>>> THE PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARD'S BILL DIES.

TOXIC WASTE FROM THE OHIO TRAIN DERAILMENT COMES TO INDIANA.

PLUS ANOTHER GO WITH THE NONCOMPLIANT PROSECUTOR BILL AND MORE.

FROM THE TELEVISION STUDIOS AT WFYI IT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR IF WEEK ENDING MARCH 3, 2023.

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

>>> THIS WEEK LEGISLATION TO ALLOW LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS TO BECOME PARTISAN SIDE IN THE HOUSE.

IT'S UNLIKELY THE ISSUE WILL BE REVIVED.

THE BILL WOULD ALLOW BALLOT REF REFERENDUMS THAT COULD HAVE MADE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS PARTISAN.

ON THE DEADLINE THE MEASURE WASN'T CALLED DOWN FOR A VOTE.

HOUSE HOUSE SPEAKER TOD HUSTON SAYS IT'S HARD TO FIND A SWEET SPOT ON THE ISSUE.

>> YOU FORCE PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH PRIMARIES, IS IT JUST FOR A GENERAL ELECTION.

>> THERE WAS CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT THIS THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND NONE IN HIS.

>> DEEP DOWN MOST LEGISLATORS FEEL LIKE THIS IS ONE AREA THAT WE JUST SHOULD NOT BE PUTTING MORE POLITICS INTO THE SYSTEM.

>> A SIMILAR BILL ON THE ISSUE DIDN'T GET A COMMITTEE VOTE AND DIVE IN THE SENATE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

>> HOW HARD IS IT TO THREAD THE NEEDLE ON PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARDS?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL, DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY, REPUBLICAN ALI BARTLETT, JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS, AND NIKI KELLY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCAST STATE HOUSE BUREAU BRANDON SMITH.

>> I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA.

WE SHOULD KEEP POLITIC OUT OF SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND NOW IF YOU HAVE A RIGHT WING CRAZY RUNNING YOU KNOW THEY'RE PROBABLY A REPUBLICAN, SO WHY DO YOU NEED TO SELF IDENTIFY IN THEY KOW WHAT THEY ARE.

IT'S BAT TO TAKE THOSE KIND OF SOCIAL INNS THAT VERY VOCAL SMALL MINORITY ARE ADVOCATING.

SCHOOL BOARDS ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUSES RUN, THE FACILITIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF, THAT THE CURRICULUM IS DOING WHAT IT SHOULD DO AND WHEN YOU PUT THE PARTISAN POLITICS IN IT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THE SOCIAL ISSUES THE RIGHT WING REPUBLICAN MINORITY LOVES TO SCREAM ABOUT IS THAT DON'T AFFECT PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T -- THERE AREN'T LIBRARIANS OUT THERE PUSHING PORNOGRAPHY THERE AREN'T TEACH TERSE URGING KIDS TO BE TRANSGENDER.

IT JUST ISN'T HAPPENING ANY MORE THAN THEIR CREATIVE THEORY AFTER WHAT THEY WERE TEACHING.

IT IS THE KIND OF STRAW MAN THEY PUT UP IN ORDER TO WIN ELECTION ASKS WE OUGHT TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS.

>> BUT AREN'T PARTISAN POLITICS ALREADY IN.

ARE THEY ALREADY PART OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION SENTENCE.

>> YEAH, SO I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF LODGIST CAM PROBLEMS WITH THIS CONCEPT AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD FROM SPEAK REHOUSES TON.

IT'S TOO COMPLICATED TO TAKE IT UP.

BUT DO I THINK THIS IS THE END OF THE ISSUE?

, NO, THESE SOCIAL ISSUES DON'T BELONG BUT THEY'VE INJECTED THEMSELVES ALREADY.

PARENTS FEEL THAT THEY HAVE LOST CONTROL OVER WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND WHILE WITH CONTINUE TO SEE THAT PATTERN'RE GOING TO TO SEE THIS COME UP.

>> I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES THAT ALI MENTIONED.

