♪♪ >> THE EMPLOYER VACCINE MANDATE >> THE EMPLOYER VACCINE MANDATE DEBATE IS DONE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

GOV.

HOLCOMB GETS SPECIFIC ON TAX CUTS.

PLUS, THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM BILL IS LIKELY DEAD AND MORE FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 4, 2022.

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

THIS WEEK, THE DEBATE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVER HOW AND WHETHER TO RESTRICT BUSINESSES FROM ENFORCING COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES IS OVER.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS SENT A FAR LESS RESTRICTIVE VERSION OF THEIR BILL TO THE GOVERNOR.

WHO THEN SIGNED IT INTO LAW.

>> THE ORIGINAL HOUSE VERSION OF THE BILL WOULD'VE FORCED BUSINESSES TO GRANT RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS TO GETTING THE VACCINE, NO MATTER WHAT.

BUT THE MEASURE HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR MERELY REQUIRES BUSINESSES TO FOLLOW CURRENT FEDERAL LAW WHEN IT COMES TO CONSIDERING SUCH EXEMPTIONS.

REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MATT LEHMAN IS THE BILL'S AUTHOR.

>> REP. MATT LEHMAN (R-BERNE): IS IT EVERYTHING THAT THE AUTHOR OF 1001 WOULD LIKE TO HAVE?

NO.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS ALL VOTED AGAINST THE ORIGINAL BILL IN JANUARY.

BUT AFTER THE SENATE'S CHANGES, ALL BUT ONE OF THEM VOTED FOR IT.

DEMOCRATIC LEADER PHIL GIAQUINTA.

(REP. PHIL GIAQUINTA (D-FORT WAYNE): THE SENATE SEEMED TO STRIKE A BETTER BALANCE BETWEEN KEEPING EMPLOYEES SAFE AND RESPECTING RELIGIOUS AND MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS.

>> THE BILL WILL ALSO ALLOW GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB TO END THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WITHOUT LOSING ACCESS TO MILLIONS IN FEDERAL FUNDING.

WHO'S THE WINNER IN THE COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE DEBATE?

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, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT A DIFFERENT PROVISION IN 1001, AN APRIL 16 CUTOFF TO ENHANCED FEDERAL SNAP, OR FOOD STAMP BENEFITS - EVEN IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO OFFER THEM PAST THAT DATE.

WHY ARE WE DOING THAT?

>> FIRST, EVERY INDICATION FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE STATE OF THE UNION AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND RED AND BLUE STATES WHO ARE LIFTING MASK MANDATES AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS, THE SIGNAL FROM THE PRESIDENT TUESDAY NIGHT WAS WE NEED TO MOVE PAST THIS PANDEMIC.

PART OF MOVING PAST THE PANDEMIC IS ENDING THE ENHANCEMENTS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT, MUCH LIKE THE ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT ENDED IN THE FALL.

ALL OF THIS NEEDS TO COME TO AN END.

AND THAT'S PART OF IT.

SO WHAT THE STATEHOUSE REPUBLICANS DID IN PASSIONING HOUSE BILL 1001 THEY'S LINED THE SUNSET OF THAT ENHANCED SNAP BENEFIT WITH THE END OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY ORDER, WHICH THEY COULD EXTEND IT, THERE'S A 30-DAY EXTENSION FOR THOSE BENEFITS THAT'S BUILT INTO THE APRIL 16 DEADLINE BY THE FEDS.

SO THOSE BENEFITS CAN CONTINUE TO BE OFFERED THROUGH MAY.

BUT IF WE DON'T DO THAT, IF THERE ARE FIGHTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO CONTINUE TO LEAVE THESE, WHETHER IT IS ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT OR ENHANCED REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH MEDICAID OR ENHANCED SNAP BENEFITS, REPUBLICANS SAID ALL ALONG FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THESE COVID ACCOMMODATIONS, DEMOCRATS WILL USE TO EXPAND THE SCOPE AND SIZE OF GOVERNMENT, WILL BE WE DO W DIRECTED TUESDAY NIGHT WHICH WAS AS A COUNTRY BEGIN MOVING PAST THIS AND GET BACK TO LIFE AS NORMAL.

