♪♪ >> REPUBLICANS RELEASE THEIR >> REPUBLICANS RELEASE THEIR PROPOSED SENATE REDISTRICTING MAP.

PLEA FOR IMPROVING TRAFFIC PLEA FOR IMPROVING TRAFFIC SAFETY.

PLUS, LOCALLY LICENSING EDUCATORS AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2021.

>> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS, AND BY ICE MILLER.

A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO HELPING CLIENTS BUILD, GROW, AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

MORE AT ICEMILLER.COM.

THIS WEEK, INDIANA SENATE REPUBLICANS UNVEILED THEIR REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL FOR THE STATE SENATE DISTRICT LINES.

THE MAP WILL HELP DECIDE WHO REPRESENTS EVERY HOOSIER FOR THE NEXT DECADE.

>> AN ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED SENATE MAP PROJECTS DEMOCRATS WILL LOSE ONE DISTRICT BUT GAIN A NEWLY CREATED SEAT, WHILE ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT BECOMES EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE.

MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS APPEAR UNLIKELY TO LOSE ANY SEATS WHILE MOST OF THEIR INCUMBENTS ARE SAFER.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY SAYS REPUBLICANS ALIGNED THEIR PRIORITIES WITH WHAT HE SAYS THE PUBLIC WANTS.

>> SEN. RODRIC BRAY (R-MARTINSVILLE): IN TERMS OF COMPACTNESS AND KEEPING COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST TOGETHER.

>> BUT CRITICS POINT TO THE PROPOSAL SPLITTING WEST LAFAYETTE AND LAFAYETTE INTO TWO SEPARATE DISTRICTS AND CARVING UP THE SOUTH SIDE OF FORT WAYNE INTO THREE DIFFERENT SENATE SEATAS EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY.

THE SENATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MAP MONDAY.

>> ARE THE SENATE MAPS REALLY COMPACT AND KEEPING COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST TOGETHER?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL.

DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

AND NIKI KELLY, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH MIKE O'BRIEN, LOOKING AT THAT SENATE MAP - DOES IT LOOK COMPACT TO YOU?

LOOKING AT THAT, SENATE MAP, DOES IT LOOK COMPACT TO YOU?

>> JUST LOOKING AT IT, LIKE YOU SAID, THE LINES ARE CLEAN, THEY HAVE 90 DEGREE ANGLES, THEY LOOK PARTICULARLY COMPACT IF YOU PUT IT AGAINST 2001, MATT LAYMAN ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE THIS WEEK SAID SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO DRAW AND LOOKED LIKE A SALAMANDER, THERE, A BLOCK THERE, MAKING SURE THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE HOUSE FOR A DECADE, WHICH THEY MOSTLY SUCCEEDED AT UNTIL VOTERS CHANGED THEIR MIND, VOTED REPUBLICAN IN 2010.

THE QUESTION ON THE SENATE REPUBLICAN MAPS, THEY NOT ONLY LOOK COMPACT BUT THE MATH BEHIND THEM SUPPORTS THAT VIEW.

96% -- TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST REMAINING INTACT.

96% OF THE REMAIN HOLE, 94% REMAIN WHOLE.

WEST LAFAYETTE AND LAFAYETTE ARE TWO BIG SEPARATE CITIES, MAKING THEM TWO SEPARATE DISTRICTS ISN'T THAT DRAMATIC.

AND THE NUMBER OF WHOLE COUNTIES, WHERE YOU'RE NOT SPLITTING INTO OTHER DISTRICTS, 49 TO 65.

SO THE MATH SUPPORTS WHAT THE NAKED EYE SUGGESTS, WHICH IS THESE MAPS ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE SIDE AND THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS, IF YOU LOOK AT A CARN DISTRICT, WHEN THE DEMOCRATS DREW IT, IT LOOKED LIKE A SNOWFLAKE, HOW IT LOOKS LIKE A RECTANGLE.

THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE POLITICAL MATH AND PRECINCT MATH IN MIND.