THE BILL AS IT WAS BEFORE IT DIED IN THE HOUSE FLOOR THERE WERE MULTIPLE WAYS FOR PARTISAN OR SCHOOL BOARD RACES TO BECOME PARTISAN, EITHER A SCHOOL BOARD COULD PASS A RESOLUTION OR CITIZENS COULD GET ENOUGH SIGNATURES ON A PETITION TO TAKE A PUBLIC WES QUESTION TO THE VOTERS T O BALLOT.

AND THAT COULD STILL BE DONE IN A COUPLE WAYS, EITHER A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY OR WE COULD JUST FORCE ALL CANDIDATES TO PUT PARTY LABELS NEXT TO THEIR NAMES ON THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PRIMARIES.

IS THAT EVIDENCE OF WHY THIS BILL IS GOING TO STRUGGLE TO PASS THIS IN THE FUTURE?

>> I LEFT MY LEGAL PAD WITH NOTES ACROSS THE ROOM.

SURETIES COMPLICATED THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES FOR IT TO CREATE HEADACHES AND QUESTIONS ABOUT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

WHAT IF THIS SCENARIO COMES UP?

THEN WHAT DO WE DO?

BUT GENERALLY IF WE'RE TO BELIEVE THE DATA HOOSIERS ARE NOT DISFIED WITH THE CURRICULUM IN THEIR SCHOOLS, 88 PERCENT GALLOP SURVEY THAT WAS DONE ON THE BEHEST OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAID WE'RE SATISFIED AND A LOWER NUMBER, THE SINGLE DIGITS AROUND PEOPLE WHO FELT THEY HAD SPECIFIC PROBLEMS ABOUT THE KIND OF THING YOU'RE MENTIONING, CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR SOME SORT OF AGENDA -- >> THERE'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTED.

>> MOST INTERESTING AS I APPOINTMENT OUT BEFORE THE PEOPLE WHO HAD A PROBLEM ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT ADMITTED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING.

AND WE'VE SAID THIS BEFORE THERE'S NOTHING THAT PREVENTS SOMEBODY FROM CAMPAIGNING AS A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT OR A MEMBER OF THE WHEN I GO PARTY WPIG PARTY AND WE ALL GET THOSE THINGS IN OUR MAILBOX THAT SAYS HERE'S ARE THE PEOPLE -- THERE'S NOTHING THAT PREVENTS A PARTY FROM DOING THAT.

THE, YOU CAN PUT A BILLBOARD AS LONG AS IT'S A NUMBER OF FEET FROM THE BALLOT BOX THAT SAYS SCREAMING IN HUGE LETTERS I'M A REPUBLICAN, I'M A DEMOCRAT.

SO AND LEER GIVE VOTERS SOME CREDIT TO FIRST THING THIS OUT AND THIS THEY DON'T SHAME ON THEM.

BECAUSE THERE IS SOME -- SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY BEING A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY IS TOE TO GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE CANDIDATES.

>> FIRST I WANTED TO SAY NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE RUN FOR THE WH I CANNERG PARTY.

I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THAT PART OF THIS, BECAUSE IT STRUCK ME, SOME OF THE TESTIMONY WE HEARD WERE PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF IT.

THIS THEME CAME UP AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHICH VOTER DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES SO WE HAVE TO HELP THEM,.

IS THAT A GOOD REASON TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT I'M NOT A POLICY MAKER.

I THINK BEYOND THE ISSUE OF PRIMARIES, I HEARD CONCERN ABOUT A SYSTEM IN WHICH AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARDS IN THE STATE COULD BE PARTISAN AND HALF COULD NOT.

LIKE SOME SORT OF CONSISTENCY AND THAT'S WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN STATE LAW IS CONSISTENCY AND TREATING THEM SEPARATE OR DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHAT EACH LOCALITY WANTED.

>> YOU COULD HAVE PEOPLE IN THE SAME CITY, SOME WHO VOTE FOR THEIR -- >> ALSO ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS ABOUT THE BILL THAT WASN'T VOTED ON WAS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT STRAIGHT TICKET VOTING IS CAUSEsING ISSUES BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE SAID YOU COULDN'T ALLOW STRAIGHT TICKET VOTING.

>> WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS YOU'RE IGNORING PEOPLE THAT DON'T SELF IDENTIFY WITH EITHER PARTY.

THERE ARE A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE VOTING POPULATION THAT THINK OF THEMSELVES AS INDEPENDENT, THEY WOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS.

>> THIS IS AN INSULT TO VOTERS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY WE HAVE TO DO THIS SO VOTERS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, THAT GIVES VOTERS SO LITTLE CREDIT AND MAYBE THAT'S DESERVED.

BUT THIS NOTION WE CAN'T MAKE UP OUR MIND FOR OURSELVES BUT IF THERE'S AN R, I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE ORACLE TELLS ME WHAT TO DO.

WAIT UNTIL YOU GET YOUR MARCHING ORDERS WHICH IS @SORT OF OWN UNSAVORY.

>> IF YOU WANT A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE A 30IVE AND PUT A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT THINK OF WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO WITH THE ABORTION QUESTION.

>> THIS BEEN A REFERENDUM STATE.

TOXIC WHAT'S FROM TRAIN DERAILMENT IS COMING TO ROACHDALE INDIANA AND GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB DON'T LIKE IT.

>> THE TOWN HOSTS A HAZARDOUS WASTE LANDFILL THAT ACCEPTS WASTER FROM OTHER STATES.

THE EPA CHOSE THE ROACHDALE SITE.

PUTNAM COUNTY COMMISSIONER DAVID BERRY EXPECT AROUND 2,000 TONS TO ARRIVE.

HE SAYS SHIPMENTS LIKE THIS COME TO ROACHDALE ALL THE TIME.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S DIFFERENT IS THE HIGH PROFILE SITUATION.

>> I THINK THE REASON PEOPLE ARE UPSET IS THE WAY THE EPA HANDLED IT AT THE SITE.

IT'S LIKE PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY RESPOND QUICKLY ENOUGH OR MORE TRANSPARENT SO NOW PEOPLE ARE SCARED.

>> GOVERNOR HOLCOMB SAYS HE LEARNED OF THE EPA DECISION THIRD HAND AND SAYS THE MATERIALS SHOULD GO TO THE NEAREST FACILITIES NOT MOVED FROM THE FAR EASTERN SIDE OF OHIO TO THE FAR WESTERN SIDE INDIANA.

>> ALI IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HERE A LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS THIS.

>> I WOULD SAY YES.

WE HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE WITHIN THE HOLCOMB ADMINISTRATION AT THIS POINT THAT THIS ISN'T OUT OF THE ORDINARY NECESSARILY TO BRING THIS TYPE OF TOXIC WASTE TO ROACHDALE AND THAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO HANDLE IT.

I AL THINK THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.

THERE'S A COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO BE HANDLING THIS THAT HAS YEARS AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, THEY'RE PREPARED FOR THIS TYPE OF THING.

HOWEVER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO RECEIVE A COURTESY CALL FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, ABSOLUTELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMETHING SO HIGH PROFILE IS AROUND THE HIT OUR STATE.

HE WAS COMPLETELY UP UNPREPARED FOR THIS AND OUR CITIZENS ARE GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS BECAUSE OF WITH A THEY'VE SEEN IN THE MEDIA.

THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND THAT THIS ISN'T AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A NICE COURTESY OF SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG TO CALL THE GOVERNOR OF HIS OWN HOME STATE, NOT SURPRISING WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM HIM SO YEAH I THINK IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

>> I WAS STRUCK BY WHAT THE LOCAL COUNTY COMMISSIONER SAID, WHICH IS HEY THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME BUT THIS ISN'T EVERY OTHER SITUATION.

WHY DID THAT HAVE TO COME THIRD HAND TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF INDIANA?

