>>> IMPASSIONED PLEAS BUT NO STATEWIDE MANDATE ON MASKS AND SCHOOLS.

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>>> JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, ANNA STAVER, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR "THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH."

TERRY CASE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

AND SAM GRESHAM OF COMMON CAUSE OHIO.

COVID SPREAD CONTINUES IN OHIO AND THE PACE IS QUICKENING.

ALL BUT ONE COUNTY IN OHIO IS RED ON THE CDC'S RATE OF TRANSMISSION MAP.

ALL OF THOSE RED COUNTIES HAVE A HIGH RATE OF COVID TRANSMISSION.

THE ONE ORANGE COUNTY, ASHTABULA COUNTY, HAS A SUBSTANTIAL RATE OF TRANSMISSION, SO NOT MUCH BETTER.

THE RATE OF NEW DAILY COVID CASES IS UP SHARPLY AS ARE HOSPITALIZATIONS.

SO FAR ICU ADMISSIONS REMAIN FAIRLY FLAT AND THE DEATH RATE, THANKFULLY, REMAINS LOW AND FLAT.

STUDENTS ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

GOVERNOR DeWINE HAS PLEADED WITH SCHOOLS TO MAKE KIDS WEAR MASKS.

>> THIS YEAR, WHEN YOUR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL, IF I CAN JUDGE BY WHAT I'M READING IN THE NEWSPAPER, MANY, MANY, MANY SCHOOLS AT LEAST AT THIS POINT ARE NOT PLANNING ON REQUIRING MASKS.

SO THEREFORE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS PERFECT STORM.

AND IT'S THE HIGH RATE, MUCH MORE CONTAGIOUS, AND NOW KIDS ARE NO LONGER PROTECTED IN THE CLASSROOM WITH WEARING MASKS, WHICH WE HAVE SHOWN IS VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD AT BLOCKING THE VIRUS.

>> THE GOVERNOR BASICALLY SAID THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR IS WORSE THAN LAST YEAR, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNGER KIDS WHO CANNOT GET THE VACCINE BECAUSE NOW, WITH A MORE CONTAGIOUS DELTA VARIANT, THE KIDS AREN'T GOING TO BE MASKED, IT'S THAT PERFECT STORM, BUT HE'S NOT ISSUING ANY STATEWIDE MANDATE.

WHAT'S THE REASON?

>> DEMOCRATS LIKE ONE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR SAY IT'S A POLITICAL REASON.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL, SB 22, WHICH BASICALLY GIVES THEM THE AUTHORITY TO IMMEDIATELY OVERTURN MASK MANDATES.

SO SHE SAYS HE WON'T DO IT BECAUSE IT WILL BE OVERTURNED AND IT WOULD LOOK BAD FOR HIS PRIMARY.

THE CANDIDATE RUNNING AGAINST HIM IS ADAMANTLY AGAINST MASKS AS ARE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

PEOPLE ARE JUST -- THEY HAVE FATIGUE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A PERSONAL CHOICE, ESPECIALLY AS VACCINES CONTINUE TO ROLL OUT.

SO I GUESS IT'S THE QUESTION OF WHICH ONE YOU THINK IS TRUE.

>> TERRY CASE, THE GOVERNOR COULD ISSUE THE MANDATE, THE LEGISLATURE ISN'T IN SESSION SO IT WOULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS FOR THEM TO COME BACK AND OVERTURN HIS MANDATE AND THEN HE WOULD VETO IT AND THEY WOULD OVERRIDE HIS VETO AND THEN HE WOULD HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT THAT THEY INFRINGED HIS RIGHT TO ISSUE THIS ORDER.

WHY NOT GO TO THE MAT, IF HE THINKS THIS IS, QUOTE, A PERFECT STORM?

>> THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FATIGUE.

TO HIS CREDIT, HE'S SOUNDING THE ALARM, BEING THE PAUL REVERE, OF WHAT'S COMING.

WE CAN LOOK AT NATIONAL MAPS LIKE I DO IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND WE CAN SEE THE BAD NUMBERS COMING IN PARTS OF THE SOUTH, FLORIDA AND TEXAS, LOUISIANA.

AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE BETTER PREPARED NOW TO REALIZE THIS IS REAL AND IT'S COMING.

THE OTHER FACTOR IS IN OHIO, WE'VE GOT OVER 600 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SEVERAL THOUSAND BUILDINGS, AND SOME DISTRICTS LIKE COLUMBUS HAVE OVER A HUNDRED DIFFERENT BUILDINGS, LABS, CONFIGURATIONS, VENTILATION SYSTEMS.

