>>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, TWO WEEKS AND SEE TRAIN DERAILED IN EAST PALESTINE OHIO IN CAUGHT FIRE AND SPILLED CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICALS, THE RESIDENTS HAVE NOT COOLED DOWN, THE OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA BORDER, SENDING FLAMES AND SMOKE HIGH INTO THE AIR, TO PREVENT THEM FROM EXPLODING, THEY AGREED TO WHAT WAS CALLED A CONTROLLED LEAK AND BURN.

ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICIALS SAY THE AIR AND WATER ARE SAFE, SKEPTICAL RESIDENTS ARE NOT SURE, THEY PACKED A MEETING AND DEMANDED ANSWERS, AND HEALTH OFFICIALS PROMISED ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> MOST RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED THEY ARE GOING TO SWEEP THIS UNDER THE RUG.

WE HAVE A LOT OF REPORTS OF PETS AND ANIMALS DYING, AND YOU KNOW WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKEN CARE OF YEAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ARE GOING TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT.

>> PEOPLE, MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND NOT GOING QUIETLY.

>> THEY ARE NOT, A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, WE HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS, IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, SITUATIONS WHERE INITIALLY PEOPLE ARE TOLD HEY, THERE IS NO PROBLEM, NOTHING TO SEE HERE, AND YEARS LATER YOU FIND OUT YES THERE WAS A PROBLEM, THE WATER OR THE AIR WAS A PROBLEM, THAT'S WHAT THESE FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT, THEY ARE SAYING, THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON, WE DON'T FEEL SAFE HERE.

FACT THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE ANSWERS THAT THEY WANT.

AND THE MEETING THAT YOU JUST SHOWED, NORFOLK SOUTHERN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE AND THEY PULLED THE REPRESENTATIVES OUT OF THE MEETING BEFORE HAND.

AND GOVERNOR DeWINE WAS SAYING HE THINKS THAT IS A MISTAKE, HE THINKS THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN NEED TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE IN EAST PALESTINE.

>> THE CONCERN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THE RESIDENTS DON'T FEEL SAFE.

AND THE CONTROLLED RELEASE AND BURN, SAYING IT PREVENTED EXPLOSION WHICH COULD'VE BEEN BAD BUT IS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IN HINDSIGHT?

>> A VERY GOOD SHOT IN SEVERAL NEWS CONFERENCES THIS WEEK AND HE DETAILED IT WASN'T JUST LIKE THE GOVERNOR FLIPPED A COIN AND SAID LET'S DO THIS OR THAT, THEY WORKED WITH THE PENTAGON TO DO MODELING, TO TEST THE PRO AND CON, NEITHER WAS A PERFECT AND IDEAL CHOICE BUT THEY FELT THIS WAS BETTER AND SAFER, AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO, AND TO THE GOVERNOR'S CREDIT, HE HAS RAISED THE PROBLEM, THE FEDS IN THE 1970S BASICALLY TOOK OVER REGULATION OF THE RAILS, THE QUESTION LONG- TERM IS DO WE NEED CHANGES IN FEDERAL LAW SO THERE IS MORE TEETH TO MAKE SURE THE RAILROADS ARE OPERATING SAFELY AND PROPERLY.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE TO FIND OUT WHO'S TO BLAME AND WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THE REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN LESSENED ON THE RAILROADS.

>> IT IS A PROBLEM, THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE THE FOLKS ARE SAFE, AND THEY HAVE QUESTIONS AND THE EPA IS GOING BY WHAT THEY CAN DO, AND SO IS THE STATE, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION, THIS WAS --THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ATTACK REGULATION FOR BUSINESS AND THINK IT IS JUST A GOOD THING, ONE OF THE THINGS TO SAVE MONEY, THEY PACKED A LOT OF FREIGHT, LONG TRAINS, LONGER AND LONGER AND ANYBODY WHO LIVES IN ERIE AUTO PLANT OR BIG MANUFACTURING PLANT KNOWS THAT AND THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO SAVE MONEY ON IT, AND IN OHIO THE D WIND ADMINISTRATION WAS TO THROW AWAY ONE THIRD OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, WILLY- NILLY, LET'S GET RID OF ONE THIRD, SOME OF THE REGULATIONS MIGHT SEEM EXCESSIVE BUT THEY PROTECT US FROM SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

>> THEY REPORTED THE TRAIN BROKE DOWN TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES COMPLAINED THAT IT WAS TOO LONG AND TOO HEAVY, AND IT WAS REALLY BAD.

