>>JON: IT'S JANUARY, IN AN ODD-NUMBERED YEAR, AT THE OUTSET OF A NEW DECADE.

THAT MEANS INDIANA'S 150 LAWMAKERS HAVE RETURNED TO THE STATEHOUSE TO CRAFT A BIENNIAL STATE BUDGET AND DRAW DECENNIAL DISTRICT MAPS.

THAT, HOWEVER, IS PRETTY MUCH WHERE NORMALITY STARTS AND STOPS.

THANKS TO THE PANDEMIC, HOOSIER LAWMAKERS HAVE ALTERED THEIR SCHEDULES, THEIR MEETING SPACES, AND, PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, THEIR EXPECTATIONS .... HI, I'M JON SCHWANTES, AND THIS IS INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

EVERY WEEK FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS - WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO KEEP YOU APPRISED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING - AND NOT HAPPENING - IN OUR STATE'S CAPITOL.

WE'LL START WITH THE LEADERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S FOUR LEGISLATIVE CAUCUSES, SO DON'T GO AWAY, INDIANA LAWMAKERS, FROM THE STATEHOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE.

>>JON: AS I PROMISED AT THE TOP OF THE PROGRAM, WE'RE STARTING LAWMAKERS - AND OUR COVERAGE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S 2021 SESSION - WITH THE LEADERS OF THE FOUR LEGISLATIVE CAUCUSES, HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON, A FISHERS REPUBLICAN... HOUSE MINORITY LEADER PHIL GIAQUINTA, A FORT WAYNE DEMOCRAT, SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY, A MARTINSVILLE REPUBLICAN, AND SENATE MINORITY LEADER GREG TAYLOR, AN INDIANAPOLIS DEMOCRAT.

I THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE FOR THIS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION, WHICH IS NOW MORE OF A BIG SQUARE ROOM DISCUSSION, BUT NEVER THE LESS, APPRECIATE THE TIME.

I THINK IT WOULD BE FOLLY FOR US TO START WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN PERHAPS THE ASSAULT ON OUR NATION'S CAPITAL BECAUSE AS WE TAKE THIS, FULL DISCLOSURE, WE ARE LESS THAN 24 HOURS AWAY FROM THAT EVENT.

TODD HOUSTON, YOUR REACTION TO WHAT WE SAW.

>>: DISAPPOINTED AND SAD.

I AM PROBABLY LIKE A LOT OF HOOSIERS I DIDN'T SLEEP WELL LAST NIGHT AND I DEALT WITH THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT.

OUR DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT PEACEFUL TRANSITIONS OF POWER AND VIOLENCE IS UNACCEPTABLE.

IT SIMPLY PUT UNACCEPTABLE AND WE SHOULD DEMAND AND EXPECT BETTER AND I THINK ALL OF US WERE DISAPPOINTED, SADDENED AND SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE EVENT.

>>: ONE OF THE TWO U.S.

SENATORS MIKE BRAUN STARTED THE DAY SAYING HE WOULD CONTEST OR OPPOSE THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE OF OUTCOME.

AT THE END OF THE DAY AFTER THE INSURRECTION AFTER THE ASSAULT HE BACKED AWAY FROM THAT.

YOU KNOW, HIM BECAUSE BEFORE HE WAS IN THE SENATE SPENT THREE YEARS AT YORK CAUCUS AND WAS ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES.

DID HE END UP IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

>>: HE ENDED UP IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

>>: AS LONG AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REPUBLICAN ACTION LET ME ASK YOU SENATOR PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY.

>>: I THINK SO.

LET ME JUST SAY I FEEL THE SADNESS AS WELL AND I TALKED TO MY BOYS ABOUT HOW THIS WORKS AND HOW IMPORTANT PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER IS AN IMPORTANT ELECTIONS ARE AND THAT THE NATION HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS AND THERE WERE THINGS TO DISPUTE AND THEY WENT TO COURT AND THERE WERE RULES AND LAWS AND WE NEED TO FOLLOW THOSE IN A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS IS BIGGER THAN ANY ONE PRESIDENT OR ISSUE AND WE SHOULD KEEP THAT IN MIND.

IT WAS A BAD DAY FOR AMERICA YESTERDAY.

