another week has passed for the Indiana General Assembly committees from each caucus began hearing a number of bills. >> Some committees have already passed amendments and these measures are making their way to the House or Senate floor. >> The Senate Appropriations Committee continues hearings with state agencies on their funding requests. The Senate budget amendment isn't expected for a few more weeks but preparing he said, and passing a new state spending plan for the next two years. That's job one for the general Assembly. Bills passed in the session's first half are now seeking final approval in the coming weeks and those measures include topics such as public pension funding, expansion of the states 21st Century Scholars program, income tax exemption for military pay, financial literacy funding for the Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Commission and the ability to designate outdoor refreshment areas. Our guests this evening are familiar with this just partial legislation list and we'll get an update on these bills and more on this week's prime time. >> And good evening. I'm Bruce . >> With us today is House Democratic leader and 80th District Democratic State Representative Phil Geia. Queta and 80 Second District Democratic State Representative Kyle Miller. >> And we invite you to join the conversation with your questions and comments by calling the number on the screen as we widen out and welcome us all again together on a Friday evening we have leader Geia CUENTA and Representative Cao Miller and just before we went on the air we were given to believe that this is historic as we are sitting here. >> Tell us why. So I said I think it might be the first time I've done the show with another Democrat so and I don't have to go back into the archives to check out to see if maybe maybe representative side of the show together I don't really remember but yeah. >> So it's been a while and it's fun to have a call here and it better even having them down at the state house with well and Kyl it is a district that I'm not sure was in existence so long ago and for you to represent that in Indianapolis is is an honor to help tell me how the 86 come to be. >> Yeah, it's a it's a really fantastic district. So essentially previous to redistricting it happened in twenty twenty one the Fort Wayne was kind of broken up into four or five different legislators and so what they did when they were going around hearing their redistricting commission hearings taking input from from the public, what they heard was they really wanted Fort Wayne to be more compact. They wanted they wanted the district a district that represented Fort Wayne and so they essentially took pieces of the area legislators and put them into one central downtown district that kind of covers downtown and and some of the surrounding neighborhoods and so has a lot of really, really great neighborhoods in it west central, east central, a lot of really cool areas of the city and I think that it's a real powerful voice for for not only downtown Fort Wayne but kind of Fort Wayne at large. So happy to have you to be there and and happy to support later Jack Quinn out there you go. >> And this is again a history opportunity that we're all witnessing. >> So again, thank you both for taking time to do this. I just added it really should I think should be a compliment to the city of Fort Wayne and Allen County that it shows the progress the city and county that we've made over the last ten years when the census comes out and we've added population we didn't lose or remain stagnant. We actually added population back. We were at a chamber of Commerce dinner this week and the speaker there that was from North Carolina and he was going over the demographic changes throughout the state and there really only a few counties that have that have had significant growth, one of them being Allen County. So we're doing things right here I think I mean with with downtown development strengthening our neighborhoods, things like that which our schools as well which people who want to be here want to live here, want to work in Fort Wayne and and that then boost our numbers and we're able to get another legislative seat drawn and as we're all going through the legislation, the legislative session together, a veteran's perspective and those who are going through the motions with all and not just for their own sake but I mean certainly to to know it's a lot to take that your first session is involved in budget building. We're not so far into the second half that this question of how have been things been for you in the first half of the session? So I'm looking to seeing how the years play together with this one. So Phil, let me start with I'll be anxious to hear this as well, but I only because I got a little noticed or not got a little cranky the other day in a meeting we were in and at the anyway just trying to kind of move things a little along if you've ever you know, you've got a group there of and I love all the caucus members but you know, we get to chatting and talking and talking and talking and we have things to do and places to be and and so someone has to be the the the traffic cop if you will and say hey, it's time to move on. You know, we can't keep discussing this. We've got a session in two minutes. We got to keep moving. So and that's when you know it's funny because you're like everything else here, enthusiasm there in the beginning you're gung and as the weeks kind of grind on, you know, an hopefully spring shows up and the temperatures warm up but you might lose a little bit of energy and things like that because you kind of want to get home and things like that. >> So but right now, you know, we're still midway midway through March and we're going to hear Senate bills and bring it to a close here at the end of April. So OK, it's been it's been really a great process. The first half was was really it it took a while to get up to speed obviously. You know, you're kind of thrown into this this the entire General Assembly and things happened so quickly and bills are moving all over the place and you've got your committees, you've got session and