♪♪ >> INDIANA TO END STATEWIDE >> INDIANA TO END STATEWIDE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.

COVID VACCINE APPOINTMENTS OPENING TO ALL.

PLUS, THE NEW CHAIR OF THE INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 26TH, 2021.

>> 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.

MORE AT ICEMILLER.COM.

>> THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB ANNOUNCED HE WILL END THE STATE'S COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, BEGINNING APRIL 6.

THAT MEANS, THE DAY AFTER THE NCAA DIVISION ONE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IS PLAYED IN INDIANA, THE STATE WILL NO LONGER LIMIT GATHERINGS OR REQUIRE MASK-WEARING.

>> WHILE THE RESTRICTIONS WILL BE REPEALED APRIL 6, OFFICIALS SAY VACCINE WAIT TIMES COULD BE SIX WEEKS OR MORE ONCE ELIGIBILITY IS OPENED TO ALL NEXT WEEK.

STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER DOCTOR KRIS BOX SAYS THE SCIENCE REMAINS THE SAME, WHETHER THE STATE HAS A MASK MANDATE OR A MASK-WEARING “ADVISORY.” >> DR. KRIS BOX: AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR THE MOST PART ACROSS THE STATE: WEARING OUR MASKS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND PREVENT OURSELVES FROM BECOMING INFECTED.

>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS DATA - AS IT HAS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC - DROVE HIS LATEST DECISION.

>> GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED - MEANING ICU BEDS, DOCTORS, ETC.

WE HAVE A VACCINE - THREE OF THEM, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

STILL, HOLCOMB SAYS THIS IS NOT A “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” BUT A “PROCEED WITH CAUTION” MOMENT FOR THE STATE.

>> IS APRIL 6 THE RIGHT TIME TO REPEAL COVID RESTRICTIONS?

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

DEMOCRAT ARIELLE BRANDY.

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.

ARIELLE BRANDY, IS THIS THE RIGHT CALL FROM GOV.

HOLCOMB?

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I THINK THE ISSUE WE'LL RUN INTO, WHEN IT COMES TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, RESTAURANT WORKERS AND HOSPITALITY WORKERS, THEY NOW HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THEIR CITY OR COUNTY WHETHER OR NOT THEY'LL BE FOLLOWING THESE MASK MANDATES, WHICH REQUIRES THEM TO DO AN EXTRA AMOUNT OF MASK POLICING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PANDEMIC.

I'M HOPING WITH THE FACT THAT THE PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER, AND HEALTH RESTRICTIONS ARE STILL HAPPENING, THAT HOOSIERS WILL STILL MAKE THE DECISION TO MASK UP REGARDLESS OF THE RESTRICTIONS BEING DROPPED APRIL 6.

>> GOVERNOR HOLCOMB SAID I'M STILL GOING TO WEAR A MASK WHEN I GO OUT IN PUBLIC BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AREN'T WE RUNNING INTO THE SAME PROBLEM WE RAN INTO WHEN WE WERE GOING INTO STAGE 5 LAST YEAR, WHICH IS NO ONE FROM THE STATE IS SAYING THE PANDEMIC IS OVER.

NO ONE IS SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK OR SOCIAL DISTANCE ANYMORE, BUT AREN'T PEOPLE JUST GOING TO HEAR, WELL, THE STATE'S NOT REQUIRING ANYTHING, SO I'M GOING TO DO -- THERE ARE ALWAYS THOSE PEOPLE.

ISN'T THERE A GROUP IN THE MIDDLE WHO IS GOING TO SAY, WELL, IF THEY'RE SAYING NO RESTRICTIONS, THEN I GUESS I'M FINE.

>> A YEAR NOW SAID THERE IS NO MASK MANDATE BECAUSE IT IS NOT ENFORCEABLE.

NOW THEY'RE SCREAMING DON'T GET RID OF THE MASK MANDATE, WHICH IS IT?

I THINK THIS IS MOVING TO ITS NATURAL PROGRESSION, WHICH HAS BEEN TO TAKE A YEAR AGO A STATE-WIDE APPROACH, AND THEN SLOWLY MOVE THIS TO A LOCAL DECISION.

