>> THE LEGISLATURE OVERTURNS GOVERNOR HOLCOMB'S VETO ON A BAN FOR TRANSGENDER GIRLS TO PLAY GIRLS SCHOOL SPORTS.

CANNABIS DECRIMINALIZATION IS ON THE TABLE FOR SUMMER STUDY PLUS, INFLATION RELIEF AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 27, 2022.

>> LAWMAKERS VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TUESDAY TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF A BILL TO BAN TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM GIRLS SCHOOL SPORTS.

>> THE VOTES IN BOTH CHAMBERS TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO WERE BASICALLY IDENTICAL TO THE VOTES TO PASS THE BILL DURING SESSION.

HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON SAID, BEFORE THE OVERRIDE VOTES IN BOTH CHAMBERS, THE BILL IS GOOD POLICY FOR INDIANA.

>> PROTECTING GIRLS SPORTS - THAT'S WHAT OUR HOPE FOR THE BILL IS.

AND AGAIN WE FEEL GOOD, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL - I UNDERSTAND - FEELS GOOD ABOUT DEFENDING THIS IF THERE IS COURT ACTION AND WE BELIEVE IT'S THE RIGHT POLICY FOR INDIANA.

>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB HAD STRONG WORDS IN OPPOSITION TO THE BAN WHEN HE VETOED IT BACK IN MARCH.

BUT HE SAYS HE DID NOT TRY TO PREVENT THE VOTE DURING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S TECHNICAL SESSION.

>> I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS.

THEIR MESSAGE WAS LOUD AND CLEAR AND SWIFT, FROM THE FIRST SECOND THAT I VETOED IT.

>> THE ACLU OF INDIANA FILED ITS LAWSUIT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SENATE'S VOTE.

THEY HOPE TO PREVENT THE LAW FROM TAKING EFFECT ON JULY 1.

>> WHAT DOES THIS MOVE FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAY?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY REPUBLICAN CHRIS MITCHUM JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS AND NIKI KELLY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF STATES NEWSROOM INDIANA.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING DIGITAL EDITOR LAUREN CHAPMAN.

CHRIS MITCHUM, SEVERAL REPUBLICANS INCLUDING FORMER INDIANAPOLIS MAYOR GREG BALLARD SPOKE OUT AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT COULD FINANCIALLY COST INDIANA.

WHAT'S THE CALCULUS FOR STATEHOUSE REPUBLICANS?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST FACTOR IS THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

I WAS AROUND THE STATE HOUSE WHEN THIS LEGISLATION WAS BEING DISCUSSED AND THEY SAID AN OVERWHELMINGLY AMOUNT OF THEIR CONSTITUENTSES VIEW THIS AS A COMMON SENSE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

THE IDEA THAT BIOLOGICAL MEN SHOULD NOT BE COMPETING AGAINST BIOLOGICAL WOMEN IN SPORTS IN THE NATURAL BIOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL ADVANTAGES THAT BRINGS WITH.

THAT HAPPENS AND YOU HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMIC STANDPOINT AT LEAST FROM THE CASE LAW THAT I'VE SEEN, THERE IS NO KIND OF DEFINITIVE CASE IN THE COUNTRY THAT STRUCK DOWN THIS LAW THERE ARE SOME TIED UP IN THE COURT.

>> AND ONE PROTECTED TRANS IDENTITIES UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

>> I KNOW, THERE IS ONE SPECIFICALLY OUT THERE THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE TRANS SPORTS AND HASN'T BEEN RULED YET.

AND THE IDEA THIS IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY OF A CASE THAT'S DOOMED TO FAIL, I DON'T THINK IS A CORRECT ASSUMPTION TO MAKE.

>> THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS DEFENDED AND SOME ARGUE PROPOSED BY A SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER RECOGNIZED HATE GROUP.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT INDIANA?

>> IT SAYS THAT THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY IN INDIANA IS FILLED WITH HATE.

FILLED WITH HATE AGAINST A SMALL GROUP THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE AND MORE VULNERABLE THAN THEY ARE.

