[MUSIC] >>BRANDON: GOV.

HOLCOMB'S STATE OF THE STATE.

PROTESTS DON'T MATERIALIZE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

PLUS, MIKE PENCE BACK HOME AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 22ND, 2021.

[MUSIC] >>BRANDON: THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB ANNOUNCED IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS HE WANTS TO CREATE A NEW, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE THAT HE SAYS WILL HELP THE STATE'S ECONOMY RECOVER FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THE ADDRESS, DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TIED TO THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION, WAS PRE-TAPED AWAY FROM THE STATEHOUSE.

HOLCOMB BEGAN WITH A SOMBER REFLECTION ON THE TOLL COVID-19 HAS HAD ON INDIANA.

>>GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO CALCULATE THE FAR-REACHING RIPPLE EFFECT OF THE PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY LOSS OF LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS.

>>AFTER THAT, THE USUAL TALKING POINTS: HIS RECENTLY-ANNOUNCED BUDGET PROPOSAL; IMPROVEMENTS IN JOB CREATION AND TRAINING; INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND MORE.

THEN, THE NEW ANNOUNCEMENT: A REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, THROUGH THE INDIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

>>GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: THE IEDC WILL WORK WITH REGIONS THAT COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF PLACE, ADVANCE INDUSTRY SECTOR DEVELOPMENT, AND GROW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES AMONG REGIONS AND EDUCATORS AND EMPLOYERS AND OUR STATE'S WORKFORCE.

>>BRANDON: THE PROGRAM'S DETAILS - INCLUDING FUNDING - HAVEN'T BEEN DECIDED.

IS GOV.

HOLCOMB'S REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL A GOOD ONE?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL: DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY REPUBLICAN JENNIFER HALLOWELL 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.

ANN DELANEY, GOOD IDEA?

>>: IT'S AN IDEA THAT WAS TRIED BEFORE AND SCRAPPED UNDER THE MIC PENCE ADMINISTRATION AFTER ONE YEAR.

WHAT I LOVE US REPUBLICANS WANT SMALLER GOVERNMENT SO WE HAVE 92 COUNTIES AND WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 1,000 TRUSTEESHIPS AND 270 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND NOW WE WILL PUT ANOTHER LAYER OVER THAT OF APPOINTED PEOPLE, NOT ELECTED PEOPLE BUT APPOINTED PEOPLE.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WHOLE IDEA AND I THINK THEY FOUND THAT OUT AFTER THEY TRIED IT ON MIKE PENCE IS WHEN YOU HAVE APPOINTED OFFICIALS THERE, YOU CAN HAVE THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEBODY'S FAVORITE PROGRAM IS THE ONE THAT GETS FUNDED WHETHER IT'S WHAT THE REGION NEEDS OR NOT.

I THINK IT'S HIS ATTEMPT TO SAY HE IS DOING SOMETHING BALD BECAUSE FRANKLY, EVERYTHING HE IS DOING IS [INAUDIBLE] AND THIS WILL BE DOOMED TO FAILURE THE SAME WAY.

>>: JENNIFER HOLLOWELL PEOPLE NOTE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THIS PROPOSALS AND REGIONAL CITIES INITIATIVE THAT MIKE PENCE CREATED WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR THAT DID ONE ROUND OF PROJECTS WELL RECEIVEDAND IT SORT OF DISAPPEARED.

IS THIS THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN AND SHOULD WE TRY IT OVER AGAIN.

