>> MIKE DeWINE PUTS IN THE COACH.

>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

MOST OHIOANS PROBABLY GAVE LITTLE THOUGHT TO WHO GOVERNOR DeWINE WOULD PICK TO BE HIS NEXT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SPECULATION OVER JON HUSTED'S REPLACEMENT WAS LARGELY LIMITED TO CAPITAL SQUARE, AND IT'S SAFE TO SAY HARDLY ANYONE HAD JIM TRESSEL ON THEIR LIST OF POSSIBLE CANDIDATES.

BUT, THERE HE WAS, STANDING NEXT TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE FORMER OSU FOOTBALL COACH AND YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT IS OHIO'S SECOND IN COMMAND.

>> HE HAS THE REQUISITE SKILLSET.

HE HAS THE CRITERIA THAT I OUTLINED.

HE KNOWS OHIO.

JIM TRESSEL, I TRUST HIS JUDGEMENT.

HE IS A BORN LEADER.

HE'S A LEADER WHEREVER HE HAS BEEN.

>> I KNOW THERE WON'T BE ANY LACK OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, AND THINK ABOUT, AND WORK ON.

I'LL HAVE A LOT OF LEARNING.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THIS WORLD PARTICULARLY.

FORTUNATELY I BELIEVE IN OUR GOVERNOR AND WHAT HE BELIEVES IN, AND MY FIRST JOB IS TO GO TO SCHOOL ON THAT.

>> WAS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT HE WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION?

ANY CONSIDERATION HE WANTED THIS JOB, JIM TRESSEL?

>> HE HAS BEEN NAMED AS POSSIBLE MANY TIMES.

BUT MY COUNTERPART HAD THAT UP VERY QUICKLY, I MEAN WITHIN I DON'T KNOW, 30 SECONDS OF NAMING SHE HAD SOMETHING UP.

I THINK SHE SUSPECTED IT MIGHT BE SOMEONE OTHER THAN WHO EVERYONE THOUGHT MIGHT BE THE ONE THAT GOT CHOSEN.

SHE IS THE HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT WAS KIND OF A BIT OF A SURPRISE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> WHY JIM TRESSEL?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS MIKE DeWINE SAID IS HE WANTED TO CHOOSE SOMEONE FOR THE JOB THAT'S IN SUCCESSION AS FIRST IN LINE FROM THE GOVERNOR.

HE ALSO MAY BE THINKING OF WHO IS FIT TO SUCCEED HIM.

BUT, JIM TRESSEL HAS EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE OF HIS ROLE FORMALLY AT THE YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY.

AS PRESIDENT HE IS SOMEONE WHO HAD SOME CONNECTIONS WITH CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO, REALLY AN OUTSIDE THE BOX PICK MAY BE SURPRISING FOR A FOOTBALL COACH TO HAVE THE POSITION, BUT IT MAKES SENSE.

>> IN 20 YEARS INCLUDING FOUR YEARS AS SPEAKER, SIX YEARS AS GOVERNOR, AND JIM TRESSEL HAS DEALT WITH THE LEGISLATURE, BUT NO DIRECT EXPERIENCE IN THE STATEHOUSE, MARK.

IS THAT A GOOD CHOICE ON THAT ALONE?

>> THEY HAVE FOOTBALL IN COMMON.

WE ARE MOVING INTO AN AGE WHERE THE ESTABLISHMENT CREDENTIALS THAT WOULD NORMALLY PUT YOU IN THE LINES TO HAVE A JOB LIKE THIS ARE BECOMING SOMEWHAT LESS IMPORTANT.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T HAVE PEOPLE'S CREDENTIALS, IT JUST MEANS THEY ARE DIFFERENT CREDENTIALS.

IF HE WENT RIGHT FROM THE FOOTBALL COACH TO LG I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE MY DOUBTS, BUT HE WORKED AT THE UNIVERSITY AT AKRON AS VICE PRESIDENT.

THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT UNIVERSITY IN THIS STATE.

THEN HE WAS THE RESIDENT OF YOUNGSTOWN, ANOTHER IMPORTANT INSTITUTION.

HAVING THEIR OWN POLITICS TO THEM, BECAUSE THERE IS CAMPUS POLITICS, I THINK IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE.

>> WHEN WE WATCHED HIM AS COACH OF OHIO STATE HE WAS ALWAYS VERY POLISHED IN HIS NEWS CONFERENCES, COULD DODGE QUESTIONS LIKE THE BEST OF THEM, WHAT TOOK HIM SO LONG TO GET INTO POLITICS IS THE QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT HIM.

>> FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE DURING THE NEXT ELECTION, BUT WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT HERE IS HE IS A SAFE PICK IF YOU'VE EVER DEALT WITH FACULTY COUNSEL, THERE'S A LOT OF POLITICS ON A FACULTY COUNSEL, AND WE HAVE FACULTY AROUND US.

BUT HE DOES HAVE A LEARNING CURVE.

I HEARD HIM SORT OF FLOAT VERY QUIETLY THAT HE WANTS TO DEFINE WHAT CAN BE BARGAINED AND WHAT CAN'T BE BARGAINED.

SOME OF THAT IS GOVERNED BY FEDERAL LAW.

SOME OF THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE DANGEROUS WITH OUR CURRENT LEGISLATURE, WHICH WOULD TRY TO LEAVE ALMOST NOTHING TO BARGAIN.

THOSE ARE WHAT MINEFIELDS HE WILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH.

AND, I HEARD THAT ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING AND WAS LIKE, I THINK HE NEEDS TO DIAL BACK A BIT.

>> THERE WILL BE SOME ROOKIE MISTAKES, I AM SURE, RIGHT, JOE?

FOR A GUY WHO DOES NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF LAWMAKING--AND NOT AS POLISHED AS FAR AS POLITICAL SPEECH GOES.

>> I THINK THERE WOULD BE ROOKIE MISTAKES ANYWAY.

I MEAN HONESTLY, IF YOU LOOK AT POLISHED LAWMAKERS THEY COME IN AND MAKE MISTAKES.

BUT, I THINK, YOU KNOW AS YOU ARE POINTING OUT, WHEN YOU ARE A COLLEGE PRESIDENT YOU HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENCIES.

PLUS, YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

DON'T FORGET, WHO DO YOU THINK GETS YOU FUNDING?

WHERE DO YOU GO TO GET THOSE BIG DONORS?

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH ALL THAT?

HAVING THOSE SKILLS ARE THE VERY SAME SKILLS THAT YOU USING GOVERNMENT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT HE DOES HAVE THE SKILL SET.

WILL HE MAKE MISTAKES?

PROBABLY.

BUT WHO WANT?

>> GETTING BACK WHAT YOU ALLUDED TO, HE TOLD YOUNGSTOWN INDICATOR HE HAS NOT RULED IT OUT, JIM TRESSEL, A RUN FOR STATE OFFICE.

YOU'VE GOT TO THINK HE'S TOYING WITH THE IDEA.

YOU DON'T TAKE THIS JOB WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT DOWN THE ROAD RIGHT?

>> THAT HAS BEEN IN CONVERSATION FROM THE MOMENT PRETTY MUCH WHEN HE WAS ANNOUNCED.

AND I THINK ANY GOOD POLITICIAN KEEPS THEIR EYES OPEN.

HE'S BEEN ASKED THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT GETS MORE COVERAGE, IT GIVES MORE ATTENTION TO HIS CAUSE.

SO WE WILL SEE IF THE GOVERNOR WERE TRYING TO PICK SOMEBODY WHO COULD POTENTIALLY RUN FOR OFFICE, JIM TRESSEL WOULD BE PRETTY HIGH ON TOP OF THE LIST AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HERE.