THE IDEA THAT THERE ARE TEENAGE BOYS LINED UP TO GO THROUGH SEX CHANGE OPERATIONS TO PLAY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL IS LUDICROUS.

THIS IS A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

IHSAA HAD GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH THIS.

IT IS NOT A PROBLEM BUT THEY CAN SHOW THAT THEY ARE REALLY TOUGH.

THEY ARE REALLY STRONG BECAUSE THEY CAN GO OUT AND BEAT UP ON A CERTAIN SMALL GROUP OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

I THINK IT'S SHAMEFUL IS WHAT IT IS BUT IT'S TYPICAL OF THE KIND OF ATTITUDE OF THE SUPER MAJORITY.

THEY ALWAYS SAY THEY WANT THE DECISINS MADE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

IHSAA HAD THIS PROBLEM UNDER CONTROL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

NO, NO.

YOU HAVE AN AXE TO GRIND AND RUN IN THERE AND PASS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO SHOW HOW TOUGH YOU ARE.

AND IT'S FRANKLY DISGRACEFUL.

>> NIKKI KELLY, COMING BACK TO THE IDEA THAT THIS IS A WASTE OF MONEY, WHAT DID YOU HEAR AT THE STATE HOUSE, OF COURSE, THE ACLU FILED A LAWSUIT AFTER THE SENATE'S VOTE.

>> YEAH, WITHIN AN HOUR THEY OBVIOUSLY HAD THAT LINED UP.

THE PLAINTIFF IS A YOUNG TRANSGENDER GIRL FROM INDIANAPOLIS THAT PLAYS SOFTBALL AND WON'T BE ABLE TO PLAY IN AUGUST IF THIS LAW GOES INTO EFFECT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK BOTH SIDES ADMIT IT'S NOT A CURRENT PROBLEM.

BUT EVERYONE SEES THAT ONE EXAMPLE AND THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL IN THE SWIMMING AND THEY -- EVERYONE JUST THINKS IT'S A QUICK HIT.

IT DOESN'T HURT ANYONE KIND OF THING.

I THINK THEY ARE FORGETTING THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW NUMBERS OF THESE CASES AND THEY ARE SINGLING PEOPLE OUT.

>> AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS COULD BE -- I MEAN, REALLY DEVASTATING FOR YOUNG TRANS YOUTH.

JOHN, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC SIDE OF THIS.

OBVIOUSLY WE SAW THE RESPONSE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO NOW.

DOES THIS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR THE SAME KIND OF ECONOMIC RESPONSE LIKE MAYOR GREG BALLARD HAD MENTIONED?

>> I THINK IT POTENTIALLY DOES BECAUSE INDIANA WANTS TO BE SEEN AND HAS TRIED TO POSITION ITSELF AS A STATE THAT'S WELCOMING TO SMART PEOPLE, TO CREATIVE PEOPLE, TO AS SOMEBODY THAT A STATE THAT'S AT THE CROSS ROADS NOT ONLY LITERALLY OF THE NATION BUT IN TERMS OF THE BIO SECTOR IN TERMS OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE POSITIONED OURSELVES TO BE.

AND AS WE'VE SEEN AND HEARD FROM FOR INSTANCE THE CEO OF ELI LILY RECENTLY IN A SPEECH, YOU KNOW, THESE KINDS OF ISSUES, HOW WELCOMING A STATE IS, THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND CERTAINLY THIS COULD BE FACTORED INTO THE NOTION OF A QUALITY OF LIFE CERTAINLY FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY.

THOSE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES IN TERMS OF RECRUITING.

IF YOU WANT TO FLIP IT ON ITS HEAD AND THIS IS MAYBE A POLITICALLY CRASS WAY TO LOOK AT THINGS, THE ONE THING INDIANA HAS GOING FOR IT IN THAT REGARD IS A LOT OF OTHER STATES ARE DOING THE SAME THING.

YOU CAN'T REALLY -- AN EMPLOYER THAT DOESN'T WANT TO ASSOCIATE WITH A STATE THAT HAS THIS KIND OF STATUTE IN PLACE PROBABLY THEN WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GO TO TEXAS, WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GO -- I COULD CITE A LONG LIST OF STATES WHERE SOME -- INDIANA IS NOT ALONE.