>> ANN DeLANEY, WHEN WE HEARD THE DEBATE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVER THIS PROVISION OF HOUSE BILL 1001, WE HEARD REPUBLICANS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS -- YES, WE SAW THESE BENEFITS BEING USEFUL, WE NEED TO MOVE PAST IT, ALSO, FEDERAL SPENDING IS OUT OF CONTROL AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO LIMIT THAT.

BUT IF INDIANA STOPS ACCEPTING THESE FUND, IF THEY CONTINUE TO BE OFFERED PAST THAT DATE, IT'S NOT LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S NOT GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO ASK YOURSELF, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOOD STAMPS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE AND CHILDREN GOING HUNGRY.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY WANT, I GUESS SAVE MONEY.

THEY'RE WILLING TO CUT TAXES ON CORPORATIONS, AND ON PEOPLE MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT THEY'RE WILLING TO DENY FOOD STAMPS TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED FOOD TO SURVIVE.

IT IS JUST INCREDIBLE TO ME THAT THAT'S WHERE THEY TRY TO DRAW THE LINE.

THEY DON'T DRAW THE LINE ANYWHERE THAT MAKES SENSE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THESE BENEFITS ARE GOING TO BE EXTENDED OR NOT.

IF THEY ARE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY MIND BOGGLING THAT INDIANA WOULD TURN THEM DOWN.

>> IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ON SNAP IN INDIANA ARE WORKING.

THEY ARE THE WORKING POOR, NOT UNEMPLOYED.

>> EXACTLY.

>> NIKI KELLY, WANT TO GO BACK TO THE QUESTION I ASKED AT THE TOP, WHICH IS WHO IS THE WINNER IN THE DEBATE THAT'S PLAYED OUT OVER THIS ENTIRE SESSION?

WHAT IN THIS BILL DO HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO HANG THEIR HATS ON?

>> THEY REALLY ONLY HAVE ONE THING.

WHICH IS THEY PUT IN LAW AN EXEMPTION FOR THESE VACCINE MANDATES FOR NATURAL IMMUNITY, BASICALLY IF YOU GOT COVID, YOU CAN GET THIS EXEMPTION FOR THREE MONTHS.

YOU CAN MAYBE GET IT LONGER IF YOU SHOW A TEST AGAIN.

BUT AT LEAST THREE MONTHS.

SO THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT THAN THE LAW AS IT IS NOW.

AND I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING THING TO SHOW, AND A REASON WHY THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS SHOULD BE DELIBERATIVE.

BECAUSE WHEN REPUBLICANS THREW THIS BILL OUT IN NOVEMBER, IT WAS OH, MY GOD WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING NOW.

BUT THINGS CHANGE.

THERE WAS MAJOR SUPREME COURT RULING ON SOME OF THESE VACCINE MANDATES.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND NOW IS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF MAYBE NOT BEING TOO REACTIVE WITH LEGISLATION.

>> JON SCHWANTES, WHEN ALL OF THIS STARTED BACK IN NOVEMBER, WOULD YOU HAVE GUESSED THAT THIS WAS ROUGHLY WHERE WE WOULD HAVE ENDED UP?

>> MORE OR LESS.

I THINK WE SAW FROM THE VERY OUTSET, EVEN THOUGH HOUSE REPUBLICANS, THERE WAS THAT CRY AMONG THAT CAUCUS, WE DIDN'T SEE QUITE AS MUCH ZEAL FROM REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE, NOR DID WE CERTAINLY SEE ENTHUSIASM ON THE PART OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB.

I THINK BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS UNFOLD, THIS IS FAIRLY TYPICAL.

