♪ DEMOCRATS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE INFLATION RELIEF. THE SUPREME COURT HOBBLES THE EPA'S POWER TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE. PLUS, MORE RALLIES FOR ABORTION RIGHTS AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 8, 2022. >> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS. >> THIS WEEK, INDIANA DEMOCRATS CRITICIZED REPUBLICANS FOR FAILING TO PROVIDE MORE IMMEDIATE INFLATION RELIEF. A SPECIAL SESSION TO PROVIDE SUCH RELIEF WAS SUPPOSED TO BEGIN WEDNESDAY. BUT IT WAS DELAYED FOR WEEKS AS REPUBLICANS CRAFT AN ABORTION BAN. DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR A SUSPENSION OF INDIANA GAS TAXES FOR MONTHS, A CALL THEY RENEWED WEDNESDAY. THEY ARE ALSO PUSHING FOR THE PROPOSED $225 INFLATION RELIEF CHECKS TO GO TO ALL HOOSIERS, NOT JUST THOSE WHO FILED INCOME TAX RETURNS LAST YEAR. REPRESENTATIVE CHERRISH PRYOR SAYS THE GOP PLAN WOULD LEAVE OUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. REP. CHERRISH PRYOR: EVERY HOOSIER HAS VALUE AND DESERVES TO LEAD THEIR LIVES WITH DIGNITY. >> GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB HAS SAID EXPANDING HIS INFLATION RELIEF PLAN WOULD BE TOO COMPLICATED FOR A SPECIAL SESSION. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR SHELLI YODER SCOFFS AT THAT IDEA AS REPUBLICANS TAKE WEEKS TO CREATE THEIR ABORTION BAN. SEN. SHELLI YODER: WE ARE ABOUT TO CRIMINALIZE HEALTH CARE. WE ARE ABOUT TO CRIMINALIZE WOMEN. WHAT, THAT'S NOT TOO DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT. >> THE SPECIAL SESSION IS SET TO BEGIN JULY 25. >> SHOULD REPUBLICANS HAVE COME IN TO QUICKLY PASS INFLATION RELIEF? IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL DEMOCRAT DREW ANDERSON REPUBLICAN CHRIS MITCHEM JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS AND WHITNEY DOWNARD, SENIOR REPORTER FOR THE INDIANA CAPITOL CHRONICLE I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE BUREAU CHIEF BRANDON SMITH THANKS VERY MUCH TO LAUREN FOR HOLDING DOWN THE FORT FOR ME FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, BECAUSE COVID IS NO JOKE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. CHRIS MITCHEM, EVEN IF REPUBLICANS WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO COME IN ON ABORTION, WHY NOT QUICKLY GET INFLATION RELIEF PASSED NOW? >> I THINK THERE'S SEVERAL REASONS FOR IT. NUMBER ONE IF YOU WANT TO BELIEVE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, IT'S THE INFLATION THAT MAY BE HOLDING THIS UP MORE SO THAN THE ABORTION THING. YOU'VE HEARD EXAMPLES OF THE DIFFERENT CAUCUSES HAVING WAYS OF APPROACHING IT. IT WOULD BE THE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE THING TO DO. IF YOU COME IN WITHOUT A SET PLAN IN PLACE AND YOU'RE USING THE PER DIEM AND TAKING TIME AWAY FROM LEGISLATORS BACK IN THEIR HOME DISTRICTS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE IN YOUR PARTY WHAT THE MAIN IDEA IS, THAT COULD BE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. THIRD, I THINK THE ABORTION WRINKLE WITHOUT ACTUALLY DISCUSSING THE POLICY THROWS IN ANOTHER HURDLE ANY ABORTION ACCESS RESTRICTION IS GOING TO BE MEDIATED WITH MORE PARENTAL CARE. THERE'S MORE WRINKLES NOW THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE REASON FOR THE DELAY. >> HAS THE ABORTION BAN AND SPENDING AROUND THAT COMPLICATED THE INFLATION RELIEF? >> LET'S BE CLEAR, IT WAS USE USED TO TALK ABOUT