December 29, 2025 • 29 mins
It's our final episode of 2025! On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt take a look back at a very rough year for Indiana's governor. From failures on property taxes and redistricting, to skyrocketing utility bills, Braun has his work cut out for him in 2026. (12/29/25)
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 3 (01:29):
Rob Kendall Abdula gave Shabaz Jim Merritt.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
It's our final program of twenty twenty five at State
House Happenings, your weekly look at what's going on with
Indiana politics and government. Before we begin in the program,
let's meet the award winning panel. You know him for
thirty years in the Indiana Senate, the Great Jim Merritt. Hello, Robert,
and you know him as the owner and operator of
Indiepolitics dot org.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
A dulaq Shaba's Hello, Welcome in vinvenue.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Welcome all right, So this is our we'll serve as
both our final show of twenty twenty five and get
us into the twenty twenty six season, and then I
believe when we come back next week we will hear
it'll be the session, the session that started and then
stopped and then started again, and now it'll be starting
to be starting again.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
The good news has to be all done by the
end of February.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Okay, So let's duel what do they call that aiden football,
dual threat quarterback. We're a dual threat program.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Today.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
We're taking a look back at twenty twenty five and
take a little look at it into twenty twenty six,
and they sort of all emerged together. We talked about
this the last time we were together a couple of
weeks ago. The big loser of twenty twenty five, Jim Merritt,
has to be Mike Braun in the sense that his
two signature issues that he put all his weight behind
property taxes and redistricting, both colossal failures.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I think it was a tough year for the first
year for the governor, and he can look towards twenty
twenty six. In the next couple of weeks, he'll be
talking to various members of the media, including abduel about
what happened in twenty twenty five. I always think that
when you're governor or your estate's us entator or or
(03:00):
whatever position you hold, as you and you talk about
your past, you always should talk about the future and
what is behind you is behind you and and uh
and trying to improve every day. Your administration has has
six point something million Hoosiers that listen to you, and
and governing them in the future is something that is very,
(03:23):
very important. I'm not sure what the elevator speech for
the bron administration right now is when you talk about
accomplishments for for twenty twenty five. But if I'm the broadministration,
I'm looking towards twenty six.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
If I'm the broad administration, I'm looking forward to twenty
twenty seven because because realistically, because because thinking about it,
how you pivot, Yeah, I think I think here's where
I think you pivot. I think you pivot by number
one shutting up and number two letting some of legislation
get through. For example, Danie Lopez has the bill if
(03:59):
I'm the in a governor's office saying the governor a
long we picked a convention that'd be picked together just
let things like that sort of you know, you had
lawmakers tachically just take a step back. No, maybe unveil
like you. No, we want to finish proper text re
leaf blah blahlah blah, just low governor form. You know,
some small a little bit need health care. Then just
shut up and to just stop. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
You know, they did a really good job of talking
about energy in twenty twenty five, and I would continue
to do that. And it's really the center of everybody's lives.
You saw the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has three new
commissioners and and and they're insistent that they talk about
utility rates and and the high cost of energy, and
(04:41):
uh they that was kind of the centerpiece. If you're
talking about an accomplishment for the brodministration. It was all
about Susie Javarowski and and the governor having a vision
for the future.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
But even that was a disaster. Jim.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I mean, she's at some event where she basically says
local these energy companies should sue local governmentsies are out
of control. I mean, I know they're point of these
new people to the i u r C. He signs
this doctor Frankenstein Utility Bill. It's going to allow people's
rates to go up even with the technology doesn't work.
I mean even that was a dumpster fire. And who knows,
(05:14):
susie's your friend, but that was stupid what she said.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Well, everybody's talking about energy and should because uh people
believe contrary what you just said, that that the bron
Ministration is concerned about utility rates and as well as
that bringing uh a new energy future. The stave Indiana
is a part of the Brown vision.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Did you break that story?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Didn't you get the audio on Susie Javroski, the Energy
secretary basically second you're an energy company, sooth the municipalities.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, becomes at the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute sort of
annual policy luncheon. Deal. But all the eggheads and insiders
all go to Okay, this would be pretty straightforward, nothing,
nothing controversial, Like did did he just say that? They
said play that back? Yeah, okay, I asked the president
next to me, like, hey, did you just hear I
guess I did? Okay, Right, this double checking makesure wasn't
(06:05):
here or anything but that.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
But that's my point is there's nothing he did this
year where you go, Wow, this constituency is super happy
with you. The property tax people done with him. The
people that the rank and file people see the utility bills,
they're upset. The people that are angry about the ie
ed C and these data centers that didn't get there's
nothing Braun can go.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Boy, that was a great That was a great year.
Look at what we did on our good best. If
I was to the mic Broad administration trying to salvage
year one, I said, look, we made some progress incremental
in the energy policy and the energy space, in the
healthcare space, like no can take a hospital race under control. Now,
whether whether they did or not remains to be seen.
(06:45):
But a police you could put point to that as
sort of a somewhat tacit moral victory is.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Braun's biggest problem. This Look, this is what I found out.
So last year. Last summer I went over to State
Party headquarters and it was me and Josh Kelly and Micah.
Josh Kelly is Mike Braun's chief of staff. I don't
know if anybody else was in the room. I think
that was it. And basically I told those guys said,
are you ready for this?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Jelly?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
And they laughed about that, and what I remember that was,
I'll support you if you're dedicated to the cause, right,
And you can say I'm not dedicated to the cause,
and we're all not gonna part friends, but we'll go
part right, and at least you'll be an honest broker
and tell me what you want because you ain't required
to have me support you. But if you ask for
my sport and you don't deliver, if you fail, you
(07:31):
need to.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Know what you're in for. Oh yeah, it'll be great.
We're ready for it.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
And is that jelly through peanut butter and something the
kids say? You ready for this jelly? Yeah, that's something
the kids say, Come on, try to keep.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Up, just from a song called Booty Delicious.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
So the point is he I think this is sort
of the problem with Braun on everything, and I think
it will get into redistricting here in a second, because
I think it's another costal failure. He so wants to
be liked that in his mind, Well, I'll just tell
you whatever you need to hear in the moment, and
then I'll figure it out later.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
As it goes.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
As as we go along, well, whether it's property taxes
where he totally didn't figure it out, and he didn't
fight any cave or redistricting where he got totally embarrassed.
