>>> AS DELTA HOPEFULLY PEAKS ANTI-MANDATE LEGISLATION STALLS.

JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, LAURA BISCHOFF, REPORTER FOR THE USA TODAY OHIO BUREAU, HERB ASHER, OSU POLITICAL SCIENTIST, AND GENE KREBS, FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR.

THE SPREAD OF COVID IS STILL NOT GOOD BUT ATLIGHTS NOT GETTING ANY WORSE.

IT APPEARS THAT THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT HAS PEAKED.

IT'S CLOSE TO WHERE IT WAS THREE WEEKS AGO.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE OF DAILY CASES, THEY'RE DOWN ABOUT 17%.

AS CASES RISE HOSPITALS ARE STILL FILLING UP.

>> FROM ONE YEAR AGO TO TODAY, ABOUT HALF OF THEM WELL PROTECTED BY VACCINATION, BUT DAILY HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE MORE THAN TRIPLE WHAT THEY WERE AVERAGING THIS TIME LAST YEAR AND THE REASON IS SIMPLE.

THE DELTA VARIANT IS AGGRESSIVY SEEKING OUT ANYONE WHO LACKS IMMUNITY AND IS MAKING THEM VERY SICK.

>> WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

BUT ARE HEALTH OFFICIALS STARTING TO GET MORE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE COULD BE ON THE DOWN SIDE OF THIS LATEST SURGE?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT REPORTS ACROSS THE NATION, THE NUMBER OF CASES -- NEW CASES HAS BEEN ON THE DOWN SLOPE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THE COUNTRY OBSESSED WITH SUMMER SURGE AND THE DECLINE HAS BEEN GENERALLY PRONOUNCED IN SOUTHERN STATES, WHICH HAD REALLY HIGH SPIKES, AND I THINK NATIONALLY, ABOUT 77.2% OF ADULTS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE SHOT OF THE VACCINATION, BUT IN OHIO, THE RATE IS ONLY 65.5% OF ADULTS HAVE RECEIVED ONE SHOT SO FAR.

>> YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE POPULATION, WE'RE ABOUT 50% VACCINATED, WHAT DR. BRUCE VANDERHOFF WERE SAYING, HALF OF US ARE VACCINATED BUT HOSPITALS ARE STILL FILLED BE UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.

YOU KEEP HEARING THINGS WILL GET BETTER, THAT PEOPLE WILL LOWER THEIR GUARD?

>> THERE'S ALWAYS THAT RISK.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT GETS COLD UP NORTH AND MORE PEOPLE ARE INDOORS, THERE MAY BE A WINTER SURGE UP NORTH.

WE'RE NOT OUTFIT THE WOODS YET, AND WE STILL NEED MANY MORE PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED AND WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE POLITICAL FALLOUT WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT, ABOUT PREVENTING MASK MANDATES, MASKING MANDATES.

THE BEST THING WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS TO HAVE MORE APPROPRIATE VACCINE MANDATES AND MASK MANDATES, BUT THAT'S BECOME A VERY POLITICAL ISSUE.

IT HAS BEEN A VERY POLITICAL ISSUE.

>> OHIO HAS AMONG THE LOWER VACCINATION RATES.

NOW THEY HAVE THE HIGHER NEW CASES PER CAPITA IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> IT'S JUST PLAIN GRIM.

I'VE TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO FOLKS VIA SOCIAL HE'D BE YA, THE COMPLICATIONS YOU CAN GET COMING DOWN WITH COVID BUT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO WAS LIKE POURING WATER ON A ROCK.

HAVING TO DO NEXT HERE, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOLKS AND WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME IS THAT NOW ONE OF THEIR SYMBOLS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WHEN THEY WANT TO MOVE, OPEN UP FACTORIES OR MOVE FACILITIES INTO A COMMUNITY IS THEIR VACCINATION RATE.

WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THAT THE ABILITY OF THAT POPULATION THEN TO TAKE KINDLY TO TRAINING AND SCIENTIFIC ADVOCACY AS TO HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO THEIR JOB, BECAUSE LOOK, THE JOBS ARE HIGHLY TEBL NOW.

>> AND THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT HEARD -- THAT'S JUST IN THE BEGINNING.

GET VACCINATED.

GET THE ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.

THAT REALLY HASN'T WORKED WITH LARGE PORTIONS OF SOCIETY.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

WHY DO YOU THINK ECONOMIC MOTIVATION WOULD HAVE THE IMPACT A LOT OF US THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE EARLY ON?

>> YOU ASK THE QUESTION, WHY WOULD WE BE VACCINATED AND THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS GOING ON HERE BUT IN SOME WAYS, THE VACCINATION THING HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A POLITICAL/IDEALOGICAL BATTLE.

SO YOU GET IN A SITUATION RIGHT NOW WITH FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHO CAN'T GET PAST THE IDEALOGICAL AND PARTISAN BLINDER OR THEY'RE RELYING UPON INFORMATION THAT COMES FROM VERY, VERY UNRELIABLE SOURCES AND SO THERE'S A WHOLE VARIETY OF REASONS, BUT IT IS SO FRUSTRATING, AND I THOUGHT THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA A MONTH AGO, CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, GOVERNOR IVEY, SHE SPOKE TO HER FELLOW RESIDENTS AND SAID NOW, Y'ALL, OUR PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THE VACCINATED.

IT'S WITH THE UNVACCINATED.

SO NOW YOU ALL HAVE TO DO YOUR DUTY AND GET VACCINATED SO WE CAN HAVE A -- IT WAS SUCH A LOVELY WAY TO SAY IT.

SO MANY OF US ARE GETTING SO INPATIENT WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO THROW THE YARD AT THEM BUT YOU KNOW THAT DOESN'T WORK.

THE APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM.

THIS IS A FORM OF GETTING VACCINATED IS SERVING YOUR COUNTRY.

IF YOU HAVE LEGITIMATE RELIGIOUS REASONS NOT TO GET VACCINATED, SO BE IT, BUT FOR MOST PEOPLE THERE'S NO LEGITIMATE REASON EXCEPT YOU DON'T WANT TO.

>> THOSE RESPECTS FOR NOT GETTING VACCINATED CAME UP AT THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

AT THE STATE HOUSE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE THOUGHT THEY HAD A PLAN FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD SEVERELY RESTRICT BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS FOR IMPOSING VACCINE MANDATES, BUT THE MEASURE STALLED.

THE BILL WOULD NOT HAVE BANNED VACCINE BUT IT WOULD HAVE ALLUDE NOR WIDE EXEMPTIONS, INCLUDING MEDICAL REASONS, RELIGIOUS REASONS, DEMONSTRATING NATURAL IMMUNITY TO COVID BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD IT, AND REASONS OF CONSCIOUS.

SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL HOPE IT WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO MANDATE OPPONENTS AND BUSINESSES WHO ACCEPT EMPLOYEE MANDATES.

AS QUICKLY AS THE BILL APPEARED, IT DISAPPEARED.

LAURA BISCHOFF, EVERYBODY IS HAPPY WITH THIS BILL, BUT NOBODY IS HAPPY?

IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF BUSINESS ENTITIES THAT THEIR HUMP APPROACH TO THIS, THEY DON'T LIKE THE RESTRICTIONS ON EMPLOYERS, FORMER CONGRESSMAN NOW HEAD OF THE OHIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAID THAT IT INFRINGES ON THE RIGHTS OF EMPLOYER'S ONE SIZE FITS ALL MANDATE.

THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT APPROACH.

IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE LET THE BUSINESSES MANAGE THEIR WORKPLACES FREE FROM GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.

SO THEY ARE -- THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS IS NOT BACKING DOWN ON THIS.

IT DOES SEEN THAT -- I MEAN, I THINK MY COLLEAGUE IS KIND OF A ROUND-UP OF ALL THE DIFFERENT VACCINE AND MASK-RELATED BILLS THAT ARE PENDING.

