WEBVTT

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>>GERRY: EACH WEEK A GROUP OF
INSIDERS JOINS ME TO OFFER
PERSPECTIVE ON SOME OF THE
WEEK'S TOP STORIES.

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THIS WEEK, SOUNDING OFF ON THE
SHORT SESSION OF THE INDIANA
GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMING TO A
CLOSE, MORE POTHOLE HELP ON THE

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WAY AND A NEW NAME FOR BANKERS
LIFE FIELDHOUSE.
OUR INSIDERS THIS WEEK ARE
INDYPOLITICS.ORG PUBLISHER

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ABDUL-HAKIM SHABAZZ, BECK
COMMUNICATIONS PRESIDENT LARA
BECK AND AXIS ARCHITECTURE AND
INTERIORS FOUNDING PARTNER DREW

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WHITE.
WELCOME ONE AND ALL!
TO THE INSIDERS THIS WEEK.
>> THANK YOU.

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>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL START WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAPPED UP
MIDDLE OF THE WEEK THIS WEEK.

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YOU WERE THERE.
>> THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
>> , RIGHT.
AND REALLY ENDED WITH SOME

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FIREWORKS.
DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED.
>> IN A NUTSHELL THEY ARE LIKE
COLLEGE STUDENTS EVERYBODY WAITS

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UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO GET
THINGS DONE IN LITERALLY THEY
DID.
BY THE TIME MIDNIGHT STRUCK

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THERE WERE FOUR OR FIVE BILLS
THAT WERE STILL OUT THERE THAT
COULD NOT GET DONE.
THEY WENT TO TAX CREDITS AND

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THINGS TO SCHOOL SAFETY
INITIATIVES AND A FEW OTHER
THINGS SO SOME THINGS ALSO SORT
OF DIED ON THE VINE BUT IT

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RAISES THE QUESTION OF
REPUBLICANS HAVE A SUPER
MAJORITY AND WHY CAN'T THEY GET
THINGS DONE AND IN RETROSPECT

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THE HOUSE GOT ABOUT 95 PERCENT
OF WHAT THEY SET UP TO DO IN
SENATE GOT ABOUT 99 PERCENT SO
YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS IN

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PERSPECTIVE AND THEY COULD
POSSIBLY COME BACK AND THERE ARE
THINGS THE GOVERNOR COULD DO
ADMINISTRATIVELY AS WELL SO IT

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WAS A LATE NIGHT AND THEY HAD
NOT GONE TO BED SO THEY WERE
HAVING A BAD EVENING.
>> AS I LOOK AT WHAT GOT DONE

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OR DIDN'T GET DONE.
>> THOSE ARE GOOD TALKING
POINTS.
YOU DID A GOOD JOB.

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I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU AND.
>> THAT'S WHY I WROTE THEM.
>> THE THING ABOUT THE
SESSION, WHICH WAS INTERESTING

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AS IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WERE A
LOT OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SAW HOW IT
ENDED.

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IT SURE DID NOT WRAP IT UP WITH
A BOW AT THE END AND ANY TIME
YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND SAY
THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO

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ADMINISTRATIVELY AND YOU HAVE A
SPECIAL SESSION AFTER A SHORT
SESSION IT IS NOT A POSITIVE
BEAT TO IT SO THERE WERE SOME

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MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
PARTICULARLY AS YOU LOOK AT THE
OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND THERE WAS A
BIT OF AN EXPECTATION GOING INTO

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THE SESSION THAT THIS WOULD BE
REALLY ONE OF THE KEY THINGS TO
DEAL WITH.
THE OTHER PIECE AS WELL IS SOME

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OF THE HIGH PROFILE LEGISLATIVE
PIECES SUCH AS THE FIGHT OR
FLIGHT.
GRADESCHOOL KIDS WHO WANTED TO

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GET THIS DESIGNATION AS WELL AS
EYEBALL TATTOOING.
SUNDAY SALES, THAT'S GREAT, BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE SOME

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REAL CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE
STATE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR
WE GET DOWN THE ROAD ON THAT.
>> THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA

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CERTAINLY HAD WORKFORCE AND FOR
MANY OTHERS BIG ISSUES.
TWO BILLS DID PASS WITH VARYING
OPINIONS ON HOW FAR THEY WENT TO

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ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BUT AS A
BUSINESS OWNER AND EXECUTIVE,
YOU LOOK AT THE ISSUE LIKE
WORKFORCE AND TECHNOLOGY RELATED

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LEGISLATION MANDATING COMPUTER
SCIENCE CLASSES AND THE LIKE,
WHY IN YOUR VIEW IS THAT
IMPORTANT?

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>> WE HAVE CHALLENGES WITH
GETTING GOOD EMPLOYEES TO COME
AND WORK FOR US.
WE ARE CALLING EACH OTHER ASKING

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ABOUT CANDIDATES.
I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US AS WE ARE
DESIGNING SMARTER BUILDINGS AND

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WE NEED EMPLOYEES TO WORK ON
THOSE PROJECTS AND WE NEED THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO BUILD
THOSE PROJECTS.

