>> INDIANA LEGISLATORS ARE MOVING INTO THE 2ND HALF OF THEIR 2000, 21 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION WITH MORE THAN 1000 BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED AT THE START OF THE YEAR.

ONLY ABOUT 316 ARE MOVING FORWARD INTO THE FINAL 2 MONTHS.

AND AS THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION CHANGE CHAMBERS STATEHOUSE CONVERSATIONS AND COMMITTEE HEARINGS CONTINUE ON MATTERS SUCH AS INDIANA'S NEXT TWO-YEAR BUDGET LIMITS ON EXECUTIVE POWERS CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY OF HANDGUNS, SCHOOL FUNDING AND SCHOOL CHOICE EXTENDING TELEHEALTH SERVICES AND ELIMINATING WETLANDS PROTECTION.

THERE'S A LOT TO DISCUSS AND WE WILL DO THAT WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE HOUSE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER WHO JOINS US FOR THIS WEEK'S PRIME TIME.

AND GOOD EVENING.

I'M BRUCE AMES WITH US TONIGHT IS 79TH DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HOUSE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER MET LEHMAN AND WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AND SHARE YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS DURING THE PROGRAM.

JUST CALL THE NUMBER THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN AS WE GO THROUGH THE CONNECTIONS AND BRING IN MET FROM HIS OFFICES HERE.

THIS EVIL MET.

GOOD EVENING, SIR.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AS ALWAYS.

>> BRUCE.

SO IT'S NICE TO BE HERE.

>> WHAT HAS THE VIEW FROM THE FLOOR BEEN LIKE FOR YOU FOR THESE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS OF THE SESSION SO FAR.

>> INTERESTING CHOICE OF WORDS.

THE VIEW FROM THE BECAUSE AS I THINK WE TALKED TO BEFORE.

WE ARE NOT IN OUR HOUSE CHAMBER.

THE SENATE IS IN THEIR CHAMBER.

WE ARE CROSSED LITTLE ACROSS THE STREET IN THE GOVERNMENT CENTER SOUTH.

WE'VE CREATED A CHAMBER IN THERE.

IT'S A MUCH WIDER OF BODY.

AND SO I MADE THE COMMENTS SOMEONE THEIR DAY.

WHEN YOU GO TO THE MICROPHONE TO TALK AND PRESENT YOUR BILL.

YOU'RE LITERALLY SEEN MAYBE, MAYBE A COUPLE BUT MAYBE A HALF OR 2 THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS THAT YOU CAN EASILY MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE REST ARE BEYOND YOUR CARRIER, YOUR VISION.

SO IT'S IT'S WE'VE HAD A GOOD 1ST HALF.

WE GOT OUT SOME GOOD LEGISLATION THEY CAN AND IT'S JUST BEEN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENT STANDPOINT.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE MORE AND ESPECIALLY KNOW YOU WANT TO TALK WITH THE SENATOR.

NOW YOU'VE GOT TO GO BACK ACROSS THE STREET.

SO THE DISMAY HAS MADE IT TOUGH.

LOGISTICALLY.

BUT THE GROWING I SOME CREDIT TO BOTH PARTIES OF THOSE SIGNS OUT OF WORK VERY WELL IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO GET A GOOD 1ST HALF OF THE YEAR.

>> THE LOGISTICS THAT YOU SPEAK SEEM TO DOVETAIL WELL WITH A COUPLE PIECES OF LEGISLATION ARE STILL ALIVE AT THE HALF MARK HOUSE BILL 1123, WHICH ONE YOU AUTHORED AND THERE'S A COMPANION ONE IN THE SENATE.

BUT SPEAKING ABOUT THE IDEA OF EXECUTIVE POWERS AND WHEN THE LEGISLATURE CAN BE CALLED BACK INTO SESSION.

LET'S BRING FOLKS UP TO DATE ON WHAT 1123 US ABOUT AND WHY IT'S THERE.

>> SURE.

AND I THINK IF I THINK WE'RE TALKING BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR, BRUCE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ALMOST HAVE A SESSION OF WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE GOVERNOR'S AGO BECAUSE THAT'S ALL KIND OF IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR NOW.