>> AND THAT'S NOT ALL, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THINGS HAPPENING ON THIS RAIL LINE OR OTHER A RAIL LINES THAT HAVE BEEN CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.

THE ONE THING THAT I HAVE FOUND KIND OF INTERESTING IS GOVERNOR DeWINE SAYS THESE RAILROADS, WHEN THEY ARE CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, YOU DON'T NEED TO LET THE STATE KNOW ABOUT THIS, HE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT, HE WANTS CONGRESS TO STEP IN AND SAY HEY, IF YOU'RE CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL, YOU HAVE TO LET THE STATE KNOW SO THAT THEY CAN AGENCIES AS THE TRAIN GOES THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT IMMEDIATELY THERE IS SOMEONE ON THE GROUND DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM.

>> THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS IS HAPPENED, SOME OF US WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AGO, REMEMBER MIAMISBURG AND THERE WERE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE AT THAT TIME BUT THEY ARE NOT ENOUGH, AND ON TOP OF THAT THE REAL INDUSTRY, FOR THE COST CUTTING MEASURES, JUST PUT TOO MUCH FREIGHT AND TOO MANY DANGEROUS CHEMICALS ON ONE TRAIN.

>> THESE ACTIONS ARE STILL RARE, THE NUMBER OF DERAILMENTS HAS GONE WAY DOWN SINCE THE 1970S, IS THE REGULATION ENOUGH RIGHT NOW?

>> IT IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, WE HAVE DISCOVERED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS IMPORTANT, AND IS IT LESS OR MORE RISKY TO DO IT BY RAIL OR TO DO IT BY TRUCKS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, NEITHER OF THOSE ARE GOOD CHOICES, CERTAINLY THE CHEMICALS CAN BE DONE IN PIPELINES, ULTIMATELY THE SAFER WAY TO DO CERTAIN IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT LEGISLATIVELY AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE BETTER LAWS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL RAIL ADMINISTRATION, THE NATIONAL O ., IS REALLY ENFORCING AND STAYING ON TOP OF THINGS.

>> THERE HAS BEEN SOME FINGER- POINTING ABOUT SHOULD THE PRESIDENT DECLARE THIS A STATE OF EMERGENCY, IT IS EASY WHEN THERE'S A NATURAL DISASTER, BUT THESE RESIDENTS ARE IN EFFECT LIKE A HURRICANE ZONE EARTHQUAKE BUT IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO DO THAT FOR MAN-MADE DISASTERS.

>> GOVERNOR DeWINE SAID IT DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE STANDARDS OF FEMA TO COME IN AT THIS TIME, HOWEVER HE SAYS THE STATE IS FILING SOME PAPERWORK AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE SITUATION THE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE, TO MAKE IT SO THAT FEMA COULD ACTUALLY HELP AND THE PAPERWORK WOULD MAKE IT SO THAT IT IS A REALLY STICKY SITUATION, THERE ARE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR FEMA, AND THIS APPARENTLY DOES NOT MEET THEM.

>> ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AND CALLING FOR HEARINGS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN CHANGE IN TERMS OF THOSE STANDARDS.

>> DOING THEIR JOB WITH WRITING LAWS AND THINKING ABOUT IT, THAT THERE'S ENOUGH TEETH IN THEM SO THAT THEY CAN SOLVE IT, TOO MANY TIMES CONGRESS DOES THE JOB OF WRITING LAWS AND THE ALLOW ADMINISTRATORS TO WRITE THE RULES AND SOMETIMES THERE IS A DISCONNECT.

>> THE FEMA AGENCY, NOT FEDERAL MANAGEMENT AGENCY, THAT'S WHAT THE COMPLAINTS ARE HERE.

MORE THAN A MONTH INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THEY HAVE BECOME LEGISLATING, BICKERING BETWEEN HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND FILING THE LEGISLATION THIS WEEK BUT THIS WEEK THE BILLS CAME, HOUSE BILL NUMBER 1 WOODCUT AND FLATTEN THE STATE INCOME TAX AND TO PAY FOR IT BY SCHOOLS, OTHER BILLS WOULD FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS AND RECRUIT TEACHERS AND ALLOW EVERY STUDENT IN OHIO TO GET A TAXPAYER-FUNDED PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHER AND ANOTHER WOULD BAN THE HANDFUL OF TRANSGENDER BILLS, ON SPORTS TEAMS FROM DOING SO, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF BICKERING BETWEEN TWO FACTIONS OF THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE, AND THIS IS THE SPEAKER 'S PROPOSAL, THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT PRETTY MUCH ALL REPUBLICANS CAN GET BEHIND, NO?