WE SEE SORT OF THE FIRE AND THE SHOCK AND AWE, LEGISLATIVE SHOCK AND AWE AT THE BEGINNING, BUT AS NIKI SUGGESTS, THAT DELIBERATIVE PROCESS TENDS TO TEMPER THINGS.

IN THE END WE END UP WITH PHILOSOPHY BEATING PRAGMATISM AND PRACTICALITY.

CLEARLY THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, GONE BACK TO NORMAL, THERE WILL STILL BE THE WORKING POOR WHO ARE HARMED, CHILDREN MAY BE HUNGRY.

AND TO MIKE'S POINT, IF WE ARE TO BELIEVE AND TREAT EVERYTHING THE PRESIDENT SAID DURING TUESDAY'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS AS OUR MARCHING ORDERS, WE SHOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THAT CHILDCARE IS FAR MORE AFFORDABLE THAN IT IS NOW, WE SHOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILD TAX CREDIT IS EXTENDED.

YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE PART OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID IN TERMS OF HELPING THE WORKING POOR AND IGNORE THE OTHER.

>> GOOD POINT.

>> TIME NOW FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC, ONLINE POLL QUESTION.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: DID THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE ON THE COVID-19 VACCINE EMPLOYER MANDATE BILL?

AS REPRESENTATIVE PHIL GiaQUINTA SUGGESTED, A, YES, OR B, NO.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE?

87% OF YOU VERY CONCERNED, 10% SOMEWHAT CONCERNED.

JUST 2% NOT VERY CONCERNED, AND JUST 1% OF YOU NOT AT ALL CONCERNED.

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

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB WANTS INDIANA TO MATCH THE LOWEST INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX RATE OF ANY STATE THAT HAS ONE IN THE COUNTRY.

HOLCOMB THIS WEEK UNVEILED SPECIFICS ON THE TAX CUTS HE'D LIKE TO SEE ENACTED THIS SESSION - AND THAT INCLUDES EVENTUALLY LOWERING THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX RATE TO TWO-POINT-NINE PERCENT.

>> THE GOVERNOR, WHO HAD LONG BEEN RESISTANT TO MAJOR TAX CUTS THIS YEAR, SAYS INDIANA HAS THE FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY TO HELP HOOSIERS STRUGGLING WITH RISING PRICES.

>> GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: I CAN GIVE YOU A LONG LIST OF INFLATION THAT IS HITTING FOLKS.

SO, NOW IS THE TIME - BECAUSE WE CAN, WE SHOULD.

>> HOLCOMB'S OTHER TAX CUT PROPOSALS LARGELY MATCH WHAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE PROPOSED ALL SESSION - ELIMINATING UTILITY TAXES LEVIED ON RATEPAYERS AND REDUCING TAXES THAT COMPANIES PAY ON NEW EQUIPMENT.

SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE BALKED AT MAKING CUTS NOW, PREFERRING TO WAIT FOR A BROADER DISCUSSION IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET SESSION.

BUT SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY SAYS HIS CAUCUS WILL PROBABLY SUPPORT SOME CUTS.

>> SEN. RODRIC BRAY (R-MARTINSVILLE): LIKE IN ANY NEGOTIATION, NO ONE PROBABLY GETS EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO LAND IN A SPOT THAT'S REALLY GOOD FOR THE STATE OF INDIANA.

>> HOLCOMB'S PROPOSED INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX CUT WOULD BE PHASED IN OVER SEVEN YEARS AND EVENTUALLY COST THE STATE 900 MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE PER YEAR.

>> ANN DELANEY, ARE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW FAST HOLCOMB HAS TURNED AROUND ON TAX CUTS THIS SESSION?

LAWMAKERS IN THE SENATE >> I'M KIND OF SURPRISED THAT HE'S STILL AROUND.

I MEAN, HE'S BEEN MIA ON ANY OF THESE THINGS.

WITHIN A WEEK OF THE END OF THE SESSION, AND HE FINALLY OPINES ABOUT WHAT HE THINKS.