WHAT THE WHAT THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT FORCES.

THINGS THAT WE SEE THAT HAD BEEN STATUTORY LAW FOR THE 50 IN SOME CASES 60 YEARS CREATING THE GOVERNOR, SOME PRETTY PRETTY BROAD LATITUDE WHEN IT COMES TO THE CURRENT EMERGENCIES.

WE'RE REALIZING THAT AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO SEE THAT LEGISLATIVE BODY BE A PART OF THAT DECISION-MAKING IN THE CONSTITUTION.

STRICTLY LIMITS.

THE GOVERNOR'S AS THE GOVERNOR HAS THE SOLE ABILITY TO CALL US BACK IF WE'RE NOT IN SESSION FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

SO WHAT WE HAVE APPROACHING BODY OR THIS SESSION.

THE BODY IS 1123 IS AN APPROACH THAT SAYS.

WE WANT TO ADD TO THE CODE, THE ABILITY OF OUR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WHICH IS MADE UP OF THE IT'S OFF 4.

ALL BOTH PARTIES FROM ALL 4 CAUCUSES ALONG WITH A FEW ABOUT 16 NUMBER.

BODY THAT COULD IF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IS DECLARED BY THE GOVERNOR.

IF THIS BODY FELT THERE NEED TO BE INPUT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AS EARLY AS THE FIRST WEEK.

IT'S ORDERED.

THEY CAN CALL.

THEY CAN.

THEY CAN TRIGGER A CALL FOR US TO COME INTO SESSION.

IT'S UNIQUE.

IT'S DIFFERENT.

IT'S IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CHALLENGING SOME OF THAT.

BUT WE FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE THAT BALANCE OF YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE DON'T COME IN ON DAY ONE.

BUT WE CAN'T SUMMIT SIDELINES FOR 9 OR 10 MONTHS.

WE'RE NOT IN SESSION.

SO THERE'S A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS WHAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE DOWN THE ROAD.

SO WE THINK THIS IS A WAY TO DO IT.

A COMPANION BILL THAT CAVE IN THE SENATE ARE A GOOD COMPETING BUILD KIND OF THE SAME GOAL SENATOR GLAXO SENATE BILL 4.

'07, STILL GRANTS.

THE GOVERNOR THE SAME POWERS BUT NOW PUTS A CHECK ON THAT AFTER 30 DAYS.

HE WANTS TO EXTEND THAT ORDER.

HE'S GOT 15 DAYS OR SHE'S GOT 15 DAYS TO TO ORDER US BACK AND THEN WE CAN GIVE OUR INPUT.

SO IT'S KIND OF TO APPROACH.

IS THAT I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU YEAR AGO WHEN WE ADJOURNED THEIR SHORT SESSION.

IF YOU TOLD ME THAT THE 2 BIGGEST LEGISLATION WOULD BE THE BABY IS ON HOW TO PUT SOME PARAMETERS AROUND CHECK AND BALANCE BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH WHEN IT CAME TO EXECUTIVE POWERS OUT IS THAT I THINK YOU'RE NOT SO GOOD OR WHAT CONDITION WOULD YOU DO THAT.

WELL, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY IS EVERYTHING IS BEING DRIVEN BY THIS TITLE.

10 EXECUTIVE POWERS UNDER THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

AND THAT HAS IS THE FOCUS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE THIS DEBATE THAT.

BUT THOSE ARE VERY MUCH A LOT OF THOSE ARE NOW IN THE OPPOSITE CHAMBERS.

I THINK WE'LL GET TO A POINT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY ON ANOTHER CALL WAS LEGISLATORS THAT.

WE THINK WE'LL FIND A NICE SOLUTION THAT WE HOPEFULLY GOVERNOR CAN BE A PART.

>> ANOTHER COVID CASUALTY HAS BEEN THE CENSUS COUNT YOU THAT CONNECTS TO THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SO TALK OF.

BEING CALLED AS NEED BE.

THIS ONE FEELS LIKE IT WILL BE REQUIRED WE LATER ON IN 2021 BECAUSE OF THE.

