♪♪ >> REPUBLICANS UNVEIL PROPOSED >> REPUBLICANS UNVEIL PROPOSED INDIANA HOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS.

BUSINESSES REACT TO PRES.

BIDEN'S VACCINE ORDER.

PLUS, A SIGNIFICANT STATE LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENT AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2021.

>> INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS, AND BY ICE MILLER, A FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO HELPING CLIENTS BUILD GROW AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS.

MORE AT ICEMILLER.COM.

>> THIS WEEK, INDIANA HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERS DEFENDED THE INDIANA STATE HOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS THEY UNVEILED AS THE FORMAL REDISTRICTING PROCESS BEGAN.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER TODD HUSTON SAYS THE MAPS HONORED THE GOALS HE AND HIS FELLOW LEADERS SET OUT: DISTRICTS THAT FOLLOW THE LAW, ARE AS COMPACT AS POSSIBLE AND KEEP COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST TOGETHER.

>> SPEAKER TODD HUSTON (R-FISHERS): PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK WHAT THEY WANT TO THINK.

BUT I THINK WE CAN STAND BEHIND COMING HERE, PRESENTING VERY - MAPS THAT MET THE GOALS THAT WE HAD.

>> ASKED SPECIFICALLY, THOUGH, ABOUT DISTRICT CHANGES THAT FAVOR REPUBLICANS - HUSTON'S OWN HOUSE DISTRICT AND THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, FOR INSTANCE - HUSTON WOULD ONLY SAY POPULATION SHIFTS WERE THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF SUCH CHANGES.

>> THERE COULD BE FURTHER ALTERATIONS TO THE PROPOSED MAPS - POTENTIALLY INFLUENCED, HUSTON SAYS, BY TESTIMONY FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS THIS WEEK.

>> SPEAKER TODD HUSTON (R-FISHERS): THERE IS NO PERFECT IN THIS PROCESS AND IF PEOPLE BRING SUBSTANTIVE, WELL THOUGHT OUT ARGUMENTS, THEY WILL CERTAINLY BE CONSIDERED.

>> THE HOUSE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE WILL VOTE ON THE PROPOSED MAPS NEXT WEEK.

>> ARE THESE THE RIGHT MAPS FOR HOOSIERS?

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

REPUBLICAN JENNIFER HALLOWELL.

TERRI JETT, BUTLER UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND NIKI KELLY, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE REPORTER BRANDON SMITH.

BEFORE WE GET TO MY FIRST QUESTION, I WOULD LIKE TO PASS ALONG JON SCHWANTES'S APOLOGIES FOR MISSTATING, I BELIEVE HE SAID TOM NU HAD BEEN THE STATE TREASURER IN INDIANA.

THAT WAS NOT CORRECT.

JACK NU WAS THE LAST DEMOCRAT TO BE STATE TREASURER IN INDIANA.

OF COURSE JON HAS BEEN KICKED OFF T SHOW FOR THE WEEK FOR HIS TRANSGRESSIONS.

ANN DELANEY, REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID FOR A WHILE NOW COMPACTNESS AND COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST WERE TOP PRIORITIES.

DID THEY ACCOMPLISH THAT?

>> THEY MADE THEM COMPACT ALL RIGHT.

THEY COMPACTED ALL THE AFRICAN-AMERICANOTES TOGETHER SO THEY DIDN'T LOSE MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS.

THEY DIDN'T GAIN ANY.

IF THEY SPREAD THAT OUT WE COULD HAVE ELECTED MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, THAN WHAT THEY GAVE US.

IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY OF INTERESTS.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BASICALLY PICKED THEIR VOTERS, WHICH IS WHAT THEY DO.

THEY'VE DONE THAT SUCCESSFULLY.

IF THEY HAD REDUCED THE NUMBER OF MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A RED FLAG, PERHAPS THE ONLY RED FLAG ON A REDISTRICTING REVIEW BY A COURT.

SO THEY DIDN'T DO THAT.

BUT THEY DIDN'T EXTEND THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AFRICAN-AMERICANS ELECTED FROM DISTRICTS WHICH ARE IN LARGE PART -- WELL, AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR MIX I SHOULD SAY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO IF WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MINORITY MEMBERS IN THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE REPUBLICANS ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO DO IT >> JENNIFER HALLOWELL, ONE ANALYSIS BY GEORGE WASHINGTON POLITICAL SCIENTIST WAR SHAW.

