.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STATE HOUSE HEADLINES THIS WEEK FROM INDIANAPOLIS LEGISLATION ALLOWING STATE LAWMAKERS TO CALL THEMSELVES BACK INTO A 40 DAY SESSION DURING AN EMERGENCY THAT CLEARED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MONDAY AND NOW FACES A VETO BY GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB WHO CALLS THE BILL UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

MEANWHILE, HOUSE MEMBERS AMENDED AND PASSED BILLS THAT WOULD BAN ANY REGULATION OF WORSHIP SERVICES DURING A DISASTER EMERGENCY AND REQUIRE ANY LOCAL EMERGENCY HEALTH ORDERS THAT ARE MORE STRINGENT THAN THE STATE TO BE APPROVED BY A LOCAL ELECTED BOARD NOW.

ON THURSDAY THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE PRESENTED ITS VERSION OF THE NEW STATE TWO YEAR SPENDING PLAN THAT DOCUMENT PROVIDES ABOUT HALF OF ITS THIRTY SIX BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET TO K-12 EDUCATION AND IT DIFFERS WITH THE HOUSE VERSION ON FUNDING FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS.

THE SENATE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES LANGUAGE MOVING THE STATUTORY END OF THE 2010 ONE SESSION FROM APRIL 29 TO NOVEMBER 15 WHICH ALLOWS LAWMAKERS TO RECESS INSTEAD OF ADJOURN AS REDISTRICTING AWAITS LATER IN THE YEAR.

NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE WEEK JUST ENDING, WE WELCOME GUESTS FROM BOTH CHAMBERS TONIGHT'S PRIMETIME.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BRUCE HAYNES WITH US TODAY.

OUR THIRD DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS JUDY AND JUSTIN BUSH 16 DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR AND ASSISTANT MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER FOR PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS.

AND WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY CALLING THE NUMBER THAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE SCREEN AND THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE AND WE WILL WIDEN THROUGH THE MIRACLE OF TECHNOLOGY AND WELCOME REPRESENTATIVE JUDY IN YOUR LOWER RIGHT CORNER AND SENATOR BUSH IN YOUR UPPER RIGHT CORNER.

GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH TONIGHT EVENING.

GREAT TO BE HERE FIRST.

THANK YOU, BRUCE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

HERE.

LET'S LET'S START AND CHRIS LET'S START WITH YOU, SIR.

AS A COAUTHOR ON THE EMERGENCY SESSIONS BILL THAT WAS PASSED OUT ON ON MONDAY TALKS OF CALLING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BACK TOGETHER AND THAT COORDINATED THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CAN TELL US HOW THAT ALL THAT WORKS.

YES.

SO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS A COUNCIL THAT'S MADE UP BY LEADERS FROM THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE FROM BOTH FROM BOTH PARTIES.

WHAT THIS BILL WILL DO IS THE IS IT THE GOVERNOR WERE TO EVER IN THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE STATE OF BODY AND IT WOULD GIVE THE ABILITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION IF THEY FIND IT NECESSARY TO ADDRESS LEGISLATIVE ACTION DURING THAT STATE OF EMERGENCY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD WOULD WOULD DEFINE WHAT BILLS COULD BE ADDRESSED DURING THAT EMERGENCY SESSION AND THEN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE COULD ADOPT CONCURRENT AND SIMPLE RESOLUTIONS.

THE SESSION COULD NO LONGER LASTING MORE THAN 40 CALENDAR DAYS AND IT COULD LAST NO LONGER THAN 10 DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

THIS LEGISLATION WAS BROUGHT TO US I THINK BY MANY OF THE CONCERNS OF CONSTITUENTS NOT HAVING REPRESENTATION OVER THOSE LAST EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE OUT OF SESSION IN TWENTY TWENTY.

MM HMM.

AND JUSTIN, LET ME ASK YOU TO ON THE ON THE SENATE SIDE WITH THE MOTIVATION IN PART FOR THIS BEING THAT UNDER A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY HOOSIERS SHOULD HAVE BOTH THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF STATE GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN MAKING DECISIONS.