>> A LOT OF DETAILS, INCLUDING TAKING AWAY SALES TAX ON BABY MATERIALS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THINGS THAT BOTH SIDES CAN AGREE ON AND ONLY CERTAIN ELEMENTS, BUT I GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO JAMES MADISON, WHEN HE DREAMED THAT UP, TO LEGISLATIVE BALANCES AND CHECKS AND BALANCES, WHAT PEOPLE PROPOSED IS KIND OF LIKE KIDS ON THE CHRISTMAS LIST, THERE'S A LOT OF VIRTUE AND HAVING A HOUSE AND A SENATE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE BOTH REPUBLICAN, THEY DON'T ALWAYS AGREE AND IT WILL TAKE TIME TO WORK THROUGH IT, IT'S A STARTING POINT, NOT THE STARTING AGENDA.

>> WANTED TO BE SPEAKER, HAS HIS OWN REPUBLICAN CAUCUS HE SAYS, THESE ARE BILLS THAT HE SUPPORTS, TRANSGENDER SPORTS BAND, AND THE BILL ALLOWING THE VOUCHERS, AND UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS, WHAT DOES HE THINK OF ALL OF THIS?

>> TO AN EXTENT HE LIKES THEM BUT THERE WILL BE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN NOW AND THEY BOTH HAVE DIFFERENT CAMPS IF YOU WILL, IF STEVENS WAS ELECTED, AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER, AND KIND OF TEMPERS THE WAY HE'S GOING TO APPROACH SOME OF THIS, VERSUS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE REPUBLICANS IN THE CAUCUS.

SO THEY ARE LOOKING AT THESE BILLS AND LOOKING AT THEM IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ENOUGH YET TO SEE WORD STANDS, BUT THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS ON THE STUFF.

>> AND THE SCHOOL BUDGET BILL.

>> AND POINTING OUT IT'S JUST A PROPOSAL.

>> LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE THINGS THAT BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER PUT IN THERE SO HE CAN GO EITHER WAY IF HE HAS TO HAVE A MAJORITY WE WILL SEE HOW THAT WASHES OUT BUT THE ATTACK ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUES, CUTTING THE INCOME TAX, WHICH BENEFITS ONLY THE WEALTHIEST IN OHIO WHEN YOU GO TO THE FLAT TAX, MIDDLE- CLASS WILL PAY MORE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS, AND THE SCHOOLS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THERE WILL BE PRESSURE TO RAISE TAXES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND STING SPONSORED BULLYING OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE TRANSGENDER AND HIGH SCHOOLS, A TALKING POINT AND PULLING POINT, IT IS STATE SPONSORED BULLYING AND IS GOT OUT OF CONTROL, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT.

>> SHOULD THEY LEAVE THE REGULATION OF THAT TO THE SCHOOLS AND THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS, TRANSGENDER GIRLS?

>> THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS ISSUE AND OTHER ISSUES, HOW MUCH OF THE STATE PICKING UP A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE MONEY FOR K- 12 EDUCATION, HOW MUCH SHOULD THEY SIT STANDARDS AND POLICIES ON EDUCATIONAL THINGS AND OTHER ISSUES VERSUS HOW MUCH IS LOCAL CONTROL, THAT IS BEEN AN ONGOING BATTLE, HOW MUCH IS DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND PROPOSALS THERE TO GET THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MORE FORECAST ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THERE'S A LEGITIMATE FEELING THERE IS A DISCONNECT IN OHIO, K-12 AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN HIGHER EDUCATION, HOW DO YOU BUILD THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE.

>> THE ONE THING THAT PEOPLE TALK, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND VOUCHERS, IT IS CHEAPER BUT THOSE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE TO TAKE KIDS IN A DISADVANTAGE SITUATION AND DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH FOLKS THAT ARE DISABLED IN SOME WAY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAKE CARE OF THAT, THERE IS EXTRA COST OF THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO IT.

YOU'RE NOT SAVING MONEY BY CUTTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU ARE JUST PUTTING PRESSURE TO RAISE MONEY AT A LOCAL LEVEL.