>> COURTESY CALL WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE WIND OUT OF THEIR SALES, WE HAVE MORE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS ABOUT WHY THE WRECK OCCURRED AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS THAT TRAIN WENT THROUGH INDIANA AND I WOULD WENT THROUGH INDIANA AND WE HAD SENATOR BRAUN IN THE IS THAT THE WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ROLLED BACK SAFETY CONCERNS FOR INSPECTION OF TRAILS AND ALSO TO PUT THE OBAMA RULES ON BRAKES ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL BEING CARRIED BY THE TRAINS.

HE DIDN'T PROTEST THEN, @WHEN THE REPUBLICANS CUT HAZARDOUS WASTE ENFORCEMENT BY 76 PERCENT OVER TEN YEARS.

THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THAT, SO I HOPE THIS NEWFOUND MORE THAN THE SENSE OF NOT BEING INCLUDED OR NOT BEING WARNED ABOUT THE NEW FOUND CONCERNS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ON THESE ISSUES CORRESPOND WITH BUDGET ALLOCATION TO LET THEM DO THE JOB THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> ALI MENTIONED THIS BUT GOVERNOR GOVERNOR HOLCOMB AFTER I WROTE THIS STORY ANNOUNCED THAT HE'S CONTRACTING WITH THIRDED PARTY TO DO TESTING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE WITHIN THE CONFINE OF THIS HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE.

WILL THAT HELP ALLEVIATE THE CONCERNS FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY?

>> I THINK IT WILL AS LONG AS ALL THE REPORTS MADE LIKELY TRANSPARENT.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD MOVE TO -- IF I LIVED IN ROACHDALE, I MIGHT BE A LITTLE CONCERNED BUT I AGREE WITH THE COMMISSIONER WHICH ARE THESE TRUCKS ARE GOING INTO THIS PLACE EVERY WEEK INTEREST ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT STATES WITH SIMILAR IF NOT WORST WASTE EVERY DAY AND I'VE NEVER HEARD ANY CONCERNS ABOUT IT UNTIL NOW.

>> IN THE REPORTS ARE MADE PUBLIC AND EVENING IS ON THE LEVEL AND THIS STUFF GETS MOVED IN, THIS STORY OVER PRETTY QUICKLY?

>> FIRST I SHOULD SAY I REFUSE MYSELF BECAUSE UNLIKE THE REST OF YOU I'VE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME IN ROACHDALE AND WAS A COMPETITOR IN THE ROACH -- THEY HAVE ROACH RACES WHERE PAINTED ROACHES WOULD RUN AND I FORWARD THIRD ONCE, MY ROACH.

YOU BUY THEM AT THE EVENT.

IT'S A FUNDRAISER, YOU KNOW HOW THESE THINGS GO.

>> ACTUALLY I DON'T.

>> THERE ARE ROACH RACES.

THERE WERE.

IT MAY GO AWAY BUT THESE ISSUES -- THIS IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT NO ISSUE IS NEW.

WE HAD THIS ISSUE WHEN HER FORMER BOSS WAS GOVERNOR WHEN THERE WAS TRASH COMING IN FROM NEW JERSEY, AND HE MADE A BIG STINK ABOUT TRYING TO KEEP TRASH OUT OF OUR STATE.

WELL GUESS WHAT, IT WAS LITIGATEDDED AND WE CAN ALL STIPULATE THAT LEAST THE COURTS AT THAT POINT WOULD SAY THERE'S THAT U.S. CONSTITUTION AND THE COMMERCE CLAUSE THAT KNOCKS DOWN THOSE BARRIERS SO YOU CAN RAISE A STINK BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING IN THE END.

AND PETE BUTTIGIEG LIVES IN MICHIGAN NOW SO MAYBE IF THE TRASH COULD HAVE BEEN BOUND FOR MICHIGAN -- >> THAT'S ALSO TRUE.

>> TIME NOW FINISH VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN ONLINE POLL QUESTION AND THIS WEEK'S QUESTION IS IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WRONG TO MOVE TOXIC WASTE FROM OHIO TO INDIANA SITES.