>>: IT'S TEMPTING TO SAY THIS IS NOT WASHINGTON EVEN THOUGH THE STATES WERE INTRO GOAL TO THIS CONTROVERSY TO SAY THAT IS A WASHINGTON CAPITAL HILL ISSUE AND YET MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT A GOVERNMENT THEY THINK IS RIGGED AND IT DOESN'T WORK FOR THEM AND IT'S A DEEP STATE ET CETERA ET CETERA.

MOST FOLKS ARE HERE IN INDIANA.

WILL YOU THINK THE TENOR WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT PHIL GIAQUINTA BECAUSE OF WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY, BUT JUST THE POLARIZATION, THAT PRECEDED THIS CONTEST?

>>: IT STARTS WITH LEADERSHIP.

ONE I HAVE BEEN SEEING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE THE ELECTION ENDED STARTING AT THE TOP WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A MESSAGE THAT THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED AND ALL THESE SORTS OF THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM HIM AND OTHERS INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE INDIANA DELEGATION.

AND THAT IS WHERE IT STARTS.

PEOPLE FOLLOW WHAT THEY HEAR SOMETIMES AND FOLLOW THAT LEADERSHIP.

>>: ARE YOU GOING TO BE -- >>: I TELL YOU WHAT, COMPARED TO WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY VERSUS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOUSE CHAMBERS ON MONDAY WE CERTIFIED PEACEFULLY THE RESULTS OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

I THINK WE IN INDIANA AND THE HOUSE PARTICULARLY IN THE SENATE AS WELL, WE SHOWED HOW THINGS ARE DONE.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT AND WORKING ON ELECTION SINCE I WAS IN EIGHTH GRADE AND MY JOB WAS TO GET OUT THERE AND HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL RACE AND THAT WAS BACK IN 1979.

AND THIS WILL BE GREAT.

GUESS WHAT.

1988 -- [OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] IT WAS A BIG REPUBLICAN YEAR AND I THOUGHT YOU WILL WIN SOME AND LOSE SOME.

AND THAT IS THE WAY IT GOES.

AND YOU LEARN TO GOVERN FROM THE WINS AND LOSSES.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT ON ALL OF US TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND SET THE EXAMPLE IN INDIANA.

>>: GREG TAYLOR DO YOU FEEL SAFE?

I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS BASICALLY YOU COULD WALK IN AND OUT OF ANY ENTRANCE OR EXIT WITHOUT BEING QUESTIONED AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE NOW THERE'S A LEVEL OF SECURITY.

IS IT ENOUGH?

DO YOU FEEL MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE AS WE CONTINUE THIS SESSION?

>>: I HOPE WE DO NOT HAVE TO INCREASE THE SECURITY AT THE STATEHOUSE BECAUSE IT'S THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND THEY SHOULD BE FREE TO COME TO THE HOUSE THAT THEY BUILT.

BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE IS SOMETHING WE ALL SHOULD TAKE HEED OF AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COUNTRY IS AT A SENSITIVE TIME.

WE ARE AT A TIME IN THE COUNTRY WHERE WE NEED LEADERSHIP TO SHOW THAT THESE THINGS, EVEN IF WE DISAGREE WE CAN WORK THINGS OUT.

ONE THING I BRING TO THE TABLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT UNDERSTAND THIS IS I'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION QUITE A LONG TIME.

THERE'S A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT I'VE BEEN THROUGH WITH THINGS THAT I THINK WAS NOT FAIR AND SOMETIMES BASED ON THE COLOR OF MY SKIN, BUT WE PUSH FORWARD AND WHAT WE CAN DO.

THIS IS A TON FOR OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE COUNTRY THAT INDIANA WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THOSE TYPES OF ACTION SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN'T GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED EXTRA SECURITY AND WE NEED TO SHOW HOOSIERS WE CAN DO BETTER AND WORK BETTER TOGETHER.

>>: ADULTS, YOU ARE ALL ADULTS IN THE ROOM AND CIVILITY HAS -- MAYBE WITH HOOSIER ROOTS THERE IS A CERTAIN SORT OF DECORUM THAT COMES WITH AND I APPLAUD ALL OF YOU.