THE MAPS ARE SOME OF THE MOS PARTISANLY IMBALANCED, IF YOU WILL, IN THE COUNTRY OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS, DO YOU THINK THAT'S A FAIR CRITICISM?

>> I DEFINITELY DON'T.

I THINK, LOOK, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAPS THAT DEMOCRATS PASSED, BACK WHEN THEY WERE IN THE MAJORITY, IF YOU GAVE -- IF YOU GAV SOMEONE A COPY OF THE DEMOCRAT'S OLD MAP AND THESE MAPS AND SAID SHOW ME WHICH MAP A GERRYMANDERED, OF COURSE IT IS THE DEMOCRAT MAP.

YOU LOOK AT THESE MAPS, THEY ARE CLEAN, AND THEY MAKE SENSE, THEY'RE COMPACT, THEY DO KEEP COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST TOGETHER, SOMETHING THE DEMOCRATS HAVE LONG WANTED, AND ALSO SEEKING TO NOT SPLIT COUNTIES, NOT SPLIT TOWNSHIPS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SO IT IS AN INCREDIBLE JOB, IN TERMS OF WHAT THESE DISTRICTS LOOK LIKE, AND MEETS ALL NOT JUST THE LEGAL STANDARD, BUT IT MEETS AULT THE STANDARD THAT PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE ONLY THING DEMOCRATS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY GET WHAT THEY WANT IS IF THEY DID GERRYMANDER.

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

AND IN FACT ON THE DEMOCRATIC MAPS, THEY CONTROLLED 52 OF THE SEATS IN THE HOUSE, NOT 70, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE NOT CURRENT MAPS ARE DOING.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE, THEY ARE PARTISAN AND THEY ARE GERRYMANDERED.

>> DR. JETT -- >> ANY OBJECTIVE PERSON WOULD LOOK AT THOSE TWOMAPS.

>> THE POPULATION HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN.

>> HOLD ON.

DR. JETT, I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS, WHICH IS THE IDEA THAT -- I MEAN INDIANA IS A REPUBLICAN STATE.

NO ONE CAN ARGUE THAT.

IT CONTROLS ALL ELECTED STATE-WIDE POSITIONS AT THE MOMENT AND HAS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AT LEAST.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE MAPS, AND YOU HAVE WHAT WILL LOOK LIKE 78% OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS GOING TO REPUBLICANS AND AROUND 70% OF THE STATE HOUSE SEATS GOING TO REPUBLICANS.

DOES THAT STRIKE YOU AS A FAIR SPREAD OF WHERE INDIANA IS POLITICALLY?

>> I THINK IT'S AN ACCURATE SPREAD, UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT THE DOCTOR WAS STATING AND USED MULTIPLE METHOD TO COME UP WITH HIS CONCLUSIONS, IS THAT INDIANA'S IS 95% MORE BIASED TOWARD ONE PARTICULAR POLITICAL PARTY, REPUBLICAN PARTY, THAN MOST OF THE OTHER DISTRICT MAPS IN THE DISTRICT.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ARGUMENTS THAT HE WAS MAKING OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD, IT IS RESEARCH HE'S DONE, HE'S A WELL ACCOMPLISHED PROFESSOR OUT OF GEORGIA WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.

I DO THINK WE NEED TO START MAKING A LITTLE MORE ABOUT REPRESENTATION, AND ALSO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE ARE REPRESENTED BY THOSE IN ELECTED POSITIONS BASED ON THE LEGISLATION BEING PASSED.

BUT I DO SEE HOW THE REPUBLICANS MADE THOSE ARGUMENTS WITH REGARD TO MAKING SURE THAT COUNTIES ARE COMPLETE WITHIN ONE DISTRICT AND ALSO THE TOWNSHIPS AREN'T SPLIT.

SO IT IS A SOUND ARGUMENT TO MAKE, BUT WE STILL NEED TO LOOK MORE DIFFERENTLY AT REPRESENTATION.

