AFTER A WEEK OFF DUE TO SECURITY ISSUES, INDIANA LAWMAKERS RETURNED TO THE STATE HOUSE WITH INCREASED ACTIVITY THIS WEEK.

THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET WAS PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY WHICH THEN HEARD FROM INDIVIDUAL STATE AGENCIES ON THEIR BUDGET NEEDS.

MORE THAN 30 HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES MET THIS WEEK AND HEARD NEARLY 120 BILLS AFTER COMPLETING HEARINGS NEXT WEEK.

THERE IS ONLY ONE MORE FULL WEEK OF COMMITTEES BEFORE BILLS MUST MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR OR BE CONSIDERED DEAD IN THE FIRST HOUSE.

NOW ONE MEASURE MOVING FORWARD FROM THE INDIANA HOUSE IS A BILL ENSURING FULL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

HOUSE BILL TENNO THREE NOW GOES TO THE SENATE WHERE A SIMILAR BILL IS MOVING OUR GUESTS TONIGHT HELPED PREPARE THIS LEGISLATION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS AND WE'LL TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THAT AND OTHER MEASURES ON THIS WEEK'S PRIMETIME.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BRUCE HAYNES WITH US TODAY OUR 14TH DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR DENNIS CRUZ AND 18TH DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVE HYNE.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS JUST CALL THE NUMBER THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN AND THROUGH THE MIRACLES OF TECHNOLOGY WE BRING OUR GUESTS IN RIGHT NOW.

UPPER RIGHT CORNER IS SENATOR DENNIS CRUZ, LOWER RIGHT CORNER STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVE HYNIE.

GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

DENNIS, LET ME ASK YOU I KNOW YOUR TOUR AND TENURE AT THE STATE HOUSE SPANS MORE THAN 30 YEARS FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE DAYS TO CURRENT.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO COMPARE THE CURRENT YEAR TO LOOKING BACK OVER THOSE DECADES?

THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE AND VERY DIFFERENT NO, THERE'S BEEN NOTHING LIKE THIS IN MY MY 30 SESSION IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IS A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT AND IT'S HARDER TO COMMUNICATE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I'M FINDING OUT THAT'S JUST HARD TO TALK TO EACH OTHER EVEN IN THE SENATE WE HAVE 50 SENATORS.

WE HAVE 30 ON THE FLOOR.

WE GOT 20 UP IN THE BALCONY.

SO THERE'S SENATOR I MEAN YOU JUST WALK OVER AND TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT AN ISSUE OR A BILL OR AN AMENDMENT AND NOW I CAN'T DO THAT TAKING A FULL FIVE MINUTES JUST TO GO UP TO THE BALCONY AND FIVE MINUTES BACK DOWN SO IT TAKE 10 MINUTES TO DO SOMETHING THAT USUALLY TAKES YOU A FEW SECONDS.

YEAH.

DAVE, YOU KNOW FOR THE HOUSE YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT SETTING ALTOGETHER.

WE HAVE TO WALK BACK AND FORTH FROM THE HOUSE OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING AND I'LL JUST SAY IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT BUT YET IT'S THE SAME.

BUT WHAT I MISS IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PART TIME LEGISLATOR AND IN ORDER TO DO OUR JOB EFFECTIVELY WE HAVE TO TALK TO YOU.

WE HAVE TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE BILLS GET RIGHT AND THIS COVID YOU KNOW, IT AFFECTS YOUR CONVERSATIONS AND GETTING GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE AND ASKING OR FINDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALL TOGETHER IN THE IN THE STATE HOUSE LIKE WE'VE BEEN IN THE PAST AND SOME OF THOSE MEASURES THOUGH ARE MOVING.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE HIT THE GROUND WITH WITH THEIR OWN MOMENTUM TO THEM.

AND LET ME ASK YOU BOTH ABOUT 10 03 AND OVER IN THE SENATE SENATE BILL TWO THIS IS COVID RELATED OF A KIND FOR THE WAY THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN AFFECTING WHERE STUDENTS LEARN HOW MUCH OF IT'S BEEN HAPPENING ONLINE.

