>>BRANDON: WE LOOK AHEAD INTO
2021.
COVID-19'S IMPACT ON THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
A POTENTIAL FIGHT OVER EMERGENCY
POWERS.
PLUS, REDISTRICTING, THE BUDGET
AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN
REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING
JANUARY 1ST, 2021.
>>>THIS WEEK, WE LOOK AHEAD TO
THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION...A
SESSION THAT'S ALMOST CERTAIN TO
BE DOMINATED, IN ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER, BY COVID-19.
THE TONE OF THE SESSION WAS
LIKELY SET ON ORGANIZATION DAY
IN NOVEMBER, WHEN LEADERS OF
BOTH PARTIES TALKED ABOUT THE
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND HOW THEY
WOULD INFLUENCE LAWMAKERS'
AGENDAS THIS YEAR.
HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON SAID
HE'S LEARNED THAT THE HOOSIER
STATE'S POOR PUBLIC HEALTH HAS
HAD A DISPROPORTIONATELY
NEGATIVE IMPACT DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
>>REP. TODD HUSTON: WE HAVE TO
CREATE INCENTIVES AND POLICIES
TO HELP HOOSIERS BE HEALTHIER.
AND THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
WILL BRING LEGISLATION FORWARD
THIS SESSION TO DO JUST THAT.
>>BRANDON: SENATE MINORITY
LEADER GREG TAYLOR SAYS THE
PANDEMIC EXPOSED SHARP
DISPARITIES THAT ALREADY
EXISTED.
>>SEN. GREG TAYLOR: AND YES,
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE NOW
MOVED TO THE FOREFRONT AND ARE
MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM THIS
VIRUS.
>>BRANDON: THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION'S SCHEDULED START IS
JANUARY 4.
JUST HOW MUCH WILL COVID-19
DOMINATE THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION?
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.
JENNIFER HALLOWELL, HOW MUCH
-- IF YOU ARE A LAWMAKER THAT
WANTS TO GET SOMETHING DONE NOT
DIRECTLY RELATED TO COVID HOW
DIFFICULT WILL THAT BE IN THE
2021 SESSION?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.
IT'S A BUDGET SESSION AND
EVERYTHING WILL BE DOMINATED BY
COVID AND THE SCHEDULE MAY END
UP CHANGING.
BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE GOING
TO BE A LOT OF ISSUES, SOME
DIRECTLY COVID RELATED AND SOME
FRANKLY, ISSUES THAT WERE
BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE
OF THE PANDEMIC.
YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE BROADBAND
ACCESS, ISSUES AS THE SPEAKER
MENTIONED, A LOT OF THINGS THAT
REALLY WE REALIZED OUR BIGGER
ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED
THROUGH THIS TIME PERIOD.
AND SO THERE WILL BE SECOND AND
THIRD LAYER EFFECTS OF ISSUES
THAT COME TOGETHER.
ULTIMATELY THEY HAVE TO PASS A
BUDGET.
THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO MUCH
MORE THAN THAT CERTAINLY READ
DISTRICTING WILL HAVE TO TAKE
PLACE ALSO.
BUT I THINK THAT IT WILL BE A
CHALLENGE SOMETIMES FOR US TO
ADDRESS ISSUES THAT MAY NOT FALL
DIRECTLY IN LINE.
>> WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT
REDISTRICTING AND THE BUDGETING
AND A SECOND.
ANN DELANEY, IN SOME WAYS IT'S
COVID NINETEENS FOCUS WILL BRING
NEW LIFE TO ISSUES WE'VE DEBATED
FOR YEARS.
I THINK ABOUT INCREASING THE
CIGARETTE TAX SOMETHING THAT'S
BEEN DEBATED AND PASSED BY THE
HOUSE IN MULTIPLE PAST SESSIONS.
WITH THE RENEWED FOCUS ON HEALTH
OUTCOMES AND THE NEED FOR
REVENUE GIVE LIFE TO THAT AMONG
COVID-19?