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SO THE WORKPLACE INITIATIVES ARE
IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE TO GET BETTER AT IT.
>> DO YOU THINK IT WAS A BIG

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ISSUE?
>> IT IS A BIG ISSUE AND
SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

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THIS EXPANDS BACK SEVERAL
GOVERNORS AND SO IT REALLY IT
JUST SEEMS LIKE WE CAN'T SEEM TO
REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.

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AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE
LOSING OUT ON IT.
WHEN YOU HAVE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATORS ON ONE SIDE, THE

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CHAMBER AND MANUFACTURES ON
ANOTHER, THEN IT REALLY SHOULD
BE A GROUP THAT IS REALLY
WORKING COHESIVELY.

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SO I THINK WE'VE GOT A WAYS TO
GO.
>> ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT DID
NOT GET THROUGH AND I SHOULD

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PROBABLY TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS,
YOU ARE A CIGAR AFICIONADO.
SMOKING AT THE AGE OF 21 AND
THAT WAS A PRIORITY ISSUE FOR

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THE ADVOCACY GROUP IN THE STATE
CHAMBER THEY FEEL STRONGLY THESE
HEALTH ISSUES ARE HURTING THE
STATE.

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THAT DID NOT GO THROUGH.
BUT SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO OPPOSE
THAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WOULD

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HAVE BEEN RAISING THE AGE OF 21
AND A DID NOT.
>> PART OF IT IS SOMEONE IS 18
YEARS OLD IN AND THEY CAN GET A

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CREDIT CARD TO GET MARRIED AND
JOINED THE MILITARY AND DIE FOR
THEIR COUNTRY THEY SHOULD BE
ABLE TO BUY A PACK OF CIGARETTES

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WHEN THEY ARE 18.
ONE THING THE SPEAKER SAID THEY
WOULD LOOK AT IS THE ISSUES OF
REGARDS TO SMOKING AND CHARLIE

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BROWN RETIRED AND WAS A BIG
ADVOCATE FOR SOME ANTISMOKING
ANTITOBACCO MEASURES THEY WOULD
LOOK AT RAISING THE AGE AND SEE

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WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON THAT
PARTICULAR ISSUE.
MY LIBERTARIAN STREAK EXCESSIVE
SOMEBODY IS AN ADULT THEY ARE AN

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ADULT AND WE TREAT THEM LIKE AN
ADULT AND THEY CAN MAKE ADULT
DECISIONS.
THE BETTER WAY TO DO IT AS

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PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS TO
REDUCE PEOPLE ENGAGED IN
TOBACCO.
>> DO YOU THINK ULTIMATELY IT

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WILL HAPPEN?
>> WE HAVE TO ESPECIALLY WHEN
WE LOOK AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH
COSTS OF THIS AND THE FACT THAT

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INDIANA IS ONE OF THE TOP STATES
FOR CANCER AND HEART ATTACK AND
DIABETES.
I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO MOVE

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IN THIS DIRECTION BECAUSE IT'S
SUCH AN IMPORTANT QUALITY OF
LIFE ISSUE, BUT ALSO A MAJOR
ECONOMIC TREND.

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>> WE ARE INVOLVED IN LOTS OF
PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE AND IF
YOU LOOK AT SMOKING IT'S ONE OF
THE BIGGEST CAUSES FOR TOTAL

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HEALTH BAD EXPERIENCE SO IT'S
IMPORTANT WE RAISE THE AGE.
>> AS YOU LOOK AROUND IS THERE
AN ACCEPTANCE OF THIS HEALTH AND

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BIG ISSUE AND A BIG ISSUE?
>> WE DID SOME WORK ON A NEW
CENTER AND COLUMBUS INDIANA AND
THEY ARE TRYING TO HAVE A TOTAL

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APPROACH TO WELLNESS AND SMOKING
LEADS TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS
YOU HAVE.
>> 'S SHIFTING GEARS FIRST OF

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ALL, THE STATES EMPLOYMENT RATE
TICKED LOWER TO 3.3 PERCENT IN
JANUARY.
IF YOU LOOK OUTSIDE OF CENTRAL

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INDIANA COMMUNITIES LIKE KOKOMO
AND EAST CENTRAL INDIANA HAVING
SOME JOBS NUMBERS.
I'LL START WITH YOU, DO YOU SEE

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KOKOMO FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAYOR
THERE AND OTHERS WITH SOME
INITIATIVES GOING ON FOCUSED ON
QUALITY OF LIFE, QUALITY OF

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PLACE, TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE
THERE AND ATTRACT PEOPLE THERE.
IS THAT GAINING MOMENTUM?
>> WE'VE DONE SOME WORK FOR

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THE MAYOR AND HE WANTS TO BRING
THE DOWNTOWN ALIVE AGAIN SO A
MIXED USE PROJECT FOR HIM WE
WORKED ON AND PUBLIC SAFETY

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PROJECTS FOR HIM.
THEY ARE TRYING TO FOLLOW CARMEL
AND FISHERS MODEL IN CREATING
WALKABLE COMMUNITIES.