TALK ABOUT THE ROAD TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE PASSAGE AND HOLDING SCHOOLS WHOLE FOR TUITION SUPPORT AND THEIR REVENUES THIS YEAR.

DAVE, LET ME START WITH YOU.

OK, SO AS YOU KNOW AS NO FAULT TO THE BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOLS BUT BY STATE STATUTE IF YOU HOLD A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SCHOOLS ON OUR TEACHING ONLINE YOU GET EIGHTY FIVE PERCENT OF YOUR NORMAL FUNDING AND IN THE STATE OF INDIANA SO A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS HAD TO GO TO, YOU KNOW, E-LEARNING AND OVERALL ABOUT ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS THAT THEY WOULD LOSE BECAUSE OF HOW OUR LAW IS ESTABLISHED.

SO OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL IN THE HOUSE SIDE AND IT WAS HOUSE BILL AND THREE WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE FULLY FUNDED.

SO EVEN THOUGH THAT THEY HAD VIRTUAL LEARNING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THEY WILL GET ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR FUNDING.

AND WHAT THIS DOES IS IT JUST TAKES A LOT OF STRESS OFF.

OUR TEACHERS KNOW THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'D GET PAID, TAKES A LOT OF STRESS OFF THE ADMINISTRATION AND IT WAS JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO GET IT DONE EARLY WHEN IT COMES OUT OF THE HOUSE COMES OUT OF THE SENATE, IT'S GOING TO GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND HE WILL SIGN THAT THAT WAY OUR SCHOOLS WILL BE FULLY FUNDED.

DENNIS, YOU'RE AN AUTHOR ON SENATE BILL TWO AND THE LOW NUMBER SHOWS THE HIGH PRIORITY.

YES, SO WE HAVE THERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE POINT TO REMEMBER ON THAT BILL IF YOU ARE A GENUINE VIRTUAL SCHOOL YOU STILL GET EIGHTY FIVE PERCENT SO THIS BILL ONLY COVERS TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS THAT WERE GETTING 100 PERCENT OF THE TUITION AND THEY WERE IN FOR LESS THAN 50 PERCENT AND IN SEATS IN THE BUILDING.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A IF A PUBLIC SCHOOL HAS A POOL CONNECTED TO IT THAT IT SPONSORS THEN THEY STILL ONLY GET EIGHTY FIVE PERCENT AS THESE BILLS NOW MOVE THROUGH EACH CHAMBER.

AND DAVE, YOU TOUCHED ON IT.

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING RESOLVED AND ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK IN RELATIVELY SHORT ORDER A RELATIVELY SHORT ORDER?

AS SOON AS WE CAN WALK IT DOWN TO THE GOVERNOR WE WILL WALK IT DOWN TO THE GOVERNOR.

OK, AND THAT'S 10 03 AND S.B TO MOVING THROUGH.

LET ME ASK DAVE FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON ACTIVITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SCORING AT HOME IT IS HOUSE BILL TWELVE THIRTY EIGHT BUT IT'S A BILL TO SUPPORT NORTHEAST INDIANA'S GROWTH THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NORTHEAST INDIANA STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND AND YOU'VE BEEN THE IMPETUS FOR THE THE START OF THIS I SHOULD SAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH CREDIT.

THE IMPETUS FOR THIS CAME FROM OUR 11 COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST INDIANA REP. RESENDING 16 MUNICIPALITIES, THE MAYORS AND THE COMMISSIONERS CAUCUS.

THEY CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA AND AND I'M JUST TRYING TO STEER THROUGH BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE ARE TRYING TO SET UP A FRAMEWORK SO THAT WE CAN RECEIVE DOLLARS WHETHER THEY BE FEDERAL DOLLARS, STATE DOLLARS DONATED GRANTS, WHATEVER AND AND THEN BE ABLE TO DISPERSE THOSE GRANTS OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND IT'S WORK, YOU KNOW, AS WE AND THIS IS ME TALKING WHEN I GO DOWN TO INDIANAPOLIS I SEE ALL THE DOLLARS STATE DOLLARS, FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT THEY BRING INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THIS IS AN EFFORT FOR US TO BRING SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS BACK TO NORTHEAST INDIANA.

