>>> AT LONG LAST , LARRY HOUSHOLDER GETS HIS DAY IN COURT.

>>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

IT HAS BEEN 30 MONTHS SINCE FBI AGENT SHOWED UP AT LARRY HOUSHOLDER'S FARM AND ARRESTED HIM ON CHARGES HE LED THE LARGEST BRIBERY SCHEME IN OHIO'S HISTORY.

THIS WEEK, HIS FEDERAL TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY WITH JURY SELECTION.

HOUSHOLDER AND REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR, MATT BORGES, FACE BRIBERY AND RACKETEERING CHARGES.

PRUSSIC IT IS CLAIMED THEY AT LEAST THREE OTHERS TOOK TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM FIRSTENERGY, AND IN RETURN, GUIDED A $1 BILLION BAILOUT OF THE COMPANIES POWER PLANTS.

TWO OTHER DEFENDANTS HAVE PLEADED GUILTY , A THIRD TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.

HOUSHOLDER AND BORGES INNOCENCE.

ANDY CHOW, WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IN THIS TRIAL?

>> THE LAST TWO MONTHS, A LOT OF STUFF, ONE THING LOOKING FOR.

>> LIKE YOU SAID, THIS IS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND WE HEARD OF THE CHARGES IN THE AFFIDAVIT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS PUT OUT THERE THAT THERE ARE SECRET RECORDINGS FROM UNDERCOVER OFFICERS, BUT REALLY IT IS TO SEE WHAT THE RECORDING SAY, WHO SAID WHAT DURING THOSE RECORDINGS, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO CONNECT THEM FROM JUST A SIMPLE, HEY, I PASS POLICY THAT I BELIEVED IN AND TO THIS WAS A QUID PRO QUO.

>> AND WE TALKED TO FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY .

WHAT DOES HE LOOK , WHAT IS HE LOOKING FOR?

WHAT DID HE TELL YOU?

TO DO WELL, I MEAN, HE SAID HE IS AN OUTSIDER, HE MADE THAT CLEAR.

I THINK HE IS LOOKING AT HOW THEY, WHAT'S THE WORD, ORCHESTRATE?

HOW THEY DRAW THE DANCE STEPS.

THAT IS GOING TO WORK SHE SAID THE FIRST WEEK IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE PRETTY PERFUNCTORY, A LOT OF THIS IS, TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS.

AND THEN IN THE SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH WEEK, THEY CAN ROLL OUT SOME OF THE MORE DRAMATIC ISSUES THAT A LOT OF US ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT.

>> WITNESSES ARE GOING TO BE STRONG SUFFICIENT WHO THEY ARE, BUT WHO IS WHO ON CAPITOL HILL.

>> SURE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE YOST IS, I THINK, GOING TO BE CALLED AS A WITNESS.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVES WHO , REPUBLICANS, THAT ARE BEING CALLED AND THEY SHOULD BE.

BECAUSE OF INFORMATION THEY SHOULD PUT IT FORWARD.

I MEAN, I THINK THIS, TO ME, IS PRETTY CLEAR-CUT .

I MEAN, I THINK THAT FIRSTENERGY WANTED SOMETHING , THEY CREATED THIS DARK MONEY PACKED THAT HELP LARRY HOUSHOLDER AND HIS CANDIDATES DURING THE PRIMARIES SO THAT EVENTUALLY HE GOT ELECTED SPEAKER AND YOU KNOW, IF HE IS GUILTY, PUT HIM IN JAIL.

>> IT HAS BEEN 30 MONTHS, 2 1/2 YEARS, AND THEY HAD THE FIVE ORIGINAL.

BUT PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION, NO ONE FROM FIRSTENERGY OR INDIVIDUALS FROM FIRSTENERGY HAVE BEEN CHARGED SO WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THIS TRIAL?

>> I THINK YOU ARE IN THAT A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT HERE.

THIS IS SO FAR BEYOND JUST LARRY HOUSHOLDER AND EVEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY , I THINK WHAT THE PUBLIC WILL BE WATCHING FOR IS WHETHER OR NOT THE POWERFUL AND THOSE THAT ARE IN VERY INFLUENTIAL POSITIONS CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FIRE INSTITUTIONS RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

>> THIS IS NOT PRETTY, GOT HARDBALL POLITICS, THE WAY THE GAME WAS PLAYED .

>> GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE DAY THAT HOUSHOLDER UNVEILED HEY, DO YOU PERCEIVE A LOT OF MONEY FROM FIRSTENERGY AND NOW YOU'RE BAILING OUT FIRSTENERGY, IS THERE A CONNECTION HERE, AND HE SAYS NO, THIS IS JUST THE WAY THINGS ARE HANDLED.

BUT YEAH, THERE ARE CERTAIN WAYS THAT THINGS ARE HANDLED, IT COMES TO POLICYMAKING.

WE RARELY, NOR HAVE WE EVER SEEN SOMEONE CREATE A 501(C) FOR TO HAVE ANY FUNNELED INTO THAT GREATLY AND THAT 501(C) FOUR THE GENERATION NOW, PUT UP A HUGE FIGHT TO NOT ONLY HELP LARRY HOUSHOLDER BECOME SPEAKER BUT THEN HOW ACTIVE THE HB SIX AND NOW THE REFERENDUM FIGHT.

>> THE OTHERS NOT BEING CHARGE, YOU SHOULD, YOU KNOW, SAY THAT IF THEY'RE NOT CHARGED YET, BUT ONE THING, FOR ANOTHER, THE FEWER YOU CHARGE, THE FEWER ISSUES YOU HAVE OUT OF TROUT.

IT NARROWED DOWN TO THESE TWO GUYS.

BUT YOU ARE BRING ON THE LOANS OF MONEY AND WORKING FOR A CORPORATION THAT COULD EXTENSIVELY DRAG THINGS OUT FOR SO THIS PROBABLY SOME STRATEGY GOING ON THAT WAY, AS WELL.

>> DO HAVE ANY IDEA WHY THEY HAVE BEEN SUBPOENAED?

>> WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE REFERENDUM LANGUAGE AND HE WOULD , HE, I THINK, TURNED DOWN THEIR INITIAL LANGUAGE AND I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY DID YOU TURN IT DOWN ?

DID SOMEBODY TALK TO YOU?

DID LARRY HOUSHOLDER TALK TO YOU?

I THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET AT WITH HIM.

>> AND ON TOP OF THAT, WHEN PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE COLLECTING SIGNATURES, THERE IS A COUNTERPETITION GOING OUT THERE TO HELP ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DECLINE TO SIGN.

AND THERE WAS AN ARGUMENT THERE OVER WELL, IS THERE SOME SHADY BUSINESS HAPPENING?

ARE PETITIONERS GETTING PAID OFF TO TAKE THEIR PENS AND PETITIONS AND GO HOME?

A COMPLAINT FILED, TOO.

>> WILL LARRY HOUSHOLDER TAKE THE STAND?

>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION, IT WOULD BE UNUSUAL IF HE TOOK THE STAND .

SAME WITH MATT BORGES.

IT WOULD BE UNUSUAL.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF HIS EGO WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO TAKE THE STAND [ laughter ] THAT IS MY SUSPICION.

HE IS A FIGHTER.

HOW CAN YOU DO THAT WITHOUT TAKING THE STAND?

HIS LAWYERS DO NOT WANT TO TAKE IN THE STAND.

>> TRAVELED THE STATE AND MAKES HIS CASE TO THE OHIOANS .

I DON'T THINK HE HAS LEFT PERRY COUNTY.

SO >> HE WENT UP IN FRONT OF A HOUSE COMMITTEE AND IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE FLOOR TO MAKE HIS CASE, AND I THINK THAT WAS AGAINST HIS ATTORNEY'S WISHES, TOO.

HE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO PUT UP A FIGHT ON THIS KIND OF THING.

>> WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GET MORGAN HERE, PRETTY GOOD LOOK AT HOW THE CAMPAIGNS WORK.

SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHO IS ON TRIAL, LARRY HOUSHOLDER, OR DARK MONEY?

>> I THINK IN SOME WAYS, BOTH.