IF IT WERE MORE ALONE AS IT WAS WITH RIFRA, IT COULD HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM.

>> THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE RIRA.

THE DISCRIMINATION WAS MORE WIDESPREAD AND THAT CAUSED ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT ONLY DEALS WITH MALES WHO BECOME FEMALES AND NOT FEMALES WHO BECOME MALES AND GO TO SPORTS.

YOU HAVE IT ON ITS FACE.

>> THAT'S THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE.

AND ANOTHER ATTEMPT ON THE PART OF INDIANA TO FUND THE INDIANA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION.

IT'S A GREAT THING.

>> I WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE IT'S A CORK IN PRACTICE BUT -- I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S DETERMINED IF A GENETIC TEST IS CONDUCTED ON EVERY CHILD OR WHAT'S ON YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE, THERE WERE DECADES IN INDIANA WHERE GENDER WAS NOT ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

I KNOW THAT BECAUSE WHEN MY KIDS TRIED TO GET DRIVER'S LICENSES AND THEY WERE NOT IDENTIFIED AS MALE OR FEMALE IT PROVED AN IMPEDIMENT AND A LOT OF HOOSIERS IN THAT BOAT.

IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS THINKING IT WILL BE WHAT'S ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE BECAUSE THEN YOU AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY ANY SPORT.

>> YOU ARE ASKING THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE TO THINK.

>> THAT'S YOUR HUSBAND YOU ARE TALKING -- >> MY HUSBAND DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM.

>> WHEN I PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL I HAD PHYSICALS.

THE IDEA THERE IS NO WAY TO IDENTIFY IS -- ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGHER LEVEL WHICH IS THE MAIN >> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS HE AGREES WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WHO ARE RELUCTANT TO PAUSE THE STATE'S GAS TAX.

BUT HE SAYS HE'S PLANNING ON WORKING WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON INFLATION RELIEF FOR HOOSIERS.

REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY AGAINST USING THE STATE'S BUDGET SURPLUS ON TEMPORARILY HALTING INDIANA'S 32-CENTS-PER-GALLON GAS TAX.

HOLCOMB SAYS HE WANTS TO SEE THE STATE'S REVENUE REPORT FOR MAY, AND THEN SEND A PLAN TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE RELIEF GETS EXACTLY TO HOOSIERS WHO ARE FEELING THE STING OF THIS NATIONAL INFLATION.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT COULD MEAN A SPECIAL SESSION FOR LAWMAKERS TO PASS THAT RELIEF.

>> NIKI KELLY, HOLCOMB SAYS HE'LL BRING A PLAN TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN EARLY JUNE.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM DEOCRATS ON WHAT THEIR PLANS FOR RELIEF ARE - WHAT HAVE REPUBLICANS SAID ON THE TOPIC?

>> BOTH HOUSE SPEAKER AND PRO TEM WERE UP FRONT THIS TIME THEY DON'T WANT TO FOCUS ON GAS RELIEF.

THAT NOT EVERYONE DRIVES.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLES.

THEY ARE STUCK ON THE WHOLE SOME PEOPLE GET GAS AS THEY DRIVE THROUGH SO 20% OF THE RELIEF WOULDN'T GO TO HOOSIERS.

IT APPEARS WHEN TALKING TO THEM ON TUESDAY THEY MENTIONED SORT OF VAGUELY ANOTHER ROUND OF AUTOMATIC TAXPAYER REFUND IN THAT SORT OF REALM.

THE FACT IS THAT EVERYONE GOT $125 THAT COST ABOUT $450 MILLION.

LAST MONTH WE WERE ALMOST A BILLION OVER IN REVENUE.

SO THEY HAVE THE MONEY FOR ANOTHER CHECK.

I SUGGESTED A GAS CARD FOR EVERYONE.

WHY NOT?

>> IT WOULD MAKE SENSE.

THE OTHER THING EVEN GOING BACK TO THE RELIEF CHECK THAT WE JUST GOT, THE AUTOMATIC CHECK, NOT ALL HOOSIERS HAVE TO FILE TAXES SO THAT DOESN'T GO TO ALL HOOSIERS THAT I'M AWARE OF.

