State budget turmoil at session's end.

State elected officials get a pay raise.

Plus, a controversial bill on books in schools and more.

From the television studios at WFYI, it's Indiana Week in Review for the week ending April 28, 2023.

INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS.

This week, turmoil over the state budget at the end of the 2023 session delivered another $312 million for K-12 schools as lawmakers gave final approval to the new two-year, $44.5 billion spending plan.

Significant expansion of the school voucher program ate up a lot of the funding increase for K-12 schools, and that had Senate Republicans crying foul.

That lead to a change that Senate budget architect Ryan Mishler says will deliver hundreds of millions more for education.

>> SO, I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST WINNER IN THIS BUDGET IS ALL STUDENTS, IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

>> But for almost every Democrat, including Senator Eddie Melton, the voucher expansion was too big a pill to swallow.

>> PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ABOUT TO BE SEVERELY HURT BY THE DECISIONS WE MADE THIS SESSION.

The voucher expansion will allow families of four earning up to 220 thousand dollars a year to get taxpayer funding to help pay for private school education.

>> Will the new state budget adequately help all students?

It's the first question for our Indiana Week in Review panel Democrat Ann DeLaney Republican Mike O'Brien Arika Herron, reporter for Axios Indianapolis and Niki Kelly, editor-in-chief of the Indiana Capital Chronicle I'm Indiana Public Broadcasting Statehouse Bureau Chief Brandon Smith Mike O'Brien, is this budget balanced between public and private school students?

>>> NO, IN THE CONTEXT OF JUST THIS BUDGET, THIS WAS CLEARLY A HUGE WIN FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.

THE IDEA THAT YOU GO FROM -- WE TALKED HOW DOES THIS RINSE AND REPEAT EVERY TWO YEARS, HOW PASSES IMPORTANCE OF DOLLARS IN VOUCHER FUNNELING THE SENATE ZEROS IT OUT AND THEY COME BACK WHICH THE MIDDLE.

WE LANDERRED WITH THE 1.2 BILLION AND WE HAD TO REWRITE THE K-12 FORMULA BECAUSE SCHOOL DISTRICTINGS WERE LOSING MONEY AND THEY HAD TO COME BACK AND FIGURE THAT OUT AND PUT MORE CASH INTO IT BUT IT ONCE BECAUSE THE PRIORITY WAS TO MAKE INDIANA A UNIERSAL CHOICE STATE AND FULLY FUND THAT EFFORT SO IT MATCHED THAT PRIORITY.

THIS IS IN MY LINED A MEAT AND POTATOES REPUBLICAN BUDGET.

YOU ACCELERATE TAX CUTS, PAID DOWN SOME DEALT, YOU EXPANDED FULL SCHOOL CHOICE, AND YOU HAD BILLIONS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT THROUGH THE IDC, I THINK THAT'S THE THE BIG WIN FOR THE GOVERNOR, IT'S INVESTING IN ALL THESE READY GRANTS AND DEAL CLOSING FUNDS, SITE SELECTION FUND, IDC HAS A LOT OF MONEY TO INVEST IN PROJECTS ALL OVER THE STATE NOW.

>> AT THIS POINT I HEARD THE NUMBER IS LESS THAN FOUR PERCENT OF STUDENTS LEFT WHO AREN'T TECHNICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR SCHOOL VOUCHERS.

>> REMEMBER HOW IT STARTED IN IT WAS FAILING SCHOOLS AND POOR CHILDREN.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE CAMEL'S NOSE UNDER THE TENT, THIS THEY HAD THE WHOLE HERD, IT'S RIDICULOUS BECAUSE 40 PERCENT OF THE FUNDING IS GOING TO NINE PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS AND THERE ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HURT BY THIS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY REPUBLICANS IN THE SUPER MAJORITY FROM RURAL DISTRICTS PUT UP WITH THIS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE QUOTE CHOICE.