LAST WEEK WE ASKED YOU WHETHER A FAMILY OF FOUR EARNING $220,000 A YEAR SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS.

JUST IT PERCENT OF YOU SAY -- EXCUSE ME, EIGHT PERCENT SAY YES, 92 PERCENT OF YOU SAY NO.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/I,WIR.

>>> A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE SPECIAL ATTORNEY IS ON ITS WAY TO THE HOUSE AFTERSENATE APPROVAL THIS WEEK.

>> IF BILL WOULD ESTABLISH A THREE THEREON PROSECUTOR REVIEW BOARD TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER A PROSECUTOR IS NONCOMPLIANT.

TO BE CONSIDERED NONCOMPLIANT THE PROSECUTOR WOULD NEED TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT IS THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROSECUTOR CERTAIN CRIMES.

NONCOMPLIANT PROSECUTORS NOT FACE DISCIPLINE BUT A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WOULD BE APPOINTED TO OVERSEE THAT CATEGORY OF CRIMES.

THE WOMEN'S AUTHOR REPUBLICAN SENATOR AIRPLANE FREEMAN SAYS THE LEGISLATURE REPRESENTS A CALCULATED PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING NONCOMPLIANT PROSECUTORS.

>> SO MY HOPE IS NO PROSECUTOR CAN CLAIM THIS IS UNFAIR OR UNREASONABLE.

>> SIMILAR BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE PAST BUT HAVE FAILED.

>> NIKI, AARON FREEMAN HAS BEEN TRYING THIS FOR YEARS.

HAS HE FINALLY FOUND THE SWEET SPOT?

>> I THINK MAYBE.

I THINK THIS APPROACH WITH A PANEL OF PROSECUTORS WHO ARE ALSO LOCALLY ELECTED AND HAVING A SAY IS A BETTER -- >> SOME POLITICAL BALANCE.

>> A BETTER MOVE THAN IN THE PAST.

OVERALL I'M WAITING FOR A THE NONCOMPLIANT SHERIFF BILL, BUT NON-CLIMATE -- I DON'T KNOW -- THIS WAS ANISH, THE ACTUAL LOCAL VOTERS DON'T SEEM TO CARE BUT YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO IF I CAN STITT IT ANYWAY.

>> IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HELD THIS BACK IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THIS HAS GOTTEN THROUGH THE SENATE MORE THAN ONCE BEFORE THIS YEAR, BUT A LOT OF WHAT'S HELD IT BACK WAS SOME IDEOLOGICAL PROBLEMs BUT ALSO THE IDEA OF THE MECHANICS.

WHO'S GOING TO DECIDE IF A PROSECUTOR IS NONCOMPLIANT AND THEN WHO IS GOING TO BE APPOINTED TO STEP IN IN THAT CASE?

IS FIGURING OUT THE MECHANICS OF THIS -- THAT WHAT'S GOING TO GET HIM OVER THE -- >> IT'S CLOSE CERTAINLY, BUT IT'S STILL NUANCED.

THERE ARE STILL WAYS TO.COM THE CONNELL THE BULLET IF YOU'RE A PROSECUTOR THAT DOESN'T WANT TO PROSECUTOR SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW -- I'M GOING TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

I'M GOING TO -- THIS IS AGAIN ABOUT SYMBOLISM AND OVER ARCHING POLITICS X.

THE OTHER THING THAT COMPLICATES IT IS THE DEBATE IS ALWAYS ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT OF POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA AND -- >> AND ABORTION NOW.

>> AND ABORTION BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION WHEN THERE ARE PROSECUTES WHO THINK HATE CRIMES IS A VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND PANDERING TO THE SOCIETY THAT ARE -- SNOWFLAKES.

THIS CUTS A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEEP DON'T ANTICIPATE SO YOU ALWAYS -- I'VE A BELIEVER IN THE UNINTEND CONSEQUENCES YET AGAIN.

>>> COME TO THE POINT THAT JOHN MADE IS THIS EVER GOING TO BE USED?

