BY PARTISAN ORGANIZATION, THAT RECEIVE CAMPAIGN DOLLARS FROM PARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS SUCH A GRAY AREA.

FRANKLY I'M TRYING TO DECIDE EXACTLY WHERE I PERSONALLY LAND ON THIS, AS A PARTISAN GUY, MAYBE A GOOD HALF MEASURE IS THE TAG AND IDENTIFYING CANDIDATES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND WHAT PARTY THEY AFFILIATE WITH, KEEP THEM OUT OF THE STRAIGHT TICKET VOTING MATRIX, LIKE WE HAVE DONE WITH OTHER LOCAL OFFICIALS.

BUT THERE IS NO SINGLE RIGHT ANSWER.

ONE MORE AMUSING TESTIMONY FROM THE OTHER DAY WAS A REPUBLICAN FROM A DEMOCRAT AREA WHO BASICALLY SAID MAKE ME DECLARE THAT I'M A REPUBLICAN, I'M NOT GOING TO GET REELECTED.

THERE COULD BE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

NO FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, FOR EXAMPLE, COULD SEEK THAT KIND OF OFFICE, FOR VIOLATIONS OF THOSE LAWS.

IT IS A MORE COMPLICATED THING THAN JUST FIGURING OUT IF YOU'RE PRO CHOICE, PRO SCHOOL CHOICE, OR PRO TEACHER FUNDING, PRO SALARIES, IT IS NOT QUITE THAT SIMPLE, JUST THROWING THEM INTO A PARTISAN DESTINATION.

>> ANN DeLANEY, SHOULD THESE RAISES BECOME PARTISAN?

>> NO.

OKAY.

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT ON THE PART OF THIS REPRESENTATIVE, I GUESS, IS WHAT I WOULD CALL HIM, TO MAKE -- >> THAT'S WHAT HE IS.

>> SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS NATIONAL.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN SCIENCE, WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION, WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY, WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN FAIR ELECTIONS, AND WHO SUPPORTS DONALD TRUMP.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT IS AN ATTEMPT TO PACK THE SCHOOL BOARDS WITH TRUMPETTES WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

MOST ARE ALL PRO CHOICE AND WANT TO DIVERSE MORE OF THE DOLLARS FROM THE 92% OF THE POPULATION THAT GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

NOTHING TO DO WITH MORAL CHARACTER, AS IF YOU CAN TELL WITH WHAT PARTY AFFILIATION YOU HAVE, WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF SOME REPUBLICANS, OF COURSE.

IT IS A VERY, VERY, VERY BAD, VERY DIVISIVE IDEA.

AND THE TYPICAL KIND OF NONSENSE GOING INTO AN ELECTION AND WORRIED ABOUT PARTY -- THEY WANT TO SHOW THEY'RE MORE TO THE RIGHT THAN ATILL LA THE HUN.

>> NIKI KELLY, WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE STATEHOUSE LONGER THAN I HAVE, WE'VE GONE TO PLENTY OF HEARINGS WHERE TESTIMONY WAS OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF A BILL, OR OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSED TO A BILL, BUT NOT -- HOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON, AND THERE WERE ABOUT 20, TO SAY THIS IS A BAD IDEA?

>> YEAH.

I WAS SURPRISED.

USUALLY THE AUTHOR OF A BILL HAS SOME SUPPORT OUT THERE, HE WILL COME AND TESTIFY.

AND THE IRONY I FOUND, WAS THAT THE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE PUSHING THE BILL KEPT SAYING WE'RE BRINGING THIS BILL BECAUSE THE SCHOOL BOARD AREN'T LISTENING TO THEIR VOTERS, AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WELL, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE AGAINST THE BILL, AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THEM.

SO I MEAN, I THINK YOU CAN -- ONE TESTIFIER SAID IT WRITE.

HE SAID JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T AGREE WITH HIM AND CHANGE OUR PATH DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE NOT LISTENING.

>> JON SCHWANTES, MIKE O'BRIEN TALKED ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

SOME OF THEM, YOU CAN FORESEE, SOME YOU CAN'T.

