>> OHIO HAITIANS GET A REPRIEVE.

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> >> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

IMMIGRANTS, ADVOCATES, CHURCHES AND LOCAL OFFICIALS WERE READY, BUT THE POSSIBLE I. C. E. SURGE AIMED AT HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS IN OHIO NEVER CAME.

THAT'S BECAUSE HOURS BEFORE THE DEADLINE A FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTEMPT TO END THE HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS' LEGAL STATUS.

THEIR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS REMAINS IN EFFECT WHILE A LEGAL CHALLENGE CONTINUES.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS APPEALED THE JUDGE'S RULING.

ADVOCATES SAY THEY REMAIN PREPARED FOR FUTURE DEPORTATION EFFORTS.

ANDREW TOBIAS, YOU WERE OUT THERE SHORTLY BEFORE THE DEADLINE.

THEY WERE PREPARED.

WHAT DO THEY DO NOW?

>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP WAITING.

PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING AN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AS SURE AS A THEY THOUGHT, BUT THEY'RE PREPARING FOR IT.

THERE WERE HAITIANS BASICALLY STAYING IN THEIR HOUSE.

SOME STOPPED GOING TO WORK.

THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT HOLD.

I GUESS THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE IN A HOLDING PATTERN AND TRY TO WAIT.

IF I. C. E. DOES COME, I DON'T THINK THEY'LL GET A HEADS-UP.

THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE LEGAL CASE CLOSELY.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY EFFORTS TAKING PLACE.

>> WERE THE ADVOCATES PREPARED TO BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS MINNESOTA AS FAR AS VIGILANTLY WATCHING I. C. E. VEHICLES AND VIDEOTAPING AND WHISTLES AND STUFF LIKE THAT?

>> THERE WERE PREPARATIONS ALONG THOSE LINES AS WELL AS SOME OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT SHELTERING THEM IN THEIR CHURCHES AND MAKING I. C. E. BREAK DOWN THEIR DOORS.

THERE'S DEFINITELY PLANS LIKE THAT.

THEY WERE WATCHING WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> SPRINGFIELD GETS ALL THE ATTENTION BECAUSE OF THE FALSEHOODS THAT CAME UP DURING THE CAMPAIGN, CATS AND GS.

BUT THERE'S 30,000 HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS HERE.

>> MIKE DEWINE HAS A CLOSE CONNECTION TO HAITI BECAUSE OF HIS LATE DAUGHTER AND A SCHOOL DOWN THERE.

THE GOVERNOR LIVES RIGHT NEAR SPRINGFIELD, GOES TO CHURCH IN SPRINGFIELD.

IN MINNESOTA THERE'S BEEN A TAMPERING DOWN OF THE TENSIONS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCES OF MINNEAPOLIS VERSUS SPRINGFIELD.

HOPEFULLY WITH TIME AND SHIFTING TIDE, THINGS WILL BE MANAGED BETTER AND DIFFERENTLY.

>> DO YOU THINK BUSINESSES ARE LETTING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION KNOW SPRINGFIELD BUSINESSES RELY ON THOSE HAITIAN WORKERS?

THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THIS STARTED.

HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS FILLED POSITIONS WHEN THEY COULDN'T FIND WORKERS.

>> THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, SOME CONSERVATIVE LEANING REPUBLICAN BUSINESS LEADERS BRINGING HAITIANS IN TO DO THE WORK, THERE'S AN OBLIGATION THEY HAVE TO PUSH BACK.

MIKE, THIS ISN'T NORMAL.

THIS ISN'T HOW THINGS SHOULD BE.

I READ ONE REPORT WHERE A WOMAN SAID THEY'RE EXECUTING AMERICAN CITIZENS.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO TO ME?

I'M HAITIAN.

THERE SHOULDN'T BE THIS KIND OF FEAR.

THIS IS NO LONGER REALLY ABOUT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

THIS SEEMS TO BE ABOUT AN INTIMIDATION CAMPAIGN THE PRESIDENT AS WAGED.

IT'S VERY UNPOPULAR.

