October 22, 2025 • 29 mins
The future of utility bills could hang in the balance with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission set to appoint three new members. Luckily for Statehouse Happenings, we got a guy! Our own panelist Jim Merritt serves on the committee making the recommendations to the governor. On this week's program, Rob Kendall and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz join Merritt to discuss what he and the panel are looking for in from applicants.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
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 as 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 Bestrow 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 Statehouse Happenings also wants to thank our fine
friends at Freedom Foods Indiana. Farmer Ryan Schleman and the
(01:08):
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 Goole keeps your bas Jim Merritt.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
The program is State House Happenings, your weekly look at
what's going on with Indiana politics and government. I was
gonna do some big teas and thenized, we don't do
that on this shows.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
The other show where we do that, we just give
you the facts.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Here on this program, let's meet the award winning panel
thirty Years of the Indiana. So I was gonna do
some big intro for you, because well, the fate of
humanity rests in your hands. Now it's Jim Merritt. Hello,
Robert and you know him as the owner operator of
Indiepolitics dot org.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Dull keeps your baz.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Hello, So, Jim, if the finish man is in your hands,
you're not butterfingers, are you?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Well?
Speaker 5 (02:02):
I got no more sticky than.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
I got what show I was doing?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Confused?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I thought we were gonna do the Kennel and Casey
show first, But then we're doing this show all right?
So the the big news came out what this would
have been two days ago? Now that the i u
r C. What are you guys called the nominating committee? Yes,
we are regulating. Yeah, the i u r C, the
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissions Nominating Committee.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Correct, very good, thank you.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
And I've been on it since twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
I thought you're gonna say, it's like nineteen seventy five,
they'll do with this fire you have. You have narrowed
it down to twenty two people who will be interviewed
to decide who the new commissioners will be. Now, we
generally assume that people listening to this program a little
more in tuned to Indiana politics and government than your
rank and file or normal run of the mill person.
(02:51):
But just in case people don't know the i u
r C, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, is the group
that oversees It's an appointed body. What's five members, right, correct,
and they oversee pretty much all things related to utilities,
correct in the state of Indiana, including and most prominent
right now, it's many other things, but the approval.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Of rate increases.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
That's exactly right, all right, And so they are about
to be three openings for this committee. One of these
people has to be a Republican.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yes, one of these people now here was there was.
It doesn't have to be a Democrat.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
It could be a libertarian, right, yes, it could be
they call minority non Republican, yeah, minority party, yes, yes,
And then you'll you'll pick these two people, and then
you're gonna pick a new chairman who, let's say that's
gonna be a Republican.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
Well, the government governor will pick the.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Ch Yeah, you're gonna I'm sorry, yes, let me rephrase that.
You're going to nominate somebody, and then the governor will
make say, yes, sir.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
We're going to nominate three people for three positions. So
nine of the twenty two will be nominated to the
governor for his selection.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So you will actually nominate three people for each position,
and then he's got to pick one of them. Yes,
So you're not just gonna say, here's here's nine people, Yeah,
pick the three U one like, no, this one's this position.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
This is very much similar to how the state Supreme
Court is picked, in which there's a committee, they pick
three judges, they give them to the governor and they say,
please pick one of these people. Okay, very good. All right,
so you're on this committee I am that nominates. Twenty
two names have been revealed. You'll interview these people. Let's
start with this. Is there a misconception from the plot
(04:32):
because the governor has come out and said, well, and
I'm not quoting a verbatim, but basically I'm trying to
paraphrase what he's saying here or you know, caps you know,
simplify what he's saying. Oh, we've had enough, right increases.
I want somebody that's on the side of the rate payer.
Those days are over. However, you need a Capitol Chronicle
did a good job of reporting that the actual charge
(04:54):
of the commission is to be neither on.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
The side of the rate pay nor the utility.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
But basically being on.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
We also have the Office of Utility Commissioner. Uh you did,
o UCC, Office of Utility councilor Consumer councilor's right and
so uh and Abi Gray, who's the new appointee from
a governor from Governor Braun, has come out against the
(05:21):
as rate case. And so you have that sitting there.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
For those not familiar as as a major electric provider
in central the.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
Former Indianapolis Parker Power Light. And so you have this
whole it's it's somebody might say, delicious collision in the
public domain of the ir C and the o u
c C. And I've participated in this in the last
thirty five years of building this process, making as public
(05:54):
as possible in the in the last couple of times
that we have met since twenty twenty, we've actually encouraged,
had to encourage people to apply, pulling people off the street,
Abdul and and so.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yeah, then thanks to our show, everybody found out it
pays one hundred and fifty grand and all. Now you
turn the people away left and right.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
Well, you know that is right. This this it robs rob.
You can scratch your own back on this, and you too, Abduall. No,
one's really known this has gone on, and uh what
to say?
Speaker 4 (06:30):
The web side of that is though, if you're on
the Utility Commission, you cannot have outside employment.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
That's exactly, yeah, because there are strict rules.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Oh so this is your job?
Speaker 5 (06:41):
Yes, oh yes, the thing is is I think Pervoni
Pervani Stover, who is the chief staff for Susie Jeffrodowski,
the Energy UH Secretary, has had to spend most of
her time last couple of weeks telling people exactly what
this job is. Ladies, No one knows, ladies and gentlemen,
(07:04):
this is the cave. This the i U r C.
Is a place that you go and you.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Thought that you're gonna say to die.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
No, just no, the livy will envy the dead. No, no,
but but but it does shine light on something that
impacts everybody. And I tell people this is the meat
and potatoes of governing. You no, the Todd raket to
the diego morales, that's that's kind of that's kind of
fun to sort of, you know, pontificate. But this is
the stuff that this is brass tacks. This is what
really impacts people, like who are you know, the people
(07:35):
on the commission? You know what rates are going to
be up, because rates are going up regardless. I firmly
believe that the question is how much or how much
of the rate's going to go on?