AS I WAS LOOKING TO AND IT, IT IS A VERY FINE LINE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DIRTY , DIRTY ACTIVITY THAT IS HAPPENING IN POLITICS.

AND EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT CITIZENS UNITED , THE INFLUENCE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR DECADES.

ONCE WE START TALKING ABOUT ACTIVELY GETTING INVOLVED IN DISSUADING PEOPLE FROM COLLECTING SIGNATURES AND TRYING TO SHIFT THEM TO OTHER STATES, THIS IS BEYOND THE PALE EVEN OF POLITICS AS USUAL.

>> BUSINESSES USUAL JUST PUT IT TO A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL THAN HAD NEVER BEEN HAD BEFORE.

>> WE WILL FIND OUT >> ANYWAY, NEARLY TWO YEARS BEFORE THE ELECTION, THE 2024 U.S. SENATE RACE HAS AN OFFICIAL CANDIDATE.

STATE SENATOR MATT DOLAN THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED HIS BID TO CHALLENGE INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT SHERROD BROWN DOLAN IS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN TO DECLARE HE WAS THE LAST TO DECLARE THE 2022 RACE , EVENTUALLY WON BY JD VANCE.

AND FISHER, IN 2020 WE SAW JD VANCE WON BECAUSE OF TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT BUT OTHER STATES, TRUMP CANDIDATES DID NOT DO WELL.

MATT DOLAN IS A STRONGER CANDIDATE THIS TIME AROUND.

BRIEF HISTORY THERE >> YEAH, ME, YEAH , STATEWIDE NOW, HE HAS LOST .

KIND OF A RIGHT OF PASSAGE IN THE STATE OF OHIO I GUESS.

[ laughter ] AND YOU KNOW, HE ALSO HAS THE MONEY TO SUSTAIN HIMSELF, SO UNTIL HE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, WINS THE PRIMARY AS HE DOES.

A LOT OF THEM DO, HE PROBABLY DID LEARN THAT HE WILL NEED TO GET TO KNOW A LOT OF OHIOANS BEFORE THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM.

AND HE IS PROBABLY AS WELL SITUATED AS HE POSSIBLY COULD BE, JUST BEHIND HIM NOW.

>> THIS CREATES AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BECAUSE HE WANTS THE DIVISION OF MORAN ANTI-TRUMP REPUBLICAN OR A MORE MODERATE REPUBLICAN.

SO WHOEVER ELSE JUMPS INTO THAT RACE, WHERE DO THEY RUN TO IF SOMEONE LIKE SOMEONE OF SECRETARY STATE FRANKLIN GROVE.

DO THEY BECOME MORE MODERATE OR DOES THAT MAKE IT FURTHER TO THE RIGHT?

>> AND ANTI-TRUMP REPUBLICAN?

JD VANCE.

>> I DO THAT.

>> HE WON'T GO COMPLETELY THE OTHER WAY.

>> NO, I DON'T THINK IS, AND LET'S FACE IT, HE WASN'T ANTI- TRUMP COMING, HE'S GOT IT SO RIDICULOUS THAT -- >> FIRST FOUR >> ACTIVELY SEEK TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT, YOU ARE VIEWED AS ANTI-TRUMP OH GOSH, YES.

I KNOW THAT.

SO I MEAN , HIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO JUMPING.

THE MORE CANDIDATES , SOMETIMES CAN HELP YOU, THE MORE CANDIDATES SOMETIMES DON'T.

I AM HEARING FRANK LAREAU, OUR SECRETARY OF STATE IS VERY INTERESTED.

MARINO, WHO RAN IN '22 IS VERY INTERESTED.

IF YOU GET THOSE THREE , IS GOING TO BE TOUGH.

AND THAT IS IT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF PRESIDENT TRUMP GOING TO JOIN IN AND MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT OR NOT?

WE DON'T KNOW WE CAN TELL.

>> MORGAN HARPER, I'M GUESSING THAT MATT DOLAN WANTS THE CANDIDATES?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

COMING FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVE I THINK WE NEED TO BE REALISTIC THAT DONALD TRUMP REMAINS VERY POPULAR IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

THAT DEMOCRATS ARE NOT DOING WELL STATEWIDE ELECTIONS RIGHT NOW.

