>> THE SENATE GOP UNVEILS A TOTAL ABORTION BAN, WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS.

REPUBLICANS DON'T AGREE ON INFLATION RELIEF.

PLUS, INDIANA'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT A TOSS-UP AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 22, 2022.

>> THIS WEEK, REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS WANT TO BAN ABORTION IN INDIANA, WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS IN CASES OF RAPE AND INCEST AND WHEN THE LIFE OF THE PREGNANT PERSON IS AT RISK.

SENATE REPUBLICANS UNVEILED THEIR PROPOSED LEGISLATION WEDNESDAY.

>> SENATE GOP LEADER RODRIC BRAY SAYS HIS CAUCUS'S GOAL IS TO PROMOTE MORE ADOPTION AND LESS ABORTION.

SENATOR SUE GLICK EMPHASIZES THE BILL WILL NOT AFFECT ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION OR THE MORNING AFTER PILL, ALSO KNOWN AS PLAN B.

>> THIS BILL DOES NOT AFFECT TREATMENT OF MISCARRIAGES, TREATMENT OF ECTOPIC PREGNANCIES.

IT DOES NOT AFFECT IN VITRO FERTILIZATION PROCEDURES >> BUT PEOPLE IN STATES WITH BANS SIMILAR TO INDIANA'S PROPOSAL HAVE HAD TROUBLE ACCESSING LIFE-SAVING MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENTS THAT ARE SOMETIMES USED FOR ABORTION.

SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER GREG TAYLOR SAYS THIS IS A STEP BACK FOR INDIANA.

>> JUST WATCH WHEN PEOPLE GET A HOLD OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND FIND OUT THAT WE HAVE AN OUTRIGHT BAN ON ABORTION IN INDIANA.

IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.

>> THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BILL IS MONDAY.

>> IS THIS VERSION OF THE ABORTION BAN LIKELY TO PASS?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN KAITLIN LANGE, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR AND NIKI KELLY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FOR THE INDIANA CAPITOL CHRONICLE I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE BUREAU CHIEF BRANDON SMITH MIKE O'BRIEN, IS THIS PRETTY MUCH WHAT THE FINAL PRODUCT WILL LOOK LIKE?

>> NO -- NORMALLY GET TO THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE DEBATE AND NO ONE IS HAPPY.

WE ARE STARTING THIS ONE WITH -- >> DOES THAT MEAN THEY FOUND THE RIGHT PLACE?

>> THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT WILL GO.

I THINK IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT NOW THAT THE ISSUE HAS LEFT THE CAUCUS AND WILL BEGIN NOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND WHERE THE OPPORTUNITY COMES FOR ANYBODYAM ON EITHER EXTREME OR IN THE MIDDLE WHO WANT TO OPEN IT UP OR TIGHTEN IT UP WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THROW THOSE OUT THERE AND THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS GETTING PRETTY TRICKY, I THINK, IF YOU HAVE -- I'M SURE DEMOCRATS WILL BRING ANY NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE HARD FOR REPUBLICANS TO VOTE AGAINST.

AND, YOU KNOW, VICE VERSA.

WE WILL SEE HOW IT GOES.

I KIND OF JOHN SCHWANN IN THIS THING.

NOT PICKING A SIDE.

IT'S BEEN SUCH A MOVING TARGET.

WE STARTED OUT THAT SENATE WAS A TOTAL BAN AND NO EXCEPTIONS AND THEN THIS BILL FOR AS RED STATES AS INDIANA GO, IT'S 30-40 POINT MARGIN FOR REPUBLICANS THIS IS A MODERATE ABORTION BILL I THINK, AS A STARTING POINT AND NOT WHAT I THINK -- IT WAS SURPRISING TO THE RIGHT AND INDIANA RIGHT TO LIFE AND THOSE OTHER PERSONAL LOBBYING GROUPS THAT IT DID HAVE THESE EXCEPTIONS.

>> ANTIABORTION GROUPS ARE NOT HAPPY.

PRO ABORTION RIGHTS GROUPS DON'T LIKE IT.

DOES THAT MEAN THEY FOUND THE RIGHT SPOT?

I'M GUESSING YOU DON'T LIKE THIS BILL.

>> YOU ARE GUESSING CORRECTLY.