WHAT WE DON'T HAVE -- WHAT WE DIDN'T HAVE AT THE TIME WAS STAGE 5.

AND THOSE EASINGS, WAS A VACCINE WHERE OVER A MILLION PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED, WE'VE MOVED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE THROUGH THE AGE GROUPS THAT QUALIFY FOR THAT AND ARE IN A POSITION WE CAN OPEN IT UP TO ANYBODY THAT WANTS IT.

THIS IDEA THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE SOMEONE IS GOING TO SAY THE PANDEMIC IS OVER IS REALLY NEW YEAR'S EVE.

WE HAVE TO START THINKING OF THIS, PEOPLE WILL DIE FROM COVID-19 FOREVER, POTENTIALLY.

CERTAINLY FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

IN PART BECAUSE WE HAVE A POPULATION, THIS ISN'T A HOOSIER POPULATION, WE HAVE A GLOBAL POPULATION THAT IS SKEPTICAL OF THE VACCINE, THAT MAY NOT WANT TO TAKE THE VACCINE FOR WHATEVER REASON.

BUT WE DO NEED FOR THE VERY REASONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY, HOSPITALITY WORKERS, AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KIND OF THE LOWER RUN OF THE ECONOMIC LINER TO A YEAR AGO TO BEGIN WITH, TO GET THEM BACK TO WORK AND OPEN THESE THINGS UP SAFELY.

THE NCAA IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

ONE GAME THAT WAS CANCELED AND A HANDFUL OF POSITIVE TESTS.

WE PROVED WE CAN DO THESE THINGS SAFELY AND WE OUGHT TO START >> THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS MOMENTUM BUILDING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALONG REPUBLICANS TO THEY WERE GOING TO END THE MASK MANDATE IF THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T.

THE GOVERNOR SAID WEDNESDAY WHEN ASKED THAT THE LAWMAKERS ARE DOING HAS NO IMPACT ON THE DECISIONS HE'S MAKING.

DO YOU BELIEVE HIM?

>> OF COURSE NOT, NOTHING HAPPENS IN A VACUUM.

AND COVID HAS AFFECTED EVERYTHING POLITICAL, AND POLITICS AS AFFECTED ALL AS A SUSPECTS OF OUR RESPONSE TO COVID.

THE TWO ARE INTERTWINED AND WILL BE.

THINK ABOUT EVERY ASPECT OF THIS FIGHT AGAINST THIS PANDEMIC, THIS SCOURGE.

IT'S LARGELY BEEN DETERMINED BY WHAT YOUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION IS, TRIBE, BELIEF, WHETHER MASKS ARE GOOD, BAD, WHETHER GOVERNOR SHOULD HAVE EMERGENCY POWERS OR NOT.

SO, TO DIVORCE IT FROM THE NOTION THAT HE'S OPERATING IN A -- NOT ONLY PUBLIC OPINION BUT LEGISLATIVE ACTION WOULD BE, I THINK, NAIVE.

HE MIGHT HAVE REACHED THE SAME CONCLUSION ANYWAY BECAUSE NOW THAT EVERYBODY WILL HAVE ACCESS, AT LEAST FROM AGE 16 UP TO THE VACCINE, THAT IS A GAME-CHANGER, AS MIKE SUGGESTS.

I THINK THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE PREPARED REALISTICALLY FOR A SPIKE IN CASES AS WE'VE SEEN IN 20-SOME STATES WHERE SOME OF THE MANDATES HAVE BEEN EASED OVER IN RECENT WEEKS.

>> TO THAT POINT, IF WE DO SEE A SPIKE IN CASES, GOVERNOR HAS SAID AS HE HAS ALL ALONG THAT HE WILL ADJUST THE SITUATION ACCORDING TO THE DATA.

DO YOU THINK IT'S REALISTIC TO A STATE-WIDE MANDATE AGAIN?

>> I DON'T THINK WE WOULD SEE THAT AGAIN.

