AS NEWS STORIES BROKE ONE WEEK AGO ABOUT POSSIBLE THREATS AND OTHER SECURITY CONCERNS AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION, WE LEARNED LATE LAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON THAT THE INDIANA STATEHOUSE WOULD BE CLOSED FOR MOST OF THIS WEEK AND THAT BOTH THE INDIANA HOUSE AND SENATE WOULD CANCEL ALL ACTIVITIES FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK.

WELL, THE CLOSURE AND THE CANCELATIONS HAVE ADDED TO THE CHANGES IN VENUES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS SESSION ALL DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS AND THESE CAUTIONS CARRIED OVER TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS ON PBS'S FORT WAYNE THIS PAST TUESDAY NIGHT WAS ACTUALLY PRERECORDED IN A STUDIO WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE.

WELL, OUR GUESTS TONIGHT WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS, THEIR THOUGHTS ON PERSPECTIVE LEGISLATION AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SESSION IN THE MONTHS AHEAD HERE THIS WEEK'S PRIME TIME.

AND GOOD EVENING.

NO, SINCE IT IS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME TWO LEADERS IN THE INDIANA HOUSE WHO ARE WITH US VIRTUALLY THIS EVENING.

SEVENTY NINTH DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HOUSE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER MATT LAMAN AND 80TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS LEADER PHIL CHIQUITITA.

AND WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR CONVERSATION.

YOU CAN CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO THE NUMBER THAT YOU SEE RIGHT THERE ON YOUR SCREEN AND NOW YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN THIS IS WHY WE HAVE BIG SCREENS ANYMORE WE CAN PUT EVERYBODY ON THEM AND THEY ARE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

MATT DAMON IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER FILLED CHIGWEDERE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER.

GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

BRUCE, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

I WORK.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

AND GENTLEMEN, I'M GOING TO TOSS UP QUESTION FOR YOU BOTH.

AND PHIL, LET ME HAVE YOU START WITH THE ANSWER.

YOU'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE SINCE 2006 AND MATT'S BEEN WITH US IN THE LEGISLATURE SINCE 2008.

YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS AT THE STATE HOUSE.

WHERE DO YOU PUT THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS OF EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SESSION?

YES, BRUCE, IT'S BEEN THAT FIRST OF ALL GOOD TO BE HERE WITH MY FRIEND MATT LEHMAN.

BUT YOU KNOW, I TELL YOU WHAT, IT HAS BEEN A STRANGE TRIP AS THEY SAY AND YOU KNOW, WE ALL GET INTO OUR ROUTINES OF HOW THINGS WORK AND AND I THINK IT'S A JOLT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE TO MEET IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT BUILDING WE ARE IN GOVERNMENT CENTER S AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE JUST MEETING IN TWO ROOMS AND WE'VE ONLY MET IN SESSION SO FAR ON THURSDAYS.

SO EVERYTHING IS QUITE DIFFERENT AND I THINK THOUGH FOR THE BETTER WHEN WE AS WE AS WE TALK AND WHO ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS AND WE WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN WHERE OBVIOUSLY LEGISLATORS, STAFF WOULD GET SICK BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS AND THAT WE'D HAVE TO SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS EVEN MORE SO I THINK THE PRECAUTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SO FAR HAVE BEEN GOOD.

I KNOW IT'S IT DEFINITELY HAS SLOWED THINGS DOWN BUT WE WILL START TO PICK THINGS UP HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK AND TAKE IT FROM THERE AND DO OUR BUSINESS AND STILL PLAN TO GET OUT OF HERE ON TIME AT THE END OF APRIL.

MATT, LET ME HAVE YOU PICK UP ON THAT FROM FROM WHERE PHIL LEFT OFF.

MATT, YOU'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE AS MENTIONED FOR ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS OR SO.