THERE'S SCORES OF THEM.

AND I DO THINK THAT EVENTUALLY THEY'LL COME TO SOME AGREEMENT THAT WILL NOT MAKE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAPPY BUT MAYBE IT WON'T MAKE THE ANTI-VACCINE MANDATE PEOPLE HAPPY, EITHER.

THERE'S PROBABLY SOME DIFFERENCE.

>> GENE KREBS, THIS BILL WOULD HAVE BASICALLY MADE THE MANDATES WITH HOLES AS LARGE AS YOU CAN DRIVE A CONSPIRACY THEORY-RIDDEN TRUCK THROUGH.

WHAT ABOUT THE BUSINESS SIDE?

WAS IT THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THE MANDATE SIDE?

>> I THINK THE PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING WITH THE GOP IS IT'S TRYING TO MAKE A TRANSTIGS FROM BEING A PRO BUSINESS UNIVERSE UNTIL BEING MORE OF THE WORKERS' PARTY.

IT'S TRYING TO JUMP OVER THAT KASSEM AND IT'S NOT WORKING WELL.

I DO NOT SEE IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS ON THE MORE ANTI-VAX SIDE ANY IDEA HOW COMPROMISE IS A VIOLATION OF THEIR ABSOLUTE RIGHTS ON THIS AND THEY WILL NOT COMPROMISE AND ANYBODY WHO SEEKS TO COMPROMISE, THEY'RE VOWING TO TAKE OUT IN THE PRIMARY.

>> THE VACCINE MANDATES SEEM TO BE WORKING.

NEW YORK STATE HAD A DEADLINE THAT SAID IF YOU WORK AT A HEALTH CARE FACILITY YOU HAVE TO GET VACCINATED OR YOU LOSE YOUR JOB.

SUDDENLY THERE'S A SURGE OF VACCINES BEING ADMINISTERED TO HOSPITAL WORKERS, SO THE MANDATE -- WHETHER IT'S THE MEANING OF KIND OF LIKE PRINCIPLE IS ONE THING BUT MY PAYCHECK'S ANOTHER.

>> IT MATTERS.

LEADERSHIP FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE MORE YOU HAVE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT MANDATES AND SAYING APPROPRIATE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE KMERKS THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE.

IN HIGHWAY WE HAVE LOCAL NUMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEM REPLY, AS GENE SAID.

WE'RE GOING OFF THE END IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND GIVING HOPE TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ANTI-MANDATE FOR MASK OR VACCINES.

IT'S ALMOST UP SANITY BY NOW.

WE KNOW THAT, IN FACT, VACCINES WORK, MASKS WORK.

HAVING SOME APPROPRIATE EXCEPTIONS FOR PEOPLE OF CONSCIOUS.

BUT TO STILL HAVE VOICES OUT THIS WHO SAY NO WAY NO HOW, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT ELECTIONS AND JUST WHAT THE INTERESTING THING BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES WAS THE SCHOOL BOARD HAD IMPOSED MANDATES.

SOME PARENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY UPSET.

THE PARENTS ARE UPSET BECAUSE AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND THEY PROTEST AND SHOUT AND ALL THAT, AND THE MEDIA COVER THEM AND SO THEY GET A LOT OF PUBLICITY.

THEY SORT OF DOMINATE THE DEBATE, IF YOU WILL, BUT IT WILL BE NICE TO HAVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE IT MAY BE THE CASE I COULD BE TOTALLY WRONG ABOUT THIS, BUT THERE MAY BE INDEED A SILENT MAJORITY IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WHICH SAY OF COURSE HAVE A MASK MANDATE, A VAX SEEP MANDATE, BUT THOSE AREN'T THE ONES THAT GET ALL THE POLITICAL COVERAGE, GET INTERVIEWED ON NETWORKS AND ALL THAT, SO WE'LL SEE.