IS THAT ENOUGH OF A REASON YOU THINK THIS BILL MIGHT BE PUT AWAY?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS, PROBABLY, IF YOU WANT TO GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT, WHY THE BILL SHOULD BE PUT AWAY.

I UNDERSTAND THE POLITICS BEHIND IT, THAT'S BEEN ARTICULATED HERE.

BUT THE OPTICS, IT SEEMS TO ME, ARE HORRIBLE.

BECAUSE HERE YOU HAVE -- WELL, WE'LL STIPULATE THAT SCHOOLS ARE ENTHUSED WITH POLITICS, THE STATEHOUSE WOULD PROBABLY BE GOOD FARM TEAM TRAINING FOR PEOPLE ON SCHOOL BOARDS.

IT'S HYPER POLITICAL THERE, I GET THAT.

HOWEVER, WE DON'T OFTEN EXPLICITLY STATE IT OR TRY TO GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO INSERT PARTISAN POLITICS INTO IT.

AT A TIME WHEN WE SAY WE SHOULD GET POLITICS OUT OF EDUCATION, WHAT MATTERS MOST IS WHAT PARENTS AND KIDS NEED AND WHAT TEACHERS CAN DELIVER, AND WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY GO FROM AT LEAST THE STATED NON-PARTISAN ASPECT OF THIS, WHICH WE'LL SAY IS JUST STATED.

I KNOW IT LURKSES BELOW THE SURFACE.

BUT TO INSERT PARTISAN POLITICS SEEMS TO BE AN UNNECESSARY STEP, AND ONE, AS YOU POINTED OUT, BRANDON AND MARK, MIGHT HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC, ONLINE POLL QUESTION.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: SHOULD LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES HAVE TO DECLARE A POLITICAL PARTY?

A, YES, OR B, NO.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: WILL STATE LAWMAKERS' EFFORTS TO ADDRESS SCHOOL CURRICULUM HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON HOW TEACHERS TALK ABOUT RACE AND OTHER BIG TOPICS?

83% OF YOU SAY IT WILL.

17% SAY NO.

WE JUST FOUND OUT TODAY ONE OF THOSE SCHOOL BILLS WAS -- BY THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE POLL.

A MAJOR TAX CUT PACKAGE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY COST THE STATE A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR EASILY CLEARED A HOUSE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

REPUBLICANS ALSO REJECTED EVERY PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE BILL FROM DEMOCRATS.

>> THE MEASURE INCLUDES A MIX OF BUSINESS TAX CUTS, ELIMINATES CERTAIN TAXES ON UTILITY RATEPAYERS AND LOWERS THE STATE'S INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS DOWN TO THREE PERCENT.

BUSINESS GROUPS LINED UP IN SUPPORT, INCLUDING THE INDIANA MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION.

>> ANDREW BERGER: THESE MULTI-STATE COMPANIES - WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO SPEND THEIR DOLLARS, MOVING FORWARD?

IF WE CAN DRIVE DOWN THE COST OF THAT INVESTMENT IN INDIANA, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP THAT INVESTMENT, THOSE JOBS, HERE IN INDIANA AND GROWING.

>> LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADVOCATES WORRY ABOUT A LOSS OF REVENUE IN THE FUTURE.

DEMOCRATS' PROPOSALS FOR THE BILL INCLUDED INCREASING THE RENTER'S DEDUCTION AND THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, A SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND DIAPERS AND A CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT.

REPRESENTATIVE CHERRISH PRYOR SAYS REPUBLICANS ARE IGNORING HOOSIERS WHO NEED THE MOST HELP.

>> REP. CHERRISH PRYOR (D-INDIANAPOLIS): THE MORE MONEY THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW INCOME, THAT MONEY IMMEDIATELY GOES BACK INTO THE ECONOMY.

>> THE BILL IS NOW BEFORE THE FULL HOUSE.

>> ANN DeLANEY, YOU SAID YOU THINK REPUBLICANS ONLY IDEA IS TAX CUTS.

DEMOCRATS PROPOSE TAX CUTS OF THEIR OWN IN AMENDMENTS.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT TAX CUT PACKAGE, IN YOUR MIND?

>> THERE IS NO RIGHT TAX CUT PACKAGE.