>> THE THRESHOLD PROPOSAL TO GET A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASSED BY THE VOTERS, THAT IS STILL OUT THERE, THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN FILED, BUT THEY WANT THAT.

>> YES, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS THEY WANT THIS IS THEY WANT TO TRY TO BEAT BACK SOME OF THE POTENTIAL CHANGES THAT COULD COME, LIKE REDISTRICTING ABORTION AND OTHER THINGS THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH AND THEY DON'T ONE IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION, THAT STILL REMAINS OUT THERE BUT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN VERY UPFRONT ON THIS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THIS 50% THRESHOLD.

AND THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER IF YOU GIVE IT TO THE ELECTORATE WILL EVEN PASS IT, AND IT'S GOING TO BE QUIETER.

>> AND AMONGST CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS, THE AGREEMENT, SOME HAVE STRONG FEELINGS, AND THE FORMER STREET -- STATE REPRESENTATIVE, THERE'S POTENTIAL COMPROMISE, DOING THE 55% LEVEL, AND THEN MAKING OTHER CHANGES AND HOW THEY GET IN EFFECT, GOING TO BE GOOD ATTENTION IN THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION SET UP FOR THIS, LOOK AT THE DETAILS, STATES THAT IT HAS SIGNALED THEY ARE NOT SO SURE THEY'RE ONBOARD.

>> LET'S CALL A SPADE A SPADE, IT'S ABOUT THE ABORTION ISSUE, BECAUSE HE THINKS HE IS, IT IS GOING NOWHERE, IF YOU CAN'T GET THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

THE PROBLEM IS, WHY WOULD BE BE AFRAID OF THE ELECTORATE?

YOU CAN'T TAKE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AWAY WITHOUT THEM REACTING NEGATIVELY AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD PASS.

>> THE ARGUMENT IS PRIVATE OUTSIDE GROUPS ARE FUNDING THESE THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO STOP BUT ABORTION-RIGHTS SUPPORTERS ARE MOVING FROM PLANNING TO ACTING, TWO GROUPS HAVE JOINED TOGETHER AND SYMBOL DRAFT A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO GUARANTEE A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO ABORTION, THE GOAL IS TO PUT IT ON THE FALL BALLOT, IT INDICATES THE PROPOSALS WILL BE SIMILAR TO MICHIGAN'S RECENTLY APPROVED AMENDMENTS, SO HERE IT IS, MICHIGAN'S CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH A NEW INDIVIDUAL RIGHT TO IT REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM INCLUDING DECISIONS ABOUT PREVENTING ABORTION ALLOW THE STATE TO REGULATE ABORTION IN SOME CASES AND PROSECUTION OF INDIVIDUALS EXERCISING THE ESTABLISHED RIGHT, AND IT ALLOWS THE STATE TO REGULATE ABORTION AFTER FETAL VIABILITY BUT NOT PROHIBIT IF MEDICALLY NEEDED TO PROTECT THE PATIENT'S LIFE OR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH.

THE AMENDMENT PASSED WITH 56% OF THE VOTES IN MICHIGAN, ABORTION-RIGHTS OPPONENTS, PUT UP A TOUGH FIGHT SAYING THEY WILL DEFEAT ANY ATTEMPT TO HAVE LATE-TERM ABORTIONS, AND GENTLEMEN IT IS A LONG TERM HALL, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE GETTING READY TO GO.

>> A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES WHO ARE COMING TOGETHER TO PUSH THIS REFERENDUM OUT THERE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING TO SEE IS THEY HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL, A STALWART WHEN IT COMES TO ABORTION, AND THE LANGUAGE THAT.

AND 113,000 SIGNATURES, VALID SIGNATURES, IT IS NOT A EASY CLIMB.

AND IT HAS A LOT OF BACKING FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT STRATEGISTS, THAT HAVE WORKED ON THESE CAMPAIGNS IN OTHER STATES, AND I THINK YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM THE OTHER SIDE TOO, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT WHATEVER LANGUAGE THEY PUT OUT THERE, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO FIT THE STATE.

>> AND THE DETAILS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE, ON THIS IT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE, I WILL DO AN EARLY PREDICTION, THIS COULD LEAD TO WORLD WAR III IN OHIO WITH AS MUCH AS $100 MILLION SPENT, THAT IS WHEN THEY LOOK AT WHEN IS ABORTION ALLOWED OR NOT ALLOWED IN THE DETAILS, SUCH AS HOW DO YOU DEFINE A WOMAN'S HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS FOR THAT KIND OF THING.

