1 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: Things seem to be getting a little crazy at the 2 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: State House, and to go to an expert, we check 3 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: it with Nikki Kelly from Indiana Capitol Chronicle. 4 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 2: We talked briefly yesterday. 5 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: Nikki, I asked you, what is the big story going 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: on at the State House and what did you say? 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 3: I said, the Chicago Bears. Yeah. So it's definitely the 8 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 3: sleeper issue of this session. And today we're going to 9 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 3: I think, get some more information about more details in 10 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 3: this stadium bill that's going to come out, and we're 11 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 3: hearing that the Bears might be winnowing down their interest 12 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 3: in possible Indiana locations. Nothing firm yet, but some movement. 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 2: So I thought this issue was dead. They had moved on. 14 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: They said, now we're going to stay in Illinois. 15 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: But there are some committee meetings that are happening not 16 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: only in Indiana but also in Illinois. 17 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 2: And that's happening today, correct. 18 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, Houseways and Means here in Indiana is a meeting 19 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 3: and then there's also a committee meeting meeting about the 20 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 3: Arlington Heights Illinois issue to try to get the Bears 21 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 3: to stay. So it's all have been very fast, I think, 22 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 3: because you know Indiana lawmakers are out after next week, 23 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 3: and they've made clear like if we don't get this 24 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 3: steal done before then you're on your own. 25 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 4: Now, Nikki, It's literally just happened in the last few minutes, 26 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 4: So I apologize if you haven't heard about it or 27 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 4: I'm hitting you with us out of left field. But 28 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 4: ABC seven in Chicago is reporting that the committee meeting 29 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 4: that was scheduled for today with the Illinois legislators was 30 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 4: just canceled. Anything to read can we read the tea 31 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 4: leaves with that? Is this looking like, Wow, we may 32 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 4: be a lot closer to a firm commitment from the 33 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 4: Bears one way or the other. 34 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, that's some interesting tea you got. I mean, 35 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 3: there are some un source, anonymous reports out there from 36 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 3: different outlets saying that the Bears were prepared today to 37 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 3: say that they like Hammond, but that they are still 38 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 3: looking at Illinois as well, but if they would come here, 39 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 3: it would be in the Hammond area. So if they've 40 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 3: canceled that meeting, bad is fascinating. 41 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: I'd saying something, We've got a meeting they don't. Maybe 42 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: our lawmakers know that this is a done deal. 43 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 2: Huh. 44 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 3: Yeah. House Speaker Houston and Senator Mitchler are also going 45 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 3: to meet with reporters after the nine AM Ways and 46 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 3: Means hearing this morning. 47 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: Okay, let's turn our attention to the ICE detainee who 48 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: died while in custody at the Indiana prison. Did were 49 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: there any prior complaints or reported issues about medical care 50 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: at the Miami Correctional facility. 51 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 3: When we did a story in December, we reached out 52 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 3: to an immigration organization that tracks so people can call 53 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 3: in and just talk about their complaints, and there were 54 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 3: certainly some of those that were called in for Miami. Now, 55 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 3: you know, that's just a random person calling in. They're 56 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 3: not been verified or anything like that, but there certainly 57 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 3: have been some track as with any prison. 58 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: Frankly, Representative Carson, he put out a tweet yesterday and 59 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: I'm wondering has there been any response to what he 60 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: was calling for answers. 61 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 2: I'm wondering, has there been. 62 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: Any timeline or has anybody has anything been offered about 63 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: the release of any findings. 64 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 3: No Ice just said that it's under investigation. When I 65 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 3: reach out to the Indiana Department of Correction, they referred 66 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 3: me to ICE. I do think the Indiana Department of Corrections. 67 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 3: It's their facility. Their staff members should play a role 68 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 3: in this and maybe have their own and say, I 69 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 3: mean just personally. But we'll see what comes of that 70 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 3: in the next few days. 71 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: Coming up next week, I believe you mentioned that you're 72 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: going to have an op ed about the penny issue 73 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: the state tackling the rounding policies. 74 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 2: You want to tell us about that. 75 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, it'll run Friday morning. I just I have never 76 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 3: been more surprised by an issue in the sense of 77 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 3: do what it thought that billions and billions of pennies 78 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 3: magically disappeared when they stopped mending them, and the lawmakers 79 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 3: are having to deal with this. Retailers want guidance, but 80 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 3: they also don't want to be pinned in the current 81 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 3: build they're talking about is retailers have the option around 82 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 3: the up or down. Obviously one way helps them, one 83 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 3: way helps you. Yeah, as a customer, it's just all 84 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 3: kind of crazy. Honestly, I have. 85 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: To guess that they're going to go with what helps them, 86 00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: not us. But uh, you know, how's the legislation going 87 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 1: to ensure fairness for consumers? 88 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 3: Like? 89 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 2: Has there been discussion on it? 90 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 3: Those were questions in a committee just earlier this week, 91 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 3: and basically Chairman Thompson of the Houseways and Means said, hey, look, 92 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 3: they are going to the market. Is gonna deal with retailers? 93 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 3: If they're round me up on everything, customers can not 94 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 3: go there. 