AND THOUGH SHERROD BROWN HAS , HE IS GOING TO BE FACING THE TURNOUT.

AND SO REGARDLESS OF WHO IS ON THE OTHER SIDE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE PACE AND GETTING CERTAIN PEOPLE.

BUT IN TERMS OF WHO IS THE BEST REPUBLICAN FOR SHERROD BROWN, I DON'T THINK THE DOLAN IS THE MOST DYNAMIC CHARACTER.

YOU KNOW, AND HE IS NOT AN EXTREMIST, FOR SURE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT FRANK LAREAU AND BERNIE, MARINO, ARE ABLE TO READ THIS NEEDLE OF PULLING AND SOME OF THOSE MORE , WHATEVER YOU WANT TO REFER, MODERATE REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW.

>> ANN , THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO TAKE , NON-GUN RESTRICTIONS.

,, TRYING TO MAKE IT HARD FOR 18-YEAR-OLD TO GET DANGEROUS WEAPONS.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY THAT.

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO PROBABLY, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IS AGAINST HIM, IN THE END, THE PRIMARY, GOING TO BE THE BIGGER PROBLEM, I DON'T TO MAKE THE DECISION WITHOUT THAT BUT SOMEHOW SLIDE TO THE FARTHER RIGHT, DEPENDING ON WHAT IS IN THE LAND.

>> THAT IS BEEN THE LAUNDRY PETITION FOR A WHILE NOW, AND HE STILL PERFORMED PRETTY WELL THE LAST REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

HE HAS REBRANDED THAT BILL THIS TIME AROUND, NOT CALLING IT A GUN BILL BUT A PUBLIC SAFETY BILL.

TAKE OFF THE EDGE A LITTLE BIT.

IT WILL DEPEND.

>> I WONDER IF HE DID COME HE DID WELL IN THE PRIMARY AND '22 BUT I WONDER IF HE DID WELL BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY CANDIDATES.

I WONDER HOW WELL HE WILL DO IF IT IS HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH ONE OF THOSE GUYS , OR EVEN A THREE WAY WITH THOSE GUYS.

I DO NOT QUITE SURE.

IF HE GETS THE SAME PERCENT THAT YOU GOT IN 22 HE IS GOING TO BE THAT CLOSE.

IF IT'S JUST A THREE-WAY.

>> HE DOES HAVE MONEY TO RIDE THE WAVE AND THAT IS ALWAYS VERY HELPFUL .

>> ANY OF THE REPUBLICANS WANT THE BID FROM THE CONGRESSMAN?

>> WHENEVER I HEAR CONGRESSMAN'S NAME I ALWAYS AM LEERY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T RUN FOR COVER.

AND VERY FEW ARE WILLING TO PUT IT ALL OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, AND JUST GIVE IT ALL UP AND RUN.

SO UNTIL HE ANNOUNCES AND FILES.

>> VENTURE CAPITALIST, JD VANCE WILL DO THIS?

>> YES, I GUESS, HE HAS BEEN IN THE PUBLIC EYE BEFORE.

OHIO , ADMINISTRATION MUST HAVE GOTTEN A TASTE OF SOMETHING HE LIKES.

>> AND HE HAS THE MONEY TO DO IT.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.

HE CAN SPEND WHATEVER.

>> DEMOCRACY HAS COME TO A -- >> I WOULD BE INTERESTED BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE OF OHIO THAT ARE READY TO TURN THE PAGE.

PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO MAY HAVE MORE INFLUENCE OVER THE PARTY POLITICS AND ARE RUNNING FOR THE MONEY AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE ABLE TO WIN OUT WITH THE DYNAMICS HAVE IT IN REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIG THINGS ABOUT 2022 ELECTIONS.

I THINK FOR A LOT OF REPUBLICANS THAT WAS AFTER SEEING THE RESULTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WERE THINKING HEY, LET'S KIND OF MOVE ON NOW.

OKAY .

LET'S FORGET ABOUT 2020, LET'S LOOK AHEAD TO 2024 AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN 2024.