THE DETAILS WILL BE IMPORTANT BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF STEPS TO GO THROUGH.

>> FIRST OF ALL IT'S GOOD THAT THEY CAME TOGETHER AND DECIDED BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR, BUT EATING THROUGH THE HUMP, AND DEALING WITH THINGS LIKE THE VALID BOARD, THEY WILL BE TRYING TO MAKE THE LANGUAGE MORE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHICH SIDE YOU'RE ON AND WHICH WAY YOUR VOTE GOES.

BUT I THINK FOR MANY OHIOANS, ESPECIALLY IN OHIO, THEY DO WHAT THE STATE INVOLVED IN THEIR LIFE.

>> THE MICHIGAN AMENDMENT, NO PERFECT LANGUAGE, YOU CAN POKE HOLES IN ANYTHING, NEVER BLACK AND WHITE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS STUFF, PHYSICAL HEALTH AND LIFE THREATENING, BUT VIABILITY IS IN THE AMENDMENT, THE STANDARD AND THE MAJORITY OF OHIO AND SUPPORTED ROW, THAT IS A KEY LINE, DO YOU EXPECT THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE WILL BE LOOKING FOR, BUT VIABILITY SINCE THE ORIGINAL DECISION 50 YEARS AGO, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE ADVANCED MEDICALLY, AND VIABILITY CAN OCCUR IN AN EARLIER DATE THAN THERE ONCE WAS, THERE WILL BE DEBATE OVER VIABILITY.

>> 22 OR 23 WEEKS.

>> SOME WOULD SAY IT HAS SHRUNK UP, MAYBE THAT IS TRUE OR NOT TRUE, THE DETAILS WOULD BE IMPORTANT, THAT'S WHY IF IT IS THE TELEVISION WARS, AND PEOPLE ARGUING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS.

>> ONE THING THOUGH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE OHIO ABORTION REPORTS, THE DATA COMBINED, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE ABORTIONS IN THE PERIOD THAT COULD BE A VIABLE PREGNANCY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FEEL NUMBERS THERE, IN FACT IN THERE IS A HANDFUL, AND HAS THAT, AND SO FOR A LONG AND -- HAVING PROBLEMS.

AND FIND ANOTHER WAY TO YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ELSE, BUT -- THERE IS NO EVIDENCE .

>>> AND THE DATA, DOES NOT MATCH UP WITH THE POLLING, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, NOT JUST THE LANGUAGE BEING CRAFTED IN THE EXTREME, IN THAT RESPECT I AGREE WITH YOU, IT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY UGLY DISCUSSION NEXT FALL BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> POLITICS WHERE PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS LOOK AT THE FACTS, EACH SIDE IS TRYING TO SPIN IT AND DEFINE IT, THE VIEW OF WHAT IT MEANS AND HOW THE PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK AT IT.

GOING BACK TO THE VALID BOARD, HOW THE BALLOT LANGUAGE IS WRITTEN AND HEADLINED MAKES A HUGE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENCE WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN AND ACTUALLY VOTE.

>> ONE OF THE STAR WITNESSES, AT THE TRIAL THIS WEEK, FOR THERE IS CHARGED WITH ORCHESTRATING THE $60 MILLION BRIBERY SCHEME, PASSING THE LAW AND KILL OR REPEAL IT, THIS WEEK ONE OF THOSE CHARGED WHO HAS PLEADED GUILTY TOOK THE STAND, DESCRIBING A MEETING IN WHICH THE ENERGY LOT ABUSED PUT A 100,000 DOUBLE CHECK ACROSS THE TABLE AND SAID OUR CLIENT CARES VERY MUCH ABOUT OUR ISSUE, PRESUMABLY THE BAILOUT, AND ANOTHER HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR CHECK WAS GIVEN ANOTHER MEETING, AND THE GENERATION THAT WAS NOT ALLOWED TO COORDINATE, WITH THE CODEFENDANT, THEY SAID THEY ARE NOT GUILTY OF THESE CHARGES.

AND RIGHT OUT OF THE MOVIES.

>> YES IT IS.

>> IF THE TESTIMONY IS TRUE.