He's made more enemies by not being honest with people
then he has. He just said, look, this isn't gonna
work for me, and you can say whatever you want
on your little radio show and good luck, which is
what Hulkam did.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
I don't think Bron wants to be like so much.
He wants to be obeyed, because you've got to remember
where Broun comes from. Bron was an executive of a company.
He built no millions of dollars. He tells people to jump,
they say how high, and that's it. Governor is a
little bit of a different creature because the legislation is
a colle equal branch of government.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
They're actually in charge. Yeah, I mean you're in charge.
Wants the Sessions. I mean in terms of lawmaking, rulemaking, whatever,
they're in charge. Jim, you were there for thirty years.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Well we were, and but we worked with Mitch Daniels,
you know.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
But you needed him.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
These guys don't need Braun because the state's so republican.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Well, also the fact that I believe that the govenor
of the Stave Indiana every morning can affect change. And
uh he he is a room two o six, a
room of one, And it just all depends on what
what buttons you push and and how you go about it,
and and and there. There's plenty of opportunity for the
(09:19):
chief executive Officer of the Stave Indiana to to have
a very good twenty six.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
It just pends.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
It just depends on how he plays it.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
What if you were He's got to get rid of
Josh Kelly, doesn't he his chief of staff? I mean,
Josh Kelly seems to be the guy who is advising him,
if you believe the reports, to go down these paths
of ruin on things that are just being proven to
be totally unsuccessful for him. And not only is he
not succeeding, he's making people angry because he they he
they are setting the bar of expectations apparently unreasonably high.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Well and not only that, also too, is that Josh
Kelly made a bunch of promises to the Trump administration.
Yeah we can get this time, we can. Redis being done.
Don't worry about it. There'll be a there'll be a
cake walk blah blah blah blah. Little did you know
that there's a thing called the legislature.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Well, I'm that meme of that guy with the news
around his net going oh first time, Yeah, because that's exactly.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
What happened to me.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
And I said, don't make promises unless you go follow
through on them and and and get you're right he
he they whatever, that team team Braun keeps telling people
they can do things and they don't deliver on them.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Well, it's it's all about the idea of of pivot
and and and talking about positive things, positive developments, positive policy,
good public policy, and in governing correctly. And and they
passed a bare bones budget what you know, an announcement
sometime in early twenty six on how that affected the
(10:48):
state of Indiana and and what they're saving money and
how they're governing. And I still believe that a governor
can uh change change the the uh the narrative and
have a different narrative. And they have an opportunity every
day to to create change in the state of Indians
(11:10):
or screw.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
It up further, Yeah, which is what they seem intent.
Some day. I think these people can screw up One
man Parrie.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Well, okay, so how does Braun square if we look
at this ahead to twenty six, how does he square
the fact that he's out publicly saying I'm gonna primari
all you people who didn't give me what I wanted
on redistricting. How does he work with those people this
upcoming year where he's still got stuff he's gonna want.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
Well, one term, mayors, I think you need to go
to the mayor, you need to go to the council,
you need to go to the county commissioners. You need
to start talking with local government officials about about creating
you know, they're gonna have to tweak Senate Bill one.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Well, he's out here today saying it's great, Jim, he's
still saying it.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
I'm just telling you what I would do. Yeah, no, no, no,
I'm not blaming you for Mike Bron.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
I'm just saying, like, I'm agreeing with you. But he's
a living in this La La land.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Well, you know, local government officials really run the day
and and and the way to curry favor is working
with them to solve issues that are that they touch.
You know, anything from one hundred to one hundred thousand people.
And if you talk about fadness and and fishery.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Yeah yeah, but the problem is your omestic relations with
the mayors.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
Yes, well you start, you start, you start rebuilding that relationship,
like now you want now you want to talk to me?
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Yeah like that.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Yeah, I'm just saying, when you're you gotta stop digging.
You know you got you gotta start building and uh.
And he has an opportunity to do that in January.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
All he would have had to do is veto that
property tax bill. And I told him that, I was like,
just veto it like you, and then you'll be able
to say I fought as hard as I could, this
is unacceptable. We're coming back again. And I said, look,
I'll defend you. Other people defend you. And he chose
to try to play. Which is fascinating that on that
issue he was so deferential to the legislature where he
actually had the people behind him on that, unlike redistricting,
(13:03):
where people are like even if I'm maybe four and
I don't care about it, Like he had all these
people behind him and he would he was so afraid
to fight with the legislature on that. But then on
this redistricting thing, which politically was a loser.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
He went to the mat against dons.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
He has an incredible opportunity with with with his voice, No.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Question, I would argue that technically right now, the governor
is going to strike two. Strike one was property taxes,
Strut two as redistricting one more and that's well, yeah,
and how do you how do you with these people?
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Hey, I realized I just publicly said you're a piece
of garbage and I'm gonna do everything in my power
and clean spending millions of dollars to defeat you. Uh,
would you mind voting on this key piece of legislation
that I'm really for?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Like, who's gonna do that?
Speaker 4 (13:50):
Well, the ball Bob of mine is is the short
session is gonna be over briefly. They're gonna tweak Senate
Bill one from last year, meaning twenty five, and they're
gonna be gone. And you know, one year we went
to June thirtieth, and then the following year we went
to February fourteenth and did nothing in other than hold
committee hearings. And this will be a very very quick session.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
And it'll be interesting. The next thing I'm looking for
is the State of the State address. Because to me,
that's gonna tell everything.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
They ow to have that early early January because it's
to get it over with and get it done.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I guess he won't be asking me for help on
this one like he did the last one.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
I don't think he's going to answer your phone call.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
And by the way, half the administration is totally ticked
off to be ready to walk out the door. Well
that's what I heard, yep.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
I mean, we don't say how we get information around here,
but we got some information. And I would say that
that you're making an accurate statement there that it's.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Like, where's my escape pole, I' getting the hell out
of here.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Well, okay, so let's pivot to some other people that
had a rough twenty five and we'll see if it
gets any better. I think you got to say the
lieutenant governor had just as bad or a worse twenty five,
given the fact that not only did he alienate a
huge portion of the people that supported him when he
(15:13):
went in, but he also at least as of us
putting this program together. Now, obviously news may break, things
may come out, just full disclosure, working on everybody's holiday schedule,
we're putting this together a little bit ahead of when
you're hearing it on the radio station. But as of
mid December, he is still under investigation from the Marion
County Prosecutor's office that involves a grand jury. So at
(15:35):
least Braun just ruined himself politically, He's not under any
investigation that we know about. Micah beck With may have
had a worser than Braun.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
You know, I like to be sunny, disposition, cheerful.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Yeah, you're the net and Flanders of Indiana.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
I like talking, you know, positive about things, and I
don't have a positive thing to say about Micah beck With.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
I do. I'm positive he's gonna be in trouble.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
He has no way, There is no door to go
knock on to number one, get his reputation back too,
to have some sort of political career. He's going to
be back in twenty twenty nine with with his church,
preaching to his church, and he's going to have his
he'll have his podcast which has that strange name on it,
(16:22):
and that's what he will be doing. U in Indiana.