>> NIKI KELLY, THERE WERE TWO DAYS OF HEARINGS AT THE STATEHOUSE THIS WEEK ON THESE MAPS, AND WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU FROM WHAT YOU HEARD?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE WERE -- CONTINUE TO BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERN ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE PROCESS, THE PROCESS IN GENERAL IS A BIG THEME OF NOT LIKING IT, SAYING IT IS BEING RUSHED, OBVIOUSLY THEY PREFER THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

THERE WERE SOME SPECIFICS ON SOME OF THE DISTRICTS, THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO NOTED SOME IMPROVEMENTS, IN AREAS LIKE FORT WAYNE AND THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, EVEN THOUGH HONESTLY, A FRIEND IN THE 5th DISTRICT, MOST OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS REMAINED PRETTY STATUS QUO.

>> I THINK -- CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, TOO.

>> THEY CERTAINLY CHANGED WHERE THEY ARE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARTISAN BALANCE, IF YOU WILL, LIKE AND COMPARE IT TO FOR INSTANCE THE PRESINTIAL RESULTS, OTHER THAN THE 5th, THINGS HAVE -- >> THE PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS TRUMP CARRIED INDIANA BY, WHAT, 58%.

>> SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> NOT 78%.

>> NO.

IT WAS AROUND 58%.

>> SO YOU CANNOT ARGUEHAT THESE ARE NON-PARTISAN BECAUSE THEY CLEARLY ARE PARTISAN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT REDISTRICTING IN THE COMING WEEKS.

FOR RIGHT, SEVERAL MAJOR COMPANIES IN INDIANA SAY THEY WILL REQUIRE COVID-19 VACCINES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.

BUT INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S SAMANTHA HORTON REPORTS MANY OTHER HOOSIER BUSINESSES SAY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED MANDATE ON COMPANIES WITH AT LEAST 100 EMPLOYEES TO REQUIRE VACCINES -- OR WEEKLY TESTING -- GOES TOO FAR.

>> THE INDIANA CHAMBER REPRESENTS MANY OF THOSE BUSINESSES IN THE STATE.

LAST MONTH, IT LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO GET COMPANIES TO ENCOURAGE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO GET VACCINATED.

STILL, CHAMBER PRESIDENT KEVIN BRINEGAR SAYS ANY DECISION TO REQUIRE VACCINES SHOULD REST WITH INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES.

>> KEVIN BRINEGAR: THE CHAMBER IS STILL OF THE POSITION THAT SHOULD BE THE EMPLOYER'S DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO REQUIRE VACCINATION OR PROOF OF [A] NEGATIVE COVID TEST.

THIS REQUIREMENT OR MANDATE FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GOES BEYOND THAT.

>> BRINEGAR SAYS IF THE PROPOSED FEDERAL REQUIREMENT PASSES LEGAL SCRUTINY, THEN THE CHAMBER WILL ENCOURAGE HOOSIER BUSINESS OWNERS TO COMPLY.

>> JENNIFER HALLOWELL, AMERICANS - AND HOOSIERS, MORE THAN MANY OTHER STATES - AREN'T GETTING VACCINATED AT THE NUMBERS NEEDED TO REALLY KEEP THIS VIRUS UNDER CONTROL.

IS PRES.

BIDEN'S MOVE THE RIGHT ONE?

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS THE RIGHT ONE.

I DON'T THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MANDATING THIS.

I THINK THEY SHOULD LEAVE IT UP TO INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES.

BUT LOOK, THAT SAID, I BELIEVE THE VACCINES ARE SAFE, I'M VACCINATED, I REALLY WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD GET VACCINATED.

I THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO OTHER THINGS TO ENCOURAGE AND INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE AND PUT OUT MORE INFORMATION THAT ADDRESSES THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS FLOATING AROUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AND I THINK THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE IN FULL SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND HAVE THE COMFORT LEVEL TO GO AND GET VACCINATED.

>> ANN DeLANEY, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE MORE ENCOURAGING OF GETTING THE VACCINE, AND CERTAINLY REPUBLICAN MORE THAN ERIC HOLCOMB.

HE CALLED THIS A BRIDGE TOO FAR, IS HE RIGHT?

>> NO.

HE WAS WLING TO MANDATE AS SENATOR BRAUN, WILLING TO MANDATE THE MENINGITIS VIRUS, THAT WAS OKAY.