I THINK SINCE BOTH SIDES DON'T LIKE IT LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS AND MAYBE STUDY THE ISSUE A LITTLE BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER AND SEE WHAT OTHER STATES ARE DOING RATHER THAN RUSHING IN A CAUCUS AND MEETING JUST REPUBLICAN RIGHT WINGERS TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT AFFECTS WHAT, 3 MILLION WOMEN STATEWIDE.

IT'S NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT.

IT IS NOT WELL DRAFTED AT ALL.

AND IT DOESN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH ROOM.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO RESTRICT IT, THE EASIEST MOST SENSIBLE WAY TO DO IT WOULD BE TO SAY ANYTHING AFTER 15 WEEKS.

BY THEN PEOPLE KNOW OR THAT THEY ARE PREGNANT AND CAN GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO ABOUT THAT.

BUT THIS KIND OF THING, YOU KNOW, NO DOCTOR TRYING TO PRACTICE WOULD PRACTICE -- WOULD TAKE ANY STEPS UNDER THAT STATUTE.

THIS VAGUE REFERENCES AND THE STANDING UP IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS AND SAYING WE DIDN'T MEAN THIS AND WE DIDN'T MEAN THIS AND WE DIDN'T MEAN THIS YOU WILL GET AGGRESSIVE PROSECUTORS IN THE -- THAT ARE GOING TO GET OUT THERE AND ARE GOING TO MAKE AN ISSUE OF THESE THINGS AND ARE GOING TO TERRORIZE DOCTORS AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS DESIGNED TO DO.

TO TERRORIZE DOCTORS INTO NOT PERFORMING ANY ABORTIONS EVEN WHEN THE LIFE IS AT STAKE.

EVEN WHEN IT'S JUST A D AND C PROCEDURE AFTER A MISCARRIAGE.

YOU KNOW, THEY COULD SUCCEED WITH THE AS POORLY AS THIS BILL IS DRAFTED.

>> YET FOLKS ON THE ANTIABORTION SIDE SAY, WELL, THE WAY THE BILL IS DRAFTED OF YOU HAVE THE MARION COUNTY PROSECUTOR WHO SAYS I'M NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE ANY ABORTION CASE, THE BILL BASICALLY LEAVES WHERE HE CAN DO THAT AND YOU COULD THEORETICALLY HAVE ABORTIONS PERFORMED --S IN YOU STILL GET THE LICENSE -- >> YOU CAN GO THROUGH LICENSURE AND THAT PROCESS TAKES QUITE AWHILE.

I THINK MAYBE THEY COULD LOOK INTO RATHER THAN GO THE ROUTE OF GIVING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MORE POWER THAN HE HAS, MAYBE THEY COULD LOOK AT POINTING SPECIAL PROSECUTORS IN CASES.

LET A JUDGE GET INVOLVED IN THAT SORT OF DECISION.

PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY THEY DON'T THINK THE PENALTIES ARE HARSH ENOUGH.

THE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH AND I HEARD THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO TAMP DOWN EVEN THE RAPE EXCEPTIONS TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEEKS OF THE GESTATION YOU WOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE IT.

>> IS THIS -- IS THIS ABOUT AS HARD AN ISSUE AS YOU HAVE SEEN AT THE STATE HOUSE IN TRYING TO PREDICT WHAT THE END PRODUCT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

>> 100%.

I THINK USUALLY WHEN SOME OF THE MAJOR ISSUES WE HAVE SEEN WHEN YOU HAVE LAW MAKERS CAUCUSING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WHEN THEY COME OUT OF THE PROCESS THEY HAVE A BILL THAT LEADERSHIP IS CONFIDENT THEY HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTES ON IN MOST CASES.

THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS BUT USUALLY THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

I THINK IN THIS CASE WE WILL LIKELY SEE AMENDMENTS ON THE SENATE SIDE INSTEAD OF IT MAKING THROUGH THE SENATE PROCESS AND BEING AMENDED ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IF THE DEMOCRATS JOIN WITH THE FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS AND EVERYONE IS AGAINST IT.

THEY ARE AGAINST IT AND YOU HAVE -- >> THE STATUS QUO.

SOME OF THE THINGS THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT LIKE THE DISMEMBERMENT ABORTIONS.

>> THOSE ARE BANNED UNDER INDIANA LAW.

>> AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A THIRD TRIMESTER ABORTION IN THIS STATE IN 40 YEARS.