JOHN, OBVIOUSLY DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN REALLY LOUD ABOUT THEIR PROPOSALS.

WITH A DO YOU THINK THE POLITICAL CALCULUS IS WITH REPUBLICANS COMING UP TO THE FLAIT TO TRY TO PITCH SOMETHING -- PLATE TO TRY TO PITCH SOMETHING.

>> THE SENSE THAT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.

SOME SORT OF RELIEF HAS TO BE HANDED OUT BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE SITTING ON THAT KIND OF FINANCIAL CUSHION THAT EXCEEDS EVEN THE ROSIEST PREDICTIONS, YOU CAN'T BE SEEN AS EBENEZER SCROOGE SITTING IN THE CORNER MISERLY COUNTING YOUR SHUCKLES AND SAYING REDUCE THESURPLUS POPULATION.

BE DAMNED WITH THE POOR.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S POLITICALLY TENABLE.

THERE IS A RELUCTANCE TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE GAS TAX BECAUSE IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT A FEW YEARS AGO TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS THE MECHANISM THAT WAS SET UP FOR FUNDING THAT A LOT OF LAWMAKERS AND WE ALL KIND OF LIKE THE NOTION THAT GOES IN TO THE GOVERNMENT COVERS HERE AND COMES OUT IN A TANGIBLE WAY WITH IMPROVED ROADS AND RESURFACING AND MILES OF HIGHWAY AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO UPSET THAT APPLE CART.

THESE OTHER TYPES OF MECHANISMS WOULD BE FAR MORE ATTRACTIVE.

ALSO, DOES GAS RELIEF ALWAYS -- IS IT AS POLITICALLY POTENT NEXT NOVEMBER AS IT WOULD BE NOW?

GAS PRICES TEND TO BE ALL OVER THE BOARD.

>> $125 BE POLITICALLY POTENT.

>> WHEN THE FORMER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AT ONE POINT SAID THERE ARE THREE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO HOOSIERS AND THEY ARE GAS PRICES, GAS PRICES AND GAS PRICES.

>> THAT'S TRUE NOW.

>> THEY WERE IMPORTANT BY THE NEXT ELECTION.

THEY WERE IN THE MOMENT BUT THE ECONOMY TOOK CARE.

THE ISSUE IN ADDITION HE RESCINDED THE TAX TEMPORARILY BUT THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE FOR ANOTHER DAY BECAUSE -- >> OKAY?

SO, I MEAN.

>> THE POLITICAL VALUE FOR THE PARTY.

>> PEOPLE NEED RELIEF FROM GAS NOW.

AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY CAUSED BY THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND IT NEEDS THE UKRAINE NOW.

THERE IS NOTHING THE STATE CAN DO ON THE ISSUE ON INFLATION AND NOTHING THAT PRESIDENT CAN DO OTHER THAN RAISE INTEREST RATES BUT PEOPLE WANT THE RELIEF NOW.

THE REPUBLICAN ATTITUDE IS STUDY IT, STUDY IT STUDY IT.

KNOW WHAT?

THEY NEED IT NOW.

THEY GOT THE MONEY TO DO IT NOW AND YOU MAY NOT -- NOT EVERYBODY DRIVES AND SOME DRIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES BUT THEY ALL BUY THEIR GROCERIES AND THE TRUCKS USE THE GAS AND EVERYBODY ELSE USES THE GAS TO GET THE PRODUCTS TO THEM SO THOSE PRICES ARE GOING UP ACROSS THE BOARD AND THEY WOULD BE LOWERED.

SO WHAT IF SOME PEOPLE DRIVE THROUGH INDIANA.

MAYBE THEY WILL STOP FOR LUNCH, TOO AND MAYBE PAY TAX ON WHATEVER THEY BUY AT THE STORE HERE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A RIDICULOUS ARGUMENT ON THEIR PART.

>> I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN COULD END THIS WAR ON DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION THAT HE HAS BEEN HALTING SINCE HE HAS COME THAT OFFICE.

>> HE IS HALTING ENERGY PRODUCTION?