Indiana is a happy state. It is a has lots
of spirits. They don't take kindly to negativity and that's
what this year has been about. With my friend Micah,
Why why did you do this? Because as a lieutenant
(16:43):
governor of Indiana Senate, you have a lot of power
for change and all all we got was insults.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Well, it's back with an example of duel of a guy.
I was thinking about this driving in and now we're
gonna put multiple these standofs Happenings episodes together.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
I thought, he's exam of a guy.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Everybody says they want the smoke when you're on the outside,
and then once you get elected, you got to actually
govern and you got to start making those hard choices.
Am I going to stand up to the governor? Am
I got to push back on the governor? And is
he an example of a guy that it just got
too hot in the kitchen for him once he had
to put up or shut up?
Speaker 3 (17:19):
And so there's a line in the movie The Candidate
with Robert Redford nineteen seventies where he runs in the
Senate and wins, and then he's like, no, now what
do I do? He has like now what?
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Like?
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Now you got to govern?
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Well, we had such an opportunity to be on the
team and and and and work with room two of
six work with the governor and his staff, and and
you just there's no relying on him for a quality
output and and to be on the team. And and
and now you know the Indiana Senate, he walks in there,
nobody's going to talk to him. Uh, he has insulted
(17:54):
the complete body. And and uh, it's just a it
didn't have to be this way. And uh and he
will be out of office in twenty twenty nine.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
And and I don't know where he His political career
is stunted, slash over. And and I just I just
I don't understand. I don't understand. Uh.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Actually, actually, Jim, what it is, it's the establishment is
striking is striking back, is what it is. Because for
the for the past, for the past couple of years,
anti establisher, that's anti establishment. That okay, fine whatever, beat
up on the establishment. They're all crooks, blah blah, okay, fine,
But the end of the day, the establishment always win.
That's why it's the establishment, right Yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
And you know I'm a part of that. And and
I like him. I went on his podcast and and
we always got along. But I saw him at the
IU Big Ten Championship game, and somebody whispered me, Hey,
the lieutenant governors down there, once you go say hi
to him. Well, I kept walking down the stairs and
I saw him and I pointed at him. But ordinarily,
if they were Frank Obannon, or if it were uh
(18:58):
Sue Elspherman or or any other governor, I would have
walked up and said hey, shook hands and said hello.
But I just didn't want to. And when I don't
want to do that, things are that's a problem.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Well, it's it's that people perceive him as being a dishonest,
deceitful person. And I mean it's a litany of things
that you know, we could spend a whole show talking
about where this was a guy that said he wanted
to do something for the people, that he wanted a
job for this reason, and then he got in there
and he has proven himself to just be somebody who
(19:32):
wanted the position. And I think it's to elevate himself,
not not the people he's supposed to be fighting for,
if that may.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Be so bold, And I will today because it's the
last show of the year. Micah Beckwe and the movie
The Bible would have been the snake making the apple pies.
I just I'm sad I did.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I'm just sad for him. I'm sad for the people,
myself being one of who believed in him.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
And I'm sad too because I really much.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
You know. But here's the I'm not sad at all. No,
I have no sympathy for the Beckwith and his ILK
who basically came in, We're going to disrupt the system,
no respect for the process, We're gonna do whatever, and
they basically getting what they had come into him.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
Yeah, well, you know I told him on his podcast that, uh,
the only way that he's lieutenant governor is through the
convention process. He could never win a primary with a
lot of other people that are on the state wide.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Well, and the bigger problem he's got, unlike Braun, who's
just had a bad year politically, he's again, at least
as I was putting this taping together in the middle
of December, he's still under this very serious investigation from
the Marion County prosecutors or his offices, from the Americ
County Prosecutor's Office, which a grand jury's involved related ghost
employment and this a I porn thing, and that is
(20:56):
a way bigger deal than any political loss, because you're
particularly talking about the freedom of yourself. Now, who knows
how it'll unfold. They may come back and maybe by
the time this errors, they'll come back and say, hey, no,
you know, no no wrongdoing here, we looked into it,
or by go home. But it's you and potentially people
around you that could be in some pretty serious trouble.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
And you know that that that's there and it made
maybe you know, we haven't seen results or we you
know that that could actually happen.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
And and by the way, and by the way, keep
in mind that if it does happen, it happens in
twenty twenty six, Yes, do it an election year? Yes?
Speaker 4 (21:33):
And and but but also when at the end of
the day when I get calls, I probably get ten
phone calls a week about about things that we talk
about and characters in the play of politics and everything,
and and he is a pariah I I you know,
people will call me up and say do you know
(21:55):
this guy? And I said, yeah, I know that film.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
I know.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
I'm well that fairness they did that to you with
me for years too. Well yeah, Scott, yeah, but did
he transpar by grand jury?
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Though? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (22:08):
But and I have an elevator speech about you, I
have about twenty seconds about you.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
I don't I.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Don't have a response for beckw in this twenty because
in the beginning, you know, you kind of looked at
his character and his personality is Hey, the Republican politics
needed to be shook up. But now it's it's quake,
it's it's it's just so disappointing because it doesn't have
(22:34):
to be this way.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
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zero three. State House Happenings also wants to thank our
fine friends at Freedom Foods Indiana. Farmer Ryan Schliman and
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the folks at Freedom Foods Indiana have been delivering fresh
fruits and vegetables right to people's doors for years, and
Freedom Foods Indiana is a big supporter of State House Happenings.