>>: THERE WERE SUCCESS STORIES THAT CAME OUT OF REGIONAL CITIES PROGRAM WITHOUT A DOUBT IN ALL CORNERS OF THE STATE AND A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT HAPPENED THAT WOULD NOT HAVE, BUT I WANT TO TAKE IT A STEP BACK AND SAY HOW REMARKABLE IT IS THAT WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY GOVERNOR IS EVEN PROPOSING THE POTENTIAL OF FUNDING SOMETHING NEW, A REGIONAL RECOVERY INITIATIVE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT WE ARE IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND STATES ARE MAKING DRASTIC CUTS TO THERE BUDGET AND WE ARE IN A POSITION WE ARE RESTORING WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIAL CUTS AND TALKING ABOUT THE FACT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO INVEST MORE MONEY AND I DON'T LOOK AT THIS IS A NEW LAYER.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GETTING REGIONS CITIES COUNTIES AND TOWNS TO COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER AND TOO OFTEN IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF POLITICAL BOUNDARIES OR GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OR WHATEVER WE HAVEN'T HAD THE COORDINATION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS IS THAT WHEN FOLKS ARE WORKING TOGETHER NOT COMPETING TOWN TO TOWN YOU CAN GET MORE DONE AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY DIFFERENT STRENGTHS THAT DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES CAN BRING SO IT'S FANTASTIC WE WOULD CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.

>>: SO USE THE MONEY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GAVE US THAT SOMETHING YOU COULD DO.

>>: WHEN WE GOT THE BRIEFING ABOUT THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS FROM THE HOLCOMB ADMINISTRATION WE ASKED THEM ABOUT HOW SIMILAR THIS IS AND DID THEY GIVE SOME INDICATION OF WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF YES, IT WILL BE THE SAME OR NO IT WON'T.

>>: THEY ADMITTED IT'S SIMILAR.

THEY ALSO SAID THAT MAYBE PROJECTS THAT HAVE MAY BE HEALTHCARE FOCUS OR MORE SOCIAL FOCUS MIGHT GET A LITTLE MORE LUCK.

THE INTERESTING PART I FOUND ABOUT IT IS IT SORT OF SEEMED TACKED ON LIKE IT WAS NOT PART OF HIS AGENDA OR BUDGET PROPOSAL.

IT DOESN'T HAVE ESTIMATES ON DOLLARS.

IT'S IF WE CAN GET TO IT THIS WOULD BE KIND OF COOL.

SO I THINK WE WILL SEE IF WE GET THERE, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE DETAILS THEN WHAT WE WERE GIVEN THIS WEEK.

>>: JON SCHWANTES I WANT TO STEP BACK AND ASK A BIGGER PICTURE QUESTION WHICH I KNOW IS DANGEROUS ASKING YOU THAT QUESTION, BUT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A SPEECH THAT WAS DIFFERENT IN LOCATION AND IN THE WAY IT WAS DELIVERED FOR OBVIOUS REASONS BUT OVER ALL DID IT FEEL LIKE OTHER THAN THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS DID IT FEEL LIKE A DIFFERENT STATE OF THE STATE.

>>: I THINK IT DID FEEL DIFFERENT AND MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO GET PAST THE LACK OF AN AUDIENCE.

THE ABSENCE OF THE APPLAUSE LINES AND THE OBLIGATORY INTRODUCTIONS OBLIGATORY IN RECENT YEARS OF GAS IN THE BALCONY AND VISUAL AIDS THAT HAVE BECOME INTO FAVOR WITH THESE SPEECHES.

SO WAS THE SUBSTANCE THE SAME IN THAT HE TALKED ABOUT OVERALL THE STATE IS IN GOOD SHAPE BECAUSE OF XYN SEE THAT MY ADMINISTRATION DID?

THAT WAS THERE.

DID HE OUTLINED THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WHICH WE ALREADY KNEW GOING INTO THE CERTAINLY BECAUSE OF COVID-19?

YES, HE DID.

BUT, IT'S HARD TO GET PAST THE FACT THAT AFTER LOOKING AT A LOT OF THESE SPEECHES AS WE ALL HAVE AND LISTENING TO A LOT OF THEM IT HAD A DIFFERENT RHYTHM TO IT CERTAINLY SO SUBS SINCE THE S SAME, BUT STYLE REALLY DID STRIKE ME AS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT.

>>: I WANT TO STAY ON TOPIC BECAUSE HE TOOK TIME IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE TO ADDRESS SCHOOL VOUCHERS...WITH A CAVEAT THAT'S SURPRISED SOME.