NONE OF THOSE OIL COMPANIES HAVE INCREASED PRODUCTION GIVEN THE NEED NATIONWIDE.

THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING EXCEPT PUT THE PROFITS IN THEIR POCKETS.

>> YOU DON'T THINK STOPPING FEDERAL DRILLING.

>> I THINK WHAT THEY OUGHT TO DO IS NATIONALIZE THE OIL COMPANIES AND PRODUCE THE OIL WE NEED.

HOW IS THAT?

FOR A RADICAL ARGUMENT.

>> THAT'S FREE MARKET.

>> I BELIEVE DOMESTIC PRODUCTIOW IS HIGHER THAN IT WAS DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

I DON'T THINK ANY ONE PRESIDENT CAN BE HELD TO BLAME OR TO CHEER AND LAUD.

THERE ARE MARKET FORCES THAT ARE SO MUCH BROADER.

>> AND ONE THING I WILL SAY AND FIRST OF ALL THE DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR A TAX CUT, LOVE THAT.

I WONDER WHERE THE FASCINATION WITH GAS PRICES IS?

EVEN IF WE ELIMINATE THIS TAX BREAK, IF YOU FILL UP YOUR GAS TANK TWO TIMES AND SAVING 15, 20 BUCKS A MONTH.

IT'S GOOD.

>> HAVE YOU FILLED YOUR TANK UP LATELY -- MY LITTLE HONDA CIVIC -- WELL, THAT'S DIFFERENT.

MOST OF US DRIVE AMERICAN CARS.

AND THEY HAVE LARGER TANKS.

>> MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT IN AMERICA.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA YOU WANT TO SEE REPUBLICAN GOES BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND GET THIS REVENUE REPORT THAT WILL COME OUT BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS SAYING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A RECESSION IS COMING.

LET'S GO BACK AND GIVE RELIEF TO THE HOOSIERS.

>> AND MAYBE SOMETIME NEXT YEAR WE WILL DO SOMETHING.

>> TIME NOW FOR OUR VIEWER FEEDBACK.

EA EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC, ONLINE POLL QUESTION.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: WILL INDIANA REPUBLICANS PITCH INFLATION RELIEF FOR HOOSIERS?

A.

YES B.

NO LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: SHOULD INDIANA REPUBLICANS SUSPEND GAS TAXES THROUGH LABOR DAY?

79 79% SAID YES AND 21% SAID NO.

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

>> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS INDIANA WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SCHOOL SECURITY, IN RESPONSE TO THE TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING WHICH LEFT AT LEAST 21 DEAD.

THE GOVERNOR POINTED TO THE $110 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS FROM THE STATE SINCE 2018.

BUT HE ADVOCATED AGAINST NEW GUN REGULATIONS OR HALTING A NEW LAW TAKING EFFECT ON JULY 1, WHICH ELIMINATES THE PERMIT TO CARRY A HANDGUN IN PUBLIC.

HOLCOMB SAYS FOCUSING ON ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF SECURING SCHOOLS IS "TAKING OUR EYE OFF THE PROBLEM."

>> FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES - VIOLENT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

EVIL THAT LURKS WHETHER IT'S IN A SCHOOL OR A PLAYGROUND, YOU NAME IT - PARKING LOT.

THIS IS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.

>> MAY 25 - WEDNESDAY - WAS THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NOBLESVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL WEST SHOOTING.

>> ANN DELANEY, LET'S START WITH YOU.

IS THIS JUST THE WORLD WE LIVE IN?

>> IT'S THE WORLD THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE CREATED AND CREATED IT BECAUSE THEY LET THE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS EXPIRE.

SINCE THEY HAVE DONE THAT WE HAD A LITERAL EXPLOSION IN MASS SHOOTINGS.

WE HAD 27 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS THIS YEAR ALONE.

WE NEED TO REINSTATE THE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.

WE NEED NOT ALLOW LARGE MAGAZINES TO BE SOLD.

I HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH THE NOTION THAT YOU CAN HAVE TWO 18-YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO BUY A BEER WALK IN AND BUY ASSAULT WEAPONS AND HUNDREDS OF ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION AND THEN GO IN AND -- MASSACRE CHILDREN WHO HAD TO BE IDENTIFIED BY DNA BECAUSE IT WAS SO AWFUL.

TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN, TO HAVE THE NRA SO IN CONTROL OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT THEY WON'T STAND UP AND SAY THE SECOND AMENDMENT ALTHOUGH IT'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION AND PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE GUNS, THEY DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO ASSAULT WEAPONS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO MASSACRE OUR CHILDREN.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE NRA IS ALLOWING HAVE HAPPEN AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.

>> I MEAN, GOING OVER TO CHRIS, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ISSUE GOING BACK -- MY -- THE FIRST SCHOOL SHOOTING THAT I REMEMBER OBVIOUSLY WAS COLUMBINE AND GOES BACK TO HANDY HOOK AND THE LIST GOES ON AND BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS.

I'M CURIOUS FROM THE REPUBLICAN PERSPECTIVE THERE HAS BEEN A REFOCUSING TO MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID.

THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.

I'M KIND OF CURIOUS, WHAT DO YOF WONDER WHAT THE RUNWAY IS FOR REPUBLICANS TO REALLY SINCERELY ADDRESS THAT ISSUE IF THAT IS THE ISSUE THEY WILL HANG THEIR HAT ON FOR DEALING WITH MASS SHOOTINGS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MENTAL HEALTH IS CERTAINLY AN ARM OF IT.

IT'S NOT THE END ALL BE ALL OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE UNFORTUNATE THING IS YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE AWAY EVIL.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN CERTAINLY PUT IN ENOUGH MAKE INS TO PREVENT ACCESS TO THE FIREARMS FOR THE YOUNGER PEOPLE AND DISCUSSIONS WE CAN HAVE.

I THINK -- I WAS DISCUSSING WITH A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER BEFORE THIS TODAY AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED DOWN THERE AND HOW THE AMOUNT OF RED FLAGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THE AMOUNT OF ISSUES THAT THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ON STAFF THERE KIND OF THE AMOUNT OF HURDLES THEY COULD HAVE DEALT WITH BETTER AND HE SAID TO ME THAT IN DISCUSSION WITH LEGISLATORS AND HIS TIME IN THE STATE HOUSE THAT INDIANA DOES A GOOD JOB COMPARED TO OTHER STATES REGARDING SPECIFIC SCHOOL SAFETY.

WE HAVE THE SECURED SCHOOLS GRANTS THAT GET $18 MILLION ANNUALLY THAT SCHOOLS CAN APPLY FOR AND GET RESOURCE OFFICERS AND THINGS TO BETTER PROTECT THE SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES A SCHOOL SAFETY SPECIALIST IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL THAT HAS CONTINUOUS EDUCATION THROUGH THE YEAR OR -- >> HAD THAT IN TEXAS, TOO.

>> AGAIN, NO ONE THING IS GOING TO -- >> BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS WOULD HELP.

>> I WOULD ASK YOU WHAT YOUR DEFINITION OF AN ASSAULT WEAPON.

>> MILITARY GRADE WEAPON THAT MULTI-FIRES WHAT, 30 SHOTS IN FIVE SECONDS.

>> A SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE?

>> AND FULLY AUTOMATIC, YES.

THAT'S HOW I DEFINE IT.

>> FULLY AUTOMATICS ARE LEGAL.

>> WHAT THE GUY IN BUFFALO HAD WAS ILLEGAL IN NEW YORK AND WHAT DID HE DO, HE WALKED ACROSS THE BORDER AND PICKED IT UP AND CAME BACK.

>> THAT SHOWS YOU THAT UNLESS -- >> THAT'S WHY YOU NEED A FEDERAL BAN ON IT AND WHY IT NEEDS TO BE A CRIME TO CONTROL IT TO HAVE THOSE WEAPONS IN YOUR POSSESSION.

RED FLAG OR MENTAL HEALTH OR ANY OTHER ISSUE IS OBSCURING THE ISSUE.

THE ISSUE IS GUNS, GUNS.

>> AND OUTSIDE OF FULL SCALE GUN CONFISCATION -- >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO FULL SCALE GUN COMPENSATION BUT YOU CAN TAKE THE MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS AWAY.