MAYBE WE CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT ATTACKS WITHOUT ITS MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT MANDATES GET RE-ELECTED, THAT'S A LOT OF.

>> LET'S GET THAT.

USUALLY IT'S FEATURED DEBATE OVER TEACHER SALARIES AND ACCESS TO PLACEMENT CLASSES.

THIS YEAR COVID SEEMS TO BE DRIVING MANY NUMBERS TO THE RACES.

THE VOCAL GROUP OF PARENTS HAVE DENOUNCED MANDATES ON SOERL MEDIA.

HILLARD HAS A SLATE OF THREE CANDIDATES RUNNING LARGELY BECAUSE OF THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE DISTRICT'S MASK MANDATE.

YOU LET OUT THE SCENARIO HERE, BUT THIS IS A DEMONSTRATION OF NATIONAL POLITICS AFFECTING -- I MEAN, SCHOOL BOARD, THEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT THIS STUFF TOO MUCH.

IT'S MAINLY CLASS SIZES, BUS RIDES, YOU KNOW, PIZZA FOR LUNCH.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

BUT, NO, THIS IS AMAZING, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE AREA ARE CLEARLY PRO MASK MANDATE, PRO VACCINE MANDATES, BUT THIS WILL BE A CLEAR CHOICE FOR THE VOTERS OF HILLIARD.

DO YOU WANT THE PEOPLE TO ARE OPPOSED TO MASK MANDATE OR DO YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO THINK MANDATES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SCHOOLS, THE STAFF AND STUDENTS AND ALL THAT.

MY GUESS AGAIN IS THAT THERE IS A SILENT MAJORITY OF COMMON SENSE PEOPLE IN HILLIARD IN THE UNITED STATES WHO SAY YEAH, WE REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL AND SOME KINDS OF LIMITATIONS ARE APPROPRIATE.

BUT -- >> IN SEPTEMBER THEY FOUND THAT 43% OF OHIOANS OPPOSE MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS, WHILE 40% SUPPORT THEM.

LAURA BISCHOFF THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LIKE THE MASK MANDATES.

THERE'S SOME -- THERE'S A PLATFORM TO BE RUN ON THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN LIKE A DEADLINE IN VOTER PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL AND STATE ELECTIONS AND THERE'S BEEN A HEAVY EMPHASIS ON FEDERAL.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH THROUGH THAT NATIONAL FEDERAL ISSUE ABOUT HANDLING THE PANDEMIC IS BECOMING A PROCESS.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE HAVING A PROXY IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD, ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNING UP TO RUN.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS THAT SILENT MAJORITY OUT THERE THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, TURN OUT TYPICAL KIND OF THING IN OFF YEAR ELECTIONS.

SO WE HAVE TO SEE HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.

I DID THINK THAT THERE ARE 40% OPPOSED, 50% -- 50% WOULD SUPPORT THEM AND A 60/40 WIN IS A WIPEOUT.

>> GENE KREBS CAN I ASSUME THERE ARE NO BASED ON SCHOOL BALLOTS IN WESTERN OHIO?

>> USUAL THROUGH TRORS IS PEOPLE WANTING TO FIRE THE FOOTBALL OR BASKETBALL COACH.

THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS.

I WANT TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT BUT I DO AGREE WITH HER.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP CLARIFY SOME OF THE THINGS.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

THIS WILL BE A REALLY GOOD TEST.

THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT IT WAS SCHOOL BOARD BALLOTS IS YOU MIGHT HAVE THREE SPOTS, SEVERAL PEOPLE RUNNING, IT'S A BED SHEET BATTLE TYPE OF THING.

I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE, THOUGH, THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET ALL THE CLARITY THAT WE MAY WANT OUT OF THIS BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE BALLOTS.

>> AND INCUMBENCY IS REAL AND MOST OF THE INCUMBENTS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD BALLOTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES SUPPORT IT, SOME KIND OF MANDATE TO KEEP THE KIDS IN THE CLASS ROOM WHICH IS THE MAIN REASON THEY'RE DOING IT, IN ADDITION TO KEEPING EVERYBODY SAFE.