IN YOU LOOK IN MINNESOTA AFTER THE MURDER OF ALEX PRETTI, PEOPLE BECAME CONCERNED AND SPOKE OUT.

THIS IS A VERY UNPOPULAR THING.

TERRY EMPHASIZED THIS.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT STATES BASED ON WHO'S IN CHURCH, ARE DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE?

THIS IS A REPUBLICAN STATE.

IN MAINE THEY BACKED OFF I. C. E. ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE SAN COLLINS WAS HAVING A TOUGH ELECTION.

>> ALEX PRETTI WAS SHOT BY I. C. E. OFFICERS.

ARE REPUBLICANS LOSING THIS?

THEY'VE LED ON THIS IMMIGRATION ISSUE FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS.

NOW PUBLIC OPINION IS SHIFTING.

ARE THEY LOSING THE ADVANTAGE THEY HAD ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE TACTICS?

>> A SHIFT IN SOME.

THERE'S A BUSINESS PERSON I WORK CLOSELY WITH THAT I'VE TALKED TO OVER THE LAST YEAR THE SITUATION.

PEOPLE HAVE KNOWN THIS DAY IS COMING FROM A YEAR AGO, BECAUSE THE KEY THING UNDER THE LAW PASSED BY CONGRESS, THIS IS TEMPORARY.

THEY KNEW IT WASN'T GOING TO LAST FOREVER.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT, PEOPLE PREPARED ACCORDINGLY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OHIO, IT'S A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE THAN WHAT YOU HAD IN MINNESOTA.

>> HE'S SHOWN SUPPORT FOR I. C. E. , BUT HE'S ALSO SAID THERE'S ROOM TO IMPROVE.

I THINK THAT WAS HIS EXACT WORDS, HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS HANDLING THIS.

>> THAT KIND OF GOES TO SHOW COMPLETELY WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH REPUBLICANS STARTING TO BACK OFF ABOUT THIS, BEING GINGER ABOUT NOT CRITICIZING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TOO MUCH.

CONVERSELY, YOU SAW SHERIFF BROWN GO ON THE ATTACK SAYING KRISTI NOEM COULD BE FIRED.

>> HIS LAST CAMPAIGN, HE HAD VIDEO OF HIM ON COMMERCIALS DOWN AT THE BORDER WITH SHERIFFS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> JOHN HOUSTON WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THREE WEEKS BACK ON THE SEW SOMALI THING.

>> TO ME, IT'S POLITICAL.

HE'S TARGETING STATES WHERE HE LOST, WHERE THERE'S DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS OR MAYOR.

TO ME, THIS IS ABOUT FRANKLY TRYING TO INTIMIDATE YOUR POLITICAL OPPOSITION TO SILENCE THEM.

ALSO THERE'S A LONG-TERM PLAY HOAR OF HERE OF DISRUPT THE MIDTERMS.

THE PRESIDENT IS TALKING ABOUT NATIONALIZING ELECTIONS, WHICH REALLY LANDED LIKE A LEAD BALLOON, EVEN WITH A LOT OF REPUBLICANS.

>> IF CANDIDATES WANT TO RUN, THEY HAD TO FILE BY WEDNESDAY TO GET THEIR NAMES ON THE BALLOT.

NO REAL SURPRISES ON DEADLINE DAY.

ALL THE CANDIDATES GOT THEIR SIGNATURES IN.

IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR, THE CANDIDATES' FUNDRAISING IS MAKING NEWS.

AMY ACTON HAS RAISED $5 MILLION THROUGH JANUARY.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY RAISED $20 MILLION LAST YEAR.

HOW BIG A HURDLE IS IT FOR AMY ACTON TO OVERCOME THAT ADVANTAGE IN FUNDRAISING?

>> DR.

ACTON'S CAMPAIGN COLLECTED OVER 100,000 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DONORS.

SHE WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES SHE NEEDS TO BE COMPETITIVE.

YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST A BILLIONAIRE.

I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION HE WOULD LIKELY HAVE MORE MONEY.

