>>SOME WANT TO BRING DOGE TO OHIO GOVERNMENT.

WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

A LARGE PORTION OF REPUBLICANS IN THE OHIO HOUSE HAVE FORMED THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY CAUCUS MODELED AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ELON MUSK'S DOGE EFFORT IN WASHINGTON.

THE INFORMAL GROUP OF LAWMAKERS WANTS TO MAKE SURE STATE GOVERNMENT FOCUSES ON WHAT IT CALLS CORE FUNCTIONS - EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE GROUP DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME AUTHORITY AS THE FEDERAL DOGE EFFORT.

IT CANNOT DEMAND TO SEE RECORDS AND START LAYING OFF STATE WORKERS.

THE OHIO DOGE CAUCUS JOINS SIMLAR EFFORTS IN ABOUT A DOZEN OTHER STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WHAT IS UP WITH THIS GROUP, IS IT JUST A FISCAL GROUP OR ARE THEY JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN WASHINGTON?

>> THE NAME IS VERY CATCHY RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT IS A DEEPLY CONSERVATIVE LIBERTARIAN PRINCIPAL TO HAVE LESS GOVERNMENT, LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND YOU HAVE SEEN THE OHIO LEGISLATURE TALK ABOUT REDUCING REGULATIONS OR REDUCING SPENDING, THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW ABOUT SPENDING ON MEDICAID AND HOW THAT COULD OR SHOULD BE PRODUCED.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A FOCUS FOR LAWMAKERS, PARTICULARLY AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE LAYING OFF STATE EMPLOYEES IN THE SAME WAY ELON MUSK IS DOING RIGHT NOW.

>> THERE IS A FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND MEDICAID, THAT IS THE BIGGEST ITEM ON THE BUDGET, MEDICARE.

IS IT JUST NOT IMPORTANT TO THESE FOLKS?

>> I MEAN, PEOPLE SAY BEDS, MEDS AND HEADS I THINK IS THE TERM, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT REDUCING HEADCOUNT BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT THOSE THREE THINGS, I THINK MEDICAID IS PROBABLY THE MOST RIPE TO SEE CUTS, JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT WE SEE OUT OF WASHINGTON, TALKING ABOUT BLOCKADING THE PROGRAM , BUT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY REAL- WORLD CONSEQUENCES TO THAT, SO WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES BUT MEDICAID IS THE BIGGEST PLACE WHERE THEY BOTH COULD AND POSSIBLY WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> AND STATE GOVERNMENT HAS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, THERE IS NOT AS MUCH SORT OF WILLFUL SPENDING ON THE STATE SIDE AS THE FEDERAL SIDE, CAN YOU COMPARE THESE TWO EFFORTS?

>> NO, AND FIRST OF ALL, WHERE IS THIS FRAUD AND ABUSE, IS IT MIKE DeWINE?

COULD IT BE THAT IT WAS AUDITOR FABER, OR SENATOR YOST?

IT IS RIDICULOUS AND ON TOP OF THAT, IT IS VERY UNPOPULAR ON THE NATIONAL POLLING, THIS IS GOING TO DISAPPEAR, IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IS REALLY RIDICULOUS.

>> ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, COULD THAT AFFECT WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN THE STATE, COULD IT REDUCE STATE SPENDING?

>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU ASK THE QUESTION, WHEN YOU SEE THE MONEY ON THINGS WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING ON AROUND THE WORLD, WE SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING THAT MONEY.

REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT A DONALD TRUMP THING, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER, BILL CLINTON TASKED AL GORE WITH REINVENTING GOVERNMENT, AND BARACK OBAMA TASKED HIS VICE PRESIDENT, JOE BIDEN, LET'S GET OF THAT WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT NOW, GOVERNMENT IS MORE DATA-DRIVEN AND A. I.

CAN LOOK AT DATA FASTER, NOT MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THE CUT BUT IDENTIFY PARTICULAR AREAS FOR HUMANS TO LOOK AT MUCH FASTER SO STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTS TO GET OUT OF THE EDUCATION BUSINESS, SHOULD THE STATE GOVERNMENT PULLED BACK ON ITS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND JUST LEAVE IT TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD?