SO IT'S HARD IN A STATE AS DIVERSE AS OHIO TO MAKE ONE SIZE FITS ALL AND PERFECTLY WORK FOR EVERY DISTRICT THROUGHOUT THIS STATE.

>> WOULDN'T A MASK MANDATE SOLVE THAT PROBLEM?

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOL OR CLASSROOM.

IF YOU HAVE A MASK MANDATE, THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM FOR EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> BUT SOME SITUATIONS, YOU DON'T NEED THE MASKS AS MUCH AS YOU DO OTHERS.

IT'S LIKE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, THERE ARE SOME DISTRICTS THAT ARE JUST DOING IT K-8, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SENIORS, SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, 9, 10, 11, AND 12, HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

SO I THINK THE IDEA OF LOCAL OPTIONS -- BUT THE GOVERNOR IS STILL SOUNDING THE ALARM AS FAR AS WHAT'S COMING UP.

I THINK IT'S THE BEST COMBINATION BECAUSE ULTIMATELY YOU NEED THE PEOPLE'S COOPERATION AND FOR EVERYBODY TO BE ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

>> SAM GRESHAM, ANOTHER PARTS OF THE PERFECT STORM IS THE FACT THAT THE PLACE WHERE MASK RESISTANCE IS THE FIERCEST ARE ALSO THE PLACES WERE VACCINES ARE THE FEWEST.

SO IT'S KIND OF A TWO-PRONGED PROBLEM THERE.

>> HISTORIANS WILL LOOK BACK AT THIS, THEY'RE GOING TO ASK THEMSELVES HOW COULD THE POPULACE AND THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP BE SO IGNORANT.

THEY'RE GOING TO ASK THEMSELVES, THERE'S A VACCINE AVAILABLE, IF YOU WEAR MASKS YOU REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF INFECTION.

AND WHY ARE PEOPLE FIGHTING THIS?

THE REPUBLICANS ARE THREATENING THE GOVERNOR.

EVERYBODY HAS A POSITION ON IT.

MY POSITION IS, IF YOU DON'T WEAR A MASK, YOU DON'T TAKE THE VACCINE, YOU WILL DIE.

>> THERE'S NO POLL THAT I'VE SEEN BUT THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION DID A NATIONAL POLL WHICH SAID OVER TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS SUPPORT KIDS WEARING MASKS IN SCHOOLS BUT ONLY 34% OF REPUBLICANS SUPPORT IT.

6 IN 10 REPUBLICANS OPPOSE MASKS.

THAT'S THE NUMBERS POLITICALLY.

>> YEAH, AND I THINK ALSO, LOOKING AT THE PRACTICALITY OF GETTING INTO A PISSING MATCHING WITH THE LEGISLATURE, YES, THEY COULD DO IT, AND THAT COULD PROBABLY ALL HAPPEN WITHIN TWO TO THREE WEEKS.

YES, YOU COULD GO TO COURT.

BUT I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY ASKING IF THIS IS THE HILL HE WANTS TO DIE ON.

HE KNOW HE'S REALLY PUSHING MASKS.

HE MADE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT, I HAVE SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN, HE'S LIKE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE, IF YOUR CHILD IS UNVACCINATED AND UNMASKED, THEY HAVE TO STAY HOME FOR TEN DAYS FOLLOWING AN EXPOSURE.

IF THEY ARE VACCINATED, THEN THEY JUST HAVE TO WEAR A MASK AND GET TESTED.

IF EVERYONE IN THE CLASSROOM WAS WEARING A MASK, THEN THERE'S NO NEED TO QUARANTINE.

AND FOR ME, I'M LIKE, WELL, IF MY KID WEARS A MASK, THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A TWO-WEEK WORK FROM HOME SITUATION WITH THE KIDS.

AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MORE COMPELLING THAN MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE FOR SOME PEOPLE.

IT'S LIKE, DO YOU REALLY WANT YOUR KID AT HOME FOR TWO WEEKS?

>> YOU EXPLAIN THAT CONSEQUENCE VERY WELL.

BUT ARE PEOPLE IN THE RURAL AREAS LISTENING TO THAT OR IS IT GOING TO TAKE AN OUTBREAK AT ONE OF THESE SCHOOLS FOR THEM TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THIS STUFF IS SERIOUS AND THIS VARIANT IS REAL AND KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MISS CLASS BECAUSE THEY GET INFECTED OR ARE CLOSE TO SOMEONE INFECTED?