I THINK DR.

ACTON WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE COMPETITIVE.

I THINK A LOT OF GRASSROOTS SUPPORT, A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM.

AGAIN, BACK TO THE POINT, YOU SEE PRESIDENT TRUMP NOW REALLY CREATING A PROBLEM FOR.

REPUBLICANS EVEN IN OHIO WHERE HE'S UNDERWATER BY ABOUT 9%.

DR.

ACTON IS IN A GOOD POSITION.

WE NEVER THOUGHT WE'D OUTRAISE VIVEK.

BUT IN A RECENT STATEMENT OR AN OLD VIDEO WHERE VIVEK WAS STAYING MEDICAID AND MEDICARE WERE A MISTAKE.

ABOUT 40% OF OHIOANS ARE ENROLLED IN THOSE PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

I THINK SHE'LL BE COMPETITIVE COME THE FALL.

>> TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATING IS ABOUT 39%.

HOW MUCH MONEY DOES IT TAKE TO OVERCOME AN APPROVAL RATING THAT LOW IN A ELECTION?

>> THE APPROVAL RATING IS NATIONAL IN OHIO.

IT'S A DIFFERENT NUMBER THAN POLLED RATELY.

THE LAST GOVERNOR'S RACE THEY WERE COMPARABLE IN THEIR MONEY SPENT ON TV.

AMY CAN BE OUTSPENT IF SHE'S GOT A SUPERIOR MESSAGE.

BUT STILL TO GET OUTSPENT TOO MUCH WOULD BE A TOUGH THING TO MAKE UP FOR.

THERE'S A QUESTION OF BOTH SIDES HAVE PROBLEMS.

CAN THEY TURN OUT THEIR BASE, OR DO PEOPLE FEEL TURNED OFF AND NOT EXCITED ABOUT THE ELECTIONS?

IT'S NOT OVER BY ERM ARLY MARCH.

WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.

>> THEY'RE BOTH DOING A LOT OF GRASSROOTS WORK VISITING COUNTIES AND SHAKING HANDS AND SPEAKING TO SMALL GROUPS.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN, AND RAISING MONEY.

WHEN DOES THIS THING REALLY START TO GET GOING, THE GOVERNORS RACE?

>> THE TRADITIONAL ANSWER IS LABOR DAY.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY GOT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF HIS MONEY FROM OUT OF THE STATE.

THAT REFLECTS HE HAS NATIONAL POLITICAL CELEBRITY IN A WAY WE'RE NOT USED TO IN OHIO.

I'M WONDERING IF NATIONAL POLITICAL NORS GIVE TO ACTON'S CAMPAIGN.

A THAT MIGHT >> PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THIS WEEK THAT REPUBLICANS SHOULD NATIONALIZE ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST CAME AS HE, AGAIN, MADE FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT WIDE SPREAD VOTER FRAUD AND STOLEN ELECTIONS.

THE CONSTITUTION STATES ELECTIONS FOR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATES.

THE PRESIDENT'S CALL HAS GOTTEN LITTLE SUPPORT AMONG REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN CONGRESS.

JOHN THUNE IS NOT IN FAVOR.

MIKE JOHNSON SAYS THE CURRENT SYSTEM WORKS PRETTY WELL.

YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH HOW ELECTIONS WORK.

IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO NATIONALIZE AN ELECTION?

>> IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

YOU CAN TAKE IT TO THE BANK IT'S NO SALE ON THIS IDEA.

PART OF THE PROBLEM WHEN HE SPEAKS ON COMMENTS AND MAKES OFF-THE-CUFF COMMENTS, IT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO DO POLICY.

OHIO IS AHEAD OF THE CURVE BECAUSE OUR OFFICIALS DO A GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE THE VOTER ROMS ROLLS ARE UP TO DATE.

OHIO IS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE CREATED A STIR, BUT NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> THIS IS NOT NEW.

IN 2000 WITH THE HANGING CHADS AND FLORIDA AND ALL THE WEIRD STUFF, THERE WAS TALK THEN OF WHY DON'T WE MAKE ELECTIONS FOR PRESIDENT MORE UNIFORM, QUOTE, NATIONALIZE THEM.