THERE AREN'T THOSE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM AND WHAT IT'S DOING IS IT'S DECEMBER IT'S -- DECIMATING THE 90 PERCENT OF 900 SOME ODD STUDENTS AREN'T GETTING A FAIR SHAKE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN COMPETENT IN NOT KNOWING WHEN DELAY PUT THIS OUT THAT THERE WAS AN EIGHT PERCENT INCREASE OR THEY WERE DELIBERATELY MISLEADING THE PUBLIC BUT THIS IS NOT GOING TO RESULT IN AN EIGHT PERCENT INCREASE FOR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EGG, NO WAY.

>> THEY'RE MISLEADING THE PUBLIC BECAUSE ESTRONE, THE SENATE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS BUDGET DID,.

THEs GNAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN NOR HESITANT ABOUT EXPANDING VOUCHERS ALTHOUGH IT DIDN'T STOP THEM THIS TIME.

BUT WAS THE REACTION TO HOW LOW THE SCHOOL RUNS WERE A KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM SOME REPUBLICANS THAT YEAH, VOUCHERS ARE REALLY DRAINING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THIS FUNDING?

>> I THINK IT IS DEFINITELY AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL WITH HOW WE'RE PITCHING THEE MARKER NUMBER THESE NUMBERS AROUND BECAUSE THEY ALL THOUGHT OH, WE'RE PUTTING 1.2, WHICH ENDED UP BEING 1.5 BILLION THIS C 12 SCHOOLS AND THEY THOUGHT VOUCHERS WERE ON TOP LIKE A SEPARATE POT, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS, FIT ALL WORKS TOGETHER.

THE IRONY IS BY PUTTING THAT EXTRA 312 MILLION IN THE LAST MINUTE THAT INCREASED VOUCHERS BECAUSE IT ALL FLOWS THROUGH THE SAME FORMULA.

I DO THINK SINCE WE'RE VIRTUALLY AT UNIVERSAL NOW AT LEAST NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE A LITTLE EASIER -- WHEN THE STATUS QUO STRAYS THE SAME IN TERMS OF EXPANSION YOU'LL BE ABLE THE MORE EASILY SHOW WHAT'S GOING UP OR DOWN BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT EXPANDING THE SAME TIME AS THE BUDGET.

>> THERE ARE TECHNICALLY A FEW PEOPLE WHO AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR VOUCHERS AT THIS APPOINTMENT.

IS THAT THE NEXT STEP FOR HOUSE REPUBLICANS?

IS THERE MORE EXPANSION TO BE DONE JULES?

>> YEAH, YOU CAN MAKE IT HALF A MILLION.

>> THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE LEFT I GUESS.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THIS ISN'T GOING TO EDUCATION FUNDING THE MONEY IS NOT GOING TO IMPROVE EDUCATION, IT'S GOING FROM THE POCKET OF THE STATE TO THE POCKET OF THE PARENTS IN MOST CASES WHO ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR THAT PRIVATE EDUCATION.

IT IS NOT GOING TO PUT ONE MORE DOLLAR INTO THOSE SCHOOLS.

>> THE OTHER REASON FOR SCHOOL CHOICE IS THEY CAN NOW PARTICIPATE THIS THE REFERENDUM AND THE BENEFITS OF REFERENDUM DOLLAR FOR THE TAX PAYERS IN THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> ARIKA, SO MUCH OF THE FOCUS HAS BEEN UNDERSTANDABLY ON RAISING THE INCOME LIMIT FOR VOUCHERS BUT I THINK THE BIG THING SATELLITE PATHWAY.

>> SO THERE'S NO OH STIPULATIONS, AS LONG AS YOU ARE MAKING UNDER $220,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR YOU CAN PARTICIPATE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A FAILING SCHOOL.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S TRUE THAT A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO USE VOUCHERS NEXT YEAR AND I THINK THEIR OWN UNANIMOUS BEARS THIS OUT THAT KITS WHO ARE ALREADY IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS, NEXT YEAR THE STATE WILL BE PAYING FOR THE IT.

>> OFFICIALS ARE GETTING A BIG PAY RAISE AS FIRST REPORTED THIS WEEK BY THE INDIANA CAPITAL chronicle The budget provisions tie the salaries of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and state auditor and treasurer to the salaries of the state's Supreme Court justices, which are among the highest of any state employee.

The raises wouldn't take effect until January 2025.

And the bumps are significant - anywhere from 39 to 60 percent boosts.

Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch says she has a real problem with the fact that these raises were put into the budget at the end of session, with no public debate or discussion.

>> I'M NOT OBJECTING TO, REALLY, WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED - IT'S MORE THE PROCESS.

>> The governor's salary would be the highest of the statewide officials, increasing to nearly 200 thousand dollars a year, up from about 134 thousand.

Ann DeLaney, you've talked before about a need to increase these salaries.

But was this the way to do it?

>>> NO, OF COURSE IT WASN'T.

I'VE SAID FOR YEARS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A DECENT AMOUNT OF PAY FOR STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS IF WE'RE GOING TO RECRUIT PEOPLE THAT AREN'T INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY AND QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANYO TO THE NOTION THEY RAISED THE SALARIES BUT IS THAT I SHOULD HAVE PUT ON IS THEIR BIG BOY PLANTS AND HAD A PUBLIC DEBATE ABOUT IT AND NOT SLIP IT DISTURB UNDER THE WIRE.

IF WE HAVE A GOVERNOR WITH YOUNG CHILDREN HE'LL STILL QUALIFY FOR VOUCHERS, WON'T HE?

I MEAN, HE WILL.

>> I DIDN'T THINK YOU WOULD BRING I WOULD BACK TOE THAT BUT -- THAT WAS GOOD.

>> WELFARE FOR THE RICH, IT'S GOING TO PUT MONEY FROM THE STATE COFFERS INTO POCKETS OF PEOPLE ALREADY PAYING FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

>> WE SAW THIS LANGUAGE IN THE BUDGET ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, I THINK I'M GETTING THAT DAY RIGHT.

IT'S ALL BLURRED TOGETHER NOW, AND SO GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT OF ATTENTION BECAUSE THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT LANGUAGE HAD SHOWN UP, BUT THEN IT GOT A LOT MORE TAKEN WHEN SUZANNE CROUCH FROM HER CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR TWEETED OUT IN FORCE IT FEEL LANGUAGE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED THE WAY IT HAPPENED AND SHE CANNOT ABIDE BY WHEN JOE BIDEN'S POLICIES ARE FAILING HOOSIERS THAT WE CAN'T BE RAISING STATEWIDE LOCATED OFFICIAL'S SALARIES.

ARE YOU SURPRISES SHE WENT IN ON THIS LIKE THAT?

>> NO, BECAUSE SHE KIND OF HAD TO, SHE HAD TO MAKE IT CLEAR I'M NOT IN THIS.

SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.

SO HER POTENTIALITIES COULD GO LOOK WHO'S TRYING TO GET A RAISE BEFORE TAKING OFFICE.

ON HO IT WAS DONE, I KNOW TRANSPARENCY IS SUPREME ESPECIALLY FOR THE COURT REPORTER REPORTERS OF THE TABLE BUT IT CAN THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN DO IT.

THERE'S NO SHOWING UP IN THAT HEARING GOING WE DON'T PAY OUR LOCATED OFFICIALS ENOUGH.

>> ACTUALLY, LOOK -- >> BUT LET ME FINISH REAL QUICK, THIS IS -- YOU'RE SO POLITICALLY EXPOSED WHEN YOU DO THING LIKE THIS.

PEOPLE COULD LOSE AN ELECTION ON THIS.

>> THEY COULD STILL DO THT.

>> NOW IT'S PART OF THE -- >> SO WHAT?

>> SO I'M GOING TO BE THE INSIDER GUY, THE STONE FIELD ROOM GUY FOR A MINUTE AND SAY THERE'S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION ON THIS.

>> I WAS HERE THE LAST TIME WE RAISED AND THAT WASN'T THE WAY IT WAS HANDLED.

IT WAS HANDLED IN THE OPEN, WE RAISED EVERYONE AND THEY HAD A THOROUGH DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC VELLETTING OF THIS FOR AN ENTIRE SESSION, IT WASN'T EVEN 24 HOURS NOTICE.

>> THAT WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING THOUGH TOO, THAT STARTED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> THEY COULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING HERE.