SOMEONE MIGHT ASK WHY?

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE WE THINK ABOUT EMERGENCIES NOW.

WE THINK ABOUT A TORNADO TOUCHING DOWN.

YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN ONE COUNTY BUT WE HAVE A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY THAT LASTS AS LONG AS THIS HAS.

I THINK IT'S UNPRECEDENTED IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

SO I KNOW CHRIS AND OTHER LEGISLATORS LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS ACROSS THE STATE, YOU KNOW, HEARD FROM FOLKS THAT WE KNOW FROM OUR LOCAL REGION ASKING WHY WHY ISN'T OUR LEGISLATOR INVOLVED IN THIS SINCE IT'S GONE ON SO LONG ALMOST 13 MONTHS.

WHEN IS THE LEGISLATOR GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD?

SO I THINK WE TRY TO DO IS HAVE A BILL WAS REALLY NARROW AND PROVIDE SOME GUARDRAILS OF WHEN WE COULD GET INVOLVED IF A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN POSEY COUNTY AND THEN ON ITS WAY TO KENTUCKY THAT THAT WOULDN'T BE STATEWIDE SO WE WOULDN'T BE INVOLVED IN THAT.

AND ALSO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WIDE SWATHS OF MONEY THAT ARE COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE LOOKED AT KAHRIZAK PACKAGES THAT HAVE COME THROUGH HERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT FEMA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BRINGING MONEY THE GOVERNOR CAN DISTRIBUTE WHERE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE FINDING OUR WAY BACK TO OUR STATE, MANY OF WHICH DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STRINGS OR PARAMETERS TO THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE OUR DUTY AS THE FISCAL BODY TO LOOK AT THAT IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO TO MAKE SURE THE GOVERNOR CAN STILL HAVE HIS POWERS AND MAKE SURE THAT HE CAN HELP IN AN EMERGENCY.

BUT WHEN IT'S LONG SPREAD THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW, WE WANT TO HAVE A MECHANISM OR AT LEAST OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD AND THE VOICES OF OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE HEAR FROM ON A DAILY BASIS A REPRESENTATIVE JUDY AS SPEAKER TODD HOUSTON SAID IT WAS IT MIGHT BE WORTH THE RISK OF PURSUING THIS LEGISLATION EVEN IF IT MEANS EXECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES ARE TAKING THEIR CASE TO COURT.

WHAT WHAT WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THAT?

WELL, I THINK THERE'S THERE IS SOME CONCERN FROM SOME CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS THAT THIS COULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

I THINK WE'VE DEFINED IT AS AN EMERGENCY SESSION, NOT A SPECIAL SESSION.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTUALLY CREATED A TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS DAY 10 YEARS AGO.

I BELIEVE THAT ALLOWS US TO COME IN ON A DAY TO FIX ANY TECHNICAL REGRESSIONS ON BILLS THAT WERE PASSED IN THAT PREVIOUS SESSION.

SO I THINK AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST YEAR AND AGAIN AS I LOOK BACK TO SENATOR BUSH TALKING ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCE WE'VE NEVER BEEN IN BEFORE AS A SOCIETY AND AS A GOVERNMENT HERE IN THE STATE OF INDIANA AND SEEING THOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS COME IN AND SEEING THE LEGISLATIVE BODY WHICH IS ALSO IN CONTROL OF THE FISCAL PART OF THE BODY AS WELL REALLY NOT BEING INTIMATELY INVOLVED ON HOW WE DIRECT THOSE DOLLARS AND ALSO HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS ON ON THEIR ISSUES WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND REALLY NOT HAVING A STATE WITHIN A STATE EMERGENCY SESSION.

INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF A PANDEMIC THROUGH THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENTS OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS OR SO AGO.

SENATOR BUSHNELL IN ANNOUNCING THE ROLL BACK OF THE MASKS AND ALLOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO MANAGE THEIR HEALTH ACTIVITIES RELATED TO COVID-19.