Now Freedom Foods Indiana has some big things coming. We
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(24:07):
the program of State House Happenings your weekly look at
what's going on with Indiana politics.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
And government.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Okay, a couple of minutes left in the program, let's
look ahead to twenty six in the session. Is this
going to be quick in and out? I mean, you
always talk about the thing that nobody sees happening, But
how could we not see something at this point given
what they've already gone.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
I would say the thing that usually happens that no
one expects was registercting. Yeah, that's already you talked about
that for years. You said, there's always some thing about
halfway through, usually around Valentine's Day February. But if you
move the calendar, technically it happened.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
Yeah, And that happens usually in long sessions, and people
are getting kind of bored. But yeah, I think that
having something blow up meaning an issue is you know,
you hear about represent Andrew Ireland talking about about judges
(25:01):
and impeaching judges or prosecutors and and there will be
little issues that not little issues, but little implosions about
issues that that happened. But when they they they're going
to try to help local officials and and uh and
make Center bil one feasible, and and and and you
(25:22):
know Travis Holman Center, Travis Holman always wanted to attack
the income tax and then then then property taxes's hoisted
upon him in twenty in twenty twenty four and twenty
twenty five as a campaign issue. And and uh, but
but this session will be over, uh February twenty twenty
twenty fifth. They're gonna they will have issues, there will
(25:45):
be a state of the Stage speech, But for all
practical purposes, the six point six million Hoosiers who that
aren't watching anything are more concerned about inflation and they
affordability acts.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Actually, I think the by product of all this is
going to be a much more productive twenty sixth session
than anyone ever anticipated, because lomikers want to get the
stench of redistricting off of them. Yeah, that's one thing
does seem like positive, actually substantive, substive legislation actually makes
a difference in who's yours life.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
That's could very well be and I hope they do that, Okay,
And obviously I think the way that's going to line
up by the time we come back, the session will
start or be about to start, so we'll get into
all of that. And obviously there's a long time betun
as we're putting our final episode together of the year,
taving this in the middle of December and when the
actual January starts. Okay, so before we go, we'll do
(26:35):
a bold prediction here and we'll get We'll head into
twenty six with this as we do our final show,
Lord Willing will still all be here doing State House
happenings at the end of twenty twenty six. Really well,
the most likely reason is I'm not here anymore.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
But all that being.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Said, will Diego Morales be the Secretary of State at
the end of twenty twenty six going into twenty seven?
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Aka?
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Will he get re elected not only out of a
convention but against whatever whoever the Democrat is in the fall?
Speaker 3 (27:04):
I will argue that Diego Morales will be Secretary State
at the end of twenty six, but not at the
beginning of twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
So he will Okay, so he will make it to
the end of twenty six, but he will not win
reelection exactly.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
Very good, Jim mayor.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Diego will be re elected. He'll be Secretary of State
in twenty twenty seven. Indiana is still a Republican state.
Outside are the ears of Central Indiana that listen to this.
He still is a rock star in Republican Meetings, Lincoln
Day Dinners, and he will he will win reelection.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
All right, I want to close by thinking, you guys,
another fabulous year.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Look.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
I love the Kendalling Casey Show and that we do
nine to noon every day on WIBC ninety three point
one in Indianapolis. And I say this, and maybe it's
because I only get to do it once a week,
but I think State House Happenings may be my favorite
thing I do each week in terms of media. And
it's because you guys. I love you and thank you
for another great year, wonderful.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
The place was all yours.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
I'm doctor Jim Dalton, President and CEO of Daymar. Daymar
is a critical resource for thousands of people in Central Indiana,
and it takes people like you to give them hope.
With over thirteen hundred employees and hundreds of volunteers, Daymar
is always looking for people to come aboard. Whether it's
a career or simply donating your time. There's a place
for you here at Daymar. Learn more about our mission
(28:21):
at daymar dot org.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
At the Honeysuckle Hill bestro In Cottage located off I
seventy in beautiful Brazil, less than an hour from downtown Indianapolis.
Their specialty is Hoo's your comfort food like Grandma used
to make, and just like Grandma's house. Their goal is
for you to leave more at peace than when you
came in. The Honeysuckle Hill bestro In Cottage feature some
of the best made from scratch food in the state,
(28:43):
and their chicken and pork is raised right here in Indiana.
The Honeysuckle Hill bestro In Cottage is open five to
eight Friday and Saturday and Sunday, featuring their incredible breakfast
buffet from eleven to two. For more information call eight
one two four four three three zero zero three SEEA's Happenings.
Also wants to thank our fine friends at Freedom Foods Indiana.
Farmer Ryan Schleiman and the folks at Freedom Foods Indiana
(29:06):
have been delivering fresh fruits and vegetables right to people's
doors for years, and Freedom Foods Indiana is a big
supporter of State House Happenings. Now, Freedom Foods Indiana has
some big things coming. We can't wait to tell you
all about it in the near future. Right now, though,
we just want to say thanks to our friends at
Freedom Foods Indiana for supporting State House Happenings. Rob Kendall,
Duel Keeps Shabaz, Jim Merritt the program State House Happenings
(29:27):
your weekly look at what's going on with Indiana politics
and government. You can find Jim Merritt on Twitter at
Jim Underscore Merit at Jim Underscore merit Abduel on Twitter
at at TYB Duel at at Tyb Duel, me him
on Twitter at Robim Kendall at Robim Kendall. I want
to thank each of you who have joined us in
twenty twenty five. Well look forward to talking to you
twenty twenty six. For Duel Keeps, Jaba's or Jim Merritt,
I'm Rob Kendall. You've been listening to the State House Happenings.
Where you work and who you work with matters. I'm
doctor Jim Dalton, President and CEO of Daymar. We're dedicated
to helping vulnerable kids and adults with disabilities. Right now,
we're looking for tough people with big hearts, people who
don't think twice about standing up for someone else, and
who love seeing others grow and succeed. Is your job
fulfilling emotionally or are you just filling time? Learn more
(00:22):
about open positions at daymark dot org.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
At the Honeysuckle Hill Bestro in Cottage, their specialty is
Who's your comfort food? Like Grandma used to make and
just like Grandma's house, their goal is for you to
leave more at peace than when you came in. Set
on the water around us scenic woods in beautiful Brazil.
The Honeysuckle Hill Bestrow in Cottage is an easy drive
don't Interstate seventy, less than an hour from downtown Indianapolis
(00:47):
and totally worth the trip. The Honeysuckle Hill Bestro in
Cottage is open five to eight Friday and Saturday and Sunday,
featuring their incredible breakfast buffet from eleven to two. More
information call eight one, two, four four three three zero
zero three. State House Happenings also wants to thank our
fine friends at Freedom Foods Indiana. Former Ryan Schleiman and
(01:08):
the folks at Freedom Foods Indiana have been delivering fresh
fruits and vegetables right to people's doors for years and
Freedom Foods Indiana is a big supporter of State House Happenings.