NOT 2020.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAKEUP OF OHIO RIGHT NOW, THIS LOOKS REALLY GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS JUST THINK THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME THAT THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE VULNERABLE.

>> WELL, AND I LOOKED AT SARAH'S NUMBERS.

THE U.S. SENATE RACE WAS IN 2006.

WHEN HE BEAT MIKE DeWINE.

56% OF THE VOTE.

AND 12, WHEN HE RAN, HE GOT A LITTLE OVER 50% WAS A THIRD- PARTY CANDIDATE THAT TOOK 4% AND IN 18 YOU GOT 3%.

I MEAN, HE IS NOT WINNING BY BIG MARGINS, AND IN THOSE ELECTIONS, HE WAS STILL CARRYING COUNTIES , THAT AIN'T HAPPENING IN 2024.

GAL.

A WHOLE NEW DYNAMIC.

>> AND AGAIN, A REAL RISK FOR US DEMOCRATS IS MAKING WHAT, IN MY OPINION, WOULD BE SOME OF THE ERRORS OF THIS LAST CYCLE IN DISCOUNTING HOW MUCH WORK IS GOING TO TAKE TO TURN OUT BLACK VOTERS IN A BIG WAY , YOUNG PEOPLE, PEOPLE IN OUR CITIES THAT ARE LESS CONSISTENT VOTERS THAT HAVE BIG PART OF THE STRATEGY EARLY AND OFTEN.

>> AND IS THE PRESIDENTIAL PERHAPS OF THE EASIER THAN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?

ANYWAYS.

IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE THEY CHOSE THEIR SPEAKER, BUT A LOT OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS STILL NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

THE RIFT BETWEEN THE TWO CAMPS OF REPUBLICAN STATE REPS CONTINUES.

ON ONE SIDE, THE ALLIES OF SCOTT MERRIN, THE WOULD-BE SPEAKER.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE 22 WHO DECIDED AT THE LAST TO VOTE WITH DEMOCRATS AND ELECT JASON STEPHENS AS A SPEAKER.

AS A RESULT, NOT MUCH IS HAPPENING IN THE HOUSE.

IN PARTICULAR, NO ACTION WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR VOTERS TO CHANGE THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.

MORGAN HARPER, DEMOCRATS IN COLUMBUS OR DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON REPUBLICAN PARTY KIND OF SITTING DOWN AND ENJOYING THE VIEW.

BUT REPUBLICANS STILL ARE THE MAJORITY HERE.

SO IT IS FUN TO WATCH FOR DEMOCRATS BUT WHAT IS THIS YEAR?

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DEMOCRATS RIGHT NOW THE STATEHOUSE ARE HAVING A LOT OF FUN.

IT IS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC THAN WASHINGTON, WE HAVE A SENATE IN WASHINGTON AND HERE, YES, SUPER MAJORITY.

SO IT IS HONESTLY VERY PAINFUL TO WATCH.

IT IS PAINFUL TO SEE THE MUCH FOCUS ON THE TALKING FOR POWER, NOT SO MUCH FOCUS ON THE ISSUES, AND WE HAVE SO MUCH NEED ACROSS THE STATE TO REALLY HAVE PEOPLE FOCUS ON MAKING GOOD POLICIES , TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS ARE ABLE TO STAY ALIVE.

>> HOW LONG DOES THIS RACE LAST?

WHAT IS REALLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS?

>> ITS POWER, ITS POWER.

YOU, IF WE BREAK THIS WHOLE SITUATION INTO THREE CAMPS, OKAY , THERE IS THE JASON STEPHENS CAMP, WHICH IS ETHICALLY 22 REPUBLICANS .

THERE IS THE ALLISON RUSSO CAMP WHICH IS 32 DEMOCRATS.

YES, AND THEN THERE IS DEREK MERRIN , WHO'S GOT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 40 AND 45 REPUBLICANS.

IF THESE THREE CAMPS , NOW THE ALLISON RUSSO CAMP CAME TOGETHER WITH THE JASON STEPHENS CAMP TO ELECT HIM AS SPEAKER BUT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT HER TRYING TO BE RELEVANT IN HER CAUCUS BECAUSE THEY HAD SO FEW MEMBERS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

SO IF THAT , IF DEREK MERRIN CAMP STAYS SOLID , HOW DO YOU GET STUFF PAST?