HOLCOMB'S ADDRESS TOUTED HIS ADMINISTRATION'S GUARANTEE OF K-12 FUNDING DURING THE PANDEMIC REGARDLESS OF WHETHER STUDENTS LEARNED VIRTUALLY OR IN-PERSON.

AND HE PUSHED FOR HELP TO ADDRESS LEARNING LOSS, SOMETHING HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE PROPOSING.

HE ALSO EMPHASIZED THAT PARENTS, IN HIS WORDS, "DESERVE TO HAVE OPTIONS ABOUT WHERE THEY SEND THEIR CHILD TO BE EDUCATED."

>>GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THOSE OPTIONS SHOULDN'T COME AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH EDUCATES 90% OF HOOSIER CHILDREN.

>>THAT'S THE SORT OF LINE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN PREACHING FOR YEARS.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS WILL PUSH TO EXPAND INDIANA'S SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM THIS SESSION...AND SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER GREG TAYLOR SENSES A FIGHT COULD BE COMING.

>>SEN.

GREG TAYLOR (D-INDIANAPOLIS): THAT WAS A TOUGH STATEMENT FOR HIM TO MAKE, BUT THE RIGHT STATEMENT.

DO I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

YEAH, IF HE PUTS DOWN THE GAUNTLET AND SAYS 'THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO,' THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>>JENNIFER HALLOWELL, IS THERE A RIGHT OVER SCHOOL VOUCHER EXPANSION LOOMING THIS SESSION?

>>: I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE A FIGHT.

WHAT THE LAST YEAR HAS SHOWN US IS THAT WHAT SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS AND VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HAVE DONE TAKEN DIFFERENT CHOICES HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE FACT THAT PARENTS AND STUDENTS NEED TO BE EMPOWERED TO CHOOSE THE SCHOOL AND THE PROGRAM THAT IS BEST FOR THEM.

THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING ADDING ANOTHER $377 IN NEW MONEY FOR EDUCATION AND A BIG PRIORITY FOR REPUBLICANS IS 1005 WHICH WILL EXPAND ELIGIBILITY AND CREATE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WHICH IS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL AS WE SOUGHT MANY STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME MAKING THE TRANSITION TO VIRTUAL LEARNING AND NEED THINGS LIKE TUTORING AND OTHER THINGS SO NOW IS THE TIME TO EXPEND ON THAT AND GIVE HOOSIERS THE OPTIONS TO GO TO THE SCHOOL THAT IS BEST SUITED FOR THEM.

>>: WHAT GOV.

HOLCOMB SAID SOUNDED AN AWFUL LOT LIKE WHAT YOU SAY ON THIS SHOW AN AWFUL LOT.

>>: I THINK THAT'S RIGHT AND I WAS VERY PLEASED TO HEAR IT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ABOUT CHOICE.

WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING IS DOUBLING.

PEOPLE WITH INCOMES AND FAMILIES WITH INCOMES OF $144,000 HAVE THESE VULTURES.

IF THEY ARE GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS NOW OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS THEY ARE PAYING FOR IT AND THEY CAN PAY FOR IT AND THIS IS GOING TO TAKE MONEY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION, WHICH THEY GOVERNOR UNDERSTATED IS 93 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS IN THIS STATE GO TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

WE ARE NOT PAYING TEACHERS WHEN HE WANTS TO PAY THEM, WHAT THEY NEED TO BE PAID AND INSTEAD WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE MAKING CLOSE TO $150,000 A YEAR A WINDFALL.

IF THEY SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL NOW AT PRIVATE EDUCATION THEY CAN AFFORD IT AND WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MORE MONEY FROM STUDENTS WHOSE PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD IT TO ENABLE THAT.

I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE THE BILL IS RIDICULOUS AND IT'S INTERESTING YOU CAN HAVE HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO GO.

THAT'S A NICE PROPOSAL.