AABORTION. THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN IT DONE AT THE END OF JUNE AND THEN THEY PUNTED TO THE END OF JULY BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT WAS WAITING ON THAT AND THEN TOWARDS THE END. IT MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS SPECIAL SESSION WAS ONLY ABOUT ABORTIONS AND CHECKS AND ACTUALLY HELPING HOOSIERS FIND RELIEF DURING THIS TIME WAS SECONDARY. AND THAT'S BEEN THE WHOLE ENTIRE AGENDA FROM THE REPUBLICANS. >> WHITNEY, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT THE GROUPS OF PEOPLE IT LEAVES OUT. THOSE WHO DON'T MAKE ENOUGH TO FILE THEIR INCOME TAX RETURNS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL SECURIT, PEOPLE ON DISABILITY. FOLKS IF THEY'VE JUST MOVED TO INDIANA BUT EVEN HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A YEAR, DIDN'T FILE TAXES LAST YEAR IN THE STATE, THAT SORT OF THING. IS THIS DELAY POTENTIALLY AN INDICATION THAT MAYBE THEY ARE LOOKING AT EXPANDING THAT PROPOSAL? OR IS IT REALLY IN YOUR MIND MORE ABOUT THE ABORTION STUFF? >> I'M NOT ACTUALLY SURE THAT THEY ARE AS UNIVERSALLY TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO INFLATION RELIEF. WHEN SENATOR LIZ BROWN WAS TALKING IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE JUST 10 OR SO DAYS AGO, SHE DID NOT SEEM TO BE A FAN OF IT. SHE QUESTIONED WHY WE WEREN'T DEDICATING THAT FUNDING TO HIGHER REIMBURSEMENTS FOR FOSTER CARE OR OTHER SERVICES THE STATE SHOULD BE PROVIDING. I'M NOT SURE REPUBLICANS ARE AS UNITED ON INFLATION RELIEF. >> THIS IS THE GOVERNOR'S INFLATION RELIEF PROPOSAL THAT SEEMED TO IMMEDIATELY HAVE BUY-IN FROM REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. IS IT IN TROUBLE? IS THIS THE SMARTEST WAY TO SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS? >> THIS DOES SUGGEST THAT MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER. WHEN YOU HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY, A SUPER-SUPERMAJORITY, THE ABILITY TO DOLL WHATEVER YOU WANT AND WALK OVER THE OTHER SIDE. MY APOLOGIES. [LAUGHING] YOU THINK THE CASUAL VIEWER MIGHT SAY THIS IS THE EASIEST JOB IN TOWN, BUT ACTUALLY BY HAVING THAT LARGE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS HAVE R BEHIND THEIR NAME, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE IDEOLOGY STOPS. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES AND OPINIONS. YOU CAN'T BE RESPONSIBLE TO COME BACK IN WITHOUT A PLAN. BUT THE GOVERNOR HEARING THAT COULD SAY I KIND OF DID THAT. I HAVE THE NEWS RELEASE. EVEN WHEN LEADERSHIP IS ON BOARD, IT PROVES WHEN YOU HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY, CAUCUSES OF THAT SIZE, THEY'RE UNWIELDY. HAD THERE BEEN AGREEMENT ON THAT ASPECT OF IT, IT WOULD HAVE MADE PROBABLY POLITICAL SENSE TO BE SENSITIVE AND AGGRESSIVE ON INFLATION, COME IN AND HANDLE THAT PART, BUT THEN SAY WE WANT TO BE VERY JUDICIOUS AND DELIBERATIVE IN OUR APPROACH TO SOMETHING AS NUANCED AS REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND SAFEGUARDING WOMEN'S HEALTH. THEY COULD HAVE DONE BOTH PERHAPS. THAT MAY BE A SIGNAL THAT IN FACT, AS WHITNEY SUGGESTS. >> IT'S NOT THE SLAM DUNK WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE. >> JUST TO INTERJECT REALLY QUICK, THAT'S WHY DEMOCRATS WANTED TO PAUSE THE STATE GAS TAX. IT WOULD HAVE GIVEN RELIEF DIRECTLY TO HOOSIERS RIGHT AWAY. PEOPLE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEIR CHECKS YET. >> THE TAX