YOUR ARGUING THINGS THAT ARE NOT A PROBLEM AND CREATING A SOLUTION THAT LIFTS OVER INTO OTHER MORE SERIOUS AREAS.

>> TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC ON-LINE POLL QUESTION AND THIS WEEK'S QUESTION IS, DO YOU SUPPORT THE SENATE GOP'S TOTAL ABORTION BAN EXCEPTIONS FOR CASES OF RAPE, INCEST AND WHEN THE LIFE OF THE PREGNANT PERSON IS AT RISK?

A.

YES B.

NO ARE THE LATEST ILEARN TEST SCORES A SIGN OF OPTIMISM OR CONCERN?

A.

OPTIMISM B.

CONCERN C. BOTH D. NEITHER IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE POLL.

>> INDIANA SENATE REPUBLICANS' INFLATION RELIEF PLAN DOESN'T LINE UP WITH WHAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND THE GOVERNOR ARE @PROPOSING.

THE SENATE'S PLAN, UNVEILED WEDNESDAY, WOULD NOT SEND 225-DOLLAR CHECKS TO EVERY TAXPAYER.

THE SENATE PROPOSAL WOULD SUSPEND, FOR SIX MONTHS, THE 7-PERCENT SALES TAX THAT YOU PAY ON YOUR UTILITY BILLS - ELECTRICITY, WATER, GAS, INTERNET AND PHONE.

IT ALSO CAPS, THROUGH JUNE 2023, THE STATE SALES TAX ON GASOLINE.

THAT RATE FLUCTUATES EACH MONTH BASED ON GAS PRICES.

UNDER THE BILL, IT COULDN'T BE MORE THAN 29-AND-A-HALF CENTS PER GALLON WHICH IS ROUGHLY WHAT IT WILL BE IN AUGUST.

SENATE GOP LEADER RODRIC BRAY SAYS HIS CAUCUS THINKS ITS PLAN IS THE BEST WAY TO GET HOOSIERS SOME RELIEF.

>> THAT WE'RE NOT PASSING OUT MONEY TO INDIVIDUALS - WE ARE PROVIDING THEM TO SAVE SOME MONEY ON THEIR UTILITY BILLS, WHICH EVERYONE'S GOING TO PAY SENATE.

DEMOCRATIC LEADER GREG TAYLOR SAYS HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SENATE GOP PLAN WILL SPEND 615 MILLION DOLLARS TO FUND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND PAY DOWN PENSION DEBT.

>> THEY'RE USING THAT MONEY FOR CREDIT .• WE HAVE A TRIPLE-A CREDIT RATING AND THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN FEEDING FAMILIES.

>> SENATE REPUBLICANS SAY THEIR PLAN WILL SAVE THE AVERAGE HOOSIER HOUSEHOLD ABOUT 100 DOLLARS.

ANN DELA>> NEY, WHICH PLAN DO YOU THINK HOOSIERS WILL PREFER?

>> WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT ON TEACHER PAY, ON HEALTH CARE, ON ALL HIGHWAYS, STREETS, ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT HOOSIERS CARE ABOUT AND INSTEAD WE FRITTER THE MONEY AWAY AND THEN WE DON'T QUITE FRITTER IT AWAY BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE CHECKS OUT TO PEOPLE YET.

THIS WILL COME AS INFLATION COMING DOWN.

JUST LIKE THEIR GAS TAX PROPOSAL DOESN'T LOWER THE PRICE OF GAS AT ALL.

>> ONE PENNY.

>> ONE PENNY.

>> MAYBE, MAYBE.

>> NO NO -- >> IT'S ONE PENNY BECAUSE THEY ARE ROLLING BACK THE INCREASE -- >> SO YOU'VE GOT THAT AND 100-DOLLAR DEAL OR $120 DEAL OVER SIX MONTHS IS TWO TRIPS TO THE GAS STATION.

YOU KNOW IT'S RIDICULOUS.

THEY HAVE NO VISION FOR WHAT THE STATE COULD BE WITH ALL OF THAT MONEY AND I THINK FOR -- I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I THINK THE 225 AND 125 OUGHT TO GO TO TEACHERS SALARIES AND SPECIAL ED TEACHER SALARY AND GET THE KIND OF QUALITY EDUCATION WE NEED.

>> THE SENATE PLAN SAYS WHAT SOME ECONOMISTS HAVE BEEN SAYING IF YOU SEND MORE MONEY DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE, THAT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED IN SOME CASES, THAT'S JUST GOING TO ADD TO INFLATION.