BECAUSE WERE LIVES WERE AT RISK.

>> AS JENNIFER POINTS OUT, THAT MANDATE WAS FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ON THIS RELATIVELY LIMITED POPULATION IN THE CASE OF THE MENINGITIS VACCINE AND EVERY BUSINESS.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

IT IS A GOVERNMENT MANDATE, THE QUESTION OF WHAT THE THREAD IS.

WHEN THEY MANDATED THE MENINGITIS VIRUS, IT WAS IN UNIVERSITIES, THE THREAT FROM COVID-19 IS NATIONWIDE.

WE CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN STATES LIKE IDAHO THAT HAVE MADE THIS A POLITICAL ISSUE INSTEAD OF A HEALTH ISSUE.

AND IF THE GOVERNOR HAD ANY BACK BONE AT ALL HE WOULD HAVE MANDATED IT A LONG TIME AGO.

I AM SO HAPPEN PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS STEPPED FORWARD, FRANKLY, I AM TIRED OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SO SELFISHLY NOT GETTING IT AND CONTINUING THE SPREAD AND THE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THE DEATHS FROM THIS VIRUS.

I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN TOO YOUNG FOR THE VACCINE.

AND THEY ARE AT RISK FROM THESE PEOPLE WHO DON'T SEE ANY REAL, NOT ANY NEED, THEY DON'T SEE ANY COMPULSION, RESPONSIBILITY, TO BRING THIS VIRUS UNDER CONTROL.

I'M GLAD WE HAVE A LEADER IN PRESIDENT BIDEN WHEN WE DON'T IN OUR GOVERNOR.

>> NIKI KELLY, WE HEARD BEFORE THE MANDATE AND CERTAINLY ONCE HE ANNOUNCED THE MANDATE OF EITHER THE VACCINE OR WEEKLY TESTING, BY THE WAY, IT IS NOT A MANDATE TO GET THE VACCINE OR ELSE.

BUT WE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING OH, WELL I'M GOING TO QUIT MY JOB IF MY COMPANY FORCES ME TO DO THIS.

DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE QUITTING THEIR JOBS?

>> WE MIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU LOOKED, A LOT OF PLACES ARE STILL HIRING, THIS ONLY INVOLVES PEOPLE, BUSINESSES WITH 100 EMPLOYEES OR MORE.

ALSO, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT FOR EXAMPLE I.U.

-- THEY HAD 100 PEOPLE WHO LEFT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO FOLLOW THE VACCINE MANDATE.

IN A HEALTHCARE SETTING, WHICH I THINK THE NEXUS OF IS FAR GREATER THAN ANY GENERAL FINANCE OFFICE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> I THINK THE FACT THAT THE PAY WAS ABOUT $15 AN HOUR MADE A DIFFERENCE IN WHETHER THEY DECIDED TO STAY OR GO.

>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THE IDEA THAT NIKI TOUCHED ON, DR. JETT.

WE ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING WORKER SHORTAGES ACROSS INDIANA, COUNTRY, SEVERAL SECTORS WHERE COUNTRIES ARE STRUGGLING TO GET THE WORKERS THEY NEED.

THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT OF REASONS FOR THIS.

WILL THIS SORT OF MANDATE EXACERBATE THAT PROBLEM?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

SORT OF AGREE ALSO WITH WHAT NIKI SUGGESTED.

I ACTUALLY THINK WE DO NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A VACCINATION FOR -- READY FOR CHILDREN JUST YET.

WHAT IS OUR PRIORITIES?

AND THE MANDATE IS SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T BE IN PLACE REVER.

IT WOULD -- IT IS A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION THAT WOULD BE HOPEFULLY SUSTAINED, OUR ABILITY TO COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.

BUT UNTIL WE HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE LIKE THAT, THEN WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE IN THIS SAME STATE AND CONTINUE TO SUFFER.

SO I THINK IT IS NECESSARY, AND WE NEED TO EMBRACE IT AND MOVE FORWARD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

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: IS PRESIDENT BIDEN RIGHT TO FORCE COMPANIES TO HAVE THEIR WORKERS EITHER GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE OR UNDERGO WEEKLY TESTING?