REFUND FROM LAST YEAR. >> YEAH, PAUSE THE GAS TAX. THEY WON'T DO IT. >> BUT YOU WOULD HAVE HAD PEOPLE SAY HEY I'M ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE DRIVE. YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOME GROUP PROBABLY LEFT OUT OF THE BENEFIT. YOU COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT EVERYBODY BENEFITS WHEN FUEL PRICES GO DOWN BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS. >> THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT. >> RIGHT. HOW MUCH IT TRICKLES DOWN. >> THEY WOULD SEE A LOT MORE HELP BY HAVING THEIR GAS TAX PAUSED THAN A CHECK. >> THERE'S NO POINT OF BRINGING THE LEGISLATORS IN HAVING THEM TWIDDLE THEIR THUMBS. >> THE DEMOCRATS HAD A PLAN BUT COULDN'T GET IT TOGETHER. >> TIME FOR VIEWER FEEDBACK. EACH WEEK WE POSE AN UNSCIENTIFIC, ONLINE POLL QUESTION. THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: WILL $225 MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO HOOSIERS STRUGGLING WITH HIGH INFLATION? A. YES B. NO LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: ARE YOU SURPRISED U.S. SN. TODD YOUNG VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE BIPARTISAN SENATE GUN BILL? 58% SAID YES, 42% SAID NO, WHICH I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED THE MARGIN OF THE SENATE RACE THIS FALL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE POLL. THE US SUPREME COURT RECENTLY RULED IN FAVOR OF INDIANA AND 18 OTHER STATES IN A CASE TO LIMIT HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS, CLIMATE ADVOCATES SAY IT HINDERS THE COUNTRY'S ABILITY TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE. BEFORE IT WAS STALLED IN COURT, THE OBAMA-ERA CLEAN POWER PLAN AIMED TO SET CARBON EMISSIONS LIMITS FOR THE ENTIRE POWER GENERATION INDUSTRY - EFFECTIVELY TRANSITIONING UTILITIES TOWARD RENEWABLES AND AWAY FROM COAL AND NATURAL GAS. THE COURT RULED THE EPA CAN'T ADOPT TRANSFORMATIONAL RULES LIKE THIS UNLESS DIRECTED TO DO SO BY CONGRESS. THOUGH IT CAN USE OTHER TOOLS TO LOWER EMISSIONS, LIKE REGULATING INDIVIDUAL POWER PLANTS. THE HOOSIER ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL'S KIM FERRARO SAYS FOR ADVOCATES WHO WANT TO SEE EVERY TOOL USED TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE - IT'S DISAPPOINTING. KIM FERRARO: THIS OPINION GOES A LONG WAY TO GUTTING EPA'S AUTHORITY TO - TO TACKLE THIS. >> INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA SAYS THE RULING WILL BE GOOD FOR INDIANA'S COAL INDUSTRY - BUT THAT'S UNCERTAIN. MANY UTILITIES ARE CLOSING COAL PLANTS IN FAVOR OF CHEAPER ENERGY SOURCES. >> DREW ANDERSON, DUKE ENERGY - ONE OF INDIANA'S MAJOR UTILITIES - ALREADY SAID THIS RULING WON'T AFFECT ITS PLANS. SO HOW MUCH DOES THIS REALLY AFFECT INDIANA? >> WELL, IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT US IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. ONE, WE'RE ALREADY ONE OF THE WORST POLLUTED STATES IN THE NATION. ONE OF THE WORST POLLUTED WATERWAYS, ALL THAT BAD STUFF THAT REPUBLICANS CREATED. BUT WHY COMPANIES ARE STEPPING UP IS THEY'RE DOING WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM SHOULD BE DOING. WE'VE SEEN THAT IN OTHER SITUATIONS, ABORTION, GUN POLICIES. COMPANIES ARE THE ONES THAT NEED TO STEP UP BECAUSE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM ACTUALLY AREN'T GETTING IT DONE. >> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THIS RULING COULD GO FAR BEYOND