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>> I THINK WE ARE SEEING A LOT
OF THESE CITIES SUCH AS KOKOMO,
FORT WAYNE, MUNCIE, SOUTH BEND
ON THE RISE.

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THE FACT THAT THE REGIONAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIPS ARE DOING SO WELL
AND MAKING AN IMPACT REALLY

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SPEAKS TO THAT IMPORTANCE OF
COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION
AND I THINK THE CITY'S WHAT YOU
ARE FINDING IN A PLACE LIKE

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KOKOMO OR FORT WAYNE OR SOUTH
BEND AS THEY REALLY ARE FINDING
UNIQUE CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AND
THEY ARE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE

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BOX PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES
TO ATTRACTING YOUNG RESIDENTS
CAPITALIZING ON THEIR STRENGTH.
I THINK YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF

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THAT MOVING AT THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
>> 10-12 YEARS AGO THIS WHOLE
CONCEPT OF REGIONALISM WAS A

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FOUR LETTER WORD.
YOU ARE FROM -- WE WERE TALKING
BEFORE WE ARE ON THE AIR TALKING
ABOUT WORKING WITH HAMILTON AND

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HANCOCK COUNTY NO, NO, NO.
BACK OFF.
NOW THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN
IMAGINE THAT AMAZON WOULD NOT BE

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POSSIBLE TO BE IN THE RUNNING IF
WE WERE NOT ALL WORKING
TOGETHER.
>> SPEAKING OF WORKING

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TOGETHER AND WORKING IN
PARTICULAR AT MARION COUNTY THE
POTHOLE ISSUE CERTAINLY HAS BEEN
A BIG ONE AND IN FAIRNESS TOUGH

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WINTER AND THE FREEZING TEMPS
AND WARM AND ALL THE VARIOUS
THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT AND
SOME NEW FUNDING AND

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$14.5 MILLION FOR POTHOLE REPAIR
HOW HAS THIS THING IN YOUR VIEW
BEEN HANDLED?
>> , YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A

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PROBLEM WHEN PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY
DON'T TALK ABOUT POLITICS ASKED
ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE MAYOR
AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE

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POTHOLES.
IF YOU TALK TO LIKE A SERVER IN
A RESTAURANT OR SOME DAY AT THE
GROCERY STORE.

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THESE ARE BREAD AND BUTTER
ISSUES AND WITH ALL DUE FAIRNESS
TO THE MAYOR AND HIS PEOPLE, WE
HAVE HAD WHETHER IT'S 50 DEGREES

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OR 50 BELOW, BUT STILL THIS IS
WHAT YOU GOT ELECTED FOR AND ITS
BASIC BLOCKING AND TACKLING AND
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO AND YOU TAKE

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CREDIT OR BLAME FORD BECAUSE
GUESS WHAT YOU ARE IN CHARGE.
YOU HAD THREE YEARS, YOU OWN IT.
>> TWO MINUTES LEFT.

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WE WILL GET OUTSIDE OF
INDIANAPOLIS, THE USDA AWARDED
$276 MILLION IN LOANS TO SUPPORT
ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN RURAL

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COMMUNITIES.
OUT A CHUNK OF THAT, $74 MILLION
IN JACKSON COUNTY.
RURAL BROADBAND A HUGE ISSUE.

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>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS
BEFORE ABOUT HOW THERE ARE PARTS
IN THE STATE WHERE YOU STILL
CANNOT ACCESS THE INTERNET AND

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AS WE ARE MOVING TO MORE OF A
WEB BASED LEARNING MODULE FOR
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ADVANCE
THEIR EDUCATION GET MORE

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TRAINING AND WORKFORCE ARE EVEN
HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE TO HAVE
THAT SO THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO MOVE US FORWARD.

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>> THIS WEEKEND THE CHILDREN'S
MUSEUM DEBUTS $35 MILLION HEALTH
SPORTS LEGEND EXPERIENCE AND YOU
HAVE SOME VARIOUS OPINIONS ON

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THAT.
>> I'M A LONG TIME VISITOR
WITH OUR SON AND I THINK THIS IS
PROVIDING AN EXERCISE APPROACH

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TO VISITING THE MUSEUM AND I
ALSO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN
APPROACH BY ALL KINDS OF
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHILDREN.

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IT'S EXCITING.
>> THE MUSEUMS HERE ARE DOING
DIFFERENT THINGS TO KEEP
VIBRANT.

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VERY GOOD.
>> THANK YOU ONE AND ALL.
LARA BECK, ABDUL-HAKIM SHABAZZ,