1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:01,520 Speaker 1: Good morning. 2 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 2: It is jac and Guman's ninety three WIBC and we 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 2: turned now to the WIBC Hotline, and on it we 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 2: have Nicki Kelly from Indiana Capitol Chronicle. Nikki, we have 5 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 2: to start with the big announcement coming out of Governor 6 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 2: Mike Brown's office yesterday, and that is the Indiana sales 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 2: gas tax on hold, tell us about it. 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, And to be clear, because lots of people are 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 1: getting confused, we're talking about a thirty day pause on 10 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: the sales tax on gas, which is different than the 11 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: gas tax. So you know, this is an additional seventeen 12 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: cents that who's yours pay when they buy gas per gallon. 13 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: That's the April rate and that will be suspended for 14 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: thirty days, so you could save I don't know two 15 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: MUCKs if you fill up for tech gallin. 16 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 2: Were you there when he made the announcement? Were you 17 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: at the press conference? 18 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: I was not. I was speaking at a class. We 19 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: got less than an hour's notice on that one. So 20 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: another reporter of ours was there? 21 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 2: Well that okay, So that makes me question, did you 22 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 2: guys know this was coming? Was there any indication that 23 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 2: this was going to happen? 24 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 1: Nope, definitely popped up kind of as a surprise yesterday, 25 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: I mean, and then it was interesting. We got the 26 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: notice of the announcement and then immediately got deluged with 27 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: a bunch of Senate Republicans urging the governor to suspend 28 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: the sales tax on gas. And so obviously it was coordinated. 29 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 3: Under what authority can the governor do this? Because statutorily, 30 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 3: the governor in the state of Indiana is fairly weak. 31 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 3: He didn't have to go to the lawmakers on this. 32 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,199 Speaker 3: How is Mike Brown just able to wave a magic 33 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 3: wand and say, hey, the sales tax on gas is gone. 34 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. So there is a law that allows the governor 35 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: to declare an energy emergency. It's a nineteen eighty one statute. 36 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: It's the statute that Governor Obannon used in two thousands 37 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: to do this, and so that's what he's using. It's 38 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: a very it's not specific. If people think it says 39 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: you can suspend the sales tax on gas, it doesn't. 40 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: Basically says you can spend any rule or law that 41 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: affects transportation. So it's pretty wide. And because of that phrasing, 42 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: I thought it was interesting that the governor said he 43 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: can't suspend the gas tax, which is higher thirty six cents, 44 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: but he can suspend the sales tax. I would you know, 45 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: I'm not a lawyer, but I would sort of disagree 46 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: on that because if it says any law, then it's 47 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: any law. Right, you're using that as the basis for one. 48 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 1: I don't know why it wouldn't be the basis for another. 49 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, because that was going to be my next question 50 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 3: is to you know, can he is that just you know, 51 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 3: narrowly written to just apply to the sales tax. But 52 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 3: that's not the case. But it sounds like Governor Brawn 53 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 3: is just kind of interpreting this law however he wants, 54 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 3: or at least in this specific manner. 55 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 1: Yeah, And to be fair, you know, back in two 56 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: thousand and seven, then Governor Mitch Daniels was getting pressure 57 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 1: to do this, and he got an opinion from the 58 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: Attorney General's office at the time that said he didn't 59 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:14,119 Speaker 1: have the authority to do it. So, you know, that's 60 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: a non binding opinion. But it was a Republican It 61 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: was Steve Carter's office at the time, but it was 62 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: written by Greg Zeller, who later became the Attorney General. 63 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: So I mean, it's not as clear cut because, like 64 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: you said, it doesn't specifically say you can suspend this tax. 65 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: It's a much wider thing. And I will also note 66 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: that there is a definition of an energy emergency in 67 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: the law. It's very specific and it says basically an 68 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: ongoing or projected shortage of eight percent or more in fuel. 69 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: And we asked him about, like, where's your source that 70 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: we have this eight percent shortage? He basically just talked 71 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: a lot about inflation and high prices. So, you know, 72 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: I'm not exactly sure we meet that. At least they 73 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: haven't provided a source of that. 74 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 3: So since there is some legal ambiguity here, it seems 75 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 3: like and like you said, Governor Daniels, you know, did 76 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 3: see some restrictions in this before. At least that's what 77 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 3: the Attorney general at the time told them. I can't 78 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 3: imagine this is the case, but I'll ask anyway, are 79 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 3: any Democrats or anybody else talking about challenging this authority 80 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 3: that Governor Braun used yesterday but possibly in court? 81 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, that probably wouldn't be popular. Democrats aren't going to 82 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: challenge it because they have wanted them to do this 83 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: way more than I mean, Republicans have been the ones 84 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: who pushed back against this over the years. Prior to now, 85 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 1: only a Democrat had done it, you know, so they 86 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: want the lower prices. They do think the timing thirty 87 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: days out from an election is very interesting. But yeah, 88 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: and you know, if someone could try to sue but 89 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 1: that would be quite an interesting you know, you know, 90 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: you'd you'd be pretty popular. I think if you did that. 91 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 2: I want to go back to something that you said originally, 92 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 2: and that is that you got inundated with the legislature 93 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 2: sending out messages that they were encouraging the governor to 94 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 2: do this. Where did this begin? Was it the governor's 95 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 2: office or was it the senators? 96 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: Oh? I mean I think it was probably the governor's office. 