THE BILL IN AN ELECTION YEAR, GOING IN AN ELECTION YEAR, WAS GOING TO PASS.

AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT MORE BENEFICIAL TO MORE HOOSIERS WHO NEED THE HELP.

BUT NOBODY, NO DEMOCRAT, MYSELF INCLUDED, THINKS THAT CUTTING TAXES NOW IS A GOOD IDEA.

WHEN YOU'RE IN A NON-BUDGET YEAR, OKAY, WHEN WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SPENDING MONEY, IN A NON-BUDGET YEAR THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED, IN MY HOUSE, IF I CUT MY INCOME, IT HAS THE SAME IMPACT ON MY BUDGET AS IF I SPEND TOO MUCH.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THAT CARES MONEY THAT CAME INTO THE STATE VIA PRESIDENT BIDEN, ALL THAT MONEY WAS DESIGNED TO HELP HOOSIERS, OKAY.

AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, WHEN WE HAVE NEEDS AND EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, TEACHER SALARIES, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, PRESCHOOL, WITH THIS MONEY, TO MAKE IT EASIER AND NICER AND HEALTHIER TO BE A HOOSIER, WE'RE NOT DOING.

AND THE GOVERNOR SAYS, WELL, HE'LL PUT IT OFF UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

WHAT THEY'RE DOING, IF THEY CUT THE TAXES NOW, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES TO HAVE A REAL DEBATE ON WHICH TAXES SHOULD BE CUT, WHICH WE'RE NOT HAVING, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE THAT DEBATE, AND WHAT EXPENDITURES CAN BE MADE, THEY CAN THEN SAY THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY.

AND WE KNOW WHEN A RECESSION COMES, YOU CAN'T RAISE TAXES ACCORDING TO THEM BECAUSE IT IS THE WORST TIME TO DO T. WHEN YOU HAVE MONEY, YOU CAN'T SPEND IT, YOU HAVE TO CUT IT.

IT IS THE SAME KIND OF ONE NOTE NO VISION STRATEGY THAT THEY'VE PURSUED FOR YEARS.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT NOW.

WE REALLY DO.

WITH REAL DOLLARS.

AND INSTEAD, THEY'R RUSHING TO GET THE MONEY OUT THE DOOR SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND IT ON ANYTHING OR MEANINGFULLY IMPACT HOOSIER LIVES.

AND IT'S SAD.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, A LOT OF THIS BILL IS AIMED AT BUSINESSES, AND EVEN ONE OF THOSE BUSINESS CUTS WE TALKED ABOUT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE SAYING THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE REVENUE.

THAT CUT WOULD SHIFT SOME OF THE BURDEN OF TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES, ON TO HOMEOWNERS AND FARMERS, IS THIS BILL A LITTLE TOO FOCUSED ON BUSINESSES AND NOT ENOUGH ON A BROADER RANGE OF HOOSIERS?

>> FIRST, I APPRECIATE THE HONESTY FROM ANN THAT DEMOCRATS UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SUPPORT A TAX CUT.

>> I DON'T.

>> THE OTHER DAY WAS JUST A PARTISAN TRICK.

I DO WISH REPUBLICANS -- >> IT IS NOT -- WAIT A MINUTE, IT IS NOT A PARTISAN -- >> TAX CUTS ON FEMININE PRODUCTS AND DIAPERS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, PROPOSE THOSE IN THE PAST.

I DO WISH WE WOULD FOCUS ON SOME OF THOSE ONE-OFF MEASURES THAT WOULD REALLY HELP PEOPLE.

I THINK THIS WILL BE REBALANCED AS THE SESSION GOES ON, ALL LEADER HAVE SUGGESTED AND MADE CLEAR THEY DON'T WANT TO HARM LOCALS, THEY DON'T WANT A BIG SHIFT IN A TAX BURDEN.

I THINK BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR, THEY'RE GOING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

AND TO ANN'S COMMENT, COMPARISON TO CUTTING YOUR INCOME, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF OUR INCOME IS WAY UP, AND REPUBLICANS ARE BALANCING THAT BETWEEN HUGE INCREASES, AND K-12 SPENDING, TWO BILLION OVER, WHICH IS TWO TO THREE TIMES WHAT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

>> WHICH CATCHES US UP.