PEOPLE DISCUSS HIM RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

WHEN I ASKED WHY HAVEN'T YOU, HE SAID I'VE BEEN BUSY YOU KNOW, ANDREW.

BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY SEE IT HAPPENING.

>> SO, MARK, IS THIS A SIGN THAT GOVERNOR MIKE DeWINE IS NOT HAPPY WITH VIVEK RAMASWAMY AS A POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR?

>> SOME PEOPLE ARE READING THAT.

I THINK WHAT'S MORE LIKELY HAPPENING HERE IS MIKE DeWINE WANTS FOLKS TO KNOW HE HAS TWO MORE YEARS LEFT, AND HE IS NOT GOING TO BE A QUIET CARETAKER GOVERNOR, ALTHOUGH HE CANNOT RUN AGAIN.

HE CAN STILL CHANGE UP THE POLITICAL ORDER IN OHIO.

HE HAS DONE THAT WITH THIS PICK AND I THINK HE'S VERY PLEASED HE WAS ABLE TO SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> AMY, BRIAN, AGAINST JIM TRESSEL.

>> IT WILL BE A BATTLE OF THE VALLEY, TWO YOUNGSTOWN FOLKS.

BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT AN OUTSIDER AMY WOULD BE IT.

>> SHE GETS CRITICIZED FOR BEING TOO NICE.

JIM TRESSEL SEEMS TO BE A NICE GUY.

CAN HE HANDLE THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE WORLD OF NEGATIVE ADS, FIGHTING ATTACKS BY OPPONENTS?

>> THAT IS THE ONE PROBLEM WITH POLITICS, BUT ALSO AS MARK WILL TELL YOU WITH CANDIDACIES, IT'S A DICEY THING.

PEOPLE THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH IT LIKE DONALD TRUMP DOES.

THAT IS NOT THE NORM.

AND SO IF THAT BITING KIND OF STUFF HAPPENS IT BACKFIRES.

>> OKAY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS EXPANDED AND SPREAD RAPIDLY IN 2020 AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

MANY WELCOMED THE EFFORT, MANY THOUGHT THEY WENT TOO FAR.

NOW THEY ARE REALLY UNDER FIRE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP ISSUED AN ORDER GETTING RID OF DEI PROGRAMS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THIS WEEK THE OHIO SENATE PASSED A BILL THAT BANS THEM ON OHIO PUBLIC COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

MANY UNIVERSITIES ARE NOT WAITING FOR THE BILL TO PASS THE HOUSE BEFORE ACTING.

TWO TOP DIVERSITY OFFICIALS AT OHIO STATE HAVE LEFT THEIR POSTS RECENTLY.

AND, MANY PRIVATE COMPANIES HAVE ALSO ELIMINATED OR NARROWED THE SCOPE OF THEIR FORMAL DIVERSITY EFFORTS.

ANDREW TOBIAS, IT WAS REALLY NO DOUBT IT WAS GOING TO PASS.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING IS A SIMILAR BILL ADVANCED THROUGH THE SENATE IN THE LAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY, FROZEN HOUSE FOR A LONG TIME.

THEY WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE CHANGES TO IT, NAMELY A LOT OF OPPOSITION HAD TO DEAL WITH THE BARGAINING, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ISSUES.

AND WE'VE GONE BACK TO SQUARE ONE WITH THE BILL.

MATT HUFFMAN, THE HOUSE SPEAKER THIS WEEK POINTED OUT THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW REPUBLICANS IN THE CHAMBER.

THE SUPPORT WILL TAKE A LONG WAIT IN GETTING A HEARING.

I THINK GIVEN THE CHANGE IN THE LEGISLATURE, GIVEN THE CHANGE IN THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF REPUBLICANS ARE CONSIDERING NEGOTIATING ON WHAT THEY PASSED WILL BE PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT MAKES INTO LAW ULTIMATELY.

>> DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR SUPPORTS THIS BILL, JO?

>> YEAH, I THINK HE SUPPORTS IT.

THERE MIGHT BE THINGS AROUND THE EDGES HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

AND WHEN IT GOES TO THE HOUSE THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY IT WILL CHANGE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS MORE SUPPORT FOR IT IN THE HOUSE, IN THIS HOUSE, THAN THERE WAS IN THE LAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SO, WHAT COMES OUT OF IT, HOW IT HAS CHANGED, REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> REMEMBER WE ARE COMING UP ON TWO YEARS SINCE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT SAID IT VIOLATES THE 14th AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR UNIVERSITIES TO TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY BASED ON RACIAL TOURISTIC SPIRIT AND SO THE NOTION THAT WE WOULD FOLLOW UP ON THIS IS NOT PARTICULARLY CONTROVERSIAL, SINCE IT'S THE LAW OF THE LAND.

>> DEI IS JUST AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.

I MEAN THERE IS NOT A WOMAN THAT IS WATCHING THIS THAT HAS NOT GONE INTO SOME EFFORT TO TRY AND GET A JOB THAT HAS NOT FELT LIKE THEY WEREN'T BEING TREATED ON MERIT IN SOME INSTANCE.

THERE'S NOT A BLACK OR BROWN PERSON IN OHIO THAT HASN'T EVER GONE INTO THOSE SITUATIONS.

AND AS A GAY OHIOAN, YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS BEING TREATED BASED ON THE MERITS.

IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION.

>> BECAUSE ONE PERSON BEING DISCRIMINATE AGAINST HAS A LAWSUIT AND THERE'S HUNDREDS OF LAWYERS WHO WILL PICK UP THAT LAWSUIT FOR THEM, BUT THE NOTION OF UNIVERSITY SAYING WE WILL START OUT SAYING IT'S TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY BASED ON THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T CONTROL-- THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS.

>> THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

>> DEI HIRING AFTER THE STUNNING MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND ALL THE PROTESTS AND PEOPLE WERE OUTRAGED, WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF COVID, DID SOME DEI PROGRAMS GO TOO FAR TO MARK >> I DON'T THINK SO, BECAUSE I WORKED AT THE UAW WHERE WE HAD PLANS, I DEALT WITH THINGS LIKE NOOSES THAT WERE HANGING.

I THINK THESE PROGRAMS ARE ABOUT TREATING EVERYBODY AS EQUAL SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES.

>> MARK, WOULD YOU AGREE THAT IT HAS BEEN HARDER FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, FOR WOMEN, TO GET JOBS THEY ARE QUALIFIED FOR THROUGH THE DECADES, AND THIS IS WHETHER IT BE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OR EDUCATION TRYING TO AT LEAST CORRECT THOSE WRONGS AND MAKE THEM FEEL A LITTLE MORE LEVEL?

>> OF COURSE, AND THAT'S WHAT THE 1960s AND 1970s WERE ALL ABOUT.

NOW WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO COME OUT OF COLLEGE, GET INTO LAW SCHOOL, THERE HAVE BEEN SPECIFIC PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN COLOR, OR WENT INTO THE 14th AMENDMENT IS THE LAW OF THE LAND.

WE DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHAT EQUAL PROTECTION MEANS.

EQUAL PROTECTION MEANS YOU ARE BASED ON YOUR MERIT, NOT BASED ON YOUR CHARACTERISTICS.

>> BUT, YOU ARE TWISTING THIS, BECAUSE THE EQUAL PROTECTION IS ABOUT ALLOWING EVERYBODY NOT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

AND, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS THERE'S THIS TWISTED THING ESPECIALLY ON THE PART OF THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE TO SAY ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE BASED ON MERIT.

BUT IT'S NOT.

>> SO, ANDREW, ONE OF THE PARTS OF THIS BILL IS TO ENCOURAGE, REQUIRE PROFESSORS TO ACCEPT ALL POINTS OF VIEW ARE REASONABLY ALL POINTS OF VIEW.