AND SO OUR GOALS ARE TO INCREASE A PER CAPITA INCOME OF OUR CITIZENS AND THIS IS THE ONE COUNTY AREA TO INCREASE THE POPULATION IN OUR AREA AND TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN OUR EMPLOYEES HERE IN THIS AREA SO THAT YOU BOTTOM LINE SO WE CAN IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES AND MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

AND IT PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE THIS WEEK 12 TO ONE AND HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK WE'LL GET IT THROUGH THE HOUSE SO WE CAN TAKE IT OVER TO THE SENATE.

THE MAYORS AND COMMISSIONERS CAUCUS SAYS THIS IS A LONG TERM PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

THIS IS GOOD FOR FOR THE VISIONING AND THE FUNDING OF OF THOSE THOSE VISIONS.

RIGHT.

AND IF WE CAN IF WE CAN HAVE NORTHEAST INDIANA GROW THEN OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOOD FOR THE STATE AND WE DID HAVE SOME PUSHBACK AS I TOLD YOU IT ONLY IT PASSED OUT 12 TO ONE SO DIDN'T GET UNANIMOUS VOTES.

BUT THE WHOLE GOAL HERE IS THAT WE CAN WE CAN DEVELOP THIS FRAMEWORK SO OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE CAN LOOK AT HOW WE DID IT HERE IN NORTHEAST INDIANA SO THAT MAYBE THEY CAN DO IT FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WHEN WE GROW HERE IN NORTHEAST INDIANA IT'S GOOD FOR THE STATE OF INDIANA.

DENNIS, YOU ANY THOUGHTS OR SENSE OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS AS AS YOU AS WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE KALB'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE COUNTIES?

IT IS INDEED AND I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT MOVE AND I THINK WE HAVE EXCELLENT COOPERATION BETWEEN OUR 11 COUNTIES HERE IN NORTHEAST INDIANA AND I THINK AS A RESULT OF THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK WE'VE LAID AN EXCELLENT GROUNDWORK IN MANY DIFFERENT AREAS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MORE JOBS, MORE PEOPLE MOVING HERE, MORE BABIES BEING BORN TO BUILD OUR POPULATION AND BUILD OUR BASE HERE FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCELLENT VENTURE FOR US FORWARD AND I APPRECIATE PRESIDENT HYNIE OFFERING THE BILL THAT BILL WAS SPEAKING OF A NORTHEAST INDIANA STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

IT MADE ME SMILE TO SEE THE WORD COMMISSION USED IN A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, DENNIS, THAT THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH SENATE BILL NINE ON AN INDIANA PASSENGER RAIL COMMISSION, AN IDEA WHOSE TIME PERHAPS HAS COME AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

WELL, I MET WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE THE TWO STATE ASSOCIATIONS OR THE INDIANA PASSENGER RAIL ASSOCIATION I THINK IS THE NORTHERN INDIANA PASSENGER RAIL ASSOCIATION AND I MET WITH THEM LAST SUMMER.

I THINK IT WAS AND THEY LAID OUT A WHOLE PLAN AND WHY THEY THOUGHT CREATING A STATE COMMISSION WAS A GOOD IDEA.

AND SO I ACCEPTED THAT AND THEY ASKED ME TO BE THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL AND I'VE DONE THAT AND I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT THING FOR US TO TRY TO DEVELOP MORE RAIL PASSENGER USAGE IN INDIANA.