THE EPA HERE. IT COULD BE APPLIED TO EVERY OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY AND CURB THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO ADDRESS IN THE CASE OF CLIMATE CHANGE A CRISIS. IS THIS RULING POSITIVE FOR THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE IN THE WAY IT LIMITED FEDERAL AUTHORITY? >> I THINK SO. WHAT THIS DECISION SAYS FROM AN INDIANA PERSPECTIVE, IT HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE THAN IT DOES NOW. BASICALLY THE COURT CAME OUT AND SAID EPA THIS LARGE RULE YOU MADE CAN'T BE DONE WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. WE'RE LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN FOR MORE SPECIFIC THINGS. BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO DO A LARGE SWATH OF THINGS AT ONCE, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. HEY, A PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION COMES IN AND WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT, THE SUPREME COURT IS TAMPERING THAT DOWN. IT'S GOING TO GIVE ENERGY COMPANIES MORE OF ALLEY — A LEEWAY TO HAVE MORE ROOM TO LEDGE LATE. >> IS IT TOO BIG OF AN ASK TO ASK CONGRESS TO LEDGE LATE — LEGISLATE. >> YEAH, YOU COULDN'T GET A UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION THAT APPLE PIE IS GOOD AND THE FLAG ARE GOOD. >> PEACH GROWERS IN GEORGIA WOULD HAVE A REAL PROBLEM. >> YOU CAN'T DO THAT. YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS ISN'T ABOUT COAL POLLUTION OR EMISSIONS. IT IS ON ITS FACE, BUT IT'S A MUCH DEEPER ISSUE. IT'S UNFOLDING AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. THE SUPREME COURT RAISED A LOT OF EYEBROWS BY EVEN TAKING UP THIS CASE, BECAUSE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE RULE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAD BASICALLY BEEN UNDONE ALREADY BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAD SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO RESURRECT IT. WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON A NEW RULE. SO, IT WAS TO A LARGE EXTENT A MOOT QUESTION ANYWAY. AND THE COURT, THIS IS OF COURSE A COURT THAT PURPORTS NOT TO BE AN ACTIVIST COURT WENT OUT OF ITS WAY. FOR THOSE WHO THINK IT'S NOT ABOUT COAL, RED FLAG ONE. AND THIS IS THE SAME ARGUMENT WE HEARD TO SOME EXTENT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS SESSION. WE DON'T LIKE AGENCIES DOING ALL THESE RULES. WHETHER IT'S IDEM OR OTHER AGENCIES. WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WANT. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DO ALL THE PROMULGATION OF RULES? THAT WOULD BE NIGHTMARES FOR THEM AND NOTHING COULD MAKE THAT APPEALING. WHAT I SEE IS ALMOST A DISDAIN FOR EXPERTISE, PROFESSIONAL CIVIL SERVICE EXPERTISE IN ANY AGENCY. AND AS IF THAT'S SOMEHOW EVIL, INHERENTLY EVIL AND THE ONLY THING THAT IS PURE ARE THOSE RULES PROMULGATED BY THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THEMSELVES, WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AS A STATE OR A COUNTRY FOR A HUNDRED PLUS YEARS. >> LARGE, OVERARCHING RULES LIKE THAT. >> WHITNEY, WHEN IT COMES TO INDIANA ENERGY POLICY, INDIANA IS MORE RELIANT ON COAL THAN A LOT OF OTHER STATES, BUT UTILITIES ARE MOVING AWAY FROM THAT IN FAVOR OF THINGS LIKE NATURAL GAS. THIS REALLY WON'T ULTIMATELY IMPACT THAT AT ALL, WILL IT? >> NO, I DON'T SEE IT HAVING ANY CHANGE ON WHAT'S ALREADY IN THE WORKS. I THINK WHAT'S A LITTLE