Speaker 5 (07:42):
They always go up.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Well, It's funny because when I was elect the public office,
I had all these big ideas, and a veteran local
elected official said, well, that's really cute.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
And that's some of these ideas are really good.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
But what you'll find is the most important stuff is
the most boring stuff that you're not gonna get any
credit for, and and the local papers or radio stations
are gonna cover it. But it's things like uh, water sewer,
you know those sorts of things.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
Oh well they're famous now yeah, well yeah, but I
mean that's like but that's what I'm saying, That's what
you're sort of saying here, a duel is this is
the stuff that actually decides how much people pay, how
they're the most direct impact on their lives.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Where the diego find Morales Secretary of State finds one
illegal person voting in the entire state that has no
impact on you whatsoever, this actually affects everyone.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Absolutely, and you know some selacious is probably the wrong term,
but we probably won't talk about the ie rec uh
and in the coming years because it is so quiet.
And you know when when someone made a comment about
about our taking the now numbers down from forty seven
to twenty two in private, well you when you were
(08:55):
on your board, on your commission, or on your on
your town what do you serve on the town councils
down the town council you met in.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Cut property taxes eighteen and a half percent in four years.
You guys should have tried.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
That in the state.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Would have been more hack. Yeah, most of your says
values went up too, because a lot of people are
told because this is a good job.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Anyway, go ahead.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
With warehouse Burg. We you know we you met in
executive session, that's right, yes, And what we had to
do with the forty seven and it was enormous to
us to get through forty seven resumes in two hours
is taken down to something manageable with twenty two. And
as well as the fact that these individuals whoever we pick,
(09:38):
whoever the nine individuals, we suggest to the governor they
have to take over on day one, day one and
start looking at this as case. Because just because the
mayor came out and said, this is what I want.
This body has to make a decision on the residence
of Indianapolis and who who as serves uh and and
(10:02):
make a decision relatively quickly. It impacts everybody. And it's
something that uh uh, we don't want the governor. We
when we formed all this, the last thirty five years,
this process, we didn't want the governor to be able
to fill each of these spots. And and uh and
in this body, this Nominating Commission Committee that I'm on,
(10:24):
has to uh look at number one, the the temperament
that if you're it's almost like a judge, and as
well as the reason of it. And and we and
you have to listen to all comers, meaning the environmentalists
and the rape.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Page but has but Jim has a point.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
You'll probably say it better.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
It's like being a judge. You you take you know,
people from all walks of life, and you got to
put your personal opinions aside. And then what does the
law say? What is the fact? Now this doesn't mean
you operate in a vacuum. Somebody's lying. You can pretty
much tell no.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
You'd like to have an engineer, you'd like to have
a lawyer, you like to have a small businessman, you
like to have somebody that actually pays rates. You want
this body to be as diverse as possible, so you
have the very best you.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Want diversity of experiences. Well, yeah, and I because some
people were critical that. So you guys got forty seven applications,
you've narrowed it down to twenty two. Yes, you did
that discussion mostly in private. That's what I told people
and said, Look, I have no problem with this because
you've got to be able to freely discuss essentially personnel.
Gotta be able to do that. But the interviews are
going to be public, absolutely okay, and that's that's I
(11:35):
have no problem with any of that.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
And anybody wants to be bored, uh you know night, Yeah,
tune in and you know we're we're going to ask
some very difficult questions and and when is this is this? Yeah?
It is next week?
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Oh, next week, Yes, it's maybe we'll just cut off
the Kennel and Casey show and just go to the interview.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
You know, your ratings will just zoom down, like dude,
this is like c SPAN four on Sunday night.
Speaker 5 (12:00):
Yeah, it'll be Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday next week and
nine to five, and uh, we're virtually volunteers, and everybody
on that nominating committee, UH is giving time. You know.
I'm sure we're gonna get pretty em But I paid
for my parking.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
And so you know, real real quick. You told me
this the other day. I didn't mean cutch out, but
we gotta tell the story. You used for thirty years
in the Senate. Yes, when you laugh, they gave you
some sort of lifetime thank you award or something like that.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
Well, I, in fact, I used to be in charge
of getting the little eagles a little a little glass
eagle with my name on it.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Yeah, and they made you pay to park to go
get your own award.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
I did. I did pay for parking on the day
I was honored in the Senate.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Yeah, because Jim has always looked out for the taxpayers.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
And I have paid for my parking ever since.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
Okay, you know that was one of the perks of
the job being in state, said primus. You got you
got the park downtown and in the.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Flat lot, yes, in the flatt all the important people.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Yeah, that's why I love this place.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Okay, so your your gold on this show today, Jim,
because you're a part of this committee, tell us what
you're looking for from these candidates.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
I'm looking from these candidates to first of all, show
their knowledge of what the i r C actually does.
Number one two, that they have a reasonable personality the
characters there, that that you come from a walk of life,
that that understands rates, that understands the impact on commercial, industrial,
(13:37):
and residential. And but more importantly, that you have a
judicial you have this this temperament that you can be
balanced and you can weigh all comers and somebody that
is that doesn't care about that doesn't want to be public,
that can go into the i r C and make
a decision that is balanced, that is fair. That is
(14:00):
what I want.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Rob Kendall will gives your Baz.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Jim Merritt's program, State Ho's Happening is a weekly look
at what's going on with Indiana politics and government. I'm
sure we'll talk about this a lot more next week
with these interviews going on.
Speaker 5 (14:12):
Well, then the next week the pressure goes to Room
two O six the Governor's office, where where he will
have nine people or he will have nine suggestions to
take UH to UH take some idea on who he
wants to make rape policy uh in the coming years, and.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
I would, I would, I would one nominee in particular,
one possible name on the picto that I saw on
the list was Caroline May's Caroline Carolyn May's Uh, the
publisher of the Annapolis.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
Order, former former commission member, and a former commission member.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
So you can come back, Yes you be making don't
call it a comeback.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
Yes, yes, there there there are.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
She is African American and female.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
There are some very interesting candidates. Christina Hale, former state representative,
former congressitional candidate for former Lieutenant governor candidate Bright Lady Democrat.