>> I WANT TO ASK, WHICH IS WHAT WE KIND OF HEARD AS THE DAY URN FOLDED AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE KIND OF SUSSED OUT THAT IT WAS SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO PUT THIS IN, THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT IT, DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE AROUND IT BUT SENATE REPUBLICANS WANTED IT INFUL WHEN WE ASKED ROB BRAY AFTER SESSION WRAPPED UP I THINK THE LINE WAS SOMETHING ALOP THE LINES IT WAS AN EASY CALL FOR HIS CAUCUS TO MAKE.

ARE YOU SURPRISEs IT WAS AN EASY CALL TO PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET?

>> MAYBE THEY WERE JUST LOOKING FOR A WIN?

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT BEING EASY CALL BUT WHAT THEY COULD HAVE DOPE EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO SLIP IT INTO THE BUDGET THEY COULD HAVE PUT IT INTO AN EARLIER BUDGET PROPOSAL, THEY COULD HAVE AT LEAST MENTIONED IT AND EXPLAINED THE CHANGES THAT WERE IN THE NEW BILL CAN THEY DIDN'T DO ANY OF OF THAT EITHER AND IS THAT MAKES IT LOOK -- >> SHADY.

>> I'LL SAY THIS.

$134,000 A YEAR IS -- WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE AUDITOR TREASURER FULL-TIME JOBS RUN THE STATE AGENCIES MANAGING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, MAKING LESS THAN $100,000 A YEAR YOU GO WHO WOULD WANT THE JOB UNLESS YOU'RE REALLY UP TO -- >> ANYONE BUT A MIKE BRAUN OR AN ERIC DODEN.

>> LAST I CHECKED WE ALWAYS HAD PEOPLE RUNNING FOR THOSE OFFICE.

>> BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE -- WE DO AND HAVE A LOWER PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE BUT WHAT MOTIVATED THE LAST DECISION, WE WERE PAYING THEM SIX OR 70 GRAND A YEAR CAN ALL YOU HAD WAS THE WORST ATTORNEY IN TOWN.

>> NOW YOU HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> BOY BROUGHT IT BACK THERE TOO.

YOU'RE JUST LOBBING THEM IN.

Time now for viewer feedback.

Each week we pose an unscientific, online poll question.

This week's question: Should Indiana statewide elected officials get a significant pay raise?

A.

Yes B.

No Last week's question: Should spending $1 billion to pay down debt in a teacher pension fund be part of the new state budget?

84 PERCENT OF YOU AGREE WITH RYAN MISHLER AND SAY YES, 16 PERCENT SAY NO, ULTIMATELY IT WAS $700 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE TAKE PART THIS THE POLL GO TO WEB WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE POLL.

THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE APPROVED A CONTROVERSIAL BILL THIS WEEK CENTERED ON WHAT BOOKS CHILDREN SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO IN SCHOOL.

THE FINAL VERSION WAS CRAFTED BY REPUBLICANS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

>> Under the bill, school districts and charter schools are required to establish a process for parents and community members to file challenges to books they consider inappropriate.

Republican Representative Martin Carbaugh helped author the legislation.

>> WE EMPOWER COMMUNITIES THAT FUND OUR SCHOOLS, OUR PARENTS, OUR GUARDIANS, THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO CHALLENGE WHETHER A BOOK IS OBSCENE OR HARMFUL TO A MINOR.

>> The legislation is intended to address concerns about pornography in schools.

But Democrats in both the House and Senate said that's not a real issue.

Democratic Senator Greg Taylor said the bill will target books about race and LGTBQ themes.

>> IF YOU WANT TO STOP OUR CHILDREN FROM LEARNING ABOUT ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST SAY IT, JUST SAY IT, STOP USING THIS AS A WAY TO GET TO IT The bill now heads to the governor's desk.

>> Arika Herron, do we have any idea how this bill will play out in the real world?

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THIS WILL PLAY OUT IN THE REAL WORLD?

>> SHORT ANSWER S NO.

BE THERE'S A LOT LEFT TO INTERPRETATION THIS THE BILL.