THE PROBLEM IS THOSE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT VULTURES THAT EXIST AND THESE OTHER PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO TAKE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN FACT, MANY WILL NOT TAKE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN SO IT'S IRONIC WE ARE COMING UP WITH THAT IDEA AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE NOT FORCING THOSE INSTITUTES TO ADMIT CHILDREN IF ONE WENT WITH THE OTHER IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE, BUT INSTEAD IT'S A BLATANT APPEAL TO A MORE SYMPATHETIC STUDENT WITHOUT REALLY PROVIDING THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

>>: WERE YOU SURPRISED TO HEAR THIS FROM THE GOVERNOR?

>>: I WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO NEED FOR HIM TO RAISE THESE QUESTIONS OR TO RAISE THE HOPES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE GROWTH IN INDIANA, THE AGGRESSIVE GROWTH OF SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS IN INDIANA.

YES, IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING WHAT HE SAID BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE HOPE FOR BOTH SIDES AND FEAR FOR BOTH SIDES BUT BY SAYING THIS, WHICH I'M NOT SURE HOW ELSE YOU CAN INTERPRET THE NOTION THAT ONE STATEMENT HE SAID ABOUT PROTECTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS HE DIDN'T NEED TO DO IT.

IT MAY SIGNAL THAT HE RECOGNIZES THAT IF YOU LOOK BACK IN THE FUNDING TRENDS IN THE PAST FEW BUDGETS SCHOOLS AS A WHOLE K-12 HALF -- IT WAS OFTEN LABELED HISTORIC INCREASES AND IN TECHNICALLY SPEAKING THEY WERE HISTORIC BUT WHO FARED BEST AND THOSE WHICH SCHOOLS DID THEY TENDED TO BE PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT WERE GETTING VULTURES ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS AND THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE FOR THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN INDIANA.

>>: NIKI KELLY BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT LATER THIS SHOW WE DID NOT GET THE POST STATE OF THE STATE PRESS CONFERENCES WITH THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

WAS THAT DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE OF WHAT GOV.

HOLCOMB SAID?

>>: WE WANT A RESPONSE TO THAT.

1005 THE BILL THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT I LOOKED AT IT THIS WEEKEND IT'S $100 MILLION EACH YEAR OF NEW EXPENSE AND TO DO THAT AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE SAYING WE DON'T HAVE ANY ONGOING MONEY.

ONGOING PROGRAM.

NOT ONE TIME WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR TEACHERS SALARIES THAT'S A BIG, BIG CELL.

>>>IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT A LACK OF ANYTHING HAPPENING IS NEWSWORTHY...BUT THIS WEEK, PROTESTS FAILED TO MATERIALIZE AT THE INDIANA STATEHOUSE DESPITE FBI WARNINGS OF ARMED GATHERINGS AT ALL 50 STATE CAPITOLS AROUND PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S INAUGURATION.

GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB ANNOUNCED LAST FRIDAY THE STATE GOVERNMENT COMPLEX IN DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS WOULD BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH WEDNESDAY, THE DAY OF BIDEN'S INAUGURATION.

AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CANCELED ALL LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY FOR THE WEEK.

BUT NEITHER SUNDAY - WHEN A PROTEST WAS ADVERTISED - NOR WEDNESDAY, THE DAY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION, SAW A SINGLE TRUMP SUPPORTER RALLYING OUTSIDE THE STATEHOUSE.

HOLCOMB STOOD BY HIS DECISION.

>>GOV.

ERIC HOLCOMB: AND I WILL ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND ALWAYS BE SAFE, NOT SORRY.

STATE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DOUG CARTER SAID HE WISHES HE COULD PREDICT HUMAN BEHAVIOR.

>>SUPT.

DOUG CARTER: THAT WOULD GIVE US A REALLY CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EXPECTS US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>>CARTER SAYS HIS ADVICE TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WAS INFLUENCED BY THE BOMBING IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE ON CHRISTMAS, THE INSURRECTION AT THE US CAPITOL EARLIER THIS MONTH AND "ONE OF THE MOST LIKELY DIVISIVE TRANSFERS OF POWER" IN THE NATION'S HISTORY.