THIS IS COMPLETELY FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

OKAY, COMPLETELY IS.

$900 BILLION IMPACT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY LIKE HE SAYS.

BECAUSE ONCE THE SUPERMAJORITY CUTS TAXES, THEY NEVER RAISE THEM AGAIN.

NO MATTER WHAT ELSE HAS HAPPENED.

NO MATTER HOW MANY SERVICES ARE NEEDED, NO MATTER HOW MANY ROADS NEED TO BE FIXED.

THEY NEVER DO.

SO WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DO IS TO DROP THE BOTTOM LINE, LOWER AND LOWER AND LOWER, WITHOUT ANY MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION.

WE ALREADY HAVE AN ESCAPE VALVE.

IF THE SURPLUS GET TOO HIGH THERE ARE REFUND GIVEN.

THE DIFFERENCE WITH HIS PHASING IN OVER SEVEN YEARS, THEY WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO BUY A TANK OF GAS WITH THE INCREASE FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND YET HE THINKS IT IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT THE STATE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE AND TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE MISSING OUT ON ALL THESE LARGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO OTHER STATES, AND HE OUGHT TO BE FOCUSING ON WHY THAT'S HAPPENING, NOT ON CUTTING IT FROM 3.4, OR 3.3, TO 2.9, AS IF THAT'S SOME MAGIC NUMBER THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN GOING TO MAKE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RAIN FROM THE SKIES.

I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM GET OUT THERE ON IMPORTANT ISSUES.

THE STATE OF KENTUCKY LOST OVER $3 MILLION OF THEIR RETIREMENT FUND FOR TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY INVESTED IN A RUSSIAN BANK.

WHAT IS INDIANA DOING ABOUT THAT?

WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING -- NOT A STUDY COMMISSIONER, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A DELIBERATIVE BODY, THE STUDY COMMISSION TAKES A DELIBERATIVE BODY TO INFINITE.

IT WILL BE YEARS BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP ON ISSUES THAT REALLY MATTER.

AND THAT'S COMPLETELY MISSING THIS SESSION ON THE PART OF GOVERNOR HOLCOMB.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, I WANT TO TOUCH ON ONE PART OF THIS, HE WANTS TO PHASE IN THIS INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX CUT, OVER AS ANN MENTIONED, SEVEN YEARS.

IF WE'RE TRYING TO PUT MONEY BACK IN HOOSIER'S POCKETS, IT CERTAINLY DOES THAT LITERALLY.

BUT WILL ANYONE NOTICE?

>> NO.

>> PROBABLY NOT.

I'VE SAID BEFORE, I'M ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS, THE ONLY ONE LEFT, I BELIEVE, THAT TAX CUTS ARE INHERENTLY CONSERVATIVE.

BUT, I THINK PART OF THIS TAX PACKAGE, THERE IS GOOD IN THAT.

THERE IS FRUSTRATION AMONG SMALL BUSINESS IN THE BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX THAT THEY NEVER STOP PAYING FOR THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY -- GOODS THEY USE TO RUN -- EQUIPMENT THEY USE TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS.

THERE ARE THINGS IN THIS TAX PACKAGE THAT ARE VERY PRACTICAL.

I DO LIKE -- I PREFER JUST MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE IS THE SENATE'S APPROACH TO THIS.

THEY WERE LOOKING AT PAYING DOWN LONG-TERM DEBT, ONE OF THE ONLY STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT CAN ELIMINATE TEACHER PENSION DEBT AND ALL PENSION DEBT FOR THAT MATTER.

AND WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THE OTHER VARIABLE THAT HAS CREPT INTO THIS IS RECESSION IN EUROPE THAT'S DRIVEN BY ENERGY PRICES.

WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON THE UNITED STATES IN THE COMING MONTHS AS THE UKRAINIAN -- THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE CONTINUES.

THERE ARE VARIABLES.

