A STATE SENATE COMMITTEE
VOTES FOR LGB PROTECTIONS BUT
NO T.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
A TAX CUT TOSSED IN WITH A
PAIR OF TAX HIKES, A VOTE FOR
MORE GUNS IN THE STATEHOUSE,
AND A PLAN FOR BETTER
TREATMENT OF MENTALLY ILL
PRISON INMATES.
THAT, PLUS CIVILITY AWARDS FOR
LAWMAKERS AND MORE ON "INDIANA
WEEK IN REVIEW" FOR THE WEEK
THIS WEEK...
THE CONFLICT BETWEEN RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS LED
TO A FIVE-HOUR HEARING AT THE
STATEHOUSE.
THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
APPROVED A BILL TO EXTEND
CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS TO
GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL
PEOPLE.
BUT NOT TRANSGENDER MEN AND
WOMEN.
HERE'S THE TESTIMONY BY A
TRANSGENDER WOMAN NAMED
RHIANNON CARLSON FOLLOWED BY A
FLORIST FROM WASHINGTON STATE,
BARONELLE STUTZMAN, WHO SAYS
SHE WAS THREATENED AFTER
DECLINING SERVICE TO A
SAME-SEX COUPLE.
I'M HAPPY TO BE ALIVE TODAY
AS A PROUD TRANSGENDER WOMAN,
BUT MERE SURVIVAL IS STILL A
PART OF MY STORY.
I STILL WAIT FOR THE DAY THAT
I CAN BE MORE FOCUSED ON LIFE,
LIBERTY AND HAPPINESS.
IF YOU VOTE FOR THESE BILLS
YOU WILL BE SENDING A MESSAGE
TO THE CITIZENS OF INDIANA
THAT SHARE MY BELIEFS ABOUT
MARRIAGE.
THAT THEY WILL NOT BE
TOLERATED, THEY WILL BE
THREATENED, DRAGGED INTO
COURT, SUED AND LOSE THEIR
BUSINESS.
WILL THE SENATE SUPPORT NEW
CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS?
IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR
OUR "INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW"
PANEL.
DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.
REPUBLICAN MIKE MCDANIEL.
JON SCHWANTES, THE HOST OF
"INDIANA LAWMAKERS" AND
JOHN KETZENBERGER, PRESIDENT
OF THE INDIANA FISCAL POLICY
INSTITUTE.
I'M WISH-TV STATEHOUSE
REPORTER JIM SHELLA.
ANN DELANEY, NO DEMOCRATS
VOTED FOR THIS BILL.
WHY NOT?
WELL, I MEAN, IT'S A
TERRIBLE BILL.
IT NOT ONLY INCLUDES
TRANSGENDER IF I UNDERSTAND IT
CORRECTLY YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
IN AN ORGANIZED RELIGION YOU
CAN SAY IT'S YOUR RELIGION
PRINCIPLE AND YOU CAN REFUSE
SERVICE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM, IT'S ABOUT BALANCING
CIVIL RIGHTS AND ENDING
DISCRIMINATION.
MIKE PENCE BROUGHT US TO THIS
POINT.
IT WAS HIS IDEA FOR RFRA AND
HE EMBARRASSED THE ENTIRE
STATE OF INDIANA IN THE
PROCESS OF DOING IT.
THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS, WHICH
WON'T RESULT IN A NEGATIVE
STORY SOMEPLACE IS TO DO IT
COMPLETELY.
PUT FOUR WORDS AND A COMMA IN
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
HOUSE SPEAKER BRIAN BOSMA
SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYBODY
WHO LIKES THE VERSION THAT
IT'S IN NOW.
THIS HAS GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO
BEFORE IT'S GOING TO BECOME
LAW.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS IT'S
STILL GOING.
DAVID LONG HAS PROVIDED
TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP ON THIS
BECAUSE HE'S KEPT THIS ISSUE
ALIVE AS HE PROMISED HE WOULD.
HE'S PASSED IT OUT OF THE
RULES COMMITTEE.
IT WILL GO TO THE PUBLIC
SAFETY DIRECTOR, WILL BE
AVAILABLE TUESDAY AND HAS TO
BE HEARD I THINK WEDNESDAY,
PASSED THROUGH THE FIRST HALF,
IF IT'S GOING TO PASS, SO --
AND HE HAS SAID THAT HE WANTS
TO KEEP THIS BILL AS CLEAN AS
IT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE STRUCK
A BALANCE INSIDE THAT CAUCUS
THAT THIS IS WHAT MIGHT BE
ACCEPTABLE AT THIS POINT IN
THE PROCESS.