NIKI KELLY, SHOULD HOLCOMB'S DECISION BE SECOND-GUESSED?

>>: I DON'T THINK IT'S AS MUCH SUCKING GUESSING BECAUSE I WAS ASKING THESE QUESTIONS TOO.

IT'S A FAIR QUESTION BECAUSE THE CONCERN IS WE ARE SETTING SOME SORT OF PRECEDENTS.

FOR DECADES I'VE BEEN COVERING THIS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND THEY WERE NOT ALL FRIENDLY AND WE'VE NEVER SHUT IT DOWN.

AND THEY SAID REPEATEDLY THERE WAS NO CREDIBLE THREAT SO THERE IS SORT OF A DISCONNECT BETWEEN IF THERE IS NO CREDIBLE THREAT, WHY DID WE GIVE UP 4 DAYS OF WORK FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

>>: JON SCHWANTES ISO REACTIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS WHICH WAS PEOPLE THOUGHT WASN'T THIS AN OVERREACTION.

THAT'S A WHOLE WEEK OF ACTIVITY GONE AND YET AT THE SAME TIME OTHER PEOPLE SAID WHAT DO YOU WANT HIM TO NOT DO ANYTHING AND BE WRONG SO WAS THIS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF REACTION, IF YOU WILL FROM THE GOVERNOR AND LEADERS.

>>: IT PROBABLY WAS.

IN FACT, I'M NOT SURE THIS IS A CLOSE CALL.

HAVE WE FORGOTTEN ALREADY WHAT WE SAW WHEN WE WATCHED WITH HORROR WHAT HAPPENED AT THE U.S. CAPITOL A FEW WEEKS BACK.

THERE WAS CERTAINLY NO PRECEDENT FOR THAT UNLESS YOU GO BACK TO THE WAR OF 1812 WITH THAT INSURRECTION AND THAT DIRECT ASSAULT ON THE NATION'S CAPITAL.

IT'S EASY TO SAY WE'VE HAD ANGRY CROWDS AT THE STATEHOUSE.

WE HAVE, BUT WE ARE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES AND UNPRECEDENTED TIME SO IT SEEMS TO ME THIS HAD TO BE THE CALL THAT WAS MADE BECAUSE THINK ABOUT THE FLIPSIDE IF THE DECISION HAD BEEN MADE TO PROCEED WITH NORMAL MEETINGS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF LIFE OR SOME TRAGEDY, BOY, I'D HATE TO THINK ABOUT THE REPERCUSSIONS IN SECOND-GUESSING SO IT SEEMS LIKE THIS REALLY DID HAVE TO HAPPEN AND I WOULD SAY A WEEK WITHOUT GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS NOBODY WILL EVEN NOTICE AT THE END.

IT'S INCONSEQUENTIAL IN TERMS OF THE RIBBON OF THE SESSION.

>>>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: DID GOV.

HOLCOMB MAKE THE RIGHT CALL TO SHUT DOWN STATE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS OUT OF CONCERN FOR PROTESTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY NEVER MATERIALIZED?

A.

YES B.

NO LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: WILL THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S POLITICAL FUTURE?

MOST OF YOU SAID, YES,, VERY FEW SAID POSITIVE, 48 PERCENT SAID IT WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT AND 46 PERCENT SAY IT WILL NOT AFFECT HIS POLITICAL FUTURE.

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

>>>NOW FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE RETURNED HOME TO INDIANA THIS WEEK AFTER ATTENDING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S INAUGURATION.

SUPPORTERS GREETED THE FORMER INDIANA GOVERNOR AND HIS FAMILY WHEN THEY LANDED AT THE COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

PENCE SPOKE TO THE CROWD, THANKING GOD, HIS FAMILY, THE INDIANA REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT.

>>VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: SERVING AS YOUR VICE PRESIDENT WAS THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY LIFE.

I LEAVE THIS POSITION MORE IMPRESSED WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THEN WHEN I STARTED.

>>PENCE ALSO CONGRATULATED BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS ON TAKING THEIR OFFICES.