And I think everybody needs to know, though, is that
there are the appointees to this nominating committee come from
the government's office, come from all Ford leaders, a Republican
(15:17):
and Democrat. It's it's a it's a very balanced committee,
and it's it's I believe this committee will come up
with some great candidates.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
One of the most incredible journeys I've witnessed 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 to
(15:49):
support our work. Visit Damar dot org to learn more.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Not only does the Honeysuckle Hill bestro In Cottage, located
less than an hour from downtown Indianapolis off Interstate seventeen
Beautiful Zi 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.
(16:16):
Reservations preferred, but not required. The Honeysuckle Hill bestro In
Cottages 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
(16:37):
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 (16:58):
Well, now I'll have to do.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
The end again, Rob Kendall, do keep Jabos Demero trying
to get to the next topic. And then you guys
went back to the old topic. So we'll just our
our lovely announcements from our fabulous sponsors will play right there.
It's State House happenings. Okay, we got to get the
things other than utilities. And the big thing this weekend
was this no Kings protest.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
And do all start with you.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Here's what I said, impressive showing lots of people, but
the people yet speaking and the lack of a coherent,
consistent message. You're just not changing anybody's mind. And then
we'll get to the expert, Jim Merritt, because you heard
protests for years.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Look, a lot of.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
People, a lot of people, a lot of angry people.
I get it, but I already knew you were out
there in the state of seven million people. I already
knew there were seven thousand really angry people. I just
don't think it changes anything.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
You see. I think it does. And here's why I
think I think it does, because it took me back
when I saw the kind of monitored the protests online.
It's like, no, what this takes me back to two
thousand and seven doing the property tax you know, first proprotecture,
both have got Greg Ballad elected. When a thousand people
showed up on Monument Circle in the summertime, we're an
(18:08):
all black, like ninety degree weather. And this is this
is before Facebook, before you know Evi's before the whole thing,
when the when the internet was in, It's when the
social media was in its early stages. This is basically
a couple of blogs and word of mouth. Like, if
you've got a thousand people on Monument Circle, something is
about to happen here. And I saw the same parallels
that with the No No Kings protests here in Indiana,
(18:28):
particularly here in Indianapolis. Like they don't ness, they don't
necessarily have a coherent mester where they're all mad about something. Well, no,
no no.
Speaker 6 (18:38):
No.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
The thing is, though, every mob needs a leader, and
you find the right But when you find the right
person who taps into that, you're gonna have something. And
when and I looked at you know something like they're
being paid or blah blah blah blahh good, like know what,
it doesn't matter. They're mad and they're ticked off, and
once they get organized, somebody's gonna feel something.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah, but I been mad, Okay, Jim, I've been mad
and ticked off for years. We put a thousand people
in the state House with the governor and Lieutenant governor
as our featured speakers.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
And you know what the General Assembly did with that?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
They wiped their butt cheeks with it, like I'm sorry
Destiny Wells and Andrea Hunley and Caddy Fatty Cadora like
that's ok, that's like a move anybody.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Well, I do disagree with my friend Abdul. I think
I love it when you well, if you remember back then,
uh that that uh, their their goal back then was
was was Mayor Pearson, but I think he he added
on the council added on that increase, yes, and they
(19:43):
left they left people out in the heat outside the
city County building, and and they had feeling to it,
they had a goal and also time was not not
on whoever was on the other side the elections. Right
then I looked, I look at the No Kings being
a thud. There's no there's no gelling to a part
(20:05):
of what what what is their goal? And there's no
election this year. Uh they made it made and made
an impression on you. They made impression on other people.
But but there's no there there you see.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
But here's where's what I got to push back plot
with my good friend mister Mary. Yeah, let us go
not being nice about it. I'm like bugs up with
the brick and.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Glove and slap every I'm just sitting back in my
chair with my feet.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Put your velvet glove on.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Because here's my thing. If you, if you the No
King's rally is in the context of everything else that's happened.
You got the redistricting things that people are mad about,
got the health care thing that people are mad about,
and everybody's angry and they're gonna take that anger out
on somebody. And that's why I think if you're an
uncomment right now, you're you need to need to be
(20:51):
worrying now. Granted, you're absolutely right. When when we had
the proper tax protest was bubble for election, they decided to, Hey,
want to raise taxes sixty five percent? And just you know,
how'd that work out for you?
Speaker 5 (21:02):
Right?
Speaker 4 (21:02):
But but I do think we're seeing this, we're seeing
the seeds right now that if the Bronn people do
not address what their issues are, it's not going to end.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
Well, I'll agree with you that the seeds are there.
It just depends if it's going to be if it's
going to be nourished or not, or is that soil
around those needs and those those seeds going to it
happens what happens next? Now, if it if the thuds,
you know, kysh it's a year before the twenty twenty
sixth election.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
And and who are they going to before the primary?
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Who are they going to take it out of? Yeah,
that's the question. And and I that's with with your
with your protests in the state House and all the
noise you made, uh and and obviously it didn't affect
the legislature that much, but we still yeah, but we
still talk about it, and and it just depends on
(21:54):
what happens next.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
Because if you think about it, the proper text protest
was from the right, but no, King's protest is from
the lefts So you're kind of ticking off, sure, and
you're right out of room in the middle.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Well, so let's let's I want to get two things
before we go.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
One. Braun has now said you gotta have a decision
on redistricting by mid November or it's too late. I
still maintain they're setting it up for Org Day like
he knows what he's doing at this point.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Yeah, I mean it's why he's where instances pressure is
coming from the Senate that they don't want to do it.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
And the other part of the other part of thing too,
is the other reason we said November. It's got Supreme
Court decisions come out in October. Yeah, and they desert
at the redistricting issue.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
And louis Well, they gotta get this thing done because
they got they have a filing deadline and they gotta
let the courts act.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
And I still believe, well, wait, wait, Supreme Court June
is when they come out. They just heard the Louisiana case. Yeah,
but usual the dis come out in October.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
No, they come out in June.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
No, they Supreme Court can speak in October on case.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Well, they can't, but don't normally don't all the big cases, don't.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
They normally at the end of June. That's when they
when the big cases are. But they still they can.