I LIKE THE LONG RUNWAY FOR THAT REASON, IT DOES KIND OF SATISFY THE REPUBLICAN MESSAGE THAT WE OUGHT TO SEE HOW RELIABLE THESE EXCESS REVENUES ARE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

AND I LIKE SOME OF THE MIX IN TAX REDUCTION THAT THEY PROPOSE, UTILITY TAX IS IMPORTANT, THIS IS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX IS IMPORTANT.

THAT'S A REALLY LONG RUNWAY ON LOWERING THE INCOME TAX TO THE POINT WHERE TO YOUR POINT I DON'T THINK -- THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE AN AH-HAH MOMENT WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR PAYCHECK.

WE CAN BALANCE IT AGAINST RECORD INVESTMENTS IN OTHER PLACES.

>> JON SCHWANTES, THIS IS THE PART WHERE I GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO DO A VICTORY LAP.

YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY MIGHT TRY TO CUT THE INCOME TAX BELOW 3% SO THEY CAN SAY, HEY, ISN'T THAT BETTER THAN 3%?

SO HERE IS YOUR CHANCE FOR A VICTORY LAP.

>> THAT'S NOT LOST ON ME.

I WON'T GLOAT, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A LOT OF MARKETING OVER OLD RETAIL POLITICS HERE, IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SENSE FROM HOW IT IS NORMALLY CONSTRUED.

I THINK THIS IS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND SAY TO COMPANIES THAT MAY BE CONSIDERING A MOVE TO INDIANA, HEY, WE HAVE AMONG STATES WITH AN INCOME TAX, AN INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX, WE'RE THE LOWEST.

AND IT IS NOT JUST 3, IT IS 2.9.

I'LL SAY THE SAME THING I SAID A FEW MOMENTS AGO IN RESPONSE TO THE FIRST QUESTION TODAY, AND THAT IS PHILOSOPHY ONCE AGAIN HAS TRUMPED PRACTICALITY, IT SEEMS TO ME.

IF THERE IS PERHAPS SOME WISE POLITICS IN HERE OR PRACTICALITY IS STILL PRESENT AT ALL, IT'S IN THE SLOW PHASE-IN OF THIS CUT.

BECAUSE WHILE ANN IS CORRECT, IT'S HARD FOR MANY MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO GO BACK ON ANY KIND OF CUT, CERTAINLY IT IS EASIER -- EASIER TO SAY WE ARE SUSPENDING A PLANNED PHASED REDUCTION THAN TO SAY WE ARE RAISING YOUR TAXES.

NOW, IT'S SEMANTICS, YES -- THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO REVERSE THAT.

IF THERE WERE AN ECONOMIC DOWN TURN, IF THINGS IN THE UKRAINE PRODUCED ECONOMIC RESULTS THAT WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING, OR EXPECTING AT THIS POINT, THAT DOES GIVE US, I THINK, AS A STATE, MORE FLEXIBILITY TO SUSPEND THE CUT, AND ENSURE THAT WE DON'T END UP IN THE RED SOONER THAN WE EXPECTED.

>> NICK KIRKS WE HEARD FROM MIKE AND JON JUST NOW, THE SORT OF ECONOMIC HEADWIND, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK ROD BRAY TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS SESSION.

GOVERNOR HOLCOMB TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICS THIS WEEK SAID YOU WANT TO GET MONEY BACK INTO HOOSIER'S HANDS, YOU LOOK AT INFLATION RAISING PRICES, YOU LOOK AT HIGHER ENERGY PRICES THAT HOOSIERS AND AMERICANS ARE GRAPPLING WITH.

BUT AREN'T THOSE ALSO REASONS TO WAIT ON MAJOR TAX CUTS?

>> I MEAN I THINK THE ARGUMENT COULD BE MADE BOTH WAYS.

EARLIER IN THE SESSION, I SPOKE TO A NUMBER OF ECONOMISTS, AND THEY ALL SAID, NO, WE SHOULD WAIT.