COUNTER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IS BORDERS DON'T EXTEND INTO THE SKY OR IN THE GROUND OR IN THE STREAMS, WHAT HAPPENS IN ANDERSON UP RIVER IS GOING TO AFFECT INDIANAPOLIS. YOU CAN'T ALWAYS SAY LOCAL RULE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A POLICY FOR PEOPLE DOWN RIVER. >> SO, DOZENS OF HOOSIERS RALLIED OUTSIDE THE STATEHOUSE WEDNESDAY TO "KEEP THE FIRE BURNING" IN SUPPORT OF ABORTION RIGHTS. THE RALLY MARKED THE DAY INDIANA LAWMAKERS WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET IN A SPECIAL SESSION. THAT GOT PUSHED BACK AS REPUBLICANS CRAFT AN ABORTION BAN. TRACEY NIX, ONE OF THE PROTESTERS, SAYS SHE THINKS THE DELAY IS MEANT TO QUIET SOME OF THE OPPOSITION TO THE IMPENDING ANTI-ABORTION MEASURE. TRACEY NIX: BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. WE BELIEVE THAT WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEIR BODIES. >> MARA EDWARDS WAS HANDING OUT WATER AND SUNSCREEN TO PROTESTERS. SHE SAYS HOOSIERS NEED TO STAY INFORMED ABOUT WHAT LAWMAKERS PLAN TO DO. MARA EDWARDS: STAY ANGRY. STAY VOCAL. >> LEGISLATORS PLAN TO RETURN TO THE STATEHOUSE FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION BEGINNING JULY 25. >> WHITNEY DOWNARD, DO YOU THINK THIS IS NOT THE FIRST RALLY WE'VE SEEN, THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST. THERE IS ONE TOMORROW. ANOTHER BEFORE THE SPECIAL SESSION. ARE THEY MAKING A DIFFERENCE? >> NO. WE KNOW IN PUBLIC OPINION POLLS PEOPLE ARE REALLY DIVIDED. NARROW, 50/50. BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY, 100 LEGISLATORS HAVE ALREADY SIGNALED THEIR SUPPORT FOR ANTI-ABORTION LEGISLATION. I DON'T SEE THEM CHANGING THEIR MIND. THEY WERE NOT AT THE STATEHOUSE. THEY AVOIDED THE PROTEST COMPLETELY. >> JOHN, I WAS TALKING TO A POLITICAL SCIENTIST ABOUT PUBLIC OPINION POLLS AND THESE RALLIES ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO LAWMAKERS AND EVEN THE TESTIMONY THAT WE'LL HEAR AT THE STATEHOUSE ONCE THE SPECIAL SESSION BEGINS. HE SAID TO ME THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IT MIGHT MAKE IS ON THE NUANCES OF THE BILL. WHAT EXCEPTIONS WILL THERE BE, IF ANY, TO AN ABORTION BAN. IS THAT THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THAT SORT OF THING MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? >> PROBABLY. I DO THINK AS WHITNEY SAID, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT THESE THINGS HAVE IT WILL BE ON REPUBLICANS VERSUS REPUBLICANS, DO WE WANT TO PENALIZE WOMEN? WOMEN WHO ARE SEEN AS VIOLATING A BAN. WE HEARD ABOUT THE 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO HAD TO COME FROM OHIO TO INDIANA. WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT KIND OF A THING? IT IS WHAT DOES THAT BAN LOOK LIKE? THERE MAY BE SOME ELEMENTS THERE. BUT REALLY ULTIMATELY THE ONLY THING THAT WILL, THIS KIND OF ENERGY THAT WE'RE SEEING HARNESSED AND CHANNELED THROUGH PUBLIC RALLIES AND SO FORTH, IF THAT SOMEHOW CAN BE CARRIED INTO THE BALLOT BOX AND THE POLLING PLACE, WHICH IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ADVOCATES WOULD LIKE TO SEE. SOME STATES AND SOME DISTRICTS WHERE IT'S A CLOSER BREAKDOWN, YOU CAN DO THAT. NOW, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN INDIANA BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN. I THINK YOU COULD SEE SOME SEATS SHIFT, BUT IT'S NOT AS IF THERE WILL BE A CHANGE IN THE DOMINANT PARTY