IT'S ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

WE WE HAVE THE BUS ROUTES THAT YOU CAN TAKE AND YOU HAVE AIRPLANES AND THEN WE HAVE OUR OWN PRIVATE CARS AND I THINK HAVING THE PASSENGER RAIL OPPORTUNITY IS ANOTHER METHOD BY WHICH WE CAN TAKE THE PLACE TO PLACE IN OUR STATE AND EVEN CONNECT TO OTHER CITIES LIKE CHICAGO, DETROIT, COLUMBUS AND CLEVELAND AND LOUISVILLE AND DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND THE MIDWEST WHERE WE COULD TAKE TRAINS AND HAVE US BE PASSENGERS THERE AND GOOD.

ANOTHER GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS YOU CAN DO A LOT OF WORK SO WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING YOUR CAR TO YOUR CAR GOING BACK YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO DRIVING.

BUT IF I'M IN THE TRAIN I CAN READ I CAN TAKE NOTES.

I COULD DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT WORK.

SO I THINK THERE'S A GOOD ADVANTAGE IN HAVING THE TRAIN AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR TRANSPORTATION.

IT SEEMS RAIL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR REGION PASSENGER RAIL IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN SOMETHING REFERENCED IN NUMBERS OF STUDIES AND AS YOU SAY THERE, IT'S NEVER VERY FAR OFF THE MINDS OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR REGION.

DAVE, I'M WONDERING FOR FOR SOMEONE IN REPRESENTING YOUR DISTRICT AND RECOGNIZING THE WAY THE RAIL ROLLS IN ALLEN COUNTY OF WHAT YOUR YOUR THOUGHT ON THE IDEA OF PERHAPS TYING THE ECONOMIC STRATEGIC COMMISSION WITH THE YOU KNOW, THE BURGEONING RAILROAD COMMISSION.

THERE MAY BE SOME AFFINITY THERE.

WELL, THAT'S THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE THE FRAMEWORK DEVELOPED IF IF THIS BILL GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND GETS PASSED, WHICH WE HOPE IT WILL BUT IT'S JUST IDEAS WHAT DENNIS WAS TALKING ABOUT WE WILL THEN HAVE A FRAMEWORK SO THAT WHEN WE GET GRANTS FOR THIS WHEN WE GET FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR A PROGRAM LIKE DENNIS WAS TALKING ABOUT STATE DOLLARS, WE'LL HAVE THE FRAMEWORK SO THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THOSE DOLLARS AND WE CAN DISBURSE THOSE DOLLARS TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE AND THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL PART ABOUT IT.

AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY DENNIS BILLS WILL GO THROUGH BUT YOU KNOW, WITH THIS FRAMEWORK NOW THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE WILL BE ABLE TO FUND THINGS LIKE THIS IN THE IMMEDIATE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS AND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND ATTENTION UNDERSTANDABLY BEING GIVEN OVER TO ALL ASPECTS OF COVID AND ON THE MEDICAL SIDE ON THE VACCINATION SIDE, CONCERNS FOR EXECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE DYNAMICS TODAY OR THIS WEEK I SHOULD SAY THE STATE SENATE VOTED TO APPROVE A BILL PROTECTING BUSINESSES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FROM COVID-19 LAWSUITS WHERE SB TWO FUNDED THE SCHOOLS.

THIS WAS SB ONE DENNIS.

THIS WAS THE NUMBER ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

YOUR SENSE OF WHY IT GOT SUCH THE PRIORITY IN ON THE SENATE SIDE?

I THINK DURING THE LAST 10 MONTHS OR SO PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT HAD COME TO US IS EMPLOYERS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

PEOPLE SAY THEY GOT COVID BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING IN MY FACTORY OR THEY'RE WORKING IN MY OFFICE OR WHATEVER AND THEY'RE GOING TO SUE ME AS THE EMPLOYER FOR GETTING COVID-19.

AND SO THAT ROSE TO THE TOP IS BEING REALLY PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO DEAL WITH IS TO GIVE IMMUNITY TO THE EMPLOYERS SO THAT THEY'RE NOT HELD LIABLE AND HAVE MULTIPLE LAWSUITS THAT THEY HAVE TO DEFEND FROM EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD POTENTIALLY GET COVID-19 IN THE WORKPLACE AND IT HAS A COMPANION BILL DAVE IN THE HOUSE TENNO TO RIGHT AND CIVIL IMMUNITY RELATED TO COVID-19.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT LEGISLATION?