Now Freedom Foods Indiana has some big things coming. We
can't wait to tell you all about it in the
near future. Right now, though, we just want to say
thanks to our friends at Freedom Foods Indiana for supporting
State House Happenings.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Rob Kendall Abdula gave Shabaz Jim Merritt.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
It's our final program of twenty twenty five at State
House Happenings, your weekly look at what's going on with
Indiana politics and government. Before we begin in the program,
let's meet the award winning panel. You know him for
thirty years in the Indiana Senate, the Great Jim Merritt. Hello, Robert,
and you know him as the owner and operator of
Indiepolitics dot org.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
A dulaq Shaba's Hello, Welcome in vinvenue.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Welcome all right, So this is our we'll serve as
both our final show of twenty twenty five and get
us into the twenty twenty six season, and then I
believe when we come back next week we will hear
it'll be the session, the session that started and then
stopped and then started again, and now it'll be starting
to be starting again.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
The good news has to be all done by the
end of February.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Okay, So let's duel what do they call that aiden football,
dual threat quarterback. We're a dual threat program.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Today.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
We're taking a look back at twenty twenty five and
take a little look at it into twenty twenty six,
and they sort of all emerged together. We talked about
this the last time we were together a couple of
weeks ago. The big loser of twenty twenty five, Jim Merritt,
has to be Mike Braun in the sense that his
two signature issues that he put all his weight behind
property taxes and redistricting, both colossal failures.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I think it was a tough year for the first
year for the governor, and he can look towards twenty
twenty six. In the next couple of weeks, he'll be
talking to various members of the media, including abduel about
what happened in twenty twenty five. I always think that
when you're governor or your estate's us entator or or
(03:00):
whatever position you hold, as you and you talk about
your past, you always should talk about the future and
what is behind you is behind you and and uh
and trying to improve every day. Your administration has has
six point something million Hoosiers that listen to you, and
and governing them in the future is something that is very,
(03:23):
very important. I'm not sure what the elevator speech for
the bron administration right now is when you talk about
accomplishments for for twenty twenty five. But if I'm the broadministration,
I'm looking towards twenty six.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
If I'm the broad administration, I'm looking forward to twenty
twenty seven because because realistically, because because thinking about it,
how you pivot, Yeah, I think I think here's where
I think you pivot. I think you pivot by number
one shutting up and number two letting some of legislation
get through. For example, Danie Lopez has the bill if
(03:59):
I'm the in a governor's office saying the governor a
long we picked a convention that'd be picked together just
let things like that sort of you know, you had
lawmakers tachically just take a step back. No, maybe unveil
like you. No, we want to finish proper text re
leaf blah blahlah blah, just low governor form. You know,
some small a little bit need health care. Then just
shut up and to just stop. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
You know, they did a really good job of talking
about energy in twenty twenty five, and I would continue
to do that. And it's really the center of everybody's lives.
You saw the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has three new
commissioners and and and they're insistent that they talk about
utility rates and and the high cost of energy, and
(04:41):
uh they that was kind of the centerpiece. If you're
talking about an accomplishment for the brodministration. It was all
about Susie Javarowski and and the governor having a vision
for the future.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
But even that was a disaster. Jim.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I mean, she's at some event where she basically says
local these energy companies should sue local governmentsies are out
of control. I mean, I know they're point of these
new people to the i u r C. He signs
this doctor Frankenstein Utility Bill. It's going to allow people's
rates to go up even with the technology doesn't work.
I mean even that was a dumpster fire. And who knows,
(05:14):
susie's your friend, but that was stupid what she said.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Well, everybody's talking about energy and should because uh people
believe contrary what you just said, that that the bron
Ministration is concerned about utility rates and as well as
that bringing uh a new energy future. The stave Indiana
is a part of the Brown vision.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Did you break that story?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Didn't you get the audio on Susie Javroski, the Energy
secretary basically second you're an energy company, sooth the municipalities.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, becomes at the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute sort of
annual policy luncheon. Deal. But all the eggheads and insiders
all go to Okay, this would be pretty straightforward, nothing,
nothing controversial, Like did did he just say that? They
said play that back? Yeah, okay, I asked the president
next to me, like, hey, did you just hear I
guess I did? Okay, Right, this double checking makesure wasn't
(06:05):
here or anything but that.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
But that's my point is there's nothing he did this
year where you go, Wow, this constituency is super happy
with you. The property tax people done with him. The
people that the rank and file people see the utility bills,
they're upset. The people that are angry about the ie
ed C and these data centers that didn't get there's
nothing Braun can go.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Boy, that was a great That was a great year.
Look at what we did on our good best. If
I was to the mic Broad administration trying to salvage
year one, I said, look, we made some progress incremental
in the energy policy and the energy space, in the
healthcare space, like no can take a hospital race under control. Now,
whether whether they did or not remains to be seen.
(06:45):
But a police you could put point to that as
sort of a somewhat tacit moral victory is.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Braun's biggest problem. This Look, this is what I found out.
So last year. Last summer I went over to State
Party headquarters and it was me and Josh Kelly and Micah.
Josh Kelly is Mike Braun's chief of staff. I don't
know if anybody else was in the room. I think
that was it. And basically I told those guys said,
are you ready for this?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Jelly?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
And they laughed about that, and what I remember that was,
I'll support you if you're dedicated to the cause, right,
And you can say I'm not dedicated to the cause,
and we're all not gonna part friends, but we'll go
part right, and at least you'll be an honest broker
and tell me what you want because you ain't required
to have me support you. But if you ask for
my sport and you don't deliver, if you fail, you
(07:31):
need to.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Know what you're in for. Oh yeah, it'll be great.
We're ready for it.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
And is that jelly through peanut butter and something the
kids say? You ready for this jelly? Yeah, that's something
the kids say, Come on, try to keep.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Up, just from a song called Booty Delicious.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
So the point is he I think this is sort
of the problem with Braun on everything, and I think
it will get into redistricting here in a second, because
I think it's another costal failure. He so wants to
be liked that in his mind, Well, I'll just tell
you whatever you need to hear in the moment, and
then I'll figure it out later.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
As it goes.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
As as we go along, well, whether it's property taxes
where he totally didn't figure it out, and he didn't
fight any cave or redistricting where he got totally embarrassed.