HOW DO YOU ENFORCE THAT?

>> WELL, THE WAY THAT BILL PUTS IT IS UNIVERSITIES HAVE TO SET UP A PROCEDURE TO HANDLE STUDENT COMPLAINTS.

I KNOW THERE IS AN ELEMENT WITH ULTIMATELY THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE FUNDING NOT DEEMED COMPLIANT WITH ALL PARTS OF THE BILL, SO I AM SURE THE UNIVERSITY WILL HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES LEGISLATURE IS THE BACKSTOP CREATED AS A POLITICAL PROCESS AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> THE EXAMPLE THE OPPONENTS USE IS WE WILL ALLOW LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

THE BEST WAY OF COURSE WE SHOULD LET SOMEBODY STAY UP AND SAY THE EARTH IS FLAT BECAUSE EVERYONE WILL IMMEDIATELY KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER BE LISTENED TO, BECAUSE IT'S A GOOFY IDEA.

OF COURSE THE HOLOCAUST HAPPENED AND ANYBODY WHO SAYS IT DIDN'T WILL BE MARGINALIZED FOR SUCH A STUPID VIEW.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID IN NAZI GERMANY.

>> NO, NO, IN GERMANY THEY SHUT DOWN FREE SPEECH.

EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY WITH THEY WANT, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHEN IT IS STUPID.

>> AS PRESIDENT TRUMP CONTINUES HIS AGGRESSIVE ATTACK ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM AND SPENDING, MORE AND MORE OHIO ORGANIZATIONS ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS.

GROUPS THAT HELP IMMIGRANTS HAVE FELT IT.

THIS WEEK SOME HEAVY HITTERS FELT THE STING.

OHIO STATE AND NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL STOOD TO LOSE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH FUNDING UNTIL A JUDGE PUT A HOLD ON THE CUT.

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH MOVED TO REDUCE THE INDIRECT EXPENSES PAY FOR BUILDINGS, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, AND UTILITIES.

OSU AND CHILDREN'S STOOD TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY.

SUPPORTERS OF THE MOVE SAY IT WILL ENSURE THAT RESEARCH GRANTS PAY PRIMARILY FOR RESEARCH.

CRITICS SAID WITHOUT THE INDIRECT COST ASSISTANCE, LABS WOULD SHUT DOWN.

MARKET, USAID -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT $47 MILLION CUT TO OSU, A $9 MILLION CUT TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THEN THESE CUTS GET A LITTLE MORE REAL.

>> YEAH, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS SUPPOSED TO CARRY OUT THE LAWS ISSUED BY THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

THIS PRESIDENT HAS SAID HE HAS PRIORITIES, AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS HE WENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ELECTION CYCLE SAYING EXACTLY WHAT HE WOULD DO, NOW HE'S DOING IT.

BY THE WAY HIS POPULARITY RATING IS THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN.

DOES THAT MEAN EVERYONE WILL AGREE WITH?

NO.

THESE EARLY PROGRAMS THAT MIGHT FACE FUNDING CUTS COME ARE THEY GOING TO BE STOPPED?

I SUSPECT THEY WILL COME INTO LINE WITH WHAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS ASKING, AND FUNDING WILL CONTINUE, BUT NOT IN SOME OF THE EXTREME WAYS AMERICANS VOTED AGAINST.

>> HOW DOES THIS TRICKLE DOWN TO, I ASSUME THE STATE LAWMAKERS, AND WE ARE GETTING CALLS, FEDERAL LAWMAKERS ARE GETTING CALLS, ANDREW, SAYING WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THE JUDGE DID STOP IT, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL TURN OUT.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN A PRETTY AD HOC PROCESS, BUT IF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A GIANT FEDERAL AGENCY AND CASTING A BROAD BRUSH AGAINST EVERYTHING IT DOES IT WILL HAVE TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECTS.