THE DISTRICT TEAM, THE REDISTRICTING ACTIVITY THAT TAKES PLACE.

ANY ANY SENSE OF WHERE ALL THAT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, IT'S IT'S KIND OF IN LIMBO IN A WAY WE'VE GOT MIXED MESSAGES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE'VE INITIALLY WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE CENSUS DATA BY THE MIDDLE OF APRIL AND TOWARDS THE END MIDDLE OF MAY.

I'M HOPING WE CAN MAYBE STICK AROUND.

AND DOOR SESSION WITH SOME SOME APPS.

BUT NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE AUGUST OR EVEN SEPTEMBER.

SO WE SEE THIS DATA.

AND AS YOU KNOW, REDISTRICTING IS A 10 EVERY 10 YEARS WE'RE BOUND BY THE CONSTITUTION, THE FEDERAL AND STATE A RED DISTRICT.

BOTH OUR CONGRESSIONAL SEATS THE STATE OF INDIANA AND OUR LEGISLATIVE SEATS AND SO THAT IS BASED ON YOUR WE GOT 6.6 MILLION PEOPLE ARE WHATEVER THAT CENSUS NUMBERS COMES BACK AND WE'LL DIVIDE THAT BY HER HOUSE SEATS AND 57 SEATS AND DRAW MAPS THAT ARE DRIVEN BY AREAS OF INTEREST COMMONALITY.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DEBATE ABOUT THEIR AFFAIR.

I THINK WE GET A LOOK AT THE MAPS.

AND FROM 2000.

THE MATCH IN 2000, 10 DRAWN BY 2 DIFFERENT I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THEM BOTH DO, THOUGH.

SEE AREAS WHERE THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL.

THERE IS WHERE IT MIGHT BE CHALLENGING.

BUT OUR GOAL REALLY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP AREAS OF INTEREST TOGETHER COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST AND AGAIN, THEY HAVE TO BE EQUAL REPRESENTATION.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE IT'S GETTING HARD TIME CALLING SOME LINES.

I I KNOW ONE OF THE SEATS AROUND THE ANNAPOLIS AREA.

THEIR POPULATION GREW ANYWHERE FROM 15 TO 20,000 PEOPLE.

WELL, THAT'S GOING TO CREATE A LOT DIFFERENT DISTRICT WAS 66,000 PEOPLE PER DISTRICT THAN WHAT YOU HAD BEFORE.

AREAS THAT ARE MORE RULED.

THAT MAY BE LOST POPULATION.

YOU CAN SEE THOSE DISTRICTS ACTUALLY EXPAND GEOGRAPHICALLY DEPAUL IN THE 66,000.

IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.

WHEN YOU MOVE ONE, YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE THE OTHERS.

THAT IS NOT AN EASY REPRESENTATIVE GREG SIR.

WALL.

OUR CAUCUS.

SURE.

WE'LL BE CARRYING THAT BILL.

VERY WELL RESPECTED ON BOTH SIDES THAT THEY COULD DO A GREAT JOB THAT WILL BE THE REASON BUSH THAT WE DO COME BACK.

I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO THAT BEGIN CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED THAT WE DO THAT.

SO WE'LL BE BACK IN SESSION SOME TIME AND PROBABLY TOWARDS THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

>> AS YOU SAY, WE'RE IN THESE LATTER MONTHS OF THE CURRENT SESSION.

DOWE HOUSE BILLS ARE IN THE SENATE AND VICE VERSA.

YOU COMING OVER TO THE HOUSE IS IS SENATE BILL 3.89 AND I WANTED TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON THIS ONE.

THIS THE REPEAL OF STATE REGULATED WETLANDS.

THE A NUMBER OF OP ED PIECES.

SOME COVERAGE REGARDING THIS BILL EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN WHETHER THIS LAW PUTS IN JEOPARDY EXISTING WETLANDS AND IN THE END WITH THE TRACK RECORD OF HISTORY SHOWING HOW FAR BACK IN THE A LARGER PART OF ITS GEOGRAPHY WAS WETLANDS BASED.

TELL US DO IF IF THAT PERCEPTION IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION OR.