AND THAT WAS BEFORE A NEW WAR, AND EVEN WORSE INFLATION, AND RISING GAS PRICES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT ASKING TWO REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITIES TO SIT ON FIVE BILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS AND NOT USE IT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT THE FINAL PACKAGE IS LIKE NEXT WEEK, STAY TUNED.

LAWMAKERS IN THE SENATE EFFECTIVELY KILLED A CONTROVERSIAL SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND PARENT OVERSIGHT BILL THIS WEEK.

HOUSE BILL 1134 WENT THROUGH SEVERAL CHANGES IN THE SENATE, AS LAWMAKERS ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS CONCERNS PLAGUING THE BILL AS IT MOVED THROUGH THE STATEHOUSE.

SENATE REPUBLICANS PAUSED THE FLOOR SESSION TO DISCUSS THE BILL MULTIPLE TIMES AHEAD OF A KEY LEGISLATIVE DEADLINE.

MORE THAN TWO DOZEN AMENDMENTS WERE FILED.

BUT ULTIMATELY, THE BILL'S AUTHOR DID NOT BRING THE BILL FORWARD.

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY SAYS THE CAUCUS COULDN'T AGREE ON THE BILL.

>> SEN. RODRIC BRAY (R-MARTINSVILLE): SOME FOLKS THAT FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH AND SOME FOLKS THAT FELT LIKE IT WAS JUST DIFFICULT POLICY AND NOT MAYBE THE RIGHT POLICY TO BEGIN TO DICTATE WHAT'S GOING ON IN SCHOOLS IN THAT WAY.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON THIS WEEK SAID HE THINKS IT'S “HIGHLY UNLIKELY” HIS CAUCUS WILL SUPPORT INCLUDING ANY PIECE OF 1134 IN ANY OTHER BILLS THIS SESSION.

>> JON SCHWANTES, WAS THIS ALWAYS WHERE THIS BILL WAS HEADED?

>> YOU ASKED ME THAT ONCE TODAY, I THINK MY ANSWER WOULD BE THE SAME.

THIS IS THE SAME SITUATION, THE SAME SCENARIO I ALLUDED TO EARLIER WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF RHETORIC, A LOT OF FIERY RHETORIC ON THE PART OF HOUSE REPUBLICANS, ONLY TO BE TEMPERED AND MODERATED BY THE SENATE WITH THE GOVERNOR AND HIS OPPOSITION TO SOME OF THESE CHANGES IN THE BACKGROUND.

IN THE END, THREE THINGS AT WORK, DIFFICULTY IN DEFINING WHAT WAS ACCEPTABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE.

YOU CAN WRITE -- YOU CAN ADD AS MANY PAGES TO THE CODE AS YOU WANT, ULTIMATELY I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD DEFINE WHAT IS DIVISIVE AND SEEN AS ACCEPTABLE CLASSROOM CONTENT.

SECOND, YOU HAD, I THINK, JUST -- WITH AT LEAST THE ORIGINAL ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.

THERE WERE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD TRY TO ADDRESS THIS.

BASICALLY WHERE YOU HAVE CIVIL LITIGATION SEEN AS THE MECHANISM BY WHICH DISGRUNTLED PARTICIPATES COULD GO AFTER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SAY I'VE BEEN AGGRIEVED, AND MY CHILD -- MY DISTRICT HAS RUN AN AFOUL OF STATUTES, AND THE COURTS WOULD SEE A SURGE.

THOSE ARE A COUPLE FACTORS CERTAINLY THAT -- AND WE TALKED ABOUT PRACTICALITY FIRST PHILOSOPHY, TEACHERS ARE ALREADY BURDENED, THEY ARE BEING TUGGED ON UMPTEEN WAYS, PROBABLY NOT COMPENSATED IN THE MANNER THEY SHOULD BE.

IF YOU HAD THROWN THIS BURDEN ON THEM, I THINK THE EXODUS AMONG TEACHERS WOULD HAVE ONLY HASTENED.