I THINK WE CAN LOOK TO OTHER STATES THAT HAVE DONE SIMILAR THINGS AND START TO SEE HOW IT MIGHT WORK BUT EVEN THE BILL'S SPONSOR YESTERDAY I THINK IT WAS, WAS ASKED ON THE FLOOR LIKE, IS THIS GOING TO APPLY TO BOOKS IN CLASSROOMS, LIKE TEACHERS LIBRARIES AND HE SAYS THE BILL LEAVES THAT UP FOR INTENTION SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT LEFT TO BE DECIDED.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK, WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE THE CHALLENGE PROCESS USED BUT MOST SCHOOLS HAVE A CHALLENGE PROCESS IN PLACE ALTHOUGH THIS SETS NEW PARAMETERS FOR HOW THOSE WORK, BUT AS FAR AS CRIMINALIZING SCHOOL LIBRARIANS OR CHARGING THEM WITH FELONIES THERE'S A HIGH BAR IN THE STATUTE FOR WHAT COUNTS AS ON SOON MATERIAL OR MATERIAL HARMFUL TO MINORS BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME SUBJECTIVITY THERE, WHICH IS LESS WORRYING TO OPPONENTS SO I'M NOT SURE WE NOW HOW THIS WILL PLAY OUT.

FLORIDA JUST PASSED SOMETHING SIMILAR AND YOU'RE HEARING STORIES OF TEACHERS SPENDING HOURS SCANNING EVERY SINGLE BOOK IN THEIR CLASSROOM.

THIS LAW REQUIRES SCHOOLS TO MAKE MAKE MAKE A CATALOG AND MAKE THAT AVAILABLE FOR THE INSPECTION SO THAT'S TIME CONSUMING.

>> THIS SEEMS TO BE DRIVEN -- WE TALKED ABOUT ABUTTED EARLIER THIS YEAR ON THE SHOW, THIS SEEMS TO BE DRIVEN BY A RELATIVELY SMALL BUT VERY LOUD GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL A CERTAIN WAY ABOUT WHAT'S IN SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT'S ACTUALLY IN SCHOOLS OR NOT.

THEY'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO TRY AND USE THIS NEW LAW TO CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE ABOUT WHAT THEY FEEL ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS, BUT AGAIN DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT?

>> I THINK UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE SUPPORTERS AND I HOPE THEY WERE PAYING ATTENTION WHEN RELATIVE CARBAUGH EXPLAINED THE BILL BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GO AS HIGH AS THEY WANT, IT'S AROUND HARMFUL MATERIAL WHICH HAS VERY SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS IN LAW ABOUT THINGS BEING TAKEN AS A WHOLE, THAT'S VERY KEY.

THEY BRING UP IT'S A 400 PAGE BOOK AND THESE THREE PAGES ARE TERRIBLE.

THAT ISN'T GOING TO FLY UNDER THIS LAW.

>> PARTS OF THE BIBLE COULD BE CONSIDERED OBSCENE BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BIBLE AS A WHOLE.

>> I THINK THAT PEOPLE WERE LODGING A LOT OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THE LANGUAGE IN THE FIRST SENATE BILL WHICH WAS MORE ABOUT IN APPROPRIATE WHICH WAS NOT DEFINED.

ANSWER IT COMPLETELY LEAVES OUT ANYTHING ON THE OTHER ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN HEARING AROUND THE ISSUE LIKE VIOLENCE OR RACE ISSUES, LIKE THIS IS ALL JUST ABOUT SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT.

>> IS THERE A PROSECUTOR IN INDIANA WHO IS CHARGING A SCHOOL LIBRARIAN WITH THIS NEW LAW?

>> NOT IF HE WANTS TO BE RELOCATED, I DON'T THINK, NO.

I DON'T THINK -- I THINK THIS IS A POORLY THOUGHT OUT IDEA, THEY ALL GO TO THE SAME CONFERENCE, THEY HEAR THE SAME MESSAGE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PURIST REPUBLICAN AND THEY RETURNED INTO IT WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT TO WHAT IT DOES.

THE THOUGHT OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY IS ABSURD CAN THE IDEA THAT THE PARENTS HAVE NO POET AT ALL TO POLICE WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE RAIDING OR TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE READING IT FLIES IN THE FACE OF EVERY PARENT HAND BOYCOTT THERE.