>>> NEXT SUBJECT, MAINLY SUPPORTERS OF ABORTION RIGHTS.

PROTEST IS PLANNED FOR SATURDAY.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE OHIO SENATE PASSED A LAW TO MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL IF THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS ROW.

ABORTION OPPONENTS IN OHIO WANT THE STATE TO BE READY.

THEY WANT TO PASS A LAW THAT WOULD MAKE PERFORMING AN ABORTION OR PROMOTING ABORTION IMMEDIATELY A CRIME ONCE THE COURT OVERTURNS ROW, IF THAT OCCURS.

GENE KREBS, WHY NOT WAIT FOR THE COURT'S DECISION.

WHY DO WE NEED THIS SO-CALLED TRIGGER LAW?

>> I THINK WHEN THE TRIGGER LAW CAN GO AHEAD AND GAIN STREET CREDS, I THINK WHAT YOU WANT TO LOOK AT, THOUGH, ALL OF THIS IS AN ISSUE IN TRANSITION IN THAT YOU ACTUALLY -- THIS IS GOING TO END UP, I BELIEVE, ON THE BALLOT IN THE STATES AS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL STATE ABOUT ROE V. WAIT.

THAT IS THE FEAR, IF YOU WILL, OF THE ADVOCATES OF BOTH SIDES OF THIS, BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET THE BALLOT AND YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY SPEAK ON THIS, NOW YOU'VE ACHIEVED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DEMOCRATIC CLARITY, SO TO SPEAK, AND THINK ABOUT THAT.

NOBODY'S ACTUALLY PROPOSED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN CASE ROE V. WADE IS OVERTURNED.

ASK YOURSELF WHY.

>> LAURA BISCHOFF, WE'VE HAD IN OHIO PRETTY SEVERE RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION, THE LAST ONE BEING THE HEARTBEAT LAW, WHICH BANS ABORTION AFTER CARDIAC ACTIVITY IS DETECTED IN A FETUS, USUALLY AROUND SIX WEEKS OF A PREGNANCY.

IT'S ON HOLD RIGHT NOW.

WILL THIS LAW, THIS BILL -- IT'S IN BLACK AND WHITE WHAT OHIO MIGHT LOOK LIKE IF ABORTION WAS MADE ILLEGAL.

T DOES THAT GALVONIZE EITHER SIDE OR BOTH SIDES, SEEING IT THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE?

>> I THINK IT GAL SLAPPIZES BOTH SIDES.

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO GAL SLAPPIZE THIS PARTICULARLY TOPIC.

PEOPLE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ON ONE SIDE OF IT OR THE OTHER.

I THINK THAT THERE'S AN EFFORT TO KIND OF LIKE BOLSTER THOSE STREET CRED AMONG THE BASE FOR THE ABORTION OPPONENTS.

>> MIGHT THIS SORT OF BE A PREEMPTIVE MOVE THAT ABORTION OPPONENTS WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S READY TO GO, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE WAITING ON THE COURT RULES, IF THEY DO OVERTURN IT, IF IT'S AN ISSUE FOR POSSIBLY THE VOTERS, AND WITH 61% OF VOTERS THIS SUMMER SAYING THEY SUPPORT ROE VERSUS WADE, GOING TO THE BALLOT IS GOING TO BE TOP AT BEST.

>> YOU HAVE PEOPLE TRYING TO POSITION THEMSELVES, BUT I THINK THE MORE EXTREME OR THE MORE ANTI-ABORTION THE ACTIONS ARE THAT THE LEGISLATURE TAKES, THE MORE LIKELY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE TRYING TO GO THE CONSTITUTIONAL ROUTE.

THE WHOLE ARGUMENT AGAINST ROE VERSUS WADE IS TO STOP TO THE BASE THAT WE'RE GOING ON IN ALL 50 STATES.