He's made more enemies by not being honest with people
then he has. He just said, look, this isn't gonna
work for me, and you can say whatever you want
on your little radio show and good luck, which is
what Hulkam did.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
I don't think Bron wants to be like so much.
He wants to be obeyed, because you've got to remember
where Broun comes from. Bron was an executive of a company.
He built no millions of dollars. He tells people to jump,
they say how high, and that's it. Governor is a
little bit of a different creature because the legislation is
a colle equal branch of government.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
They're actually in charge. Yeah, I mean you're in charge.
Wants the Sessions. I mean in terms of lawmaking, rulemaking, whatever,
they're in charge. Jim, you were there for thirty years.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Well we were, and but we worked with Mitch Daniels,
you know.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
But you needed him.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
These guys don't need Braun because the state's so republican.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Well, also the fact that I believe that the govenor
of the Stave Indiana every morning can affect change. And
uh he he is a room two o six, a
room of one, And it just all depends on what
what buttons you push and and how you go about it,
and and and there. There's plenty of opportunity for the
(09:19):
chief executive Officer of the Stave Indiana to to have
a very good twenty six.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
It just pends.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
It just depends on how he plays it.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
What if you were He's got to get rid of
Josh Kelly, doesn't he his chief of staff? I mean,
Josh Kelly seems to be the guy who is advising him,
if you believe the reports, to go down these paths
of ruin on things that are just being proven to
be totally unsuccessful for him. And not only is he
not succeeding, he's making people angry because he they he
they are setting the bar of expectations apparently unreasonably high.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Well and not only that, also too, is that Josh
Kelly made a bunch of promises to the Trump administration.
Yeah we can get this time, we can. Redis being done.
Don't worry about it. There'll be a there'll be a
cake walk blah blah blah blah. Little did you know
that there's a thing called the legislature.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Well, I'm that meme of that guy with the news
around his net going oh first time, Yeah, because that's exactly.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
What happened to me.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
And I said, don't make promises unless you go follow
through on them and and and get you're right he
he they whatever, that team team Braun keeps telling people
they can do things and they don't deliver on them.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Well, it's it's all about the idea of of pivot
and and and talking about positive things, positive developments, positive policy,
good public policy, and in governing correctly. And and they
passed a bare bones budget what you know, an announcement
sometime in early twenty six on how that affected the
(10:48):
state of Indiana and and what they're saving money and
how they're governing. And I still believe that a governor
can uh change change the the uh the narrative and
have a different narrative. And they have an opportunity every
day to to create change in the state of Indians
(11:10):
or screw.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
It up further, Yeah, which is what they seem intent.
Some day. I think these people can screw up One
man Parrie.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Well, okay, so how does Braun square if we look
at this ahead to twenty six, how does he square
the fact that he's out publicly saying I'm gonna primari
all you people who didn't give me what I wanted
on redistricting. How does he work with those people this
upcoming year where he's still got stuff he's gonna want.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
Well, one term, mayors, I think you need to go
to the mayor, you need to go to the council,
you need to go to the county commissioners. You need
to start talking with local government officials about about creating
you know, they're gonna have to tweak Senate Bill one.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Well, he's out here today saying it's great, Jim, he's
still saying it.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
I'm just telling you what I would do. Yeah, no, no, no,
I'm not blaming you for Mike Bron.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
I'm just saying, like, I'm agreeing with you. But he's
a living in this La La land.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Well, you know, local government officials really run the day
and and and the way to curry favor is working
with them to solve issues that are that they touch.
You know, anything from one hundred to one hundred thousand people.
And if you talk about fadness and and fishery.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Yeah yeah, but the problem is your omestic relations with
the mayors.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
Yes, well you start, you start, you start rebuilding that relationship,
like now you want now you want to talk to me?
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Yeah like that.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Yeah, I'm just saying, when you're you gotta stop digging.
You know you got you gotta start building and uh.
And he has an opportunity to do that in January.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
All he would have had to do is veto that
property tax bill. And I told him that, I was like,
just veto it like you, and then you'll be able
to say I fought as hard as I could, this
is unacceptable. We're coming back again. And I said, look,
I'll defend you. Other people defend you. And he chose
to try to play. Which is fascinating that on that
issue he was so deferential to the legislature where he
actually had the people behind him on that, unlike redistricting,
(13:03):
where people are like even if I'm maybe four and
I don't care about it, Like he had all these
people behind him and he would he was so afraid
to fight with the legislature on that. But then on
this redistricting thing, which politically was a loser.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
He went to the mat against dons.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
He has an incredible opportunity with with with his voice, No.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Question, I would argue that technically right now, the governor
is going to strike two. Strike one was property taxes,
Strut two as redistricting one more and that's well, yeah,
and how do you how do you with these people?
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Hey, I realized I just publicly said you're a piece
of garbage and I'm gonna do everything in my power
and clean spending millions of dollars to defeat you. Uh,
would you mind voting on this key piece of legislation
that I'm really for?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Like, who's gonna do that?
Speaker 4 (13:50):
Well, the ball Bob of mine is is the short
session is gonna be over briefly. They're gonna tweak Senate
Bill one from last year, meaning twenty five, and they're
gonna be gone. And you know, one year we went
to June thirtieth, and then the following year we went
to February fourteenth and did nothing in other than hold
committee hearings. And this will be a very very quick session.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
And it'll be interesting. The next thing I'm looking for
is the State of the State address. Because to me,
that's gonna tell everything.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
They ow to have that early early January because it's
to get it over with and get it done.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I guess he won't be asking me for help on
this one like he did the last one.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
I don't think he's going to answer your phone call.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
And by the way, half the administration is totally ticked
off to be ready to walk out the door. Well
that's what I heard, yep.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
I mean, we don't say how we get information around here,
but we got some information. And I would say that
that you're making an accurate statement there that it's.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Like, where's my escape pole, I' getting the hell out
of here.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Well, okay, so let's pivot to some other people that
had a rough twenty five and we'll see if it
gets any better. I think you got to say the
lieutenant governor had just as bad or a worse twenty five,
given the fact that not only did he alienate a
huge portion of the people that supported him when he
(15:13):
went in, but he also at least as of us
putting this program together. Now, obviously news may break, things
may come out, just full disclosure, working on everybody's holiday schedule,
we're putting this together a little bit ahead of when
you're hearing it on the radio station. But as of
mid December, he is still under investigation from the Marion
County Prosecutor's office that involves a grand jury. So at
(15:35):
least Braun just ruined himself politically, He's not under any
investigation that we know about. Micah beck With may have
had a worser than Braun.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
You know, I like to be sunny, disposition, cheerful.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Yeah, you're the net and Flanders of Indiana.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
I like talking, you know, positive about things, and I
don't have a positive thing to say about Micah beck With.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
I do. I'm positive he's gonna be in trouble.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
He has no way, There is no door to go
knock on to number one, get his reputation back too,
to have some sort of political career. He's going to
be back in twenty twenty nine with with his church,
preaching to his church, and he's going to have his
he'll have his podcast which has that strange name on it,
(16:22):
and that's what he will be doing. U in Indiana.