>> I WANTED TO JUMP IN AND SAY THIS AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TALKING ABOUT THIS.

YOU WENT TO FULL SCALE GUN REGULATION.

AND SOME DEMOCRATS, NOT ANNE IN THIS SITUATION, WANT TO GO TO FULL SCALE ELIMINATING GUNS.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE NEVER TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE STUFF IN THE MIDDLE.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT WHICH I LOVE AND BREATHE BY IT, IT'S NOT ABSOLUTE.

NONE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS ARE ABSOLUTE.

THERE IS A CONVERSATION TO BE HAD IN THE MIDDLE ABOUT WHO CAN ACCESS CERTAIN LEVELS OF GUNS WHETHER THEY NEED BACKGROUND CHECKS, WHETHER THEY NEED LICENSES.

WE ARE NOT HAVING IT BECAUSE WE ARE SO STUCK OUT HERE ON THESE SORT OF FRINGES.

>> COMPETING PRIORITIES HERE.

WE HEAR FROM REPUBLICANS SAYING IN TEXAS AND ELSEWHERE, MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT'S THE ISSUE.

LET'S DOUBLE DOWN.

AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE LAWMAKERS IN INDIANA AND OTHER STATES WHO HAVE TRIED TO PUT A WEDGE BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS AND SCREENINGS AND ELEMENTARY CHILDREN WHERE DON'T YOU EVER GO NEAR OUR KIDS TO SCREEN FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR TO COUNSEL THEM UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

THERE IS A LOT OF -- >> CONCEAL CARRY WE JUST PASSED.

>> MOVING ON, AS PART OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S TECHNICAL SESSION, LAWMAKERS ANNOUNCED THE TOPICS FOR SUMMER STUDY COMMITTEES.

AMONG THE FIVE TOPICS ASSIGNED TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STUDY COMMITTEE - THC PRODUCTS AND POTENTIAL DECRIMINALIZATION.

THE SUMMER COMMITTEE IS TASKED WITH STUDYING DELTA 8, DELTA 9, AND OTHER THC PRODUCTS REGARDING POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS, POTENTIAL DECRIMINALIZATION, AND OTHER POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES.

DELTA-8 IS A LEGAL CANNABIS PRODUCT, AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN INDIANA BECAUSE OF THE 2018 FARM BILL.

DELTA-9 IS WHAT YOU MAY TRADITIONALLY THINK OF AS T-H-C, THOUGH UNDER THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR HEMP PRODUCTS.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER GREG TAYLOR SAYS HE HOPES THIS OPENS THE DOOR FOR REPUBLICANS TO APPROACH DECRIMINALIZATION.

>> I FELT LIKE IT WAS IN THE WRONG COMMITTEE.

BUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IT, I'LL BE HERE TO PROVIDE MY INPUT ON WHAT WE SHOULD DO.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMP RODRIC BRAY SAYS IT WAS ADDED SO LAWMAKERS COULD GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE.

>> JON SCHWANTES, WILL THIS SUMMER STUDY COMMITTEE MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THIS CONVERSATION?

>> IT MAY.

I MEAN, CLEARLY DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT A STAKE -- NOT JUST LAWMAKERS BUT THE CHAIR OF THE PARTY STATEWIDE SAID THIS IS THE ISSUE.

THIS IS THE PRIMARY DISTINGUISHING FACTOR AND YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS EITHER BECAUSE THEY ARE LIBERTARIANS OR THEY HAVE A PHILOSOPHY THAT GOVERNMENT PROBABLY SHOULDN'T WEIGH IN.

YOU HAVE VETERANS GROUPS WHICH INCREASINGLY ARE LOBBYING IN FAVOR OF THIS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S AS DANGEROUS FOR CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS TO TAKE A PRO LEGALIZATION STANCE BUT NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL WE SEE FEDERAL LAW CHANGE BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT SAYS I MAY AGREE WITH YOU AND MAY NOT, BUT AS LONG AS IT'S A FEDERAL CRIME, WE REALLY CAN'T THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE FIRST.