WE PAST THAT OUT OF THE HOUSE.

LET'S SEE THIS IS FRIDAY SO WE PASSED THAT OUT YESTERDAY LATE IN THE DAY.

SO TENNO TO PASS THE HOUSE AND WE'LL BE SENDING THAT OVER TO DENNIS AND THAT IS FEELING IT TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE COMPATIBLE.

I KNOW THERE'S THERE WILL BE THOSE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES THAT LOOK TO RECONCILE DIFFERENCES BUT I THINK I THINK THESE ARE STRUCTURED THAT THEY'RE VERY COMPATIBLE AND SO THAT THEY CAN BE AS SOON AS WE GET THE SENATE BILL WE WILL RUN THAT THROUGH AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN ON OUR SIDE.

AND I KNOW SENATE'S GOING TO RUN HB TEN OR TWO THROUGH THEIR SIDE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE TIED TOGETHER AND GET THOSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THOSE SIGNED INTO LAW AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

LET US GO TO THE PHONES AND WELCOME BARNEY WHO'S JOINING US WITH A QUESTION.

BONNIE, WELCOME TO PRIME TIME.

GO AHEAD PLEASE.

HELLO.

I HAVE A QUESTION INQUIRING ABOUT SOME INFORMATION I'VE HEARD REGARDING A BILL OR LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE PASSED OR LOOKED AT TO INCREASE THE PAY TO TEACHERS SALARIES IN INDIANA TO BE MORE IN LINE WITH THOSE OF OTHER STATES AND AREAS IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS MOVING FORWARD, WHAT MEASURES ARE PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ACTUALLY GET DIRECTED TO THE TEACHERS RATHER THAN ENDING UP IN THE SALARIES OF ADMINISTRATION AND AN INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE UPDATING BALL FIELDS, ET CETERA?

ALL RIGHT, BONNIE, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND LET'S START WITH THE DEBUT RESPOND FIRST AND THEN DENNIS TO FOLLOW.

SO I'VE BEEN DOING THIS NOW FIVE YEARS AND THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE I JUST CAN'T GET MY ARMS AROUND BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WE DON'T DETERMINE WHAT TEACHERS SALARIES ARE, OK?

THAT IS DETERMINED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD'S WORKING WITH THE TEACHERS UNION AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S WHAT WE DO IS WE WE I DON'T GIVE OUT BUT WE BUDGET BASED ON YOU KNOW, THE DOLLARS THAT WE ARE GETTING IN ON REVENUE.

WE BUDGET X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS GOING TO OUR K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS AND THEN FROM THERE IT IS IT IS BUDGETED BY THE STUDENT.

THE MONEY FOLLOWS THE STUDENT BUT THEN IT GOES TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND AT THAT POINT THEN THAT IS WHERE IT'S DETERMINED OK, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH THIS MONEY AND THAT'S DETERMINED BY GOOD OLD BARGAINING BETWEEN SCHOOL BOARDS AND ADMINISTRATIONS AND THE AND THE TEACHERS UNIONS.

DENNIS, YOUR SON'S WE BUDGETED TO ACTUALLY TWO YEARS AGO WE PASSED SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS MORE DOLLARS FOR K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION IN INDIANA AND I THINK ALMOST EVERY SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED TO GIVE TEACHERS PAY RAISES.

LET'S SAY THERE'S THREE HUNDRED SCHOOL CORPORATIONS MY I THINK LIKE TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT OF THEM GAVE INCREASES TO TEACHERS AND MANY OF THEM WERE A THOUSAND TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR PAY INCREASE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THIS TIME A GOVERNOR'S BUDGET IS OFFERING ABOUT A THREE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLAR INCREASE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AGAIN IF YOU USE THAT PROPORTION TEACHERS OUGHT TO GET IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS PAY RAISE IF THAT WOULD BE IN THE END GAME.