Indiana is a happy state. It is a has lots
of spirits. They don't take kindly to negativity and that's
what this year has been about. With my friend Micah,
Why why did you do this? Because as a lieutenant
(16:43):
governor of Indiana Senate, you have a lot of power
for change and all all we got was insults.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Well, it's back with an example of duel of a guy.
I was thinking about this driving in and now we're
gonna put multiple these standofs Happenings episodes together.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
I thought, he's exam of a guy.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Everybody says they want the smoke when you're on the outside,
and then once you get elected, you got to actually
govern and you got to start making those hard choices.
Am I going to stand up to the governor? Am
I got to push back on the governor? And is
he an example of a guy that it just got
too hot in the kitchen for him once he had
to put up or shut up?
Speaker 3 (17:19):
And so there's a line in the movie The Candidate
with Robert Redford nineteen seventies where he runs in the
Senate and wins, and then he's like, no, now what
do I do? He has like now what?
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Like?
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Now you got to govern?
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Well, we had such an opportunity to be on the
team and and and and work with room two of
six work with the governor and his staff, and and
you just there's no relying on him for a quality
output and and to be on the team. And and
and now you know the Indiana Senate, he walks in there,
nobody's going to talk to him. Uh, he has insulted
(17:54):
the complete body. And and uh, it's just a it
didn't have to be this way. And uh and he
will be out of office in twenty twenty nine.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
And and I don't know where he His political career
is stunted, slash over. And and I just I just
I don't understand. I don't understand. Uh.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Actually, actually, Jim, what it is, it's the establishment is
striking is striking back, is what it is. Because for
the for the past, for the past couple of years,
anti establisher, that's anti establishment. That okay, fine whatever, beat
up on the establishment. They're all crooks, blah blah, okay, fine,
But the end of the day, the establishment always win.
That's why it's the establishment, right Yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
And you know I'm a part of that. And and
I like him. I went on his podcast and and
we always got along. But I saw him at the
IU Big Ten Championship game, and somebody whispered me, Hey,
the lieutenant governors down there, once you go say hi
to him. Well, I kept walking down the stairs and
I saw him and I pointed at him. But ordinarily,
if they were Frank Obannon, or if it were uh
(18:58):
Sue Elspherman or or any other governor, I would have
walked up and said hey, shook hands and said hello.
But I just didn't want to. And when I don't
want to do that, things are that's a problem.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Well, it's it's that people perceive him as being a dishonest,
deceitful person. And I mean it's a litany of things
that you know, we could spend a whole show talking
about where this was a guy that said he wanted
to do something for the people, that he wanted a
job for this reason, and then he got in there
and he has proven himself to just be somebody who
(19:32):
wanted the position. And I think it's to elevate himself,
not not the people he's supposed to be fighting for,
if that may.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Be so bold, And I will today because it's the
last show of the year. Micah Beckwe and the movie
The Bible would have been the snake making the apple pies.
I just I'm sad I did.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I'm just sad for him. I'm sad for the people,
myself being one of who believed in him.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
And I'm sad too because I really much.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
You know. But here's the I'm not sad at all. No,
I have no sympathy for the Beckwith and his ILK
who basically came in, We're going to disrupt the system,
no respect for the process, We're gonna do whatever, and
they basically getting what they had come into him.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
Yeah, well, you know I told him on his podcast that, uh,
the only way that he's lieutenant governor is through the
convention process. He could never win a primary with a
lot of other people that are on the state wide.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Well, and the bigger problem he's got, unlike Braun, who's
just had a bad year politically, he's again, at least
as I was putting this taping together in the middle
of December, he's still under this very serious investigation from
the Marion County prosecutors or his offices, from the Americ
County Prosecutor's Office, which a grand jury's involved related ghost
employment and this a I porn thing, and that is
(20:56):
a way bigger deal than any political loss, because you're
particularly talking about the freedom of yourself. Now, who knows
how it'll unfold. They may come back and maybe by
the time this errors, they'll come back and say, hey, no,
you know, no no wrongdoing here, we looked into it,
or by go home. But it's you and potentially people
around you that could be in some pretty serious trouble.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
And you know that that that's there and it made
maybe you know, we haven't seen results or we you
know that that could actually happen.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
And and by the way, and by the way, keep
in mind that if it does happen, it happens in
twenty twenty six, Yes, do it an election year? Yes?
Speaker 4 (21:33):
And and but but also when at the end of
the day when I get calls, I probably get ten
phone calls a week about about things that we talk
about and characters in the play of politics and everything,
and and he is a pariah I I you know,
people will call me up and say do you know
(21:55):
this guy? And I said, yeah, I know that film.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
I know.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
I'm well that fairness they did that to you with
me for years too. Well yeah, Scott, yeah, but did
he transpar by grand jury?
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Though? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (22:08):
But and I have an elevator speech about you, I
have about twenty seconds about you.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
I don't I.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Don't have a response for beckw in this twenty because
in the beginning, you know, you kind of looked at
his character and his personality is Hey, the Republican politics
needed to be shook up. But now it's it's quake,
it's it's it's just so disappointing because it doesn't have
(22:34):
to be this way.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
One of the most incredible journeys I've witnessed is seeing
people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, get the
care they deserve. It's life changing. A not for profits
started by Families for Families, DeMar helps thousands in central
Indiana live more joyful and independent lives. You can help
bring hope to countless families in Indiana with a donation
(22:56):
to support our work. Visit deamar dot org to learn more.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Not only does the Honeysuckle Hill bestro in Cottage, located
less than an hour from downtown Indianapolis off Interstate seventeen,
Beautiful Brazil feature some of the best made from scratch
food in the state, including chicken and pork raised right
here in Indiana, but they also offer catering for small
and medium sized weddings and events, giving you the opportunity
to bring down home feel and charm to your special day.
(23:23):
Reservations preferred, but not required. The Honeysuckle Hill bestro In
Cottage is open five to eight Friday and Saturday and Sunday,
featuring their incredible breakfast buffet from eleven to two. More
information called eight one two four four three three zero
zero three. State House Happenings also wants to thank our
fine friends at Freedom Foods Indiana. Farmer Ryan Schliman and
(23:44):
the folks at Freedom Foods Indiana have been delivering fresh
fruits and vegetables right to people's doors for years, and
Freedom Foods Indiana is a big supporter of State House Happenings.
Now Freedom Foods Indiana has some big things coming. We
can't wait to tell you all about it in the
near future. Right now now, though, we just want to
say thanks to our friends at Freedom Foods Indiana for
supporting State House Happenings. Rob Kendall Deill keeps Youavaz Jim Merrick,
(24:07):
the program of State House Happenings your weekly look at
what's going on with Indiana politics.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
And government.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Okay, a couple of minutes left in the program, let's
look ahead to twenty six in the session. Is this
going to be quick in and out? I mean, you
always talk about the thing that nobody sees happening, But
how could we not see something at this point given
what they've already gone.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
I would say the thing that usually happens that no
one expects was registercting. Yeah, that's already you talked about
that for years. You said, there's always some thing about
halfway through, usually around Valentine's Day February. But if you
move the calendar, technically it happened.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
Yeah, And that happens usually in long sessions, and people
are getting kind of bored. But yeah, I think that
having something blow up meaning an issue is you know,
you hear about represent Andrew Ireland talking about about judges
(25:01):
and impeaching judges or prosecutors and and there will be
little issues that not little issues, but little implosions about
issues that that happened. But when they they they're going
to try to help local officials and and uh and
make Center bil one feasible, and and and and you
(25:22):
know Travis Holman Center, Travis Holman always wanted to attack
the income tax and then then then property taxes's hoisted
upon him in twenty in twenty twenty four and twenty
twenty five as a campaign issue. And and uh, but
but this session will be over, uh February twenty twenty
twenty fifth. They're gonna they will have issues, there will
(25:45):
be a state of the Stage speech, But for all
practical purposes, the six point six million Hoosiers who that
aren't watching anything are more concerned about inflation and they
affordability acts.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Actually, I think the by product of all this is
going to be a much more productive twenty sixth session
than anyone ever anticipated, because lomikers want to get the
stench of redistricting off of them. Yeah, that's one thing
does seem like positive, actually substantive, substive legislation actually makes
a difference in who's yours life.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
That's could very well be and I hope they do that, Okay,
And obviously I think the way that's going to line
up by the time we come back, the session will
start or be about to start, so we'll get into
all of that. And obviously there's a long time betun
as we're putting our final episode together of the year,
taving this in the middle of December and when the
actual January starts. Okay, so before we go, we'll do
(26:35):
a bold prediction here and we'll get We'll head into
twenty six with this as we do our final show,
Lord Willing will still all be here doing State House
happenings at the end of twenty twenty six. Really well,
the most likely reason is I'm not here anymore.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
But all that being.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Said, will Diego Morales be the Secretary of State at
the end of twenty twenty six going into twenty seven?
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Aka?
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Will he get re elected not only out of a
convention but against whatever whoever the Democrat is in the fall?
Speaker 3 (27:04):
I will argue that Diego Morales will be Secretary State
at the end of twenty six, but not at the
beginning of twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
So he will Okay, so he will make it to
the end of twenty six, but he will not win
reelection exactly.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
Very good, Jim mayor.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Diego will be re elected. He'll be Secretary of State
in twenty twenty seven. Indiana is still a Republican state.
Outside are the ears of Central Indiana that listen to this.
He still is a rock star in Republican Meetings, Lincoln
Day Dinners, and he will he will win reelection.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
All right, I want to close by thinking, you guys,
another fabulous year.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Look.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
I love the Kendalling Casey Show and that we do
nine to noon every day on WIBC ninety three point
one in Indianapolis. And I say this, and maybe it's
because I only get to do it once a week,
but I think State House Happenings may be my favorite
thing I do each week in terms of media. And
it's because you guys. I love you and thank you
for another great year, wonderful.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
The place was all yours.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
I'm doctor Jim Dalton, President and CEO of Daymar. Daymar
is a critical resource for thousands of people in Central Indiana,
and it takes people like you to give them hope.
With over thirteen hundred employees and hundreds of volunteers, Daymar
is always looking for people to come aboard. Whether it's
a career or simply donating your time. There's a place
for you here at Daymar. Learn more about our mission
(28:21):
at daymar dot org.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
At the Honeysuckle Hill bestro In Cottage located off I
seventy in beautiful Brazil, less than an hour from downtown Indianapolis.
Their specialty is Hoo's your comfort food like Grandma used
to make, and just like Grandma's house. Their goal is
for you to leave more at peace than when you
came in. The Honeysuckle Hill bestro In Cottage feature some
of the best made from scratch food in the state,
(28:43):
and their chicken and pork is raised right here in Indiana.
The Honeysuckle Hill bestro In Cottage is open five to
eight Friday and Saturday and Sunday, featuring their incredible breakfast
buffet from eleven to two. For more information call eight
one two four four three three zero zero three SEEA's Happenings.
Also wants to thank our fine friends at Freedom Foods Indiana.
Farmer Ryan Schleiman and the folks at Freedom Foods Indiana
(29:06):
have been delivering fresh fruits and vegetables right to people's
doors for years, and Freedom Foods Indiana is a big
supporter of State House Happenings. Now, Freedom Foods Indiana has
some big things coming. We can't wait to tell you
all about it in the near future. Right now, though,
we just want to say thanks to our friends at
Freedom Foods Indiana for supporting State House Happenings. Rob Kendall,
Duel Keeps Shabaz, Jim Merritt the program State House Happenings
(29:27):
your weekly look at what's going on with Indiana politics
and government. You can find Jim Merritt on Twitter at
Jim Underscore Merit at Jim Underscore merit Abduel on Twitter
at at TYB Duel at at Tyb Duel, me him
on Twitter at Robim Kendall at Robim Kendall. I want
to thank each of you who have joined us in
twenty twenty five. Well look forward to talking to you
twenty twenty six. For Duel Keeps, Jaba's or Jim Merritt,
I'm Rob Kendall. You've been listening to the State House Happenings.
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