WAS THERE EVER A CHAPTER IN THE HANDBOOK ON DEALING WITH A PANDEMIC WHICH WE TRY TO FIND OUR WAYS THROUGH MENTALLY AND THEN OF COURSE THE CONTEXT OF THE NATION WITH SECURITY THAT THAT BRINGS US ALL BACK TO REALITY.

WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?

YEAH, I SAID THIS IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE I USE THE EXAMPLE ONE TIME TO SOMEBODY THAT IT'S LIKE THE LEWIS AND CLARK JOURNEY.

I'M A BIG FAN OF KEN BURNS OF LEWIS AND CLARK AND I SAID YEAH, I'VE REACHED A POINT WHERE THEY WENT OFF THE MAP AND SUDDENLY EVERY TURN WAS A NEW ADVENTURE AND I SAW IT THE LAST 10 MONTHS WHERE A LITTLE BIT LIKE ON THAT EVERY TURN WAS A NEW ADVENTURE WHEN THIS STARTED, YOU KNOW, JUST WENT UP TO WE THE CONTINUITY COMMITTEE WHICH HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF CARRYING BEGIN TO LOOK AT HOW ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SESSION, WHERE DO WE GO, WHAT DO WE DO, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS DIFFERENT THAN WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST?

AND AS SO POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW, SAFETY IS WHAT DROVE US AND SO REALLY WE ENDED UP IN A NEW CHAMBER OVER AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER WHERE DISTANCED AND IT'S IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING PATH I THINK IT'S ALL SAID IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOW START I THINK FOR CAUTION.

BUT WE'LL GET DONE ON TIME AS HE SAID.

I THINK ACTUALLY WE'LL DO WE'LL GET SOME GOOD STUFF DONE AS WELL.

WE HAVE A CALLER WHO'S EXPRESSED A QUESTION OFFLINE AND ALL WHO ARE WATCHING ARE WELCOME TO DO THAT.

JUST AGAIN, USE THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.

BUT A GENTLEMAN NAMED BAIZE HAS EXPRESSED RELIEF THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS AT THE STATE HOUSE AND HE'S WONDERING HOW CONFIDENT YOU BOTH ARE OF THE SECURITY MEASURES THAT ARE IN PLACE NOW IN IN AND AROUND THE STATE HOUSE.

LET ME START WITH YOU.

YEAH, I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT.

I THINK OUR CAPITOL POLICE HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF SECURING OUR FACILITY AND KEEPING US SECURE.

YOU KNOW, WE TOOK ADVICE FROM THE STATE POLICE.

THEY FELT THERE WERE SOME JUST OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION AND WE ARE REALLY GLAD YOU SAW A COUPLE OF STATES THAT HAD SOME DUSTUPS BUT WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE THERE.

MAYBE THEY CAME TO VOICE THEIR OPINION WHICH IS GREAT.

AND I THINK GOING FORWARD IT DOES SET THE TABLE THAT YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CAUTION AROUND SECURITY AND LIKE I SAID AND SO CAN I THINK JOIN IN ON THIS.

BUT NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO NOW THAT BUILDING THERE IS ALWAYS STATE POLICE THERE AND I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, PHIL.. HOW ABOUT YOU, SIR?

YEAH, NO, I WOULD AGREE WITH MATT.

I TALK REGULARLY WITH THE STATE POLICE.

THEY KEEP US INFORMED OF ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES AND I THINK THEY REALLY DO A NICE JOB NOW WE'VE ALL BEEN LEGISLATORS HAVE BEEN WARNED HEY LOOK, MAKE SURE YOUR TAKE YOUR YOUR BADGE AND YOUR SWIPE AT YOURSELF.

DON'T LET FOLKS IN THAT HAVEN'T MAYBE GONE THROUGH THE SECURITY SYSTEM AND I THINK WE CAN ALL GET A LITTLE LAX AT TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO SECURITY MEASURES AND WHAT YOU KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING WHERE WE CAN SOMETIMES BE A LITTLE LAX BUT FRANKLY THE PANDEMIC AND WEARING MASKS AND SO FORTH.