AND THEY ARE SUBSTITUTING THEIR JUDGMENT -- I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE SUPREME COURT HAD TO SAY WITH OBSCENITY I KNOW IT WHEN I SEE IT BECAUSE WHAT IS OBSCENE TO SOMEBODY ISN'T GOING TO BE OBSCENE TO SOMEONE ELSE.

IT'S A WASTE OF TIME.

IT IS A SOLUTION AGAIN IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

>> SO AGAIN THIS HAS BEEN BUBBLING UP FOR A COUPLE YEARS, THEY'VE STRUGGLED TO PASS ANYTHING.

I MEAN EVEN GETTING THIS WAS A REAL STRUGGLE IN A SUPER MAJORITY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.

IF SUPPORTERS OF THIS BILL OR THIS EFFORT I SHOULD SAY AREN'T HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS, DO THEY GET SOMETHING MORE STRICT PASSED OR DOES THAT GET PASSED THIS PARTICULAR LEGISLATURE?

>> THE STRATEGY TO PASS ANYTHING HAS BEEN TO POINT OUT THESE KIND OF ONE OFF EXAMPLES OF WHEN SOMETHING PERCEIVED TO BE MORE ABSEEN THAN THE MEAN FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON WAS DISCOVERED IN A SCHOOL LIBRARY AND MY GOD, HOW DO WE.

>> AND NOW IT'S EVERYWHERE.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH I WOULD -- TWO THINGS, THE PROBLEM WITH IT BEING VAGUE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE POCKETS OF THE STATE WHERE YOU HAVE EXTREMELY WELL ORGANIZED AND ENGAGED ACTIVISTS WHO ARE BEING VERY PUNITIVE IN WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PULL OUT OF THESE LIBRARIES.

THE ONE FEATURE OF THIS SESSION WAS IT WAS REALLY HARD TO RECONCILE WHEN WE WANTED PARENTS TO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND ONE WE DIDN'T AND IN THIS CASE WE DON'T, BECAUSE ON ONE HAND IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE -- MAYBE WE HAVE INCREASED THE ATTENTION AMONG PARENTS THAT THEY DO HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY THIS IN THE BUILDING OF CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> NOT REALLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> President Joe Biden finally, officially announced his re-election bid this week, after months of hinting at the likelihood.

Biden's announcEMENT came in a three-minute, online video.

He framed his bid as a continued fight for the "soul of America."

>> THE QUESTION WE ARE FACING IS WHETHER IN THE YEARS AHEAD WE Indiana Republican Party Chair Kyle Hupfer called Biden's record one of failure, emphasizing record-high inflation and an immigration crisis.

Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl leaned into Biden's theme, focusing on protecting "personal freedoms."

>> Niki Kelly, there are open seats in 2024 for governor and U-S Senate.

Will Joe Biden be a drag on the ticket for Hoosier Democrats?

>>> I MEAN, I JUST DON'T THINK IT WILL HAVE ANY IMPACT EITHER WAY IN INDIANA.

I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE DOMINATED BY GOP RACES AND I JUST THINK THE PRESIDENTIAL TICKET WILL BE AT THE TOP.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY A ROLE REALLY IN THAT, SO I DON'T SEE IT HAVING A HUGE IMPACT.

>> I THINK THAT CAN CHANGE, ESPECIALLY IF THE REPUBLICANS NOMINATE DONALD TRUMP WHO MIGHT BE UNDER INDICTMENT.

>> I THINK HE GOT AN INDICTMENT BUMP.

>> YEAH BUT WE'LL SEE HIGHWAY THAT PLAYS OUT.

WHAT AMAZINGS ME ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN STRATEGY IS THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO HELL IN A HAPPENED BASKET UNDER JOE BIDEN BUT INDIANA IS RIGHT THERE AND THE ECONOMY IS IT GANG BUSTERS.