>> WHAT IS THE DRIVER IN SENATE BILL 3.89 THAT WOULD HELP US TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE BETWEEN.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND THE ECONOMIC CONCERNS THAT SEEM LIKE THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER OF THIS PIECE.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

BRUCE.

IN SOME WAYS NO ONE WAS MORE SURPRISED BY THIS BUILDING.

IT'S HOUSE SPONSOR, WHICH IS ME.

BUT WHEN I WAS ASKED WOULD I BE WILLING TO TO SPONSOR THIS.

I WANT TO KNOW A LITTLE MORE AS TO EXACTLY WHERE THIS WAS GOING AND IN A WAY I APPRECIATE WE'RE THE SENATE WAS HEADING, BUT I THINK IN SOME WAYS IT TOOK A PRETTY PRETTY BOLD TOOK A PRETTY GOAL SWATH OF OF OF CHANGE THAT I THINK WAS INTENDED TO BE A I THINK WHAT I WANTED TO GO.

I THINK WE NEED TO GO IS A MUCH NARROWER SWAP BECAUSE WHAT WHAT WE DID IS IF YOU'RE IF YOU IF YOU REMEMBER THIS AND THAT MAY NOT REMEMBER.

BUT SO PEOPLE ARE CLEAR.

ISOLATED WETLANDS WERE NOT CREATED BY BELIEVE IS MADE TO 2000.

3 SESSION AND WHAT WHAT IT WAS IS IT WAS AREAS THAT REALLY HELD A LOT OF WATER NEEDED TO MAYBE HAVE SOME PROTECTION PUT AROUND THEM FROM DEVELOPMENT.

SO THEY END UP WITH THESE 3 CLASSES.

THE CLASS ONE AND CLASS STUDENT QUEST 3 AND LAST YEAR WHAT WE ALL LOOK AT.

SO THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A SWAMP.

WELL AND SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME TREES.

A LOT OF A LOT OF ORGANIC GROWTH AROUND.

IT.

A TIE TO HER CLASS TO HAS MORE.

YOU JUST WANT TO TREES.

BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE QUITE AS WET.

AND THEN YOUR CLASS WAR ARE REALLY A LOT OF IT IS FARMLAND WHERE WATER HAS STARTED TO GATHER AND IT COULD BE DUE TO BROKEN TILE.

IT COULD BE DUE TO SOME OTHER THINGS.

SO WHAT WHAT THE ATTEMPT I THINK WE WANT TO LAND IS NOBODY HAS ANY INTENTIONS OF DRAINING ANY SWAMPS WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE I LOVE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LAWS.

IT IS A WONDERFUL ABBOTT AT DOWN THERE NEAR DEPLOY IT WHERE WHERE YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEE AND WITH THE EAGLES.

IT'S IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT.

IRAN HEAR THAT.

AND THAT'S GOING NOWHERE.

THAT'S ALREADY PROTECTED.

THE FEDERAL IS PROTECTED, BUT WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS TO DRIVE DOWN TO IS THESE AREAS WHERE A FARMER IS MAYBE EVEN A FARM HIS LAND.

FOR YEARS AND HAS A BROKEN TILE.

HE DOESN'T HAVE MAYBE THE MEANS TO FIX THAT TILE THIS YEAR.

THE SEASON SO YOU WAIT A YEAR AND A YEAR LATER, THERE'S NOW A COUPLE OF CATS HILLSBOROUGH.

YOU SEE SOME VEGETATION AND NOW HE'S GOT TO GO THROUGH REMEDIATION PROCESS REST TO PAY THE GOVERNMENT TO BASICALLY GET HIS LAND BACK TO BEING ABLE TO FARM.

IT.

I THINK WE WOULD ALL LOOK AND SAY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GUY WHO WAS FARMING LAND.

AND ONCE YOU GO BACK TO FARMING LAND SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND SOME OF THAT FARMLAND IS PART OF DEVELOPMENT.

YOU'VE GOT AREAS WHERE DEVELOPERS MAY BE BOUGHT.

YOU KNOW, 2030, 40 ACRES OF LAND.