HE'S DEFINITELY KEEPING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN EFFECT SO HE STILL HAS FLEXIBILITY SO THAT SOME OF THE OTHER CHANGES TO REGULATIONS THAT ARE POPULAR AND HELPFUL STILL STAY IN PLACE.

BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE HE WOULD EVER PUT IT BACK IN AFTER HE SAW HOW BADLY LAWMAKERS HATED IT.

AND ALSO THEY'RE BUILDING IN THEIR OWN SORT OF BACK DOOR TO DEAL WITH IT IN THE FUTURE IF HE DID.

THEY WOULD, I THINK, IMMEDIATELY CANCEL IT.

>> 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: IS APRIL 6 THE RIGHT TIME TO END ALL STATEWIDE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS?

A.

YES.

B.

NO, THEY SHOULD REMAIN IN PLACE LONGER.

C. NO, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIFTED SOONER.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: SHOULD INDIANA OPEN VACCINE EIGIBILITY TO ALL HOOSIERS AGE 16 AND OLDER WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, LIKE NEIGHBORING STATES?

>> LIKE WE'RE DOING.

78% SAY YES, 22% SAY NO.

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

>> WELL, SPEAKING OF, ALL HOOSIERS AGE 16 AND OLDER CAN SCHEDULE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS BEGINNING MARCH 31.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB ANNOUNCED THE EXPANSION IN A STATEWIDE ADDRESS THIS WEEK.

>> MANY HOOSIERS SHOULD EXPECT LONG WAITS TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINE WHEN THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS MARCH 31.

THAT'S BECAUSE WHILE THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE DOSES INDIANA WILL GET NEXT WEEK IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 38 PERCENT THERE WILL BE ABOUT 420 PERCENT MORE HOOSIERS ELIGIBLE TO GET THEIR SHOT.

STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER DOCTOR KRIS BOX ACKNOWLEDGES THE CRUNCH THAT WILL CREATE.

>> DR. KRIS BOX: WILL OUR WAIT TIMES, AS FAR AS WILL IT TAKE - RATHER THAN ONE WEEK OR TWO WEEKS OR THREE WEEKS - MAYBE IT WOULD BE SIX WEEKS?

THAT IS QUITE POSSIBLE.

>> BOX SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TOLD INDIANA TO EXPECT ENOUGH DOSES TO VACCINATE EVERY HOOSIER BY MAY.

>>.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, BY WIDENING THIS WITHOUT A CORRESPONDING IN THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE, WE WERE GOING TO GET, IS THE STATE SETTING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURES UP FOR FRUSTRATION?

>> TO THE ACCELERATION OF THE ACCESSIBILITY AND ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS VACCINE, WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IS THAT OLDER POPULATION, WE HAD TO TAKE A MUCH LONGER PERIOD OF TIME TO GET THEM VACCINATED, WHILE SETTING UP NEW DISTRIBUTION PROCESSES, IT WAS POPULATION UNTIL YOU GOT TO ABOUT AGE 50 THAT PRIORITIZED VACCINATION.

BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCELERATE THAT.

EVERY AGE GROUP THAT YOU GET TO, YOUNGER AND YOUNGER, IT IS LESS OF AN URGENCY, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE LESS SUSCEPTIBLE FROM BUYING FROM THIS ARE REALLY LOW.

BUT, WHAT IT DOES DO, OPENING THIS UP TO EVERYBODY, WHAT WAS CRITICIZED FROM THE BEGINNING, WHICH WAS FRONT LINE WORKERS CAN'T GET IN NO MATTER WHAT AGE THEY ARE.

PEOPLE THAT HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES, NO MATTER WHAT AGE, AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINE.

SO IT SOLVES THAT PROBLEM, HOPEFULLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT I THINK WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK AND UNDERSTAND THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY.

THE UPTAKE IS THE YOUNGER YOU GET IS GOING TO BE REALLY LOW.

>> ARIELLE, AS A FELLOW MEMBER OF THAT POPULATION ABOUT TO BECOME ELIGIBLE, ARE YOU HAPPY THAT IT IS OPEN TO EVERYBODY, OR A LITTLE FRUSTRATED THAT IT DIDN'T CONTINUE DOWN THAT FIVE-YEAR, YOU KNOW, STEP LADDER?