>> YOU WOULD HOPE SO.
THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO PUT CAPS
ON CIGARETTES AND IT WOULD GIVE
US MONEY.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR SPEAKER
HOUSTON TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO
ADDRESS PUBLIC HEALTH AND I HOPE
AS PART OF THAT WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT THE REVENUE THAT WE ARE 48
OUT OF THE 50TH STATES AND WHAT
WE SPEND ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND
THAT REFLECTS THE FACT THAT
NATURALLY OUR POOR HEALTH
SHOWING REFLECTS THE FACT THAT
WE ARE 48 OUT OF 50 ON WHERE WE
STAND ON EDUCATION AND EARLY
TREATMENT AND INTERVENTION IN
NUTRITION AND ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC
HEALTH SO I AM GLAD TO HEAR HE
WILL MAKE THAT A FOCUS BUT TO DO
THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE
REVENUE.
THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE OFF THEIR
NO CAPS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
HANG OUT AND START THINKING
ABOUT WHAT THE PUBLIC CITIZENS
OF INDIANA NEED TO GET AND STAY
HEALTHY AND REALLY TO REWARD
THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SO
EXEMPLARY SINCE THIS CRISIS.
YOUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND
WORKERS IN THE NURSING HOME,
TEACHERS ABOVE AND BEYOND.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
STEPPED UP DESPITE THE RISK, WE
NEED TO HAVE OUR PRIORITIES
REFLECT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
>> NIKI KELLY, JENNIFER
HOLLOWELL ALLUDED TO THIS WHICH
IS WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT
EXACTLY THE SESSION WILL LOOK
LIKE IN TERMS OF HOW COVID MIGHT
DIRECTLY IMPACT IN TERMS OF
PEOPLE GETTING THE VIRUS AND
HAVING TO QUARANTINE AND DOES
THAT POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A
SHUTDOWN.
DO WE HAVE THOSE ANSWERS FOR HOW
THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE SORT OF
TRYING TO AVOID SOME OF THOSE
THINGS.
>> I THINK THEY ARE STILL
FINALIZING PROTOCOLS ON TESTING,
WHO THEY HAVE TO LET KNOW IF
THEY'VE HAD EXPOSURE, THAT TYPE
OF THING.
EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH EXPECTS
SOME SORT OF SLOW DOWN OR SHUT
DOWN AT SOME POINT.
TO GET THAT MANY PEOPLE AROUND
EACH OTHER DAY-AFTER-DAY AFTER
DAY AND NOT EXPECT SOME CASES
JUST IS NOT REALISTIC.
AND DEPENDING HOW BAD THE
SHUTDOWNS ARE, MAYBE SWITCHED TO
TAKING SOME TIME OFF AND WORKING
MORE IN MAY AND JUNE INSTEAD.
AND THAT MIGHT ALSO HELP SOME
LOGISTICAL ISSUES.
>> THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT THE
INFORMATION TO REDISTRICT AND I
WILL REMIND THE AUDIENCE THAT
THE DEADLINE TO ADJOURN THE
SESSION IS APRIL 29 BUT THAT
DEADLINE EXIST IN STATE LAW AND
IS EASY TO CHANGE OR SAY ONE
YEAR IF THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN.
JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE FOR
NO PARTICULAR REASON.
JON SCHWANTES, LAWMAKERS HAVE
ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO
LIMIT THE BILLS THEY ARE
CONSIDERING BECAUSE THE REALITY
OF ALL OF THIS IS IT WILL NOT BE
A NORMAL SESSION IN EVERY SINGLE
WAY AND THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE
TO GET NEARLY AS MUCH DONE AS I
WOULD LIKE TO.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HOOSIERS
SHOULD EXPECT FOR ONE YEAR?
>> THERE WILL BE A CONTRACTION
INCAPACITY AND IT MAY TRANSLATE
INTO A LAMENT MEANING THERE ARE
FEWER BILLS INTRODUCED BY
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE.