They can speak at anything, sure, but October is a
point in time where they can speak.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, okay, okay, so you guys do you guys, Just
to get on the record here, there will or will
not be a special session.
Speaker 5 (23:11):
I don't know a special session. I think they'll use
ORG Day for a tool to get this done. Yet
I believe they will redistrict.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
Okay, and you I believe they will redistrict and the
redistion will be I'll put on whole very good, okay, hurt, Yeah, okay,
very good. All right.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
So the last thing I wanted to get to today
because sort of I think you guys are right these
the redistrict thing is part of the no kings.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Not that I agree with it, no, no, no, no,
I just I asked you whether you thought that would happen.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
The the other thing that is the heart of this
is this is the last chance for the Democrats. Can
we all agree this is the last chance for the
Democrats with bow Bye, Like, if they can't win with
him with all the money that he's raising, bow Bye
son of Evan By, former governor, senator. We all know
that birch By, former grandson of birch By, former senator,
(23:57):
if they can't win with him, because he's raising a
gagillia dollars. He looks straight out of Central Casting. His
life is probably the like he is probably the squeakiest,
cleanest person imaginable, and he's running against the worst person
there well could be running against the worst person the
Republicans could possibly run. You talk about the sort of
(24:18):
what you mentioned, which is the left is ticked off,
right is ticked off? Is bo Bay the guy that
could be the biggest beneficiary of all this because he's
palatable enough that the Republicans could go cam done with
the corrup should I'm done with this, I'll vote for
this guy.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
And obviously the left.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
One and the other thing to keep in mind too, Yeah,
twenty six is that odd year where there is no
governor's race, is no USN and racerails and PRESENTI race.
So what's at the top of the ticket. The Secretary
of State right and over here at six one and
one hundred and eighty five pounds, goo bye, and over
here at four twelve and ninety four pounds. If you
win is a man from Guatemala, Diego Morales.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
That's a that's a heck of a intro there, Michael Butler.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
But Robert, you asked a question, Is this the last
gasp of a statewide Democrat to win? Yes? Yeah, yes,
they have no future. And I still believe that it's
gonna be very difficult for young buy to win.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
I had him on our show Friday, and I will
say the following things. He's got a ways to go,
but he will get much better. And when I say
get much better, it's not like he's making horrible gas
now letting James Briggs write an article from his house
that had no furniture in it.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
That was dumb.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Oh but James Briggs of Indie Star. But I'm saying
in terms of the way he articulates. And it's very
clear they are going to run almost exclusively on the
corruption of Diego Morales, or what they're gonna let you
with is the corruption of Diego Morales and the Republican
parties sort of do nothing approach to him. I think
that'd be has become very clear that Diego's behavior is
(25:54):
going to be this central theme of everything.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
And I can see, I can tell you right now
what this logan is going to be.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Had enough well that that's the thing, is what they'll
put out about him, and the amount of money they'll
have to do it, and it's they're going to, I think,
try to indict the entire Republican Party as part of Diego,
Like you cannot separate Diego from the people that are
calling the shots.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
And this is well, Diegols was taking trimps to India.
What did Rod Bray say exactly? What did Todd Houston say?
Where was Mike Braun, Where was Michael Beckwith? They've all
been silent. We're not gonna be silent anymore.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Well don't.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
I wouldn't be surprised at all because we've been very
critical of Micah With going to the NBA Finals with
a high profile known Felon. Don't forget Diego was in
that photo too, right, and Diego's got ties to this
guy too, And so like I'm saying all of that stuff,
I can't wait for this election because it is gonna.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Be nasty beyond belief. And I'm with you. I think
this is it for the Democrats, and I think they
know it, and they're gonna put all the chips in.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
I'm trying to get this kid elected absolutely and young
by it works towards has to work towards that TikTok
versus being a serious candidate and and wearing his sweatshirt.
Uh is a kid? Look at a kid? Look maybe
a blue sport coat on the on the whole time
they have they have to put him out there as
(27:15):
a serious candidate, but still a candidate for this generation.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
He represents and the perfect candidate. Look at is what's
his face? Is running for mayor of New York City?
Who does all? Who does you? Mad? It with his politics?
But the guy's like really good, yes at TikTok And
he's in social media and having a sense of humor
but still being serious.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Yeah, I look, I think it's a very I mean,
we got John Mellencamp giving you money. I mean not
that that's some sort of end all be all, but
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
Money is not gonna be a problem. And it's the
mother's milk of politics. And he will have plenty and
and it all goes back to money.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Money is the crack, cocaine or fitanl politics.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Program.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
Today, Bill gives you Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
I'm doctor Jim Dalton, President 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
(28:19):
at daymar dot org.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
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,
(28:41):
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.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
From eleven to two.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
For more information call eight one two four four three
three zero zero three see How's Happenings. Also wants to
thank our fine friends at Freedom Foods Indiana. Former Ryan
Schleiman and 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
(29:13):
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 (29:23):
Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, if Gool Keepshabaz.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
The program at State House Happening is your weekly look
at what's going on with Indiana politics and government.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
You can find a Duel on Twitter at at TYB
Duel at at TYB Duel.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Jim Merritt on Twitter at Jim Underscore Merit Jim Underscore
Merit meam on Twitter at robim Kendall at Robim Kendall.
You can hear me weekdays, nine until noon The Kendell
and Casey Show, a ninety three point one wib C.