SO I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT OF ALL OF US LEGISLATORS, THE PUBLIC THAT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING AND BUT I GREAT CONFIDENCE THAT OUR STATE POLICE ARE ON TOP OF THINGS AND WILL KEEP US SAFE SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR BUSINESS DONE.

OF COURSE ON AN ON TUESDAY NIGHT OUT OF SECURITY AND OUT OF HEALTH CONCERNS.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB PRERECORDING HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS FOR BROADCAST AT THE USUAL TIME SEVEN O'CLOCK.

I'M IMAGINING THAT FOR THE GOVERNOR AGAIN A DIFFERENT KIND OF CONTEXT BECAUSE USUALLY IT'S GALLERIES FULL AND ROOM FULL AND JUST A GENERAL SENSE OF ANTICIPATION.

AND WHAT I'M WONDERING IS AT ONE POINT ONE REPORT HAD THAT HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP THOUGH WERE ABLE TO BE IN THE ROOM WITH THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS.

WAS THAT THE CASE FOR FOR BOTH OF YOU?

I WAS NOT THERE.

I KNOW THAT I KNOW WHAT HE WAS GOING TO RESIGN.

I THINK HE WAS GOING TO DELIVER THE SPEECH IN THE CHAMBER TO AN EMPTY CHAMBER AND THERE WOULD BE SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP WOULD BE THERE.

BUT I THINK IT ENDED UP IN A STUDIO BY HIMSELF AND I'M NOT TALKING THEY WERE ACTUALLY THERE BUT WE DID I JUST I WATCHED IT FROM THE COMFORT OF MY HOME BEFORE HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, SOME OF HIS BUDGET PLANNING HAD BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SESSION.

BUT LET ME GO TO THE HIGH ALTITUDE TO SAY WHETHER IT'S ABOUT MONEY OR POLICY MEANT WE'LL START WITH YOU AND THEN AND THEN PHIL, YOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

I THOUGHT THE GOVERNOR GAVE A REALLY GOOD ADDRESS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY POSITIVE KIND OF THERE MULTIPLE TAKEAWAYS.

I TOOK NOTES BUT I THINK IF I HAD TO SUM IT UP IT'S ONE IS ONE THING THE PANDEMIC DID IS SHOW US THAT WE NEED TO BE FISCALLY SOUND TO WEATHER THESE STORMS.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORS AROUND US, I THINK THERE'S SOME SOME DIGGING OUT TO DO IF THAT STORM AND WE'RE READY TO GO I THINK HE USED THE TERM GO, GO, GO.

AND I THINK IT'S THAT OUR BUSINESSES ARE PREPARED.

SO I THINK THE TABLE IS SET.

I MEAN WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND WHEN WE DO I THINK OUR BUSINESSES ARE PREPARED TO GROW.

THEY'RE ANNOUNCING EXPANSIONS OR ANNOUNCING NEW JOBS.

SO I THINK ALL THAT'S IN A SENSE RELATED THEN TO A A POSITIVE MESSAGE ON THE BUDGET THE ABILITY TO PAY DOWN SOME DEBT AT THE SAME TIME BE VERY CONSERVATIVE IN IN HOW WE WE DON'T GO TOO FAR AND GET OURSELVES TOO FAR AHEAD OF OUR SKIS ON THIS.

BUT I THINK HE LAID OUT I THOUGHT A VERY CONCRETE OFFENSIVE AND I THINK A PRETTY GOOD BUDGET.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A FEW AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BROADER DISCUSSIONS ON.

BUT I THOUGHT BETWEEN THE THE VERY POSITIVE NATURE OF HIS SPEECH AND THAT INDIA IS IN A GREAT PLACE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THAT I THINK THE FISCALLY WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS BETTER THAN MOST STATES WILL FEEL ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON GOVERNOR HOLCOMB'S STATE OF THE STATE?

WELL, YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS SORT OF LIKE THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, IT'S ALWAYS REALLY A FUN EVENING.