YOU CAN'T GO TO ALLISON RUSSO BECAUSE SHE AND HER CAUCUS ARE GOING TO AGREE ON ANYTHING THAT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE PASSED THE SENATE OR SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

SO I MEAN, IF IT STAYS , AND RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT IT, LOOKING TO BUDGET.

IF IT STAYS THAT WAY, THERE IS PROBLEMS.

>> HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS , YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE YET.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, THERE'S ACTUALLY A SESSION THAT WAS SCHEDULED AND IT WAS CANCELED BECAUSE THERE IS THIS RIFT RIGHT NOW AND NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHO IS CALLING THE SHOTS.

YES, JASON STEPHENS IS A SPEAKER, DEREK MERRIN HAS GONE AS FAR TO SAY THAT HE RECOGNIZES JASON STEVENS AS THE SPEAKER BUT MERRIN ALSO SAYS THAT HE IS THE LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

SO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY LEADING THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, SOME VIDEOS BELIEVING IN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND A SPEAKER WHO IS KIND OF FLOATING OUT THERE.

HOW DO YOU GET POLICY MADE WITH ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON?

>> AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF CONDITIONS TO ALL OF THIS.

THEY ARE DILLYDALLYING OVER REPRESENTATION , NOT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, BUT BETWEEN THE TWO REPUBLICANS , SO- CALLED FACTIONS OR CAUCUSES THERE.

>> I DO THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE WAITING ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH UP IN THE AIR, LIKE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RESOLUTIONS MAKE IT HARDER TO PUT THINGS IN CONSTITUTION, AND THEY KEEP DRAGGING THEIR FEET PAST FEBRUARY 1st, THAT DOESN'T GET >> AND DEMOCRATS ARE IN SUCH A MINORITY, IT'S A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRATS.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING THIS CONSTITUTION LOG, 60% THRESHOLD.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING A LOT OF THINGS THAT PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN MOVING IN SESSION.

>> VERY TRUE, VERY TRUE.

BASED ON THE LAST DECADE THAT WE HAVE BEEN LIVING THROUGH, SOME KIND OF PROCESS IN POLICYMAKING AND REPUBLICANS ARE THE MAJORITY IS GOOD, ESPECIALLY WHILE WE SEE, SPEAKING OF ABORTION, OTHER EFFORTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY BALLOT INITIATIVES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ACTIVE IN THE PUBLIC AND POTENTIALLY DOING A MORE EFFECTIVE JOB OF PROTECTING OUR RIGHTS.

>> POINT TAKEN, BUT THERE IS A BUDGET BILL COMING UP AND THERE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLOCK .

AND THEY ARE BAD AT THE DEADLINE, AS IT IS.

IT WOULD BE NOTHING TO THEM AND ANOTHER CAN ALWAYS MAKE DELAYS AND GO ON BEYOND THE DEADLINE.

WHATEVER.

BUT THERE IS WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN DO.

>> BUT IF YOU ARE GOVERNOR DeWINE AND YOU WANT TO GET YOUR BUDGET PASSED, WHO DO YOU CALL?

[ laughter ] WHO DO YOU CALL?

THE SPEAKER OR DO YOU CALL DEREK MERRIN?

YOU CALL BOTH?

DO YOU CALL ALLISON RUSSO?

>> THE GOVERNOR SUPPOSED TO WORK.

>> WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR'S ROLE IN THIS, ANDY?

>> ASKED HIM CAN WE SAY WOULD YOU GO TO, WHO'S YOUR POINT PERSON ?

AND HE IS LIKE I'M NOT GOING TO WEIGH IN ON THE LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET ANYTHING?

YOU HAVE A BUDGET TO WHO IS GOING TO HELP THAT BUDGET TO THE HOUSE?

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF UP IN THE AIR.

>> THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID THAT IN FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THE BATTLE IS BETWEEN LARRY HOUSHOLDER AND RYAN SMITH HE DIDN'T GET INVOLVED.