SO -- AND AS WE ALL KNOW,
POLITICS IS THE ART OF THE
POSSIBLE AND THAT'S CERTAINLY
TRUE OF LEGISLATION AND IN
THIS CASE DAVID LONG HAS MOVED
ALONG AND HE OUGHT TO BE
CREDITED FOR THAT AND IT DOES
HAVE RELIGIOUS PROTECTION AND
BREAKS NEW GROUND IN CIVIL
RIGHTS THAT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN
WILLING TO GO BEFORE.
SO I'M GLAD HE'S KEPT IT
ALIVE, I'M GLAD THE DEBATE'S
GOING ON AND I THINK IT WILL
PASS THE SENATE.
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND WHAT
DAVID LONG IS SAYING IS THE
SENATE WILL NOT SUPPORT
TRANSGENDER PROTECTION AND
WHAT THE LBGT COMMUNITY IS
SAYING IS THEY WON'T LEAVE
THEM OUT.
SO DO THEY TRY TO KILL IT AT
SOME POINT?
OH, I THINK THAT'S A GIVEN.
I THINK THAT YOU HAVE STRONG
FEELINGS, AND DAVID LONG EVEN
MADE REFERENCE TO THIS, THERE
ARE STRONG, STRONG FEELINGS ON
BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE AT
THE EXTREMES.
AND I DON'T THINK EITHER SIDE
IS NECESSARILY IN A MOOD FOR
COMPROMISE.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOLKS
DON'T WANT ANY PROTECTION --
RIGHT.
SO RIGHT NOW EVERYBODY'S
UNHAPPY.
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
YES, THERE HAS BEEN AN ATTEMPT
TO COMPROMISE, BUT SOME OF THE
COMPROMISES SEEM A BIT FORCED
IN THAT THEY MAY CAUSE MORE
TROUBLE THAN ARE INTEND THE.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
CORE ISSUE.
BUT THE NOTION OF HOME RULE
AND MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES,
INITIALLY, YOU KNOW, THIS
WOULD SUPERSEDE EVERYTHING BUT
NOW AS IT'S WRITTEN, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, YOU WOULD HAVE
ALL ORDINANCES THAT ARE IN
PLACE AS OF DECEMBER 31st
COULD REMAIN IN PLACE BUT NO
NEW ONES WHICH SEEMS TO ME IF
YOU HAVE A CHANGE IN
LEADERSHIP OR A COUNCIL IN A
GIVEN MUNICIPAL AND SAID
EFFECTIVELY IT'S
DISENFRANCHISED ON UNABLE TO
ACT IN A MANNER THAT A
NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY HAS THAT
SEEMS LIKE IT'S RIPE FOR
CHALLENGE.
IT HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS.
IT REPEALS RFRA AND THE FIX
FROM LAST YEAR.
RIGHT.
IS THAT A GOOD MOVE?
WELL, I THINK IN THE SCOPE
OF THE BILL, IT MAKES SOME
SENSE BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING
TO REPLACE IT WITH THIS OTHER
LANGUAGE.
BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S GOT
REAL PROBLEMS WHEN IT HITS THE
HOUSE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO -- I
AGREE WITH MIKE --
IF IT HITS THE HOUSE.
RIGHT.
IF IT HITS THE HOUSE.
BUT
I THINK MIKE IS RIGHT.
TO GET IT TO THIS POINT IS A
REMARKABLE FEAT.
IF IT GOES BEYOND THIS POINT
WE'LL WAIT TO SEE.
BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH
REMEMBERING THAT THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
AND THE PEOPLE ARE FOR LBGTQ
SITUATION, IF THIS BILL DIES
AND NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN WE
REVERT TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN
UNDER IN THE LAST YEAR AND I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOULD BE JUST
FINE WITH THAT.
EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD BE PRETTY
UPSET.
I THINK THE GOVERNOR WOULD
BE JUST FINE WITH THAT.
BUT I THINK EVERYBODY ELSE
WOULD BE PRETTY FINE IF IT
RESULTS AS SENATE BILL 50 AS A
FIX LAST YEAR.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE PUT
THIS OUT AS AN ISSUE IN
INDIANA.
I AGREE.
AND EVERYBODY'S GOING
TO FOLLOW WHAT WE'RE DOING
HERE AND EVEN IF OTHER STATES
DON'T HAVE THIS PROTECTION
WE'RE THE STATE THAT OPENED
THE PANDORA'S BOX AND WE HAVE
TO FIX IT AND FIX IT
CORRECTLY.
AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
GUMPTION IN THE LEGISLATURE
TO UNDO THE DAMAGE THEY'VE
DONE THEY OUGHT TO RESIGN
THEIR SEATS, THAT'S WHAT THEY
OUGHT TO DO.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT
THIS ISSUE OVER THE LAST
COUPLE YEARS ABOUT EVOLVING
AND PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES
CHANGING, I KNOW PEOPLE IN
THIS GROUP WHOSE ATTITUDES
HAVE CHANGED AND -- BUT
DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME TO
CONCLUSIONS AT DIFFERENT
TIMES.