>> THEY MOVED $2 BILLION BACK INTO K-12 EDUCATION.

>> WHAT DO THEY DO FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, MIKE?

>>...AND NEW REVENUE, RECORD INCREASES IN SPENDING, AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO REBALANCE THAT WITH A CUT IN TAXES.

>> JON SCHWANTES, IS REPUBLICAN -- IF YOU'RE A HOUSE REPUBLICAN AND YOU WANT TO SELL THIS TO HOOSIERS RIGHT NOW, IT IS A LITTLE BALANCED MORE TOWARDS BUSINESSES THAN A BROADER RANGE OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

BUT DO ENOUGH -- ARE ENOUGH HOOSIERS GOING TO NOTICE IF -- HOUSE REPUBLICANS CAN SAY WE'RE GOING TO CUT TAXES BY A BILLION DOLLARS?

>> WELL, CLEARLY THE THINKING, THE STRATEGY HERE IS THAT BEING AN ELECTION YEAR IS A TIME WHEN YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO VOTERS AND SAY THOSE MAGIC WORDS, WE CUT YOUR TAXES.

AND IF ANYBODY THINKS THAT THAT IS NOT SELLING THE PUBLIC ON THAT SORT OF ONE LINE CAMPAIGN SLOGAN IS NOT THE -- IS NOT AT THE CORE OF THIS, WELL THEN THEY IGNORED THE FACT THERE WAS DISCUSSION THIS WEEK ABOUT WHETHER THE CUT IN THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX SHOULD BE 3% AS SUGGESTED OR MAYBE 2.95.

BECAUSE EVERY RETAILER KNOWS COME SALES SEASON, YOU KNOW YOU ALWAYS HAVE 2.99 SOUNDS A WHOLE LOT BETTER IN PRICING THAN 3%.

NOT THE CUT, BUT THE LEVEL OF TAXATION THAT ONE WOULD PAY ON INCOME IN THE STATE.

SO THERE IS CLEARLY, THAT TELLS ME, I ALREADY KNEW IT, BUT WHAT LURKS HERE IS A DESIRE TO MARKET THIS.

AND ONE OTHER THING I WOULD POINT OUT IS LEGISLATURE IS -- OF INCONSISTENCY, SOME OF THE LARGE -- THE MANTRA IN THE REPUBLICANS AND THE HOUSE, WE CAN'T INVEST IN ONGOING PROGRAMS BUT ONLY WANT TO DO ONE-TIME THINGS, BECAUSE IF YOU INVEST IN SOMETHING ON AN ONGOING BASIS, YOU'RE LOCKED IN.

SEEMS TO ME IN A WAY THAT A PERMANENT TAX CUT IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING, JUST ENTERING FROM A DIFFERENT DOOR ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'RE LOOKING IN -- >> STILL IRRESPONSIBLE.

>> AGAIN, I'M NOT -- >> THEY DID MAKE AN ONGOING -- THOSE ARE ONE-TIME.

>> YEAH, AND ALL IT DOES, MIKE IS -- >> NO, BUT THEN THE -- >> ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

>> TEACHER SALARY INCREASE, WHICH IS ALL WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR.

>> NIKI, I WANT TO ASK YOU, THE BILLION DOLLAR TAX CUT PROPOSAL, AND AGAIN, BILLION DOLLARS EVENTUALLY.

BUT HOW MUCH OF THAT DO YOU THINK SURVIVES ONCE THIS BILL GETS OVER TO THE SENATE?

>> GOSH, I DON'T KNOW.

I DO HOPE -- YOU KNOW, ONE THING I DID NOTICE, IT SEEMS LIKE HOUSE REPUBLICANS CAME IN WITH THIS SET PACKAGE, AND I DO HOPE, WHETHER IT IS WITH THE SENATE OR SOMEONE ELSE, THEY'RE OPEN TO OTHER IDEAS.

BECAUSE THEY JUST KNOCKED EVERYTHING DOWN.

I MEAN, EVERYONE AGREES WE HAVE A CHILDCARE PROBLEM THAT'S HOLDING OUR ECONOMY BACK.