THERE'S NO THERE'S NO WETLANDS AT ALL.

HE'S GOT TO JASON PROPERTY AS AN OPTION ON AND SO HE YOU KNOW, EMINEM BY THAT FROM YOU IN THE NEXT 2 OR 3 YEARS.

WELL, IF THAT HIGHBRIDGE THEM, THE FARMERS WANT TO PUT MONEY INTO IT BECAUSE HE'S GOT TO MAKE REPAIRS TO SOME HE'S GOING TO ACTUALLY SELL FOR DEVELOPMENT.

SO IT ENDS UP THAT THOSE 2 ARE REALLY IN MY OPINION, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.

AND THEN WE ENDED UP WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY BROAD SWATH OF IT WAS JUST GET RID OF CLASS.

ONE CLASS TOO, IN CLASS 3.

SO I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE 3.89 AS WE'RE WORKING ON IT WITH OUR SENATE RIGHT NOW WITHOUT HIM AT THE TABLE IS IS THAT COULD BE BACKED OFF OF THAT QUITE A BIT INTO MORE OF JUST THAT ADDRESS IN THAT CLASS WON.

AS A FARMER PUT FIELD BACK IN THE CROP LAND.

>> APPRECIATE THAT THAT CLARIFICATION IN IT BRINGS FORWARD THE.

THE IMPORTANT DYNAMICS OF THE PROCESS BETWEEN HOUSE AND SENATE AND WHEN WHEN GO THINGS MOVE INTO THERE INTO THEIR FINAL PHASE.

WE ARE SPEAKING TONIGHT, BY THE WAY, WITH HOUSE MAJORITY FLOOR AT LEHMAN AND WE ARE LIVE HERE ON PRIME TIME.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US.

YOU SEE THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.

ONE PIECE OF BUSINESS IN THIS WEEK.

NOT A LOT OF NEWS FROM THE STATEHOUSE.

THIS PAST 7 DAYS.

BUT THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE PASSED ON MONDAY.

HB THE OR SB 2 RATHER OF A COMPANION BILL TO HB 10.

'03, ENOUGH.

NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT THOSE ARE.

YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

BUT A LOT OF THAT ALLOWS FOR FUNDING TO CONTINUE FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR.

IT WAS THIS WAS A PRIORITY PIECE FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

DOES IT FEEL LIKE ITS NEXT STOP THIS.

IN FACT, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> I BOTH THESE WERE PRIORITIES BOTH IN THE SENATE INTO THAT HOUSE AND REALLY WHAT THEY GET BRINGING UNTIL YOU GOT INTO THIS ENVIRONMENT OF THE YOU'VE SEEN THE LAW THAT THAT WORKED FINE UNTIL SUDDENLY HAS RAMPED UP.

SO CURRENT CASE HAD THAT IF YOU ARE A YOU HAVE EVERY OPTION CHILDREN'S AN OPTION.

THE PARENTS, AN OPTION, A VIRTUAL LEARNING.

BUT THE SCHOOL DID NOT GET A 100% OUT FUNDING.

THEY GOT A 5% UP FUNDING.

WELL, WHEN THEY CAME BACK ONLINE AND SAID, LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE OPTIONS AND LEARNING VIRTUALLY IT PUT US IN A POSITION WHERE YOU MAY HAVE HALF THEIR STUDENTS VIRTUAL AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE A SERIOUS HIT TO THE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

SO WHAT WE DID IS WE SAID YOU WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF SUSPEND THAT AND SAY THAT VIRTUAL STUDENT IS EQUAL TO THE STUDENT IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND SO WE BASICALLY GUARANTEED THE FUNDING MECHANISM AT A 100%.

FOR ENROLLED STUDENTS WOULD APPLY EVEN TO THE VIRTUAL.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO GO THROUGH RATHER QUICKLY.

WE'RE AT THAT POINT WERE, YOU KNOW, THEIR FUNDS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED AND THAT PENALTY NEEDED TO TO BE OFF THE TABLE.