WITHIN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. >> TO THAT POINT, CHRIS, THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL, THIS RULING AND THE FALLOUT FROM IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THIS FALL'S ELECTIONS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTRY. EVERY POLL IN THE WORLD SHOWS THAT DEMOCRATS WERE REALLY STRUGGLING HEADING INTO THIS FALL'S ELECTION BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND SOME OF THE POLLS HAVE STARTED TO GO THE OTHER WAY AFTER THIS RULING. BUT HERE IN INDIANA ARE THINGS LIKELY TO CHANGE AT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO THIS FALL'S ELECTIONS? >> I DON'T THINK SO. I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY INDIANA. YOU'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT FEDERALLY. BUT THE WHOLE POINT OF THE SUPREME COURT IS HANDING IT BACK TO THE STATES. GO TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AND STATE LEGISLATURE. >> WHILE EVERYONE IS BEING DEBBY DOWNERS, DEMOCRATS LOVE SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT BALL STATE POLL THAT CAME OUT IN 2019, 83% OF HOOSIERS SUPPORT ABORTION ACCESS IN SOME FORM. IF I WERE THE DEMOCRATS IN THE STATEHOUSE, I WOULD BE PUTTING DOWN AMENDMENT AFTER AMENDMENT, NOT ONLY TRYING TO PROTECT WOMEN'S LIVES, BUT THROWING IT ON MEN. IF WE'RE GOING TO REGULATE, IT TAKES TWO PEOPLE TO MAKE A BABY. MEN LINE UP, SNIP, SNIP, IF YOU'RE GOING AFTER WOMEN, WE'RE GOING TO GO AFTER YOU, TOO. >> IT'S QUITE A STRETCH. >> IT'S NOT A STRETCH BECAUSE IT'S TRUE. IT LITERALLY TAKES TWO PEOPLE TO MAKE A BABY. WHY ARE WE GOING TO REGULATE A WOMAN WHEN WE COULD REGULATE MEN, TOO. >> WHAT I'LL SAY TO THAT IS, I'LL GIVE YOU THE POINT THERE. THIS REMINDS ME OF THE EDUCATION 11-34. NOT SAYING FOR THAT CONSTANT PRESSURE PUT ON LEGISLATURES WHEN THAT WAS COMING DOWN THE PIKE. I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE SOLE REASON THAT BILL ENDED UP FAILING. BUT I WONDER IF IT WOULD HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. >> I THINK THERE IS SOME KIND OF PRESSURE. ON THIS ONE, I'M WONDERING IF IT DOES. WHITNEY, IF YOU'RE A LAWMAKER RIGHT NOW YOU REFERENCED THE LETTER THEY SENT THE GOVERNOR RIGHT AT THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. IF YOU'RE A LAWMAKERS IS YOUR MIND MADE UP? >> I WOULD SAY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. BUT WHEN I CALLED A WHOLE SLEW OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHAT THEY SPECIFICALLY WANTED, NONE OF THEM WOULD SHARE. ONLY ONE SAID. THE REST SAID I WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO COMMENT ON EXCEPTIONS AND WHERE I WOULD DRAW THE LINE. IF THEY HAVE A PUBLIC OPINION, THEY ARE NOT GIVING OUT SPECIFICS. >> YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS EXTREME. THEY'RE GOING TO FORCE MINORS, THEY'RE GOING TO FORCE GIRLS TO HAVE BIRTH BECAUSE THEY'RE SET ON AN EXTREME AGENDA. THEY'RE GOING TO FORCE 10-YEAR-OLDS, 12-YEAR-OLDS, 14-YEAR-OLDS. THEY WOULD RATHER BAN ALL ABORTIONS RATHER THAN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ISSUE OF ABORTION IS COMPLICATED. ERIC HOLCOMB SAYS THE ISSUE OF CHECKS IS COMPLICATED. NO, ABORTION IS, HEALTHCARE IS. >> NEARLY 30% OF HOOSIER HOUSEHOLDS SURVEYED IN 2020 SAID THEY FORGO FOOD OR MEDICINE TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILL, HAVE RECEIVED A DISCONNECTION NOTICE, OR KEEP THEIR HOME AT UNHEALTHY TEMPERATURES TO SAVE MONEY. THAT'S