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY PARTS OF OHIO, THE PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE THE AMISH ARE, THERE'S DEFINITELY GAPS.

MY HOPE IS THAT AS PEOPLE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SOUTH AND OTHER AREAS, THEY'LL WAKE UP AND REALIZE THAT THE VACCINE IS IMPORTANT AND IT DOES WORK AND IT'S EFFECTIVE, AND THAT WE NEED TO DO OTHER THINGS IN TERMS OF DISTANCING, BEING SAFE IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU'RE AT AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO I'M NOT SAYING EVERYBODY OVERNIGHT IS GOING TO GET THE WORD BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT A CHANCE THIS TIME TO RAMP UP THE PROGRESS AND AWARENESS.

>>> THE RACE IN THE U.S. SENATE TO SUCCEED ROB PORTMAN, THERE ARE A SLEW OF REPUBLICANS RUNNING.

UNTIL THIS WEEK, JUST ONE DEMOCRAT, CONGRESSMAN TIM RYAN.

NOW RYAN WILL FACE MORGAN HARPER IN NEXT YEAR'S PRIMARY.

HARPER IS A PROGRESSIVE ACTIVIST, SHE RAN AND LOST TO CONGRESSWOMAN JOYCE BEATTY IN THE 2020 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

BEFORE THEN SHE WORKED FOR RICHARD CORDRAY IS HE CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU IN WASHINGTON.

>> I'VE BEEN TAKING ON BIG TECH, TRYING TO BREAK UP MULTINATIONAL MONOPOLIES THAT HAVE BEEN CRUSHING WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THREATENING OUR DEMOCRACY.

HERE AT HOME, WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZING COMMUNITIES LEFT BEHIND.

TO GET POLITICAL POWER BACK ON OUR SIDE.

>> SAM GRESHAM, MORGAN HARPER IS GETTING BETTER KNOWN, LARGELY BECAUSE OF HER APPEARANCES HERE ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

SHE'LL RUN AGAINST JOYCE BEATTY AND GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" PUT IT ON THEIR WEBSITE, SHE RAISED $250,000 RIGHT OFF THE BAT ACCORDING TO HER CAMPAIGN.

DOES SHE HAVE A SHOT AGAINST TIM RYAN?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RACES THAT IT'S HARD TO PREDICT.

I THINK IT MAY BE PREMATURE ON A STATEWIDE BASIS.

BUT SHE'S A GOOD CANDIDATE.

WITH THE DISTRICTS THAT EXIST, IN THE REDISTRICTING, FRANKLIN COUNTY WILL PROBABLY HAVE TWO CONGRESSIONAL SEATS, I THOUGHT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER STRATEGY.

BUT SHE'S MADE THIS DECISION TO GO FORWARD WITH THE SENATORIAL SEAT.

I WISH HER WELL.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, PERIOD.

NOBODY HAS A LOT OF MONEY TO RUN A STATEWIDE RACE.

A SENATORIAL RACE TAKES A LOT OF MONEY AND I DON'T SEE THAT MONEY DRIP-DRIP-DRIPPING IN.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE MONEY.

I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE THE BETTER CANDIDATES.

UNFORTUNATELY MONEY ALWAYS WINS OUT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE OF IT AND YOU'RE A GOOD CANDIDATE.

>> TERRY CASE, I ASSUME REPUBLICANS, SHOULD THEY MAKE IT THROUGH THE PRIMARY, OR EVEN BEFORE, WILL LABELER AS A SOCIALIST, SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO DEFUND OR ABOLISH THE POLICE, WHO WANTS TO OPEN UP THE BORDERS?

>> I DON'T REALLY KNOW BECAUSE SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE.

SHE'S BRIGHT AND ARTICULATE.

I'VE ENJOYED MEETING AND TALKING WITH HER WHILE ON THIS PROGRAM.

BUT THE DIFFICULTY IS, WHEN YOU WANT TO RUN FOR A BIG OFFICE LIKE CONGRESS AND YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ANYWHERE BEFORE, IT'S HARD.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO RUN STATEWIDE IN A COMPLICATED STATE LIKE OHIO, 11.5 MILLION PEOPLE, AND YOU'VE GOT NO NAME I.D., NO BASE, NO OFFICE THAT YOU'RE IN, IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

SO SHE NEEDS TO RUN FOR SOMETHING SHE CAN WIN FIRST INSTEAD OF JUST TRYING TO AIM HIGHER AND HIGHER IN TERMS OF YOUR AMBITION.