IS THE AVERAGE HOOSIER GOING TO HEAR, I WILL GET $125 OVER SIX MONTHS BY SAVING A LITTLE OFF OF MY UTILITY BILL OR I CAN JUST GET A CHEAK FOR $125.

WHAT WOULD THE AVERAGE WOULD LIKE?

>> TAKE THE 225 -- >> SO DO SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE THE PEOPLE BEHIND THEM TO PASS SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> I THINK THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY FOR EVERYBODY TO WIN.

THAT'S THE POSITION THEY ARE IN NOW.

WE'VE GOT USED TO A $6 BILLION SURPLUS AND MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT WE THOUGHT THE ADEQUATE RESERVE WAS PRIOR TO THIS.

SO THIS PERIOD.

SO I THINK YOU CAN HAVE OPTION WHERE EVERYBODY WINS.

PAYING OFF TEACHER PENSION AND REACTION TO SENATOR TAYLOR, THAT PAYING DOWN THAT OBLIGATION LONG BEEN A PRIORITY.

BEEN OF THE LAST PLACES WE HAVE A LOT OF DEBT WHICH IS IN TEACHER PENSIONS.

AND OTHER STATES USE THAT AS A CASH MACHINE.

THEY USE THE PENSION LIKE A CASH MACHINE AND THEY ARE UPSIDE DOWN AND A MESS EVERYWHERE AND IT'S BEEN A PRIORITY EVERYWHERE TO WORK AND PAY THAT BACK.

SO YOU CAN SEE A SCENARIO WHERE THEY CLEARLY WANT THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS WANT THE 225 AS THE GOVERNOR AND THERE IS A DEAL WE MADE HERE AND PLENTY OF MONEY TO MAKE ONE.

>> WHEN WE SAW THE STATE CLOSE THE BOOKS ON THE LAST FISCAL YEAR LAST WEEK, $6 BILLION SURPLUS THIS FISCAL YEAR.

THEY ARE PROJECTING BY THE END OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR $5 BILLION.

THERE SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO KIND OF WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS.

>> WE ARE DOING TEACHER PAY AND ROADS.

>> NOT DOING ENOUGH.

>> WE ARE DOING MORE.

>> PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE IN THE -- >> BETTER BE MORE.

>> WHEN YOU AND I WERE LOOKING AT THIS, IT LOOKED LIKE IF THERE -- IF EVERYTHING GOES ON TRACK UNLESS SOMETHIG CRAZY HAPPENS WITH THE ECONOMY, THERE IS GOING TO BE AN AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND TRIGGER NEXT YEAR, TOO.

THAT'S HOW FAR AHEAD THE STATE IS IN TERMS OF THEIR SURPLUS.

AND THAT'S EVEN WITH COUNTING IN ASSUMING THAT HOLCOMB GETS HIS $1 BILLION PLAN OF REFUNDS.

WE STILL WOULD LIKELY TRIGGER THE AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND.

>> YOU HAVE TO SPEND I CRUNCHED THE NUMBERS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SPEND CLOSE TO $2 BILLION BY THE END OF NEXT JUNE IF ALL OF THE PROJECTIONS HOLD, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SPEND $2 BILLION NOT TO TRIGGER THE AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND WHICH IS STILL ONLY TRIGGERED WHEN YOU HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER THE CATASTROPHIC ECONOMIC SITUATION.

NIKI, ONE THING WE DID NOTE IN THE FISCAL CLOSE OUT THAT HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY WAS INDIANA WAY AHEAD ON CORPORATE TAXES AND WAY ON INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAXES AND TECHNICALLY A LITTLE BEHIND ON SALES TAXES.

IS THAT REASON ENOUGH TO START BEING A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUS.

>> TO BE CLEAR, A LITTLE BEHIND PROJECTION BUT STILL FAR AHEAD YEAR-OVER-YEAR.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

>> STILL GROWING MASSIVELY.

I WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT ON THE SENATE PROPOSAL.

I WAS SHOCKED THAT THEY ROD ROD BRAY STOOD UP THERE WE HAVE A BILLION DOLLARS THEY DON'T NEED AND WE WILL GIVE LESS THAN A 30s OF THAT TO HOOSIERS AND THE REST WE WILL KEEP FOR US FOR PENSION, FOR OUR PROJECTS WE WANT TO DO THAT SEE INFLATION.