>> I THINK THIS HAS TO DO WITH PROPERTY CRIMES AND CRIMES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN MAJOR CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, SO SAN FRANCISCO AND OREGON WHERE WE HAVE HAD PROSECUTORS COME OUT AND SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO WASTE OUR TIME ON PETTY PETIT THEFT AND NOW WE'VE SEEN THOSE CRIME RATES SPIKE, AND I THINK PART OF THAT THRESHOLD WHERE A PROSECUTOR HAS TO BE MAKING PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN ORDER FOR THIS TO APPLY I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS IS TARGETING IS PEOPLE COMING OUT AND SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO WASTE MY TIME ON THIS AND IT OPENS THE DOORS FORCE CRIMINALS TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HAY DAY AT CVS EVERY WEEK.

>> THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE TESTIMONY IN THE COMMENTS OP THE SENATE FLOOR BUT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THIS PART ABOUT IT, MIKE YOUNG SAYS IT WASN'T AIMED AT THE PROSECUTOR IN MARION COUNTY -- >> DID HE HAVE HIS FINGERS CROSSED?

>> HAS RYAN MERES CREATED MORE PROBLEMS THAN HE NEEDED TO BY SAYING THESE THINGS OUT LOUD?

>> YOU CAN MAKE THAT ARGUMENT BUT THIS WAS GOING TO GO AFTER HILL ANYWAY.

THEY WANT TO GO AFTER HIM.

THEY DON'T LIKE THE FACT HE'S A DEMOCRAT AND GOT OVERWHELM OVERWHELMINGLY ELECTED.

THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DECIDED BY THE VOTERS AND IT GETTINGS DECIDES EVERY FOUR YEARS AND IT DOESN'T NEED AT BAD IDEA FROM AARON FREEMAN OF WHICH HE HAS MANY COME INTO AND TRY TO UNDO THE FACT THAT MARION COUNTY IS NOW DEMOCRATIC, WHICH IS THE FACT THAT HE DOESN'T LIKE.

>> EVEN IF THIS BILL GOES INTO EFFECT DUNE HE WILL BE FOUND TO NONCOMPLIANT?

>> I THINK IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

>> SINCE HE'S MADE THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND NOT ONLY DID HE MAKE I WOULD ON MARIJUANA HE CLEARLY DIDN'T LEARN HIS LESSON -- >> ALL HE WOULD HAVE TO DO IS PROSECUTOR ONE MARIJUANA POSSESSION CASE AND -- >> THEN HE LIES TO THE PUBLIC.

>> THEN WE HAVE AN EQUAL PRIVILEGE ISSUE.

>> MIGHT BE A GREAT BOOST TO HIS FUTURE CAMPAIGN.

PEOPLE WILL SAGOS GOOD THAT'S WHY WE WANT SOMEBODY.

>> OR MAYBE HE KEEPS WINNING ON STRAIGHT TICKET.

>> LEGISLATION AIM TOSS OVERHAUL THE QUALITY OF CARE THAT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE TOHOSSERS.

THE BILL CALLS IT A PARADIGM SHIFT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN INDIANA.

>> REPUBLICAN SENATOR ED CHARBONNEAU SAYS HIS BILL IS ABOUT BUILDING THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WE DON'T BUILD A ROAD SYSTEM AND NEGLECT IT.

THE SAME IS TRUE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> UNDER THE BILL LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS CAN APPLY FOR SIGNAL INCREASED FUNDING BUT TO GET IT THEY MUST PROVIDE ABOUT TWO DOZEN CORE SERVICES, A LIST OF WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE BILL.

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR SHELLI YODER NOTE THE FUNDING ISN'T IN THE MORE THAN.

THAT WILL BE DECIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET.

>> AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO FUND SENATE BILL FOUR SO THAT COUNTIES THAT CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE CAN APPLY AND DO THE WORK THAT IS MUCH NEEDED THROUGH THE INDIANA.

>> THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE 41-7.

>> JON SCHWANTES, ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THE RELATIVELY EASY PATH THE BILL HAS TAPE TAKEN SO FAR?