>> MIKE O'BRIEN, IF THIS MEASURE WAS BEING DRIVEN FOR HOUSE REPUBLICANS BY CONSTITUENT ANGER, THEN WHAT SHOULD WE MAKE POLITICALLY OF TODD HUSTON'S COMMENTS, WHY NOT TRY TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT?

>> HE'S ACKNOWLEDGING THE PRACTICALITY WHERE THEY'RE AT.

THEY'RE WORKING ON ANY NUMBER OF VERSIONS OF THIS FOR MONTHS.

AND THE EXPECTATION AROUND THE STATEHOUSE IS THEY SHOULD BE DONE ON TUESDAY.

THAT GIVES THEM EXACTLY ONE DAY TO TRY TO BRING THIS BACK IN A WAY THAT IS ACCEPTABLE WITH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

AND FIND A MAJORITY POSITION, AND STATUTE IN BOTH.

I THINK IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE PRACTICAL TILL OF WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO WAS HARD.

THERE IS NO OBVIOUS PLACE TO LAND THAT SATISFIES EVERYBODY.

SO WHERE DOES THE EMPHASIS NEED TO BE?

AND WE SAW AS THE SESSION WENT ON THE EMPHASIS WAS MORE ON TRANSPARENCY AND LESS ON PUTTING THIS OBLIGATION ON TEACHERS TO OVERINFORM PARENTS THAT SHOULD BE ENGAGED ANYWAY.

>> ANN DeLANEY -- >> IT'S -- MULTIPLE TIMES SAID THE SENATE IS TAKING A MORE PRAGMATIC APPROACH ON SEVERAL BILLS, THIS BEING MAYBE CHIEF AMONG THEM.

IS THAT WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS?

>> OH, I THINK THAT IS.

THERE IS ONE OTHER FACTOR THAT'S CHANGED THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT, AND THAT IS THE FILING DEADLINE FOR PRIMARY CONTESTS THAT THE REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITIES HAS.

NOW THEY KNOW WHETHER THEY HAVE SERIOUS OPPONENTS OR NOT.

AS OPPOSED TO THE RIGHT -- FURTHER RIGHT WING ATTACK THEM AT EVERY JUNCTURE.

SO, I MEAN, THAT'S ANOTHER VARIATION.

THIS IS A TERRIBLE BILL, WAS POORLY THOUGHT THROUGH.

IT WAS THE RIGHT WING REACTION TO -- WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT.

THE THINGS THEY WERE RAILING ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING WEREN'T EVEN HAPPENING IN INDIANA.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF THE UKRAINE, COULD THE TEACHERS TALK ABOUT THIS UNLESS THE CURRICULUM WAS ALREADY PUBLISHED ONLINE IN ADVANCE OF THE DISCUSSION?

YOU COULD HAVE MAKE SOMEBODY A LITTLE UNEASY TO THINK IF YOU'RE OF A RUSSIAN HERITAGE THAT PEOPLE ARE BAD-MOUTHING YOUR COUNTRY?

IT WAS SO BAD, AND SO ILL THOUGHT OUT, THAT IT DESERVED TO DIE.

IT IS JUST TOO BAD SO MUCH ANGST WAS WASTED ON THIS.

I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE PTAs, AND THE TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOL BOARDS AND PRINCIPALS AND SUPERINTENDENTS.

THEY WERE TREMENDOUS FORCE LOBBYING AGAINST THIS UNANIMOUSLY, AND IT WAS TIME FOR IT TO GO.

>> REPUBLICANS THIS WEEK REVIVED A BILL TO ELIMINATE INDIANA'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT TO CARRY A HANDGUN IN PUBLIC.

>> A SENATE COMMITTEE TOOK EIGHT HOURS OF TESTIMONY ON SO-CALLED “PERMITLESS CARRY” LEGISLATION LAST WEEK.

AND AT THE END OF IT, THE COMMITTEE VOTED TO OVERHAUL THE BILL, KEEPING THE PERMIT SYSTEM IN PLACE.