THEY DIDN'T OFFER A REASON WHY THEY SUPPORT A CHILDCARE TAX CREDIT, AN EXAMPLE OF KIND OF A SMALL THING.

I HOPE AT LEAST IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A BILLION DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE RIGHT PACKAGE IS INSTEAD OF JUST KIND OF MOVING THIS EXACT FOUR OR FIVE CUTS THAT THEY DECIDED ON THROUGH?

>> INDIANA'S 9TH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN TREY HOLLINGSWORTH ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT HE WON'T SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2022.

>> IN AN INDIANAPOLIS STAR OP-ED, HOLLINGSWORTH CALLED OUT THE WASHINGTON ESTABLISHMENT AND REITERATED PREVIOUS PUBLIC POSITIONS ON LOBBYING RESTRICTIONS AND TERM LIMITS.

THE REPUBLICAN ALSO HINTED AT A RUN FOR FUTURE OFFICE, SAYING THE DISTRICT “DESERVES A MEMBER OF CONGRESS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON THE 9TH DISTRICT” AND THAT HE WILL FIGHT FOR THE DISTRICT IN “DIFFERENT WAYS.” IN A STATEMENT, INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPOKESPERSON DREW ANDERSON REFERENCED A POTENTIAL HOLLINGSWORTH GUBERNATORIAL RUN, SAYING HE WOULD TRY TO BUY HIS WAY INTO THE OFFICE.

>> NIKI KELLY, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING A RIPPLE EFFECT OF THIS DECISION AT THE STATEHOUSE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

NOT EVEN A DAY PAST BEFORE STATE SENATOR ANNOUNCED SHE WOULDN'T RUN FOR THAT RACE.

AND BECAUSE SHE'S UP IN THE SENATE, THAT MEANS SHE'S LEAVING THE SENATE.

SHE WON'T BE SEEKING THE ELECTION THERE.

I HAD BEEN HEARING IN RECENT MONTHS MORE REPUBLICANS BEHIND-THE-SCENES TALKING ABOUT HOLLINGSWORTH.

SO, IT WILL BE INTERESTING HOW MANY REPUBLICANS WE HAVE -- FROM A REPORTER STANDPOINT, I MEAN, HE WOULD BE SORT OF AN ENIGMA FOR A CANDIDATE.

EVEN THOUGH HE'S BEEN IN CONGRESS, HE'S BEEN KIND OF QUIET.

WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE HE WOULD STAND ON A LOT OF ISSUES FACING STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> AND RUN FOR THAT SEAT ALONGSIDE HOLLINGSWORTH WHEN IT CAME OPEN A FEW YEARS AGO AND LOST IN THE PRIMARY.

SO ANOTHER GO AT THAT SEAT NOW THAT IT IS OPEN FOR HER.

JON SCHWANTES, TREY HOLLINGSWORTH FOR GOVERNOR, THERE IS POTENTIALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AS REPUBLICANS IN 2024.

DO YOU THINK HE MAKES SENSE?

>> I'M SURPRISED ANN DIDN'T USE THE LINE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF WHAT STATE?

OF COURSE -- >> I HAVEN'T TALKED YET.

>> I JUST GAVE YOUR LINE THEN, I'M SURE.

TENNESSEE TREY IS WHAT DEMOCRATS LABELED HIM AND OTHERS IN HIS INITIAL BID FOR CONGRESS.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH RESIDENCY AND WHERE HIS ROOTS REALLY ARE AND WHERE HIS PASSIONS REALLY ARE.

I DON'T KNOW IF DEMOCRATS WILL TRY TO BEAT HIM WITH THAT.

HE HAS, ONE COULD SAY, ESTABLISHED BONA FIDE AS A HOOSIER REPRESENTING THEM IN CONGRESS.

MAYBE THAT FADES AS AN ISSUE.

THERE WOULD BE OPPORTUNITIES, I'M SURE THAT DEMOCRATS WOULD TAKE TO FORESTALL -- MAYBE NOT, TO FORESTALL A BID FOR GOVERNOR.

THEY WOULD USE IN FACT THAT HE PREVAILED IN HIS BID TO VIE FOR THAT SEAT.

>> DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE NOW AND FOCUS SOLE ON THAT AS OPPOSED TO RUN AS A SITTING CONGRESS PERSON?

>> I THINK SO.

ONE, HE ESTABLISHED TERM LIMITS FOR HIMSELF.

ONE TERM SHORT OF THAT ORIGINAL COMMITMENT.

VOTERS DON'T LOVE WHEN YOU'RE IN ONE OFFICE AND JUST GAMING FOR THE NEXT ONE.

THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS OF THAT IN RECENT HISTORY THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVEN'T BEEN REWARDED WITH A GOOD OUTCOME.

IT ALLOWS HIM TO, IF HE'S EXPLORING THAT, YOU WON'T TO EXPLORE THAT, AND ONLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY WHEN YOU'RE BACK HOME.

AND NOT OUT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

SO I THINK IT IS A PRAGMATIC MOVE FOR HIM.

HE'S A GUY -- SEE WHAT -- WHO CAME IN SECOND PLACE IN THAT LAST RACE, ALREADY ANNOUNCED ACCORDING TO THAT RACE WAS FOR HER, AND THAT THAT ORIGINAL RACE, BUT REALLY GOT TO KNOW TREY, AND LIKE HIM A LOT.

SO I'M EXCITED THAT HE'S EXPLORING THAT OPTION TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

>> ANN DeLANEY SINCE JON SCHWANTES ALREADY TOOK YOUR LINE ABOUT TREY HOLLINGSWORTH, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT A DIFFERENT CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN THAT IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE A REAL INTERESTING GENERAL ELECTION RACE IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHERE FRANK -- JUST CAME IN, AND NOW THE FORMER MAYOR FROM UP THERE IS GOING TO RUN FOR THE REPUBLICANS IN THAT RACE.

IS THAT ONE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN IT HAS BEEN IN A LONG TIME?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THEY TRIED TO NIP AROUND THE EDGES WITH THE GERRYMANDERING.

I THINK -- IS JUST GOING TO BE FINE.

AND REGARDING TENNESSEE TREY, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK BACK, HE SERVED NOW FOUR YEARS, OR WILL BE SERVING FOUR YEARS.

WHAT ARE HIS LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHAT HAS HE DONE FOR THE NINTH DISTRICT?

WHAT BILLS HAS HE CO-AUTHORED, HE'S AGAINST DEMOCRACY, ANNOUNCED THAT OBVIOUSLY WITH THE REST OF THEM, THAT JOSEPH BIDEN WASN'T ELECTED PRESIDENT FAIRLY.

I MEAN ON AND ON, AND NOW HE WANTS TO PARLAY THAT, NOT EVEN MEDIOCRE, THAT NON-RECORD FOR THE NINTH DISTRICT INTO A STATE-WIDE ELECTION, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> INDIANA HOUSE REPUBLICANS BLOCKED AN EFFORT MONDAY THAT WOULD'VE REQUIRED GUN OWNERS TO SAFELY STORE THEIR FIREARMS WHEN ACHILD COULD ACCESS THEM.

>> DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MITCH GORE'S LANGUAGE WOULD REQUIRE GUN OWNERS TO “SECURE” THEIR FIREARM IN ONE OF A FEW WAYS: BY PUTTING IT IN A LOCKED CONTAINER, USING A TRIGGER OR CABLE LOCK, OR DISASSEMBLING IT.

AND GORE'S AMENDMENT WOULD ONLY MAKE IT A CRIME IF THE PERSON DOES NONE OF THOSE THINGS AND THE CHILD GETS A HOLD OF THE GUN.

>> REP. MITCH GORE (D-INDIANAPOLIS): DATA SHOWS US THAT IF THIS LANGUAGE IS INCORPORATED INTO INDIANA CODE, WE COULD EXPECT UNINTENTIONAL FIREARM DEATHS AND SUICIDES AMONG CHILDREN TO DECREASE BY A THIRD.

>> BUT REPUBLICANS BLOCKED THE AMENDMENT ON PROCEDURAL GROUNDS.