THERE WASN'T MUCH -- THERE IS NOT MUCH IN THAT BILL AT ALL FOR HOOSIERS.

>> EVEN THE CAPPING THE STATE SALES TAX ON GASOLINE -- >> IS CAPPING IT.

>> WHERE WE ALREADY ARE AND IT'S GOING TO START COMING DOWN AS PRICES HAVE STARTED TO COME DOWN.

>> THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE BUILT-IN.

THEY ARE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT IN THE STATE ARE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COVER FUEL SURCHARGES AND ROAD CHARGES AND OTHER THINGS.

>> THEY ARE ALSO -- I WOULD NOTE THAT THEY ARE ADDING MORE MONEY AS YOU POINT OUT THAT PAYING DOWN THE TEACHER PENSION FUND IS IMPORTANT.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT THEY ARE ALREADY GOING TO PAY $2.5 BILLION DOWN THAT'S BEEN TRIGGERED BY LAWS THEY PASSED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SO ADDING ANOTHER 4-SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS TO THAT FEELS LIKE, WELL, I COULD COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT WAY TO SPEND $400 MILLION.

>> AND I WANT TO KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THEY HAVE ON THERE.

YOU CAN TRIM THE SCOPE BACK.

THAT'S WHAT HOOSIERS ARE DOING.

WE BUILT A BORN AND GUESS WHAT, INFLATION SUCKS AND WE HAVE TO HANG OUR OWN INSULATION.

>> IT'S NOT A SWINE BARN.

>> IT IS NOT.

>> BUT YOU KNOW THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

WHEN INTEREST RATES WERE SO LOW, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BONDING AND BUILDING THESE ALL ALONG.

AND THE REPUBLICANS DON'T UNDERSTAND BASIC ECONOMICS.

AND NOW HERE WE ARE AND NOW WE HAVE TO DO IT OUT OF CASH LIKE NO ONE ELSE DOES.

>> WE HAD THE CASH LIKE NO ONE ELSE DOES.

>> YEAH, WELL.

>> THE TOP FEDERAL ELECTION ANALYSTS SAYS INDIANA'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ELECTION THIS FALL IS NOW A TOSSUP BETWEEN INCUMBENT FRESHMAN CONGRESS AND THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER.

>> DEMOCRATS HAVE HELD THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FOR NEARLY A CENTURY.

BUT THE LATEST ROUND OF REDISTRICTING MADE THE NORTHWEST INDIANA DISTRICT JUST SLIGHTLY LESS BLUE - PRESIDENT BIDEN WON THE CURRENT DISTRICT IN 2020 BY JUST 53 TO 45 PERCENT.

AND POLLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHOW A TOUGH ROAD FOR DEMOCRATS.

THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT RECENTLY CHANGED ITS RATING OF THE FIRST DISTRICT FROM "LEAN DEMOCRATIC" TO "TOSS-UP."

AND IN THE MOST RECENT FUNDRAISING PERIOD, REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER JENNIFER-RUTH GREEN OUTRAISED INCUMBENT FRANK MRVAN BY MORE THAN 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

MRVAN STILL HAS THE EDGE IN CASH-ON-HAND - BUT THE DISTRICT IS CLEARLY ONE REPUBLICANS ARE TARGETING TO FLIP THIS FALL.

>> NIKI KELLY, HOW WORRIED SHOULD MRVAN BE?

>> WELL, HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO WORK HARDER THAN THEY ARE USED TO WORKING IN THAT REGION.

THEY ARE GOING TO ARE TO GET OUT THE VOTE AND POUND THE PAVEMENT AND KNOCK ON DOORS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MAKE IT EASIER FOR HIM AND ON TOP OF NOT MAKING IT EASIER FOR HIM, IT'S THE POLITICAL CLIMATE JUST IN GENERAL FOR DEMOCRATS IS HORRIBLE FOR THIS NOVEMBER.

SO THIS IS THE BEST CHANCE AT PICKING UP THAT SEAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SEEN IN DECADES.

>> SEEMINGLY LITERALLY ABOUT A CENTURY.

HOW MUCH IS WHETHER OR NOT FRANK MRVAN WINS GOING TO BE A LITTLE OUT OF FRANK MRVAN'S CONTROL BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH NATIONAL POLITICS WILL PLAY IN THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION.