>>: I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR SENATOR TAYLOR AND WE WILL DISAGREE ON THINGS, PASSIONATELY, AT TIMES BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE UNDERLYING RESPECT FOR YOUR FELLOW NOT JUST LEGISLATURE BUT CITIZENS AND TO OFTENTIMES IN THE DISCUSSION AND I DON'T WANT TO POINT OUT EAST, BUT CERTAINLY FEELS THAT WAY IN WASHINGTON, DC THAT IS FORGOTTEN AND I FEEL PRIVILEGED TO SERVE IN A BODY I CAN GET TO KNOW AND PEOPLE LIKE PHIL GIAQUINTA AND GREG TAYLOR AND OTHERS WHO WE MEN ALWAYS AGREE, BUT WE CAN RESPECT AND HOPEFULLY IN MOST INSTANCES.

>>: IF YOU AREN'T BEING A SCORECARD THREE IOUS AND ONE MORE WASHINGTON QUESTION BEFORE WE GET BACK TO WHAT YOU ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT, BUT WE WENT INTO THIS PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE BY SAYING INDIANA HAS AN ADVANTAGE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE MIKE PENCE AND HE WILL -- ES THE PRESIDENCY OR THE VICE PRESIDENT OR HAS CLOUD.

WE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE.

COME THE 20TH WHEN HE IS NO LONGER VICE PRESIDENT IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN POINT TO THAT THEY WILL BE WORSE OFF?

DID WE LOSE ANYTHING?

>>: THERE ARE SOME THINGS AND HAVING VICE PRESIDENT IN WASHINGTON, DC AND ALSO WHAT COMES WITH THAT IS A LOT OF OTHER TALENT AND SEAM OF IRMA IS ONE.

>>: THAT MEDICAID MEDICARE.

>>: YES, YES.

AND HAVING THOSE KIND OF CONTACTS AND THE GOVERNOR CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND ASK A QUESTION OR ADVOCATE FOR SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN INDIANA AND SOME ARE NUANCED, BUT THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE THERE NOT TO SAY THAT WE WILL NOT BE JUST FINE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IN THE FUTURE BUT IT'S NICE WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

>>: I WAS GOING TO SAY LET'S GET BACK TO NORMAL, BUT I CAN'T BECAUSE THE SESSION IS ABOUT COVID-19 WHICH MAKES IT BY DEFINITION ABNORMAL.

AS I MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE PROGRAM THERE ARE PHYSICAL CHANGES AND MEETING SPACE THE SENATE IS DIVVIED UP INTO TWO FOR SOME PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY.

YOU IN THE HOUSE HAVE MOVED TO THE LARGER SPACE COMMITTEE HEARINGS MAY BE DONE BY VIDEO WITH PEOPLE TESTIFYING IN ONE ROOM AND YOU ALL ARE COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN ANOTHER ROOM.

IS THIS WORKABLE?

>>: I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT ME TO DO WOULD JUST GO BACK AND COMMENT ON YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION.

>>: WE WILL BE HERE ALL DAY.

>>: PEOPLE TO JUDGE IS A HOOSIER THAT IS TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY.

>>:.

>>: THAT IS WHO WE CALL.

>>: I THINK WE'VE HAD GOOD PRACTICE OVER THE SUMMER WITH ZOOM MEETINGS AND LEGISLATORS GETTING ACCUSTOMED TO NOT MEETING FACE TO FACE AND FRANKLY, OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS OF TECHNOLOGY AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TEXT MESSAGES AND THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE THE NORM THIS YEAR.

AND IT WILL CERTAINLY BE A CHALLENGE AND ALL OF US ALL THE LEADERS HERE WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND LSA WHO HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB HELPING US GET SET UP TO MAKE THIS AS WORKABLE AS POSSIBLE AND I THINK WE ARE OFF TO AN OKAY START WHICH WE WILL SEE HOW THAT GOES AND WORK OUR WAY THROUGH.

>>: ONE DAY AWAKE AND SO THE SCHEDULE ITSELF AND WE HAVE PLASTIC BARRIERS UP AND SO FORTH.

WILL WE BE HERE INTO THE SUMMER DO YOU THINK?

GRANTED THERE WILL BE STOPPAGES AT SOME POINT AND WE HAVE FLAREUPS OR IS APRIL 29 GOING TO BE WHERE WE CAN BOOK THE VACATION NOW OR PRESUMING I CAN TRAVEL AND GET ON A PLANE AND GO ANYWHERE?

>>: I DON'T THINK ANY OF US ARE BOOKING TRAVEL PLANS THAT WILL BE A CHOICE TO MAKE, BUT NOT SOMETHING I WOULD DO WITH A HIGHER PROBABILITY THAT LIKELY OR NOT WE WILL HAVE TO DELAY BECAUSE OF SOME QUARANTINE NEEDS FOR CITIZENS AS WELL AS LEGISLATORS.