VERY EXCITING.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOU'RE THERE AND YOU'RE YOU'RE YOU'RE ANXIOUS TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR OBVIOUSLY HAS TO SAY AND IT REALLY IS A FUN EVENING AND IT'S JUST REALLY KIND OF TOO BAD THAT HE WASN'T ABLE TO GIVE IT LIKE I SAID IN FRONT OF A PACKED HOUSE.

BUT WE YOU KNOW AND AS MATT INDICATED, THERE ARE SOME OF THE LEADERS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE AND THEN THAT DIDN'T QUITE WORK OUT EITHER.

BUT IT YOU KNOW, AGAIN WE'RE MAKING WITH THE BEST OF THINGS HERE.

SO LIKE THAT I SAID HERE IN MY LIVING ROOM AND WATCHED HIS SPEECH TO SO YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY A LITTLE LACKS SOME SPECIFICS.

GRANTED IT'S 30 MINUTES SO YOU CAN'T GET INTO TOO SPECIFIC ON ON THE ITEMS BUT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HEARD A FEW MORE WITH REGARDS TO YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SORT OF HELP HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING THAT I FRANKLY HEAR FROM QUITE OFTEN BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC?

YOU KNOW HOW WHAT WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO STAY AFLOAT?

WHAT ABOUT HOPING TO MAYBE HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH REGARDS TO THE REPORT FROM THE TEACHER COMPENSATION COMMITTEE THAT HE PUT TOGETHER IN TEACHER PAY RAISES THINGS LIKE THAT?

YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF SAID WELL IT'S COMING.

I'VE KIND OF HEARD THAT NOW AND TWO OR THREE SPEECHES IN A ROW AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME MORE THE SPECIFICS AS KIND OF HOW HE SEE THAT BEING PLAYED OUT IN THE BUDGET.

SO YEAH.

SO YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT YOU TYPICALLY THESE ARE HIGH LEVEL AND THE 100 FOOT LEVEL SO YOU DON'T REALLY GET INTO A LOT OF SPECIFICS THAT I THOUGHT YOU COULD HAVE HEARD MAYBE TWO THINGS NOW HE DID TALK ABOUT A IT FRANKLY SLIPPED MY MIND.

NOW IT'S SORT OF A NEW PROGRAM THAT HE'S KIND OF WORKING OUT.

I MEAN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE DID THIS REGIONAL CITIES PROGRAM WHERE REGIONS COMPETED FOR FOR MONEY BASED ON THEIR PROPOSALS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND NORTHEAST INDIANA WAS ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THAT.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE MAYBE TIED TO SOME SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I'M REALLY KIND OF ANXIOUS TO HEAR WHERE HE'S GOING TO GO WITH THAT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF ONE NEW IDEA THAT KIND OF STOOD OUT AND INTRIGUED ME.

MY NOTES TELL ME THAT THANK GOODNESS FOR NOTES THAT I BELIEVE THE REFERENCES TO SOMETHING CALLED THE NEXT LEVEL REGIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM THAT MODELED AFTER REGIONAL CITIES.

MATT, WHAT WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF WHAT THIS MAY WELL DO?

IT SEEMS THAT IT IS IN THE SPIRIT OF THE REGIONAL CITIES INITIATIVE MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

YEAH, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.

I THINK REGIONAL CITIES AS IS KIND OF A IT WAS A SET PROGRAM AND IS STILL USE THE TERM COMPETITIVE.

I THINK THIS IS MORE GETTING GETTING THE COMMUNITIES TO LOOK AT THAT REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO I THINK WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING AT IS IS SPREADING THIS MORE ACROSS A BROADER SPECTRUM.

AND I THINK I THINK IT'S WORKED I MEAN AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, REGIONAL CITIES WORK SO THIS TAKES KIND OF THE SAME PATH OF OF CREATING A UNIFIED FRONT ON ECONOMIC YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING CYCLICAL.

YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU PROMOTE THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH, THE MORE LIKELY YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO RELOCATE.

THEY BRING YOUR BUSINESS HERE.

THEY BRING JOBS HERE.

THOSE JOBS THOSE WORKERS BRING KIDS AND YOU KNOW, KIDS END UP IN SCHOOL AND SO YOU KNOW, IT ALL BENEFITS THE COMMUNITIES.

I THINK YOU KNOW, WE SAW IT WITH THE REGIONAL CITIES IN FORT WAYNE.

YOU KNOW OUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT FROM THAT WELLS COUNTY CAN BENEFIT THAT.

WE DID SEE A LOT OF THAT REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORK AND ON AND SO ON THAT NOTE, I THINK THIS IS THAT SAME PATH I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING SOME ROBUST DISCUSSION ON IT.

TOM HAS CALLED IN OFFLINE WITH A QUESTION FOR YOU BOTH AND HE SAYS IS THERE ANY MOVEMENT ON THE FLOOR ABOUT SPENDING CUTS SPECIFICALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC?

MATT, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THAT ONE SPECIFIC CUTS.

NO, I KNOW INITIALLY WHEN WE WHEN WE LOOKED AT WHERE WE THOUGHT THE BUDGET MIGHT BE, A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENTS WERE GIVEN THE TASK OF OF YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY REDUCING THEIR BUDGETS.

I THINK ROY'S GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

I THINK THAT THERE'S THERE ARE SOME CUTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE MADE I WOULDN'T CALL THEM CUTS BUT THINGS LIKE YOU WERE TAKING ONE TIME DOLLARS TO PAY DOWN DEBT.

THAT ALWAYS IS A LONG TERM RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT AS A STATE.

SO I CAN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY WE'RE GOING TO CUT A, B OR C BUT I THINK WHAT WE'VE TAKEN A HARD LOOK AT IS WHERE CAN WE PUT ONE TIME MONEY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DEBT DOES NOT TO CONTINUE TO GROW OR TO CREATE.

AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT OUR DEBT.

I THINK INDIANA'S THIRD OR SO WE'RE IN THE PER CAPITA DEBT.

OUR BOND DEBT IS LIKE TWO POINT TWO DOLLARS PER PER PERSON AND I THINK ILLINOIS IS LIKE FIVE THOUSAND.

SO I THINK YOU KNOW, YES, THERE'S PLACES WE CAN DO A BIT CUTTING AND WE WILL LOOK AT THOSE.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART I THINK IT'S IT'S A IT'S A GOOD PLACE RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO PAY DOWN SOME DEBT.

PHIL, HOW ABOUT YOUR ANY SENSE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON TOM'S POINT?

YEAH, SURE.

WELL, I THINK IT'S IT'S A LITTLE EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE IS JUST GOING TO HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS.

SO AS FAR AS THE AS FAR AS THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN ANYTHING WITH REGARDS TO CUTTING HAIR CUTTING THERE AND OBVIOUSLY THAT THE THERE WAS SOME DELAYS AND SOME PAYMENTS BACK IN THE EARLY PART OF THE SUMMER BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR HAS HE'LL WORK WITH HIS OWN DEPARTMENT TO GET THEM BACK UP TO WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

SO I WOULD DIFFER A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK WITH NOW WITH REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, PAYING DOWN DEBT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU BUILD UP A SURPLUS AND YOU HAVE A TRIPLE-A RATING, THE REASON YOU WANT THAT IS TO GET A GOOD INTEREST RATE ON WHEN IF YOU WANT TO BORROW TO DO SOME MORE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY A BALANCE.