>> ANN DeLANEY, TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CITIES AND TOWNS KEPT WHOLE IN THAT SENATE MAP, DOESN'T THAT MAKE IT A GOOD MAP?

>> THAT WAS A VERY GOOD DEFENSE, MIKE.

BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE DESIGNED NOT T ONLY ISAN MAP COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN ARE THE INCUMBENT REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

THAT'S WHAT THESE MAPS WERE DESIGNED TO PROTECT.

DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE VOTERS.

BY THE WAY, YES, INDIANA IS A REPUBLICAN STATE, DONALD TRUMP NOT 58% OF THE VOTE.

THESE MAPS GE 80% OF THE SEATS IN THE SENATE, AND 70% OF THE SEATS IN THE HOUSE TO REPUBLICANS, THAT IS JERRY -- GERRYMANDERING PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THIS -- A HEARING IN THE HOUSE BEFORE VOTING THE SENATE MAPS.

DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A HEARING.

ALL OF THESE DECISIONS, LIKE ALL OF THE DECISIONS AFFECTING INDIANA UNDER THE SUPERMAJORITY ARE MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES.

IN OTHER STATES WITH AN AGGRESSIVE POOL OF JOURNALISM OUT THERE AND TV, WE WOULD HAVE QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT HOW UNDEMOCRATIC THIS PROSECUTE IT.

INSTEAD WE ALL JUST SHAKE OUR HEADS AND SAY, WELL, TT'S THE WAY IT IS IN INDIANA.

NONSENSE, IT IS NONSENSE, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHEN WE HAD THE MAPS IN 2001, OUR MAJORITY WAS TWO VOTES.

OKAY.

TWO VOTES.

NOW YOU'VE GOT 80% IN ONE AND 70% IN THE OTHER.

AND IT IS COMPLETELY UNDEMOCRATIC.

>> IT WAS A MIRACLE YOU COULD HAVE GERRYMANDERED TO A TWO-VOTE MARGIN.

REPUBLICANS GOT 60% OF THE VOTE IN THE HOUSE.

WE MADE THE SAME ARGUMENT YOU'RE MAKING NOW.

>> WE CARRIED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR 16 YEARS AND WE CARRIED OBAMA AS PRESIDENT.

DON'T TELL ME -- >> THAT WAS PRETT MUCH THE END OF IT.

>> BECAUSE YOU FIXED THE MAPS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> NIKI, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SENATE MAP, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT STICKS OUT OR SURPRISES YOU ABOUT IT?

>> INTERESTINGLY, I SAID LAST WEEK ONE OF THE BIG SURPRISES FOR THE HOUSE MAP WAS HOW TY REALLY, YOU KNOW, LESS -- THE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS, WENT THE OPPOSITE WAY AND CARVED ALLEN COUNTY AND THE CITY OF FORT WAYNE UP INTO EVEN MORE DISTRICTS, I THINK FOUR NOW INSTEAD OF THREE.

I DON'T KNOW WAYNE HAS TO DO WITH PLATFORD AND JAY COUNTIES, THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON.

SO I MEAN, THAT ONE IS A BIG THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME FROM WHERE I AM.

OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT STILL HEARING A LOT ON THE LAFAYETTE, WEST LAFAYETTE.

OBVIOUSLY I THINK THE HOUSE TOOK A MORE STUS QUO KIND OF APPROACH AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE SENATE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, WENT FOR THE THROAT.

>> JON SCHWANTES, IF THIS IS A PARTISAN GERRYMANDER, AS ANN OBVIOUSLY CONTENDS, AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE, OBVIOUSLY NOT JUST ANN, IF THIS IS A PARTISAN -- >> THANK YOU, BRANDON.

>> IF THIS IS, QUITE FRANKLY DOES IT MATTER, WILL THERE BE CONSEQUENCES FOR REPUBLICANS OTHER THAN KEEPING THEIR SUPERMAJORITIES?