THE HOOSIER REPUBLICAN ADDED HE'S PROMISED HIS WIFE KAREN THEY WOULD MOVE BACK TO INDIANA THIS SUMMER.

JON SCHWANTES, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS NEXT FOR MIKE PENCE?

>>: HE HAS INDICATED CERTAINLY HE WANTS TO STAY IN INDIANA AND HE HAS PROMISED HIS WIFE THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE BACK THIS SUMMER.

I WILL TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD AND I ASKED THE GOVERNOR WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR HE WAS THE GUEST I WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS.

>>: FIRST OF THE YEAR.

>>: I HAD TO HAVE IT.

IT WAS THE GOVERNOR THE GOVERNOR YOU POINTED OUT DURING THE STATE OF THE STATE THERE WERE 110,000 UNFILLED JOBS OUT THERE PERHAPS YOU COULD TALK TO THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AND MAYBE THROW HIM A BONE.

OBVIOUSLY THAT IS NOT THE JOB THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT IS LOOKING FOR, BUT IN THIS VIRTUAL WORLD I'M SURE HE CAN LIVE IN INDIANA AND TO BE A GUEST OR HAVE A PROGRAM ON ANY NUMBER OF PROGRAMS ARE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE TO HIS LIKING IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING HIS VISIBILITY, WHICH IS A PRIORITY FOR HIM.

>>: NIKI KELLY A LOT OF US ASSUME HE HAS PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS IN THE 2024 RACE IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FAVORITE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION'S AT THIS POINT, ALTHOUGH THERE'S TIME LEFT ARE YOU SURPRISED HE WILL END UP BACK IN INDIANA FOR NOW?

>>: FOUR YEARS AS A LONG TIME HE CAN SPEND SOME TIME HERE AND KEEP HIS PROFILE UP.

I WOULD IMAGINE A DEAL WOULD BE COMING HE ONCE HAD A RADIO SHOW SO MAY BE SOME SORT OF FORAY INTO THAT TO TRY AND KEEP HIS PROFILE UP, BUT HE CAN DO THAT FROM INDIANA.

>>: JENNIFER IF YOU ARE ADVISING MIKE PENCE ON WHAT TO DO NEXT ASSUMING PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS ARE IN HIS SIGHT WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST HE DO.

>>: I DON'T THINK HE NEEDS MY ADVICE BUT I SUSPECT HE WILL SETTLE INTO PRIVATE LIFE AND MAP OUT THE PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE.

I ASSUME PART OF THAT WILL BE SPENDING SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT SOME KEY POLICY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS AND DEFENDING AGAINST WHAT I ASSUME WILL BE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ATTEMPTS TO ROLL BACK TAX REFORMS AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS HE CHAMPIONED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND I THINK THE MOST OBVIOUS THING IS HE WILL PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE 2022 ELECTIONS.

THERE ARE 38 GOVERNOR RACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I EXPECT HE WILL CRISSCROSS THE COUNTRY HOPING FOR HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN AN EFFORT TO REGAIN MAJORITIES AND HE WILL BE A STAR REQUESTED ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PLAY A BIG ROLE THERE.

>>: AND A LADY WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR OUT [OFF MIC] PENCE OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS.

>>: KEEP HIS VISIBILITY UP.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT WILL BE FOR REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN THE NEXT GO AROUND SINCE HE'S WITH THE LEADER DONALD TRUMP AND THEY STILL ASSERT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN FROM THEM I THINK FOR HIS PUBLIC PROFILE NATIONALLY BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT JOE BIDEN AND KEMAL HARRIS WERE ELECTED AND ATTENDING THE INAUGURATION I THINK HE DESERVES CREDIT FOR THAT IT WOULD BE NICE IF HE WAS NOT REPEATING LIES THROUGH THE STORMING OF THE CAPITAL, BUT HE DID LIKE A LOT OF OTHER REPUBLICAN LEADERS SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CUTS.

HIS BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THERE'S NO CHARISMA CHARISMA THERE.