>> IT IS WHAT PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS SUSPECTED WENT ON, AND A TAPE RECORDING OF CLARK, AND NEIL BASICALLY, THE SAME THING, AND HEARD THIS WEEK THAT THE THEN PRESIDENT OF FIRST ENERGY, OR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EXPECTED TO MAKE $100 MILLION AFTER THE BUILD IT OUT HE WAS GOING TO SELL IT MAKE $100 MILLION, AND WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE $2 MILLION OFF OF THAT BUT LOOK, WE ARE GOING TO SEND SOMEBODY TO JAIL OVER THIS BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP THE PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM IS TWOFOLD, WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE OF MEANS THAT CAN GET ACCESS TO THE STATEHOUSE, AND TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE LETTING THE INDUSTRY RUN, THE WATCHDOGS, AND TERM HAVE RULED THE ROOST IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> HELP POLITICS IS GONE, AND HOW THEY ARE TESTIFYING.

IS IT ILLEGAL?

>> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, AND THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE WASHINGTON POST, ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING.

AND THE GOVERNOR'S CASE, AND FEDERAL PROSECUTORS, AND QUID PRO QUO, AND NARROWING IT DOWN.

AND THAT'S WHY COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, AND PLED GUILTY.

AND THAT WILL BE MUST-SEE TEE.

AND THIS TESTIMONY, AND TWO OR THREE THAT'S GOING TO BE MOST IMPORTANT.

BACK AND FORTH WITH WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

>> HE WAS THE MONEY GUY.

AND THE GENERATION NOW, AND FOR THE PROSECUTORS.

>> YOU ALWAYS --ALMOST NEED A MAP TO FOLLOW WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING THIS, AND IT TRANSFERRED AROUND IN THOSE WAYS TO TRY TO GET TO PEOPLE, AND IT IS REALLY SHOWING, REALLY NEED TO BE SHOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND LOCAL COURTS SHOWING IT, THE SUPREME COURT, YOU CAN WATCH IT ON TEE, YOU CAN DO THAT WITH A FEDERAL COURT, THE JUDICIARY, AND THAT IS ONE REASON WE ARE NOT HEARING ABOUT THE CASE, THEY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT, NUMBER 2, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE IT AGAIN.

>> IT SHOWS THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO LESSEN THE INFLUENCE?

>> AFTER WATERGATE, THEY SAID WE HAVE A GREAT IDEA FORWARD, PAC, THEN PEOPLE SAID WE HAVE TO ABOLISH THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE CORRUPT, AND NOT JUST RICH BILLIONAIRES ON BOTH SIDES, LABOR UNIONS AND BUSINESS RELATED PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT ABOUT THE RIGHT TO PETITION YOUR GRIEVANCES.

AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE CONSIDERED FREE SPEECH BUT OBVIOUSLY IT IS NOT ALL PRETTY, AND IN THE TESTIMONY, CLEARLY PEOPLE COMPLAIN THAT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH , APPARENTLY DON'T HAVE FREE SPEECH BUT ANYWAY, I BELIEVE THE ONE THING THAT WILL FLY THROUGH IN THE BUDGET WILL BE THE HOUSING ISSUE, IT'S GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER ON IT .

IT IS A HUGE ISSUE HERE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYBODY.

>> OFF TO A FAST START, AND I TALKED TO JAY EDWARDS, THEY ARE GOING TO GET IT PASSED, AND GOING TO THE SENATE, WE WILL SEE WITH THE SENATE WANTS TO DO BUT THE KEY TIME IS GOING TO BE JUNE, REVISED REVENUE ESTIMATES AND IDEAS OF WHAT THEY HAVE OR DON'T HAVE TO SPEND.

>> I THINK WERE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING WITH THE ABORTION ISSUE, THERE COULD BE ANOTHER GROUP THAT COMES UP ON THE OTHER SIDE WAS SOMETHING, CONFUSE THE LANGUAGE AND VOTERS, AND PLENTY OF MONEY TO DO IT.

>> TO QUESTIONS POSSIBLY.

>> WHO KNOWS HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CONFUSION CREATED.

>>> OHIOANS, FOR SIX WEEKS , WHAT THE STATE --IT SYSTEM, ALREADY, BETTING COMPANIES THAT HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO PAY FINES FOR VIOLATING THE ADVERTISING RULES, COMPARING THE SIZE OF THE PENALTIES, FOR WHAT THE COMPANIES EARNED, AND WE WILL GET THOSE NUMBERS SOON.

>>> AND THAT IS COLUMBUS FOR THE RECORD THIS WEEK, FACEBOOK AND THE WEBSITE, AND THE PBS VIDEO APP, I AM MIKE THOMPSON, FOR THE PANEL, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.