>> I WOULD SAY START OFF BY STIPULATING THIS IS A PARTISAN GERRYMANDER, THAT IS THE PROCESS THAT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY BONES ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF DENYING THAT THERE IS SOME SENSE OF PARTNERSHIP HERE, THAT'S TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS AND IN THE CASE OF DRAWING MAPS EVERY TEN YEARS, THERE IS A REAL TROPHY THAT GOES WI THAT VICTORY AND CONTROL OF THE INDIANA HOUSE AND SENATE.

HAVING SAID THAT, YOU CAN COME UP WITH MATH TO MAKE JUST ABOUT ANY ARGUMENT, IT WOULD BE, I THINK, HARD, FOR INSTANCE, ANN, TO COME UP WITH MAPS THAT ACTUALLY REFLECTED THE TURNOUT OR THE VOTE BREAKDOWN IN THE LAST ELECTION.

THOSE WOULD PROBABLY BE PRETTY ODD LOOKING MAPS, TOO, IN PART BECAUSE HOOSIER VOTERS, FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS -- >> YOU KNOW.

>> VOTED IN GREATER NUMBERS -- LET ME JUST FINISH, HAVING SAID THAT, I DO THINK THAT THERE IS NUMBERS AND MATH NOTWITHSTANDING, THERE IS A SMELL TEST THAT WE CAN APPLY USING HOOSIER COMMON SENSE, IN THAT REGARD, THE SENATE MAPS ARE PROBLEMATIC, IT SEEMS TO ME IN TERMS OF DIVIDING COMMUNITIES THAT, YEAH, LAFAYETTE AND WEST LAFAYETTE MAYBE THEYRE TECHNICALLY DIFFERENT CITIES, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THE FOLKS WHO LIVE THERE FEEL THAT THEY NEED A VISA TO GO FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.

AND CERTAINLY FORT WAYNE PROBABLY WONDERS WHY IT'S BEING CARVED UP MORE THAN THE TURKEY AT THANKSGIVING.

AND SO THOSE -- THE MATH, YOU CAN MAKE ANY ARGUMENT, BUT THE SMELL TEST, THOSE TWO ARE KIND OF TOUGH TO EXPLAIN.

>> NO.

I THINK YOU CAN EXPLAIN LAFAYETTE, YOU CAN EXPLAIN IT BY THE FACT THAT RON -- DISTRICT I >> I GUESS EXPLAINING.

HOW ABOUT DEFENDING, DIFFERENT VERB.

>> A PAIR OF STATE LAWMAKERS SAY DRIVERS IN INDIANA NEED A “HARD RESET IN WHAT'S EXPECTED OF THEM BEHIND THE WHEEL.” THOSE LAWMAKERS ARE PROPOSING SHORT- AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO RECKLESS DRIVING AMID AN INCREASE IN FATALITIES.

INDIANA TRAFFIC VOLUME WAS DOWN ABOUT NINE PERCENT LAST YEAR VERSUS 2019, IN PART DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND YET TRAFFIC FATALITIES INCREASED ABOUT EIGHT PERCENT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MITCH GORE SAYS IN THE STATE'S LARGEST COUNTY, MARION COUNTY, ALONE, TRAFFIC FATALITIES ROSE 31 PERCENT LAST YEAR.

>> REP. MITCH GORE (D-INDIANAPOLIS): PRESSING ENOUGH, SEVERE ENOUGH AND FIXABLE ENOUGH TO WARRANT SOME IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

>> THAT IMMEDIATE ATTENTION WOULD COME IN THE FORM OF FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF DOLLARS.

GORE AND REPRESENTATIVE BLAKE JOHNSON ARE ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO RELEASE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS TO STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR OVERTIME PAY FOR INCREASED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.

LONG-TERM, THEY PLAN TO OFFER A BILL NEXT SESSION TO ALLOW TRAFFIC CAMERAS IN SCHOOL ZONES.

TRAFFIC CAMERA BILLS HAVE REPEATEDLY FAILED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

BUT JOHNSON SAYS THEY HAVE TO KEEP TRYING.

>> REP. BLAKE JOHNSON (D-INDIANAPOLIS): WE'RE TIRED OF DAY AFTER DAY SEEING TRAGIC HEADLINES THAT LIVES ARE LOST.