and so we've really leaned on the expertize of those that have gone before us to really to guide us and to make sure we're on the right track. But I'm starting to get a little bit easier. We're starting to figure out the process as freshmen starting to figure out the process, starting to figure out ,you know, what we need to do to to hear bills in committee and get bills heard and and and voting on certain bills and things like that. And so it's been a really great process. I'm still really enjoying it and but but still have a long way to go and a lot to learn. >> The second half is a little slower because obviously we're only hearing the Senate bills that passed. >> So I think in roughly a hundred and fifty ish we sent them about the same amount when in fact I think we filed a total of twelve hundred somewhere in there. So it's it's an even over one hundred and fifty they won't all get heard so it's a little bit of a slower pace what I think we all appreciate and kind of be able to and that's the beauty of the system that a bill has to pass both houses so they're vetted thoroughly and and so the fact that we're a little bit slow down some it's I think it helps all of us to really kind of go through one more look at a bill and make sure if we want to make any more changes before we pass it or send it back send it back to the Senate or on to the governor, I think it's a good bet systemic process. >> What did you both see when you were looking at the House bill ten one as it was on its way over to the Senate it looked like there were some aspects of the governor's platform in there and some parts of the Democrat platform that still made its way over from one chamber to the to the next. >> What did what was your takeaway on? Well, I think that the one of the things that we talked about for years and years and years is is paying for textbooks and we were very pleased that the governor in his State of the State address announced for the funding of textbooks. >> Now he includes a dedicated line item to the in the budget to that well in the budget that passed the House Republican budget that passed and sent over the Senate, it basically is is saying it says school district you're going to have to pay for the textbooks so it comes out of their foundation mount and that's dedicated to each district. So it's in a sense like an unfunded mandate. And so when you actually when you run the numbers and when we think we're getting maybe a three percent increase every year at actually the new numbers I just saw around I think for 420 new schools two percent negative point six because you have to you're going to lose some money out of that foundation amount and that's you know, that's just something that I think the Senate is really going to take a look at. Either they're going to decide they're going to we're going to pay for those and keep the the foundation amount the funding that that they said was going to be in there or you know, we're not so interesting. And then the other thing is frankly the the school voucher program right now it's basically a family for the next hundred and fifty thousand dollars would qualify and that would now be increased about 220000 dollars. So for a family of four that makes about two hundred twenty thousand dollars. So we'll see I am not sure if the Senate has as much appetite for that as the House did and not just those two things that kind of stand out to me. >> Yeah, kind of help. Are you sure? Yeah, I think the the budget process as a whole is you know, we're we're literally setting the budget the state budget for the next two years and so it's meant to be a big budget. It's meant to be a big process with a lot of input. And I think when you have something like that you have really good pieces of it and you have pieces that quite frankly this house Democrats have disagreed with. And so we put forth our own amendment that included some of our priorities that you know, where they where they aligned with the Republican priorities in the House and then where they differed and where we thought we should be doing more more funding of schools and of mental health funding and a lot of different a lot of different things. So you know, as we're looking at the budget, we've got to sort of take some of these things as they come and recognize that there are really, really good parts of the budget and then there are parts quite frankly we need to make better and so we'll see what the Senate hands back over. But looking forward to seeing what all is in the final budget. >> Yeah, I wonder if this is one example of progress on a different front within the aspirations going into this session in the Democrat plan was the notion of implementing a universal pre-K system and provide incentives for business to offer child care to a lot more people to thrive in the workforce. The governor's budget seems to have included increases in funding for on my way pre-K not necessarily an exact match with the Democrat plan, if you will, for the for the but this is an expansion of up to one hundred and thirty eight percent of the federal poverty level increases the cap your sense on progress on that front? >> Yeah, his his budget and his proposal was closer to ours. >> We were closer probably than within where we were with the House Republicans. >> So you know, we if you go back and we're we've been on pre-K started off as a ten county pilot program that went statewide and we've seen the successes. The problem is is that not within each county there isn't really the access that we would like to see and and so we know how valuable the pre-K program is and it's the more investing that we do with students, the younger age we know how much more successful they are later in life and and so that's that's really been our one of our main priorities is let's make sure that kids or that we invest in young kids early on and get them to get them to pre-K, make sure the programs are fully funded and that that parents have access to pre-K. >> Get it? We are talking this evening with State Representative Democratic state representatives Phil Chiquitita and Kyle Miller on prime time. If you'd like to join us with a question or comment, you