SO AGAIN, SHE'S BRIGHT, ARTICULATE, AND CAPABLE, SHE'LL RAISE SOME NATIONAL MONEY AS SHE DID FOR CONGRESS.

BUT REPUBLICANS AREN'T SITTING AROUND WORRYING ABOUT ATTACK POINTS ON HER BECAUSE THE NOMINEE IS GOING TO BE TIM RYAN.

>> BUT TIM RYAN WILL HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO MORGAN HARPER, AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT, WHETHER SHE MAKES IT TO THE BALLOT OR NOT.

AND THE THINKING IS SHE MAY PULL HIM FARTHER TO THE LEFT, PERHAPS FARTHER TO THE LEFT THAN HE WANT TO BE, AS HE TRIES TO WIN STATEWIDE IN OHIO.

>> YEAH, YOU COULD LOOK AT THE RECENT PRIMARY BETWEEN BROWN AND NINA TURNER, BROWN ULTIMATELY WON, BUT THAT RACE DEFINITELY HAD A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF ATTENTION PAID TO IT.

I THINK THIS WILL BE THE SAME WAY.

BUT YEAH, I MEAN, MORGAN HARPER HAS A GREAT NARRATIVE.

SHE GREW UP WITH A SINGLE MOTHER, SHE GOT HERSELF INTO PRINCETON AND INTO STANFORD FOR LAW, SHE HAS VERY PROGRESSIVE VIEWS AND SORT OF MODELS HERSELF AFTER AOC.

I ABSOLUTELY THINK IF THEY GET TO A DEBATE STAGE TOGETHER, THERE'S A CHANCE SHE COULD FORCE HIM INTO A CORNER ON CERTAIN ISSUES THAT HE WOULD RATHER LEAVE MORE AMBIGUOUS, SHALL WE SAY, UNTIL WE GET TO THE GENERAL.

>> LOOKING AT THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE PRIMARY, A POLL CAME OUT EARLIER THIS MONTH DONE BY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLLSTER WHO IS NOW WORKING FOR J.D.

VANCE'S CAMPAIGN.

ANNA STAVER, THE NAME I.D.

STILL RULES.

HALF OF REPUBLICANS ARE STILL UNDECIDED.

>> YEAH, AND THEN THE MANDEL CAMPAIGN RELEASED THEIR OWN INTERNAL POLL, WHICH I'M ALWAYS HESITANT ABOUT, THEY WOULDN'T RELEASE IT UNLESS IT WAS GOOD, BUT EVEN THEIRS SHOWS THAT 33% OF THE ELECTORATE IS UNDECIDED.

WE'RE A LONG WAY FROM THE PRIMARY.

I WOULD LIKE TO USE MY IN-LAWS AS AN EXAMPLE, THEY'RE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS FROM NORTHEAST OHIO AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW ALL THE NAMES IN THE RACE YET, THEY HAVEN'T STARTED LOOKING AT THIS YET AND THEY'RE INDICATIVE OF WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE.

THEY KNOW JOSH MANDEL BECAUSE HE'S RUN STATEWIDE BEFORE BUT THE REST OF THE CANDIDATES THEY HAVEN'T LOOKED AT YET.

>> THE FORMER HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS NOMINAL NAME RECOGNITION STATEWIDE.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU AT ALL?

>> NOT REALLY, BECAUSE HER NAME IS MORE KNOWN AROUND CANTON AND STARK COUNTY, IT'S NOT AS WELL-KNOWN OTHER THAN WITH POLITICAL JUNKIES STATEWIDE.

AGAIN, IT GETS TO THE POINT, OHIO IS A BIG, DIVERSE STATE, SEVEN OR EIGHT BIG MEDIA MARKETS, 11.5 MILLION PEOPLE.

YOU JUST DON'T GET KNOWN AND NORMALLY WIN YOUR FIRST TIME OUT.

RIGHT NOW JOSH MANDEL, THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES HE'S BEEN ON THE STATEWIDE BALLOT.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT DOES HE HAVE NEXT TO DO.

AND CLEARLY THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG TIME, EVERY OTHER WEEK WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE SENATE RACE, IT WILL BE SUCH A HOT, PERPLEXING, AMAZING ISSUE BETWEEN NOW AND MAY.