SO BOTH THOSE BILLS ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THE SAME TO NUANCES DIFFERENT, BUT THEY REALLY WENT AFTER THE FACT AND MAKING SURE THE SCHOOLS ARE HELD ARE MADE WHOLE FOR THEIR VIRTUAL LEARNING.

>> AND THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE USE THE WORD VIRTUAL IN A COMPLETE IS IS PROBABLY AN AMAZING NUMBER.

CERTAINLY WHEN IT COMES TO MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO MATTERS OF AND THINKING ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE DOCTOR PATIENT RELATIONSHIP WITH TELEMEDICINE AND TELEHEALTH.

I WONDER WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT RELATIVE TO EXISTING LEGISLATION.

WHAT'S BEING DONE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PERHAPS EXPAND OR OR SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A REAL WORLD TRIAL OF EXPANDED TELE HEALTH HOW MUCH OF THAT MIGHT CONTINUE AFTER WE CAN FIND WHATEVER THE NEW NORMAL IS.

>> WELL, I THINK ONE THING WE NOTICE NOT JUST INTEL HELP BUT A LOT OF THINGS YOU KNOW, WE SAID WE WERE FORCED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENT THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

AND THAT HAS AN ALWAYS BEEN BAD.

THERE'S BEEN SOME GOOD THINGS THAT COME OUT OF THAT AND ONE BEING IS THE RAMPING UP OF TELL.

NOT GIVE A PERSONAL EXAMPLE.

I HAD AN ISSUE IN DECEMBER.

THE KIDNEY STONE AND I REACHED OUT TO MY POSITION AND HE SAID WHY DID I GET TO COME INTO MY OFFICE OR I DIDN'T GET YOU ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, ON YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN HERE AND I CAN ORDER EVERYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO GET THESE TESTS DONE IN A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, 5 THIS LIKE A SIMPLE AND THAT WAS THAT WAS JUST YEAH.

I WAS WHEN I WENT THROUGH THAT PERSONALLY, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SO MUCH EASIER WHEN YOU HAVE LOGISTICAL ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO TRAVEL WAYS TO A PHYSICIAN.

MAYBE THERE.

THERE'S LIMITED HER MOBILITY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS REALLY OPENED UP THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY HAS WE CAN DO WE CAN DO THIS ONLINE.

WE CAN DO THIS THROUGH THIS.

THIS TELL HELP SO WE HAD TO PIVOT AND MAKE SOME CHANGES TO CURRENT LAW THAT HAS SOME PROHIBITIONS ON SOME OF THAT BECAUSE WE FOUND THAT IT WORKED SO THERE'S THINGS YOU MAYBE HAD A CONCERN IF WE HAD TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION WILL WORK.

WELL, WE'RE FORCED TO DO THAT BY THE BY THE PANDEMIC.

THAT IT BECAME A THING NOT ONLY DOES IT WORK, BUT IT WORKS VERY WELL.

LET'S JUST MAKE THIS KIND OF PERMANENT.

AND SO ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE OUT THERE.

BUT THERE'S IT'S SO MOVING.

MANY MOVING PARTS AND IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, INSURANCE AND YOU KNOW.

THEY AND ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

SO IT'S IT'S IT'S A GOOD FIRST STEP.

AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE US MOVE IN THE DIRECTION WE'VE MOVED.

AND I THINK I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE IN THE FUTURE OF TELL TYPE OF THINGS THAT THE I THINK A BENEFIT TO EVERYBODY.

>> AND ON THE MEDICAL FRONT YOU.

YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE I AND A NEW GRANT PROGRAM TO TRY TO.

BE PROACTIVE REGARDING THE SOME OF THE STATE'S CRITICAL HEALTH HB 10.

'07.

>> YEAH, IT'S IT'S NO SECRET TO LOOK AT INDIANA.

I MEAN, WEATHERS WHETHER SMOKING RATES ARE THE THINGS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ON THE HEALTH CHARTS.

YOU I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO IS 10 '07, TO THAT END OF 7TH SUM IT UP FOR HEALTH GRANT MONEY OUT THERE TO TRY TO INCENTIVIZE.

THIS HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES.

IT'S GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE.