>> WELL, I WILL SAY THIS, I THINK THAT REGARDLESS, IT HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING FOR ALL HOOSIERS, AT THE END OF THE DAY I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE FACT THAT NOW WE SOME LEADERSHIP COMING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ALLOWING US TO GET TO THE POINT OF HAVING VACCINATIONS FOR EVERYONE.

WE HAD A LOT OF FRUSTRATION IN THE STATE OF INDIANA WHEN IT CAME TO ONLY FRONT LINE WORKERS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET VACCINATED BUT OUR TEACHERS DID NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

NOW THEY DO.

TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOUNG TEACHERS MY AGE NOW BEING ABLE TO STEP BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM AND BE VACCINATED, AND PEOPLE MY AGE, WHETHER SUCCESSFUL TO GETTING COVID AND DYING FROM IT OR NOT, I STILL AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD LEADERSHIP FROM THE DEMOCRAT SIDE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS IS HOW MANY FOLKS WE'RE GOING TO VACCINATE.

THIS IS THE TIMELINE, AND WE'RE OPENING IT UP TO THE STATE OF INDIANA.

WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF WHAT SOME OTHER STATES ARE.

FOR US TO BE IN THAT POSITION, WHILE IT MAY BE FRUSTRATING, I'M GLAD WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO VACCINATE ALL HOOSIERS.

>> NIKI KELLY, REALISTICALLY IF THE GOVERNOR WAS GOING TO GET RID OF ALL THE RESTRICTIONS APRIL 6, HE COULDN'T KEEP THE VACCINE LIMITED TO CERTAIN GROUPS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, HONESTLY, ONE OF THE, I THINK A FAIR CRITICISM THAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO OPEN IT ALL UP MARCH 31, WHICH WE ARE, GIVE THAT AT LEAST A MONTH TO GET APPOINTMENTS AND GET THEIR SECOND SHOT SO THEY ARE FULLY VACCINATED BEFORE WE DROP THE RESTRICTIONS.

I THINK THAT IS A FAIR CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

>> GOING BACK TO THE LAST CONVERSATION, THOUGH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD TOO FROM A LOT OF FOLKS, WHICH IS WE'LL AT LEAST KEEP THE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE UNTIL A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE THE CHANCE TO GET A VACCINE.

IF DR.

BOX IS SAYING SIX WEEKS, AFTER MARCH 31 TO GET AN APPOINTMENT, BUT WERE LAWMAKERS GOING TO LET THAT GO?

>> IT GETS BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING A MOMENT AGO.

IT'S SO POLITICALLY CHARGED, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT GIVEN THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE STATEHOUSE WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IF HE HAD EXTENDED IT FURTHER, IN TERMS OF KEEPING THE REGIMENTED PHASE-IN OF THE VACCINATIONS WITH THE FIVE-YEAR INCREMENTS, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTENDED MASK, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOUGH.

AGAIN, YOU HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF LAWMAKERS WHO ARE UNCOMFORTABLE.

HOOSIERS WILL BE -- THERE WILL BE POCKETS OF BACKLOG AND FRUSTRATION.

HOOSIERS SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THIS STATE IS STILL WAY AHEAD OF A LOT OF OTHERS IN TERMS OF THE NOTION OF HAVING ONE-STOP CLEARINGHOUSE.

I HAVE RELATIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO JUST KIND OF HAVE TO CALL AROUND TO DIFFERENT DRUG STORES OR GROCERS AND FIGURE OUT IF THEY HAVE IT AND WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR SIGNING UP.

INDIANA IS ONE OF MAYBE HALF A DOZEN STATES THAT ACTUALLY HAS A LEGITIMATE CLEARINGHOUSE OF INFORMATION.

SO HOOSIERS WHEN FRUSTRATED AND BACK OF THE LINE, SHOULD AT LEAST TAKE HEART IN THAT.