>> I THINK QUITE A BIT.

BESIDES TOO, JUST THIS BEING A BETTER CYCLE FOR REPUBLICANS, YOU ALSO HAVE THE UNKNOWN OF ABORTION.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO PLAY IN, TOO.

>> WHICH COULD HELP FRANK MRVAN THEORETICALLY IN A DISTRICT LIKE THAT.

>> IT COULD.

I THINK THE ISSUE IS NOBODY REALLY KNOWS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A SERIOUS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE UP THERE IN I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW SOMEBODY WHO IS WELL FUNDED CAN PERFORM AGAINST THE DEMOCRAT UP THERE.

THERE IS NO WAY TO REALLY KNOW FOR SURE.

>> ABORTION IS A MAJOR WILD CARD HERE THAT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALLY HAS A GOOD SENSE OF WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO TO A LOT OF ELECTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

UP AND DOWN WHETHER IT'S FEDERAL OR STATE ELECTIONS.

HOW MUCH IS INFLATION JUST GOING TO KILL THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE THIS CYCLE?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE BAD ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE LIKE COUNTY AND THIS ISN'T YOUR DAD'S LAKE COUNTY EITHER THIS IS A PART OF THE STATE AND A DEMOGRAPHIC OF VOTER IS THAT BLUE COLOR OF WHICH LARGE NUMBERS WENT FOR TRUMP AND ALREADY ARE USED TO VOTING REPUBLICAN IN PART RURAL VOTERS AND BLUE COLLAR VOTERS ARE WHAT CREATED THESE MARGINS FOR DONALD TRUMP IN INDIANA AND THE EPICENTER OF THAT AND FRANK MRVAN CAME TO POWER THROUGH -- HE IS THE OLD SYSTEM GUY.

THE OLD MACHINE SYSTEM IN NORTHWEST INDIANA AND LAKE COUNTY AND HE IS IN OFFICE BECAUSE IT WAS HIS TURN TO BE IN OFFICE AND NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN INDIANA GOING, I LOVE FRANK.

HE IS OUR GUY.

HE JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE BIGGEST TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE AND HIS DAD WAS A STATE SENATOR.

HIS NAME ID WAS BAKED IN.

HE CAME OUT OF THE PRIMARY AND IT'S JUST A MUCH DIFFERENT PLACE THAN IT USED TO BE.

SHE RAISED TWICE AS MUCH MONEY AS HE DID AND IS RUNNING.

>> I WILL END WITH THE SAME QUESTION I STARTED WITH.

HOW WORRIED SHOULD FRANK MRVAN SHOULD BE.

>> THE DEMOGRAPHIC HAS CHANGED AND NOT BECAUSE OF THE BLUE COLOR WORKERS AND THE RURAL WORKERS, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE MIGRATION FROM ILLINOIS AND THE SUBURBS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED UP THERE.

IT'S A DIFFERENT BALL-GAME.

AND IT MAY MEAN THAT HE WILL WIN WITH 52% OF THE VOTE INSTEAD OF 54 OR 55% OF THE VOTE.

>> JOE BIDEN AT 25%?

>> I DON'T THINK THE INFLATION ISSUE WILL BE ON THE WAY DOWN AND I THINK THE OTHER PROBLEM THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE IS THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE IT NATURALLY RIDICULOUS POSITION STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY ON THE ABORTION QUESTION AND ANYBODY WHO WATCHED THOSE HEARINGS LAST NIGHT FOR THE JANUARY 6th HEARING, LOOKED AT THAT AND SAID, THEY WANT DONALD TRUMP WHO SET A MOB TO THE CAPITOL KNOWING THEY WERE ARMED, KNOWING THEY WERE GOING TO ATTACK IN ORDER TO DO A COUP TO KEEP HIMSELF IN OFFICE AND THEY ARE STILL GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM?

>> TRUMP JUMPS IN HERE TO MUFFLE THAT AND PUT HIMSELF OUT FRONT AGAIN, IF HE DOES ANNOUNCE HE IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION BEFORE NOVEMBER, THAT'S ANOTHER WILD CARD.

>> THAT WILL RUIN A LOT OF REPUBLICAN CHANCES.

>> REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE CANDIDATE MORALES SPENT $43,000 IN CAMPAIGN DONATIONS TO BUY A VEHICLE DAYS BEFORE HE OFFICIALLY BECAME THE GOP NOMINEE.