WE'RE TIRED OF DRIVING THESE STREETS EVERY DAY AND SEEING FIRSTHAND THE DEGREE TO WHICH PEOPLE ARE DISREGARDING THE LAW AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS.

AND PERHAPS MOST OF ALL, WE ARE TIRED OF RECKLESS DRIVERS GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

>> JUST THIS YEAR, A BILL FAILED TO PASS THAT WOULD'VE ALLOWED TRAFFIC CAMERAS ON SCHOOL BUS STOP ARMS.

>> ANN DELANEY, CAN THIS NARROW VERSION OF A TRAFFIC CAMERA BILL BE THE ONE THAT BREAKS THROUGH THE GRIDLOCK AT THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I HOPE SO.

BECAUSE I THINK THESE REPRESENTATIVES ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

I MEAN I'VE NOTICED MYSELF OUT THERE, PEOPLE GOING 50 AND 60 MILES AN HOUR ON CITY STREETS AND RUNNING STOP SIGNS AND RUNNING RED LIGHTS.

AN NOT BEING AT ALL CAREFUL OF GOING SLOWER AROUND SCHOOL ZONES.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY WHEN YOU'RE A DRIVER ON THE ROAD, YOUR CAR HAS TO BE LICENSED, YOU HAVE TO BE LICENSED, YOU'RE ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS, THERE IS NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY.

AND THE TO GET AWAY WITH IT UNLESS YOU HAPPENED TO GET CAUGHT BY A POLICE OFFICER IS CRAZY.

EITHER WE WANT SAFETY AND WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN PARTICULARLY AS THEY GO TO AND FROM SCHOOL OR GET ON THE SCHOOL BUSSES, OR WE DON'T.

AND PUTTING CAMERAS BY SCHOOL ZONES SEEMS TO ME IS A VERY SIMPLE, VERY NARROW WAY OF TRYING TO REFORM BEHAVIOR THAT'S BECOME VERY, VERY RECKLESS AND LIFE ENDANGERING.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, WE TALKED ON THE SHOW BEFORE, THIS ISSUE IS ONE OF THE INTERESTING ONES AT THE STATE HOUSE, IT IS NOT REPUBLICAN VERSUS DEMOCRAT, CONSERVATIVE VERSUS LIBERAL.

IT CROSSES PARTY LINES, PERSONS ON BOTH SIDES HAVING POSITIONS.

IT IS THIS SORT OF APPROACH, ABOUT PROTECTING KIDS IN SCHOOL ZONES.

IS THAT THE SORT OF THING THAT CAN BE THE MAGIC FORMULA T MAKE IT WORK?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT IS BIPARTISAN, REPRESENTATIVE JIM RUSSELL, REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE ROADS COMMITTEE HAS CARRIED THE WORK ZONE PIECE VERSION OF THIS IN THE PAST, THAT PAST COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY.

HAS A HARD TIME WITH CONSERVATORS WHO EITHER DON'T LIKE CAMERAS GENERALLY OR SUGGESTS THAT IF WE PUT THEM ON SCHOOL BUS STOP ARMS THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON EVERY RED LIGHT IN THE STATE.

I DON'T THINK THE POLITICS PERMIT THAT.

I THINK I'VE SAID ON THE SHOW BEFORE, THIS IDEA THAT WE SHOULDN'T USE CAMERAS TO ENFORCE BEHAVIOR.

ONE, WE ALREADY DO THAT.

THIS ISN'T SOME THRESHOLD, SOCIAL THRESHOLD WE'VE GOT TO GO CROSS.

FOR ME, JUST IN TERMS OF DRIVING, IT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHEN WE INVENTED THE BREATHALYZER.

SOMEONE SAID, WAIT A MINU, YOU CAN'T USE TECHNOLOGY.

NOBODY'S BUSINESS HOW DRUNK I AM IN MY CAR, YOU CAN'T USE A BREATHALYZER TO PROVE IT.

THE SAME PRINCIPAL HERE.

CAMERAS CAN BE USED TO ENFORCE THE LAW AND THEY ARE USED TO ENFORCE THE LAW.