I DO THINK THE VAST MAJORITY
WILL EITHER HAVE A DIRECT FOCUS
ON COVID-19 ISSUES OR TO THE
EXTENT SOMEBODY CAN TAKE AN
ISSUE AND ARGUE IN SOME
TANGENTIAL FASHION THIS WILL
BENEFIT THE STATE IF AND WHEN
THE NEXT PANDEMIC ROLES AROUND,
WE WILL SEE THAT.
I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED FOR
INSTANCE, DURING THE BUDGET
PROCEEDINGS TO SEE ANY AND ALL
THE UNIVERSITIES CERTAINLY THE
RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AND STATES
MAKE A PITCH FOR ANY PLANS
THEY'VE HAD STORED IN THE CLOSET
FOR ADDITIONAL SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH, VACCINATION RESEARCH,
CUTTING EDGE IN TERMS OF THOSE
TYPES OF THINGS.
IF THERE WOULD BE AN APPETITE IN
THE CAPITAL BUDGET OR OPERATING
FOR EXPANSION IT WOULD PROBABLY
HAPPEN.
LASTLY, I'M NOT SURE THEY WOULD
EVEN NEED TO CHANGE THE LAW AND
THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT, BUT
WITHOUT A STATE BUDGET THE
SIMPLEST SOLUTION IS FOR THE
GOVERNOR TO CALL THEM BACK INTO
SESSION I WOULD ASSUME SINCE THE
MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS AND
HOUSE AND SENATE AND A
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, THEY COULD
WORK TOGETHER WITHOUT HAVING TO
ENACT LEGISLATION TO CHANGE THE
SCHEDULE AND THE MANNER IN WHICH
SPECIAL SESSIONS ARE CALLED.
>> SPEAKING OF THE GOVERNOR AND
THE MAJORITIES WORKING TO GATHER
...
>>>A MAJORITY OF HOOSIERS SAY
THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS
SHOULD BE MORE LIMITED - THAT'S
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST EDITION
OF THE BALL STATE HOOSIER
SURVEY.
THE LATEST POLL OF 600 HOOSIERS
SHOWS THAT 60 PERCENT OF
RESPONDENTS SUPPORT CHANGING
INDIANA LAW TO REQUIRE THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO APPROVE ANY
EXTENSION OF A GOVERNOR'S
EMERGENCY ORDER BEYOND 30 DAYS.
THAT INCLUDES 56 PERCENT OF
DEMOCRATS AND 63 PERCENT OF
REPUBLICANS IN THE SURVEY.
THE SURVEY RESULTS COME AHEAD OF
A LIKELY DEBATE IN THE 2021
SESSION OVER MANY REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS' DESIRE TO CURTAIL THE
GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS.
BALL STATE POLITICAL SCIENTIST
CHARLES TAYLOR SAYS IT WILL BE A
TEST OF GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB'S
LEADERSHIP AND SWAY OVER THE
GOP-CONTROLLED GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
>>CHARLES TAYLOR: TO TRY AND
TALK THEM DOWN FROM ANY
PROPOSALS THAT WOULD SEVERELY
LIMIT FUTURE GOVERNORS OR LIMIT
HIM IN HIS SECOND TERM.
>>BRANDON: LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY INTEND TO
AT LEAST DEBATE THE ISSUE.
AND ALIGNING, WE ARE 9-10
MONTHS WITH THE GOVERNOR
ESTABLISHING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY ISSUING EXECUTIVE
ORDER AFTER EXECUTIVE ORDER TO
CONFRONT IT WITH NO LITERAL
INPUT FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE'S
TALKED TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SO
SHOULD THEY TIGHTEN THEIR
CONTROL OR ASSERT MORE AUTHORITY
OVER THESE -- THE GOVERNOR.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I TAKE THE
GOVERNOR AT HIS WORD BUT I HAVE
NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHILE THIS WAS
GOING ON AND I DON'T KNOW HOW
REALISTIC IT IS TO SET AN
ARBITRARY 30 DAY DEADLINE.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEVERE
PANDEMIC AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU
CAN'T GET A QUORUM OR YOU HAVE
LEGISLATORS WHO ARE EITHER
WORRIED ABOUT CONTRACTING
WHATEVER THE NEXT PANDEMIC IS OR
ARE ALREADY UNDER THE WEATHER?
WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
THE EMERGENCY ORDER JUST EXPIRES
EVEN AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED IT
THE MOST.
WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.
GOV. ERIC HOLCOMB DID NOT MAKE
HIS RIGHT WING HAPPY BECAUSE HE
PRESUMABLY DID SO MUCH AND
DIDN'T MAKE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE
WORRIED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF HOOSIERS BECAUSE HE
DID TOO LITTLE.
I THINK YOU CHALK THAT UP.
THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN EVERY YEAR
BUT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND A
GOVERNOR, WHEN YOU CAN'T PREDICT
WHAT THE NEXT CRISIS IS IS NOT
VERY GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.
>> JENNIFER IS HOLCOMB HEADED
FOR A FIGHT OVER THIS ISSUE?
>> I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSIONS OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL MONTHS AND I THINK THERE
ARE SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE RAISED
CONCENS, BUT ULTIMATELY AS ANN
AND OTHERS HAVE INDICATED, THE
GOVERNOR HAS TO BE ABLE TO
OPERATE AND RUN THE STATE AND
IT'S NOT ALWAYS FEASIBLE OR
ADVISABLE TO BRING 150
LEGISLATORS TO INDIANAPOLIS
DURING A PANDEMIC.
SO I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME
DISCUSSION AROUND THIS BUT I
DON'T EXPECT IT WILL BE A
CONTENTIOUS ISSUE.
>> JON SCHWANTES, WOULD YOU
PREDICT WE WOULD SEE CHANGES TO
THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWER
AUTHORITIES?
>> AT THE EDGES WE MIGHT SEE
SOME CHANGES AND IT MIGHT BE
SOME SORT OF ADDITIONAL LAYER OF
REVIEW BY THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
WHETHER -- I'M NOT SURE IT WOULD
NECESSARILY REQUIRE A QUORUM FOR
THE REASONS ANN MENTIONED.
HOW DO YOU GET 150 PEOPLE OR 2/3
OF THOSE PEOPLE TO INDIANAPOLIS
TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.
MAYBE SOME SORT OF LEADERSHIP
REVIEW OR SOME OTHER GROUP THAT
MIGHT BE EASIER TO CONVENE.
BUT I DOUBT WE WILL GO BACK TO
WHAT WE HAD FOR INSTANCE, THIS
ALL CAME OUT OF HURRICANE
KATRINA AND THE AFTERMATH ONE
STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE
SAYING IF NOT A HURRICANE I
DOUBT A HURRICANE WILL HIT
INDIANA, BUT IF SOME SIMILAR
DISASTER WITH THAT SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT, WHAT WOULD WE DO SO I
DON'T THINK WE WILL GO BACK TO
BEFORE THAT WHEN THERE WAS
NOTHING ON THE BOOKS.
JUST SOME WORK AT THE MARGINS.
>> NIKI KELLY IN TERMS OF THE
CHALLENGES OF SOMETHING
HAPPENING TO THAT EMERGENCY
AUTHORITY, WE BOTH TALKED TO
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND THERE'S
NOT A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
DON'T LIKE ALL THE POWER THAT
ERIC HOLCOMB HAS HAD FOR THE
LAST TEN MONTHS.
>> VIRTUALLY EVERY GOP LAWMAKER
I TALKED TO WANTS SOME SORT OF
DISCUSSION.
THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN
A 30 DAY OR NOTHING OR NINE
MONTHS OR TEN MONTHS AND KEEP
REVIEWING IT AND SOME THINGS
I'VE HEARD ARE BASICALLY SAYING
MAYBE DO IT FOR THREE MONTHS AND
THEN THE LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE
TO ACT.