>> I THINK HE SAW, EVEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A MOVE TO PUT EDUCATION UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE , WITH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THERE IS DISCUSSION AT THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT SPENDING ON PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS AND SO FORTH, SO I THINK THE OHIO LAWMAKERS WILL WANT TO STAY ENGAGED IN EDUCATION ISSUES GOING FORWARD.

>> THE STATE PROVIDES ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE PARENTS AND RESIDENTS WHO ARE ABLE TO COMPARE ONE DISTRICT TO THE NEXT.

>> BUT THE WHOLE PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE VOUCHERS, THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO SOME OF THOSE WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE, AND EVEN WHEN THEY DO HAVE WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE, I'M NOT SURE THAT PEOPLE PURSUE IT.

>> THE STATE GOVERNMENTS COULD HAVE LESS, NOT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE HAVE STATE AUDITORS, AND THEY GO INTO EVERY UNIT OF GOVERNMENT REGULARLY TO CHECK IF THINGS ARE GETTING DONE RIGHT.

>> TO MARK'S POINT, IF WE TRIED THIS IN THE PAST, AND GOVERNMENT KEEPS EXPANDING, 75% IN THE LAST EIGHT OR 10 YEARS, DO YOU NEED THIS CHAINSAW APPROACH TO REALLY MAKE A CHANGE?

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS FIND WAYS TO BE EFFICIENT AND BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO, TO INVEST IN THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE DOING THE JOB AND TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PAID AND THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO DO.

THAT, I WOULD HOPE IN THE 14 YEARS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD POWER, THEY WERE TRYING TO DO THAT.

>> WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE, BUT WHERE WE DIVERGE IS WHO IS IN NEED AND HOW TO HELP THEM.

BUT, THE CORAL IS, WHO IS IN NEED AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO HELP AND GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING IT AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> ANDREW, IT IS HARD TO CUT ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, INDIVIDUAL CONGRESS, PEOPLE HAVE PROJECTS THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO TOSS , AND THEY HAVE PROJECTS THEY DON'T WANT TOUCHED AND IS NOT THE WILL POWER TO CUT SPENDING.

>> WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THE REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE ALIGNED WITH ELON MUSK'S PROJECTS, BUT IT GOES BACK TO THE MEDICAID CONVERSATION, I'M NOT A WASHINGTON REPORTER BUT THAT IS THE LARGEST NUMBER THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY REDUCE, AND THERE ARE SOME MOVES THEY CAN MAKE TO POTENTIALLY TRIGGER MEDICAID EXPANSION TO BE REVOKED IN SOME STATES INCLUDING OHIO AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RURAL HOSPITALS BEING AFFECTED, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LOSING HEALTH COVERAGE, THERE ARE REAL- LIFE CONSEQUENCES TO THAT WHETHER IT POLITICALLY GETS DISCONNECTED, THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> IN OHIO, REPUBLICAN COMPASS PEOPLE HAVE HAD TOWN HALLS, BACK WHEN OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT, THEY WERE GETTING CALLS ANYWAY, CONGRESSPEOPLE AND SENATORS FROM OHIO.

>> WE REPORTED ON THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT THE SENATORS HAVE BEEN RECEIVING AND I KNOW THERE WAS NATIONAL REPORTING ABOUT GUIDANCE FROM REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

>> LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.

> >>THE NOW ON-AGAIN TARIFFS ON MEXICAN AND CANADIAN GOODS WILL HAVE A SIZABLE IMPACT ON OHIO.

OHIO SELLS MORE THAN $21 BILLION WORTH OF GOODS TO CANADA.

THAT'S MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

AND OHIO BUYS MORE THAN $17 BILLION WORTH OF GOODS FROM CANADA.

THEN YOU ADD IN THAT OHIO FARMERS SEND MORE SOYBEANS TO CHINA THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY.

OHIO FINDS ITSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CROSSFIRE OF THIS NASCENT TRADE WAR.