WHETHER IT IS WORK ZONES OR SCHOOL ZONES.

THEY OUGHT TO BE.

>> JON SCHWANTES, KIND OF THE SAME QUESTION, WHICH IS, WELL, WE SAW THE TRAFFIC -- THE SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM CAMERA BILL NOT WORK OUT LAST SESSION.

DOES THAT TELL US ALL WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHAES OF THISCHOOL ZONE CAMERA BILL NEXT SESSION.

>> I THINK IT PROBABLY DOES.

AND THIS IS BASED ON HISTORY AND THE CURRENT MAKEUP OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I DOUBT THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN SENTIMENT, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS DRAFTED AS IT IS, NO ONE IS GOING TO ARGUE THAT THEY WANT TO IMPERIL CERTAINLY YOUNG HOOSIER CHILDREN.

NO.

BUT I THINK MIKE IS RIGHT, THERE IS A FACTION WITHIN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND IT IS A PRETTY LARGE ONE, WHICH EXPLAINS WHY THE STOP ARM BILL DID NOT PREVAIL.

THAT IS CONCERNED ABOUT CAMERAS OF ANY TIME, THE NOTION THAT IT IS SOMEHOW INTRODUCIVE, THAT BIG BROTHER, IT'S THE FIRST STEP EN ROUTE TO BIG BROTHER.

SO I THINK WHILE PEOPLE WOULD BE WILLING TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT, MORE, YOU KNOW, FUNDING FOR OVERTIME, POLICE OVERTIME, PATROLS AND ENFORCEMENT PERIODS.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE MORE ACCEPTABLE TO A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS PARTICULAR FACTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAN THE INTRODUCTION OF CAMERAS.

SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK IT PROBABLY WI SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS THE STOP ARM BILL.

>> NIKI, TO WRAP UP THIS PART OF THE CONVERSATION, THE NUMBERS CERTAINLY TELL THE STORY.

TRAFFIC WAS DOWN, AND YET FATALITIES ARE .

BUT ANECDOTALLY, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT I'VE TALKED TO WHO DOESN'T AGR THAT TRAFFIC JUST SEEMS WORSE, DRIVERS JUST SEEM WORSE.

DOES THAT KIND OF SENTIMENT, CAN THAT START TO MOVE THE NEEDLE A LITTLE BIT AS HOOSIERS ARE GETTING FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT THEY'RE SEEING ON THE ROADWAYS?

>> GOSH, I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST TRY THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ROUTE AND SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO.

>> WORKS WELL FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, LET'S DO IT.

ALL RIGHT.

TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC, ONLINE POLL QUESTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ICEMILLER E-MAIL AND TEXT ALERTS.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: SHOULD GOV.

HOLCOMB USE SPENT FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND DOLLARS TO INCREASE TRAFFIC SAFETY ENFORCEMENT?

A YES, OR B, NO.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: IS PRESIDENT BIDEN RIGHT TO FORCE COMPANIES TO HAVE THEIR WORKERS EITHER GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE OR UNDERGO WEEKLY TESTING?

SURPRISED THAT THE OVERWHELMING NATURE OF THIS 81% OF YOU SAY YES, 19% SAY NO.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND OK FOR THE POLL.

SOME INDIANA LAWMAKERS ARE HAVE THE OPTION TO LOCALLY LD LICENSE TEACHERS.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LINDSAY EXPLAINS, IT WAS A MAIN POINT OF CONVERSATION DURING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S FINAL EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE MEETING THIS WEEK.

>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE STATE EXPLORE WAYS TO SET TEACHER PAY GOALS AND EXPAND PRE-K OPPORTUNITIES, AND PUBLISH MORE RESOURCES TO CLOSE EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.

IN THE FACE OF TEACHER SHORTAGES, SOME LAWMAKERS ON THE COMMITTEE ALSO EXPRESSED INTEREST IN GRANTING SCHOOLS THE AUTHORITY TO LOCALLY LICENSE EDUCATORS.

BUT JOHN O'NEAFROM THE INDIANA ATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION SAYS, GRANTING SCHOOLS LICENSURE AUTHORITY COMES WITH RISKS.