WE HAVE A VERY VULNERABLE POPULATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND WE NEED TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND I AM GLAD WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES TO KEEP US SOCIALLY DISTANCED.

>>: NEITHER CHAMBER REQUIRING MASK WEARING YOU ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO SELF-REPORT BUT THAT WILL NOT BE PUBLIC IF SOMEBODY DOES TEST POSITIVE, BUT PRESUMABLY THAT WILL ALL I GUESS THERE IS MUCH YOU CAN DO WITHOUT FORCING PEOPLE TO DO THINGS THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO.

LET ME ASK YOU SENATOR, YOU TALKED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND SAID REGARDLESS OF THE NEW NORMAL WHERE PEOPLE ARE TESTIFYING IN A DIFFERENT ROOM BY CAMERA IT WILL STILL BE A TRANSPARENT AREA WHERE THE HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOU DO THAT?

>>: IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT WE DO IT.

THE TRANSPARENCY AND THE FACT PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH US BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS SAID WE MAKE BETTER LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN FULLY VETTED AND THAT MEANS PEOPLE COMING TO US WITH CONVERSATIONS AND SAYING THIS WILL AFFECT ME IN THIS WAY OR IT'S AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS SO WE WILL HAVE ALL THE THINGS IN PLACE THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD INCLUDING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS SO ANY COMMITTEE HEARING OR SESSION WILL BE STREAMED OUT LIVE SO ANYBODY CAN WATCH FROM ANY POINT IN THE STATE AND FOR THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS WHEN YOU WILL NOT BE IN THE ROOM IS THE ACTUAL COMMITTEE THE PEOPLE THAT CAN COME AND TESTIFY JUST LIKE BEFORE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TESTIFY CAN AND WILL BE THERE IN A DIFFERENT ROOM ALL DONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPACING, BUT YOU STILL HAVE THE SAME BACK AND FORTH.

ALL OF THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE AND WE ALSO TAKE LETTERS AND VIDEOS AND RECORDINGS OF TESTIMONY ON CERTAIN BILLS FOR COMMITTEES AND THINK SO YOU WILL HAVE ALL OF THAT INPUT YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD IN THE PAST IT'S JUST GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT AND BE A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED AND TAKE LONGER TO DO.

WE WATCH THE COMMITTEE'S WORK YESTERDAY AND IT'S JUST MORE WORK AND TAKES LONGER SO THAT'S ONE REASON I TOLD THE SENATORS IN A LONG SESSION WE DON'T NORMALLY HAVE THAT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE US LONGER TO VET THOSE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT TRANSPARENCY AND THAT ENGAGEMENT.

>>: YOU TALKED ABOUT TENSION IN INDIANA AND YOUR OWN CAUCUS THAT THINK THE RESTRICTIONS HAVE GONE TOO FAR AND YOU HAVE TWO MEMBERS IN THE CAUCUS THAT DON'T WEAR MASKS AND SOME, FOLKS HAVE INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION FROM THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE THAT EMERGENCY ORDERS BE DAMPED WE ARE DONE THE GOVERNOR CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE.

IF YOU WOULD HAVE SAID THAT TO THE EQUIVALENT OF QUARANTINE, WHICH IS THE RULES COMMITTEE NOT TO SEEN THE REST OF THE SESSION BUT OTHER BILLS THAT WILL DO SOME SIMILAR SORTS OF THINGS MAYBE NOT AS DRASTIC, BUT ALLOW YOU ALL TO CALL YOURSELVES INTO SESSION SO WHERE -- WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE ATTEMPTS TO COVER THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POLICY?

>>: WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR MEMBERS WE TRY TO BE FLEXIBLE AND THESE ARE UNIQUE TIMES WHERE WE ARE DEALING WITH A UNIQUE SITUATION AND ON EXECUTIVE ORDERS THERE'S A WHOLE SERIES OF THINGS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC WE LEARNED FROM THINGS WE WOULD'VE NEVER IMAGINED AND GOV.

HOLCOMB HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB MANAGING THROUGH THESE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES AND THAT BEING SAID THIS PANDEMIC CAME INTO OUR COUNTRY AND STATE ALMOST THE EXACT SAME TIME AS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND HE WAS COLLABORATIVE AND I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS NO NEED FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

BUT IF THE SITUATION WAS DIFFERENT AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE DIFFERENT, THIS SHOWCASE THERE WAS NO WAY FOR THE BODY TO GET BACK IN THE SESSION.