AN OSU STUDY ON THE 2017 TRUMP TARIFFS FOUND SOME OHIO BUSINESSES BENEFITED.

BUT MORE WERE HURT.

>> THESE TARIFFS ARE JUST BEGINNING, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO STICK, BUT WILL IT BENEFIT THEM OR HURT THEM?

>> I'M ALWAYS ABOUT FREE TRADE, BUT WHEN AMERICA ISN'T TREATING IT FAIRLY, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TRADE WARS STARTING LARGELY BY OTHER COUNTRIES WHO HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY TAXING AMERICAN GOODS.

I THINK MOST AMERICANS WOULD RATHER BUY AMERICAN IF THEY COULD, WE ALL WANT TO SAVE MONEY BUT DURING COVID A LOT OF OUR MEDICINE WAS COMING FROM CHINA AND A LOT OF US WERE WORRIED ABOUT THAT STREAM COMING FROM CHINA, SO BUYING LOCALLY MIGHT BE THE OUTCOME.

>> AND IN DETROIT, WITH THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS, WHAT IS AMAZING, WE LEARNED HOW MANY CAR PARTS GO ACROSS THAT BRIDGE, BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES AND THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND BETWEEN THOSE TRANSFERS, THERE ARE SOME TARIFFS .

>> WHAT MARK SAID IS RIGHT, IT HAS TO BE WELL THOUGHT OUT IN TERMS OF HOW YOU ARE DOING IT, AND THE PROBLEM IS, FOR INSTANCE, FOR THE SAKE OF CANADA, IT IS A RECIPROCAL TRADE SITUATION AND THEY ARE PAYING THEIR WORKERS AT THE SAME STANDARDS WE ARE PAYING HOURS, SOME CASES HIGHER.

THE PROBLEM IN MEXICO IS THAT THEY ARE PAYING THEIR WORKERS VERY LOW WAGES AND THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

SO IF YOU HAD A TARIFF FOR INSTANCE, AND THEY ARE SAYING WE HAVE TO FIX THOSE, BUT IF YOU HAD A RECIPROCAL TARIFF SAYING YOU'RE NOT PAYING YOUR WORKERS THE SAME WAY WE ARE PAYING HOURS, SO WE ARE GOING TO TARIFF YOU SO IT MAKES IT EQUAL IN TERMS OF THE MARKETPLACE, YOU WOULD CREATE MORE JOBS HERE.

BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS JUST LIKE CHAOS, TARIFFS TODAY, NO TARIFFS TOMORROW .

>> WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS GROUPS AND FARMERS GROUPS SAYING HERE ?

>> I THINK THEY HAVE RAISED CONCERNS BUT THE FACT THAT MANY OF THESE HAVE BEEN DELAYED OR NOT IMPLEMENT IT, IT IS SUCH A MOVING TARGET, IT IS HARD TO DO ANYTHING BEYOND JUST EXPRESSED GENERAL CONCERN BUT FARMERS IN OHIO EXPORT SOYBEANS, BRIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT THE AUTO INDUSTRY, THE PARTS GO BACK AND FORTH.

THE GOVERNORS HAVE BARRELS THAT ARE PRODUCED IN JACKSON COUNTY, COUNTRIES ARE BLOCKING THE IMPORT OF AMERICAN BOURBON, SO IT IS ALL INTERCONNECTED AND I THINK THE BUSINESS GROUPS PROBABLY DON'T LIKE TARIFFS BUT THEY PROBABLY DON'T LIKE THE UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW.

>> TRUMP WANTS THESE TARIFFS TO BOOST AMERICAN MANUFACTURING , BUT AMERICAN MANUFACTURING IS GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN THREE YEARS TO AFFECT AUTO PLANTS IN OHIO OR INDIANA, DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE THE PATIENT'S TO DEAL WITH PAYING HIGHER PRICES BUT FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, THERE MIGHT BE AN AUTO PLANT?

