1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Rolling with you on a Tuesday downtown Indy. It's the 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: Hammer and Nigel Show. I'm Jason Hammer, Jerry Lopez Indie Spanglish, 3 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,799 Speaker 1: filling in for Big Nige and joining us in studio. 4 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: John Young, now, if the name sounds familiar, was once 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: a member of the Indiana State House, now running again 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: for District number fifty eight. John, How you doing, man? 7 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 2: I'm good. How are you guys today? 8 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: Real good? 9 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 2: Now. 10 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: We wanted to bring you in here because we've got 11 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: questions as somebody who was once in and when did 12 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: you serve? When was your time in office? 13 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,319 Speaker 2: It was from twenty sixteen to twenty twenty two. 14 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: Okay, so that's not that long ago, but it feels 15 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: like in Indiana Republican terms, it might as well be infinity. 16 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: If you get back in. Let's say you win District 17 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: fifty eighth race and you get another ticket to go 18 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: to the Indiana State House. How have the Republicans changed 19 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: since your time? I'm there because we talk a lot 20 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: on this program about some wishy washy Republicans that might 21 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: as well have a D next to their name instead 22 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: of an R, like talk me through trying to work 23 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 1: with some of these folks, certainly. 24 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 2: And I first want to mention on my way up 25 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 2: here dealing with sixty five. If I were back in 26 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: the state House, I think the first piece of legislation 27 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 2: would be to rename the State Flower from the P 28 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 2: and E to the orange barrel. Correct. Correct. But my 29 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 2: time in the legislature I think was marked by dealing 30 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,199 Speaker 2: with what I would call social issues. We were trying 31 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 2: to pass and did successfully pass right to Carry. We 32 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: worked on it, took a while, it did, it did, 33 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: and represented Ben Smaaltz, you know, just kept at it 34 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 2: in persistence is key. Up There also transgender issues, you know, 35 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: keeping men out of women's boards, and the culmination of 36 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 2: my prior stin up there was at the special session 37 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 2: where I helped co write the abortion law, and that 38 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 2: was probably nationwide the number one issue in terms of 39 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 2: social issues that people were really concerned about. And the 40 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: US Supreme Court overturning Rod v. Way gave us that 41 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 2: opportunity now from being an outsider for the last couple 42 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 2: of years, and I thought this was going to happen, 43 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 2: is the legislature is now having to deal with the 44 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: hard issues, as I would call them, instead of the 45 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 2: social issues. Right, such as property taxes, you know, local 46 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 2: control which ties into housing affordability. Issues like that, which 47 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 2: it was very easy for a long time for a 48 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 2: representative to go out and hit the campaign trail say 49 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 2: I'm against abortion, I'm against abortion. I'll fight that tooth 50 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,239 Speaker 2: and nail. Well, when you had a Supreme Court ruling 51 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 2: that said states have no say in that, it was 52 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 2: fairly easy to write that talk. But now that that 53 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 2: has been addressed, I think in a very meaningful and 54 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,679 Speaker 2: positive way, those issues aren't there to talk about anymore. 55 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: And when you have a super majority, though, as we 56 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: have in the state of Indiana, not all Republicans are 57 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: created equal, right, we were kind of talking off the air. 58 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 1: Even though constitutional carry passed through. It took a change 59 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: of heart of Rod Bray. It took a lot of 60 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: dominoes falling for that to happen. Indiana should be a 61 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: rock solid red state. Things should be passing through here 62 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: left and right like a well oiled machine. Why is 63 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: that not happening? 64 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 2: Well, and some ways it may be the super majority. Well, 65 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 2: we're never supposed to talk about what happens in caucus. 66 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 2: I will never forget Speaker. 67 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: Bosma, this caucus like fight club rule number one, you 68 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: do not talk about what happens in caut. 69 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: It somewhat is, it somewhat is. But I remember Speaker Bosma, 70 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 2: you know, telling us when he was frustrated where the 71 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: party could not coalesce and unify around some of these 72 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: big issues, that as Republicans we should be for. It 73 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: was a message that sometimes we would have been better 74 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: served knowing what it was like to be in a 75 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 2: minority when we had the best ideas that to propose 76 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 2: for the state and to help our citizens out, and 77 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 2: we couldn't get a thing done. Now, it is a 78 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: lot of infighting. And even on the abortion bill, you 79 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 2: had a range of legislators with a range of ideas 80 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 2: on thinking it went too far that there were some 81 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 2: folks that said we should not pass that at all. 82 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 2: You had folks on the other extreme which said there 83 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 2: should be no exceptions any time. So we're always going 84 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,040 Speaker 2: to have those fights. But being a super majority a 85 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: lot of times, I think there is some infighting now 86 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 2: with that. And I'm sure many people have told you 87 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 2: most legislation is uninteresting, it's bipartisan, it's necessary legislation, maybe 88 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 2: on topics that the people don't deal with on a 89 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: day day level, but it's still important and most legislation 90 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 2: really does get good comment, get a good discussion, and 91 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 2: simply passes and it's not partisan. 92 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 3: I think one of the good things about being a 93 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 3: conservative is you don't have the group think mentality that 94 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 3: Democrats have. The problem when it comes to legislation is 95 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 3: you don't have the group think right, so when you 96 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 3: have a supermajority, I think that when you know supermajority Republicans, 97 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 3: it's like, yeah, but we still have a lot of 98 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 3: things that don't seem very conservative that happen in this state. 