>>: HE DOESN'T CALL A SPECIAL SESSION.

SO THERE IS AN APPROPRIATE BALANCE AND WE WILL WORK ON THAT APPROPRIATE BALANCE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS BECAUSE LEGISLATIVE INPUT IS IMPORTANT AT THESE TIMES AND IT NEEDS TO BE INSURED AND WE WILL WORK TO GATHER.

>>: WHEN YOU SAY BALANCED IT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SUGGESTING AND PASSING THE NOTION TO KEEP IT WHERE IT IS NOW.

WE HAVE LESS THAN TEN MINUTES TO GO AND SO MUCH TO COVER.

VIRTUALLY EVERY ISSUE IN SOME WAY IS SHAPED BY COVID-19 LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TO BE ADDRESSED THE FIRST IS SCHOOLS BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL COUNT NEXT MONTH, WHICH IS DETERMINANT OF HOW MUCH MONEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS GET RIGHT NOW THEY WOULD BE COUNTED AS NOT STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO FIX THIS AND WILL THAT BE THE FIRST THING THAT GOES THROUGH AND IS THERE A UNIVERSAL SUPPORT ON BOTH SIDES?

I'LL ASK YOU FIRST TITLE III.

>>: I THINK IT WILL COME TO THE HOUSE AND.

>>: ANYONE DISAGREE?

>>: [OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] THAT'S WHERE IT STOPS.

SENATE BILL ONE DEALS WITH LIABILITY FOR BUSINESSES AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES HOSPITALS SO THEY WILL BE IMMUNE TO CIVIL LITIGATION RAMP RELATED TO COVID-19 PIERCE YOU ALL IN THE STATE CHAMBER AND OTHER SAY THAT'S UNNECESSARY AND OTHERS SAY MAY BE IT'S NECESSARY, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE RE- CRAFTED MORE NARROWLY.

IS THAT -- >>: ABSOLUTELY.

AND IT'S CALLED SENATE BILL ONE [OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS] THEIR SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THAT FOR US.

>>: YOU SAY ARE YOU GOING TO SHOCK ME AND SAY THIS WILL BE UNIVERSAL SUPPORT ON THIS?

>>: WE WILL SEE.

I WILL SEE WHAT THE DISCUSSION BUT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WE WANT TO BE AS NARROWLY FOCUSED AS POSSIBLE, BUT SOMETIMES WE PASS THESE BILLS AND IS THERE REALLY A PROBLEM OUT THERE AND I WOULD SAY LESS THAN AROUND 1,000 CASE LAW SUITS SO FAR AND A MILLION CASES AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ALL THAT NECESSARY, BUT CERTAINLY WANT AND WE'VE SEEN SMALL BUSINESSES STRUGGLE AND THIS IS A WAY TO HELP AND PROTECT THEM SO IT WILL BE A GOOD DEBATE.

>>: THERE'S A LAWYER DOWN THERE.

>>: THERE'S ANOTHER ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

YES.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A WAY TO HAVE A BALANCE IS THE SPEAKER SAID ON THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION, BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE SENATE BILL ONE IS A PRIORITY FOR THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE BUT OUR MANTRA OF THE SENATE DONE A CRAP IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND IF WE WILL PUT THE PEOPLE THAT QUICKLY -- DEMOCRAT.

BUSINESSES ARE THE PEOPLE.

BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE PEOPLE AND THAT'S THE BALANCE WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

>>: WE COULD SAVE A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT.

WE ARE DISTANCE WE HAVE AERIAL MICS.

BUDGET.

YOU HAVE TO DO TWO THINGS.

DISTRICT MAPS BASED ON THE CENSUS, WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE THAT DATA SO GIVE YOU A BREAK THERE, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BIENNIAL BUDGET.

THE BUDGET FORECAST WE SAW LAST MONTH WASN'T AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT WAS 3 PERCENT.

CAN YOU HOLD K-12 EDUCATION EVERYBODY SAYS THAT THE PRIORITY AND THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THEM AT LEAST AT THE SAME LEVEL IF NOT MORE.

IS THAT DOABLE?

>>: I THINK SO AND K-12 EDUCATION IS THE PRIORITY OF OUR CAUCUS AND LAST FEW BUDGETS AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE.