BUT HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE IGNORING THAT OUTCOME AND FORGING AHEAD WITH THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE THAT ELIMINATES INDIANA'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT TO CARRY A HANDGUN IN PUBLIC.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR ERIC KOCH INSISTS THAT'S NORMAL.

>> SEN. ERIC KOCH (R-BEDFORD): IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR LANGUAGE THAT PASSES ONE HOUSE TO APPEAR SECOND HALF ELSEWHERE OR APPEAR DURING CONFERENCE, IN A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT.

>> DEMOCRATIC SENATOR RODNEY POL SAYS REPUBLICANS ARE DISREGARDING THE OBJECTIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH ALMOST UNIVERSALLY OPPOSES THE BILL.

>> SEN. RODNEY POL (R-PORTAGE): I MYSELF HAVE A SISTER-IN-LAW THAT'S A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

LOVE HER VERY, VERY MUCH.

AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS BILL WOULD ESSENTIALLY DO.

>> BOTH CHAMBERS MUST NOW VOTE TO APPROVE THE BILL FOR IT TO ADVANCE TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> NIKI KELLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT PROCESS, BECAUSE IT MATTERS.

IS THIS GOOD PROCESS?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S NOT THE BEST PROCESS I'VE SEEN, BUT IT IS ALSO NOT THE WORST.

AT LEAST WE'RE -- THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES YOU SEE LANGUAGE THAT HASN'T PASSED EITHER CHAMBER AND END UP IN A CONFERENCE -- AT LEAST IT DID PASS ONE CHAMBER.

NOW, IF I WAS ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, HEARD EIGHT HOURS OF TESTIMONY AND CHANGED THE BILL, AND MY LEADER SAID SORRY, WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THIS VERSION OVER HERE, I WOULD BE PRETTY PERTURBED.

THE FACT IS IT DOES MAKE PEOPLE LOSE FAITH IN THE SYSTEM.

BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S PREDETERMINED, AND IT'S RIGGED.

AND SO THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

>> I'VE ASKED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, MOSTLY TO JON TODAY, ANN DeLANEY, WAS THIS ALWAYS -- WAS SEEMING PASSAGE OF THIS BILLS, WAS PASSAGE OF THIS BILL ALWAYS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS SESSION?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS.

BECAUSE THE NRA CONTROLS.

OBVIOUSLY THE SUPERMAJORITY IS WILLING TO PUT LAW ENFORCEMENT MORE AT RISK IN DOING THEIR JOBS IN ORDER TO CURRY FAVOR WITH THE NRA.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT THAT IS UNFORTUNATE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAN PORTRAY THEMSELVES AS THE LAW AND ORDER PARTY WHEN THEY DISREGARD AN ALMOST UNIVERSAL CONDEMNATION OF THIS BILL ON THE PART OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT DOES PUT THEM AT RISK.

IT SHOULDN'T BE CALLED CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, IT OUGHT TO BE CALLED HIDDEN HAND GUNS, OR LET'S GO AFTER POLICE OFFICERS BILL.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY A BAD BILL.

AND THE NRA, AND THE RIGHT WING REPUBLICANS WILL PASS IT ANYWAY.

AND THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN IT, BECAUSE HE HAS NO COURAGE.

>> WELL, TO THAT POINT, WE'RE OUT OF TIME ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW.

I AM CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT GOVERNOR HOLCOMB IS GOING TO DO.

WE TALKED TO HIM THIS WEEK, HE REALLY DIDN'T SAY, AND WAS ASKED A COUPLE TIMES, REALLY DIDN'T SAY WHERE HE WAS GOING TO LAND ON THIS BILL.

WE MIGHT TALK ABOUT THAT NEXT WEEK IF AND WHEN THAT BILL PASSES BY THE END OF SESSION, 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 BROADCASTING.

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

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

♪♪ >> THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE >> THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS, INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS A WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA'S PUBLIC BROADCASTING