A YES, OR B NO.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: IS THE AVERAGE INDIANA STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE UNDERPAID?

AND 78% OF YOU SAY YES, 22% SAY NO.

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

BASED IN LAFAYETTE, INDIANA'S DAVE BANGERT REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT INDIANA HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR TIM BROWN WILL RETIRE AFTER HIS TERM ENDS NEXT YEAR.

>> THE PROPOSED INDIANA HOUSE REDISTRICTING MAP DRAWS BROWN INTO A DISTRICT WITH FELLOW REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER BEAU BAIRD.

BUT BROWN TOLD BANGERT HE'D BEEN CONTEMPLATING RETIREMENT LONG BEFORE THE MAPS WERE UNVEILED.

BROWN IS THE SIXTH LONGEST-SERVING CURRENT HOUSE LAWMAKER, FIRST ELECTED IN 1994, AND HAS BEEN WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR FOR MOST OF THE LAST DECADE, HELPING CRAFT FIVE STATE BUDGETS.

>> NIKI KELLY, RETIREMENTS AFTER A ROUND OF REDISTRICTING ARE PRETTY COMMON.

BUT HOW BIG A DEALS THIS ONE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK IT IS -- I WASN'T THAT SURPRISED, OBVIOUSLY, I THINK BROWN NEAR THE END, HE SERVED A LONG TIME, WANTS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIS WIFE, THAT KIND OF THING.

IT A BIT OF AN ISSUE FOR HOUSE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE FEW PEOPLE THAT WERE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, BEING GROOMED FOR WAYS AND MEANS HAVE MOVED ON TO BETTER THINGS LIKE THE HOUSE SPEAKER, TODD HUSTON BECOME THE SPEAKER, SULLIVAN THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

WHO THEY'RE GOING TO FIND TO FILL THAT SPOT.

CONSIDER LIKE TOM BRADY SUPER BOWL, YOU GO OUT ON TOP, HE JUST FINISHED WITH THE EASIEST BUDGET HE EVER HAD.

PLENTY TO THROW AROUND AND PAY FOR ANYTHING HE WANTED, NOW HE CAN GO.

>> TERRI, A LOT OF HOOSIERS, MAYBE NOT SO MANY WHO WATCH THIS SHOW, MANY HOUSE, WAYS, AND MEANS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, IS THAT IMPORTANT?

IN TERMS OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES AND HOW THEY IMPACT THE STATE, IT DOESN'T GET BIG THAN THAT ONE, RIGHT?

>> IT DOESN'T.

AND IT CERTAINLY IS SIGNIFICANT.

I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH CHANGE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE PLACE.

>> JENNIFER HALLOWELL, IN TERMS OF CHOOSING THAT NEXT HOUSE, WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR, WHEN DR. BROWN WAS CHOSEN IN -- ABOUT A DECADE AGO, A LITTLE LESS, HE HADN'T BEEN ON WAYS AND MEANS, HE WAS THE CHAIR OF HOUSE.

HEALTHCARE WAS A MAJOR PART OF THAT, THAT'S WHY HE CHOSE DR. BROWN.

IN YOUR MIND, WHAT IS A PRIORITY FOR THE NEXT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE NEXT WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR?

>> WELL, I MEAN LET ME SAY, DOCTOR BROWN HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE LEADER, AN EXCELLENT PERSON.

I MEAN, HE WILL BE MISSED.

THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

AND AS NIKI SAID, THOUGH, HE REALLY JUST PUT TOGETHER ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING BUDGETS WITH OBVIOUSLY BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

AND SO KUDOS TO HIM.

BUT AS I THINK ABOUT IT, I MEAN FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE SEVERAL REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS WHO ARE VERY CAPABLE AND QUALIFIED.

I THINK WOULD DO A GREAT JOB IN THAT POSITION.

BUT IT DOES ALSO ALMOST ALWAYS FEEL LIKE WHEN THAT SELECTION IS MADE, WHATEVER AS WE LOOK THROUGH THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AS PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ON NEW ROLES, THERE IS ALWAYS SOME KIND OF QUESTIONING, OR HEAD SCRATCHING, HOW WILL THEY PERFORM AS THEIR PREDECESSOR DID, AND THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT, RIGHT?

LEADERSHIP STYLES AND BACKGROUNDS.