SO TO ANN'S POINT FROM EARLIER,
IF THEY COULDN'T GET THERE OR
WHATEVER IT WOULD REQUIRE LIKE A
PROACTIVE VOTE TO STOP IT.
SO THAT IS ONE OPTION ON THE
TABLE.
>>>2021 IS A REDISTRICTING YEAR,
AND INDIANA VOTER ADVOCACY
GROUPS ARE CREATING WHAT THEY'RE
CALLING A "SHADOW" REDISTRICTING
COMMISSION TO GIVE HOOSIERS AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRAST WHEN
LAWMAKERS REDRAW LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT LINES.
GROUPS LIKE COMMON CAUSE INDIANA
HAVE LONG CALLED FOR AN
INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING
COMMISSION TO DRAW INDIANA'S
LEGISLATIVE MAPS.
TAKING IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF
LAWMAKERS, THEY SAY, WILL RESULT
IN FAIRER, MORE COMPETITIVE
DISTRICTS.
SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM RODRIC
BRAY - WHOSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
HAS LONG OPPOSED SUCH A
COMMISSION - HAS SAID A TRULY
INDEPENDENT BODY WOULD BE
DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO
PUT TOGETHER.
>>SEN. RODRIC BRAY: YOU CAN SAY
IT'S A NONPARTISAN BOARD THAT
YOU WOULD APPOINT.
BUT EVERYBODY COMES TO THE POLL
OR ANY POSITION WITH SOME
POLITICAL INTEREST.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO
APPOINT THAT NONPARTISAN PERSON
ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE AN
INTEREST IN WHAT THAT PERSON'S
PHILOSOPHY IS EITHER, WHETHER
IT'S PUBLICLY KNOWN OR NOT.
>>BRANDON: BUT COMMON CAUSE
INDIANA DIRECTOR JULIA VAUGHN
SAID THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS
SHADOW COMMISSION HOPES TO
DISPEL.
SHE SAYS THE GROUP WILL INCLUDE
REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND
PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELONG TO
EITHER PARTY.
THE SHADOW COMMISSION HAS NO
ACTUAL POWER.
IT SERVES AS A PUBLIC
ALTERNATIVE TO WHATEVER MAPS
LAWMAKERS DRAW IN 2021.
>> JENNIFER ALL COME TO YOU ON
THIS QUESTION DO YOU THINK THIS
SHADOW COMMISSION THEY ARE
CALLING IT WILL HAVE ANY
PRACTICAL EFFECT ON THE
REDISTRICTING PROCESS THIS YEAR?
>> I DON'T THINK -- YOU KNOW I
DON'T THINK IT WILL.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH PRO TEM
SENATOR BRADY.
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A
GROUP WITHOUT BIAS.
EVERYONE IS GOING TO BRING BIAS
TO THE SITUATION AND WHETHER
IT'S DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS
NONPROFITS ET CETERA THEY HAVE
POLITICAL LEANINGS AND FRANKLY,
I THINK IT IS BETTER TO LEAVE
THE PROCESS UP TO PEOPLE WHO
REPRESENT THE VOTERS OF THE
STATE.
THEY HAVE BOTH THE SPEAKER AND
SENATOR PRO TEM HAVE SAID THAT
THEY WILL HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS
AND IT WILL BE A TRANSPARENT
PROCESS AND SO THE PUBLIC WILL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN
AND SHAPE THAT PROCESS.
BUT I BELIEVE IT IS AS IT SHOULD
BE, A DECISION MADE BY
LEGISLATORS WHO ARE ELECTED BY
VOTERS.
>> ANN DELANEY WILL THIS
COMMISSION HAVE ANY PRACTICAL
EFFECT?
>> I THINK IT MIGHT SHAME THE
REPUBLICANS INTO DOING SOMETHING
A LITTLE MORE FAIR.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THESE
DISTRICTS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE
A THEOLOGIAN TO JUSTIFY THE
PARAMETERS OF THE DISTRICTS THAT
HAVE BEEN DRAWN.
I FIND IT REALLY IRONIC WHEN THE
SENATOR SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE A
NONPARTISAN COMMISSION.