>> NEW INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR MIKE SCHMUHL SAYS 2021 IS A “REBUILDING YEAR” FOR THE STATE PARTY, LIKENING THE ORGANIZATION TO A SPORTS TEAM THAT HASN'T SEEN THE PLAYOFFS FOR A WHILE.

SCHMUHL WAS ELECTED TO LEAD THE PARTY THIS WEEK.

>> INDIANA REPUBLICANS HOLD EVERY STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICE AND SUPERMAJORITIES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

BUT INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR MIKE SCHMUHL SAYS HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THE STATE IS AS LOPSIDED, POLITICALLY, AS IT CURRENTLY SEEMS.

>> MIKE SCHMUHL: WITH FAIR AND SORT OF BALANCED, COMPETITIVE GOVERNMENT, YOU ACTUALLY GET BETTER OUTCOMES.

YOU KNOW, IS INDIANA A LITTLE TILTED RIGHTWARD THE LAST FEW CYCLES?

YES.

IS IT GOING TO STAY THAT WAY FOREVER?

I DON'T THINK SO.

SCHMUHL SAYS HIS GOAL AS STATE PARTY CHAIR IS TO MAKE DEMOCRATS COMPETITIVE AT EVERY LEVEL.

>> MIKE SCHMUHL: WE NEED TO GET MORE DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR OFFICE; WE NEED TO TRAIN THEM.

WE NEED TO BUILD UP OUR COUNTY PARTY INFRASTRUCTURES, INVEST IN THOSE AREAS, ORGANIZE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

THAT WILL REQUIRE RAISING MONEY AND SCHMUHL SAYS HE'LL LEAN ON HIS TRACK RECORD DOING SO IN THE JOE DONNELLY AND PETE BUTTIGIEG CAMPAIGNS.

>> JON SCHWANTES, IF YOU'RE AN INDIANA DEMOCRAT, DOES MIKE SCHMUHL GIVE YOU HOPE FOR THE PARTY'S FUTURE?

>> I THINK SO.

HE HAS SAID THE RIGHT THINGS.

LIKE SCHMUHL, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS GOOD ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS AS EVIDENCED BY HIS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREES FROM NOTRE DAME.

BUT MORE IMPORTANT PERHAPS FOR THIS JOB IS HIS STREET SMARTS, HIS -- THE ABILITY AND SORT OF THE WINNING STRATEGY ABILITY HE HAS SHOWN WITH CAMPAIGNS WITH JOE DONNELLY AT THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL, OR PETE BUTTIGIEG.

PETE BUTTIGIEG DIDN'T WIN THE PRESIDENCY, BUT HE CERTAINLY, I REMEMBER THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS OF THE CAMPAIGN, WE WERE ALL SITTING HERE HOW IS HE SUSTAINING SUCH A CAMPAIGN COMING OUT OF NORTHERN INDIANA?

IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, I PRESUME HE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THAT.

IT IS A GOOD PACKAGE.

HIS FATHER, IT IS IN THE BLOODLINE, IS ONE OF THE SMARTEST AND NICEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET.

A TREMENDOUS GUY, IF IT'S IN THE BLOOD, ANYTHING LIKE HIS FATHER, HE'S GOT THAT GOING FOR HIM, TOO.

>> NIKI, TALKING TO MIKE SCHMUHL, IS HE SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS, IF YOU ARE AN INDIANA DEMOCRAT AT LEAST?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HE'S FOCUSING ON STRATEGY, FOCUSING ON RAISING MONEY, RECRUITING CANDIDATES.

THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN THINGS.

TRYING TO APPROACH THINGS DIFFERENTLY AS FAR AS INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE.

SO I THINK BRINGING THAT FRESH PERSPECTIVE IS GOOD FOR THE PARTY, AND I'M BETTING MAYBE SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG MIGHT HEADLINE AN EVENT SOMETIME SOON.

I'M JUST THINKING THAT WOULD BE -- >> CONNECTION THERE.

ARIELLE, YOU KNOW MIKE PRETTY WELL, WHY IS HE THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD THE PARTY RIGHT NOW?