That's going to do it for us this week for
Jim Merrit fro Abdula keeps you ba's I'm Rob Kendall.
You've been listening to 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 as 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 Bestrow 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 Statehouse Happenings also wants to thank our fine
friends at Freedom Foods Indiana. Farmer Ryan Schleman and the
(01:08):
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 Goole keeps your bas Jim Merritt.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
The program is State House Happenings, your weekly look at
what's going on with Indiana politics and government. I was
gonna do some big teas and thenized, we don't do
that on this shows.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
The other show where we do that, we just give
you the facts.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Here on this program, let's meet the award winning panel
thirty Years of the Indiana. So I was gonna do
some big intro for you, because well, the fate of
humanity rests in your hands. Now it's Jim Merritt. Hello,
Robert and you know him as the owner operator of
Indiepolitics dot org.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Dull keeps your baz.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Hello, So, Jim, if the finish man is in your hands,
you're not butterfingers, are you?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Well?
Speaker 5 (02:02):
I got no more sticky than.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
I got what show I was doing?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Confused?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I thought we were gonna do the Kennel and Casey
show first, But then we're doing this show all right?
So the the big news came out what this would
have been two days ago? Now that the i u
r C. What are you guys called the nominating committee? Yes,
we are regulating. Yeah, the i u r C, the
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissions Nominating Committee.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Correct, very good, thank you.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
And I've been on it since twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
I thought you're gonna say, it's like nineteen seventy five,
they'll do with this fire you have. You have narrowed
it down to twenty two people who will be interviewed
to decide who the new commissioners will be. Now, we
generally assume that people listening to this program a little
more in tuned to Indiana politics and government than your
rank and file or normal run of the mill person.
(02:51):
But just in case people don't know the i u
r C, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, is the group
that oversees It's an appointed body. What's five members, right, correct,
and they oversee pretty much all things related to utilities,
correct in the state of Indiana, including and most prominent
right now, it's many other things, but the approval.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Of rate increases.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
That's exactly right, all right, And so they are about
to be three openings for this committee. One of these
people has to be a Republican.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yes, one of these people now here was there was.
It doesn't have to be a Democrat.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
It could be a libertarian, right, yes, it could be
they call minority non Republican, yeah, minority party, yes, yes,
And then you'll you'll pick these two people, and then
you're gonna pick a new chairman who, let's say that's
gonna be a Republican.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
Well, the government governor will pick the.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Ch Yeah, you're gonna I'm sorry, yes, let me rephrase that.
You're going to nominate somebody, and then the governor will
make say, yes, sir.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
We're going to nominate three people for three positions. So
nine of the twenty two will be nominated to the
governor for his selection.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So you will actually nominate three people for each position,
and then he's got to pick one of them. Yes,
So you're not just gonna say, here's here's nine people, Yeah,
pick the three U one like, no, this one's this position.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
This is very much similar to how the state Supreme
Court is picked, in which there's a committee, they pick
three judges, they give them to the governor and they say,
please pick one of these people. Okay, very good. All right,
so you're on this committee I am that nominates. Twenty
two names have been revealed. You'll interview these people. Let's
start with this. Is there a misconception from the plot
(04:32):
because the governor has come out and said, well, and
I'm not quoting a verbatim, but basically I'm trying to
paraphrase what he's saying here or you know, caps you know,
simplify what he's saying. Oh, we've had enough, right increases.
I want somebody that's on the side of the rate payer.
Those days are over. However, you need a Capitol Chronicle
did a good job of reporting that the actual charge
(04:54):
of the commission is to be neither on.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
The side of the rate pay nor the utility.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
But basically being on.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
We also have the Office of Utility Commissioner. Uh you did,
o UCC, Office of Utility councilor Consumer councilor's right and
so uh and Abi Gray, who's the new appointee from
a governor from Governor Braun, has come out against the
(05:21):
as rate case. And so you have that sitting there.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
For those not familiar as as a major electric provider
in central the.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
Former Indianapolis Parker Power Light. And so you have this
whole it's it's somebody might say, delicious collision in the
public domain of the ir C and the o u
c C. And I've participated in this in the last
thirty five years of building this process, making as public
(05:54):
as possible in the in the last couple of times
that we have met since twenty twenty, we've actually encouraged,
had to encourage people to apply, pulling people off the street,
Abdul and and so.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yeah, then thanks to our show, everybody found out it
pays one hundred and fifty grand and all. Now you
turn the people away left and right.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
Well, you know that is right. This this it robs rob.
You can scratch your own back on this, and you too, Abduall. No,
one's really known this has gone on, and uh what
to say?
Speaker 4 (06:30):
The web side of that is though, if you're on
the Utility Commission, you cannot have outside employment.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
That's exactly, yeah, because there are strict rules.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Oh so this is your job?
Speaker 5 (06:41):
Yes, oh yes, the thing is is I think Pervoni
Pervani Stover, who is the chief staff for Susie Jeffrodowski,
the Energy UH Secretary, has had to spend most of
her time last couple of weeks telling people exactly what
this job is. Ladies, No one knows, ladies and gentlemen,
(07:04):
this is the cave. This the i U r C.
Is a place that you go and you.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Thought that you're gonna say to die.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
No, just no, the livy will envy the dead. No, no,
but but but it does shine light on something that
impacts everybody. And I tell people this is the meat
and potatoes of governing. You no, the Todd raket to
the diego morales, that's that's kind of that's kind of
fun to sort of, you know, pontificate. But this is
the stuff that this is brass tacks. This is what
really impacts people, like who are you know, the people
(07:35):
on the commission? You know what rates are going to
be up, because rates are going up regardless. I firmly
believe that the question is how much or how much
of the rate's going to go on?