THIS IS A SEGWAY TO SENATE BILL FIVE OF WHICH YOU WERE A COAUTHOR.

THIS IDEA THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES NEED TO BE MONITORING WHAT THEIR REPORTS ARE, WHAT WHAT KIND OF THINGS THEY ARE WISHING TO PUT INTO PLAY THAT THEY ARE NOT MORE STRICT OR SEVERE THAN AT THE STATE LEVEL CAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE WANT LOCAL CONTROL FROM THE GOVERNOR.

BUT NOW WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE LOCAL CONTROLS DON'T EXCEED THE STATE AUTHORITY.

YEAH, I MEAN I THINK I'VE ALWAYS BEEN WANTING I STARTED MY CAREER ON COUNTY COUNCIL LOCAL CONTROL.

THAT IS A GREAT THING.

BUT WE SEE SOME OF THESE THESE HEALTH DIRECTORS THAT ARE APPOINTED THAT AREN'T ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I THINK WITHIN THE MODERN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY THAT WE HAVE THE DAY WE WANT TO HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT PEOPLE THAT WE CAN VOTE IN AND OUT FROM THE BALLOT BOX NOT A BUREAUCRAT THAT'S MAYBE BEEN APPOINTED.

BUT I DO WANT TO TELL YOU THIS.

YOU KNOW, WE HEAR WHAT LEE COUNTY PERSON I DO AND I HAVE ALL THE ALLEN COUNTY AND I'M JUST REALLY BLOWN AWAY AND THANKFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP THEY PROVIDED.

BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL LIKE THAT THAT MAYBE GOES ROGUE OR MAYBE SHUTS DOWN A BUSINESS THAT THERE'S NO APPEAL PROCESS.

SO THIS BILL PUTS AN APPEAL PROCESS IN THAT IT HAS REALLY NARROW PARAMETERS, ONE THAT CAN TAKE EFFECT IN THE CASE OF ALLEN COUNTY THAT GO TO THE ELECTED THREE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

SO WE JUST WANT TO RETURN THAT POWER AND HAVE THAT LAST CHECK OFF BE WITH FOLKS THAT WE CAN HOLD ACCOUNTABLE AT THE BALLOT BOX.

AND SENATOR BUSH, THE THE HOUSE HAS HAD THIS MEASURE.

IT HAS SOME TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO IT.

IT'S MOVING BACK TO THE SENATE.

DO YOU FEEL YOUR CHAMBER WILL BE CONCURRING WITH THOSE CHANGES OR I DON'T KNOW THE WORDS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ARE STARTING TO CREEP UP IN CONVERSATIONS ON WHERE BILLS ARE RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAVEN'T I HAVEN'T SEEN EXACTLY WHAT THOSE I'VE HEARD THE SAME THING YOU HAD, BRUCE, ABOUT TECHNICAL CHANGES.

I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT WHEN I TALK TO MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TURNING THAT POWER BACK LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT FOUR TO ITS ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO I FEEL CONFIDENT IT'S THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT DONE AND AND I THINK IT'S A BETTER WAY OF DOING BUSINESS ONCE AGAIN.

SOMETHING ELSE WE NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF A YEAR AGO UNTIL THIS HAPPENED AND VOTED SOME OF THESE FOLKS INTO A ROLE THEY'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE WITH THE TIMES AND MAKE CHANGES THAT I THINK THAT ARE SOUND AND WE CAN TALK TO FOLKS AND EASILY EXPLAIN AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AND I THINK THEY REALLY AGREE WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WE'RE SPEAKING TONIGHT WITH SENATOR JUSTIN BUSH AND REPRESENTATIVE JUDY FROM THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE HERE IN NORTHEAST INDIANA.

SOME OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR LINES ARE OPEN AND FRED IS USING ONE OF THOSE HE HAS A COMMENT I BELIEVE WANTS TO SHARE FRED.

GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

I BELIEVE THAT THE THE THE THE THE BILL THAT TAKES THE POWER AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR AND PUTS IT INTO AN EMERGENCY SESSION IS ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY.

THIS GOVERNOR HAS CONDUCTED HIMSELF IN SOME OF THE BEST WAYS THAT ANY GOVERNOR EVER COULD DO AND I JUST THINK IT'S PART OF THE SUPERMAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICANS THAT ARE JUST EXTENDING SO MUCH HUBRIS INTO THEIR OWN POWER.

WELL, LET'S GET REACTION AND REPRESENTATIVE JUDY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT FIRST AND THEN SENATOR BUSH AFTER AFTER YOU, SIR?

I WOULD I WOULD HAVE TO TO TO TO DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT FROM APRIL OF LAST YEAR I'VE HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS MANY CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT CONCERNS OVER OVER MANY OF THE MANY OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT CAME INTO EFFECT MASK MANDATES CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS, WHAT'S ESSENTIAL AND WHAT'S NOT ESSENTIAL WHEN IT COMES TO A BUSINESS.

SO LOOKING IN MY DISTRICT OVERWHELMING MAJORITY WANTED US BACK INTO A SPECIAL SESSION OR EMERGENCY SESSION TO HAVE THEIR VOICE AT THE TABLE AGAIN.

THIS IS A UNPRECEDENTED EVENT THAT WE'VE EVER BEEN EVER BEEN THROUGH.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN PARAMETERS AROUND THIS WHERE IT IS NOT JUST AN AUTOMATIC CALLBACK.

IT IS ACTUALLY A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH IS WHICH IS MADE UP OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BIPARTISAN FROM THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE LEADERSHIP THAT THAT WOULD COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON WHETHER THEY WOULD CALL US BACK INTO AN EMERGENCY SESSION IF A STATE OF EMERGENCY STATEWIDE EVER HAPPENED AGAIN.

SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME TIGHT PARAMETERS ON THIS LEGISLATION BUT IT DOES IT DOES GIVE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AN ABILITY TO CALL THEMSELVES BACK INTO AN EMERGENCY SESSION.

SO UNDER BUSH, ANY THOUGHTS?

YEAH, I WITH WITH MY COLLEAGUE IT AND LIKE YOU SAID, THE WAY THE COUNCIL'S PROVIDED WE MAY HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY NOW THAT HAS TO BE THERE FOREVER.

THIS IS JUST SAYING LEGISLATOR ITSELF THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE GOVERNOR COULD CALL AN EMERGENCY THAT HE CAN CALL EMERGENCY ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND THERE'S IN THE CODE THERE IT SAYS YOU CAN CALL IN BECAUSE OF AN IMPENDING DISASTER.

SO SOMETHING THAT HASN'T HAPPENED AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN THE DAY AFTER SIGNING DI HE COULD HAVE CONTROL OR SHE COULD HAVE CONTROL FOR FOR ALMOST NINE TO 10 MONTHS WITHOUT HAVING TO TALK TO OTHER BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT.

NOW THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

I'VE CHECKED IN WITH THE GOVERNOR.

I'VE TALKED WITH THEIR OFFICE BUT I EXPLAINED TO SOME SCHOOL KIDS THEY'RE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

I I RARELY USE IT AS SAYING THAT WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT WE'D HAVE A 13 MONTH EMERGENCY THAT WOULD FLOW LIKE IT'S NEVER HAPPENED IN OUR HISTORY.

SO I TOLD THE SCHOOL KIDS I SAID IMAGINE THE SCALE OF THE BALANCE OF POWER AND WE SAW THAT IN THIS INSTANCE THAT A LOT OF THE POWER IS FALLING ON ONE ONE PERSON AND THAT'S THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

AND WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF GUARDRAILS THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE THAT BUT WE'RE MERELY GOING TO TIP THE SCALES TO A LITTLE MORE EVEN.

AND I THINK THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION DOES THAT AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT GOVERNS OUR STATE AND OUR NATION.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE PHONES AND WELCOME MIKE TO THE PROGRAM MIKE.

GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR MAKING SOME OF THIS HAPPEN.

I'M A SMALL BUSINESS PERSON.

I HAVE A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY OWNED PROPERTIES AND WHEN THE GOVERNOR PUT EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN WHERE YOU COULD NO LONGER EVICT PEOPLE, I WENT FOR MONTHS WITHOUT RECEIVING RENT FROM TENANTS AND ONE PROPERTY OVER 10000 DOLLARS.

AND WHAT'S WORSE THAN THAT IS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT HE SIGNED TOOK MY PROPERTY RIGHTS AWAY IN INDIANA CODE AS WELL AS MY DUE PROCESS BECAUSE THE COURTS WERE SHUT DOWN.

I BELIEVE IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION AND I MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU THAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING THIS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT WAS ADDRESSED AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY ONE MAN IN THE STATE SHOULD HAVE THAT KIND OF POWER FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME.

THANK YOU, MIKE.

THANK YOU.

AND LET ME ASK IF OUR GUESTS HAVE ANY REACTION TO MIKE'S COMMENT.

I HAD DOUBTS BECAUSE I HAD MANY OF THOSE CALLS I HAD I HAD BUSINESSES CALLING ME IN APRIL ASKING WHETHER THEY WERE ESSENTIAL OR NOT.

I SAID MAKE YOURSELF A CENTRAL THAT'S NOT MY JOB AS AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE.

SO I UNDERSTAND I UNDERSTAND THE CALLER'S CONCERN AGAIN, WE'RE A PART TIME LEGISLATURE SO WE ARE NOT A FULL TIME LEGISLATURE LIKE MANY STATES WHERE THERE BACK IN AND OUT OF SESSION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE GO IN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IN JANUARY ON A LONG SESSION WE'RE DONE BY THE END OF APRIL ON A SHORT SESSION WE GO IN THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY.

WE'RE DONE BY MARCH 15TH AND THEN WE GO BACK WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND LIVE AND DO OUR FULL TIME JOBS SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY WITH LIKE THOSE OF FULL TIME LEGISLATURES TO GO BACK IN LATER ON THE YEAR AND ADDRESS ISSUES.

ONCE WE'RE DONE WE'RE DONE.

SO I THINK THIS IS A THIS IS A THIS IS A SMART COMPROMISE TO TO GET A SITUATION THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE RIGHT.

LET US IN FACT TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS SORT OF JOB ONE FOR THE SESSION IN ADDITION TO THOSE BILLS THAT HAVE NOW MOVED THROUGH THE PROCESS AND ARE ON THEIR WAY TO GOVERNOR HOLCOMB'S OFFICE THE SENATE ON THURSDAY, THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE THAT IS INTRODUCED ITS VERSION OF THE NEXT BIENNIUM BUDGET AND 36 BILLION AGAIN A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF GOING TO EDUCATION AND SOME VARIATIONS DIFFERING FROM THE HOUSE.

I KNOW IT THAT WAS THURSDAY.

TODAY IS FRIDAY.

BUT SENATOR BUSH, ANY ANY INITIAL THOUGHTS ON YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE ON THE WAY THAT PLAN FEELS MOVING FORWARD?

YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE JUST RELEASED THAT THAT BUDGET NOW LIKE YOU SAID.

THIRTY SIX BILLION HALF OF THAT GOES TO EDUCATION.

A LOT OF FOLKS AND I ALSO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, 12 PERCENT OF THAT GOES TO HIGHER ED THE MEDICAID 2.0 IS ANOTHER 16 PERCENT, FIVE PERCENT FOR CHILD SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY'S SIX PERCENT.

SO REALLY IF YOU ADD ALL THAT UP WITH HALF OF THAT GOING TO K-12, ANOTHER 12 PERCENT HIGHER ED YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOU KNOW SIXTY TWO PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO EDUCATION AND IF YOU ADD UP ALL THOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICES YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALMOST NINE PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET.