THAT'S THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

BUT THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT I THINK TEACHERS CAN GET ANOTHER PAY RAISE THIS NEXT TWO YEARS IN THE AREA OF AROUND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR.

BUT OUR GOAL JUST TO ANSWER THE CALLER'S QUESTION, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PAY OUR TEACHERS AND WE WANT TO WE WANT TO GET A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY TO OUR K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT AND B THEY NEED TO BE FUNDED.

SO THAT IS OUR GOAL AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT TURNS.

WE'RE GOING TO STAY ON THIS TOPIC AND GO BACK TO THE PHONES .

BONNIE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALL.

TIM IS JOINING US FOR PRIME TIME.

TIM GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GO AHEAD WITH YOUR YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT.

OH HI.

REPRESENTING AMY.

I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU GUYS DON'T SET THE SALARIES FOR TEACHERS BUT YOU DO CONTROL BOTH THE FUNDING AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS SUCH AS LIMITS ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

I'M ENTERING MY FOURTH YEAR TEACHING.

I'M WORKING ON A MASTER'S DEGREE RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHEN I FINISH THAT DEGREE MY SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE ANY KIND OF REQUIREMENT OR FLEXIBILITY TO NEGOTIATE OR RAISE.

SO I'M GOING TO EARN A HIGHER DEGREE POSSIBLY SAVE MY STUDENTS TIME AND MONEY TAKING COLLEGE CLASSES.

BUT THERE'S NO FINANCIAL REWARD OR INCENTIVE FOR ME OR MY COWORKERS TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE STATE HOUSE AS HAMSTRINGS TEACHERS WITH LIMITS ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

SO WHAT DO YOU GUYS SAY TO THAT ?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M PUTTING THE HAMSTRINGS ON THE BARGAINING.

WHAT AM I DOING THINGS ON THAT LIMIT ON WHAT TEACHERS CAN BARGAIN FOR BASICALLY ALL WE CAN REALLY BARGAIN OUR SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS SO WE CAN'T NEGOTIATE HOW MANY KIDS ARE IN MY CLASSROOM WHETHER IT'S EIGHTEEN OR FORTY WE CAN'T NEGOTIATE THINGS LIKE TEACHERS THAT RECEIVE A MASTER'S DEGREE AND GET A TWO STEP INCREASE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED OR THEY'RE NOT NEGOTIABLE.

DENNIS, IS THAT TRUE THAT THEY CAN'T THAT THEY'RE NOT THEY CAN'T NEGOTIATE FOR A MASTER'S?

I THOUGHT THAT IS UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO BE SCHOOL CORPORATION.

IT IS BUT IT'S IT'S A LOCALLY NEGOTIATED SO YOU CAN GET MORE MONEY AND LOTS OF SCHOOL CORPORATIONS DO GET MORE MONEY FOR MASTER'S DEGREE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO TEACH AN AP CLASS YOU GET MORE MONEY FOR THAT AND A LOT OF SCHOOL CORPORATIONS STILL GIVE MORE MONEY FOR MASTER'S DEGREE.

THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THEY WERE NOT I GUESS OBLIGATED TO DO THAT BUT THEY ARE STILL ABLE TO DO THAT AND WE HAVE PROVISIONS IN THE LAW WHERE THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS CAN GET MORE MONEY FOR MASTER'S DEGREE AND I THINK SALARY AND THE FRINGE BENEFITS IS THAT IS A MAIN THING FOR MONEY TO BE USED FOR AND I THINK MOST SCHOOL CORPORATIONS I MEAN YOU HAVE GOOD FACILITIES AND GOOD WORK ATMOSPHERE AND STUFF.

SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE GETTING ALONG PRETTY WELL RIGHT NOW.

TIM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALL AND COMMENT.

WE ARE UNDER ABOUT THREE MINUTES OR SO IN OUR PROGRAM AND I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH TO EACH TAKE A MINUTE IF YOU WILL.