YOU CAN HAVE NONPARTISAN FACTS
AND STATISTICS AND ALL IN AREAS
OF INTEREST AND BOUNDARIES AND
THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE.
INSTEAD OF HAVING A NONPARTISAN
BOARD, HE WANTS TO HAVE THE MOST
PARTISAN GROUP MAKE THE
DECISION.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOLDING
THOSE PIECES AND YOU'D THINK
THEY DON'T WANT TO PROTECT THEM.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT THINK THEY
SHOULD CHOOSE THEIR VOTERS
RATHER THAN HAVE VOTERS CHOOSE
THEM AND THEY'VE TAKEN IT TO AN
ART FORM WITH COMPUTERS SO IT'S
THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY FOR HIM
TO SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE
NONPARTISANSHIP WHEN HE AND HIS
CAUCUS AND THE CAUCUS IN THE
HOUSE ARE THE MOST PARTISAN OF
ALL.
>> JON SCHWANTES, I ASKED
ORIGINALLY ABOUT PRACTICAL
EFFECT AND I WANT TO ASK THAT
AGAIN, BUT NOT IN THE SHORT-TERM
AND LONG-TERM, VOTER ADVOCACY
GROUPS CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR
AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO
DRAW LINES INTO THE NEXT DECADE
BEFORE WE DRAW DISTRICT LINES
AGAIN TEN YEARS FROM NOW.
WILL HAVING THIS GROUP DESIGN A
MAP AND BE ABLE TO CONTRAST THAT
WITH WHATEVER LAWMAKERS COME UP
WITH INTO THE FUTURE, WILL THAT
GIVE THEM MORE HOPE THAT CHANGE
COMES IN THE FUTURE?
>> MAYBE.
I DOUBT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER,
IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME.
THE MAPS THE SUPER MAJORITY WANT
TO PRODUCE WILL IN THE END BE
THE MAPS THE REPUBLICAN SUPER
MAJORITIES WANT TO PRODUCE.
CLEARLY AS WE SEE FEWER AND
FEWER CONTESTED RACES, WHILE WE
SEE VOTER TURNOUT SUFFERING
ACCORDINGLY WITH THIS PAST
ELECTION BEING A BIT OF AN
EXCEPTION BECAUSE PERS BECAUSE
PRESIDENTIAL CONTESTS.
I THINK WE GET TO A POINT WHERE
PEOPLE SEE WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
RACES IN OUR LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT SO WE CAN VOTE FOR IT.
CLEARLY THE CURRENT SYSTEM
DISCOURAGES THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THE POLITICS
OUT OF IT YOU COULD SAY WITH THE
EMERGENCE OF ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE YOU COULD -- I'M
ONLY BEING HALF FACETIOUS.
YOU COULD HAVE AN ALGORITHM THAT
WOULD BE A STARTING POINT.
OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE WILL SAY
HUMANS WRITE THE ALGORITHMS AND
THAT'S TRUE, BUT IF YOU WANTED
TO HAVE A STARTING POINT WHERE
IT'S BLINDLY POPULATION CENTERS
AND THE NOTION OF HAVING
CONTIGUOUS AREAS AND THOSE TYPES
OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BE A
STARTING POINT.
>> THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.
>>>LAWMAKERS WILL WRITE A NEW,
TWO-YEAR STATE BUDGET THIS
SESSION - AND IT'S NOT NEARLY AS
ROSY AS ANYONE WOULD HAVE HOPED.
AS WE TAPE THIS, WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE LATEST REVENUE FORECAST
LOOKS LIKE...BUT IT'S LIKELY
LEGISLATORS WILL HAVE TO MAKE
PLENTY OF TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT
SPENDING THE NEXT COUPLE OF
YEARS AS THE PANDEMIC HAS
WREAKED HAVOC ON STATE FINANCES.
GOVERNOR HOLCOMB WAS ABLE TO
ENSURE K-12 SCHOOLS GOT THEIR
FULL FUNDING FOR THE CURRENT
BUDGET YEAR.