AND I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE
REASONS THAT WE'RE WHERE WE
ARE IN THE SENATE RIGHT NOW IS
BECAUSE LEGISLATORS ARE NOT
FEELING THE SAME KIND OF
CHANGE IN SOME OF THEIR OWN
DISTRICTS BECAUSE LEGISLATORS
FOR THE MOST PART -- YOU MAY
BELIEVE THIS OR NOT BELIEVE
THIS -- BUT THEY USUALLY
REFLECT THE PEOPLE THEY
REPRESENT BECAUSE THEY SPEND
MOST OF THEIR TIME DOING JUST
THAT.
SO THERE ARE PARTS OF THE
STATE WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT UP
TO SPEED ON THIS ON TRYING TO
MAKE THESE KIND OF CHANGES.
I THINK THAT'S COMING THROUGH
RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S WHY DAVID
LONG IS TRYING TO STRIKE A
BALANCE HERE.
WHEN YOU HAVE IT AS AN
INDIVIDUAL -- HOW DO YOU
DETERMINE WHAT SOMEBODY'S
INDIVIDUAL RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
ARE?
WE'LL BE LITIGATING THIS IT
UNTIL THE COWS COME OVER.
IT'S ADVANCING.
ANN, IT'S STILL ALIVE.
I AGREE WITH THAT
IT TOOK COURAGE TO GET IT
WHERE IT IS.
I AGREE IT'S GETTING
DEBATE,
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
BUT AT THE END OF THAT TO
RESOLVE INDIANA'S IMAGE IT HAS
TO BE FIXED.
LONG PROMISED THERE WOULD
BE A DISCUSSION.
HE'S FULFILLED HIS PROMISE.
AND HE'S CONTINUED.
THAT'S UNDER TOUGH
CIRCUMSTANCE FOR HIM TO BE
DOING THIS INSIDE HIS OWN
CAUCUS.
YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT ABOUT
THE EVOLUTION ON THIS ISSUE,
HOW RAPID THE CHANGE HAS BEEN.
THAT'S WHY IT'S A GUARANTEE NO
MATTER WHAT HAPPENS EVEN AS
JOHN SUGGESTS NOTHING HAPPENS
IN THIS SESSION THE ISSUE
AND IT REVERTS BACK TO THE
ISSUE WE HAVE IN PLACE, IT
DOESN'T GO AWAY BECAUSE THIS
WILL BE BACK AND FORTH AS A
PING-PONG BALL AND HOW ABOUT
THE NEXT DECADE.
AS FAR AS THE ELECTION'S
CONCERNED I THINK AT THAT
POINT YOU WILL CLEARLY SEE
WHERE PEOPLE OF INDIANA REALLY
ARE ON THIS ISSUE.
BECAUSE WE'LL FIND OUT IN A
HURRY WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS
HURRY WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS
AN ISSUE IS THE KIND THAT CAN
DETERMINE AN ELECTION FOR A
MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE.
INTERESTING TO SEE.
MOVING ON --
A BILL THAT INCLUDES TAX
HIKES ON GAS AND CIGARETTES
NOW INCLUDES A TAX CUT.
THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE ADDED A PROVISION TO
THE ROAD FUNDING BILL THAT
WOULD REDUCE THE STATE INCOME
TAX OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD.
IT'S AN OBVIOUS ATTEMPT TO
SWEETEN THE BILL AND ATTRACT
VOTES FROM TAX HIKE OPPONENTS.
HOUSE SPEAKER BRIAN BOSMA.
IS THAT MY FIRST CHOICE?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
AM I HOPING TO MAKE THE
PACKAGE A LITTLE MORE
ATTRACTIVE TO OUR SENATE
COLLEAGUES AND MEET ONE OF THE
GOVERNOR'S LONG TERM GOALS?
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
IS THAT PRUDENT?
AND A LOT OF THAT DEPENDS ON
THE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF
THE STATE AT THE TIME WE
CONSIDER PASSING IT, BUT I
THINK THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE
ISSUES.
AND THAT'S SENATE LEADER
DAVID LONG.
MIKE McDANIEL, WHAT MAKES
SENSE ABOUT CUTTING TAXES AT
THE SAME TIME THAT YOU RAISE
THEM?
I THINK POLITICALLY IT MADE
A LOT OF SENSE ON THE
POLITICAL END OF IT TRYING
TO -- AS I SAID BEFORE, LAST
WEEK, WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF
THE LEGISLATION,
REPRESENTATIVE SOLIDAY PUT A
LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THIS BILL.
ED SOLIDAY.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK
THAT'S BEING GOING INTO THIS
LOOKING FOR A LONG-TERM
SOLUTION.