Speaker 5 (07:42):
They always go up.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Well, It's funny because when I was elect the public office,
I had all these big ideas, and a veteran local
elected official said, well, that's really cute.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
And that's some of these ideas are really good.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
But what you'll find is the most important stuff is
the most boring stuff that you're not gonna get any
credit for, and and the local papers or radio stations
are gonna cover it. But it's things like uh, water sewer,
you know those sorts of things.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
Oh well they're famous now yeah, well yeah, but I
mean that's like but that's what I'm saying, That's what
you're sort of saying here, a duel is this is
the stuff that actually decides how much people pay, how
they're the most direct impact on their lives.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Where the diego find Morales Secretary of State finds one
illegal person voting in the entire state that has no
impact on you whatsoever, this actually affects everyone.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Absolutely, and you know some selacious is probably the wrong term,
but we probably won't talk about the ie rec uh
and in the coming years because it is so quiet.
And you know when when someone made a comment about
about our taking the now numbers down from forty seven
to twenty two in private, well you when you were
(08:55):
on your board, on your commission, or on your on
your town what do you serve on the town councils
down the town council you met in.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Cut property taxes eighteen and a half percent in four years.
You guys should have tried.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
That in the state.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Would have been more hack. Yeah, most of your says
values went up too, because a lot of people are
told because this is a good job.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Anyway, go ahead.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
With warehouse Burg. We you know we you met in
executive session, that's right, yes, And what we had to
do with the forty seven and it was enormous to
us to get through forty seven resumes in two hours
is taken down to something manageable with twenty two. And
as well as the fact that these individuals whoever we pick,
(09:38):
whoever the nine individuals, we suggest to the governor they
have to take over on day one, day one and
start looking at this as case. Because just because the
mayor came out and said, this is what I want.
This body has to make a decision on the residence
of Indianapolis and who who as serves uh and and
(10:02):
make a decision relatively quickly. It impacts everybody. And it's
something that uh uh, we don't want the governor. We
when we formed all this, the last thirty five years,
this process, we didn't want the governor to be able
to fill each of these spots. And and uh and
in this body, this Nominating Commission Committee that I'm on,
(10:24):
has to uh look at number one, the the temperament
that if you're it's almost like a judge, and as
well as the reason of it. And and we and
you have to listen to all comers, meaning the environmentalists
and the rape.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Page but has but Jim has a point.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
You'll probably say it better.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
It's like being a judge. You you take you know,
people from all walks of life, and you got to
put your personal opinions aside. And then what does the
law say? What is the fact? Now this doesn't mean
you operate in a vacuum. Somebody's lying. You can pretty
much tell no.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
You'd like to have an engineer, you'd like to have
a lawyer, you like to have a small businessman, you
like to have somebody that actually pays rates. You want
this body to be as diverse as possible, so you
have the very best you.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Want diversity of experiences. Well, yeah, and I because some
people were critical that. So you guys got forty seven applications,
you've narrowed it down to twenty two. Yes, you did
that discussion mostly in private. That's what I told people
and said, Look, I have no problem with this because
you've got to be able to freely discuss essentially personnel.
Gotta be able to do that. But the interviews are
going to be public, absolutely okay, and that's that's I
(11:35):
have no problem with any of that.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
And anybody wants to be bored, uh you know night, Yeah,
tune in and you know we're we're going to ask
some very difficult questions and and when is this is this? Yeah?
It is next week?
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Oh, next week, Yes, it's maybe we'll just cut off
the Kennel and Casey show and just go to the interview.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
You know, your ratings will just zoom down, like dude,
this is like c SPAN four on Sunday night.
Speaker 5 (12:00):
Yeah, it'll be Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday next week and
nine to five, and uh, we're virtually volunteers, and everybody
on that nominating committee, UH is giving time. You know.
I'm sure we're gonna get pretty em But I paid
for my parking.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
And so you know, real real quick. You told me
this the other day. I didn't mean cutch out, but
we gotta tell the story. You used for thirty years
in the Senate. Yes, when you laugh, they gave you
some sort of lifetime thank you award or something like that.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
Well, I, in fact, I used to be in charge
of getting the little eagles a little a little glass
eagle with my name on it.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Yeah, and they made you pay to park to go
get your own award.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
I did. I did pay for parking on the day
I was honored in the Senate.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Yeah, because Jim has always looked out for the taxpayers.
Speaker 5 (12:48):
And I have paid for my parking ever since.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
Okay, you know that was one of the perks of
the job being in state, said primus. You got you
got the park downtown and in the.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Flat lot, yes, in the flatt all the important people.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Yeah, that's why I love this place.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Okay, so your your gold on this show today, Jim,
because you're a part of this committee, tell us what
you're looking for from these candidates.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
I'm looking from these candidates to first of all, show
their knowledge of what the i r C actually does.
Number one two, that they have a reasonable personality the
characters there, that that you come from a walk of life,
that that understands rates, that understands the impact on commercial, industrial,
(13:37):
and residential. And but more importantly, that you have a
judicial you have this this temperament that you can be
balanced and you can weigh all comers and somebody that
is that doesn't care about that doesn't want to be public,
that can go into the i r C and make
a decision that is balanced, that is fair. That is
(14:00):
what I want.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Rob Kendall will gives your Baz.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Jim Merritt's program, State Ho's Happening is a weekly look
at what's going on with Indiana politics and government. I'm
sure we'll talk about this a lot more next week
with these interviews going on.
Speaker 5 (14:12):
Well, then the next week the pressure goes to Room
two O six the Governor's office, where where he will
have nine people or he will have nine suggestions to
take UH to UH take some idea on who he
wants to make rape policy uh in the coming years, and.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
I would, I would, I would one nominee in particular,
one possible name on the picto that I saw on
the list was Caroline May's Caroline Carolyn May's Uh, the
publisher of the Annapolis.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
Order, former former commission member, and a former commission member.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
So you can come back, Yes you be making don't
call it a comeback.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
Yes, yes, there there there are.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
She is African American and female.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
There are some very interesting candidates. Christina Hale, former state representative,
former congressitional candidate for former Lieutenant governor candidate Bright Lady Democrat.