>> SAM GRESHAM, STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, WHAT ABOUT A JOSH MANDEL/MORGAN HARPER GENERAL ELECTION LOOK LIKE?

>> THAT WOULD BE ONE I WOULD PAY A LOT TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

MANDEL IS AN INTERESTING CANDIDATE.

HE IS THE GUY THAT TOOK KEVIN BURKE AND MADE HIM INTO A TERRORIST.

HOW DO YOU TAKE OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND MAKE HIM INTO A TERRORIST?

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DID THAT, BUT HE DID THAT.

I WOULD PAY A COUPLE OF00 BUCKS TO WATCH HIM GO THROUGH HIS CAMPAIGN BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO CHECK EVERYBODY FROM MOTHER TERESA TO THE POPE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>>> NEXT TOPIC, SOME STATEHOUSE REPUBLICANS WANT TO RETURN OHIO'S VOTE TO WHERE IT WAS IN 2004.

REMEMBER 2004, BUSH VERSUS KERRY?

THAT WAS THE YEAR WITH THE REALLY LONG LINES AT THE POLLING PLACES.

A NEW BILL WOULD MAKE IT HARDER TO VOTE IN OHIO.

IT WOULD ELIMINATE NO-FAULT MAIL-IN VOTING, THAT'S UNLESS A VOTER IS DISABLED OR OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

IT WOULD BAN DROPBOXES FOR EARLY VOTING.

IT WOULD LIMIT EARLY VOTING TO JUST SIX DAYS.

AND IT WOULD REQUIRE VOTERS TO SHOW A PHOTO I.D.

NOT JUST A CURRENT BILL OR PAYCHECK AS YOU CAN NOW.

THIS JOINS ANOTHER BILL WHICH IS NOT AS RESTRICTIVE.

THE SPONSOR OF THAT BILL TOLD "THE DISPATCH" THIS NEW BILL MAKES HIS BILL SEEM MODEST AND REASONABLE IN COMPARISON.

TERRY CASEY, IS THIS GOOD BILL/BAD BILL STRATEGY ON THE PART OF REPUBLICANS, THROW OUT A DRACONIAN BILL TO MAKE THE OTHER ONE SEEM A LITTLE BETTER?

>> SOMETIMES ORGANIZED AND CREATIVE BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'VE GOT IT DOWN QUITE THAT WELL.

I THINK CLEARLY THERE'S A FEW MORE EXTREME REPUBLICANS THAT WANT TO TAKE US BACK THAT FAR IN HISTORY.

BUT I DON'T THINK MOST OHIOANS, INCLUDING THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE OR THE GOVERNOR, WANT TO GO BACK AND GO THAT FAR, BECAUSE OHIO'S SYSTEM IN GENERAL UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LAROSE HAS WORKED WELL INCLUDING LAST YEAR AND VOTERS LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO VOTE EARLY, VOTE BY MAIL, OR VOTE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ON ELECTION DAY.

THAT'S WORKING, AND THERE'S A FEW MINOR PROBLEMS, BUT NOTHING BIG.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING EXTREME LIKE THAT.

>> MAIL-IN VOTING IS VERY POPULAR, NOT JUST AMONG ONE PARTY.

BOTH PARTIES LIKE IT, OLDER FOLKS LIKE IT, THEY CAN TAKE THEIR TIME, THEY CAN MAIL IT IN.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A FIGHT THAT'S NOT WORTH FIGHTING BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WIN IT, I DON'T THINK, THE MAIL-IN VOTING PART.

>> I THINK THE BILLS ARE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE YOU REALLY WANT THEM TO BECOME LAW.

AND THEN THERE ARE BILLS, AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS TRUE OF THIS LESS RESTRICTIVE BILL, BUT THERE'S BILLS THAT YOU INTRODUCE BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL CONSTITUENTS YOU INTRODUCED THEM AND YOU RUN ON THEM.

THIS BILL ELIMINATES MILITARY I.D.

AS A FORM OF ACCEPTABLE I.D., IT'S DRIVER'S LICENSE, STATE I.D., OR PASSPORT AND THAT'S IT.

AND I THINK THAT FEELS LIKE A PRETTY EXTREME REDUCTION NOT ONLY IN EARLY VOTING AND ACCEPTABLE DAYS.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF BEING BELIEVED IN AND WILL CAMPAIGN ON BUT I THINK THE OTHER BILL IS LIKELY TO BE THE VEHICLE.