99 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 2: Well, and look at the Democrats. Democrats are party first. 100 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 2: They are absolutely party first. Conservatives, Republicans, we're the big 101 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 2: ten party. We're the ones that have these debates and 102 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 2: discussions and that is healthy. But we do not fall 103 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 2: in line like Democrats do when you have a Pelosi 104 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: or an Obama or you know, with Jeffreys simply saying 105 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 2: this is what our message is going to be, this 106 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 2: is what we are going to do, and we are 107 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 2: going to be unified as a party even if you 108 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 2: don't agree with it. 109 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: We're speaking with John Young, he is running for district 110 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 1: at fifty eight. So what are the biggest issues for you? 111 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: What would you like to be responsible for if you 112 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: get another ticket to come back? 113 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 2: Well, there was I served on the Judiciary Committee. I 114 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 2: was vice chairman. I'm an attorney by trade and also 115 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 2: served on courts and criminal codes. And there is not 116 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 2: a lot of attorneys in the legislature, especially on the 117 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: Republican side, So each member, I think, has a niche 118 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 2: that they focus on, and with a lot of my clientele, 119 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 2: it is very diverse, so I could speak on a 120 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: number of issues. I am not an educator, however, I 121 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 2: do represent school districts. I do think that the state's 122 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 2: education policies need to be looked at. I can't understand 123 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: why you know, or I want to know how, states 124 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 2: like say Louisiana and Mississippi have raised their literacy rates, 125 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: and you know above where Indiana is. If they can 126 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 2: do it, we certainly can do it. 127 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: We're smarter than Kentucky, those hill buildings down there, right 128 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: That's what I'm hearing from you right now. 129 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 2: I'd like to think so. But as our legislator, smarter 130 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 2: than some of those hill buildings. 131 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: A lot's a good question. That's the million dollar question. 132 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 2: Certainly at my locale, which is Johnson County, SB one, 133 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: property taxes are still a big issue. 134 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: Is that the biggest issue? I heard the governor do 135 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: an interview with somebody yesterday and he's scheduled to join 136 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: us tomorrow in studio. But Governor Brown mentions that he 137 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: hears about data centers and energy costs more than property 138 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: taxes right now, Do you buy it? 139 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 2: I believe that in certain areas and regions of the 140 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: state that is the topic right now. However, in Johnson County, 141 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 2: to my knowledge, we have really not been approached with 142 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 2: any of these data centers wanting to come in. So 143 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 2: it's not a topic that I think is at a 144 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 2: lot of on the top of a lot of people's minds. 145 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 3: I mean, call me crazy, but yeah, I'm going to 146 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 3: think about the bill that I write every month as 147 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 3: opposed to the check I write twice a. 148 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: Year, Right, I get that. John Young, in studio with 149 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:46,319 Speaker 1: us running for District fifty eight, you had mentioned constitutional 150 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: carry earlier. Why is it important to be a strong 151 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: to a Republican. 152 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 2: Well, I am proud to say that I did have 153 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 2: an A rating from the NRA when I was in 154 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 2: the legislature. Second Amendment rights are so important. And one 155 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 2: of your frequent guests has his own show, Guy Ralford, 156 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 2: excellent attorney, and I will pick his brain on Second 157 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 2: Amendment questions from time to time. But fundamentally, it is 158 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 2: the Second Amendment. That's what our constitution says. I really 159 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 2: believe that a lot of the discussion ends there. But 160 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 2: in order to defend property, defend your property, defend yourself 161 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 2: against bad actors, to be able to defend yourself against 162 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 2: the government if necessary, and a hallmark of a lot 163 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 2: of authoritarian regimes is the first thing they do is 164 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 2: confiscate the guns right. And there's a reason for that, 165 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 2: and it's so ingrained, especially in Hoosier culture that not 166 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 2: that everybody agrees with it, but I think it's common 167 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 2: sense to most people that I have a right to 168 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 2: protect myself. I have a right to carry. I have, 169 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 2: you know, a right to carry in public period. We don't. 170 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 2: We don't make people, you know, buy a permit to 171 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 2: defend themselves against the Fourth Amendment. I don't have to 172 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 2: buy a sign to hang out on my front door 173 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 2: saying no entry without a warrant. It's just there, John. 174 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: If somebody wants to reach out to you if they've 175 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: got a question, if they want to find out where 176 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: you stand on an issue that's close to them. What's 177 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: the best way they can get ahold of you. 178 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 2: Yes, anybody can look at my website that is John 179 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 2: Young for Indiana, and I believe I also have my 180 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 2: cell phone number hosted on that. 181 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: Be careful giving it out with this crowd, because well, 182 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: you're gonna get some uh, you're gonna. 183 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:38,559 Speaker 2: Get some texts. I'm telling you, they'll need to look 184 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 2: at the website first. But my information on how to 185 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 2: contact me is there, and I try and always be 186 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 2: available and I'm always happy to discuss the issues with 187 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 2: the you know, great folks around here and the voters 188 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 2: of Indiana. 189 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: John Young running for District fifty eight. Thank you so 190 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:57,200 Speaker 1: much for joining us. We appreciate your time. 191 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 2: Jason and Jerry, thank you so much for your time. 192 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 2: I really appreciate I appreciate you. 193 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: It's the Hammer and Nigel Show. 194 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 2: Thank you.