see the number on the screen. Jeffrey has called in with a question offline. Let me share it with you. He would like to know if there are plans to treat disability improvements in as a priority since all of society will benefit. Yeah, I I think it's incredibly important that it goes back to you know what we were just talking about in the budget there. There are a lot of moving pieces to it and I think that the health commission that that Governor Hogan created a year year and a half ago where they put out the report shows that we're lacking in a lot of areas disability improvements being one of them. And so I think one of the things we're looking at is making sure that, you know, this commission has looked at all aspects of health in our state and shown that we're falling further and further behind not only in public health but things like mental health , disability improvements. And so as the as the budget process continues, as we continue debating SB one, which is kind of the legislative part of the governor's commission recommendations, it's something that we need to keep our eye on and make sure that that we're taking care of some of those communities that quite frankly may have felt forgotten in the past. >> I think when it comes to health care in the state we've seen the metrics and where we don't really we rank pretty poorly on several of them. >> And frankly as a result of covid when you talk to Dr. Boxer she went out and more so than ever went to the different counties around the state, went to their health departments and she told me you is really quite an eye opener really as to the staffing levels and all these things that when it comes to local departments she would say look, Marin County, Allen County, the larger ones do find it's again when we go back to these rural counties that they're smaller and they just don't really necessarily have the funding that it takes. And so what I really like about this plan that they put together is that it really gets buy in from the local county health departments and and you know, it was debated and we heard in committee I think about a week last week and so it'll we'll continue to I'm sure the bill will get one more look over the committee and they'll go to the House and we'll see what happens. >> Yeah, this is I think what the application of some of the premise with us before that additional funding goes to the county health departments. Hopefully they can all opt in and say hopefully with a little editorial for which apologize if others feel countered but nevertheless the munther with it seems to be that the bill seeks to shift the way Indiana goes about health from being experts in treating sick sick people to preventing healthy people from being sick. >> Yeah, absolutely. And what would if there are any counties that are out there that are hesitant, those that are that do opt in, the ones that don't may look to the ones that did and see what successes they've had or didn't have. But we're hoping then that not so much peer pressure but they're going to say, well, you know what, let's give it a try. >> It's working well in this county and maybe it can work well in ours too. Jeffrey, thank you very much for your your your checking in with us with that question. Kind of like last week's third house forum over to Fort Wayne several issues coming up that you were following on a talk about a couple that are capturing your attention as we move into the second half. >> Sure. Well, I I I think that the the the budget is obviously one that we're continuing to look at. I think a couple of a couple of other ones things that came through our our public policy committee were things on alcohol beer wholesalers, things like that and and some others you're referencing financial literacy as as a piece of legislation that is still alive and well. >> Yeah, financial literacy is is a huge one. I coauthored a bill with Representative Hall that would essentially suggest to school corporations that as a as a requirement of graduation each student should have a financial literacy course that they go through that would cover everything from debt and check writing budgeting. We feel like there are a lot of high school graduates that are that we're sending out into the world that just don't have that financial literacy that that through their their course of schooling just aren't getting sort of those those basics. And so we think it's a huge thing that that we should give our graduates and and so we'll see how that moves through the Senate and on the education side. >> And speaking of something that is to be far more democratic for all concerned, that's the expansion of the 21st Century Scholars program. >> You're following that bill. Yeah, it's been a great program in existence since the early to mid 90s and the issue has been lack of awareness. Still some parents either missed the deadline to sign up. >> They're middle school kids to participate in the program or or never didn't know about it somehow. And so this will be the bill in fact I believe just was voted out of the Senate. I think we're in pretty good shape there and essentially it's an automatic renewal for poor students. They can always opt out obviously. But but they won't, you know, ever have to miss that that deadline again for signing up. And that's a good thing because it's been a good program. >> Yeah. Something else that's inclusive of all those involved in the military kind of something that is moving is the notion of an income tax exemption on military pay. >> Yeah, I think something that we heard on the House floor was that we've got a lot of service members that could actively settle themselves and their families at least their residences in some other states that exempt them due to their service from state income tax. As of now I believe we still charge our service members state income tax and so we're looking to make sure that not only Hoosiers that that serve in our our military's stay here and keep the residency here and have that added benefit but also attracting those from from surrounding states that maybe don't give that benefit and with the hopes that folks may use Indiana for their residency