DOES HE HAVE A POINT THAT SOME STANDARDIZATION MIGHT BE IN ORDER?

>> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS TRADITIONALLY THE STATES' RIGHTS PARTY.

SUDDENLY TO HEAR HIM AS HIS POLL NUMBERS ARE SHRINKING AND HE HAS REAL CONCERNS ABOUT MIDTERMS, SUDDENLY WE HEAR HIM TALKING ABOUT NATIONALIZING THE ELECTION.

OF COURSE, REPUBLICANS WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY STATES' RIGHTS UNDERSTAND THESE ARE BEST RUN AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SOME ARE STARTING TO SPEAK OUT, EVEN LEADER THUNE.

HE POINTED OUT 15 STATES THAT HE WASN'T SUCCESSFUL IN.

SO IT'S CONCERNING TO ME AND IT SHOULD BE TO ALL OF US AS AMERICANS THAT THIS PRESIDENT DOES SEEM WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO SOW DOUBT OR DISCORD ABOUT THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY VIGILANT.

WE'VE SEEN HIM DO THIS IN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS.

I THINK ELECTIONS ARE RUN WELL AT THE STATE.

OUR CURRENT SENATOR WAS ON CNN TALKING ABOUT HIS TIME AS SECRETARY OF STATE AND HOW IMPORTANT WAS TO KEEP STATES ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS.

MY HOPE IS REPUBLICANS WILL ACT AS A BACKSTOP ON THIS.

>> HAVE WE HEARD FROM FRANK LAROSE?

HE'S RODE THAT FENCE PRETTY WELL.

>> HE SAID BEFORE FEDERALIZING THE ELECTION IS BAD.

HE SPOKE ABOUT AGAINST A DEMOCRATIC BILL THAT WOULD HAVE EXPANDED VOTING RIGHTS NATIONALLY.

I'M ASSUMING HE THINKS IT'S BAD IF HIS PARTY WERE TO DO THE SAME THING.

>> THE CONSTITUTION SAYS ELECTIONS FOR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD BE RUN BY THE STATES.

DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PRESIDENTS.

THEY COULD TWEAK THE LAW TO MAKE IT MORE UNIFORM, RIGHT?

>> MY READING OF THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THE STATE LEGISLATURES SET THE MANNER AND MEANS OF AN ELECTION, BUT DOES GIVE CONGRESS THE RIGHT TO SET SOME STANDARDS.

THESE DAYS CONGRESS ON BOTH SIDES CAN'T AGREE WHAT TIME OF DAY IT IS OR WHAT SEASON IT IS.

SO CONGRESS ISN'T GOING TO ACT.

THERE ARE A FEW STANDARDS FLOATED AROUND OVER TIME.

BUT THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE ANY CHANGE.

>> IS THIS JUST TO SOW SOME DISTRUST FOR THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS?

IS THAT A STRATEGY?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S JUST SOMETIMES IN PODCASTS YOU OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL WHAT QUESTIONS YOU ANSWER.

>> THEY DID STAND BY IT A COUPLE DAYS LATER TOO.

>> BUT THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY BACKED OFF A LITTLE BIT TOO.

>> WE HAD THE FBI RAIDING THE FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA, BOARD OF ELECTIONS BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT SOLD A BIG LIE ABOUT WINNING THE 2020 ELECTION.

WE KNOW HE LOST THE 2020 ELECTION.

I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS EFFORT, EVEN IF IT'S TO SOW DISTRUST AND DISCORD ABOUT THE RESULTS OF ELECTIONS IN CERTAIN STATES WHERE DEMOCRATS SEEM TO BE WINNING.

> >> TESTIMONY HAS BEGUN IN THE TRIAL OF TWO FORMER EXECUTIVES CHARGED IN OHIO'S HUGE NUCLEAR BAILOUT SCHEDULE.

THEY PAID A $4.