>> IT IS HARD TO SAY IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CONNECT, IF THEY ARE GOING TO PAY MORE FOR THIS PRODUCT BECAUSE OF THIS TARIFF THAT WAS APPROVED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AND MAYBE IN THREE YEARS THE PLANT WILL BE BUILT, SO IT IS A LOT ABOUT CONNECTING THE DOTS AND THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHEN THEY ARE STARTING, WHEN THEY ARE STOPPING, WHEN THEY ARE ON HOLD, THAT IS CAUSING UNCERTAINTY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FOR BUSINESSES AND YOU ARE SEEING THAT REFLECTED IN THE STOCK MARKET.

>> TARIFFS ARE WELL PLAYED POLITICALLY, YOU CAN TIE THEM TO SOME TANGIBLE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE ACTUAL EFFECTS ARE PLAYED OUT OVER TIME, THEY ARE SORT OF DIFFUSED SO THAT PROBABLY BENEFITS POLITICS.

>> AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, AN AUTO PLANT TAKES A LONG TIME, SO IF YOU SEE ONE COMING UP IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, IT TAKES LONGER TO BUILD THOSE THINGS THAN JUST A YEAR OR TWO.

>> THIS IS EARLY IN HIS ADMINISTRATION, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE GONE IN THREE AND HALF YEARS, WE DON'T KNOW IF THE NEXT PRESIDENT IS GOING TO DO IT.

IT COULD BE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN WHO IS MORE OF A FREE TRADER.

>> THAT IS THE PROBLEM, WHEN WE CHANGE LEADERS, WE GET DIFFERENT POLICIES, THAT IS WHY THE STOCK MARKET IS HAVING TROUBLE RIGHT NOW, BOTH BUSINESSES WANT PREDICTABILITY.

THEY WERE GOING ONE WAY WHEN BIDEN WAS IN, AND ONE WAY WHEN TRUMP WAS IN, THIS IS THE NATURE OF DEMOCRACY.

>> SOMETHING MUST BE WORKING.

>> WELL, THE U. S. McA OPENED THE BORDERS MUCH MORE FREELY BETWEEN CANADA AND MEXICO, THAT WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU SAW A LOT OF PRODUCTS SHIFT UP TO CANADA BECAUSE IT WAS MUCH EASIER TO DO THAT, BUT THAT WAS A TRUMP AGENDA ITEM.

>> YES, BUT ANYWAY, GOVERNOR DEWINE GAVE HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS THIS WEEK.

IT WAS A GOOD SPEECH.

HE TOUTED OHIO'S JOB GROWTH, HIS ADMINISTRATION'S WORK ON EDUCATION AND REINTEGRATING PHONICS INTO READING INSTRUCTION.

BUT IF YOU WERE LOOKING THE GOVERNOR TO UNVEIL A BOLD INITIATIVE FOR HIS LAST TWO YEARS IN OFFICE, THIS WAS IT.

>>"AS A COUNTRY AND AS A STATE, WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT IN THIS PAST YEAR, AND THE EVIDENCE TODAY IS MUCH STRONGER THAN IT WAS EVEN A YEAR AGO.

IT'S OVERWHELMING.

AS AN OLD PROSECUTOR, THE VERDICT IS IN.

AND SO, IT'S TIME TO FINISH THE JOB AND BAN CELL PHONES IN ALL OHIO SCHOOLS SO KIDS CAN LEARN! "

>> THE GOVERNOR DID TOUT HIS PLAN TO RAISE TAXES ON CIGARETTES, SPORTS BETTING TO PAY FOR A CHILD TAX CREDIT AND PRO STADIUM FUND.

BUT A DAY LATER KEY HOUSE REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCED THEY PLAN TO KILL THOSE TAX HIKES.

WERE YOU EXPECTING ANY BIG PROPOSAL INITIATIVES FROM THE GOVERNOR?

>> NO, BECAUSE HE DID THAT IN THE BUDGET BILL, SO HE LARGELY JUST TOUTED THE PRIORITIES THAT HE WANTED FUNDED AND ENCOURAGED THE LEGISLATURE TO DO IT, THE LEGISLATURE IS DOING THEIR OWN THING, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS TO THEM AT SOME LEVEL, SO LIKE HE SAID, A COUPLE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES ARE COMING OUT.

SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR DID ANNOUNCE IS THAT HE HAS A PORTFOLIO, THINGS FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO DO, FOCUSING ON THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

SOMETHING WITH, BRINGING BACK SOME PHYSICAL CHALLENGE FOR KIDS TO PERFORM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THE PRESIDENTIAL GUBERNATORIAL FITNESS TEST.

>> NO MORE PULL-UPS, PLEASE.

>> THIS IS THE MIKE DeWINE THAT WE KNOW, BUT IF HE WANTS A FANCY NEW RESTAURANT WITH ALL THE COOL GOURMET RECIPES, THAT IS NOT MIKE DeWINE, THAT IS GOING TO CLOSE IN ONE YEAR, HE WAS A HEARTY RESTAURANT WITH GOOD FOOD THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE RELIABLE, THAT IS THE KIND OF LEADER HE IS.

HAVE THEY CHANGED?

ARE THEY MORE CHEERLEADING?

AND HERE IS WHAT I HAVE DONE, TO LAY OUT PERHAPS BOLD OR CONTROVERSIAL OR AMBITIOUS PROPOSALS.

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE GOVERNOR AND THE DIALOGUE AROUND THE STATE HAS CHANGED, AS THE DIALOGUE AROUND THE STATE OF THE UNION HAS CHANGED, SO GOVERNORS HAVE SEEN WHAT THE PRESIDENT CAN DO WITH THEIR STATE OF THE UNION BUT AGAIN, MIKE DeWINE DOES IT HIS WAY, NOT NECESSARILY THE WAY THAT THE LATE GUYS DO IT, THOUGH.

>> I REALLY LIKED HIS SPEECH .

>> IT WAS THE STUFF HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, HOW MANY DIFFERENT DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS HAVE CITED THAT MAGAZINE, I ALMOST THINK WE PAID FOR THAT RATING.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DO KNOW THAT NEWSWEEK LAST YEAR IN JUNE RANKED US 36 IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION, I KNOW A LOT OF OLDER PEOPLE IN COLUMBUS AND OTHER AREAS BECAUSE OF RISING PROPERTY TAXES, THE HOUSES ARE GOING UP IN VALUE ARE SUFFERING .

NO TALK ABOUT RELIEF FOR THAT.

HE DID TALK ABOUT SOME REALLY NICE STUFF THAT EVERYBODY CAN GET ON ABOUT, CHILD TAX CREDITS.

I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT HE RECOGNIZED HIM AND HIS LEADERSHIP ROLE.

>> THE TAX HIKES ON CIGARETTES WAS PAID FOR THE CHILD TAX CREDIT FOR KIDS UNDER SEVEN, THE SPORTS BETTING TAX PAID FOR STADIUMS, BUT THAT IS GOING NOWHERE.

>> THE REPUBLICANS DON'T LIKE TAX INCREASES.

IT'S TRUE.

AND IT IS INTERESTING, MIKE DeWINE HAS TRIED THIS APPROACH BEFORE WHERE HE'S LIKE WELL, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO A BROAD BASE TAX INCREASE, WE ARE JUST GOING TO TARGET A SPECIFIC AREA AND OHIO LAWMAKERS HAVEN'T BEEN TOO KEEN ON THAT IN THE PAST.

IT IS LIKELY THEY ARE GOING TO ROLL OUT THERE ON TAX CUT, WHICH THE GOVERNOR SAYS, BUSINESSES AREN'T SAYING WE AREN'T COMING TO OHIO BECAUSE OF THE TAX RATE.

IT JUST SHOWS YOU, THERE CAN BE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ABOUT POLICY.

>> BUT THE BROWNS STADIUM MIGHT STILL GET MONEY FROM THE STATE.

>> HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THEY ARE PLANNING ON CHANGING THE PLAN FROM WHAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED TO WHAT THE BROWNS WANT, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY BACKING ALONE THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO HELP THE BROWNS MAKE AND THE BROWNS SAY THAT MONEY FROM THE PROJECT, THEY WANT TO BUILD A GIANT STADIUM IN THE GIANT SUBURB OF CLEVELAND, BROOKPARK.