>> SOMETHING HAD THE HAPPEN.

THE SYSTEM WAS UNTENABLE.

WE SAW THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A SYSTEM SOME HEALTH DEPARTMENTS EXPEND $88 I THINK MIGHT BE THE TOP MARION COUNTY PER CAPITA.

THERE ARE COUNTIES WITH LESS THAN A DOLLAR.

WHEN YOUR LOOKINGED A AN 80s DOLLAR SPREAD AND WE ALWAYS SAY YOUR WELL-BEING SHOULDN'T DEPEND ON YOUR ZIP CODE, SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT -- AND THERE'S A LACK OF LEVEL ONE CARE FOR TRAUMA CENTERS, WE'LL AGREE ON THAT, SO IT NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

BUT WE ALSO SAW THIS -- I CALLED ERIC HOLCOMB THE LONG SUFFERING D A COVID LONG HAULER, IN THE POLITICAL SENSE BECAUSE HE STILL BEARS THE SCARS OF PERCEIVED OVERREACH TO COMBAT THE PLAGUE.

>>> THERE WAS MORE EXPLICIT LANGUAGE IN THE BILL THAT SAYS THE STATE CANNOT TAKE OVER HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IF THEY GET THIS MONEY.

ONLY SEVEN NO VOTES AND NO LAWMAKER SPOKE AGAINST IT.

IS THAT PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING THAT?

>> MAYBE.

DO THEY WANT MORE MONEY TO HELP THEIR STATE YOUR FULL NAMES?

AND IF THEY DO TAKE MORE MONEY THERE ARE BASIC GUARDRAILS THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW.

THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEIR HELPING WITH CERTAIN TOPICS AND SERVICES BUT SO AS LONG AS IT'S LOCAL CONTROL, I DON'T SEE ANY REAL BIG HUBBUB.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE THE FUNDING.

THE FUNDING WILL BE THIS THE BUDGET.

THE GOVERNOR -- THE ORIGINAL HEALTH COMMISSION ASK WAS $220 MILLION A YEAR AND THEN THE GOVERNOR CAME BACK AFTER LAWMAKERS WENT WHOA AND HE BROUGHT IT DOWN TO HALF OF THAT IN THE FIRST YEAR WITH THE IDEA THAT EVENTUALLY AS HOPEFULLY MORE AND ALL COUNTIES DO THIS THERE WILL BE MORE MONEY NEEDED.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN DIDN'T FUND IT AT THAT LEVEL, IT WAS HALF OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKING FOR.

THAT GOING TO BE THE REAL DEBATE IN THE SECOND HALF OF SESSION?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE DEBATE.

YOU HAVE FORMER SENATOR LOOK HENLY SPEND A HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME AND I FELTER DEFINING WHAT'S NEEDED AND HE'S A REPUBLICAN AND I THINK A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE AND HE SAID WE SNEED TO MAKE THESE OBSERVATION PENDTURES.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

THIS IS THE TIME.

>>> HOW MUCH IS IS THAT ARGUMENT GOING TO WORK IN THE SECOND -- THIS PROBABLY WON'T BE DECIDED UNTIL THE END OF APRIL BUT THERE WILL THERE BE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET?

>> I THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE DECIDED UNTIL APRIL.

IGNIFICANT, YES?

IS IT GOING TO BE WHAT THE GOVERNOR ASKED FOR AT THE OUTSET?

PROBABLY NOT.

SO I THINK SIGNIFICANT YES, THE FULL AMOUNT PROBABLY NOT.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT FINAL AMOUNT IS.

I HAVE NO SENSE OF WHAT THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET IS GOING TO BE SO I'M CURIOUS TO SEE THAT IN A FEW WEEK.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY, REPUBLICAN ALI BARTLETT, JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS, AND NIKI KELLY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE.

YOU CAN FIND INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW'S PODCAST AND EPISODES AT WFYI.ORG/IWIR OR ON THE B #E PBS VIDEO APP.

I'M BRAN BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

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

THE OPINIONSING PRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

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