THE COUNTRY IS DOING WEATHER.COMFUL INFLATION IS DOWN AND INCOME HAS BEEN GOING UP AND THAT'S THE FACT OF THE MATTER AND IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO INDIANA, SO I DON'T THINK -- I KNOW HIS AGE IS AN ISSUE, CERTAINLY IT'S AN ISSUE, OF COURSE, DONALD TRUMP IS ABOUT THE SAME AGE CAN HE'S BEEN RODE MUCH HARDER AND PUT AWAY MUCH MORE WET IN HIS LIFETIME SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT ALL PLAYS OUT BUT I THINK IF IT'S A CHOICE BETWEEN TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL CARRY INDIANA BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE THE SAME QUIVERING ENDORSEMENT OF A CROOK.

>> JOE BIDEN HAS RUINED MESH BUT INDIANA IS GREAT BECAUSE OF ERIC HOLCOMB, THE I'M NOT SURE SEVERAL PEOPLE THIS THE LEGISLATURE THIS CASE, ERIC HOLCOMB IS ALSO RUINING INDIANA -- TO HER POINT, IF IT'S RIGHT NOW AS WE SIT HERE LOOKING LIKE IT MIGHT BE DONALD TRUMP VERSUS JOE BIDEN AGAIN SHOULD WE EXPECT THE SAME ERUPT RESULTS IN INDIANA?

>> AMERICANS ARE LIKE, DO WE HAVED TO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN AND THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO BE LIKE BEHIND THE SCENES IN FOUNDATION NET ZERO WHY THEY TALK ABOUT STEALING THE ELECTION AND THEY GO TO THE BREAK ROOM AND SAY DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN?

I HOPE WE GET A DIFFERENT RESULT, WE WON'T GET A DIFFERENT RESULT IN THE PRIMARY, BUT MAN I HOPE WE HAVE A MORE -- >> A MORE MODERATE CANDIDATE OUT OF THE REPUBLICANS.

>> I GUESS WE'RE DOING THIS AGAIN IS.

>> Finally, who are the winners and losers of the 2023 legislative session.

Mike O'Brien, we'll start with you.

WE'LL START WITH WHO'S YOUR WINNER FOR 2023?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF ATTENTION ON VOUCHERS, A LOT OF ATTENTION ON SCHOOL FUNDING BUT THE THE BIG WINNER HAS TO BE ON THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR TOURISM.

IDC GOT ALL THESE NEW TOOLS, HUNDREDS AND BILLIONS ALL IN FOR THEM TO SPEND SO I THINK THEY'RE THE WINNER.

>> WHO'S YOUR WINNER?

>> WINNERS ARE THE EDUCATION INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, IT'S TAKING OVER PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR PROFIT, THAT'S THE WINNER.

>> I HEARD THAT PHRASE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR YESTERDAY BY SOMEONE WITH THE LAST NAME OF DELANY.

WINNER FOR 2023?

>> IT HAS TO BE THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS, RIGHT?

THEY JUST GOT EVERYTHING THEY WANTED THIS THIS BUDGET NEGOTIATION, AND A LOT OF THE BILLS.

THEY ABSOLUTELY STEAM ROLLED.

>> MY ANSWER WOULD BE HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON, THE REPUBLICANS ACTED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO PUT UP A TOUGH FIGHT ON THAT AND HE GOT EVERYTHING HE WANTED.

>> INCH PUT IN A PLUG FOR HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS GREG THOMPSON.

>> I THINK IF YOU'RE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL YOU'RE WAKING UP AND NOT TOO HAPPY.

>> I THINK ANYBODY WHO RETIRED UNDER THE OLD PENSION SYSTEM, THEY DIDN'T GET A COSTIVELYING INCREASE AND DIDN'T GET A BIG CHECK, AT THE SAME TIME -- >> PROPERTY TAX PAYERS, NOT A LOT WAS DONE TO HELP THEM.

>> THE RURAL SCHOOLS, DECLINING ENROLLMENT.

>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY SENATE REPUBLICANS.

ALL RIGHT.

That's Indiana Week in Review for this week.

Our panel is Democrat Ann DeLaney, Republican Mike O'Brien, Arika Herron of Axios Indianapolis, and Niki Kelly of the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

You can find Indiana Week In Review's podcast and episodes at wfyi.org/iwir or on the PBS Video App.

I'm Brandon Smith of Indiana Public Broadcasting.

Join us next time because a lot can happen in an Indiana Week >>> THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS A WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA