THERE IS ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO UNTIL THE MIDPOINT THE 2021 INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY THE LAST DAYS FOR A THIRD READING ARE NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY FOR THE HOUSE AND SENATE RESPECTIVELY.

NOW AMONG SOME OF THE STATE HOUSE HEADLINES FROM RECENT DAYS, GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB SIGNED A BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE BUSINESSES INCLUDING NURSING HOMES CIVIL IMMUNITY FROM CORONAVIRUS RELATED LAWSUITS IN THE INDIANA HOUSE, ITS PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE VOTED TO ELIMINATE INDIANA'S GUN PERMIT REQUIREMENT AND THE FULL HOUSE APPROVED EXPANDING INDIANA'S PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM.

THE INDIANA SENATE PASSED LEGISLATION ALLOWING MORE VETERANS TO RECEIVE AID FROM A STATE MILITARY RELIEF FUND.

THE SENATE ALSO OK THE MEASURE TO REPEAL THE STATE'S REGULATED WETLANDS LAW AND THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE APPROVED AND FORWARDED A MEASURE ABOUT LIMITS ON GUBERNATORIAL EMERGENCY POWERS.

NOW THE AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 407 IS WITH US TO TELL US MORE ON THIS WEEK'S PRIME TIME.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BRUCE HAYNES.

AND WITH THIS INDEED IS 13TH DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR AND ASSISTANT PRESIDENT PRO TEM SUE GLICK AND WITH SUE 51 DISTRICT REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE DENNY S. AND WITH THEM YOU'RE JOINING US.

WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

YOU CAN BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO THE NUMBER THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN AS WE GO TECHNICALLY UP NORTH INTO THE DISTRICTS TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO SENATOR GLIK AND REPRESENTATIVES SUE DENNY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, BOOKKEEPER'S.

LET ME ASK YOU SINCE WE ARE SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO HALFTIME, WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE FIRST HALF IMPRESSIONS THAT YOU HAVE ON THE SESSION NOW IN PROGRESS?

CERTAINLY IT'S DIFFERENT LOGISTICS BUT WHETHER BY STRUCTURE OR BY CONTENT TO HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS BEEN SINCE EVERYTHING GOT GAVELED IN IN JANUARY?

IT'S HECTIC.

IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF HAVING A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING THE THEY'RE MEETING IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT CENTER.

THEY HAVE THEIR CAUCUSES AND ANOTHER BUILDING.

THEY THEIR OFFICES ARE IN THE STATE HOUSE.

SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO REACH MEMBERS OF THE YOU THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE OCCASIONAL DISCUSSION ON SOME OF THESE BILLS.

IT TAKES A LITTLE LONGER.

IT'S LOGISTICALLY A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT WHERE WE'RE USED TO BEING ABLE TO CATCH THEM IN THE HALLWAYS OR DISCUSS MATTERS IN THE ELEVATOR JUST IN MOVES.

IT'S MOVING DIFFERENTLY THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST.

DENNY, HOW ABOUT FOR YOU, SIR?

YEAH, IT CERTAINLY SENATOR GLICK DESCRIBED IT.

IT'S JUST UNUSUAL.

WE'VE GOT A SMALL TRACK JUST TO GET OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING AND TRY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS THERE AND IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME.

I KIND OF YEARN FOR THE DAYS WHEN WE WOULD BE IN THE CHAMBER AND YOU COULD FIT EVERYTHING TOGETHER SO THIS IS QUITE AN UNDERTAKING AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT SINCE THE ONLY SESSION WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS BECAUSE IT DOES CUT INTO YOUR EFFICIENCY AND THEN THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S NORMALLY CONVEYED TO SENATOR GLICK'S SAID THAT ISN'T SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE SOME STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN BILLS THAT ARE PASSING FROM THE SENATE TO THE HOUSE AND THE HOUSE TO THE SENATE NOW BECAUSE THE IDEAS WEREN'T A GOOD IDEA BUT THEY USUALLY GIVE MASSAGE A LITTLE BIT BETTER BEFORE WE COME OUT.

SO A LOT OF THESE BILLS GOT A CHANCE OF BEING RADICALLY DIFFERENT BY THE TIME THEY GET THROUGH BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

YEAH, WE MENTIONED IN THE TOP OF THE SHOW THAT ONE OF THE POINTS OF CONVERGENCE SEEMED TO BE BETWEEN HOUSE BILL TEMOTU AND SENATE BILL ONE.

THIS IS ULTIMATELY THE LEGISLATION THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THIS WEEK ON LIABILITY PROTECTION FOR BUSINESSES INCLUDING NURSING HOMES SINCE THIS WAS SUCH A PRIORITY FOR BOTH CHAMBERS AND EACH OF YOU REPRESENTING YOUR RESPECTIVE BODIES SUE, WHAT WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PASSAGE OF SB ONE?

WELL, THE EFFORT WAS MADE TO TO GIVE THE IMMUNITIES AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS THERE WAS SUCH A PUSH TO GET PRODUCT AND AND YOU KNOW, PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND OTHER THINGS INTO THE MARKETPLACE VERY SPEEDILY.

THERE'S ALWAYS THE THE PERSON OUT THERE WHO'S GOING TO SAY I CONTRACTED THIS COVID AT YOUR RESTAURANT OR YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS.

I USED YOUR YOUR PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND I GOT COVID ANYWAY.

SO YOU'RE LIABLE FOR MY MY EXPENSES.

THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO INSURE AND PROTECT THOSE GIVE A DAMNINGLY IF YOU WILL, TO THOSE COMPANIES.

THEY WE BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL LEGALLY IN A IN A COURTROOM HAD THEY BEEN SUED BECAUSE OF THESE CLAIMS AND VERY OFTEN VERY FRIVOLOUS CLAIMS.

HOWEVER, FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE UNDERGOING SUCH ADVERSE CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING NOW BECAUSE OF COVERED JUST THE COST OF LEGAL DEFENSE AND GOING TO COURT TAKING DEPOSITIONS, ALL OF THOSE EXPENSES WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING.

SO THIS INDEMNITY BILL, IT IT DOESN'T PROTECT THE BAD ACTORS IF SOMEONE IS GROSSLY NEGLIGENT, IF THEY HAVE DONE THINGS THAT MAKE THEM WILLFUL WANTON THOSE ARE TERMS OF ART IN THE LAW.

IF THEY'VE DONE THINGS THAT WERE SO BAD AND SO OUTRAGEOUS, THEY CAN STILL BE HELD LIABLE.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE AVERAGE BUSINESS IS NOT GOING TO FACE A LAWSUIT.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR FRIVOLOUS CLAIMS.

AND DENNY IN THE HOUSE WITH WITH WITH TENNO TOO AND THE SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS THAT LED TO THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE THIS WEEK.

THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

YES, WE RESTRAIN THE SENATE BILL WOULD STREAMLINE THAT ONE VERY WELL THROUGH THE HOUSE TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE TURNOVER BUT MY BACKGROUND IS IN HEALTH CARE AND IT WAS JUST INTRIGUING TO ME TO SEE HOW PEOPLE WERE GOING TO CONNECT THE DOTS AND SAY THAT OH YEAH, I GOT EXPOSURE HERE.

THERE UNLESS YOU LIVED IN A BUBBLE AND ONLY CAME OUT ONE ONE TO A CERTAIN PLACE I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'D EVER PROVE IT AND I THINK WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

WE'RE LEARNING AND IT'S NOT A TIME TO START FINGER POINTING AND THERE'S PROTECTIONS IN THERE GROSS NEGLIGENCE, ET CETERA AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY OTHERWISE I THINK YOU'D FIND EVERYBODY LYING IN SOME COURT ROOM HERE FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS AND WE'VE GOT TO LIVE THROUGH TOGETHER AND LEARN FROM IT AND HOPEFULLY BY THIS SUMMER WE'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.

YEAH, WE ARE WELCOMING A NUMBER OF CALLERS IN THE QUEUE AS THEY SAY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF OUR CONVERSATION AND LET'S TAKE THEM STARTING WITH LINE ONE.

TOM HAS A QUESTION AND GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GO AHEAD WITH YOUR YOUR THOUGHT AND COMMENT.

TOM GOOD EVENING, SIR.

CAN YOU HEAR ME AFTER THE ONLY IS IT WELL PAY 20 CENTS THIS IS AVAILABLE THIS YEAR THE STATE WILL REDRAW DISTRICT LINES IN TWENTY TWENTY ONE.

SO I'M WONDERING SINCE THE CENSUS DATA IS APPARENTLY NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THIS SUMMER WHEN OUR PUBLIC REDISTRICTING HEARINGS PLANNED BY STATE LEGISLATURE.

SUE, I'LL HAVE YOU START WITH THAT ONE.

WE'RE ANTICIPATING RECEIVING THE DATA IN SEPTEMBER SO THE UNTIL WE RECEIVE THE DATA WE WON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH IT AND TO SET UP THOSE HEARINGS.

I DON'T EXPECT THE HEARINGS TO OCCUR UNTIL AT LEAST SEPTEMBER MAYBE OCTOBER BECAUSE WE NEED TO SHOW MAPS OF WHERE THE POPULATION HAS CHANGED AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DRAMATIC CHANGES.

MANY RURAL AREAS HAVE LOST POPULATIONS.

SOME OF OUR CITIES A FEW CITIES HAVE LOST POPULATION.

SEVERAL HAVE GAINED ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL INDIANA.

SO I'M THINKING WHEN THAT HAPPENS IT'LL BE SEPTEMBER INTO OCTOBER.

THERE'LL BE A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MEET AND GO OVER THOSE MAPS.

BUT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE STATE AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO DO THAT COVID PERMITTING OBVIOUSLY.

BUT IF NOT IN-PERSON MEETINGS THERE WILL BE SOME MEETINGS TO ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT.

DETNY, ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD, SIR?

OH, I IF I HAD TO GUESS I'D SAY IT'S GOING BE THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 10TH BECAUSE THAT'S MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO PLAN ON DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL AND WE'LL PROBABLY BE DOWN IN INDIANAPOLIS BUT QUITE TRUTHFULLY I COULD TRY IT IF THEY DON'T EXPECT THE NUMBERS UNTIL SEPTEMBER AND ARE USUALLY A LITTLE TARDY ON THAT I'M THINKING ON OCTOBER WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN AND IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE JUST AN INTERESTING SIDELIGHT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S HAPPENED THIS YEAR.

YEAH.

TOM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S GO TO LINE TWO AND HUG.

I HOPE I PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME CLOSE AND I'LL GET FOR IT.

YES.

GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION, SIR.

YES.

SO THE FISCAL ANALYSIS OF THE BUDGET HAS COME OUT AND ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR MILLION OUT OF THE THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE IN EDUCATION FUNDING IS EXPECTED TO GO TO VOUCHER EXPANSION AND EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

WILL YOU WHICH GO TO NONPUBLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHICH HAVE LESS ACCOUNTABILITY THAN VOUCHERS WILL YOU STAND WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT FEEL THIS IS EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE AT A TIME THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE BEING EXPECTED TO DO SO MUCH AND DURING A TIME OF COVID WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS AND EITHER AMEND THE HOUSE BILL THE HOUSE BUDGET BILL TO REMOVE VOUCHER EXPANSION IN EDUCATIONAL SAVING SAVINGS ACCOUNTS OR AND ALSO TO KILL HB ONE ZERO ZERO FIVE WHICH HAS WHICH IS A STAND ALONE OF THE THAT HAS FORCED VOUCHER EXPANSION AND EDUCATIONAL SAVING ACCOUNTS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALL AND LET'S REVERSE THE ORDER TO START WITH YOU.

YEAH.

SINCE THE HOUSE GENERALLY PROPOSES TO BUDGET, I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION AND I'VE SAID ON A NUMBER OF KEY POINTS WE FEEL THAT WHAT'S BEEN LAID OUT THERE IS GOING TO BE ADDRESSED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER ON THE SENATE SIDE.

THIS IS WHERE UNFORTUNATELY SINCE WE'RE SO FAR APART PHYSICALLY AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET FEEDBACK, I THINK THAT WHAT CAME THROUGH IS NOT SO FAR AS NOT REALLY I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH SOME VERY GOOD POINTS ABOUT AS FAR AS THE FUNDING BUT THERE IS SOME MORE FUNDS AVAILABLE.

I THINK THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIANA IS COMING THROUGH AND INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DIG INTO BORROWING WE'VE GOT THE SURPLUS.

THEY'RE TRYING TO USE IT IN A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

FOR THE MOST PART I'M ON WAYS AND MEANS AND WE USUALLY HEAR ABOUT IT AND A COUPLE HUNDRED PAGES LONG AND IT'S THEY LIKE TO PASS IT MASS AND AFTER IT GOES TO THE SENATE AND THEY DO THEIR WORK THEN IS WHEN YOU'VE GOT MORE INPUT INTO ACTUALLY WHAT YOU WANT THE FINAL BILL TO LOOK LIKE.

A LOT OF FOLKS ALWAYS KIND OF GET EXCITED AT THIS POINT BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THE FINAL BILL IS GOING TO BE QUITE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT.

THE SENATE USUALLY HAS SOME PRETTY GOOD INPUT ON THAT AND WE'LL SEE WHERE IT COMES OUT.

SENATOR GLICK, YOUR THOUGHTS?

THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF CONCERN ABOUT THIS THIS RECOMMENDED INCREASE OF VOUCHERS.

I KNOW WHEN THE ORIGINAL VOUCHER LANGUAGE STARTED APPEARING A FEW YEARS AGO THEN CHAIRMAN OF SENATE APPROPRIATIONS LUCCHINELLI WAS A SENATOR AND HE CAUTIONED ALL OF US THAT THIS COULD YOU KNOW, THIS COULD EXPLODE IN TERMS OF THE EXPANSION OF VOUCHERS OVER TIME IF WE INCREASE THE PERCENTAGES AND THAT'S YOU KNOW, THE PIE IS ONLY SO BIG YOU CUT IT IS AS EVENLY AS YOU CAN OR AS FAIRLY AS YOU CAN.

BUT THIS WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN THE VOUCHER PROGRAMS AND IF THAT GOES TO THE DETRIMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS AND I KNOW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES DO AS WELL.

MY DISTRICT WHICH INCLUDE SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE ZAENTZ DISTRICT IS A SUBSTANTIALLY PUBLIC EDUCATION DISTRICT.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND SO OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING EDUCATED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE NEED TO GET THOSE FUNDS TO THOSE SCHOOLS.

THEY'VE FACED A TREMENDOUS ADVERSITY SINCE WELL STARTING ON THE 12TH 15TH OF MARCH OF LAST YEAR AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT THESE STUDENTS HAVE VIRTUALLY LOST A YEAR'S WORTH OF EDUCATION OR VERY CLOSE TO IT.

AND AND I'M SAYING THAT NOT TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE TEACHERS BUT THESE KIDS ARE NOT LEARNING AT THE SAME RATE THEY THEY DO WHEN THEY'RE IN THE CLASSROOM, WHEN THEY'RE HEARING THE THE PRESENTATIONS OF THEIR INSTRUCTORS IS AND AND BECAUSE OF THAT I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT REMEDIAL PROGRAMS.

WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO BRING THESE KIDS UP TO SPEED TO BRING THEM UP TO GRADE LEARNING LEVELS THAT THEY HAVE LOST OVER THE LAST 11 OR 12 MONTHS.

AND I I CAUTION ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES NOT TO GO AND EXPAND THE THE VOUCHER SYSTEM TO RAPID BECAUSE I THINK THESE FUNDS COULD BE USED MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY TO THE TO THE EXTENT THAT IT'S APPLIED TOWARDS REMEDIATION AND AND HELPING EDUCATORS AND HELPING THESE THESE STUDENTS ATTAIN THEIR RANK AND GRADE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

I KNOW ALL THE STUDENTS ARE IN THE SAME BOAT BUT I I THINK INDIANA STUDENTS WE SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE AT AND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND DENNY AND SUE ARE GOING TO STAY ON THE VOUCHER TOPIC AND BRING IN MICHAEL WHO HAS BEEN WAITING.

THANK YOU SIR.

ONLINE FOR GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT PLEASE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT STATE SENATOR CRAIG JUST SAID ABOUT KEEPING MOST FUNDS OR AS MANY FUNDS AS POSSIBLE WITH TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT EDUCATE MOST STUDENTS.

WHAT I'M WONDERING THEN ARE TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE, WHAT ARE THE TWO OF YOU GOING TO DO TO LESSEN THE VAN THE VOUCHER EXPANSION THAT GOES TO 10 PERCENT OF STUDENTS AND IS SLATED TO GO TO FAMILIES WHO NOW MAKE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR WHICH IN INDIANA THAT'S WEALTHY, THAT'S WEALTH.

AND ALSO WHAT ACTIONS ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE TO HELP INCREASE THE PER PUPIL FUNDING IN INDIANA WHICH WILL THEN ALSO INCREASE TEACHER SALARIES?

THE GOVERNOR'S REPORT RELEASED BIRTHDAY IDEAS.

SO AGAIN, I'M WONDERING WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO INCREASE THE TUITION SUPPORT AND WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO DECREASE THE EXTENT OF VOUCHERS?

THANKS, MICHAEL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND SENATOR GLICK, WE'LL START WITH YOU AND THEN REPRESENTATIVE YOU'LL BE UP AFTER THAT SO WELL TO BE HONEST ,MY INPUT IN THIS I'M NOT ON EDUCATION AND SO I HAVE TO SPEAK WITH OTHER SENATORS, WITH MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.

I GO TO THE MIKE ON OCCASION.

SOMETIMES I GET MYSELF CROSSWAYS WITH THOSE WHO WHO ARE BEHIND THIS EXPANSE AND EFFORT.

WE WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE THE INTERESTS OF PARENTS WHO WANT TO REMOVE THEIR CHILDREN FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS WHO WANT THE CHOICE OF SENDING THEM TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT OPTION GIVEN TO THEM IF IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO ADVERSELY AND I THINK THIS YEAR MAY VERY WELL UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT THAT TAKING THOSE KINDS OF FUNDS ARE EXPANDING THAT THAT VOUCHER SYSTEM THIS YEAR IS IS JUST THE WRONG TRACK TO TAKE BECAUSE OF THE FACT WE HAVE SO MANY ISSUES DUE TO COOK COVID DO THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO BALANCE A VIRTUAL SYSTEM TRYING TO SEND KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL SOME OF THESE KIDS HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND IT'S MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR FACULTY AND STAFF AS WELL AS THE STUDENTS TO TO PROGRESS.

SO THIS MAY NOT BE THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT SUCH A RAPID EXPANSION.

I'LL SAY WHAT I CAN I'LL DO WHAT I CAN BECAUSE I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT AT THIS TIME.

DENNY.

YES, I BELIEVE THE PENDULUM HAS SWUNG JUST TOO FAR AND OVER BUT IT'S AMAZING WHEN YOU'VE GOT ONE HUNDRED MEMBERS AND TWENTY FIVE OR TEN WAYS AND MEANS AND IT'S KIND OF YOU JUST GET TO SEE WHAT THEY COME UP WITH WHICH IS A BROAD OUTLINE AND A LOT OF THE LEGISLATORS SAY WE'RE NOT SO HAPPY WITH THAT AND YOU CAN RELY ON YOUR BROTHER IN THE SENATE TO KIND OF SHAKE THINGS UP A LITTLE BETTER.

AS I SAID, THE FINAL PRODUCT YOU CAN SAY IT'S A REMARKABLY DIFFERENT YOU KNOW, THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE MOST OF THE PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS OF RURAL AREAS NOT SO MUCH.

SO IT DOES AFFECT US ONE NIGHT DURING THAT MONEY AWAY THERE IS IN THE BUDGET PROPOSED INCREASE SPENDING FOR BOTH BY WHICH IS NOT A THAT WE DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT VERY QUICKLY AND SAID HE WASN'T GOING TO CUT IT EVEN THOUGH THE PANDEMIC WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH REVENUE OR FINDING OUT THAT WE DID BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT SOME OF THE ENGINEERING AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD DONE IN THE PAST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE HELPED THAT OUT.

SO I THINK WE'VE GOT THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS IS JUST WHERE AND HOW DO YOU GET THEM AND THEY'RE SO POWERFUL PEOPLE IN THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND IN WAYS AND MEANS THAT HAVE AT THIS STAGE A LOT MORE INPUT THAN I WOULD.

BUT WHEN IT GETS TO THE FINAL DRAFT, THE FINAL BILL THAT'S WHEN A LOT OF US ESPECIALLY RURAL LEGISLATORS GET TOGETHER PARTS TO PUT THE SQUEEZE ON THEM AND TRY TO GET SOMETHING THAT'S MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR AREA, OUR SCHOOLS.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE PHONES AND WELCOME AND TO THE PROGRAM AND GOOD EVENING.

GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT PLEASE.

YES, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VOUCHERS, 60 PERCENT OF VOUCHER RECIPIENTS NEVER ATTENDED A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

SO THESE ARE CHILDREN WE WOULD NEVER THAT WE WOULD NEVER BE USING OUR TAX DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY NEVER ATTENDED A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND I FIND FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO RAISE THAT NUMBER FOR THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THE CHOICE SCHOLARSHIP WAS INTENDED FOR CHILDREN OF LOW INCOME PARENTS AND THEN IT MOVED UP TO MIDDLE INCOME PARENTS NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR AND NOW THIS EXPANSION WOULD BE 145 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THAT'S UPPER CLASS.

I FIND IT TOTALLY FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM AND I WISH WE WOULD HAVE A REFERENDUM SO THAT THE PEOPLE IN IN INDIANA COULD VOTE ON THIS.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE INCREASED TO THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE IN THAT FORT WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOL.

FOR THOSE PEOPLE OF YOU IN FORT WAYNE WHO ARE WATCHING THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH THE RATE OF INFLATION.

THANK YOU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND LET ME BOTH OUR GUESTS IF THERE ARE ANY THOUGHTS ON HER THOUGHTS.

I'VE NOT HEARD THE SUGGESTION OF A REFERENDUM BEFORE AND THAT MAY NOT BE A BAD IDEA.

WE OFTEN GET, YOU KNOW, ACCUSED OF NOT PAYING ATTENTION OR NOT LISTENING.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR HOW THE GENERAL PUBLIC FEELS ABOUT THIS .

THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT EDUCATION AND AND ABOUT THE FUNDING OF EDUCATION.

FULLY TWO THIRDS OF THE BUDGET IS DEDICATED TO K THROUGH 12 AND TO THE OUR HIGHER EDUCATION THE STATE OF INDIANA THAT'S LEAVING APPROXIMATELY A THIRD OF ALL OF THE BUDGET OF INDIANA TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE OTHER NEEDS.

WE NEED TO PUT SOME BRAKES ON SOME OF THE SPENDING WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON IT.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY WHICH IT APPEARS WE WILL, THEN I THINK THAT THAT HAS TO BE PUT WHERE IT'S MOST NEEDED.

I THINK IT HAS TO BE A PLACE WHERE THE PEOPLE THINK THAT THERE'S A A DESIRE AND A NEED AND IF THAT'S THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION PROCESS THAT'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF INDIANA, THEN I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO AS LEGISLATORS TO REFLECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

WE ARE DOWN TO ABOUT 90 SECONDS BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO FOR IT.

MIKE IS ON LINE TWO WITH A DIFFERENT QUESTION MIKE.

GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT.

HI THERE.

GOOD EVENING.

I HOPE EVERYONE IS DOING WELL.

MY QUESTION QUICKLY IS IN REGARDS TO LANDLORDS, PROPERTY OWNERS THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT CAME DOWN FROM THE KAHRIZAK THAT I UNDERSTAND IS STILL SITTING ON THE STATE GOVERNMENT NOT BEING SPENT AND THE CRITERIA IS DIFFICULT FOR LANDLORDS TO MEET SIMPLY BECAUSE IN MY CASE I HAVE ONE LLC FROM ALL THE PROPERTIES AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A YEAR ON YOUR ACCOUNTING TO QUALIFY I QUALIFY FOR AN SBA ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT THERE'S NO GRANTS THAT TAKE CARE OF THAT AND JUST WONDERED IF THERE'S ANYTHING COMING THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WOULD LOOK AT COMPANIES WITH ONE LLC VERSUS MULTIPLES ON EACH PROPERTY AND LET'S LET'S SEE WHAT CAN BE RESPONDED.

WE HAD THEY HAVE THIRTY SECONDS, SIR.

I APPRECIATE IT.

I MUST SEE IF WE CAN GET A COMMENT BACK DENNY TO EITHER OF YOU THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY IN MY WHEELHOUSE AS FAR AS SAY EVERY TIME I ASK WHAT'S HAPPENED AND THEY'RE SAYING WELL JUST STAY TUNED AND IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THEY'RE NOT QUITE SURE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE AND WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE TARGETED.

AND I THINK PART OF THAT GOES WITH JUST THE OVERALL BUDGET, THE MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE.

SO THIS DISCONNECT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY LEGISLATURE IS SET UP IS JUST SLOWING EVERYTHING DOWN AND I'M AFRAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE WITH THE HOPE THAT BOTH OUR GUESTS WILL RETURN AND THAT BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION AND THAT YOU'RE WATCHING TONIGHT YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

THE CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE FOR ALL OF US WITH PRIME TIME EVER SINCE MY THANKS TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS KENT STATE SENATORS WHO LIKE TAKE CARE AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.

GOODBYE