I DON'T COVER CONGRESS, BUT I'VE READ REPORTS ABOUT LAWMAKERS LOBBYING FOR INDIVIDUAL, THINGS THAT ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK TO BE PRESERVED.

WE WILL HAVE TO BUCKLE UP AND GO WITH THE RIDE ON THIS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT EVEN PEOPLE IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE COMING NEXT ON THIS.

>> IT MAKES THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS KIND OF BORING, DOESN'T IT?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

>> NO YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE THAT, BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DYNAMICS GOING ON IN THAT BUDGET PROCESS THAT MAKE IT VERY INTERESTING AS WELL, AND ACTUALLY ELON MUSK YOU ARE SEEING GET YOU NO MORE IN YOUR FACE, AT THE STATEHOUSE IT'S MORE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS [ LAUGHTER ] >> IS THAT THE DIFFERENCE?

BRIAN, FEDERAL SPENDING HAS INCREASED IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.

IT HAPPENS GRADUALLY OVER EIGHT YEARS, NOT MUCH FANFARE.

HERE IT'S ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S VERY PUBLIC, AND IT'S VERY AGGRESSIVE.

>> WELL, I THINK PART OF THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY BECAUSE OF COVID FEDERAL FUNDING.

THAT'S WHY SOME OF THAT IS EXPIRING, SOME OF THAT IS IMPACTING THE STATE BUDGET.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO START FEELING IT-- EVERYBODY WILL START FEELING IT INCLUDING THE FOREIGN AID WHICH WILL AFFECT FARMERS, BECAUSE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS ARE ABOUT PROVIDING FOOD IN PLACES OF NEED.

IT'S RECKLESS.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT ALL OF US BUT IT WILL IMPACT OUR POCKETBOOKS.

I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE CALLS IT SHORT-TERM PAYING, BUT I THINK THE TARIFFS ALONG WITH THESE ARE GOING TO CAUSE SOME LONG-TERM PAIN THAT PEOPLE WILL FEEL.

YOU ARE ALREADY SEEING, MARK, THERE'S A POLL OUT TODAY THAT HAS COMPLETELY FLIPPED 51% DISAPPROVAL OF WHAT HE HAS DONE.

>> WE ARE STILL DIVIDED, AND SPEAKING OF POLLS, ON TRUMP'S ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN, A NEW POLL SHOWS OHIOANS ARE NOT SO SURE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

56% ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS HAVING ON SCHOOLS.

WHEN ASKED IF SCHOOLS SHOULD I. D. PARENTS WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, ONLY 42% SAID YES.

SO, MARK, THIS SHOWS THE DIVISION IN THE COUNTRY, BUT IT ALSO SHOWS WHILE PEOPLE LIKE THE IDEA OF CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, HOW IT'S DONE CAN CAUSE CONCERN.

>> YEAH, I DOUBT MOST PARENTS WANT TO ENCOURAGE I. C. E. TO COME IN AND START LOOTING THROUGH LOCKERS.

IT'S THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE SAID THEY WILL STOP FEDERAL LAW- ENFORCEMENT FROM DOING THEIR JOBS AS THE ONES THAT ARE MAKING THE MISTAKE.

IMAGINE IF SOMEBODY HAD AN ILLEGAL MACHINE GUN IN SCHOOL, ATF AGENTS COME FOR IT, AND THE SCHOOL SAYS ATF AGENTS CAN'T COME IN AND ENFORCE--WE HAVE SEEN SOME ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COMMIT SOME SERIOUS ABSCESS IN HIGH SCHOOLS WE HAVE GANG MEMBERS, WE HAVE GANG MEMBERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES GOING TO HIGH SCHOOLS IN AMERICA BRINGING WEAPONS WITH THE THEM WHERE THEY CAN, AND IT'S A REALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR PEOPLE LIKE LAKEN RILEY WHO GOT RAPED AND KILLED.