>> JOHN O'NEAL: IT COULD ADD TO THE INEQUALITY OF CREDENTIALS AND EXPERIENCE ACROSS DISTRICTS.

>> ULTIMATELY, THE COMMITTEE'S FINAL REPORT REQUESTED THAT THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEIGH IN ON TEACHER LICENSING BEFORE THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> NIKI KELLY, IN THE GRAND BATTLE OF LOCAL CONTROL, IS THIS ONE THAT MAKES SENSE FOR LOCALS TO DECIDE?

>> UM, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T KNOW ON THIS ONE.

I DO THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME MINIMUM, YOU KNOW, LEVEL OF EXPERTISE OR CERTIFICATION.

I JUST OVER THE PAST DECADE, LAWMAKERS HAVE OPENED UP AVENUE AFTER AVENUE AFTER AVENUE,IFFERENT ROUTES, YOU KNOW, TO BRING PROFESSIONALS INTO THE SCHOOL.

HARDLY ANYONE HAS TO HAVE ANY ACTUAL PEDAGOGY TRAINING ANYMORE.

I DO THINK PROBABLY A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TRAINI SEEMS LIKE A DECENT LINE TO FOLLOW.

>> JON SCHWANTES, IS THIS ONE THAT YOU THINK LOCALS WILL BE FIGHTING FOR AT THE STATEHOUSE?

OR FIGHTING AGAINST?

>> I'M SURE SOME WOULD -- YES IS THE ANSWER.

SOME WILL AND SOME WON'T.

I DON'T THINK ULTIMATELY IT HAPPENS, IT'S A PRETTY BIG STEP.

AND TALK ABOUT WATCHING A TENNIS MATCH IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, YOU KNOW, BACK AND FORTH, THIS IS HOW -- WATCHING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEAL WITH THE NOTION OF LOCAL CONTROL AS IT RELATES TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION OVER THE PAST FEW YES HAS BEEN QUITE WIMBLEDON KIND OF APPROACH.

ON THE ONE HAND, SALARIES, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED HERE, BUT TEACHER LICENSING MAYBE HANDLED HERE, MASK WEARING AND OTHER SAFETY MANDATES, THAT'S HANDLED HERE.

SEEMS TO BE NO CONSISTENCY, SURPRISE, SURPRISE, BECAUSE THE WHOLE PHILOSOPHY TURNS ON MORE NARROW ISSUES, AS WE DISCUSSED MANY TIMES BEFORE.

I'M SURE IT'S A LOT OF APPETITE AMONG SOME, AGAIN, SOME FACTIONS OF THE STATE, BUT IT'S A BIG CHANGE THAT I DON'T THINK WOULD HAPPEN IN THE NEXT SESSION.

>>.

MIKE O'BRIEN, WOULD IT BE A GOOD IDEA TO LET LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SCHOOL DISTRICTS LICENSE TEACHERS?

>> THAT'S HOW THEY DO IT, I THINK.

IF THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED OR IF THEY TALKED AROUND HOW THIS WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN, WHETHER THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DISTRICT BY DISTRICT DECISION OR THE SCHOOL BOARD IS DOING THIS.

IF THE SCHOOL BOARD IS DOING IT, IT IS A HECK OF A TIME TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THESE HAVE BECOME FIST FIGHTS ON CURRICULUM, SOMETIMES LITERAL.

YOU PUT A TEACHER IN FRONT OF THAT BOARD AND THEY GET THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN WHEER THEY HAVE A LICENSE OR NOT.

I DON'T LIKE INSERTING POLICIES INTO THAT PROCESS.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS IS BROKEN AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> ANN DeLANEY, THIS IS ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS, HOW CAN WE DO IT?

THIS IS NOT OBVIOUSLY THE ONLY ANSWER, BUT IT IS POTENTIALLY ANOTHER ANSWER, IS IT GOING TO HELP IN ANY WAY SOLVE THE TEACHER SHORTAGE THAT INDIANA IS EXPERIENCING?