SO REALLY A LOT OF THAT'S EATEN UP RIGHT AWAY WITH WITH THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

BUT YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD OF THE EFFORT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE TO TRY TO EDUCATE SHOULD YOU LOOK AT A ONE POINT TWO PERCENT INCREASE THE FIRST YEAR?

NINETY TWO MILLION THREE HUNDRED SIXTY MILLION OR FOUR POINT TWO PERCENT THAT SECOND YEAR?

YOU KNOW, WE FULLY FUNDED SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, THOSE THAT WERE AT SCHOOLS AND THOSE THAT THAT HAD TO MOVE INTO FOR THE SAFETY OF THE TEACHERS AND CHILDREN HAD TO MOVE INTO A SCHOOL FROM PROGRAM.

WE'VE GOT OUR TEACHER APPRECIATION GRANT LEVEL THERE YOU IN THIS BUDGET TO LOCALLY WE FOUND OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS FOUR POINT EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS IS GOING TO GO TO FOR WAYNE THAT WAS REALLY A PROMISE TO THEM WHEN WE MADE THE SPLIT TO PROVE FORT WAYNE AND I FORT WAYNE AND I APPLAUD RYAN MISHLER WHO SUPPORTS SENATOR MISHLER FROM THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE HELPS PUTS US TOGETHER FINDING A LOT OF ONE TIME USE MONEY THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE FEDS WITH THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE SENDING OUR WAY.

WE'RE USING THAT TO PAY DOWN DEBT, TO PAY DOWN PROGRAMS THAT'S GOING TO FREE MONEY UP FOR FUTURE BUDGETS IN THE FUTURE.

SO I WAS JUST TALKING REPRESENTED JUDY.

I KNOW THAT THE HOUSE HAD THEIR BUDGET AS WELL.

I REALLY DON'T THINK WE'RE THAT FAR OFF.

AND ONE THING IF I COULD PARTY THAT'S OFTEN OVERLOOKED IS THAT I KNOW IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY WE HAVE TO DO IT.

BUT ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE PASSED A BALANCED BUDGET.

A LOT OF STATES DO NOT DO THAT.

THEY'RE IN A REALLY BAD POSITION FISCALLY.

WE CAN LOOK TO ILLINOIS AS AN EXAMPLE OF A STATE THAT'S ON THE WRONG TRACK, HAS BEEN ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND FRANKLY WE WERE PUSHED REALLY HARD TO USE THOSE RESERVES AT THE END OF SESSION LAST YEAR WE HELD ONTO THOSE AND THOSE RESERVES.

WHAT IS WHAT GOT US THROUGH THE INITIAL PART OF THAT PANDEMIC.

SO YOU KNOW, IT'S PRUDENT FISCAL PLANNING.

I THINK THAT'S HELPED US A LOT IN THE STATE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND I THINK HOOSIERS WILL ALWAYS SAY THAT SAVE FOR VACATION OR THEIR KIDS COLLEGE OR TO BUY A NEW HOME AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS TO BE FISCALLY PRUDENT AND I THINK ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE EFFORTS WE'RE MAKING IN THAT ARENA DOWNSTATE HOUSE AND REPRESENTATIVE JUDY AS A MEMBER OF HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS, I THINK PROBABLY AN EXTRA SPECIAL LEVEL OF INTEREST IN THE SENATE'S ANNOUNCEMENT.

WHAT'S YOUR WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS?

YEAH, MOST DEFINITELY I AGREE.

I THINK WE'RE CLOSE AND A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT EDUCATION.

WE FUNDED AT ABOUT THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT MILLION OVER THE BIENNIUM.

THE SENATE FUNDS IT AT FOUR HUNDRED AND FOUR MILLION.