DATA FROM THE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION. INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S REBECCA THIELE REPORTS A STATE AGENCY REPRESENTING CONSUMERS WANTS MORE DATA ON HOOSIERS STRUGGLING TO PAY BILLS AND GETTING THEIR POWER SHUT OFF. >> DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC, THE STATE REQUIRED SEVERAL INDIANA UTILITIES TO REPORT THAT INFO. WITH NATURAL GAS PRICES LEADING TO BIG, TEMPORARY RATE INCREASES FOR MANY HOOSIERS AS WELL AS INFLATION, THE INDIANA OFFICE OF UTILITY CONSUMER COUNSELOR SAYS WE NEED TO START COLLECTING THAT DATA AGAIN. ANTHONY SWINGER IS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE AGENCY. ANTHONY SWINGER: WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON CUSTOMERS BEING SHUT OFF? WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON CUSTOMERS' ABILITIES TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND STAY CURRENT ON THEIR ACCOUNTS? WE DON'T KNOW THAT WITHOUT SEEING DATA. >> THE E.I.A. DATA SHOWS INDIANA HOUSEHOLDS HAVE MORE ENERGY INSECURITY THAN ALL BUT SEVEN STATES IN THE COUNTRY. ANOTHER STUDY SHOWED INDIANA HAS HAD THE THIRD MOST SHUTOFFS OF ANY STATE DURING THE PANDEMIC SO FAR. >> JON SCHWANTES, DO THESE NUMBERS MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WITH LAWMAKERS WHO ALMOST ALWAYS SIDE WITH UTILITIES? >> THEY DO ALMOST ALWAYS SIDE WITH UTILITIES. THE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE HERE IS INFLATION AND RAPID INCREASES IN COSTS ON THE AVERAGE HOOSIER FAMILY, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, THEY INFLICT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PAIN. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE IN, YOU KNOW, RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE THAT ARE LARGELY REPUBLICAN THAT ARE HURTING JUST AS MUCH AS, YOU KNOW, URBAN CENTERS THAT TEND TO SKEW DEMOCRATIC. SO, IT'S NOT AS LOPSIDED AS IT MIGHT SEEM. THIS ISN'T SHAREHOLDERS. THAT'S ASKING SHAREHOLDERS VERSUS POOR LITTLE RATE PAYERS. HOOSIERS ARE FEELING IT FROM ONE END OF THE STATE TO THE OTHER. THERE IS A THEME RUNNING THROUGH TODAY'S SHOW, AS YOU JUST ALLUDED TO. HERE WE HAVE A STATE AGENCY, THAT WHICH IS CHARGED WITH PROTECTING CONSUMERS. HOW DARE WOULD SOMEONE WITH EXPERTISE IN THAT AREA WOULD SUGGEST THAT HE HAS AUTHORITY THAT COMPANIES BE COMPELLED POST-COVID TO GIVE THIS KIND OF INFORMATION. THAT SEEMS TO ME LIKE IT SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ITSELF TO MAKE THAT DECISION. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF MAYBE DISREGARD FOR THE INTERSECTION OF ACTUALLY RULEMAKING AND GOVERNANCE, WHICH IS THE CIVIL SERVICE SIDE OF THIS, VERSUS THE NOTION OF WE SHOULD DO IT ALL AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. >> WHITNEY, WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IT STRUCK ME A LITTLE LIKE WE'VE SEEN THE HOUSING LEGISLATION PLAY OUT AT THE STATEHOUSE. THEY DID PASS SOME STUFF LAST YEAR TO HELP HOOSIERS WHO NEED HELP WITH THEIR HOUSING, BUT A LOT OF THE TIME THEY SEEM TO SIDE WITH LANDLORDS. BUT PART OF WHAT YOU HEAR, EVERYBODY THINKS OF THE GIANT CORPORATE LANDLORDINGS AND THERE PLENTY WHO AREN'T GIANT CORPORATES LANDLORDS WHO RELY ON THAT PAYMENT. HARD TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT WITH UTILITIES? >> I'M FRANKLY SURPRISED THAT WE DON'T KEEP TRACK OF THIS SORT OF DATA ALREADY. >> IT'S LIKE AN OBVIOUS THING. >> YEAH. IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM WITH UTILITY SHUTOFFS YOU SHOULD PROBABLY COLLECT SOME DATA ON WHY THEY'RE BEING SHUT OFF. I DON'T REALLY SEE WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO CONTINUE KEEPING THIS DATA, IF NOT TO BETTER INFORM OURSELVES ON WHAT'S HAPPENING. >> AT THE VERY LEAST, IS THAT A BASIC STEP YOU THINK COULD GET DONE IN THIS STATE? >> THAT WOULD ACTUALLY MEAN THE INDIANA REPUBLICAN PARTY CARES ABOUT THE EVERYDAY HOOSIER. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. THEY HAVE PUT BUSINESSES BEFORE EVERYDAY VOTERS. >> DO YOU THINK AT THE VERY MINIMUM COLLECTING THIS DATA IS SOMETHING WE CAN GET DONE. >> ABSOLUTELY. THIS DATA IS NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS. [LAUGHTER] THE CREDIT SHOULD GO TO THE TWO CHAIRS OF THE UTILITY COMMITTEES BECAUSE THEY KNOW INDIANA IS AT A TURNING POINT. IT'S NOT THAT UTILITY COMPANIES CAN'T SWITCH TO THESE RENEWABLE SOURCES BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE NIPSCO CAN'T GET THE SOLAR INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT THEY HAVE PRICE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL OF THESE DISCUSSIONS. >> IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY THAT, THEN YOU NEED TO TELL KYLE HUFFNER AND YOUR REPUBLICANS CAMPAIGN TO CAMPAIGN ON RENEWABLE ENERGY BECAUSE THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT COAL THESE DAYS. >> SOMETIMES DATA CAN BE DISCOMFORTING. FOR INSTANCE, SAY DURING A PANDEMIC WHEN YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING IN NURSING HOMES AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN STATE GOVERNMENT WHO SAY WE REALLY DON'T NEED THAT DATA OR NOT TO MAKE IT PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE. SO, SOMETIMES DATA, AND I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE. I WANT DATA EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME. THAT'S WHAT A DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE. BUT SOMETIMES IT CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE. >> AND THIS DATA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT WAS COLLECTED BY THE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. SO, WHEN THINGS WERE AT THEIR WORST IN TERMS OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS. BUT THE PANDEMIC DIDN'T CREATE NEW CASES. IT JUST SHINED A BRIGHTER LIGHT. HAS THIS UNDERLINED THE NEED FOR THIS DATA GOING FORWARD? >> I THINK SO. IT BETTER EMBODIES WHERE OUR WEAKNESSES ARE AND WHERE THE GAPS ARE. SAME WITH NURSING HOME DATA. I REMEMBER EARLY ON NURSING HOMES WERE REALLY PUSHING THE STATE NOT TO RELEASE THAT DATA EVEN THOUGH THAT REALLY HELPED INFORM WHAT SORT OF INFECTION CONTROL POLICIES NEEDED TO BE PUT IN PLACE. SO, I THINK THAT THE DATA IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY SHOULD BE HAVING. >> ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK. OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT DREW ANDERSON REPUBLICAN CHRIS MITCHEM JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS AND. WHITNEY DOWNARD OF THE INDIANA CAPITOL CHRONICLE 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. JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT ♪ >> THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS. INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS A WFYI PRODUCTION, IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA'S PUBLIC BROADCASTING