IT'S ABOUT PRIORITIES AND SO IT'S KIND OF IN MY OPINION I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BOTH BUT IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A SURPLUS TWO BILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS AND THE TRIPLE-A OR YOUR YOUR GREAT BOND RATING, THAT'S SORT OF THE TIME TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THE STATE WE HAVE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND SOME OTHER NEEDS THAT WE NEED TO GET DONE AND AND NOW IS MAYBE THE TIME TO COME TAKE IF WE HAVE TO IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO CUT INTO THE SURPLUS AND MAYBE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN BORROW TO PAY FOR SOME OF THOSE NEEDED BRIDGE REPAIRS AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

PHIL, LET ME STAY WITH YOU ON YOUR THOUGHTS.

BOTH PARTIES LAYING OUT EXPECTATIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION, DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS SHARED A COUPLE OF POINTS REDUCING THE COSTS OF HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE, WORKING WITH POLICE AND JUSTICE ISSUES.

THERE IS A POLICE BILL, ONE OF A COUPLE GOING THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOW WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD THAT THAT THAT YOU FEEL ARE POINTS FOR ALL OF US TO KEEP AN EYE ON?

YEAH, YOU MENTIONED CRIMINAL JUSTICE THERE IN THE COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER BY SPEAKER HOUSTON CHAIRED BY REPS AND HERE ALL NIGHT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE I THINK DID A NICE JOB AND WE HAD MEMBERS FROM OUR CAUCUS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL.

REVEREND ROBIN SHACKELFORD AND OTHER MEMBERS FROM OUR AND CRIMINAL CODE COMMITTEE THAT DID A NICE JOB AND THAT BILL PICKED UP A I THINK IT'S TEN OF SIX TO GO REFER TO WAYS AND MEANS THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO I THINK THERE ARE SOME FUNDING ISSUE THERE SO BUT WE I THINK WILL THAT WILL GET PRETTY GOOD SUPPORT FROM BOTH SIDES.

HOSPITAL 10 OR THREE IS ON THE CALENDAR FOR NEXT WEEK THAT HAS TO DO WITH AS YOU RECALL EARLIER EARLY MIDSUMMER WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR STUDENTS HAVING TO TAKE CLASSES AT HOME.

WE DIDN'T WANT SCHOOLS TO BE PENALIZED OR FOR THEIR THEIR COUNT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT THEY HAD BECAUSE JUST FOR THE FACT THEY'RE BEING AT HOME AND DOING VIRTUAL LEARNING, WE DIDN'T WANT SCHOOL TO BE PENALIZED FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT HAS TO DO WITH THEIR WITH THEIR FUNDING GOING FORWARD.

SO THAT AGAIN I THINK WILL RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

AND OF COURSE I MENTIONED A COUPLE OTHER THINGS HAD TO DO WITH HAVING TO DO WITH EDUCATION AND AND WHERE WE ARE WITH REGARDS TO PUBLIC PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED EARLIER AS I TALKED ABOUT JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO WITH THE TEACHER COMPENSATION COMMITTEE THAT PUT FORTH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PROPOSALS HAVING TO DO WITH TEACHER PAY AND AND WHERE WE RANK I THINK WE'RE AT 35 37 THAT THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD THAT THE PROPOSALS THIS IS GOVERNOR COMMISSION THAT HE PUT FORTH BUT THEY DID A REALLY NICE JOB OF LOOKING A OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO WHERE MONEY CAN BE SAVED POTENTIALLY AND AND YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF LAID IT OUT WHERE WE ARE AS A STATE TEACHER PAY AND I'VE HEARD STORIES I'VE HAD I'VE HEARD FROM THEM SPECIFICALLY FOLKS HAVE CALLED ME TEACHERS SAID, YOU KNOW, I JUST CAN'T IT JUST TOO HARD TO MAKE ANYMORE.

I'M GOING TO GO IN AND START MY OWN BUSINESS, DO SOMETHING ELSE .

THEY WERE SAD ABOUT LEAVING BUT I THAT IT WAS NEEDED THAT THEY HAD TO DO IT BECAUSE THERE JUST REALLY WASN'T KEEPING UP AND THEY COULD GO MAKE MORE MONEY SOMEPLACE.