>>: AND PRIORITY FOR YOU WORKS THE TEACHER AND THE GOVERNOR HAD THE TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT TEACHER COMPENSATION AND CAME BACK WITH A PRICE TAG OF $600 MILLION.

IT MIGHT BE REFERENDA OR A LITTLE OF THIS OR A LITTLE OF THAT.

IS THIS THE YEAR FOR TEACHER SALARY INCREASES.

>>: LAST BUDGET IN 2019 WE HAD 763 MILLION NEW DOLLARS THROUGH K-12 AND WE SAW EVERY DISTRICT EXCEPT FOR THREE OR FOUR GET TEACHER PAY RAISES AND THAT WAS WONDERFUL NEWS FOR ALL OF US.

YOU WILL NOT CEASE 600 MILLION NEW DOLLARS ADDED TO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR WE DON'T HAVE IT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO WITH REGARD TO TRY TO HELP THEM WITH HEALTHCARE AND OTHER THINGS SO WE WILL ATTACK THOSE THINGS AND TRY AND IMPROVE IT.

>>: I THINK THERE WERE SEVERAL DOZEN RECOMMENDATIONS THE TASK FORCE CAME UP WITH ONE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX AND A MODEST INCREASE AND ALSO A PUSH FOR INCREASE AND A CIGARETTE TAX AND MAYBE SOME FOR MONETARY REASONS AND OTHERS FOR HEALTH MODIFICATION REASONS.

IS THIS THE YEAR THE NO NEW TAX PLEDGE GETS FRAYED AROUND THE EDGES.

>>: LET ME SAY WITH REGARD TO TEACHER PAY.

>>: YOU HAVE TO KEEP WITH THE PACE BUT GO AHEAD.

>>: THE SHOW WAS GETTING BORING.

>>: I UNDERSTAND [LAUGHING] >>: I THINK THE THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS WHERE INDIANA TEACHERS SO WE REALLY DO NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

>>: IN 2000 WE WERE SECOND.

>>: AND EVERY YEAR WE PUSH THIS AND FALL FARTHER AND FARTHER BEHIND SO IT'S IMPORTANT WE LOOK AT THAT REPORT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP TEACHERS WHO ARE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

>>: AND LEAVE IT TO ME TO GET EVERYTHING DECIDED.

LISTEN THIS IS AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION BECAUSE I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

WE HAD MONEY IN THE K-12 BUDGET BUT THE QUESTION IS WHERE.

WE CAN SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT K-12 EDUCATION BUT THE REAL BALANCE COMES WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EDUCATING PEOPLE WHO NEED THE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES THE MOST AND THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE PORT DISTRICTS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING THIS PANDEMIC HAS UNVEILED THE STRUGGLE WE CONTINUE TO DELINEATE AND LOWER THE AMOUNT THAT THOSE STUDENTS RECEIVE PER STUDENT.

IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING THIS YEAR, THE EFFECTS OF WHAT WE DO THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE TEACHERS ARE COMPENSATED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WANT TO BE -- KIDS WANT TO BE A TEACHER WE WILL BE IN TROUBLE FIVE OR SIX YEARS FROM NOW.

>>: AND NOBODY IS SAYING $600 MILLION BITE TAKEN OUT OF THE APPLE AND THERE ARE LOTS OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND INCREASED USE OF REFERENDA.

SO K-12 FUNDING OVER ALL OR ARE THERE SPECIFIC SALARIES EVEN THOUGH NOT IN YOUR PURVIEW RIGHT NOW.

UNLESS YOU CHANGE THAT.

>>: I'M A FORMER LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.

>>: THE FIRST TIME WE MET.

AND THIS IS A LOCAL SCHOOL ISSUE.

AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT IT.

WE ARE IMPORTANT PARTNERS IN IT, BUT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS DETERMINE THE BENEFITS AND THE PAY AND THEY DETERMINE ALL THE FACTORS APPROPRIATELY AND WE HAVE CLEARLY A HALF A STATE BUDGET OVER SEVEN AND A HALF ALIEN DOLLARS GOES THROUGH K-12 TRANSITION SUPPORT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THAT AMOUNT BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIFICS THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE APPROPRIATELY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>>: WE DID NOT MEET YOUR TEN BILL LEVITT, BUT WE REACHED IT.

SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THE SHORTNESS OF TIME.