THE GOOD NEWS WE HAVE A GREAT -- POOL TO DRAW FROM.

WHOEVER SELECTED WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB >> ANN DeLANEY, SAME QUESTION, WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO SEE FROM THE NEXT CHAIR?

>> I WOULD HOPE TO SEE AN APPRIATION FOR HOW THE STATE OPERATES AND WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD GO, AND ALSO COMPASSION FOR THE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT NEED THE ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE.

I'M SURE THAT THE SPEAKER HAS SOMEBODY IN MIND ALREADY FOR THIS POSITION, BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS COMING, WHICH IS WHY THERE IS ANOTHER REPUBLICAN PUT INTO DR. BROWN'S DISTRICT.

I'M SURE THEY'RE PREPARED FOR IT, THEY PROBABLY WILL UNVEIL IT REASONABLY QUICKLY INTO THE SESSION AND MAKE SURE THAT PERSON IS HOPEFULLY UP TO SNUFF BY THE TIME COMES TO DRAW THE BUDGET IN TWO YEARS.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE OFF THIS ONE, NIKI KELLY, LASTLY ON THIS TOPIC, I TALKED WITH ONE HOUSE REPUBLICAN THIS WEEK WHO FLOATED THE IDEA THAT IF THEY WANTED TO GO A MORE SHORT-TERM ROUTE, CURRENT VICE CHAIR BOB CHERRY ISN'T GOING TO BE IN THE LEGISLATURE ANOTHER DECADE BUT WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THE JOB FOR A CYCLE AS THEY REALLY START TO GROOM SOMEONE, AS YOU POINTED OUT, A COUPLE OF THE PEOPLE THAT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE DOING THAT FOR HAVE SEND TO OTHER POSITIONS, COULD YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT PLAYING OUT?

>> THAT COULD HAPPEN.

I THINK IT MIGHT BE A BETTER ROUTE TO JUST CHOOSE SOMEONE AND LET THEM HAVE THAT UNDER DOC BROWN TO SIT IN ON ALL HIS MEETINGS AND GET TO KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF THE COMMITTEE.

>> LIKE HOW BRIAN BOSMA AND TODD HUSTON HANDLED THAT HANDOFF.

MORE THAN 47,000 HOOSIER HOUSEHOLDS WERE USING A PAYDAY LOAN IN THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS ACCORDING TO THE INDIANA INSTITUTE FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S SAMANTHA HORTON REPORTS A NEW COALITN AIMS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND EDUCATE HOOSIERS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF PAYDAY LENDING.

>> HOOSIERS FOR RESPONSIBLE LENDING IS A COALITION OF VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS, FAITH COMMUNITIES, CONSUMER GROUPS AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS.

IT BRINGS TOGETHER GROUPS THAT HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST PAYDAY LENDING AT THE STATEHOUSE FOR YEARS.

PROSPERITY INDIANA COALITION BUILDER NATALIE JAMES SAYS THE ALLIANCE WILL PUSH FOR LEGISLATION THIS UPCOMING SESSION TO STOP PREDATORY LOANS FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HOOSIERS' IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS.

>> NATALIE JAMES: WE SEEK TO PUT AN END TO LENDING PRACTICES THAT TARGET AND TRAP VULNERABLE HOOSIERS EXTRACTING WEALTH FROM THEM AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> CURRENTLY PAYDAY LENDERS CAN CHARGE UP TO A 391 PERCENT INTEREST RATE ANNUALLY ON LOANS.

THE NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS IS ADVOCATING THAT IT BE REDUCED TO 36 PERCENT.

>> TERRI JETT, THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE PAYDAY LENDING DEBATE AT THE STATEHOUSE HAS LARGELY BEEN A STALEMATE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES.

DOES A MORE COHESIVE, ORGANIZED COALITION LIKE THIS CHANGE THAT?

>> WELL, LET'S HOPE SO.

BECAUSE THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE GOING INTO LIKE PAYDAY COLLECTIONS, AND THIS PREDATORY LENDING CYCLE REALLY IS HARMING SO MANY HOOSIERS AND SO MANY FAMILIES.

AND IT ALSO TOUCHES INTO THE HOUSING CRISIS, ALL THESE THINGS FEED INTO ONE ANOTHER.