BUT AS WE SAID BEFORE, THE
POLITICS OF A NONBUDGET
ELECTION YEAR, TRYING TO GET
THIS DONE, IS PRETTY DIFFICULT
AT BEST.
AND SO GOING TO THE SENATE, I
DON'T THINK THIS HAS ANY
CHANCE OF HAPPENING OVER THERE
BUT I DO THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE LEGISLATION PASSED THIS
YEAR THAT WILL DEDICATE MONEY
TO ROADS, LOCAL AND STATE, BUT
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A
LONG-TERM FIX.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THAT
UNTIL THE BUDGET YEAR, PERIOD.
THE HOUSE SPEAKER SAYS THAT
THIS BILL, WITH THE TAX HIKES
AND THE TAX CUT, WOULD BE
REVENUE-NEUTRAL AFTER EIGHT
YEARS.
IT'S RIDICULOUS.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT WILL
HAPPEN WITH THIS.
THEY STRETCH IT OVER AN
EIGHT-YEAR PERIOD SO THE NEXT
YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER WHEN
NOBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION IT
WILL GET REPEALED.
REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD TOO MUCH
IN THE SURPLUS IT WAS GOING TO
GO BACK, GUESS WHAT, THAT GOT
REPEALED AND THIS WILL, TOO.
BUT THE IDEA IS THEY'VE GOT TO
FACE UP TO THE RESPONSIBILITY.
THE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO COME
UP WITH A SENSIBLE WAY FOR
LONG-TERM FUNDING OF ROADS.
AND THE CIGARETTE TAX AND
MOVING THE MONEY AROUND THE
GENERAL FUND AND ARGUABLY
TAKING MONEY FROM HIGHER
EDUCATION AND EDUCATION TO DO
THAT IS NOT THE WAY.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
INCREASE THE REVENUE.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY CUT THE
INCOME TAX, WHAT THE
REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING IS IT
WOULD REDUCE THE SURPLUS.
WELL, IT WOULD REDUCE THE
SURPLUS FOR USES IN OTHER
PLACES, AND IF THE SURPLUS
FALLS BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL
THEN YOU DO HAVE REAL PROBLEMS
WHEN IT COMES TO CASH FLOW FOR
THE BUDGET OVERALL AND YOU DO
SEE --
NOT THE CORPORATE CASH
FLOW.
THE DEMOCRAT PLAN'S NOT A
LONG-TERM SITUATION.
THAT'S NOT THE ARGUMENT
HERE, MIKE.
THE ARGUMENT IS WHETHER OR NOT
IT MAKES SENSE TO REDUCE THE
INCOME TAX AT THE SAME TIME
YOU'RE INCREASING THE GAS TAX.
IT'S A POLITICALLY
UNDERSTANDABLE MOVE.
IT'S BAD PUBLIC POLICY.
RIGHT.
WELL, AND IT'S AIMED
EVENTUALLY AT GETTING THE
GOVERNOR TO SIGN IT.
WILL HE SIGN A BILL WITH TAX
HIKES IN IT?
I THINK HE WOULD BE
RELUCTANT FOR THE VERY REASON
YOU MENTIONED, THIS BEING --
NOVEMBER'S NOT THAT TERRIBLY
FAR AWAY, WHEN VOTERS GO TO
THE POLLS.
IT'S A TOUGH ISSUE.
I MEAN, ULTIMATELY I THINK
THERE'S GOT TO BE A
RECOGNITION -- AND WE CAN CALL
IT WHATEVER YOU WANT, TAX
INCREASE, USER FEE --
WALKS LIKE A DUCK, TALKS
LIKE A DUCK.
WHATEVER IT IS.
REVENUE -- EXPENSES GO UP,
COSTS GO UP, THEY GO UP IN THE
REST OF THE WORLD.
GOVERNMENT DOESN'T OPERATE IN
A VACUUM, AND IF PEOPLE WANT
THE SERVICES AND THE ROADS AND
THE BRIDGES THAT THEY EXPECT
AND DEMAND, SOMEBODY'S GOT TO
PAY FOR IT.
NOW, WHETHER THAT'S BEING
PASSED OFF TO THE LOCALS TO DO
INCREASE OR ADDITIONAL
SURCHARGE WHEEL CHARGE, IT
DOESN'T MATTER IN THE END
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PRODUCE THE
REVENUE.
WE NEED AN ONGOING SOURCE
THAT'S RELATED TO THE ROADS
AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY AN
INCREASE IN GAS TAX.
THE MONEY GOING TO THE
RELATED SOURCE.
DUH.
THIS IS MESSY AT THE
MOMENT.
ALL RIGHT.
A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW 200
STAFF MEMBERS TO CARRY GUNS
INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE IS NOW
ON ITS WAY TO THE INDIANA
HOUSE FLOOR.