HOWEVER...NIKI KELLY, WILL
SCHOOLS BE SPARED THE KNIFE IN
THE UPCOMING BUDGET?
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD
TO AVOID THAT.
MAYBE EVEN HOPING FOR STATUS QUO
BUDGET WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION.
OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU HAVE
$7 MILLION A YEAR SPENT ON K-12
A 1 PERCENT INCREASE AS A AMOUNT
OF MONEY TO FIND NEW REVENUE OR
TAKE IT SOMEPLACE ELSE.
>> TO NIKI'S POINT IS A STATUS
QUO BUDGET GETTING THE SAME
MONEY THEY GOT IN THE LAST STATE
BUDGET IS THAT REALLY THE BEST
CASE SCENARIO FOR A LOT OF FO
FOLKS?
>> REALISTICALLY IT PROBABLY
WOULD BE ABOUT AS GOOD AS WE
MIGHT EXPECT WHICH IS TOUGH
BECAUSE ONE COULD ARGUE IN THE
WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC THERE NEVER
HAS BEEN A GREATER NEED FOR
EDUCATION FUNDING BECAUSE JUST
THE FATE OF THE PANEMIC WE HAVE
KIDS WHO REALLY HAVE BEEN DEALT
A SIGNIFICANT BLOW IN THEIR
FUNDAMENTAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT
ESPECIALLY IN THE PRIMARY GRADES
WITH MATH AND BASIC ENGLISH AND
GRAMMAR.
YOU WOULD ARGUE IF EVER THERE
WAS A TIME TO BUMP IT UP THIS
WOULD BE IT BUT THAT WISH AND
THE REALITY OF TIGHT BUDGETS
WILL UNDOUBTEDLY COLLIDE.
>> THAT'S THE CASE WITH A LOT OF
ISSUES WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY
FOCUSED ON LOOKING FOR BROADBAND
AND WHERE TO FIND THE MONEY FOR
THAT WHEN YOU NEED IT MORE THAN
EVER.
JENNIFER HOLLOWELL AS WE LOOK
AHEAD TO THE STATE BUDGET HOW
MUCH WILL END UP BEING
DETERMINED BY WHETHER OR NOT WE
GET MORE FEDERAL RELIEF AND WHEN
I SAY FEDERAL RELIEF DIRECTLY TO
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
>> THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR
AND CERTAINLY WHERE SHOULD THAT
THE FOLKS IN WASHINGTON COULD
COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WOULD
HELP STATE AND LOCAL
COMMUNITIES.
WE CLEARLY NEED MORE COVID
RELIEF FUNDING AND THE SOONER
THE BETTER.
I WILL SAY KEEP IN MIND GOV.
ERIC HOLCOMB AND THE REPUBLICAN
GENERAL ASSEMBLY INCREASE THE
K-12 EDUCATION BUDGET IN THE
LAST CYCLE BY $760 MILLION WHICH
IS GREAT AND CERTAINLY A GOOD
PLACE TO START.
THE GOVERNOR HAS STATED THAT
EDUCATION IS A PRIORITY, THE
HOUSE SPEAKER AS AS WELL AS THE
SENATOR PRO TEM SO IT'S GOING TO
BE A TOP PRIORITY BUT WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME
DECISIONS AND IT'S GOING TO BE A
REALLY DIFFICULT BUDGET CYCLE
AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO
BE DISAPPOINTED.
>> ANN DELANEY IF EDUCATION
SIMPLY CAN'T GET A BUDGET
INCREASE IN THE NEXT TWO-YEAR
STATE BUDGET IS IT HARD TO BLAME
LAWMAKERS FOR THAT?
>> I THINK IT IS.
THE ENTIRE YEAR BUDGET IS
CONFIRMED BY SPENDING AND IT'S
ALSO BEEN DETERMINED BY REVENUE
AND WASHINGTON SHOULD HELP AND
LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR THE
DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE PROPOSE
FUNDING FOR LOCAL AND STATE
BUDGETS.
IT'S MITCH MCCONNELL WHO WON'T
LET THAT OCCUR.
NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO THERE ARE REVENUE
SOURCES.
THAT IS THERE.
WE COULD ROLLBACK THAT THE
INCOME TAX MIKE PENCE PUT IN AND
THE CORPORATE TAX THAT'S GOING
THROUGH.
THERE ARE WAYS TO INCREASE
REVENUE.
THE GOVERNOR HAD PROMISED
TEACHERS NOT JUST THAT THEY
WOULD BE, TOLD BUT THAT WE WOULD
ACTUALLY BEGIN TO FUND THEM
COMMENSURATE WITH THEIR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS AND IF YOU
ARE GOING TO FLAT LINE OR CUT
THE BUDGET YOU WILL NOT DO THAT
AND THAT'S INEXCUSABLE.
AND STOCKING OR HOUSES AND IT
DOESN'T REQUIRE THE STATE HAVE
THE INPUT AND IF THE GOVERNOR
FAILS TO LIVE UP TO HIS PROMISE
YES.
>> LET'S NOT FORGET TEACHER
SALARY NOT DETERMINED BY THE
STATE BUT THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.
>> IT'S DETERMINED BY WAYS TO
MAKE IT DETERMINED BY THE STATE.
>> THEY HAVE RESISTED.
THEY'VE RESISTED DOING THAT.
VERY QUICKLY ...
>>>2020 BROUGHT A RENEWED FOCUS
ON RACIAL INEQUITY AND POLICE
VIOLENCE IN THE WAKE OF THE
KILLINGS OF GEORGE FLOYD AND
BREONNA TAYLOR, AMONG OTHERS.
IT'S PROMPTED THE INDIANA BLACK
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS TO DEVELOP AN
EVEN MORE ROBUST AGENDA FOR
2021.
AND REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE
GREG STEUERWALD IS PRIVATELY
WORKING ON WHAT HOPES TO BE A
CONSENSUS AGENDA FOR POLICE
REFORM ISSUES.
ANN DELANEY, WILL WE SEE THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASS ANY POLICE
REFORM LEGISLATION IN 2021...AND
IF IT DOES, WILL IT BE SOMETHING
THE BLACK CAUCUS WILL SUPPORT?
VERY QUICKLY.
>> I THINK THE REPRESENTATIVE IS
WORKING HARD TO COME UP WITH A
COMPROMISE SOLUTION THAT I THINK
IT WILL NOT BE EVERYTHING THE
BLACK CAUCUS WANTS BUT WILL BE
AN IMPROVEMENT.
WE HAVE TO GET REPUBLICAN RURAL
LEGISLATURES TO SAY IT LET THE
CITIES DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.
THIS IS PART OF THE DIFFICULTY.
THEY WANT TO INTRUDE THEMSELVES
ON HOW DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF
RACIAL INEQUALITY IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND
THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.
LET THE LOCALS DEAL WITH THIS
AND A LOT OF THE PROBLEM WILL GO
AWAY AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO
CAST THE TERRIBLE VOTES.
THAT WOULD BE THE WAY THE BLACK
CAUCUS SHOULD HAVE THIS HAPPEN.
>> JENNIFER HOLLOWELL WILL THERE
BE POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION THE
KIND THE BLACK OFFICE WOULD
SUPPORT?
>> ROBUST DISCUSSION WILL BE HAD
AROUND THIS.
I DO THINK SOMETHING WILL PASS
AND FRANKLY, I THINK IT WILL BE
MORE THAN WHAT ANYONE COULD HAVE
IMAGINED A YEAR AGO AND ALSO I
WOULD JUST POINT OUT GOVERNOR
HOLCOMB HAS TAKEN STEPS WITH THE
STATE POLICE TO MAKE CHANGES AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
>> AT THE STATE POLICE ACADEMY.
>>>THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN 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.
STAYS SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, HAPPY
NEW YEAR AND
JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT
CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.