>> NOT IN A SCHOOL THOUGH.

MORE SHOOTINGS HAPPEN BY WHITE MALES -- >> WHO SHOULD BE SENTENCED AND SENT TO PRISON, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO IMPORT A WHOLE NEW SET OF CRIMINAL PROBLEMS LIKE WHEN WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CRIMINALS' PROBLEMS.

>> WHERE DOES THE GOVERNOR STAND ON I. C. E. HAS HE OFFERED ASSISTANCE?

>> THERE'S A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE IT SO CITIES COULD NOT HAVE, ONE CITY COULD HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN ANOTHER CITY AS FAR AS POSSIBLE POLICY.

IT WOULD EVEN IT OUT.

THERE WAS SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT DIED LAST TIME AROUND, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE SUPPORT NOW.

ALSO, IF YOU TALK TO THE LAWMAKERS A LOT OF THEM ARE SAYING YOU KNOW, WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF STATE DOLLARS ON THINGS LIKE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE AND THINGS THAT IS COSTING, THEY SAY, THE STATE TO HAVE THESE ILLEGAL BUT YOU KNOW, IMMIGRANTS IN THE SCHOOLS, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT.

>> SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE LEGAL, THOUGH.

>> THERE ARE, BUT THAT'S TPS, TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS, AND THAT COULD GO AWAY.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR LAST TOPIC.

MOST AGREE THE OHIO'S ENERGY NEEDS ARE GROWING RAPIDLY.

DATA CENTERS FILLED WITH POWERFUL COMPUTERS AND AIR CONDITIONERS NEED LOTS OF ELECTRICITY.

INTEL'S COMPUTER CHIP FACTORIES WILL NEED LOTS OF POWER.

UTILITIES AND STATE REGULATORS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE ENERGY IS GOING TO COME FROM.

HOW TO GET IT TO WHERE IT'S NEEDED.

AND, WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

THIS WEEK A GROUP OF STATEWIDE BUSINESSES CALLED ON STATE OFFICIALS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD POWER PLANTS AND TRANSMISSION LINES.

BRIAN ROTHENBERG, THE NEED IS THERE, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET IT?

>> THE BEST WAY TO GET IT IS, LIKE, THINK THROUGH IT BEFORE YOU DO THESE DATA CENTERS.

THEY CREATE JOBS ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY JOBS THEY CREATE FOR OHIOANS LONG-TERM, BUT THEY WILL CAUSE LONG-TERM COST.

AND MY CONCERN IS CONSUMERS WILL WIND UP PAYING FOR IT, SO WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO ALLOW FOR THE EMERGENCE OF HOW TO DO THE ENERGY BILL BUT, WE ALSO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM HAVING TO PAY FOR THIS.

IF THESE DATA CENTERS ARE HERE THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO PAY FOR SOME OF THIS.

>> THERE IS AN ENERGY BILL THAT HAS NOT BEEN INTRODUCED YET THAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, IT IS DESCRIBED AS CLEARING THE DECK AND ELIMINATING ABILITIES POWER PRODUCERS HAVE FOR TAX SURCHARGES ON TO CUSTOMERS' BILLS TO PAY FOR VARIOUS THINGS.

THEY ARE KIND OF UNDOING SOME OF THE REFORMS THAT THEY DID WHEN THEY DEREGULATED ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

BUT, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN A LOT OF DETAILS, SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY WILL DEAL WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS HERE.

>> WOULD IT BE EASY TO BUILD A FOSSIL FUEL POWER PLANT THESE DAYS?

>> I'M NOW ENERGY EXPERT, BUT I READ A LOT.

THE SMALLER NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS TO PROVIDE THIS POWER OUTSIDE JAPAN AND RUSSIA, AMERICAN NUCLEAR ENERGY IS VERY SAFE, AND NOW THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THESE PLANTS THE SIZE OF A HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM TO BE ABLE TO POWER JUST ONE PARTICULAR PLACE LIKE A CHIP FACTORY.