RECORDS SHOW MORALES BOUGHT A TOYOTA COMPACT SUV FROM A TERRE HAUTE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 15.

THE PURCHASE, FIRST REPORTED BY INDYPOLITICS, CAME JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE HE UPSET INCUMBENT SECRETARY OF STATE HOLLI SULLIVAN AT THE STATE GOP CONVENTION - MEANING THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE HE WOULD BE THE NOMINEE WHEN HE BOUGHT IT.

A GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG TOLD THE INDYSTAR'S KAITLIN LANGE THE PURCHASE WAS UNUSUAL, EVEN FOR A STATEWIDE CANDIDATE.

THEY NOTED MANY TIMES CAMPAIGNS LEASE OR RENT VEHICLES.

ACCORDING TO THE STAR STORY, MORALES'S CAMPAIGN SAYS HE WILL SELL THE VEHICLE AFTER NOVEMBER AND RETURN THAT MONEY TO THE CAMPAIGN FUND.

KAITLIN LANGE, DOES THIS FALL UNDER THE CATEGORY OF WRONGDOING.•OR JUST QUESTIONABLE?

>> LACKS NOT SPECIFIC CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS TO START WITH SO IT KIND OF MAKES EVERYTHING MORE CHALLENGING TO SEE, BUT I THINK THE BIGGER CONCERN IS MORE OF OPTICS.

HE SPENT 43K ON A NEW CAR, WHAT, FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION DAY.

IF I'M GOING TO SPEND 43K ON A CAR I WILL DRIVE THAT FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS OF MY LIFE.

IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

I THINK YOU HAVE A CANDIDATE WHO HAS HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH PERCEPTION, SOME OF HIS WORK HISTORY QUESTIONS.

I THINK THIS KIND OF ADDS ON TO THE PROBLEMS HE ALREADY HAS.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU.

THIS IS DIEGO MORALES, HUGE UPSET VICTORY OVER HOLLI SULLIVAN TO HIS CREDIT HE MOBILIZED FOLKS AT THE CONVENTION.

PROBABLY FOLKS TO RUN FOR THE CONVENTION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT HE ALSO HAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT POTENTIALLY BEING FIRED OR HAVING TO QUIT ONCE AND BEING FIRED FROM THE OFFICE THAT HE IS TRYING TO HOLD.

DOES THIS ON TOP OF THAT BECOME A PROBLEM?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, CAN'T YOU SEE AN AD NOW.

NOT ONLY -- KAITLIN MENTIONED FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS AHEAD OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.

HE BOUGHT IT BEFORE HE HAD THE NOMINATION, GUYS.

LIKE, THAT'S AMAZING.

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE CONFIDENCE TO ME.

>> SOUNDS LIKE HE HAD A FUND.

>> WASN'T THE NOMINEE WHAT WOULD HE HAVE DONE WITH IT THEN?

>> SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE GOT AN GOOD DEAL ON THE VEHICLE.

>> WE KEPT IT IS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

HE WOULD HAVE KEPT IT BECAUSE THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS ARE SO BAD IT'S NOT ILLEGAL WHAT HE DID, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE FAC STEPPED IN WHEN MIKE PENCE DID SIMILAR THINGS RUNNING FOR CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND SAID, YOU CAN'T USE CAMPAIGN MONEY FOR PRIVATE ADVANTAGE.

HE WOULD HAVE JUST KEPT THE CAR WHICH IS WHAT HE WILL DO WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER BECAUSE IF HE WINS, THEN HE WILL NEED IT TO GO AROUND THE STATE.

IF HE LOSES HE IS NOT GOING TO CARE SO HE IS GOING TO KEEP IT.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT HE WILL KEEP IT OR NOT, BUT THIS WAS PERHAPS -- THIS IS WHAT SOME FOLKS WHO ARE PUSHING FOR HOLLI SULLIVAN AT THE CONVENTION.

KIND OF SAID AT THE TIME WHICH WAS REPUBLICANS HAVE WON THE SECRETARY OF STATES RACE EVERY YEAR SINCE 1990.

BUT WHAT YOU HAVE IS A CANDIDATE IN HOLLI SULLIVAN WHO WOULD HAVE WON RUNNING ACOR CANDIDATE MORALES HAD SOME BAGGAGE.

ARE THOSE FEARS.