AND I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE THAT WASN'T GOOD FOR HIM, BUT IN THE END HE'S GOT TO BE GOVERNOR AND HE'S GOT TO HAVE A HOUSE THAT HE CAN GET HIS BILLS THROUGH >> KIND OF LIKE THE DEMOCRATS AFTER THE PAST TWO YEARS, HE IS GETTING BACK IN THING, I WILL TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT.

ANYWAY, REPRESENTATIVE MERRIN SAID THAT HE MUST BE HIS FIRST BILL, WOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD TIGHTEN ETHICS RULES AROUND THE STATEHOUSE.

MERRIN SAYS THE BILL WOULD INCREASE TRANSPARENCY.

IT WOULD BE REQUIRE LOBBYISTS TO REPORT ALL INCOME THAT THEY WOULD MAKE FROM EACH CLIENT.

IT WOULD BEEN ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM SERVING ON CORPORATE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS.

IT WAS ALSO REQUIRE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION NOMINEES TO DISCLOSE DENTAL CONFLICTS WITH THE UTILITIES THAT THEY REGULATE.

NOT ALWAYS THE CASE, BOB, IN A MOMENT.

BUT YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE STATEHOUSE A LONG TIME.

IF THIS WILL, IF MADE LAW, IMPROVE THE SITUATION?

>> OH YEAH, I THINK IT'S GOOD.

BOY, WE GOT TO GO A LOT FURTHER, AND I GET THAT.

BUT I MEAN, I THINK IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND SO MANY TIMES THEY DID THAT.

WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING, I LIKE A LOT OF THE IDEAS IN THE BILL BUT WHAT I FIND INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS WHO IS SITTING POLICY AGENDA HERE?

IS THIS JARED, NOW WE ARE GETTING BACK TO OUR OLD DISCUSSION, I MEAN, IS IT DEREK MERRIN WHO IS OUT PUSHING THE POLICY AGENDA?

OR WHAT?

I MEAN THAT IS GOING TO BE THE INTERESTING THING HERE.

IF, YOU KNOW, HE IS GOING TO INTRODUCE IT, WOULD IT GO TO COMMITTEE, WOULD YOU GET HEARING?

>> THE COMMITTEE .

>> RIGHT THERE IS NO COMMITTEE.

KIND OF LIKE , I WOULD'VE TAKEN CARE OF THAT SITUATION, YOU KNOW.

KIND OF FOR SOME REGRETS.

>> WILL, AND WE ASKED HIM, SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS PLANNING ON DOING AND HE SAID YES, THIS IS GOING TO BE HOUSE BILL ONE, EVEN PHIL PLUMMER WHO ALSO RAN FOR SPEAKER, THEY SAID THIS IS WHAT THEY CAMPAIGNED ON WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO BECOME SPEAKER.

SO THERE IS THIS THING HANGING OUT THERE AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS THE DEMOCRATS SAY MAYBE WE THROW OUR SUPPORT TOWARDS THIS ETHICS BILL FOR THE ONE TIME THING AND MAYBE THEY PLAY THE ROLE OF SWINGING FROM ONE FACTION TO ANOTHER.

>> GREAT.

[ laughter ] >> THEY DO HAVE RELEVANCE NOW, BECAUSE OF THIS.

THEY CAN CHERRY PICK WHATEVER THEY WANT >> AND THE ULTIMATE POWER IN THAT THEY CAN CALL A SPEAKER VOTE.

DEMING, THE DEMOCRATS CAN CALL A SPEAKER VOTE WHENEVER THEY WANT, BUT NO, THEY GOT THEIR 32 MEMBERS, THEY KNOW THEY HAVE THE DEREK MERRICK COFFEE IS AVAILABLE AND YOU'VE GOT A NEW SPEAKER.

THEY CAN THREATEN THAT >> THIS PACKAGE DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH ?

>> IS GOING TO SOLVE EVERY ETHICS ISSUE WE HAVE IN POLITICS?

NO.

I AGREE WITH BOB, ANY PROGRESS FORWARD TOWARD A MORE ETHICAL GOVERNING STRUCTURE IN OUR STATE , I AM ALL FOR.