I MEAN HE IS A GOOD ENOUGH SPEAKER AND HE LOSES SINCERITY BUT HE DOES NOT DRAW THE SAME KIND OF SUPPORT THAT DONALD TRUMP DOES AND WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER DONALD TRUMP WILL TRY AND RUN AGAIN OR NOT.

IF HE IS IMPEACHED AND THEY VOTE TO PREVENT HIM FROM SEEKING OFFICE HE WILL STILL TAKE THAT TO THE SUPREME COURT AND IT WILL BE CONSTANT TURMOIL FROM DONALD TRUMP BETWEEN NOW AND 2024 AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MIKE PENCE RISES ABOVE THAT OR STANDS OUT IN THAT ENVIRONMENT FRANKLY.

>>: HE'S A GREAT SPEAKER AND HE HAS A DEPTH OF RELATIONSHIPS.

HE HAS AN INCREDIBLE NETWORK WITH DONORS THAT HE IS BUILT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS SO YES, HE HAS STAR POWER.

>>: HOW MANY BIG DONORS SPEAK TO HIM MORE THAN THEY DO THE CONGRESSIONAL PEOPLE.

>>: I WANT TO STAY ON THIS TOPIC BECAUSE SOMETHING SHE SAID STRUCK ME HE WAS A BIG DRAW BEFORE THE WORLD OF DONALD TRUMP.

BUT I THINK DONALD TRUMP HAS SHIFTED WHAT WE THINK OF AS A BIG DRAW OUT NOBODY WAS DRAWING THOSE CROWDS WE REGULARLY SAW FROM HIS PRESIDENTIAL RUN THROUGH REALLY THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

SO ASSUMING AND I KNOW THIS IS PERHAPS A BIG ASSUMPTION NIKI KELLY ASSUMING DONALD TRUMP IS NOT A CANDIDATE IN 2024 ARE THE GOALPOSTS MOVES OR DO THEY SETTLE BACK TO WHERE THEY WORK IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CONSIDER A BIG DRAW ON THE POLITICAL SCENE.

>>: THEY WILL SETTLE BACK.

DONALD TRUMP WAS CLEARLY A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE AND PRESIDENT THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN AND WE WILL PROBABLY GO BACK TO MORE SORT OF STATUS QUO WHEN IT COMES TO THESE THINGS.

>>: JON SCHWANTES I WANT TO FINISH WITH YOU ON THIS.

IF DONALD TRUMP TRIES TO RUN AGAIN IN 2024 ASSUMING CONVICTION FOR IMPEACHMENT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

WHAT DOES THAT DO TO MIKE PENCE'S POLITICAL FUTURE?

>>: I THINK MIKE PENCE HAS A FUTURE.

LET'S SAY THAT BECAUSE -- LET'S NOT FORGET BEFORE DONALD TRUMP WAS EVEN ON THE SCENE WHEN PEOPLE SAW HIM AS KIND OF REAL ESTATE MOGUL AND A NETWORK TV GUY.

WE HAD MIKE PENCE WHO YEAR-AFTER-YEAR WAS WINNING STRAW POLL VOTES AT GROUPS AND HE WAS THE DARLING OF THE EVANGELICAL WING OF THE PARTY AND THE MOST CONSERVATIVE ACTIONS IN THE PARTY SO I PRESUME THAT -- I DON'T THINK HE'S DONE ANYTHING NECESSARILY YES, HE DID BREAK WITH THE PRESIDENT IN THE END BUT THOSE ARE ALLIANCES THAT PRECEDED THIS FASCINATION WITH THE 45TH PRESIDENT AND I PRESUME THOSE TIES WOULD BE STRONG.

>>: MAYBE THAT IS THE BIGGEST WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WILL HE DO NEXT.

THE QUESTION WHAT WILL DONALD TRUMP DO NEXT HANGS OVER ALL OF THAT, BUT WE WILL SEE.

THAT IS INDIANA WE CAN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY REPUBLICAN JENNIFER HALLOWELL 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 CAN'T STAY HEALTHY, WEAR A MASK AND JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.