AGAIN I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU TOOK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE STATE.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED YOUR PROFESSION IS AN HONORABLE ONE AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE LEADERSHIP WE HAVE.

>>>AGAIN, MY GUESTS HAVE BEEN: HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON, A FISHERS REPUBLICAN...HOUSE MINORITY LEADER PHIL GIAQUINTA, A FORT WAYNE DEMOCRAT, SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC BRAY, A MARTINSVILLE REPUBLICAN, AND SENATE MINORITY LEADER GREG TAYLOR, AN INDIANAPOLIS DEMOCRAT.

>>>SHOULD BUSINESSES BE HELD LIABLE IF THEIR EMPLOYEES OR CUSTOMERS CATCH THE CORONA VIRUS?

WE'LL HASH IT OUT...ON THE NEXT INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

>>>TIME NOW FOR OUR WEEKLY CONVERSATION WITH LONGTIME INDIANA LAWMAKERS ANALYST ED FEIGENBAUM, PUBLISHER OF THE NEWSLETTER INDIANA LEGISLATIVE INSIGHT, PART OF HANNAH NEWS SERVICE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

LOOKING BACK THE CRAZINESS WE SAW IN WASHINGTON ANYTHING IN YOUR MEMORY CLOSE TO THAT THAT HAPPENED IN THE STATE HOUSE?

>>: WE'VE HAD SOME CRAZY LADDERS AND DESKS.

>>: THOSE ARE JUST MEMBERS THOSE ARE NOT ONLOOKERS.

>>: GREAT.

THEY WERE DULY ELECTED SOMEHOW.

BUT WE DID HAVE A LITTLE INCIDENT BACK IN 1988 WHEN THERE WAS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE HOUSE OF RAMBO TO -- REPRESENTATIVES WILL WORK WITH 50/50 AND WE SPENT A WEEK PEACEFULLY AND SOME BACK THEM WOULD HAVE SAID THERE ARE SOME DRAMATIC MOMENTS, BUT PEACEFULLY DECIDING HOW THE BALANCE OF POWER WOULD BE IN 1989.

THE 1989 SESSION MAYBE THE CLOSEST PARALLEL TO WHAT WE SEE IN 2021.

>>: THE STEREO SPEAKERS.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2021 A FEW DAYS INTO THE SESSION HOW IS COVID-19 IN ALL THESE PRECAUTIONS GOING TO AFFECT THE PROCESS?

>>: DRAMATICALLY.

YOU HEARD LEADERS TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL CHANGES AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE MANIFEST IN POLICY AS WELL.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO LITERALLY GO FROM DESK TO DESK AND CHAT WITH EACH OTHER AND WORK OUT DEALS INFORMALLY.

WE WILL HAVE A REAL PROBLEM IN TERMS OF GETTING PEOPLE TOGETHER OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER AS IT WERE IN ORDER TO NEGOTIATE AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A LOT MORE ATTENTION PAID TO FEWER BILLS AND THERE WILL BE TIME AND THE ABILITY TO CONSIDER AS MANY BILLS SO WE WILL HAVE A LOT MORE AMENDMENTS THROWN IN TWO OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND BILLS THAT WILL BE UNWIELDY AND YOU WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE LIKELIHOOD OF INTERRUPTIONS FROM CASES OF COVID WITH PARTICULARLY MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE STAFF THAN LEGISLATORS BECAUSE THE LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY ARE A LOT MORE INDISPENSABLE THAN LEGISLATORS.

>>: DON'T FORGET THE INTERRUPTION OF MARCH MADNESS, WHICH THEY FIGHT FOR THE SAME HOTEL ROOMS.

>>: DONE BY APRIL 29.

OR IS THIS DOOMED TO BE A SPECIAL SESSION REAL QUICK?

>>: I THINK IT IS DESTINED AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE THAT VOLUNTARILY IMPART WILL BE BETWEEN THE CENSUS DATA WILL COME IN SO LATE WE ARE USED TO HAVING IT BY DECEMBER 31 AND NOW TALKING FEBRUARY 9 AND THAT WILL BE PRETTY OPTIMISTIC.

>>: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>>FOR MORE INFORMATION EPISODE STREAMS AND OTHER EXTRA CONTENT VISIT US ON THE WEB AT WFYI.ORG/LAMAKERS >>>WELL, THAT CONCLUDES ANOTHER EDITION OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

I'M JON SCHWANTES, I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, TAKE CARE.