AND MAKE A THE INDIANA BECOMES A HEALTHIER PLACE BY COMING TO BECOMING A HEALTHIER PLACE.

YOU KNOW, OUR HEALTH CARE COSTS GO DOWN OR MEDICAID EXPENSES.

GO DOWN.

ALL THOSE THINGS GO DOWN.

A LOT OF IT IS MORE OF A FOCUS ON THE PRODUCTS, HELP PROBLEMS.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOME MORE CREATIVE, AN EVIDENCE-BASED METHODS TO ACHIEVE A, YOU KNOW, A BEIGE OR OF WHAT HAS BEEN MEASURABLE.

BUT MORE MEASURABLE HEALTH OUTCOMES.

I THINK THIS WILL DO IT.

I THINK IT'S LIKE TO BE MILLION THAT GOES INTO THIS GRANT PROGRAM.

>> YOUR OWN PERSPECTIVE ON BILLS THAT PERHAPS ARE NOT PAGE ONE, BUT THEY'RE IMPORTANT AND THEY'RE IN THE SAME SECTION THERE JUST ON A DIFFERENT PAGE.

WHAT ARE YOU FOLLOWING RIGHT NOW DESERVES TO BE CALLED UP.

>> WELL, I I WAS TOLD PEOPLE I KNOW ARE A CITIZEN LEGISLATURE.

SO WE COME IN, WE BRING OUR EXPERTISE AND WHERE WE LIVE.

SO I CHAIR THE HELP.

SO THE CHAIR OF THE CHURCH COMMITTEE FOR NUMBER YEARS AND REPRESENTATIVE CARR GOING AWAY HERE CHAIRS AND DOWN ON THE LEADER.

BUT BUT I STILL COME WITH THOSE INSURANCE ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE WORLD I LIVE.

THE DIFFERENCE IS NOBODY CARES ABOUT INSURANCE.

SO MY BILLS, I GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT THEY DO MAKE IT BETTER FOR HOOSIERS TO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO MARKETS, MORE COMPETITIVE MARKETS, ETCETERA, BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE NEAR DEER, MAYBE THEM EITHER FROM PAGE ONE OF THE FRONT PAGE.

A BIG ONE IS BROAD BAND.

BRUCE, I THINK THAT WERE SEEN.

I THINK YOU SAW THE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK OF THIS AS PUTTING IT WAS A 2 BILLION DOLLARS IN THE BROADBAND IN THE STATE.

THERE'S SO MUCH NOW.

I THINK THE PEOPLE ARE SEEN IN COVID IS PART OF THAT 2 WHEN IT CAME TO EDUCATION.

YOU KNOW, WE SAID THAT THIS TAKES THIS BROADBAND HEY, THERE'S BUSINESSES OUT OF THE COUNTRY, WHETHER IT BE THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY OR WHETHER IT BE JUST, YOU KNOW, MOM AND DAD TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THEIR KIDS ON TO YOU AND ME TO NOW KIDS BEING AT HOME AND ON YOU HAVE AND YOU LEARN EVERY DAY AND WE HAVE THE BROADBAND TO THAT.

SO PARENTS ARE TAKING THEIR KIDS TO WORK.

THEY'RE TAKEN TO THE MCDONALD'S AND DOWN.

IT WAS JUST A VERY GOOD SITUATION.

SO REALLY RAMPED UP I WAS SET UP SAID THIS LAST YEAR FOR YEARS, THE BROADBAND TO ME IS LIKE ELECTRICITY, THE 1930'S.

IT'S A MATTER OF STEPPING ALL THE PLAYERS HAVE TO STEP UP.

WE HAVE TO MOVE THIS OUT BECAUSE THIS IS A FAD.

THIS ISN'T GOING AWAY.

THIS IS HOW EDUCATION IS GOING TELEHEALTH GO BACK TO THE TELEHEALTH DISCUSSION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE IF I WANT TO PARTICIPATE THAT TELL I HAVE TO HAVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT NOW.

YOU KIND OF GOT A BOOST THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID.