97 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: I mean he was asked about this weeks ago and 98 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 1: said he would look into it. So I'm sure we 99 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: got out that he was getting ready to announce it, 100 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 1: and they wanted to sort of all jump on. Most 101 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: of the releases came from candidates or lawmakers who are 102 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: in tight primaries right now, and many of them are 103 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 1: getting hit for their vote to increase the gas tack, 104 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: you know, almost a decade ago. So this was you know, 105 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: maybe seen as a good thing for them. 106 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 2: What's going to happen politically if prices remain high after 107 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 2: thirty days and then Braun chooses not to extend it. 108 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's an interesting discussion. I think when Governor abandaged it, 109 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: he did it for one hundred and twenty days, which 110 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: was quite a lot. I think by law, the governor 111 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: can only do back to back. He can only do 112 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: two before the legislature would have to get involved, so, 113 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: you know, but that would be after the election, right, 114 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: because this conveniently runs through May eighth. 115 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, conveniently. Nikki Kelly from Indiana Capitol Chronicle is joining us. 116 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 2: All right. The other topic that you wanted to talk 117 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 2: about were taxes, Nito, what's on your mind? Oh? 118 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 1: No, I was just looking at other things that were 119 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 1: moving and we they the Department of Revenue finally announced 120 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 1: next tax amnesty program for who's yours who owe state 121 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: taxes to kind of pay them upfront or through payment programs, 122 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: and they'll waive the fees or interest or penalties. So 123 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: that'll be interesting. That would bring in some one time 124 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: money to state coffered who knows, maybe enough to cover 125 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: the loss of the guest tax revenue. 126 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 2: Do we know how much that is going to be 127 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 2: that loss of that revenue. 128 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, so the governor estimated that it would be about 129 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: fifty million for the month. I had looked at some 130 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: revenue that came in from the twenty twenty five tax 131 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: Handbook and it says only eighty one million came in 132 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: for the whole fiscal year in twenty twenty five. Now, 133 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: mind you, those are lower prices and this is percentage based. 134 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: So yeah, but their estimate was fifty million. 135 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: It's not just the taxes that are due on April fifteenth. 136 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 2: We also have the Indiana FAFSA deadline coming up. 137 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: Oh yes, the Federal Financial Student Aid application that all 138 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: students now have to do. Theoretically you can opt out, 139 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: but you know, technically you're supposed to do it or 140 00:07:58,640 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: you can't graduate. 141 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 2: But they that do we know how much state aid 142 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 2: is going to be left on the table if students 143 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 2: miss the deadline? 144 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: Well it's not only state aid, this is federal aid, right, 145 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: you know too, And so that that's the point of 146 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: people trying to get all students to fill it out, 147 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,239 Speaker 1: because you don't exactly know what your options are until 148 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: you fill it out and see what you could maybe get. 149 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: And they also encourage, like, if you're kind of on 150 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: the fence about what you're doing, it's better to at 151 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: least have that option, you know, handled, before you to 152 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: forego it completely. 153 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,199 Speaker 3: Hey, Nikki, I want to back up to something you 154 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 3: said about FABSA, and it relates to everybody having to 155 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 3: fill it out, not just those that are interested in 156 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 3: applying for grants or loans from the federal government. Has 157 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:46,959 Speaker 3: that always been the case or is that something new, 158 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 3: because that's the first time I've heard that. 159 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, lawmakers changed it a few years ago. I think 160 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: this is the second year that it's tied to graduation. 161 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: But again, I mean, if you ask for a waiver 162 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: and opt out, you can, but it at least starts 163 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: with the presumption that everyone has to fill it out. 164 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: I think last year, I mean, I think the goals 165 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: like fifty five or sixty percent, So we'll see if 166 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: we get there. 167 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 2: How does the deadline affect first generation college students differently 168 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 2: from higher income families. 169 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm not sure it does technically, except obviously 170 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: higher income families wouldn't be eligible for some of the 171 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: need based scholarships. But in general, the process is the same. Okay. 172 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 3: And so because this new rule that came out in 173 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 3: the last couple of years that requires everybody to fill 174 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 3: this out. Is this something that college students need to 175 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 3: fill out every single year or is this just something 176 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 3: for like freshman year. 177 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: No, you need to fill it out every year because 178 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: your family's financial status can change about the truth back 179 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 1: in my day, you know, so definitely. Okay. 180 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: One last thing that I wanted to talk with you about. 181 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 2: It's Nicki Keller from Indiana Capitol Chronicle. You had mentioned 182 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: yesterday that you were going to put out a new 183 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: article about some more Trump endorsements. 184 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, so he is getting a little further involved in 185 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: some of the races. Basically, he had previously endorsed I 186 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: think seven of the Senate Republicans, he'd endorsed a couple 187 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 1: more that are facing fights. Those are the ones who 188 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: voted against redistricting, so he's endorsing their challengers. He also 189 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: moved into the House a little and endorsed ten House 190 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: members who have challengers, but they were pro redistricting, So 191 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: he's kind of doing both. 192 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 2: So everybody's saying, oh, he's just endorsing the people that 193 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 2: were against redistricting. That's not holding water. 194 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: Well, I mean for redistricting or against you or those 195 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: who were against. Yeah, basically he's on both sides of 196 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 1: the ball now. But the end result is if you 197 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: were for redistricting, you get his nod. 198 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 2: Okay, what else are you working on? What can you 199 00:10:58,720 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 2: tell us about? 200 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 1: Let's see, we have an interesting ethics commissioned agenda today. 201 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 1: We'll be going to and looking at some changes in 202 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: charity gaming, so you probably see those in the next 203 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: couple of days. 204 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 2: All right, you can find everything at Indiana Capitol Chronicle 205 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 2: dot com. Nikki Kelly, thank you so much. We appreciate you. 206 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: All right, thanks, have a good one. 207 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 2: It is ninety three WIBC.