SO I THINK WE WILL SEE MORE NUCLEAR.

>> AS LONG AS THEY CAN REGULATED, AND ELON MUSK DOESN'T GET RID OF THAT.

>> I DON'T THINK HE WANTS TO GET RID OF ALL REGULATION, I THINK HE WANTS TO GET RID OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE, AND I'M FOR IT.

>> SO INDUSTRIAL SOLAR FARMS, CLEAR SAILING FROM THAT ONE?

>> NOW THAT'S A LITTLE -- [ LAUGHTER ] NO, I THINK YOU WILL STILL HAVE THAT OPPOSITION TO THAT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT IS HOW DO YOU GET THIS MASSIVE AMOUNT OF POWER THAT YOU NEED?

AND IT'S A BIG QUESTION, BECAUSE WHEN YOU MOVE ONE PART SOMETHING ELSE CHANGES.

>> AND THESE DATA CENTERS, YOU KNOW HOW COMPUTERS ARE, THEY WILL BE OBSOLETE IN 10 YEARS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS BENCHMARK >> THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT WITH OHIO IS WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH INCENTIVES TO BUILD THEM?

NOW THE LEGISLATURE IS I'M NOT SURE MAYBE THERE ARE MORE JOBS THAN I AM AWARE OF THAT GO INTO THESE FACILITIES, BUT I'M NOT SURE.

>> IF THE DATA CENTER CLOSED IT WOULD BE CONTAMINATION IN LESS IT'S A NEW PLANT THEY HAVE TO CLEAN UP NEXT DOOR.

>> AGAIN, AMERICAN SAFETY IS PRETTY STRONG IN THIS AREA.

>> OKAY, TIME FOR OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

>> -- SOME ARE SAYING, PRIVACY FOR CRIME VICTIMS, THAT POLICE OFFICERS CAN NEVER BE A CRIME VICTIM EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ASSAULTED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO DO, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL FIND ANYONE CAN BE A CRIME VICTIM.

>> BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE UNVEILING OF ERIC BROWN'S PORTRAIT.

FIRST JEWISH SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, IT WAS APPROPRIATE, AND IT'S TAKING WAY TOO LONG TO DO IT.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET THAT ESSENTIALLY IMAGINES IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WERE TO CUT THE STATE'S MATCH ON MEDICAID EXPANSION THE STATE WOULD THEN IMMEDIATELY TERMINATE MEDICAID EXPANSION IN OHIO.

THERE ARE ABOUT 700,000 PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THAT.

THAT'S, NOT ONLY DOES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO REALLY AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES IN A DIRECT WAY TO WHICH IS WHY WE NEED TO WATCH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, BUT ALSO REVISE THE ARGUMENTS AROUND SENDING THAT PROGRAM UP IN THE FIRST PLACE.

PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS WOULD EVENTUALLY HAPPEN, SO THAT'S A BIG STORY THAT COULD DEVELOP.

>> AND JO?

>> A LOT OF IRONY HERE, JIM TRESSEL WAS SWORN IN ON VALENTINE'S DAY, AND IT HAPPENS TO BE WOODY HAYES'S BIRTHDAY.

SO YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE VETTING THE NUMBERS THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD NUMBER FOR HIM, NUMBER 14.

>> I PREDICT REPORTERS IN CALIFORNIA CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER BECAME GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA THE MOVIE REFERENCES, I'LL BE BACK, AND ALL OF THAT, REALLY INCREASED, SO I PREDICT FOOTBALL CLICHES WILL BE A NUMBER ONE IN SPEECHES AROUND THE STATEHOUSE WITH REGARDS TO OUR NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THE COMING WEEKS.

THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

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AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME ON OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.

ORG/COTR, WE ARE ALSO ON YOUTUBE AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.