SOME STATES WERE GOING TO BE PRO-CHOICE STATES.

SOME STATES ARE GOING TO BE PRO-LIFE STATES.

ROE V. WADE GENERATING ALL THE MEASURES ON THE PART OF THE PRO-LIFE PEOPLE TO TRY TO RESTRICT.

AND MY GUESS IS THAT GENE IS CORRECT, THAT IF, IN FACT, THE LEGISLATURE COMES UP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS SO EXTREME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GALVANIZE THE OPPONENT AND THE OPPONENTS WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPPORTUNITY IF THEY CAN REIN IN THEIR AMBITIONS AND SAY THAT THERE ARE LEGITIMATE RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION, BUT IF THEY CAN POINT OUT HOW THE OPPONENTS ARE SO EXTREME, YOU MAY, IN FACT, HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR AN ABORTION UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS IN OHIO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LAST TOPIC.

LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK, SURPRISE, SURPRISE, MISSED ANOTHER REDISTRICTING DEAD LINE.

NECESSITY DID NOT.

NOW THE PROCESS MOVES TO THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

THIS DREW UP THE CONTROVERSIAL STATE LEGISLATIVE MAPS.

THAT FACES CHALLENGES.

THEY PRESENTED A CONGRESSIONAL MAP THAT WOULD HELP THEIR CANDIDATES IN UPCOMING CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

HERB ASHER, OSU POLITICAL SCIENTIST, WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

DOES THE COMMISSION TRY TO COME UP WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OR ARE THEY GOING TO KICK IT BACK DOWN THE ROAD TO THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I THOUGHT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE WAY THEY HANDLED THE STATE LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING SURPRISED ME BECAUSE CLEARLY, ANY WHERE WE'RE INVOLVED IN A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE OHIO GEM ASSEMBLY AND THEY SO OVERREACHED ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE-RUN DISTRICTS, I THOUGHT THERE'S A CERTAIN CRAZINESS, WHAT ARE THEY DOING.

THE OTHER FOUR REPUBLICAN IS KNOWLEDGE.

THIS WAS NOT A VERY GOOD PLAN.

THEY EXPECT TO BEGIN WITH IT AGAIN.

IF IT'S AS PLANNED, WHY DID YOU DO IT?

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONGRESS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MOTIVATION IS.

IN BOTH CASES FOR CONGRESS AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE, A REASONABLE PLAN FOR CONGRESS WOULD RESULT IN PROBABLY A 9-6 REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, MAYBE 8-7 BUT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF GERRYMANDERING AND YOU MIGHT SORT OF SAY, WELL, MAYBE THEY WANT TO DO THAT BUT THERE'S PRESSURE COMING NATIONALLY FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING, BECAUSE EVERY SEAT COUNTS.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO THE 2022 ELECTION WHERE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE U.S. HOUSE IS ONLY EIGHT SEATS, SO IF YOU LOSE A SEAT OR O TWO IN OHIO, THAT COULD BE THE BALANCE OF THE DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A -- I'M SURE THEY CAN COME UP WITH A REASONABLE PLAN AND SAY IT'S FAIR, IT'S BALANCED, IT HAS REPRESENTATION FAIRNESS AND ALL THAT.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON THIS, I THINK, ARE -- THERE'S OTHER MOTIVATIONS I CAN'T FATHOM.

>> THIS PROCESS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE LAST TIME IT PACKED A BUNCH OF HEARINGS INTO A WEEK AND IT TOOK SEVEN DAYS TO GATHER PUBLIC INPUT.

WILL THEY DO THE SAME THING THIS TIME AROUND?

>> ALL SIGNS POINT THAT WAY.

I THINK THE FACT THAT THEY MISSED THE SEPTEMBER 30th DEADLINE IS NOT A GOOD TIME FOR A TEN-YEAR MAP.