and then come back when their services is complete. And so yeah, I think it's a I think it's a great program. It's it's great for our veterans. It's great for our service members and could be a real help. There is a program that is under consideration in the House bill 13 08 which relates to Indiana Crime Guns Task Force and you both were saying let's be sure we mentioned it but yeah, I think that so I'll take this moment just to plug that I think 95 percent of what we do down at the state House is bipartisan and I think that a lot of our constituents may may see some of the contentious contentious bills that come out of the state house or the floor fights or the policy disagreements that we have. But a lot of what we do is working together both Democrats and Republicans, both House and Senate and this is a great example of that. So for those that know our history, my former sparring partner Martin Kaval authored a bill that would help to get it would it would include Allen County in a program that's already in existence in Marion County and some other counties in getting illegal guns off of the street. It's working phenomenally in Marion County. I think last year they they got 400 close to 400 guns, illegal guns off of the street. And so this bill would would include Allen County and Representative Karpas was was gracious enough to ask me to be a coauthor on that. And so really happy to work with work with him on this and and make sure that you know, again this is one of those issues that cuts across party lines. It doesn't matter Republican or Democrat. This is an issue that affects Allen County and that's what I found from the entire northeastern Indiana delegation is that you know, we've obviously got our policy differences but when it comes to Allen County we vote together and we vote for what's best in our county. >> I can't think of a better Segway to a bill for which both of you are connected as well as a number of other lawmakers from this district and that's on the what seems to be a final lap across the finish line for designated outdoor refreshment areas. >> Very exciting. Everyone wants to know can I take this outside right or yeah. >> Yeah. Tell me about that. Well, I mean, you know, the exciting thing about downtown Fort Wayne is with the landing and other areas parts of downtown is and you know, really this has been a development plan for a long time the starting underground richer than Tom Henry and you want downtown to be walkable and things like that and and so it really it's with approval from city council, the mayor and others is that you know, we want to designate a certain area. Yes. You'd be able to and there's some there's we like to use the term guardrails or definitely some some of those as well. So people aren't you know, get out of hand. But essentially you would be able to if you buy a beer in one of the restaurants there on the landing you'd be able to take out because you know, we do have concerts that happen on Friday nights down there and then with with Pearl Street developing right there and the old perfection. So it kind of make a night and kind of a Harrison and then onto L.A. there's really kind of that could be potential designated area and it just it's just one more thing to kind of enhance the quality of living and life and for folks that want to be by be downtown have fun. >> And so for those who are watching going yeah, makes sense. What's the probability of success at this point? >> Oh I think pretty good. It's going to be depends which one makes it across the finish line first because I followed one several other folks have including Senator Liz Brown and her bill passed the Senate and House. So and they're all very similar. I think the one I found actually very similar to Senator Brown's. So they're all very close maybe a tweak here or there. But yeah, I think I think we've got a good shot there and in the final vote or two , let's ask your sense of how these these upcoming weeks will be and if the session gets shorter, certainly the budget has its track. There's always that revenue forecast that comes out in April. But what should we be looking for as as citizens and at the end of the work that I'll probably get crankier but I'll let go, OK? >> Yeah, I think that you know, we're still sort of early in the second half and so we've got a long way to go. We've got committees committees to still meet and go over bills in my committees in particular I don't know if I mentioned to someone public policy financial institutions and the Commerce Committee Commerce doesn't have any any bills coming to at the second half and public policy and financial institutions just have a few that we're discussing. And so you will get we'll get through the committee process, we'll get through the amendment process and then onto onto passage of different bills. And I think that the budget is going to be the biggest one as a as a freshman. It's you know, it's I understand the vetting that needs to happen. But at the same time we know that the budget is headed for conference committee. It's headed for a reconciliation between what the House wants to do in the Senate wants to do. And so we'll have to see what the Senate puts out, come back together and do what's best for Hoosiers and philia all of 20 seconds. You mentioned that revenue forecast is supposed to be I think April 18th. We're going to see if we can maybe get that out a little bit sooner. We should be done then around April 27. That's what the calendar says you never know maybe a few days even earlier than that. But as soon as we get the revenue forecasts, all sides will be able to get together and go from there and hammer out the final details of the budget as quickly as time flies made the balance of your session go well and thank you for your thank you is tonight. I appreciate it. Thank you all for joining tonight as well. With us again this evening 80th District Democratic State Representative and Democratic leader Phil Chiquitita. Eighty 2nd District Democratic State Representative Paul Miller and Bruce Haines for all of us with private time. >> We will see you next week right here. Thanks for watching today. Last week