>> THE LOBBYISTS A LITTLE BIT >> CONCERNING HOW LOBBYISTS , THEY HAVE TO DISCLOSE HOW MUCH THEY MAKE FROM EACH CLIENT.

LOBBYISTS WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS THE LOBBYISTS ARE MAKING.

>> YES, IT IS SORT OF LIKE YOU'RE OPENING UP ALL THE TRADE SECRETS HERE.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO LIKE IT, BUT DO WE REALLY CARE LOBBYISTS LIKE OR DON'T LIKE?

>> NUMBERS COULD BE EYE- POPPING.

>> OH YEAH, I'M SURE THEY WILL BE.

>> LOBBYIST BILLS, THEY KNOW THAT, OF COURSE.

>> I THINK IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH MONEY IS FLOWING INTO THE POLICYMAKING PROCESS YOU SEE THE LITTLE CLIPS ON TV, YOU SEE WHAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU THINK THEY BELIEVE IN ONLY THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT AND IT IS JUST SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THE MONEY.

>> ONE QUESTION BEFORE WE GET TO THE OTHER RECORDS, WHY THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONS ASKED TO DISCLOSE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS WITH UTILITIES BEFORE >> I WOULD HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION .

BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN PAST PROBLEMS .

>> IT'S AMAZING ON THE BOOKS.

>> MAYBE BECAUSE MOST NOMINEES HAD CONNECTIONS WITH THE ENERGY INDUSTRY WHICH IS WHY THERE NOMINEES .

>> THE ARGUMENT IS, THOUGH , HOW THIS WORKS .

AND REVOLVING DOOR >> HOW TO GAME THE SYSTEM, TOO.

>> OFF THE RECORD, PARTING SHOTS.

>> GREAT, SO SPEAKING OF LOBBYING, THERE HAS BEEN MOVEMENT ON THIS TICKETMASTER ISSUE.

THIS IS WHAT THE FEDERAL AND A STATE ISSUE.

ONCE HE FINISHES TESTIFYING HE SHOULD GET TO WORK ON DOING SOMETHING TO HELP OUT THE SWIFTIES WHO HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY TICKETMASTER, LIVE NATION WITH THESE TICKET PRICES BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THIS IS GOING BE THE FIRST HEARING ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN THE SENATE ON TICKETMASTER AND ACTUALLY HOLD THE COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WELL, THE STATE OF OHIO SAYS THAT NEARLY HALF 1 BILLION WAS PAID OUT IN FRAUDULENT UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION AND I KNOW FOR A FACT, I WAS HIT TWICE WITH BOGUS EMPLOYEES THAT TRIED TO CLAIM UNEMPLOYMENT COMP, THANK FULLY THEY, I HOPE, FIXED THAT SYSTEM.

>> NATURAL GAS, ALSO KNOWN AS METHANE GAS, ADMITS LOCAL CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS THAN COAL BUT IT WILL NEVER BE EVER BE DRAINED.

IT WILL ALWAYS BE A FOSSIL FUEL, NO MATTER WHAT THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTED OUT.

IT IS CALLED DOUBLETHINK WHAT THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.

>> ANDY?

>> I'M GOING TO BRING UP WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP, WE HAVE THIS HUGE TRIAL HAPPENING , THIS HUGE, BIGGEST CORRUPTION SCANDAL OF OHIO HISTORY AND WE CAN'T TAKE CAMERAS IN THERE, WE CAN'T RECORD IT.

THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT ALL THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT, AND I THINK THAT IS A SHAME.

>> OH NO!

[ laughter ] PUBLIC BRIBERY, SCHEDULE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RELY ON FOLKS USING CRAYONS TO DEPICT IT.

YOU CAN'T HEAR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, WE CAN'T SAY HOPEFULLY WILL GET TO BUILD A SEE THE CLOSE.

WE WOULD HOPE, ANYWAYS.

CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBBINS TOMORROW , INCLUDING THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH WILL HELP THAT THEIR DECISION OF THINGS.

ANYWAY , THAT IS GOING TO DO IT ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

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I AM MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD ONE.