Indiana Lawmakers

From the opioid epidemic to training students for the jobs of the future, Governor Eric Holcomb believes the big issues of concern to Hoosiers can be handled with transparency and a focus on Indiana's citizens. The governor joins Indiana Lawmakers host Jon Schwantes this week in a traditional one-on-one interview at a time when the legislative session is short and important topics are on the table...

Indiana's legislators have just ten weeks to manage some important issues facing Hoosiers until next year's budget session. Caucus leaders join host Jon Schwantes to talk about everything from the state's addiction crisis to cold beer sales to funding concerns at the Department of Child Services. Our guests are Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma, R - Indianapolis; Representative Terry Goodin, D - A...

The Indiana legislature's majority leadership called the 2017 session "monumental," but how will history see it? This week on Indiana Lawmakers, host Jon Schwantes wraps up the season with the traditional visit by journalists who covered the session gavel to gavel and beyond. Niki Kelly of the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Eric Berman of WIBC, Hayleigh Colombo of the Indianapolis Business Journal an...

Host Jon Schwantes is joined by Rep. Brian Bosma, Rep. Scott Pelath, Sen. Brandt Hershman and Sen. Tim Lanane to discuss everything from alcohol sales to taxes as well as struggling schools, needle exchange programs and infrastructure funding.

Fiscal leaders from the state legislature join host Jon Schwantes this week on Indiana Lawmakers to discuss the state budget. Rep. Tim Brown, R - Crawfordsville; Rep. Greg Porter, D - Indianapolis; Sen. Luke Kenley, R - Noblesville; and Sen. Karen Tallian, D - Portage continue to work with other officials to hash out important questions on funding infrastructure repairs and education, as well as r...

Cold beer sales suddenly became a hot topic at the Indiana legislature when a convenience store chain figured a legal route to sell the product at two of its locations. Are cold beer sales a moral issue or a market issue? Host Jon Schwantes is joined by Rep. Matt Lehman, R- Berne; Rep. Terri Austin, D - Anderson; Grant Monahan, president of the Indiana Retail Council; and Matt Bell of the Catalyst...

The issue of school prayer arises during almost every session of the Indiana General Assembly, and 2017 is no different. This week host Jon Schwantes is joined by Rep. Terry Goodin, D - Austin; Sen. Mark Stoops, D - Bloomington; Dr. J.T. Coopman of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents; and David Sklar of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council. The thoughtful conver...

The annual session of the Indiana General Assembly always brings some surprises, and this year it may just be the interest in legislation affecting solar net metering. Solar energy questions and more are addressed by this week's expert panel on Indiana Lawmakers with Jon Schwantes - Sen. Brandt Hershamn, R - Buck Creek; Rep. Matt Pierce, D - Bloomington; Mark Maassel, president of the Indiana Ener...

Indiana colleges and universities are graduating more students on time, graduating more at-risk students, and achieving higher numbers of critical certifications. But are state monies being utilized as effectively as possible? Host Jon Schwantes moderates a panel of experts who come at the issue from many angles: Rep. Todd Huston, R - Fishers; Rep. Sheila Klinker, D - Lafayette; Commissioner of Hi...

Legislators will decide on many gun-related measures in this last half of the 2017 Indiana General Assembly. Should citizens with protective orders get a pass on gun purchase rules? Should state licensing measures simply go by the wayside in favor of "Constitutional carry?" Host Jon Schwantes moderates opposing viewpoints and insights from guests Rep. Jim Lucas, R - Seymour; Rep. Ed DeLaney, D- In...

Should the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction be an elected one or an appointed one in Indiana? Panel members: Representative Robert Behning, R - Indianapolis; Representative Melanie Wright, D - Yorktown; attorney Joel Hand, formerly with the IDOE and now with the Indiana Coalition for Public Education; and Shaina Cavazos, who covers education for Chalkbeat Indiana discuss a history...

Legislation to increase the tax on cigarettes in Indiana is pulling members of the General Assembly in different directions. Is it a tax issue, from which revenue could be used to back-fill the state's budget to address roads and infrastructure, or a health issue, whose monies could rebuild Indiana's smoking cessation program? Guests Representative Cindy Kirchhofer, R - Beech Grove; Representative...

Each year, abortion-related legislation is presented during the Indiana General Assembly. Before this year's session was gaveled in, a proposed bill that would totally ban abortion gained a great deal of media attention. While that measure has fallen by the wayside, others remain, including one that focuses on reversing the effects of the medication referred to as the abortion pill. Jon's guests a...

Indiana is experiencing an opioid addiction crisis, and with it myriad connected issues in terms of public health and criminal activity. The spike of HIV cases in Scott County attracted national and international attention. How best to tackle all of these effects is the topic of a compelling discussion this week on Indiana Lawmakers. Host Jon Schwantes moderates a panel comprised of some of Indian...

This week on Indiana Lawmakers, tackling one of the biggest priorities before legislators, educators and even the governor: workforce development. Headlines shout about the need to fill thousands of Hoosier jobs with capable workers over the next few years, but developing those applicants is still a work in progress.  Commissioner Steve Braun of Indiana Workforce Development; Rep. Holli Sullivan,...

This week on Indiana Lawmakers, anyone who drives Indiana's highways can appreciate the push for improved roads and infrastructure. After all, potholes and bridge crises make headlines around the state. Paying for those improvements, however, has long been the place where the rubber meets the road.

This week on Indiana Lawmakers, host Jon Schwantes sits down with Indiana's newly-inaugurated governor, Eric Holcomb to discuss Holcomb's surprising career shift in the wake of Mike Pence's nomination for Vice President, as well as Holcomb's vision for Indiana.

Indiana's legislative leaders sat down once again with host Jon Schwantes to launch the 36th season of Indiana Lawmakers. House Speaker Brian Bosma, R - Indianapolis; Representative Scott Pelath, D - Michigan City; Senator Brandt Hershman, R - Buck Creek; and Senator Tim Lanane, D - Anderson engaged in a spirited - and sometimes combative - discussion on the hot topic of funding during this budget...

Another session of the Indiana General Assembly is in the books. Journalists who covered the session join host Jon Schwantes. Chelsea Schneider, Claire McInerny, Zach Osowski and Shaina Cavazos talk about their impressions of proceedings.

The 2016 short session of the Indiana General Assembly has drawn to a close. Host Jon Schwantes sits down with Speaker Brian Bosma, Rep Scott Pelath, Sen. Brandt Hershman and Sen. Tim Lanane for a lively discussion on what happened - and didn't happen.

Is legislation surrounding abortion and related procedures a matter of protection or privacy - or both? Sen. Jean Breaux and Patti Stauffer join host Jon Schwantes to discuss how questions of fetal protection and maternal health will play out?

How can Hoosier health and the environment be balanced against the needs of the state's manufacturers, farms, and other employers? Host Jon Schwantes discusses environmental legislation with Rep. David Wolkins, Rep. Matt Pierce, and Tim Maloney.  

Body cameras for police officers raise many questions. This week Jon Schwantes hosts a panel whose members represent key sides of the issues – Rep. Kevin Mahan, R; Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D; IMPD Chief Troy Riggs and Steve Key. Media files

This week panelists Rep Randy Head, Rep Ben Smaltz, David Powell and Grant Monahan join host Jon Schwantes for a passionate yet thoughtful discussion on legislation designed to curb the damage being done to Hoosier families and communities by meth labs.

This week, our expert panel breaks down daily fantasy sports or DFS. What it is - and what it isn't. How should it be regulated? And, how should it be taxed? Host Jon Schwantes is joined by Rep Alan Morrison, Matt Bel, Matt Whetstone and Jerry Long.