SO THAT'S AN ISSUE WITH REGARD TO TURNOVER.

AND THEN I THINK MATT MENTIONED TOO WITH THE DRAWING OF THE NEW MAPS EVERY 10 YEARS WE DRAW NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS AS SOMETHING THAT HOUSE DEMOCRATS TALKED ABOUT PAST COUPLE OF SESSIONS THAT WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION.

IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED I THINK EVEN SOME HOUSE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS HAVE SUPPORTED THE IDEA IN THE HOUSE.

SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE DONE WHERE YOU KNOW, ARE SAYING IS THAT LEGISLATORS SHOULD DRAW THEIR OWN DISTRICTS, THAT INDEPENDENT COMMISSION SHOULD TO DO THAT TO BRING TO HAVE A FAIR AND COMPETITIVE MAPS MAP BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW AND YOU'RE YOU'RE AT THE THOMAS JEFFERSON ON SOME SIGNATURE PIECES HERE GOING INTO THIS THIS PARTICULAR SET OF MONTHS WITH THE BUDGET.

BUT HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON SAYS HE'S WORKING TOWARD A BASE INCREASE FOR K-12 THOUGH IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA YET.

ANY ANY SENSE OF WHAT HE MIGHT MEAN BY THAT?

WELL, I KNOW I THINK THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED IN HIS BUDGET WAS AROUND 370 MILLION NEW DOLLARS ON TOP OF LAST FINING HIM ABOUT 700 SOME MILLION OF NEW DOLLARS.

AND WHILE I WOULD YOU KNOW, MAYBE I'LL AGREE WITH MY FRIEND PHIL THAT THERE'S A THERE'S MAYBE A NEED FOR SOME SOME INCREASE IN SOME FUNDING.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO KEEP IN MIND THIS I THINK THIS COMES FROM THE LOCAL LEVEL.

WE HAVE PUSHED A LOT OF MONEY DOWN TO SCHOOLS THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO ALWAYS MAKE IT INTO THE CLASSROOM.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION WE HAVE TO HAVE TO IS ARE THOSE DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO SCHOOLS MAKING IT TO THE CLASSROOM AND INTO THOSE FRONT LINE TEACHERS AND I KNOW THAT.

YEAH, SO SO THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF ON THAT ISSUE AND THAT'S THE BUDGET ISSUE WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY AS THE AS THE MAJORITY THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO TO PASS A BALANCED AND SOLID BUDGET.

I WANT TO PIGGYBACK IF I CAN, BRUCE, ON A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT PHIL TALKED ABOUT.

THE POLICE REFORM BILL WHICH HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT I THINK IS A GREAT WORK OF UNITY AND COMING TOGETHER AND SAYING THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME REFORM.

WE'RE GOING TO HOLD BAD PLAYERS ACCOUNTABLE.

THEY CAN'T GO FROM DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK IS GOING TO BE VERY KEY AND THAT'S PART OF OUR AGENDA.

WE'VE PUT OUT OUR AGENDA IS REALLY ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES GETTING BACK TO WORK.

THERE'S TWO THINGS AT PLAY THERE.

ONE IS IS A BILL THAT I'M ON WHICH THE COVID LIABILITY AND IT SAYS LOOK, IF IF YOU'RE IF WHAT ARE YOUR FEARS OF GETTING BACK UP AND RUNNING IS THAT YOU LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER OR AM I GOING TO GET SUED FROM SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO COME BACK AND CLAIM THEY WERE IN MY STORE FOR FIVE MONTHS AGO AND NOW THEY GOT COVID MAYBE THEY LOST WAGES ET CETERA.

SO TO COVER THE LIABILITY SAYS UNLESS YOU'RE GROSSLY NEGLIGENT IN YOUR ACTIONS YOU'RE GOING TO BE IMMUNE FROM THOSE ACTIONS.

SO I THINK IT GIVES KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF A SIGH OF RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO KNOW THEY CAN OPEN BACK UP AND NOT HAVE THAT FEAR.