THE BILL PASSED THE STATE
SENATE 36-13 THIS WEEK.
LAWMAKERS AND JUDGES CAN
ALREADY CARRY GUNS AND MANY
DO.
STATE SENATOR BRENT STEELE
SAYS OTHERS SHOULD HAVE THE
SAME OPPORTUNITY.
THAT IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO
CARRY, THAT'S YOUR
PREROGATIVE.
GO FOR IT.
I CHOOSE NOT TO BE A VICTIM.
I WOULD CHOOSE THAT MY
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT HAS THE
RIGHT NOT TO BE A VICTIM.
JOHN KETZENBERGER, WHY NOT
LET EVERYBODY CARRY A GUN IN
THE STATEHOUSE?
USING THE SAME LOGIC THAT
SENATOR STEELE USED THE
QUESTION IS WHY NOT BECAUSE IF
BY DEFAULT HE OR HIS
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT WILL NOT
BE A VICTIM IF THEY CARRY GUNS
THEN EVERYBODY ELSE WILL BE.
SO WHY NOT LET EVERYBODY ELSE
CARRY GUNS.
I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
LINE OF DEMARCATION AND IT
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, REALLY.
THIS IS THE NRA --
RUNNING AMOK.
I WASN'T GOING TO SAY THAT.
I'LL SAY IT FOR YOU.
THEIR ANSWER IS NOT FEWER
GUNS, IT'S MORE GUNS.
I THINK THAT'S -- I THINK
THAT'S RIGHT OVERALL.
I MEAN, THIS IS -- SEEMS TO BE
THE ONE AREA WHERE THERE IS
MOVEMENT, OR SUCCESS FOR THE
NRA AND PRO-GUN FACTION THIS
YEAR.
THERE ARE OTHER BILLS THAT
WOULD HAVE EXTENDED
PROTECTIONS ON COLLEGE
CAMPUSES, I'M TALKING ABOUT
SECOND AMENDMENT PROTECTION ON
COLLEGE CAMPUSES FOR PEOPLE
WHO HAVE DRINKING CONVICTIONS
OR ALCOHOL CONVICTIONS.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT
WOULD ALLOW PRISON GUARDS TO
BRING A GUN TO WORK.
ANOTHER ONE THAT WOULD DO
AWAY WITH ALL HANDGUN
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.
MAYBE PRISONERS SHOULD HAVE
THEM.
THOSE AREN'T GOING
ANYWHERE.
THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S
GOING ANYWHERE.
LET ME SAY THIS, IF YOU LISTEN
TO THE TESTIMONY OR THE
COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT THE
ROSTRUM IT PAINTS A PRETTY
BLEAK PICTURE OF THE STATE AND
INDIANAPOLIS BASICALLY IF YOU
GO OUTSITED DOOR, YOU BETTER
BE --
THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THAT
WAS MADE THAT THEY DON'T
NECESSARILY NEED GUNS INSIDE
THE STATEHOUSE BUT THEY MIGHT
NEED THEM WHEN THEY'RE WALKING
TO OR FROM THEIR CAR.
IT'S NEVER BEEN A WORRY FOR
ME.
DO YOU WORRY, MIKE?
NO, I REALLY DON'T.
BUT, LOOK, THERE ARE ABOUT 200
STAFF PEOPLE IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
AND THIS MAY AFFECT FOUR OR
FIVE PEOPLE, AND I DON'T SEE
THIS AS A BIG DEAL IN THE BIG
SCOPE OF THINGS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT
IS.
AND WE ALWAYS SAID THAT THE
BULLET-PROOF GLASS IN THE
HOUSE WAS NOT TO PROTECT THE
LEGISLATORS, IT'S PROTECT US
IN THE HALLWAY WHEN THE
LEGISLATORS START SHOOTING
AT EACH OTHER.
I THINK REPORTERRED, YOU'RE
GOING TO BE TARGETED
I DRAW THE LINE WITH
REPORTERS HAVING GUNS.
SENATOR SAID HE WAS GOING
TO TRY TO GET REPORTERS IN
NEXT YEAR.
OH, GREAT.
I CANNOT BELIEVE WE'RE WASTING
TIME ON THIS.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT ADULTS
DYING, ADULT PROTECTIVE
SERVICES IS UNDERFUNDED, WE
DON'T DEBATE ANY OF THAT
STUFF, WE DEBATE THIS
NONSENSE, THE NRA AND THE
REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED AGENDA.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE
PEN BEING MORE POWERFUL
THAN THE SWORD, WHATEVER
HAPPENED WITH THAT.
DO WELL WHEN THEY SHOOT AT
YOU.
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...
SHOULD STATEHOUSE STAFFERS BE
PERMITTED TO CARRY GUNS?