95 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 4: Nikki, Obviously, this is something that everybody in the whole 96 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 4: country is going to have to deal with because it's 97 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 4: a nationwide issue. Have you heard of anything from other 98 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 4: states and what their legislatures may be talking about. Is 99 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 4: there any discussion at the national level on how to 100 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 4: solve this. 101 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, everyone is dealing with the same exact thing. There 102 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 3: are some like federal guidance out there, but it's just guidance. 103 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 3: And it gets even more complicated when you're talking about, 104 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 3: you know, having to pay sales text in the state. 105 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 3: So if they round up, do they pay the sales 106 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 3: text on what they pocketed, then that makes it more 107 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 3: than seven percent. I mean, it just gets so complicated 108 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 3: for this little tiny penny. Maybe we should have kept 109 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 3: mending it. 110 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 2: Let's move on. 111 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: Nikki Kelly's joining us from Indiana Capital Chronicle, and we 112 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: have to talk about how Republicans have revived the push 113 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: to shorten Indiana's early voting period get in some pushback 114 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: because they really didn't dedicate any time to public hearing 115 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: on this. 116 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, and you know that's the thing they even if 117 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 3: you know people sometimes and I'm one of those people 118 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 3: who have trouble getting to the merit of an issue 119 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 3: when I don't like the process, you know that it's 120 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 3: been handled. And so once again, we did not have 121 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 3: a standalone bill. We did not let people testify on this. 122 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 3: We had already taken testimony on the bill that didn't 123 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 3: have anything to do with you know, when you could 124 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 3: cast your early ballot, just had to do with how 125 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 3: you scan them. And they popped in this you know 126 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 3: amendment and the chair wouldn't even let people who were 127 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 3: in the room testify on it. And so now it's 128 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 3: headed to the floor and we'll see how that goes. 129 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 4: Nikki, it seems like we've got this issue every single 130 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 4: legislative session where you get these amendments that are thrown 131 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 4: in that have nothing to do with the bill. There's 132 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 4: no discussion on it. Obviously, there's nothing technically wrong with that, 133 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 4: although it's not a good look for the legislature. Do 134 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 4: the legislators are they like embarrassed by this or are 135 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 4: they just like, yeah, we don't care what's within the 136 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 4: rules and if you don't like it, tough. 137 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean, I think part of it is when 138 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 3: it's a controversial issue, they don't want to deal with 139 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 3: it the entire session, so they think it has a 140 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 3: better chance if it just comes out at the end. 141 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 2: Okay, one last topic. 142 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: Let's talk about the township merger plan and that could 143 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: be advancing under this compromise bill. Were there any specific 144 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: metrics that were used. Are they going to have any 145 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: specific metrics to evaluate whether a township has to merge? 146 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 3: There are, and I think that's why it's going to 147 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 3: get passed this year. If they're doing more than just like, 148 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 3: oh you're too small or you're too big. You know, 149 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 3: they're going to look at very specific things. Are you 150 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 3: grant the emergency aid? Are you filing your financial reports 151 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 3: on time? Do you operate a fire station or a 152 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 3: fire district? So the idea is if you're literally just 153 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 3: sitting there, you're not helping people with emergency relief, you're 154 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 3: not operating fire Are you just sitting there collecting a 155 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 3: salary for what you know? Then we can merge those 156 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 3: is how it will work. There's like a point system 157 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 3: and if you get to a certain number of points, 158 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 3: then you would have to be forced to merge. 159 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 4: Hey, Nikki, my sense and I could be wrong about this. 160 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 4: Will feel free to correct me, but my senses. In 161 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 4: past years, when any sort of township orform was discussed, 162 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 4: you know, the township groups really kind of put up 163 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 4: an incredible amount of resistance. It felt like they were 164 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 4: they wanted to hold on to that power no matter what. 165 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 4: And so I was surprised that it seems like we'reund 166 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 4: the verge of an agreement. Did something change or is 167 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 4: this just good negotiation? 168 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 3: Well, I think township they do like this point system. 169 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 3: They feel it's data driven and way better than just 170 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 3: randomly looking at geography or you know, size and so. 171 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,439 Speaker 3: And I think there's probably a little bit of seeing 172 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 3: the writing on the wall, right, Yeah, we're not going 173 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 3: to be able to hold this back, so at least 174 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 3: we can, you know, come up with a system we like. 175 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, kind of if you can't beat them, join them. 176 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 4: And sounds like they kind of figured out that that 177 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 4: this was going to happen, whether they were part of 178 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 4: the process or not. 179 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: Are there any estimates of expected financial savings. 180 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, they haven't really given any of those out. They've 181 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 3: said that as many as three hundred could be merge 182 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 3: flash consolidated. You know, theoretically all those duties would still 183 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 3: have to be done, but I would imagine there would 184 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 3: have to be some savings if a city's taking them 185 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 3: over county for instance. 186 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. 187 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: Well, it sounds like you've got a busy day ahead 188 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: of you and you're going to be I'm assuming reporting 189 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: on the Chicago Bears one way or the other today. 190 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 3: Yes, it'll be right up there for us. 191 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 2: Thank you for joining us. That's Nikki Kelly. 192 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: You can find her over at Indiana Capitol Chronicle dot com. 193 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: Thanks guys, you're listening to ninety three WIBC.