>> NOT REALLY BECAUSE HE CAN VETO IT AND THEY CAN OVERRIDE WITH JUST THE BASICS OF THE MAJORITY VOTES.

>> I THINK YOU SHARE HIS VIEW.

>> I WILL SAY I SEE THIS MOVING A BIT.

I THINK WE ARE WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS OF THIS HAPPENING HAVING BEEN AROUND THE STATE HOUSE FOR 20 YEARS, THE OVERALL FEEL IS WAY DIFFERENT.

AND ONE PART ABOUT THIS, THE DELTA 8 AND DELTA 9 STUFF, THAT'S ILLEGAL RIGHT NOW AND WHEN THEY PUT IT UNDER DECRIMINALIZATION, THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE TALK FROM DEMOCRATS THAT DAY, HEY, THIS IS LEGAL, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT CRIMINALIZING THAT?

AND THAT'S ANOTHER INTERESTING WAY THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO KEEP THAT ONE LEGAL.

LAST YEAR THERE WERE BILLS TO MAKE THAT ILLEGAL.

>> OBVIOUSLY, DEMOCRATS HAVE KIND OF HUNG THEIR HAT ON CANNABIS LEGISLATION OVERALL.

DO YOU SEE THIS AS A POSITIVE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE PUTTING THIS ON A SUMMER STUDY COMMITTEE DESPITE THE FACT THAT 2018 HAD A SUMMER STUDY COMMITTEE.

>> REPUBLICAN ATTITUDE TOWARD ANYTHING IS STUDY IT AND PAIN IT WILL GO AWAY.

I THINK IT IS AN INCREMENTAL STEP FORWARD.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT WE COULD DECRIMINALIZE IT STATEWIDE AND THEN WE WOULDN'T BE WASTING OUR PROSECUTORS AND POLICE TIME AND JAIL TIME ON IT WHICH WOULD BE A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT.

>> I WILL GIVE A LITTLE CREDIT TO REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING DOWN A SIMILAR PATH AS THE 2018 LOW THC BILL.

AND IT BECAME A NATIONAL STANDARD FOR THE BALANCING OF LOW THC BETWEEN MASS AVAILABILITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.

THEY ADOPTED THIS LAW THAT BECAME A STATEWIDE MODEL.

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL GO DOWN A SIMILAR PATH TO THAT.

>> FINALLY, THIS WEEKEND, INDIANAPOLIS IS HOST TO THE GREATEST SPECTACLE IN RACING - THE INDIANAPOLIS 500.

IT'S BECOME A TRADITION TO ASK WHAT THE PREDICTIONS ARE FOR THE 500.

CHRIS, WHO DO YOU HAVE IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE?

>> HE IS A ROOKIE IN INDY CAR BUT NOT IN THE RACE TRACK, JIMMY JOHNSON.

>> JIMMY JOHNSON.

OKAY, OKAY.

ANNE, WHO IS YOUR PICK?

>> A HOMETOWN BOY, ED CARPENTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NIKKI.

>> THAT WAS MINE.

>> I'M SORRY, YOU DIDN'T CHECK IN ADVANCE.

YOU CAN VOTE FOR HIM.

>> I WANT ED CARPENTER.

>> TONY KANAAN.

>> WHAT IS YOURS?

>> I HAVE A PICK.

JOSEPH NEWGUARDEN.

I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH BECAUSE I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT INDY CAR DESPITE GROWING UP NEXT TO THE RACE TRACK.

NO IDEA.

AND THAT WAS THE ODDS-ON FAVORITE FROM CBS WAS TOP FOUR WAS JOSEPH NEWGORDEN.

>> NOT KNOWING SOMETHING HAS NEVER PREVENTED ANYONE FROM MAKING A PICK.

>> IT WAS WHILE I WAS PACING IN HERE BEFORE ANYBODY GOT HERE.

YOU KNOW.

YOU GOT TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> SHARE YOUR WINNINGS WITH US WHEN YOU COLLECT THE CASH.

>> EXACTLY.

>> FULL TIME NO LOVE.

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

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY REPUBLICAN CHRIS MITCHUM JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS AND NIKI KELLY OF STATES NEWSROOM INDIANA 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 LAUREN CHAPMAN OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

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