>> I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING ALONGSIDE MIKE FOR OVER A DECADE, COMING OFF THE PETE BUTTIGIEG CAMPAIGN, I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING THE INDIANA STATE DIRECTOR.

SEEING OUR CAMPAIGN GO FROM VERY SMALL OPERATION TO ALSO BECOMING ONE OF THE LARGEST CAMPAIGNS IN POLITICAL HISTORY, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SINGLE HANDILY SEE HIS LEADERSHIP, THE SKILLS, AND THE NEW TOOLS THAT WE WERE USING IN ORDER TO TAKE MY SMALL TOWN MAYOR AND TURN HIM INTO A TOP TIER CANDIDATE AND NOW TO BECOME THE DEPARTMENT OF SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.

SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT DIGITAL ORGANIZING, DIGITAL TOOLS CAN DO, HOW YOU CAN RAISE MONEY FOR SOMEBODY WHO MAY NOT BE AS WELL KNOWN, YOU TAKE THEM, YOU HAVE A MESSAGE, A VERY STRONG ONE, A TEAM OF FOLKS THAT CANNOT ONLY JUSTA YOU CAN ABOUT RELATING TO DEMOCRATS, BUT ALSO CAN TALK TO REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS ALIKE GETTING BEHIND THE CANDIDATE AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE WORK THAT MIKE CAN DO, EXACTLY WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, IS MIKE SCHMUHL'S GOALS REALISTIC, THIS IDEA OF MAKING INDIANA DEMOCRATS COMPETITIVE AT EVER LEVEL?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT EVERY LEVEL.

STILL A PRETTY LOPSIDED MARGIN, A BIG HILL TO CLIMB.

THAT BUTTIGIEG CAMPAIGN, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A WRONG DECISIO HIS LIFE.

WE CAN'T SLEEP ON THIS GUY, HE CLEARLY KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.

SHE TENDS TO THINK LIKE WE LOST BUT WE'RE RIGHT, AND IT IS LIKE NO ONE CARES IF YOU THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE LOSING.

AND HE'S FOCUSED ON THE RIGHT -- HE'S FOCUSED ON THE RIGHT PILLARS, IF YOU L OF WHAT A PARTY -- IS.

>> BECAUSE OF SPORTS METAPHORS.

WE BUILDING A TEAM, A FRANCHISE.

>> I'VE BEEN IN SALES FOR 21 YEARS.

FOR A LONG TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, GOING BACK FROM 88 TO 2010, REALLY, THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAD TO BE VERY DISCIPLINED IN HOW THEY -- WHAT THE ISSUES THAT THEY CONSIDERED, HOW THEY TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES FACING HOOSIERS, WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED, AND THIS IS BECOMING A PROBLEM, WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION, THAT DISCIPLINE THAT WE HAD THEN THAT HELPED US WIN REALLY TIGHT SEATS AND TOUGH SEATS HAS NOT CARRIED ITSELF INTO THE MAJORITIES, ISSUES WE HIGHLIGHT AND HOW WE TALK ABOUT THEM.

AS DEMOCRATS TRY TO BECOME -- THOSE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES I THINK FOR DEMOCRATS AND SOME OF THESE SEATS, REDRIBLTHING MATTERS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MATTER, IT WILL INFLUENCE THE CANDIDATES, AND THE COMPETITIVE NESS THERE.

REPUBLICANS CAN'T SLEEP ON THIS GUY OR THE DEMOCRATS FOREVER.

>> IT'S LIKE I'VE WROTE THAT SEGUE FOR YOU.

BECAUSE INDIANA HOUSE REPUBLICANS REFUSED TO DEBATE A REDISTRICTING REFORM PROPOSAL THIS WEEK, USING LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE TO BLOCK AN AMENDMENT FROM HOUSE DEMOCRATS.

>> DEMOCRATS HAVE LONG PUSHED FOR AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO DRAW THE STATE'S LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT LINES.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS USED TO SUPPORT THAT TOO, UNTIL THE LAST FEW YEARS.

DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MATT PIERCE'S AMENDMENT WOULD SEE INDIANA ADOPT THE MODEL USED BY IOWA FOR DECADES: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S NONPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY WOULD PREPARE MAPS FOR LAWMAKERS TO VOTE ON.

PIERCE SAYS LSA WOULD HAVE SOME GUIDELINES, INCLUDING WHAT THEY COULDN'T CONSIDER.

>> REP. MATT PIERCE (D-BLOOMINGTON): AND THAT IS TO USE POLITICAL DATA TO DRAW THE DISTRICTS.

SO, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE ELECTION RESULTS, PARTY AFFILIATIONS OF VOTERS.

BUT HOUSE REPUBLICANS USED A LEGISLATIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID DEBATE OR A VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.

THEY DECIDED PIERCE'S PROPOSAL WASN'T “GERMANE” - RELEVANT - TO A 66-PAGE LONG BILL ON ELECTION LAWS.

>> NIKI KELLY, MAJORITIES OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE USED THIS TACTIC TO AVOID DEBATE AND VOTES ON ISSUES.

BUT DID THIS ONE FEEL A LITTLE FLIMSIER THAN USUAL?

>> WELL, I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO LIE, IT WAS A PRETTY NARROW INTERPRETATION OF GERMANENESS THAN I'VE SEEN IN THREE YEARS.

OR 20 YEARS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW WIDE THAT BILL WAS, IT COVERED THREE DIFFERENT TITLES IN INDIANA CODE.

BUT TO BE FAIR, IT DID NOT COVER THE TITLE THAT REDISTRICTING IS IN, THAT'S WHAT THEY REALLY FOCUSED ON.

I THINK THEY'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR FOR A DECADE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE NOT GOING TO DO REDISTRICTING REFORM.

SO I THINK THEIR POSITION IS CLEAR REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE WAS A VOTE THERE OR NOT.

>> TO THAT POINT, I THINK IT WAS REPRESENT ED DELANEY ON THE FLOOR WHO SAID WE'RE USED TO LOSING.

WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT.

BUT WE'D LIKE TO AT LEAST HAVE THE DEBATE.

SO TO THAT POINT, EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW THAT VOTE WOULD HAVE GONE IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN UP AND DOWN VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.

WHY NOT AT LEAST HAVE THE DEBATE, AT LEAST HAVE THE VOTE?

>> I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO IF YOU HAVE THE SUPERMAJORITY AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TRO TO DRAW THE MAPS, TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS.

THAT'S A VALUABLE COMMODITY.

I'M GUESSING THAT IF DEMOCRATS HAD A SUPERMAJORITY THEY MIGHT NOT BE AS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT REFORM.

I THINK YOUR ZEALOUS NESS ABOUT REFORM, THERE IS A CORRELATION, MAYBE AN INVERSE CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT AND WHERE YOU STAND IN TERMS OF YOUR POWER BREAKDOWN WITHIN THE CHAMBER.

SO A LOOK AT REPUBLICANS, YOU HAD HOUSE REPUBLICANS NOT THAT LONG AGO WHO WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF REDISTRICTING REFORM.

NOW, GRANTED SOME ARE -- >> THE FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

>> AGAIN, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT THERE.

BEING IN CONTROL ALSO SORT OF MAYBE CLOUDS ONE' PERSPECTIVE.

>> DECADE BEFORE THEM.

>> I KNOW.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, TO THAT POINT, REDISTRICTING REFORM ADVOCATES CONSTANTLY SAY A LARGE MAJORITY OF HOOSIERS WANT AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO DRAW THESE MAPS AS MUCH AS IT CAN WITHOUT OBVIOUSLY HAVING TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION, PART OF THE ISSUE INDIANA HAS HERE.

BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE MOVING THE NEEDLE ON ELECTIONS.

DOES IT MATTER THAT A MAJORITY OF HOOSIERS WANT THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

IT IS NOT A PRIORITY.

THE POLLS ONLY MATTER IF YOU'RE IN THE TOP THREE AND IT'S SWINGING THE MIDDLE IN A COMPETITIVE ELECTION.