AND THEN WE ARE PUTTING IN OUR PROPOSAL HERE I THINK IT'S TOO WHICH IS TALKING THAT'S THAT'S THE RESPONSIBLE ONE.

BUT WE'VE GOT A BILL ON THE SENATE FLOOR IS THE ONE THAT ADDRESSES THE GRANT PROGRAM THAT I KNOW THAT CARRIES MONEY WENT TOWARDS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE 30 MILLION MORE INTO THAT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN AND USE THAT GRANT MONEY.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS OUT THERE BETWEEN GETTING SMALL BUSINESSES RUNNING AND ISSUES LIKE THAT.

I THINK OUR AGENDA IS PRETTY STRONG.

YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THE REDISTRICTING IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE.

I THINK IT'S IT'S IT'S BEEN FAIR.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAPS THAT I CAME IN 2008 AND THEN AGAIN IN 2010, THEY'RE VASTLY DIFFERENT.

BUT I THINK WE DRAW SOME PRETTY GOOD MAPS AND SO WE'LL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WILL BE A VIGOROUS DEBATE.

I KNOW.

BUT YOU KNOW, AS WE SAID EARLIER, I THINK OFF CAMERA MAYBE LINE THAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE THAT DATA UNTIL PROBABLY EARLY SUMMER FROM THE FEDS.

AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE A PROCESS OF A PREDRAG INTO THE INTO THE LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL.

SO WE START TO REALLY SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE PROGRAM DOESN'T GIVE A LOT OF THE LEGISLATION THAT BOTH OF YOU GENTLEMEN ARE CONNECTED WITH THE JUSTICE IT DESERVES.

BUT MAN, IF I COULD ASK YOU MAYBE 30 SECONDS ON THE STATE OF DISASTER EMERGENCIES THIS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR HOW LONG EMERGENCIES CAN BE DECLARED.

YEAH, SO RIGHT NOW THE GOVERNOR HAS THE ABILITY TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY AND THEN RENEW THAT EVERY 30 DAYS.

AND WHAT THIS REALLY BROUGHT FORTH IS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AND SAY THAT WE ARE IN A 10 MONTH AND 11TH MONTH NOW, YOU KNOW, PANDEMIC AND THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

SO I REALLY CAME TO LIGHT IS SHOULD THERE BE SOME CHECK AND BALANCE BETWEEN THAT DAY ONE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU GET TO THIS MONTH?

AND SO MY BILL SIMPLY SAYS AS GOVERNOR YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO THAT 30 DAYS AND YOU CAN EXTEND ANOTHER 30 DAYS BUT THERE HAS TO BE A TRIGGER THAT TRIGGERS YOU'VE CALLED THE GENERAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY BACK FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DEBATE TO DISAGREE OR AGREE.

AND SO IT'S STILL I THINK IT'S IN A GOOD PLACE RIGHT NOW.

IT GIVES A LOT OF AUTHORITY YET TO THE GOVERNOR, TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

I DON'T WANT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THERE EVERY 14 DAYS, YOU KNOW, DOING AN EMERGENCY ORDER.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD BILL.

I HOPE WE GET THAT OUT AND I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DEBATE ON THAT YET BEFORE IT CROSSES THE FINISH LINE.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO LEGISLATE MORE TIME IN A 30 MINUTE SHOW.

I I'M I'M SO SORRY WE'VE HIT THE TOP OF THE HOUR 79 DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE RATHER LET BUT HE'S ALREADY THE HOUSE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER MATT LAMAN AND ALSO EIGHTIETHS DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS LEADER PHIL CHIQUITITA.

THANK YOU BOTH GENTLEMEN.

IT'S A PLEASURE.

WELL, HOPE YOU COME BACK AGAIN SOON AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE HOPE YOU ALL COME BACK AGAIN SOON FOR PRIME TIME NEXT WEEK ON BRUISINGS.

GOOD BYE