YOUR CHOICES ARE
A. YES.
B. NO.
C. ONLY IF THE PUBLIC CAN,
TOO.
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION...
DO YOU SUPPORT A HIKE IN THE
CIGARETTE TAX?
81% SAID YES, 12% SAID NO, 7%
SAID A DOLLAR IS TOO MUCH.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART
IN THE POLL, GO TO
WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE
POLL.
BIG CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY
FOR THE MENTALLY ILL INMATES
WHO MAKE UP AS MUCH AS
20% OF THE INDIANA PRISON
POPULATION.
THE ACLU OF INDIANA AND
INDIANA PROTECTION AND
ADVOCACY SERVICES ANNOUNCED A
SETTLEMENT WITH THE INDIANA
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION THIS
WEEK.
THE TWO GROUPS SUED OVER THE
WAY THE STATE TREATS MENTALLY
ILL PRISONERS.
A SETTLEMENT REQUIRES STATE
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES TO
HAVE INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT
PLANS FOR INMATES, CREATED BY
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH EACH
PRISONER.
KEN FALK OF THE ACLU SAYS
ISOLATION CAN NO LONGER BE
USED AS A PUNISHMENT IN MOST
CASES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE
SETTLEMENT DOES, IS IT SAYS
THAT BEFORE A PRISONER WHO IS
MENTALLY ILL CAN BE
DISCIPLINED, THE TREATMENT
STAFF HAVE TO BE CONSULTED AND
SAY, HEY, IS THE REASON THAT
SO AND SO DID THIS IS BECAUSE
THEY ARE MENTALLY ILL.
JON SCHWANTES, HOW WILL
THIS AFFECT THE STATE'S
PRISONS?
I THINK IT WILL IMPROVE THE
SITUATION AND KEN FALK AND
OTHERS WITH THE ACLU POINTED
OUT THAT THE STATE HAS ALREADY
BEEN QUICK TO INCORPORATE SOME
OF THESE CHANGES EVEN BEFORE
THE FORMALIZATION OF THIS --
BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT.
BUT THE LAWSUIT'S SEVEN YEARS
OLD.
RIGHT, RIGHT, WELL, THERE'S
PLENTY OF TIME FOR CHANGES TO
BE MADE.
BUT THIS IS A SIGN I THINK OF
A POSITIVE THING.
YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THE
LARGEST PROVIDER OF MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES IN THE STATE
OF INDIANA IS THE DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTION, YOU HAVE
ROUGHLY ONE IN FIVE INMATES
HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING
A MENTAL ILLNESS AND GUESS
WHAT, MOST OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WILL BE GETTING
BACK OUT INTO SOCIETY.
SO DO YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO HAVE
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET CARE
FOR THEIR ILLNESSES?
YOU COUPLE THIS WITH WHAT WAS
BEING DONE AT COMMUNITY
HOSPITAL WITH THE NEW FACILITY
THAT THE PENCE ADMINISTRATION
, VERY POSITIVE, AND ALSO IN
KEEPING WITH
BARACK OBAMA'S ANNOUNCEMENT
THAT HE WOULD EFFECTIVELY DO
AWAY WITH LARGE ASPECTS OF
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.
FOR JUVENILES, JUVENILES.
OR FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND MENTAL HEALTH.
IT'S ALSO A SIGN OF HOW
POORLY WE'RE DEALING WITH
MENTAL ILLNESS ON THE OUTSIDE.
WELL, I THINK THERE HAS TO
BE EVEN MORE UNDERSTANDING
THAN WE ALREADY HAVE ABOUT
MENTAL ILLNESS.
FOR THE LONGEST TIME IT WAS
OFTEN DISMISSED,
MISUNDERSTOOD, AND WE ARE
COMING AROUND ON THAT,
FINALLY.
I'M VERY ENCOURAGED, FOR ALL
THE REASONS THAT JON
MENTIONED, ABOUT THE APPROACH
THAT THE STATE IS TAKING AND I
THINK THAT WILL HELP THE REST
OF THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND.
LOOK, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE
VERY REAL AND THEY NEED TO BE
DEALT WITH THE SAME WAY OTHER
MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE DEALT
WITH.
AND THE SOONER WE DO THAT,
THEN THE FEWER PROBLEMS WE'LL
HAVE IN SOCIETY.
IT'S ALSO, THIS IS A
STATEMENT ON WHAT WAS BEING
DONE PREVIOUSLY.
RIGHT, RIGHT, AND IT'S
GOOD.
IT'S GOOD THAT THE ATTITUDES
TOWARD MENTAL HEALTH HAVE
EVOLVED AS THEY HAVE IN RECENT
YEARS.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS IS A
VERY GOOD, POSITIVE STEP
FORWARD AND I THINK THE ICLU
DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT TO
BRING THIS TO EVERYONE'S
ATTENTION AND FORCING A CHANGE
AND I THINK IT'S FOR THE
BETTER.