>> I THINK IT'S THE WORST IDEA I'VE HEARD THIS WEEK, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

THE IDEA -- REDISTRICTING.

>> BESIDES REDISTRICTING.

>> WE ALREADY KNEW THAT LAST WEEK.

NO.

WHAT I'M SAYING GRADUATE WITH A CERTIFICATE, THEN YOU WOULD GO SCHOOL DISTRICT BY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FIND OUT I YOU'RE QUALIFIED IS RIDICULOUS.

I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO MAKE THE DECISION.

IF WE WANT MORE TEACHERS, WHICH WE DO, WE WANT, A, QUALIFIED TEACHERS, WE DON'T WANT TO DROP THE REQUIREMENTS SO MUCH THAT THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED, WE WANT QUALIFIED TEACHERS.

THE WAY YOU DO THAT IS TO GET THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, AND PAY TEACHERS ADEQUATELY.

THEN THE MARKET, WHICH THE REPUBLICANS SAY THEY LOVE SO WELL, WILL WORK AND PEOPLE WILL GRAVITATE TOWARDS THAT AS A LIFESTYLE CHOICE.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT.

LOWERING THE BAR FOREACHERS LIKE THIS, HAVIN THIS DECISION MADE BY EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS IDEA I'VE HEARD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE GATHERED IN INDIANAPOLIS RECENTLY TO DISCUSS HOW BEST TO USE A MASSIVE INFLUX OF PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDING AIMED AT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S JEANIE LINDSAY EXPLAINS, STAFFING PROBLEMS AND CAPACITY NEEDS REMAIN TOP OF MIND FOR MANY OF THEM.

>> PROVIDERS MAY NEVER SEE FUNDING LEVELS LIKE THIS AGAIN.

ACCORDING TO EARLY LEARNING INDIANA, MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF IS COMING TO INDIANA SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILD CARE.

ADRIENNE JOHNSON OWNS A CHILD CARE CENTER IN INDIANAPOLIS.

SHE SAYS HER VISION IS TO EXPAND - BY BUYING THE PLAZA SPACE AROUND HER CENTER.

>> ADRIENNE JOHNSON: IT IS FOR SALE, SO I'M LIKE, THIS IS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BUY THE WHOLE THING - THERE'S NO REASON THAT WE CAN'T.

>> JOHNSON AND OTHERS AT THE EVENT ALSO SAY THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BETTER TRAIN AND PAY STAFF.

BUT THE CHALLENGE, THEY SAY, IS FINDING QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO HIRE - AND KEEPING THEM ON THE JOB.

>> JON SCHWANTES, THIS FUNDING OBVIOUSLY ISN'T ONGOING.

ARE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS SETTING THEMSELVES UP FOR A FALL?

FINALLY, FORMER INDIANA HEALTH >> YOU CAN'T BLAME THEM FOR THINKING BIG WHEN THESE KINDS OF DOLLARS ARE IN THE PIPELINE.

AND ALSO, I'M NOT SURE WE CAN REALISTICALLY SAY YOU HAVE TO USE THIS SELF-DISCIPLINE AND MARSHALL RESOURCES AS IF THE PANDEMIC NEVER HAPPENED.

A LOT OF THESE BUNESSES, CHILDCARE SUFFERED MIGHTILY DURINTHIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME SORT OF CRISIS THAT OUR SOCIETY ENCOUNTERED.

A LOT OF THEM ARE STILL REELING FROM THAT.

SO IT WILL HELP SHORE THEM UP, PUT THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET.

MAYBE IT'S NOT A SMART IDEA TO ACQUIRE AN OLD FOOTBALL STADIUM OR BASKETBALL STADIUM, WITH THE EXPECTATION OF FILL IT WITH THOUSANDS OF KIDS, NOT THAT ANYBODY -- THAT'S A BIT OF HYPERBOLE.

THE MONEY WILL BE WELL SPENT BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HURTING BECAUSE OFCOVID.