AND THEY WILL PAY THAT BACK.

>> ANY INCENTIVES ON THE PACKAGE?

>> THE BROWNS WINNING FREE GAMES IS NOT HELPING THEIR CAUSE.

>> WELL, IF THEY WIN SIX, THEY SHOULD GET THE FUNDING.

ANYWAY, MIKE DeWINE USED THE STATE OF THE ADDRESS TO ASK LAWMAKERS TO TOUGHEN THE SEATBELT LAW, THAT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE, AND THE CELL PHONE BAN, IS THAT GOING ANYWHERE ?

>> I ALWAYS SUSPECT THAT IN OHIO, SCHOOLS HAVE LOCAL CONTROL, THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN PRETTY RECEPTIVE TO ARGUMENTS LIKE THAT, SO WE ARE BASICALLY REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO HAVE A PLAN TO BAN CELL PHONES, SO TAKING THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE POLITICALLY POPULAR.

SOMETHING IN THE STATE OF THE ADDRESS WAS THAT THIS IDEA AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS IS WHAT VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAS TALKED ABOUT, HE IS THE FRONT RUNNER TO BECOME GOVERNOR OF 2026, SO THE FACT THAT VIVEK RAMASWAMY IS SAYING LET'S BAN CELL PHONES, I THINK THE PEOPLE LIKE THE IDEA.

>> FIRST WE ARE TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEIR BATHROOM POLICIES NEED TO BE, NOW WE ARE TELLING THEM ABOUT CELL PHONE POLICIES.

WHAT ABOUT REPUBLICANS THAT JUST SAID, LOCAL CONTROL, MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS.

>> I DON'T KNOW, IT IS A NEW DAY.

THERE IS A BIPARTISAN STANDING OVATION TO THAT PROPOSAL.

>> I THINK THERE IS AN OKAY AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE THAT CHILDREN ARE VERY DISTRACTED AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAN HAVE ISSUES, I THINK THE COUNTER IS ALWAYS IF THERE IS A SCHOOL SHOOTING OR SOME SORT OF EMERGENCY AT THE SCHOOL, CAN YOU GET A HOLD OF YOUR KID?

SO WE WILL SEE HOW THAT ARGUMENT PLAYS OUT.

>> SAINT PATRICK'S DAY MEANS WE ARE ABOUT 14 MONTHS AWAY FROM OHIO'S 2026 PRIMARY.

IT WILL BE CROWDED BALLOT.

TERM LIMITS HAVE OPENED ALL OF OHIO'S TOP ELECTED SPOTS.

SENATOR JON HUSTED MUST RUN TO FINSH JD VANCE'S TERM.

THE REPUBLICAN FIELD SEEMS SET WITH VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND DAVE YOST LEADING THE WAY IN THE GOP RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

BUT DEMOCRATS SEEM A BIT FROZEN.

FORMER HEALTH DIRECTOR AMY ACTON IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

BUT WE'RE ALL WATCHING WHAT SHERROD BROWN DOES.

WILL HE RUN FOR GOVERNOR?

WILL HE CHALLENGE HUSTED FOR SENATE?

BROWN WROTE A PIECE FOR THE NEW REPUBLIC LAST WEEK.

IT LAID OUT A PLAN FOR DEMOCRATS TO WIN BACK WORKING PEOPLE, BUT IT DID NOT LAY OUT HIS PLANS.

WHAT IS THE WORD ON THE STREET?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU TALK TO, AND I GO BACK PRETTY FAR WITH SHERROD, HE IS TO COME TO MY PARENTS HOUSE WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER AND HE WAS IN CONGRESS, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, HE'S GOT THAT FIRE IN THE BELLY, SO IF I HAD TO BE A BETTING PERSON, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE GOVERNOR OR SENATE BUT IT SURE SEEMS LIKE HE'S GOT THAT FIRE IN THE BELLY TO DO IT AGAIN AND TO FIGHT ON BEHALF OF WORKING OHIOANS.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO HIS POLITICAL FORTUNE, LIKE DISCO, IT IS DEAD, OHIO HAS MOVED TO THE RIGHT WHILE SHERROD BROWN WAS THERE, I PREDICTED HE WOULD LOSE THIS RACE, THERE WAS A TIME HE HAD SIGNIFICANT ELECTORAL POWER IN THIS STATE, HE CAN'T EVEN OWN MAHONEY VALLEY ANYMORE, IT IS A PIECE OF THE PAST.