BUT I HOPE ARE ON A PATH TO SEE SOME PRETTY WIDE SWATHS OF BROADBAND GO IN, ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHEAST INDIANA LIKE IN MY DISTRICT AND OTHERS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

>> I UNDERSTAND FROM THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT ALONE NORTHEAST INDIANA, FOR EXAMPLE, OUTSIDE FORT WAYNE PROPER IS CLASSIFIED AS RURAL EVEN WITH CITIES OF SIGNIFICANT YOU CARRY THAT DEFINITION ALL.

OR OR PERSPECTIVE BENEFICIARIES IMPROVEMENTS IN IN BROAD BIT.

IT SEEMS THE LEGISLATURE IS ALSO WORKING TO PLACES THAT ARE ARE.

BUT AS WELL AS WE'RE I UNDERSTAND 5 G CELL TOWERS ARE NOW A DISCUSSION IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> YEAH, THOSE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO IT'S KIND OF AN INNER CITY AND BROUGHT THE FIRST BECAUSE I TOLD PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS DEBATE OVER 5 G AND I KEEP TELLING THEM THE PLAYERS AND THAT WHEN THAT IN THAT SPACE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT FOR 5 G CAN I GET A I'M JUST LOOKING FOR SOME SPEED I THINK IT'S GOOD.

IT'S IT'S COMING.

BUT.

BUT YOU I THINK WE TALKED AGAIN BEFORE I WENT ON THE AIR ABOUT A TON OF MYSTICAL.

YEAH.

THAT WAS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT WAS AROUND THE CASPIAN AND THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE THOSE TYPES OF SYSTEMS THAT 5 G SYSTEM.

SO I THINK IT'S IT'S THE SMALL CELL TOWERS ISSUE IS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO PUT THEM.

AND NOW THEY GET TO SET UP ETCETERA.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S KIND OF AGAIN THAT ISSUE OF THESE AREN'T GOING AWAY.

AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO FIND THAT MARRIAGE BETWEEN THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY AND WAS GOING TO TAKE TO INVEST THAT TECHNOLOGY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE AGAIN IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S COMING.

WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, BUT I THINK THAT THE GOOD DAN HAS DONE A GOOD JOB SETTING THE FOOTPRINT AND WHERE THIS GOES AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT IS ON THE TABLE.

BURGERS.

>> WELL, I KNOW WITH WITH CONVERSATIONS REGARDING BROADBAND TO REGARDING 5 G AND CERTAINLY GLAD THE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY WAS WORKING SO WE COULD HAVE THIS CONVERSATION THIS EVENING, BEST WISHES FOR THIS.

THE 2ND HALF WE'LL LOOK FORWARD THE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION AS THE WEEKS GO BY, SIR.

>> BUT I'M BRUCE, REGION LOOK AT OUR COVID NUMBERS IN THE STATE.

THE NUMBERS ARE DROPPING.

YOU'RE SEEING MORE MORE COUNTIES GOING BLUE.

AND I THINK WANT TO GET US TO WHERE WE CAN GET BACK TO IN THAT'S LIKE THIS.

AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO GET THIS OPENED UP WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AND PUT THIS BEHIND US AND MOVE FORWARD.

IF PEOPLE ARE SOME PEOPLE WILL BE SAFE.

DO THEY CAN TO TRY TO SAVE.

I BELIEVE.

AND SO I HOPE WE SEE IT OPEN UP.

THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK INDIANA IS A GREAT PLACE THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THE STATE TOURNAMENT COME IN INDIA.

IT'S GOING GREAT BOOST FOR INDIANA.

BUT THE SAME TIME WE NEED TO OPEN UP AROUND OUTSIDE OF THE ANNAPOLIS TO BECAUSE WE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR AREA.

THEY'RE HURTING AND NEED TO BE OPEN BACK UP.

BUT I THINK THAT'S COMING.

>> LOTS OF EYES ON THE STATE THAT'S THAT'S PHENOMENAL AND THE BEST BEST WISHES FOR IT ALL AND THROUGH IT ALL 79TH THIS REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT LEHMAN HOUSE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER.

>> I'M AND SO FOR ALL OF US WITH PRIME TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF YOUR EVENING.

TAKE CARE OF THE SEASON.