And I think everybody needs to know, though, is that
there are the appointees to this nominating committee come from
the government's office, come from all Ford leaders, a Republican
(15:17):
and Democrat. It's it's a it's a very balanced committee,
and it's it's I believe this committee will come up
with some great candidates.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
One of the most incredible journeys I've witnessed 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 to
(15:49):
support our work. Visit Damar dot org to learn more.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Not only does the Honeysuckle Hill bestro In Cottage, located
less than an hour from downtown Indianapolis off Interstate seventeen
Beautiful Zi 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.
(16:16):
Reservations preferred, but not required. The Honeysuckle Hill bestro In
Cottages 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
(16:37):
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 (16:58):
Well, now I'll have to do.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
The end again, Rob Kendall, do keep Jabos Demero trying
to get to the next topic. And then you guys
went back to the old topic. So we'll just our
our lovely announcements from our fabulous sponsors will play right there.
It's State House happenings. Okay, we got to get the
things other than utilities. And the big thing this weekend
was this no Kings protest.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
And do all start with you.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Here's what I said, impressive showing lots of people, but
the people yet speaking and the lack of a coherent,
consistent message. You're just not changing anybody's mind. And then
we'll get to the expert, Jim Merritt, because you heard
protests for years.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Look, a lot of.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
People, a lot of people, a lot of angry people.
I get it, but I already knew you were out
there in the state of seven million people. I already
knew there were seven thousand really angry people. I just
don't think it changes anything.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
You see. I think it does. And here's why I
think I think it does, because it took me back
when I saw the kind of monitored the protests online.
It's like, no, what this takes me back to two
thousand and seven doing the property tax you know, first proprotecture,
both have got Greg Ballad elected. When a thousand people
showed up on Monument Circle in the summertime, we're an
(18:08):
all black, like ninety degree weather. And this is this
is before Facebook, before you know Evi's before the whole thing,
when the when the internet was in, It's when the
social media was in its early stages. This is basically
a couple of blogs and word of mouth. Like, if
you've got a thousand people on Monument Circle, something is
about to happen here. And I saw the same parallels
that with the No No Kings protests here in Indiana,
(18:28):
particularly here in Indianapolis. Like they don't ness, they don't
necessarily have a coherent mester where they're all mad about something. Well, no,
no no.
Speaker 6 (18:38):
No.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
The thing is, though, every mob needs a leader, and
you find the right But when you find the right
person who taps into that, you're gonna have something. And
when and I looked at you know something like they're
being paid or blah blah blah blahh good, like know what,
it doesn't matter. They're mad and they're ticked off, and
once they get organized, somebody's gonna feel something.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah, but I been mad, Okay, Jim, I've been mad
and ticked off for years. We put a thousand people
in the state House with the governor and Lieutenant governor
as our featured speakers.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
And you know what the General Assembly did with that?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
They wiped their butt cheeks with it, like I'm sorry
Destiny Wells and Andrea Hunley and Caddy Fatty Cadora like
that's ok, that's like a move anybody.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Well, I do disagree with my friend Abdul. I think
I love it when you well, if you remember back then,
uh that that uh, their their goal back then was
was was Mayor Pearson, but I think he he added
on the council added on that increase, yes, and they
(19:43):
left they left people out in the heat outside the
city County building, and and they had feeling to it,
they had a goal and also time was not not
on whoever was on the other side the elections. Right
then I looked, I look at the No Kings being
a thud. There's no there's no gelling to a part
(20:05):
of what what what is their goal? And there's no
election this year. Uh they made it made and made
an impression on you. They made impression on other people.
But but there's no there there you see.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
But here's where's what I got to push back plot
with my good friend mister Mary. Yeah, let us go
not being nice about it. I'm like bugs up with
the brick and.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Glove and slap every I'm just sitting back in my
chair with my feet.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Put your velvet glove on.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Because here's my thing. If you, if you the No
King's rally is in the context of everything else that's happened.
You got the redistricting things that people are mad about,
got the health care thing that people are mad about,
and everybody's angry and they're gonna take that anger out
on somebody. And that's why I think if you're an
uncomment right now, you're you need to need to be
(20:51):
worrying now. Granted, you're absolutely right. When when we had
the proper tax protest was bubble for election, they decided to, Hey,
want to raise taxes sixty five percent? And just you know,
how'd that work out for you?
Speaker 5 (21:02):
Right?
Speaker 4 (21:02):
But but I do think we're seeing this, we're seeing
the seeds right now that if the Bronn people do
not address what their issues are, it's not going to end.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
Well, I'll agree with you that the seeds are there.
It just depends if it's going to be if it's
going to be nourished or not, or is that soil
around those needs and those those seeds going to it
happens what happens next? Now, if it if the thuds,
you know, kysh it's a year before the twenty twenty
sixth election.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
And and who are they going to before the primary?
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Who are they going to take it out of? Yeah,
that's the question. And and I that's with with your
with your protests in the state House and all the
noise you made, uh and and obviously it didn't affect
the legislature that much, but we still yeah, but we
still talk about it, and and it just depends on
(21:54):
what happens next.
Speaker 4 (21:55):
Because if you think about it, the proper text protest
was from the right, but no, King's protest is from
the lefts So you're kind of ticking off, sure, and
you're right out of room in the middle.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Well, so let's let's I want to get two things
before we go.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
One. Braun has now said you gotta have a decision
on redistricting by mid November or it's too late. I
still maintain they're setting it up for Org Day like
he knows what he's doing at this point.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Yeah, I mean it's why he's where instances pressure is
coming from the Senate that they don't want to do it.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
And the other part of the other part of thing too,
is the other reason we said November. It's got Supreme
Court decisions come out in October. Yeah, and they desert
at the redistricting issue.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
And louis Well, they gotta get this thing done because
they got they have a filing deadline and they gotta
let the courts act.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
And I still believe, well, wait, wait, Supreme Court June
is when they come out. They just heard the Louisiana case. Yeah,
but usual the dis come out in October.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
No, they come out in June.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
No, they Supreme Court can speak in October on case.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Well, they can't, but don't normally don't all the big cases, don't.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
They normally at the end of June. That's when they
when the big cases are. But they still they can.