WHAT IS ALWAYS LOST IN THIS, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, WHAT IS LOST IN THIS CONVERSATION, WE NEED TO THINK OF THIS IN TERMS OF INDIANA'S POLITICAL HISTORY.

THE LAST DECADE WHEN DEMOCRATS DREW THE MAPS, IT WAS NARROW, TWO SEATS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BY THE END OF THAT DECADE UNDER THOSE SAME MAPS REPUBLICANS WON A SUPERINTENDENT MAJORITY IN THE SENATE AND NEAR SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE, COMING OFF MITCH DAMAGES BY 20 POINTS IN 2008.

WE HAVE ONE SOUTH OF I-70, I THINK MATT PIERCE.

>> A COUPLE OF THEM.

>> GOODEN JUST LOST.

WE DON'T HAVE -- WE LARGELY DON'T HAVE -- ALL OF THOSE SOUTHERN INDIANA SEATS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE OHIO RIVER FLIPPED DURING THE OBAMA YEARS.

THOSE ARE ALL REDISTRICTED THAT WAY.

THE PARTY AFFILIATION CHANGED IN THAT ERA, AND THAT HAS TO BE NOTED.

WHAT HAS DELIVERED THESE MAJORITIES, ALONG WITH THESE NEW, IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE NEW IDENTITY WITH TRUMP.

VOTERS CHANGED THEIR PARTY IDENTITY, NOTHING TO DO WITH DRAWING DOWN A STREET.

WE HAD ZERO LAWSUITS COMING OUT.

WE'RE ONLY SIX IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE THAT.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST MAP, WE HAD ZERO IN INDIANA.

>> DOES THAT UNDERCUT THE ARGUMENT FOR THOSE WHO WANT REDISTRICTING REFORM.

IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT THE SUPERMAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE AND SEE ALL OF THE OTHER STATE-WIDE ELECTION RESULTS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE ONE OVER THE LAST DECADE CLEARLY THESE ARE TERRIBLE.

>> WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND REPUBLICANS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE REAL LEADERSHIP TO ACTUALLY GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, WHICH IS THIS INDEPENDENT COMMISSION THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR A WHILE.

AND WHEN EVERY-DAY HOOSIERS ARE LOOKING AT THESE MAPS.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY ARE THE MAPS DRAWN IN THEIR EYES IN A WAY TO BE ABLE TO SWAY AN ELECTION, AND GET SOMEBODY ELECTED.

WE GO INTO THE CONVERSATION OF GERRYMANDERING, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT WHEN LOOKING AT REDISTRICTING, IN ORDER TO GET TO THE POINT OF COMBATTING THAT NARRATIVE OUT THERE, I THINK THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD UP, TAKE THE LEADERSHIP, AND GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, WHICH IS GIVING THIS INDEPENDENT COMMISSION THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AND TO THRIVE FOR US TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS.

>> BUT DOES THAT NARRATIVE MATTER ENOUGH IF VOTERS AREN'T GOING TO THE VOTING BOOTH WITH THAT ON THEIR MINDS?

>> THAT IS DEFINITELY A GOOD QUESTION THAT I MYSELF CAN'T EVEN ANSWER.

AND I THINK THAT THE ISSUE THAT WE RUN INTO WITH THAT IS THAT WE STILL HAVE VOTERS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REDISTRICTING AND WHAT GERRYMANDERING MEANS.

AND I'LL BE VERY HONEST ABOUT THAT.

FOR VOTERS RIGHT NOW, WHEN YOU'RE FEELING A SENSE OF DISENFRANCHISEMENT, WHEN IT COMES TO EVEN HAVING ACCESS TO THE BALLOT, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP INTO LEADERSHIP AND SO NOT ONLY GIVE HOOSIERS THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW NOT ONLY ARE VOTERS NOT SHOWING UP SOMETIMES, BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THE BALLOT, TOO, THAT IS ONE ISSUE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT.

>>...IS THE OTHER ONE.

>> THAT'S STILL NOT ALL OF IT.

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

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ARIELLE BRANDY 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 BROADCASTING.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, WEAR A MASK, GET YOUR SHOT IF YOU CAN, AND JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.

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