IT IS PRETTY ON BRAND FOR LAWMAKERS AND OTHER POLICY LEADERS IN OHIO TO CRAMMING EVERYTHING IN TILL THE LAST MINUTE AND MAKE A DECISION ON DEADLINE, HAVING COVERED THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, IT'S KIND OF A TRIED AND TRUE PATTERN.

>> YEAH.

HUMAN NATURE ON STEROIDS THERE.

THE OTHER THING THIS WEEK, THERE WAS A DATE IN DECEMBER TO HEAR THE CHALLENGES IN THE STATE MAPS.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE PAT DWYER SAYS HE WILL NOT RECUSE HIMSELF FROM THE CASE EVEN THOUGH HIS FATHER IS NAMED AS A DEFENDANT IN THE CASE.

HE SAYS BECAUSE MIKE DEWIPE IS ONLY ONE OF SEVEN PEOPLE ON THE LAWSUIT, HE DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH INFLUENCE.

YOU THINK IT'S LEGITIMATELY THAT OR DO YOU THINK THAT REPUBLICANS WORRY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING THE MAJORITY ON THE SUPREME COURT THAT MUCH THINNER, IF HE WERE TO RECUSE HIMSELF?

>> I THINK THAT'S REALLY PART OF IT.

I THINK THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT, BECAUSE IF HE MIXED UP, GENERALLY SPEAKING, BUCKEYE, A TRADEMARK PHRASE, FOLKS, ACTUALLY THEY WANT TO SEE IT IN THEIR DISTRICT.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE CHOOSING THEIR LEGISLATOR.

MARK TWAIN ONCE SAID THAT HISTORY REPEATS AND OFTEN RHYMES.

IN 1982 OUR FIRST ELECTION, MY PRIMARY DID NOT ACTUALLY GET SETTLED UNTIL JUNE.

I THINK I HAD LIKE FIVE DIFFERENT INDICATES AS TO WHAT I HAD TO PLAN FOR MY PRIMARY.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SPOTS.

GENE KREBS, FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR, YOU'RE FIRST.

>> I REFERENCE THIS ABOUT 120 FOLKS HAD THEIR LIVES RAINED AS A RESULT OF HOUSE BILL 6.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE EVERYBODY WHO IS GOING TO FIND THEMSELVES NOW IN THE DMAS CEILING THAT IT'S EVEN PERIPHERAL INVOLVEMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO FIND IT DIFFICULT FOR THEMSELVES TO LEAP AHEAD POLITICALLY.

>> HERB ASHER, OSU POLITICAL SCIENTIST, 30 SECONDS, FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> OHIO SUPREME COURT, THE COURT OF ORIGINAL JURISDICTION ON APPEAL OF THE REDISTRICTING WILL IN FACT DECIDE THAT IF REPUBLICAN-ADOPTED PLAN IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND THE REPUBLICANS WILL OF COURSE OUTSIDE SMART THEMSELVES.

WHEN THEY PASSED THIS AMENDMENT, IT WAS 7-0 REPUBLICAN.

IT'S 4-3 REPUBLICAN, AND THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS REPEATEDLY SAID SHE'S UNHAPPY WITH GERRYMANDERING.

>> AND LAURA BISCHOFF, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT.

>> ELECTION DAY'S NOVEMBER 2nd.

YOU CAN START DOING YOUR HOME WORK ON ALL THE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES NOW AND GET YOUR VOTE IN.

DON'T FORGET TO BE NICE TO POLL WORKERS.

THEY HAVE A LONG DAY.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN REDISTRICTING, FOLLOW HER ON THE SUMMER JOB AND ALL THE COVERAGE.

>> YES, SHE HAS.

THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

CHECK US OUT ON LINE.

WE ARE ON TWITTER AND ON FACEBOOK WHERE YOU WILL SEE A LINK TO GENE KREBS FINE OM ED.

YOU CAN COME UP TO ALL OF THAT AT WOSU.COM WHERE YOU CAN WATCH EACH EPISODE ON DEMAND.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

♪♪