>> NIKI WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME AT THE STATEHOUSE, LAWMAKERS ARE WEARY OF USING ONE-TIME DOLLARS -- IS THIS CAREFUL ABOUT HOW YOU USE THIS HUGE INFLUX OF MONEY?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN'T OPEN UP A WHOLEUNCH OF NEW PROGRAMS, YOU KN, INCREASE ELIGIBILITY FOR THINGS LIKE FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN AND THEN IN TWO YEARS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DROP.

>> ANN DeLANEY, HOW DO YOU THINK CHILDCARE PROVIDERS SHOULD BEST USE THIS ONE-TIME MONEY?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE IT'S ONE-TIME, BRANDON.

I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN'S COMMITTED TO GIVING ADDITIONAL CHILDCARE SUPPORT, I ASSUME SINCE THE REPUBLICANS ARE PROLIFE AND PRO JOB AND PRO, I HOPE PRO EDUCATION, THEY WOULD BE ALL FOR THAT.

AND IF THOSE -- I MEAN, WE WANT PEOPLE BA TO WORK, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO WORK, PARTICULARLY CERTAIN TYPES OF JOBS IS THE INADEQUATE OR UNAVAILABLE CHILDCARE.

AND IF WE CAN COME TO THAT CRISIS, ADDRESS IT, AND GET MEANINGFUL CHILDCARE WITH PRESCHOOL AND THE REST FOR CHILDREN, IT'S GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE EDUCATION-WISE, AND CERTAINLY AN ADVANTAGE TO PUTTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

I'M NOT CERTAIN THIS IS A ONE-TIME THING, I HOPE IT ISN'T.

I HOPE THE REPUBLICANS ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING WORKING, PARTILARLY WORKING MOMS, BE AE TO GO BACK TOORK BY PROVIDING QUALITY CHILDCARE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FINALLY.

FORMER INDIANA HEALTH COMMISSIONER JEROME ADAMS TWEETED THIS WEEK THAT, WHEN APPLYING TO REFINANCE HIS MORTGAGE, THEY COULDN'T VERIFY HIS FORMER EMPLOYMENT AS THE U.S.

SURGEON GENERAL.

ANN LANEY, SHOULD BANKS ACCEPT A WIKIPEDIA PAGE AS PROOF OF EMPLOYMENT, AS ADAMS JOKINGLY SUGGESTED?

>> THERE ARE BUREAUCRATS EVERYWRE.

I SUGGEST HE GET A DIFFERENT BANK AND NOT HAVE TO RELY ON WIKIPEDIA.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, IS THIS ABOUT PERSONAL BANKING RELATIONSHIPS?

>> IT COULD BE.

I REFINANCED AN ENTIRE COMPANY FOR A LOCAL BANK, TOOK ME SIX MONTHS TO GET A MORTGAGE, FROM AARGER BANK.

I THINKOCAL BANKS ARE THE W TO GO.

>> NIKI KELLY, SHOULD A WIKIPEDIA PAGE FOR THE US SURGEON GENERAL BE PROOF OF EMPLOYMENT AT THE END?

>> OBVIOUSLY NOT.

BECAUSE, I MEAN ONE CAN POST A WIKIPEDIA.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I'M GLAD A LITTLE BIT GLAD TO SEE THAT IT IS NOT JUST SORT OF SMALL TIME PEA ONS LIKE US WHO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS BUREAUCRATIC NIGHTMARE SOMETIMES.

>> IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, I'M SURE WE CAN DO A GoFundMe OR A KICKSTART.

>> I'M SURE JEROME ADAMS IS REALLY -- >> HE'S GOT THE -- TWITTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.

REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN.

JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

AND NIKI KELLY OF THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

IF YOU'D LIKE A PODCAST OF THIS PROGRAM YOU CAN FIND IT AT WFYI.ORG/IWIR OR STARTING MONDAY YOU CAN STREAM IT OR GET IT ON DEMAND FROM XFINITY AND ON THE WFYI APP.

I'M BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADSTING.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, PLEASE GET VACCINATED IF YOU CAN.

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

♪♪ >> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS, AND BY ICE MILLER.

ICE MILLER IS A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO HELPING CLIENTS BUILD, GROW AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

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THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

"INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW" IS A WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA PUBC BROADCASTING