>> THE SPONSORS OF THIS NEW BILL SAY ELECTION DAY IS ELECTION DAY, WE VOTED ON ELECTION DAY FOR YEARS AND DEMOCRATS WON, REPUBLICANS WON.

IS IT WRONG TO THINK WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THAT AND ELIMINATE SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE SO CONTROVERSIAL?

>> NO.

I DISAGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

THERE'S NO NEED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES AT THIS POINT.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS HAVING A WAR AND WATCHING THAT WAR.

THE OLD AMERICA IS CHANGING TO A NEW AMERICA.

AND THE REPUBLICANS CAN'T GO ON THE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS TO THE NEW AMERICA.

SO THE BEST WAY THAT THEY CAN HANDLE THAT IS TO CHEAT.

SO THEY CAN CHANGE THE RULES TO MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.

NOW, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS, IT CAME TO US IN 2005.

THE POLLS WERE SHOWING THAT PEOPLE IN OHIO SUPPORTED ABSENTEE BALLOTS SO WELL, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY GAVE IT TO THEM.

I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHERE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS MISREADING THE PUBLIC ON THESE ISSUES.

AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, ALEX IS THE GROUP THAT PRODUCED MOST OF THIS LEGISLATION THEY ARE NOW LOOKING AT.

I WILL MAKE YOU A BET, IT'S GOING TO BACKFIRE ON THEM.

SO KEEP IT UP, WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> COULD IT BACKFIRE IN THAT IT ENERGIZES DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN AFFECTED BY VOTING RESTRICTIONS?

>> OTHER THAN THIS WEEK, THE MORE EXTREME ONE HAS GOTTEN A TINY BIT OF ATTENTION BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PASSED, IT'S GOING TO BE BASICALLY BUSINESS AS USUAL.

AND BY THE WAY, OHIO, FOR THE PAST DECADE OR SO, HAS BEEN ONE OF THE TEN MOST LIBERAL STATES IN THE UNION IN TERMS OF THE FLEXIBILITY, IN TERMS OF HOW AND WHERE WE CAN VOTE.

SO STATES LIKE DELAWARE AND NEW YORK AND SOME OTHERS ARE MUCH MORE RESTRICTIVE ON EARLY VOTING AND VOTE BY MAIL AND OTHER KIND OF THINGS.

OHIO HAS BEEN A GOOD LEADER, AND THEY'RE GOING TO STAY THAT WAY.

>> MIKE, I WOULD ACCEPT THAT STATEMENT IF IT WASN'T FOR THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE COMMON CAUSE OF OHIO, AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO GET THOSE THINGS ON BOARD.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE REPUBLICAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY THINKS IS A GOOD IDEA.

WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THEM FOR 25 YEARS TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OUT OF THE BENEVOLENCE OF THEIR HEART.

DON'T GIVE ANYBODY THAT IMPRESSION, MR. CASEY.

>> IT'S A FACT, SAM, IT'S TRUE, THAT'S THE LAWS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S BEEN CONTROLLED SINCE THE 1990s BY REPUBLICANS.

>>> OUR FINAL TOPIC, ON MONDAY -- OHIO'S VOTERS WILL VOTE ON REDISTRICTING.

THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION HOLDS ITS FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY.

THE PANEL WILL HOLD TEN PUBLIC HEARINGS LAST WEEK ALL OVER THE STATE EXCEPT COLUMBUS.

THE COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE ANY PROPOSED MAPS YET.

IT PROMISES MORE HEARINGS ONCE THEY HAVE SOME MAPS.

LAWMAKERS BETTER HURRY, THE FIRST DEADLINE FOR A STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT MAP IS SEPTEMBER 1 WITH AN EXTENSION OF SEPTEMBER 15.

SAM GRESHAM, YOU'RE WITH COMMON CAUSE, A BIG SUPPORTER OF FAIRER DISTRICTS.

HOW OPTIMISTIC ARE YOU THAT THIS PROCESS WILL WORK?

>> WELL, WE'RE AHEAD OF THEM.

WE'VE BEEN HOLDING HEARINGS AROUND THE STATE OF OHIO FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

WE'VE HAD 500 PEOPLE ATTEND OUR HEARINGS.

WE ARE LOOKING ON A MAP THAT WILL MEET ALL THE CRITERIA THAT ARE DEVELOPED.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CREATE A MAP.

WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO THAT FIRST PUBLIC HEARING WITH OUR MAP TO PRESENT.

AND EVERY PUBLIC HEARING, WE'RE GOING WITH OUR MAP.

AND WE'RE COMING WITH A REPORT THAT JUSTIFIES WHY OUR MAP MEETS THE CRITERIA.

AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEAL WITH THE REALITY OF WHAT THE CITIZENS SAID.

OVER 70% OF THE CITIZENS, TWO TIMES, SAID THEY WANT FAIR MAPS.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM A FAIR MAP.

AND CASEY, BEFORE YOU START, THE SUPREME COURT IS A LOT MORE LIBERAL NOW.

SO IF WE HAVE TO SUE Y'ALL AND GO TO THE SUPREME COURT, WE THINK WE GOT A CHANCE.

>> TERRY, YOU'RE UP NOW.

WHY DON'T LAWMAKERS HAVE A MAP TO COUNTER THAT MAP?

>> PART OF IT IS THE PROCESS, BECAUSE IT'S A BRAND-NEW PROCESS.

I PREDICT NEXT WEEK YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR CHICKEN LITTLE YELLING THAT THE SKY IS FALLING AND CIVILIZATION IS GOING TO END IN OHIO UNLESS WE ADOPT WHATEVER SAM AND SOME OF HIS PEOPLE WANT.

THE REALITY IS LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND A LOT OF KEY DEMOCRATS LIKE JOYCE BEATTY, THEY GOT THEIR IDEAS, AND THEN HOW THEY WANT THE DISTRICTS STRONG.

SOME DISTRICTS HAVE POPULATIONS LIKE JOYCES, SOME HAVE SHRUNK LIKE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ONE IN THE CLEVELAND/AKRON AREA SO THERE WILL BE BIPARTISAN INPUT INCLUDING THE FATHER WHO IS THE STATE SENATOR AND THE DAUGHTER WHO IS THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER.

SO IT WILL BE VERY BIPARTISAN, THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

FRANKLIN COUNTY COULD HAVE 12 DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

DO YOU CREATE TWO OR THREE OR FOUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN DEMOCRAT HOUSE DISTRICTS HERE AS AN EXAMPLE?

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF BIPARTISANSHIP.

BUT NEXT WEEK, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE THE SKY IS FALLING AND UNLESS THIS IS ADOPTED, NOBODY'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT IN OHIO.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

TIME FOR OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOT.

SAM?

>> I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW IT'S TIME TO START SCREAMING.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT PASSED THE LEGISLATION ON VOTING IN OHIO.

AND SECOND, WE'RE STARTING THIS PROCESS ON MONDAY.

SO WE NEED TO START SCREAMING.

IF NOT, THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO TAKE YOUR RIGHTS AWAY FROM YOU.

>> AND TERRY CASEY?

>> MY PREDICTION IS, SADLY, AS WE SAW BY LAST THIS WEEK, THE ZOO HAS TURNED INTO A BIT OF A ZOO.

EXCUSE ME, IT'S TURNED BY A CIRCUS, BECAUSE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ABUSE OF HOW MONEY IS SPENT.

IT WILL BE A LOT MORE, MORE ON THE EXECUTIVES, THE BOARD MEMBERS.

THEY NEED REAL REFORM IN TERMS OF THEIR BOARD MEMBERSHIP AND THE QUALITY OF THE BOARD.

>> ANNA STAVER?

WITH THE ARTWORK BEHIND YOU.

>> YES, REDISTRICTING IS NOT THE ONLY MEETING HAPPENING NEXT LAWMAKERS ARE COMING BACK EARLY TO TALK ABOUT VACCINES.

THEY'RE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD A BILL THAT WOULD PREVENT BUSINESSES, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, BASICALLY ANY COMPANY HERE IN OHIO FROM MANDATING EMPLOYEES TO GET VACCINATED.

WE'LL BE WATCHING TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

>> A COUPLE OF CONCERT VENUES IN COLUMBUS ARE MANDATING THE FOLKS ATTENDING THE CONCERTS BE VACCINATED, CAUSING AI LOT OF CHATTER AT SOCIAL MEDIA.

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

PLEASE CHECK US OUT ONLINE.

YOU CAN SEE EACH AND EVERY EPISODE WHENEVER HE WANT TO AT WOSU.ORG/COTR.

FOR OUR CREW AND THE ARTISTS, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.