5 MILLION BRIBE JUST BEFORE GOVERNOR DEWINE NAMED HIM AS THE STATE'S TOP UTILITY REGULATOR.

IN HIS OPENING STATEMENTS THE EXECUTIVE'S ATTORNEY SAID THE MONEY WAS TO SETTLE CLIENTS CLAIMS BUT RENDAZZO KEPT THE MONEY FOR HIMSELF.

RENDAZZO DIED BY SUICIDE SOON AFTER HE WAS INDICTED IN THE SCHEME.

THIS IS NOT A NEW DEFENSE STRATEGY.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE.

THE CLAIM A DEAD PERSON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WRONGDOING IS HAPPENING HERE.

>> HE CERTAINLY CAN'T DEFEND HIMSELF.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THE JURY THINKS OF ALL THAT.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THIS APPROACH WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF TEXT MESSAGES OF THEM COMMUNICATING WITH HIM TALKING ABOUT POLICY, THANKING HIM FOR ACTIONS HE'S TAKEN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE GOVERNMENT IS WALKING THROUGH THE CASE.

IT'S TAKING A WHILE.

THIS TRIAL MIGHT TAKE EIGHT WEEKS.

I WONDER TO WHAT EXTENT THE JURY IS GOING TO FOLLOW THE WHOLE THING.

THEY DID SAY IN OPENING STATEMENTS THE DEFENSIVE IS GOING TO MAKE IT COMPLICATED BUT WE'RE TELLING A SIMPLE STORY.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG TRIAL.

>> THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS SCANDAL.

IT'S ELECTRIC, UTILITIES.

IT'S COMPLICATED.

IT'S CORPORATE, YOU KNOW -- EVEN LARRY HOUSEHOLDER'S CASE, THAT TOOK EIGHT WEEKS.

IT WAS COMPLICATED WITH A LOT OF MISDIRECTIONS.

>> ANY ATTORNEY CAN STAND UP IN THE OPENING STATEMENT AND MAKE CLAIMS.

BUT AS THE JURY, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S THE EVIDENCE TO MOVE OR COUNTERACT WHAT'S CLAIMED.

SO IT WILL BE TEDIOUS TO WATCH.

UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THE MEDIA IN COLUMBUS IS NOT REALLY COVERING THIS STORY AS MUCH AS OUT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE NICE.

IT'S TOUGH TO COVER BECAUSE UNLIKE ON TV THEY DON'T GET IT DONE IN 55 MINUTES.

>> IT IS ON TV, THOUGH.

IT'S A STATE TRIAL.

IT WAS IN DECEMBER OF 2018 RIGHT AFTER MIKE DEWINE WAS ELECTED BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE.

COURT FILINGS SHOW GOVERNOR DEWINE AND JOHN HOUSTON HAD DINNER WITH JONES AND THE LOBBYIST.

AFTER THAT THE EXECUTIVE HOPED TO MEET WITH RENDAZZO.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE DEWINE OR HOUSTON TESTIFY IN THIS TRIAL.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS A GOP SCANDAL, PERIOD.

IT'S COMING AT A GOOD TIME FOR DEMOCRATS IN A 2026 ELECTION WHERE THEY SEEM TO BE A LOT OF MOMENTUM IN FAVOR OF THE DEMOCRATS.

NOW YOU HAVE POTENTIALLY A SIT ING U. S. SENATOR IN THE MIDDLE, JOHN COULD GET DICEY FOR HIM THIS YEAR.

IT ISN'T THAT COMPLICATED.

PEOPLE'S UTILITY BILLS, PARTICULARLY NOW, ARE THROUGH THE ROOF.

I THINK THEY CAN UNDERSTAND QUITE SIMPLY THAT THIS BAILOUT CONTRIBUTED TO THAT AND THAT THE SKYROCKETING COST OF LIVING AND UTILITIES IS CONNECTED TO THIS CORRUPTION.

AND IT WAS STATE-LEVEL CORRUPTION.

>> IT'S NOT OFTEN YOU SEE A SITTING OFFICE HOLDER TESTIFY IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ODDS ARE THAT ONE OF THESE TWO SIDES, DEFENSE OR PROSECUTORS, CALL THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> THEY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT.