They can speak at anything, sure, but October is a
point in time where they can speak.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, okay, okay, so you guys do you guys, Just
to get on the record here, there will or will
not be a special session.
Speaker 5 (23:11):
I don't know a special session. I think they'll use
ORG Day for a tool to get this done. Yet
I believe they will redistrict.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
Okay, and you I believe they will redistrict and the
redistion will be I'll put on whole very good, okay, hurt, Yeah, okay,
very good. All right.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
So the last thing I wanted to get to today
because sort of I think you guys are right these
the redistrict thing is part of the no kings.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Not that I agree with it, no, no, no, no,
I just I asked you whether you thought that would happen.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
The the other thing that is the heart of this
is this is the last chance for the Democrats. Can
we all agree this is the last chance for the
Democrats with bow Bye, Like, if they can't win with
him with all the money that he's raising, bow Bye
son of Evan By, former governor, senator. We all know
that birch By, former grandson of birch By, former senator,
(23:57):
if they can't win with him, because he's raising a
gagillia dollars. He looks straight out of Central Casting. His
life is probably the like he is probably the squeakiest,
cleanest person imaginable, and he's running against the worst person
there well could be running against the worst person the
Republicans could possibly run. You talk about the sort of
(24:18):
what you mentioned, which is the left is ticked off,
right is ticked off? Is bo Bay the guy that
could be the biggest beneficiary of all this because he's
palatable enough that the Republicans could go cam done with
the corrup should I'm done with this, I'll vote for
this guy.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
And obviously the left.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
One and the other thing to keep in mind too, Yeah,
twenty six is that odd year where there is no
governor's race, is no USN and racerails and PRESENTI race.
So what's at the top of the ticket. The Secretary
of State right and over here at six one and
one hundred and eighty five pounds, goo bye, and over
here at four twelve and ninety four pounds. If you
win is a man from Guatemala, Diego Morales.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
That's a that's a heck of a intro there, Michael Butler.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
But Robert, you asked a question, Is this the last
gasp of a statewide Democrat to win? Yes? Yeah, yes,
they have no future. And I still believe that it's
gonna be very difficult for young buy to win.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
I had him on our show Friday, and I will
say the following things. He's got a ways to go,
but he will get much better. And when I say
get much better, it's not like he's making horrible gas
now letting James Briggs write an article from his house
that had no furniture in it.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
That was dumb.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Oh but James Briggs of Indie Star. But I'm saying
in terms of the way he articulates. And it's very
clear they are going to run almost exclusively on the
corruption of Diego Morales, or what they're gonna let you
with is the corruption of Diego Morales and the Republican
parties sort of do nothing approach to him. I think
that'd be has become very clear that Diego's behavior is
(25:54):
going to be this central theme of everything.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
And I can see, I can tell you right now
what this logan is going to be.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Had enough well that that's the thing, is what they'll
put out about him, and the amount of money they'll
have to do it, and it's they're going to, I think,
try to indict the entire Republican Party as part of Diego,
Like you cannot separate Diego from the people that are
calling the shots.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
And this is well, Diegols was taking trimps to India.
What did Rod Bray say exactly? What did Todd Houston say?
Where was Mike Braun, Where was Michael Beckwith? They've all
been silent. We're not gonna be silent anymore.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Well don't.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
I wouldn't be surprised at all because we've been very
critical of Micah With going to the NBA Finals with
a high profile known Felon. Don't forget Diego was in
that photo too, right, and Diego's got ties to this
guy too, And so like I'm saying all of that stuff,
I can't wait for this election because it is gonna.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Be nasty beyond belief. And I'm with you. I think
this is it for the Democrats, and I think they
know it, and they're gonna put all the chips in.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
I'm trying to get this kid elected absolutely and young
by it works towards has to work towards that TikTok
versus being a serious candidate and and wearing his sweatshirt.
Uh is a kid? Look at a kid? Look maybe
a blue sport coat on the on the whole time
they have they have to put him out there as
(27:15):
a serious candidate, but still a candidate for this generation.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
He represents and the perfect candidate. Look at is what's
his face? Is running for mayor of New York City?
Who does all? Who does you? Mad? It with his politics?
But the guy's like really good, yes at TikTok And
he's in social media and having a sense of humor
but still being serious.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Yeah, I look, I think it's a very I mean,
we got John Mellencamp giving you money. I mean not
that that's some sort of end all be all, but
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
Money is not gonna be a problem. And it's the
mother's milk of politics. And he will have plenty and
and it all goes back to money.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Money is the crack, cocaine or fitanl politics.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Program.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
Today, Bill gives you Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
I'm doctor Jim Dalton, President 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
(28:19):
at daymar dot org.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
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,
(28:41):
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.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
From eleven to two.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
For more information call eight one two four four three
three zero zero three see How's Happenings. Also wants to
thank our fine friends at Freedom Foods Indiana. Former Ryan
Schleiman and 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
(29:13):
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 (29:23):
Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, if Gool Keepshabaz.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
The program at State House Happening is your weekly look
at what's going on with Indiana politics and government.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
You can find a Duel on Twitter at at TYB
Duel at at TYB Duel.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Jim Merritt on Twitter at Jim Underscore Merit Jim Underscore
Merit meam on Twitter at robim Kendall at Robim Kendall.
You can hear me weekdays, nine until noon The Kendell
and Casey Show, a ninety three point one wib C.
That's going to do it for us this week for
Jim Merrit fro Abdula keeps you ba's I'm Rob Kendall.
You've been listening to State House happenings.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.