LET'S HOPE WE HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT WILL ACTUALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE SUFFERING THAT'S TAKING PLACE AS A RESULT OF THE DECLARATION THAT A NUMBER OF FAMILIES WILL SEEK IN GOING FOR THESE PAYDAY LOANS.

I HOPE THIS COALITION WITH THEIR ADVOCACY AND EDUCATIONAL PROCESS WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE?

NIKI KELLY, IT'S STARTED TO FEEL LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY THE LAST FEW YEARS,S THIS THE SORT OF THING THAT CAN STOP SONNY AND CHER FROM SINGING THAT IN THE MORNING?

>> THEY STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYWHERE.

IT IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT REALLY FROM US IS MAYBE -- YOU LOOK AT WHERE THEY'RE AT, 300% VERSUS 36%, AND YOU THINK THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN THOSE EXTREMES AND YET WE CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IT.

>> ANN DeLANEY, TO NIKI'S POINT, THERE HAS BEEN A GROUP, A LOT OF THE SAME PEOPLE AS PART OF THIS MORE ORGANIZED COALITION HAVE BEEN PUSHING AT THE STATEHOUSE, CAN THIS GET A RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE?

>> IT WOULD BE GREAT IF IT DID.

THE EDUCATIONAL PART IS VERY IMPORTANT.

PEOPLE GET IN AND GET THESE AND DON'T REALIZE ANNUAL INTEREST MEANS IF THEY BORROW $100 THEY'RE GOING TO OWE ALMOST $400 AND ON AND ON AND ON.

IT IS ACTUALLY DISGRACEFUL THAT WE ALLOW THAT KIND OF INTEREST IN INDIANA, AND FRANKLY 36% IS PRETTY HIGH.

CERTAINLYOT 391.

IT IS RIDICULOUS.

>> JENNIFER HALLOWELL, IS THERE A RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE ON THE HORIZON?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA, I'VE WATCHED IT.

IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HURT FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO BE MOBILIZED LIKE THIS, AND TO COORDINATE AND COORDINATE MESSAGING AND ADVOCACY AND REACHING OUT TO FOLKS.

WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THAT TYPE OF EFFORT WORK IN SOME AREAS, FRANKLY WE'VE ALSO SEEN IT FAIL.

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AROUND CERTAIN BIG ISSUES.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS MATTER HOW MANY NAMES YOU GET ON LETTERHEAD OR HOW MANY ORGANIZATIONS OR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS EVEN ARE COMBINED WORKING ON THE SAME THING IF THEY'RE GOING UPHILL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT IT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO MOBILIZE IN A COORDINATED FASHION.

>> FINALLY, THE NFL SEASON GOT OFF TO A BIT OF A ROUGH START FOR THE COLTS AND MY HOMETOWN CHICAGO BEARS.

NEW COLTS QUARTERBACK CARSON WENTZ PUT UP DECENT NUMBERS IN THE OPENER, DESPITE THE LOSS.

BUT HE'S ALSO ATTRACTED SOME CONTROVERSY FOR HIS DECISION NOT TO GET VACCINATED FOR COVID-19.

ANN DELANEY, WILL CARSON WENTZ MAKE IT THROUGH THE SEASON WITHOUT HAVING A MISS A GAME BECAUSE OF THE HARSHER QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS FOR UNVACCINATED PLAYERS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

AND I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY SELFISH OF HIM BOTH TO HIS TEAMMATES AND FANS AND TO THE COLT ORGANIZATION FOR HIM TO TAKE THIS POSITION.

HE OUGHT TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO PEOPLE RATHER THAN THIS KIND OF NONSENSE THAT THROWS EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM IN JEOPARDY AND MAY THROW THE SEASON IN JEOPARDY FOR THAT MATTER.

>> NIKI KELLY, ARE YOU BENGALS GOING TO BEAT MY BEARS THIS SECOND?

>> I'LL TAKE THAT BET.

>> I'M NOT BETTING.

I DON'T EXPECT THE BEARS TO WIN EITHER.

SO JUST MAKING SURE.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY.

REPUBLICAN JENNIFER HALLOWELL.

DR. TERRI JETT OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS.

-- OF BUTLER UNIVERSITY.

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.

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