BUT THE MAHONEY VALLEY WAS MOVING RED EVEN WHEN TRUMP WASN'T ON THE BALLOT, THAT IS NOW A SOLID RED DISTRICT, AND MAHONEY COUNTY SAYS IT IS VOTING REPUBLICAN.

HE CAN'T WIN THE VALLEY.

>> BUT I CAN'T SEE THOSE TWO RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER, MAYBE SHE RUNS FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND BROWN IS ON THE TICKET?

>> TO YOUR POINT, THAT IS WHY I HATE --HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING THAT, AS ONE OF SHERROD BROWN'S TOP POLITICAL PEOPLE.

WHATEVER SHERROD DECIDES TO DO, THE REPUBLICANS WILL BASICALLY GET BEHIND THAT AND MAYBE THEY WILL JOIN TICKETS , BUT I THINK THAT SHERROD BROWN HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN THE PAST, AND PEOPLE SAY THAT HE ENJOYS WORKING FOR WASHINGTON, D. C. SO IT MAKES MORE SENSE, ESPECIALLY DEMOCRATS IF THEY HAVE ANY CHANCE AT ALL TO TAKE THE SENATE, THEY PROBABLY HAVE TO WIN IN OHIO.

>> I DO THINK HE STILL COMMANDS QUITE A BIT OF ERROR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND A LOT OF RESPECT, SO WE WILL SEE, I THINK AMY ACTON IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR BUT HER BIGGEST CLAIM TO FAME IS HOW SHE HANDLED THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THAT WAS PRETTY POLARIZING, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL UPSET ABOUT THAT.

IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW THAT WOULD WORK IN A PRIMARY OR MAYBE A GENERAL.

>> IT IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY, AND WITH THE MONEY THAT YOU HAVE TO RAISE FOR THESE RACES.

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

>> GO ON OHIO GOVERNMENT TELEVISION AND WATCH OUR NEWEST SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, MEGAN SHANAHAN, WE HEARD THE STORY OF A WOMAN WHO GREW UP, THE YOUNGEST OF EIGHT UNDER A SINGLE MOTHER, WHO OVERCAME GREAT CHALLENGES, SHE HAS A GREAT FUTURE.

>> ONE RUMOR THAT YOU HEAR ALL AROUND COLUMBUS THESE DAYS IS THAT DAVE YOST IS GOING TO BE GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND ALL THE OTHER STATEWIDE LECTINS WHO ARE GOING TO RUN ARE GOING TO BE APPOINTED, I THINK IT IS A GOOD RUMOR.

>> JUST LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK, SENATE BILL ONE WHICH IS A SWEEPING HIGHER EDUCATION REFORM, THE HOUSE IS LOOKING LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE IT OUT ON WEDNESDAY AND POSSIBLY PASS IT, THE SENATE ALREADY APPROVED IT AND MIKE DeWINE , I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH HIM TODAY AND HE INDICATED HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO SIGN IT.

JUST LOOK FOR THAT COMING UP.

>> REALLY INTERESTING SERIES, MY COLLEAGUE DID THIS WEEK ON DOG ATTACKS AND JUST THE INSUFFICIENT LAWS TO PUNISH THE PEOPLE, EVEN IF THE PERSON IS KILLED IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

IT IS WORTH CHECKING OUT.

>> I WAS ON VACATION LAST WEEK AND WE FLEW OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO WHICH DONALD TRUMP NOW CALLS THE GOLF OF AMERICA AND I WAS WONDERING WITH THE PILOT WOULD SAY AS WE WERE APPROACHING THAT AND HE SAID, WE ARE NOW FLYING OVER THE GULF, VERY WISE CHOICE.

THAT IS HOW THAT WORKED OUT.

THAT'S COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK.

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

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I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.