YOU'RE INVOLVED IN OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

YOU'RE FOLLOWING THE BILLS SUBMITTED BY COLLEAGUES IN YOUR CHAMBERS.

DENNIS, LET ME START WITH YOU FIRST, SIR.

WHAT WHAT PIECES OF LEGISLATION ARE YOU FOLLOWING MORE CLOSELY IN THESE WEEKS?

WELL, I HAVE ONE THAT CREATES A CONTACT POTENTIALLY WOULD BE WITH OTHER STATES.

SIX STATES HAVE PASSED THIS AND IS AN AGREEMENT AMONG STATES IN THIS CASE IS FOR AUDIOLOGISTS AND SPEECH AND HEARING THERAPISTS LANGUAGE LANGUAGE THERAPISTS WERE THEY WHATEVER STATE BECOMES A PART OF THIS COMPACTED AGREEMENT, THEY CAN ACTUALLY MOVE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THOSE STATES WITHOUT GETTING ANY ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE IN A DIFFERENT STATE.

SO IF I WANT TO IF THERE IS GOOD COOPERATION IN INDIANAPOLIS, IT WANTS TO HIRE SOMEBODY FROM CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS WHO'S A SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPIST.

THEY CAN DO THAT.

THEY DON'T TO GO GET A LICENSE IN INDIANA.

SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

I HAVE ONE THAT HELPS VETERANS RECEIVE EXTRA THEIR BENEFITS, I SHOULD SAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THEM AND THAT THEY CAN GET THOSE BENEFITS.

AND I HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD NOW BUT ONE THAT DEALT WITH VACCINES THAT AN EMPLOYER COULD REQUIRE AN EMPLOYEE TO TAKE A VACCINE IF THEY DIDN'T WANT TO AND BUT THAT BILL LOOKS LIKE IT'S DIED IN THE SENATE COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW.

YEAH.

DAVE, HOW ABOUT YOU ON THE HOUSE SIDE, SIR?

WELL, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT SOME OF THE STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE DEFUNDING THE POLICE I'M LOOKING REALLY FORWARD TO HERE IN INDIANA WE ARE GOING TO ENHANCE OUR POLICE FORCE HERE IN STATE OF INDIANA .

WE PUT AN ADDITIONAL SEVENTY MILLION DOLLARS INTO A TRAINING FACILITY AND THEN WE BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY IN THE STATE POLICE THE COUNTY POLICE OFFICERS.

IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO TRAINING OF OUR OFFICERS AND AND SO WE WILL BE RUNNING A BILL THROUGH TO ENHANCE ENHANCE THE TRAINING OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT PASSED BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB THIS PAST YEAR WITH THE COVID VIRUS THESE THESE OFFICERS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB FOR OUR STATE AND I THINK THEY NEED TO BE REWARDED WITH LESS THAN A MINUTE TO GO.

I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH ABOUT A PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT SEEMS TO BE A SLEEPER.

BUT I'M ASKING ABOUT SENATE BILL 97 AND YOUR YOUR OPINION ABOUT WHETHER POPCORN WILL BECOME THE OFFICIAL STATE SNACK.

YES, I PREDICT THAT WILL BE AND I VOTED WE PASSED THAT OUT SO I VOTED FOR IT.

IT BECAME A THE BILL AND I AM A BIG POPCORN FAN SO I EAT POPCORN EVERY WEEK SOMETIMES THREE TIMES A WEEK.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT SNACK OFFICIALS STACHO THE STATE OF DNA SOUNDS SOUNDS GOOD TO ME TOO.

ALL RIGHT I THINK WE'RE ALL GOING OVER TO THE MICROWAVE WITH WE WE THANK OF GENTLEMEN VERY VERY MUCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU AGAIN AS THE SESSION ROLLS STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVE HYNIE STATE SENATOR DENNIS CRUZ.

I'M BRUCE HAYNES FOR PRIME TIME FOR ALL OF US WITH THE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

TAKE CARE AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.

GOODBYE.

THANK YOU