THERE SOMETIMES ARE AGREEMENTS TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE OTHERWISE TO VERIFY WHAT QUESTIONS COME UP.

A BECAUSE GOVERNORS, SENATORS JUST DON'T HAVE TIME TO SIT AROUND FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS IN A COURTROOM WAITING TO BE CALLED.

SOMETIMES THERE'S OTHER WAYS OF GETTING IN THE EVIDENCE WHERE BOTH SIDES AGREE ON A WAY TO DO IT AND BE MORE EFFICIENT.

ON BOTH SIDES, IF YOU BORE THE JURY TOO MUCH, THAT COULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE SIDE YOU'RE PUSHING.

THIS JUDGE, THE ATTORNEYS FOR CHUCK JONES AND DOWLING ARE BOTH VERY HIGH-POWERED ATTORNEYS I THINK DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID FOR BY THE UTILITIES.

>> I THINK THE JURORS' BOREDOM MIGHT SUBSIDE IF THE SITTING GOVERNOR AND SENATOR APPROACH THE WITNESS STAND.

>> I WAS IN THE FEDERAL COURTROOM DURING LARRY HOUSEHOLDER'S TRIAL.

I RECALL ONE OF THE JURORS WAS FALLING ASLEEP.

MAYBE CALLING THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA THEM.

>> THAT MIGHT GET THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION ON THIS CASE AGAIN.

IT CERTAINLY HAS WANED.

> >> ANYWAY, OUR LAST TOPIC.

LATE LAST YEAR THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL BOARD CUT $50 MILLION FROM ITS BUDGET TO ERASE THE DEFICIT.

IT WAS NOT ENOUGH.

THEY CUT MORE MONEY, ELIMINATED POSITIONS, FROZE SALARIES.

THE DISTRICT MAY HAVE TO CUT ANOTHER $50 MILLION NEXT YEAR.

ADMINISTRATORS BLAME RISING COST OF EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE AND RECENTLY PASSED STATE LAWS AIMED AT REDUCING PROPERTY TAXES WHICH AFFECTS THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE SCHOOL DISTRICTS COLLECT.

HOW DOES THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT FEDEX THIS?

FIX THIS?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE SENATE THE BUDGET IS OVER $300 MILLION.

THE COLUMBUS SCHOOLS ARE NOT QUITE IN AS DIRE A SITUATION AS THEY CLAIM.

ALSO THERE'S QUESTIONS WHEN YOU'RE DOWN TO 45,000 STUDENTS.

AT ONE TIME THERE WERE 129,000 STUDENTS.

WHY THEY KEEP SO MANY BUILDINGS HALF USED OR A QUARTER USED OPEN AND BEING INEFFICIENT WHEN THERE MAY BE OTHER WAYS TO SAVE MONEY.

THEY HAVE A TEACHER UNION CONTRACT THAT THE PAY SIZE IS ONLY GOOD FOR ONE YEAR.

THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY TO THE TEACHERS UNION WE CAN'T GIVE YOU AS MUCH MONEY.

>> IT'S HARD TO CLOSE SCHOOLS.

COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS HAVE TRIED FOR YEARS TO CLOSE SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS.

THEY JUST IT RECENTLY.

FOUR SCHOOLS CLOSED LAST FALL.

IS THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT USING THIS TO TRY TO GET CONCESSIONS FROM THE UNION?

TRY TO CONVINCE NEIGHBORS AND PARENTS THAT WE NEED TO CLOSE SOME SCHOOLS?

>> YOU CAN'T DISCOUNT THE STATE LEVEL.

THE STATE HAS MORE A LONG TIME MOVED AWAY FROM ITS SHARE OF STATE INSTRUCTION.

WE WERE ONE TIME AT 50%.

PRETTY SOON WE'LL BE DOWN TO 32%.