GOP REPRESENTATIVE DAN LEONARD SAYS GORE'S LANGUAGE ISN'T “GERMANE” - CLOSELY RELATED ENOUGH - TO A BILL THAT ELIMINATES INDIANA'S HANDGUN LICENSE REQUIREMENT.

>> REP. DAN LEONARD (R-HUNTINGTON): NOWHERE IN THE BILL IS THERE ANYTHING CLOSE TO TALKING ABOUT STORAGE.

>> THE HOUSE APPROVED THE OVERALL MEASURE THIS WEEK, SENDING IT TO THE SENATE.

>> JON SCHWANTES, IF THIS SORT OF PROVISION WERE TO COME UP FOR A REAL VOTE, WOULD REPUBLICANS HAVE TROUBLE SAYING NO TO IT?

>> THERE LR SOME REPUBLICANS -- ARE SOME REPUBLICANS -- CRIME HASN'T MANIFESTED ITSELF IN ALL PARTS OF THE STATE.

SOME PORTIONS ARE DEALING WITH IT AND REELING FROM IT MORE THAN OTHERS.

AND THERE ARE REPUBLICANS UNDOUBTEDLY WHO REPRESENT SOME OF THOSE AREAS WHO MIGHT HAVE CONSTITUENCIES THAT MIGHT BE AMENABLE TO THAT.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF -- THE NRA, FOR INSTANCE, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE NRA, MAYBE THEY WOULD FIND A MEASURE OF THIS TYPE MIGHT BE ACCEPTABLE, BUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD IN THE PAST, LET'S JUST USE HISTORY AS A GUIDE.

ANY TIME THERE IS ANY MEASURE, EVEN WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED A VERY MODEST TYPE OF CONTROL, IS OFTEN GREETED WITH CRIES OF SLIPPERY SLOPE.

WE DO THIS THIS SESSION, AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE, THAT PRECEDENT IS SET, AND WE START CARVING AWAY AT PEOPLE'S SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

SOME PEOPLE, EVEN IF IT WERE STAND ALONE WOULD SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT, AGAINST THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

THERE MIGHT BE A FEW REPUBLICANS WHO COULD GO FOR IT.

>> NIKI, IT WAS KILLED BASICALLY, THIS BILL, OR A VERSION OF IT, WAS KILLED BY THE SENATE LAST YEAR, DO YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR?

>> NO.

IT SOUND LIKE THE SENATE A MUCH MORE OPEN TO IT.

THERE WAS SOME LANGUAGE REMOVED INVOLVING A DATABASE THAT WAS A BIG PROBLEM LAST YEAR.

THAT'S NOT IN THE BILL.

RODRIC BRAY SAID IT WAS A MUCH BETTER BILL.

IN FACT, SENATOR BROWN, I THINK, HAS A BILL ALMOST THE SAME.

SO, I EXPECT IT WILL PROBABLY MOVE THROUGH THE SENATE PRETTY EASILY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FINALLY, THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS SEASON DIDN'T END THE WAY MANY PEOPLE WERE HOPING, WITH THE COLTS FALLING TO THE LOWLY JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AND GETTING ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION.

ANN DELANEY, AT WHOSE FEET DO YOU LAY THE BLAME FOR THE IGNOMINIOUS END TO THIS COLTS SEASON?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO LAY IT SQUARELY AT THE FEET OF THE ANTI-VAX -- THAT PASSED -- HE -- WELL OVER -- UNBELIEVABLE.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, WE HAVE OUR OWN PROBLEMS AS BEARS FANS, ARE YOU FEELING A LITTLE BETTER NOW THAT THE COACH AND GM ARE GONE?

>> I'VE SEEN THIS MOVIE ABOUT 15 TIMES.

I'M DONE CELEBRATING THE BURNING DOWN THE FRONT OFFICE.

>> WHAT IF EVERY PLAYER HAS TO WEAR R OR D. >> GOOD IDEA, WOW!

>> WE WOULD KNOW WHERE THEY STAND.

>> I HAVE TO SAY, SINCE THE COLTS ARE OUT, IF EVERYONE WANTS TO ROUTE FOR THE BENGALS.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

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, PLEASE GET VACCINATED IF YOU CAN.

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

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

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