WE WE FUNDED MORE AT THE FOUNDATION LEVEL MANY YEARS BEFORE I WAS EVER IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECIDED TO FUND CHILDREN AND NOT BUILDINGS SO THERE'S A FOUNDATION AMOUNT THAT GOES TO EACH CHILD IN OUR BUDGET WE INCREASE THAT MORE THE SENATE INCREASES OF LESS AND PUTS MORE ON THE COMPLEXITY INDEX.

THERE'S A COMPLEXITY IN THE EXCESS ON TOP OF THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CHILD AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE SNAP TANF FOSTER CARE ,ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, SPECIAL EDUCATION HONORS DIPLOMA CLASSES.

SO THAT ALL GOES INTO A COMPLEXITY SO WE'LL WORK THOSE DIFFERENCES OUT IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

I THINK A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING I THINK THEY SHIFT TWENTY FIVE MILLION FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUND TO THE FAMILIES CHILD FAMILY AND CHILDREN FUND INCREASE RATES FOR OUR CHILD SERVICE PROVIDERS WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD THING.

WE WE DECIDED BOTH TO FUND THE INDIANA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY AND SEVENTY MILLION DOLLARS WHICH IS A MUCH NEEDED UPGRADE AND THEN WE ALSO STILL HAVE THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS GOING TOWARDS BROADBAND GRANTS.

ONE THING THAT THE SENATE WAS ABLE TO DO WAS THEY WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT MANY OF THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS INSTEAD OF USING STATE LAW DOLLARS TO TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD OVER THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF THERE'LL BE SOME THERE'LL BE SOME DISCUSSIONS ON WHERE WE WANT TO LAND ON CERTAIN ISSUES AND I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE.

YOU MENTIONED THAT NEXT WEEK AND A HALF BEFORE WE RECESS AS OPPOSED TO ADJOURN REALIZING REDISTRICTING IS STILL IN TO BE ACCOMPLISHED MODE FOR LATER IN THE IN THE YEAR.

BUT SENATOR BLUSHINGLY ASK YOU STARTING WITH YOU WHAT LEGISLATION WHETHER YOURS OR THAT OF YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT YOU'RE MONITORING WHAT'S INTERESTING TO YOU AT THIS POINT BETWEEN NOW AND THE 21ST ?

SURE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE DOG DAYS AT THE END I SAW ONE GIRL IT'S STILL IN THE HOUSE.

IT DEALS ABOUT PRICE TRANSPARENCY FOR HOSPITALS.

WE'RE GOING TO CODIFY A FEDERAL CODE AND ASK OUR HOSPITALS TO RELEASE ON THEIR WEBSITES THREE HUNDRED SHOCKABLE SERVICES HOPEFULLY THAT THIS WILL INCREASE COMPETITION AND TRANSPARENCY SO FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO THOSE WEBSITES, THOSE HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND GET A GOOD ESTIMATE OF WHAT THE COST OF THAT PROCEDURE OF SURGERY IS GOING TO BE SHEPHERDING A HEALTH CARE BILL THROUGH THE PROCESS HAS BEEN DAUNTING BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THAT BACK TO THE SENATE AND PUT THAT ON ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

SO THAT'S TAKEN A LOT OF MY TIME RIGHT NOW AND ONCE AGAIN I'M ON I SERVE ON SENATE HEALTH AND I LOOK THROUGH THE LENSES I LOOK THROUGH IT DOESN'T INCREASE TRANSPARENCY.

LET'S INCREASE COMPETITIVENESS WITHIN HEALTH CARE AND IN THE END WILL THIS BRING THE COST OF HEALTH CARE DOWN IN OUR STATE?

WE'RE LOOKING AT AN EIGHT PERCENT PREMIUM OVER MICHIGAN.

WE'VE DONE WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO KEEP OUR TAXES LOW AND ATTRACT BUSINESSES.

ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON IN NORTHEAST INDIANA ACROSS THE STATE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COST OF HEALTH CARE ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO PROHIBIT ONE OF OUR BUSINESSES FROM EXPANDING OR LEAVING AND ALSO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES AND NEW HIGH PAYING JOBS TO OUR AREA.