DID IT NEED -- IT TOOK THE
ACLU TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS A
GOOD AGREEMENT, I THINK THIS
IS A GREAT AGREEMENT AND THE
REASON IS FOR THE VERY REASON
YOU JUST CITED.
NOT ONLY DOES IT DEAL WITH THE
SITUATION INSIDE THE
CORRECTIONS FACILITIES BUT
ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE GENERAL
NEED.
AND THE PRISONS WERE NEVER
DESIGNED TO BE MENTAL HEALTH
HOSPITALS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BECOME
BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF
FACILITIES ON THE OUTSIDE.
YEP.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL
ONLY HELP THE ENTIRE SITUATION
BY SHINING A BRIGHT LIGHT ON
IT, AND, AS I SAID, CHANGES
ARE ALREADY BEING MADE AND
WE'RE ALL BETTER OFF FOR THAT.
DEMOCRAT GLENDA RITZ IS
RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AS
STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
AND A REPUBLICAN ANNOUNCED
PLANS TO CHALLENGE HER THIS
WEEK.
JENNIFER MCCORMICK IS THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN
YORKTOWN AND A FIRST-TIME
CANDIDATE.
SHE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE
STATEHOUSE THAT SHE HOPES TO
TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF
EDUCATION.
I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE
CLASSROOM AS A SPECIAL ED
TEACHER.
I'VE LED BUILDINGS AND I'VE
LED DISTRICTS.
I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A
LEADER IN EDUCATION.
I HAVE DONE IT AND I WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
THAT SETS ME APART FROM OUR
CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT.
MIKE MCDANIEL, SHE WAS A
DEMOCRAT UNTIL JUST RECENTLY.
WHAT WILL THAT MEAN TO GOP
CONVENTION DELEGATES?
ONE, IT MEANS SHE'S EVOLVED
INTO A HIGHER BEING.
[LAUGHTER]
I KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF A
THEME HERE.
I THINK IT'S GREAT.
SHE'S CLEARLY -- SHE'S BEEN
A TEACHER, SPECIAL ED TEACHER,
JUNIOR HIGH TEACHER, ASSISTANT
SUPERINTENDENT,
SUPERINTENDENT.
SHE'S DONE ALL THE THINGS THAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO HAVE THE
RESUME TO MOVE FORWARD AND
SHOW THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP
THAT WE NEED IN THE STATE.
I THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE A
GOOD CANDIDATE.
NOW WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER LADY
FROM FORT WAYNE NAMED WOOTEN
WHO IS ALSO AN INSTRUCTOR UP
THERE, A COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
CONTEST FOR SUPERINTENDENT AND
I THINK THAT'S GOOD, IT'S
HEALTHY MOVING FORWARD.
GLENDA RITZ IS VIEWED AS
VULNERABLE.
SHE'S THE ONLY STATE-WIDE
DEMOCRAT BUT -- EXCEPT FOR,
OBVIOUSLY, ON STATE ELECTIONS.
BUT I THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE
VERY STRONG.
MIKE PENCE AND HIS ECHO
CHAMBER AT THE STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION HAVE DONE EVERYTHING
THEY CAN DO TO MESS UP
EDUCATION IN THIS STATE.
I MEAN, THE ISTEP IS A PERFECT
EXAMPLE.
GLENDA RITZ HAS BEEN TALKING
FOR TWO YEARS ABOUT HOW BAD
THAT TEST WAS AND ONLY
RECENTLY DID THEY START
LISTENING TO HER.
HAVING ALL OF THEM IN THE SAME
ECHO CHAMBER IS BAD FOR
EDUCATION.
SHE'S DOING A VERY POSITIVE
JOB OF PROTECTING THE TEACHERS
AND POINTING OUT THE FALLACY
OF THEIR ARGUMENTS.
I THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE
REELECTED.
THIS WILL BE A REFERENDUM
ON GLENDA RITZ.
I THINK IT WILL.
AND MIKE PENCE.
WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE A
REFERENDUM ON EDUCATION ISSUES
AND WHO IN INDIANA BELIEVES
HAS THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD.
GLENDA RITZ BURST ON THE SCENE
BECAUSE SHE RAN A GREAT
CAMPAIGN.
WE'LL SEE IF SHE CAN NOW, AS A
KNOWN CANDIDATE, WITH A RECORD
OF HER OWN, RUN A CAMPAIGN
THAT IS ABLE TO DO WHAT ANN
SAYS AND BECOME VICTORIOUS AND
THAT'S NOT -- IT'S A MUCH
DIFFERENT THING AND IT'S NOT
AN EASY TASK.