PROPERTY TAX REFORMS THAT THEY PROJECT WILL COST THEM $17 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

THE FACT THAT WE'VE TAKEN A BILLION DOLLARS AND PROVIDED VOUCHERS TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THE FACT THAT COSTS ARE GOING UP, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, SOME OF WHICH THE DISTRICT HAS HAD TO PAY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION.

THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED HERE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU TIE IT SO CLOSELY TO PROPERTY TAXES, YOU DO GET THESE INEQUITIES.

>> IS THIS UNIQUE TO COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS?

ARE OTHER LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACING THE SAME SITUATION?

>> I WOULD POINT OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TOLEDO CITY SCHOOLS WERE GOING LAYOFFS.

PERHAPS THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE SAME TYPES OF ISSUES.

COLUMBUS IS NOT ALONE.

>> THERE WAS A REPORT IN FALL THAT TALKED ABOUT CLEVELAND AND TOLEDO AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WOULD BE FACING SIMILAR SITUATIONS.

>> THERE'S THE OTHER FACTOR THAT K- 12 ENROLLMENT HAS SHRUNK DRAMATICALLY.

THERE'S QUESTIONS ON WHETHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY.

CLEARLY COLUMBUS SCHOOLS SPEND ABOUT $20,000 PER PUPIL IN A $1.

3 BILLION BUDGET.

IT'S NOT A LACK OF MONEY.

IT'S HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT.

>> $17 MILLION SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY BUT THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL BUDGET IS NOT HUGE.

ARE PEOPLE BLAMING TOO MUCH ON THESE LAWS AND NOT ENOUGH ON INEFFICIENCIES?

>> I JUST THINK IT'S A FACTOR I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT PROPERTY TAX CHANGES.

YES, YOU HAD A FORMULA IN PLACE, THE FAIR SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA.

BUT IF YOU DON'T FULLY FUND THAT FAIR SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA, ISSUES COULD ARISE.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, A REPORT CAME OUT LATE LAST FALL ABOUT OTHER DISTRICTS, URBAN DISTRICTS IN PARTICULAR, THAT ARE GOING TO FEEL THE SQUEEZE HERE GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE THAT SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE WASN'T FULLY FUNDED.

SO WE'RE HEARING THAT NOT JUST IN COLUMBUS BUT AROUND THE STATE IN THE URBAN SCHOOLS.

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

PREDICTIONS IN THE WEEKS AHEAD?

>> I JUST THINK PREDICTIONS GOING FORWARD AS WE GET POST PRIMARY AND INTO THE SUMMER AND FALL MONTHS, I THINK YOU'LL SEE MORE REPUBLICANS DEFINITELY WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THE U. S. HOUSE, NOW WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THE SENATE.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE MORE OF THEM DEFLECT FROM THE PRESIDENT AND BE MORE CRITICAL.

>> CIRCLE FEBRUARY 18th ON YOUR CALENDAR.

THAT'S WHEN LES WEXNER IS DUE TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS.

TODAY IN THE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" THEY HAD A HUGE PICTURE OF HIM AND MORE DETAILS ON THE EPSTEIN FILES.

>> THAT WILL BE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, RIGHT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

WE'LL SEE.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE TALK ABOUT THE STATE TREASURER'S RACE IN THIS SHOW.

BUT JD VANCE ENDORSED JAY EDWARDS.

I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTATE THIS, BUT I KIND OF VIEW JD VANCE AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY AS BEING RIVALS.

THEY'RE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE ON THIS.

>> STATE TREASURER'S RACE COULD BE A CRUCIBLE IN THIS ELECTION.

THAT WILL BE EXCITING.

>> SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE AN INTERESTING RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> AS A PATRIOTS FAN I'M ENJOYING THE SUPER BOWL THIS WEEKEND.

ALSO OHIO STATE FANS NEVER ROOTED FOR THE PATRIOTS BECAUSE TOM BRADY WAS A MICHIGAN GUY.

NOW WITH MIKE VRABLE IS A BUCKEYE.

WATCH US ON DEMAND ON THE BRAND NEW WOSU NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

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FOR OUR CREW AND OUR PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.