>> NOW HE HAS A PLACE FOR THE BAGGAGE.

>> SO HERE IS HOW YOU RUN FOR AN OFFICE THAT'S NOMINATED AT THE CONVENTION.

IT'S 1800 PEOPLE.

THEY GET ELECTED FROM EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE AND SIT IN THEIR LIVING ROOM OR THEIR GOP BREAKFAST OR DEMOCRAT BREAKFAST IN RURAL INDIANA, FOUNTAIN COUNTY, MARION COUNTY AND YOU HAVE TO PUT ABOUT I DON'T KNOW LIKE DIEGO DID $150,000 IN THE CAR.

THERE IS NO LEASE PACKAGE AVAILABLE FOR THAT THE LAST TIME I WENT SHOPPING FOR A CAR AND THE ONLY THING YOU DO WHEN YOU RUN FOR OFFICE ON A CONVENTION IS DRIVE AROUND THE STATE.

THIS IS NO DIFFERENT TO ME THAN BUYING A COMPUTER.

WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER WHEN HE DOESN'T WIN?

WHAT DOES ANY CANDIDATE DO WITH THE OFFICE, THE DESK AND THE PEN AND THE ART SIGN?

THEY GET RID OF IT.

>> YOU HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT.

>> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS.

>> BRAND-NEW CAR?

>> IT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS IF HE DIDN'T BUY A CAR.

>> UH-HUH.

OKAY.

>> FINALLY -- THIS IS AN INTERESTING ONE.

NOBLESVILLE IS ENGAGED IN A ZONING FIGHT OVER A BABY STORE.•FOR ADULTS.

MY INNER BABY, WHICH OPENED IN 2020, BILLS ITSELF AS AN "ADULT BABY DIAPER LOVERS" STORE.

IT SELLS ADULT DIAPERS AND OTHER INCONTINENCE SUPPLIES.•AS WELL AS ADULT-SIZED BABY BOTTLES, PACIFERS, AND PAJAMA ONESIES.

THE CITY SAYS IT CATERS TO FETISH GROUPS AND WANTS TO RECLASSIFY IT AS A SEX SHOP.

THE STORE ARGUES ANYTHING CAN BE SEXUALIZED.

ANN DELANEY, IS THIS THE NEXT FRONT OF THE CULTURE WARS?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK TODD SHOULD -- THIS IS RIGHT UP HIS ALLEY.

HE BETTER GET ON THIS RIGHT AWAY.

>> LET'S NOT RULE THAT OUT.

ALL JOKING ASIDE.

>> THIS COULD GET HIM ON NATIONAL FOX NEWS AGAIN.

HE WILL BE INVESTIGATING THIS.

>> DEPENDS ON IF HE HAS TO FIGHT A DEFAMATION LAWSUIT IN THE MEANTIME.

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, IS THIS EMBLEMATIC OF SOMETHING LARGER ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION THAT WE SEEM TO BE HAVING IN POLITICS RIGHT NOW OVER -- >> SEXUAL FETISHES?

>> YES!

ALL SERIOUSNESS, SEXUALITY AND QUEERNESS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THE CITY IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY GOT A SEX SHOP FOR WEIRDOES DOWNTOWN NEXT TO THE ICE CREAM SHOP SO YOU CAN HAVE NOBLESVILLE, THE -- SORRY CHRIS,.

>> I MEAN, AT THIS POINT IS THIS JUST FUNNY TO TALK ABOUT?

REALISTICALLY?

IS IT JUST KIND OF FUNNY TO TALK ABOUT?

>> IT CREEPS ME OUT, BRANDONUP.

IT'S NOT FUNNY.

IT CREEPS ME OUT.

>> I'M NOT LOOKING TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL.

>> THEY ARE -- >> YET.

>> THEY AREN'T TRYING TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL.

>> THEY ARE TRYING TO ZONE IT PROPERLY.

>> THIS IS WHY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS SO INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS.

>> MUCH BETTER EQUIPPED TO KNOW.

>> I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> THEY TRIED TO PASS SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THE LANGUAGE OF THAT BILL WAS ENTERTAINING TO SAY THE LEAST.

>> THAT'S INDIANA WEEK I REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN KAITLIN LANGE OF THE INDYSTAR AND.

NIKI KELLY OF THE INDIANA CAPITOL CHRONICLE 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 BROADCASTING.

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