RIGHT,
SHE'S HIGHLY VULNERABLE AND
AT RISK.
SHE'S GOT A PROBLEM.
SO DOES MIKE PENCE.
NOBODY KNOWS WHO SHE IS FOR
STARTERS, IN A POLL THAT CAME
OUT THIS WEEK, AND THAT'S A
PROBLEM FOR HER.
GLENDA RITZ'S NAME ID IS
SURPRISINGLY LOW STATE-WIDE.
>IS WEEK, AND THAT'S A
PROBLEM FOR HER.
GLENDA RITZ'S NAME ID IS
SURPRISINGLY LOW STATE-WIDE.
RIGHT.
MIKE PENCE'S ISN'T AND
PEOPLE HAVE FORMED A OPINION,
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
VULNERABILITY.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE THE
POLITICS OUT OF EDUCATION AS
JENNIFER MCCORMICK SAID?
SADLY, NO, BECAUSE WHEN
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SUBJECT
AREA THAT CONSTITUTES MORE
THAN HALF OF THE STATE'S
BUDGET AND THERE IS NOTHING
AUSEE FUNDAMENTAL THAN THE
PHILOSOPHY ABOUT HOW TO
EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF
HOOSIERS.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT IN ANY
CYNICAL WAY, I'S JUST IN PART
POLITICS I DON'T THINK IS
INHERENTLY BAD, YOU CAN'T
SEPARATE THE TWO.
FINALLY, A NEWLY FORMED
GROUP OF RETIRED LAWMAKERS IS
TRYING TO ENCOURAGE MORE
CIVILITY IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
IT CREATED AN AWARD THAT IS
BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST OF
ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY.
IT WAS GIVEN TO THREE
SENATORS -- LUKE KENLEY OF
NOBLESVILLE, VANETA BECKER OF
EVANSVILLE, AND EARLINE ROGERS
OF GARY.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES TIM
BROWN OF CRAWFORDSVILLE AND
CHARLIE BROWN OF GARY WERE
ALSO RECOGNIZED FOR, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, SETTING GOOD
EXAMPLES.
HERE'S FORMER LAWMAKER RALPH
FOLEY.
SO AS TO REFLECT PT HOTIVELY
ON AND TO GENEK IE RESPECT FOR
THEKERNERAL ASSEMBLY.
WITH THE ACRIMONY AND THE
FIGHTING AND THE CIRCULAR
Q&ISG SQE O WAS UEAM TW
AND THAT'S FORMER LAWMAKER
DALE GRUBB.
ANN DELANEY, WILL THAT LEAD TO
MORE CIVILITY?
I HOPE SO BECAUSE WE NEED
IT, I MEAN, THERE'S NO
QUESTION ABOUT IT THAT WE NEED
IT AND I GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR
THINKING OF THIS IDEA AND, OF
COURSE, PUTTING DISTINGUISHED
PERSONNEL LIKE YOURSELF ON THE
COMMITTEE, JIM.
BUT --
I TRIED.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, I
REALLY DO.
IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH
CIVILITY?
SURE, I THINK THERE IS.
I THINK IT'S BECOME SO
PARTISAN THAT IT'S
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE IN A LOT OF
WAYS AND WE'RE GOING TO LOSE
GOOD PEOPLE TO RETIREMENT THIS
TIME AROUND LIKE EARLINE
ROGERS WHO JUST WON THAT AWARD
AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS HAVING
THAT KIND OF CIVILITY IN THE
PROCESS.
SO THE ATTITUDES AND THE
ATMOSPHERE THAT WE HAVE NOW
HAS GOT TO CHANGE FOR THE
BETTER, AND IT'S HARD TO DO
WHEN YOU'RE LOSING PEOPLE LIKE
HER.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT.
OH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND THIS ISN'T JUST AN INDIANA
PROBLEM.
IT'S NOTHING --
THEY GOT IN A FIST FIGHT.
AND EVEN AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, THE STORIES ABOUT HOW
TIP O'NEIL, LEADING DEMOCRAT
IN THE HOUSE
AND PRESIDENT REAGAN USED TO
ARGUE, YOU KNOW, VIGOROUSLY
DURING THE DAY BUT THEN GET
TOGETHER, RETIRE TO THE
CONFINES --
GOT TO GO, IT'S NOT LIKE
ANY MORE.
THAT'S "INDIANA WEEK IN
REVIEW" FOR THIS WEEK.
OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN
DELANEY.
REPUBLICAN MIKE MCDANIEL.
JON SCHWANTES OF "INDIANA
LAWMAKERS" AND JOHN
KETZENBERGER OF THE INDIANA
FISCAL POLICY INSTITUTE.
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
OR BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS.
I'M JIM SHELLA OF WISH-TV.