AND REPRESENTATIVE JUDY, SAME QUESTION FOR YOU, SIR.

WHAT'S WHAT ARE THOSE THOSE ITEMS WE'RE GOING TO BE IT'S ONE ITEM THAT YOU'RE PAYING SOME EXTRA ATTENTION TO BETWEEN NOW AND TEN DAYS OUT.

OF COURSE THE OF COURSE THAT THE BUDGET THE BUDGET BILL BEING ON WAYS AND MEANS.

I'LL HAVE A CLOSE EYE ON THAT.

I'LL BE ACTUALLY CONTINUING TO READ THROUGH IT TONIGHT ON WHAT ELSE THE SENATE HAS DONE SYNOVIAL TWO THIRTY TWO WHICH I WAS A SPONSOR OF ADS SARS AND CORONAVIRUS TO THE LIST OF ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY COMMUNICABLE DISEASES FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR A LINE OF DUTY DEATH BENEFIT OF AROUND TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT IS GOING TO GO TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.

THERE'S CONCERN CONCERN ABOUT THE FISCAL THAT'S BEEN ADDED TO IT.

SO WE ALSO ADDED IN PROBATION OFFICERS AND CONFINEMENT OFFICERS TO THAT LIST AS WELL.

SO THAT'LL BE THAT'LL BE ONE I'LL BE WORKING ON NEXT WEEK.

I KNOW BOTH OF YOU HAD WORKED TOGETHER TO RALLY AROUND SENATE BILL THREE EIGHTY FOUR.

THIS IS THE ONE WHERE THERE IS ADDITIONAL SPORTS AND CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT AREA REVENUE COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WOULD MAYBE TAKE THIRTY SECONDS OR SO APIECE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO MATTER GOING FORWARD FOR ALLEN COUNTY AND BEYOND.

CHRIS, LET'S START WITH YOU.

I I CAN I CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

IT'S THE ENHANCED COUNTY PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT AREA WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE WAR MEMORIAL COLISEUM AND THE GRAND WAYNE CENTER RIGHT NOW THEY CURRENTLY CAPTURE ABOUT THREE MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF STATE SALES TAX ALONG WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LOCAL INCOME TAX TO HELP REINVEST INTO THOSE THOSE TWO ENTITIES.

THIS BILL ACTUALLY INCREASES THAT LEVEL TO FIVE MILLION WE'RE LOOKING OF LOSSES IN TWENTY TWENTY OF ABOUT SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.

SO WHAT WE ESSENTIALLY DO IS WE ALLOW THE FIRST TWO SIX MILLION CAPTURED TO GO TO THE COLISEUM WITH FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND TO GO TO THE CITY.

I'D BE TOWARDS THE GRAND WAYNE AND THEN ANYTHING ADDITIONAL OVER THAT WILL BE SPLIT EVENLY BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES AND SENATOR BUSH, YOU HAVE ABOUT TWENTY SECONDS ON THIS ONE.

YEAH, IT'S SOMETHING WE HAD TO DO TO SAVE NICHOLAS AND LOOK AT THE GRAND WAYNE CENTER.

THERE'S THERE'S PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY LIKE THIS MY DAY JOB MY BOSS TODD YOUNG WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE HAVE PLACES LIKE THIS ARE INGRAINED IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE A SHARED MEMORY.

I KNOW WE ALL DO.

IF YOU LIVED IN FORT WAYNE, IF EITHER ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES SO IT'S SOMETHING WE HAD TO DO WITH UNFORESEEN SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN.

WELL, GENTLEMEN, WE THANK YOU FOR THE SITUATION YOU FIND YOURSELF IN TONIGHT TO BE WITH US FOR PRIME TIME AND TO TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND WISH YOU WELL IN THE CLOSING DAYS AS YOU RECESS AND THEN ALSO ON THE WAY TO ADJOURNMENTS.

EIGHTY THIRD DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS JUDY, 16TH DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR JUSTIN BUSH.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND FOR ALL OF US WITH PRIME TIME, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING