>>> YOU HOW DO OHIO REPUBLICANS RESPOND TO THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ELECTION PROCESS IN STATE HISTORY?

BY CHANGING THE PROCESS, OF COURSE.

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JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, JULIE CARR SMYTHE, STATE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, SAM GRESHAM OF COMMON CAUSE OHIO.

AND MIKE GONIDAKIS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

MIKE THOMPSON IS OFF.

I'M ANN FISHER.

AS OF THURSDAY A TOTAL OF 1 URKS 80,000 CASES HAVE BEEN RECORDED.

NEARLY HALF OF ALL OHIOANS HAVE STARTED THE VACCINATION PROCESS.

THE GOVERNOR OPENED THE BRIEFING WITH THE AHOW MANY THAT FULLY VACCINATED NURSING HOME AND ASSISTED CARE FACILITY EMPLOYEES NO LONGER NEED TO BE TESTED.

MIKE GONIDAKIS, THAT FEELS LIKE A BIG CORNER TO TURN.

ARE YOU SATISFIED THAT THE GOVERNOR IS LOOSENING THE RULES AT THE APPROPRIATE PACE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY PICK UP THE PACE A LITTLE BIT, RESPECTFULLY.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE A STOCKPILE OF THE VACCINE NOW.

MY FAMILY'S BE VACCINATED, OF COURSE.

WE DON'T HAVE A SMARTAGE.

THE PEOPLE WHO WANT IT OR NEED IT HAVE GOTTEN IT.

THE GOOD NEWS, ANN, IS THAT WE'RE OPENING BACK UP AS A SOCIETY.

THE STATE IS A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE NUMBER OF DEATHS ARE DROPPING, THE NUMBER OF CASES ARE DROPPING, I THINK WE'RE DOWN TO A 100,000.

IT'S TIME TO CONTINUE TO GET BACK TO NORMAL, CONTINUE TO OPEN UP.

OUR SMALL BUSINESSES NEED IT.

WE NEED TO HAVE FULL CAPACITY IN OUR RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THE GOVERNOR STEERED US OUT OF THIS MESS.

HE'S DONE A GOOD JOB AND HE'S GOING TO ACCELERATE THAT PROCESS.

>> JULIE CARR SMYTHE IS FAR FROM THAT 100,000 THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS USING ORIGINALLY AS KIND OF THE BENCHMARK FOR WHEN THINGS WOULD OPEN UP.

>> RIGHT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS KIND OF GOING TO BE THE TRICK FOR MIKE DEWINE IS DOES HE STICK WITH THAT, WHICH HE HAS SAID IS A PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS MEASURABLE FOR PEOPLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AS MIKE SAYS, THINGS ARE STARTING TO OPEN UP, EVERYBODY IS BEGINNING TO COMPARE THEMSELVES WITH OTHER STATES AND THEIR NEIGHBORS AND WHO'S GETTING TO DO WHAT FUN STUFF AND WHO'S GETTING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND ABILITY TO DO MORE THINGS.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE TRICK.

IT HAS TO DO WITH THE -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY THE STATE IS REALLY ENCOURAGING THE STATE TO VACCINATE AND PUT ON ADS AND CAMPAIGNS TO MESSAGE THAT AS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING.

>> SAM GRESHAM, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC, THE COVID-19 HAS HAD A DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT ON PEOPLE OF COLOR, POOR PEOPLE, AND REOPENING THINGS IS GOING TO HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT AS WELL, RIGHT?

>> I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO FOLLOW SCIENCE.

HE PUT THE BENCHMARK THERE.

YOU SHOULDN'T LET THE ECONOMICS RULE YOUR DECISION MAKING.

BECAUSE THEY HELP DRIVE THE ECONOMICS.

I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THAT.

HE CAN OPEN UP ALL HE WANTS BUT IF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL THAT THEY'RE SAFE, THEY'RE NOT COMING.

SO THEREFORE, THE ECONOMICS IS NOT GOING TO THRIVE IN THAT WAY.

NOW, IT IS GOOD THAT THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.

WE HAVE A VACCINATION PROCESS AND ALL OF THAT, BUT IT'S PREMATURE.

WE'RE MOVING TOO FAST BECAUSE OF OUR GREED AND I DON'T THINK, ANN, THE POINT THAT YOU RAISED, NOBODY'S LOOKING AT THAT POINT, THE DISPROPORTIONAL EFFECT ON COLOR.

THEY DON'T EVEN PUT THAT STATISTIC ON THE DASHBOARD.

BUT WHEN IT'S OVER, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

>> I'M WONDERING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IT HAS WHEN IT'S NOT PUBLICIZED IN THAT WAY, DO YOU THINK, SAM GRESHAM, WHEN IT'S NOT ON THE DASHBOARD?

>> IT TELLS ME THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO HIDE THE FACT THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR WOULD HAVE DIED PREMATURELY AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND TO MAKE IT EVEN WORSE, THERE WAS NO SPECIAL EMPHASIS TO DO PREVENTION IN THOSE COMMUNITIES OR SPECIAL VACCINATION EFFORTS.

SO THE DAY THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY ALL OF THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY SHAMEFUL.

>> THE TIME WILL TELL ON THAT.

FOR NOW, A RECORD 5.8 MILLION VOTERS CAST BALLOTS IN OHIO LAST YEAR.

MANY CAST THEM EARLY.

MANY CAST THEM BY MAIL.

MANY IN PERSON.

NO REPORTS OF PROBLEM.

FRANK LAROSE CALLED IT OHIO'S MOST SUCCESSFUL ELECTION EVER.

THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT WON THE STATE EASILY.

WHAT DO REPUBLICANS AT THE STATEHOUSE WANT TO DO?

OVERHAUL THAT VERY SUCCESSFUL PROCESS WITH A LITANY OF CHANGES THAT INCLUDE A CALL FOR TWO FORMS OF I.D.

TO VOTE EARLY OR BY MAIL AND A BITMAP ON STATE-FUNDED POSE TAJ.

ALEX FISHER, A BIG COMPANY, EXECUTIVES AND AN OP-ED IN THE DISPATCH THIS WEEK WARNED LAWMAKERS TO TEMPER THEIR MED ALING.

JULIE CARR SMYTHE, HOW ARE REPUBLICANS JUSTIFYING THE CHANGES IN HIGHWAY AT THIS POINT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THE CHANGES THAT ARE IN THIS BILL, I WOULD NOT GO AS FAR AS THE GEORGIA MEASURE.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT MANY OF THE CHANGES IN THIS BILL WERE THINGS I WROTE ABOUT EXTENSIVELY LAST YEAR.

THE POSTAGE ISSUE CLEARLY NEEDED CLARIFICATION, AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE ELIMINATING THE MONDAY OF EARLY VOTING BEFORE THE ELECTION HAS BEEN A LONG CRY FROM BIPARTISAN BOARDS OF ELECTIONS.

THE BALLOT DROP BOX ISSUE IS EXTENSIVELY LITIGATED LAST YEAR AND CLEARLY, WE HAD A COUPLE OF COMPETING COURT RULINGS ON THAT.

SO IN THOSE WAYS, THIS IS ADDRESSING ACTUAL ISSUES THAT AROSE.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE WAY THE SPONSORS HAVE COME DOWN IN TERMS OF THE SOLUTIONS, THEY ARE NOT LIBERALIZING ANY OF THAT.

THEY ARE DEFAULTING TO THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.

THEY ARE QUESTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE ANSWERED, BUT ON BALANCE, THEY'VE REDUCED OR RESTRICTED, RATHER THAN OPENED UP AND ADDED.

>> MIKE GONIDAKIS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WARNING?

IS THIS MORE ACTIVISM FROM CORPORATE OHIO MUCH LIKE WHAT OCCURRED IN GEORGIA?

>> SO IS MR. FISHER BUT MR. FISHER IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

HE CAN PUT HIS NAME ON THE BALLOT AND STEP UP.

HIS JOB IS TO REPRESENT BIG CORPORATIONS.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE A LIBERAL BENT TO IT.

JULIE DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF ANALYZING THAT BILL.

I CAN'T STRESS HOW GOOD A JOB THAT WAS.

YOU DON'T HAVE A BILL YET, SO WE'RE SPECULATING ON WHAT IT ACTUALLY SAYS.

KEEP THAT IN MIND.

WHEN I HEAR THAT WE'RE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DAYS, BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SAYS PLEASE DON'T LET PEOPLE BE ABLE TO VOTE THE DAY BEFORE BECAUSE WE NEED THAT DAY TO GET READY FOR THE BIG TUESDAY WHEN PEOPLE ACTUALLY SHOW UP.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAME TOGETHER.

THAT'S ONE ISSUE IN THE BILL, NOT THE ONLY ONE.

AND AS JULIE SAID, WE NEED THE CORPORATION.

THERE WAS SO MUCH AMBIGUITY IN ELECTION LAW, FRANK LAROSE'S HANDS WERE TIED.

HE DID DO A GREAT JOB.

JULIE'S RIGHT.

IT IS MORE RESTRICTIVE AS OPPOSED TO LIBERAL.

>> THEY CALL THIS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

I SAW RESIDENCE TO THAT.

IT'S NOT.

BUT IT DOES INCLUDE A LOT OF THINGS THAT DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR AND THE CLARIFICATIONS AS WELL.

SO WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

AND I MEAN, THE MORE RESTRICTIVE NATURE, THE RESTRICTIVE ROUTE THAT THEY WENT?

>> FIRST, I'LL DESCRIBE IT AS A CHAMELEON.

I'LL TAKE THE MONDAY THING BECAUSE YOU GOT TO GET PREPARED FOR THE ELECTION ON THE NEXT DAY, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVE TO HAVE 24-HOUR SURVEILLANCE OF A DROP BOX.

WHY ARE YOU REDUCING THE DROP BOXES BY 20 A DAY?

WHY ARE YOU DEFINING OR ELIMINATING THAT THE TAX OF IDs YOU CAN HAVE AND STACKING IT UP?

WHAT THAT DOES IS REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCES THERE ARE NOTHING BUT OBSTACLES HERE.

CAMOUFLAGE A FEW THINGS THAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN.

THERE WAS NO NEED.

THIS IS A BILL THAT'S LOOKING FOR A REASON TO EXIST.

THAT REASON SUBSTANTIATED OR JUSTIFY THIS BILL.

>> 1235RS WE KNOW, JULIE CARR SMYTHE, THIS TAKES AWAY SOME POWERS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO MAKE DETERMINE NATIONS ON THINGS LIKE HOW MANY DROP BOXES THERE SHOULD BE AND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE LOCATED, RIGHT?

THAT'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT COURT RULINGS ON THAT, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS THE DROP BOXES, IS THAT AFTER A LENGTHY COURT BATTLE IN BOTH FEDERAL AND COUNTY COURT, THE COURTS DID CLARIFY THAT FRANKLIN ROSE HAD THE ABILITY ONLD THE AUTHORITY TO EXPAND DROP BOX TOSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS PER COUNTY.

HOWEVER, THEY ALSO YUM HELD AN EXISTING ROLE WHICH SAID THAT IT COULD BE IN ONE LOCATION.

SAID THEY DID NOT REALLY SETTLE THE QUESTION, WHICH IS WHY THIS BILL SEEMS TO WANT TO ANSWER THAT.

THEY DIDN'T GO FOR THE MULTIPLE DROP BOXES WHICH IS WHAT DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS LIBRARIES OR POST OFFICES OR SOMETHING ELSE.

ON THE SHRINKING OF THE WINDOW FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS, AGAIN, THAT WAS A PROBLEMATIC THING.

SO WE WERE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO REQUEST A BALLOT SO CLOSE TO ELECTION DAY, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY GENEROUS OF OHIO, THAT THEY COULDN'T EVEN GET THE BALLOT THROUGH THE MAIL AND GET IT BACK WITHOUT RISKING THAT BALLOT SHOWING UP LATE AND NOT BEING COUNTED.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW AS DEMOCRATS SAID, DID THEY HAVE TO PUSH IT BACK A FULL SEVEN DAYS?

THEY COULD HAVE PUSHED IT BACK TWO DAYS, OR THREE DAYS.

SO ON BALANCE, ITS FALLS ON THE MORE RESTRICTIVE SIDE BUT THERE WERE LEGITIMATE ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> THE COALITION CRITICIZED SOME -- WHAT THEY SEE AS BARRIERS.

ONE OF THE SAYINGS, ITS MAKES IT HARDER FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS TO VOTE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> I'M SORRY.

SAM?

>> GO AHEAD.

I'M SORRY.

>> WELL, THE TIME LINE FOR ABSENTEE AND MAIL BALLOTS ARE SHRUNK A LITTLE BIT.

ALSO THE ID REQUIREMENTS ARE INCREASED FOR -- YOU NO IT ADDS A WHOLE SYSTEM OF REGISTERING ONLINE WHICH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR A LONG TIME.

IT SETS UP A DUAL AUTHENTICATION WHICH MANY OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHERE YOU GET ASKED TWICE TO PROVE YOUR IDENTITY.

WE ALREADY USE THAT SYSTEM FOR VOTER REGISTRATION ON LINE, BUT IF YOU WERE REQUESTING IT LAST YEAR, YOU DID NOT HAVE TO HAVE THOSE IDENTIFICATIONS, AND SO ALL THESE THINGS MAKE IT A LITTLE TOUGHER, I WOULD GUESS, IF YOU'RE OVERSEAS IN THE MILITARY.

>> AND, MIKE GONIDAKIS IRKS WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF DROP BOXES, WHY -- WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT LIMITING THEM TO BEING AT BOARDS OF ELECTIONS?

BECAUSE IN SOME STATE CITIES -- IN SOME COUNTIES, THAT COULD BE MILES.

THAT COULD BE AN HOUR AWAY FROM WHERE SOMEBODY LIST.

>> I WOULD ARGUE THAT.

WE DID DROP BOXES BECAUSE OF COVID.

COVID DECREASING, WE'RE GETTING OUR LIVES BACK TO NORMAL.

PEOPLE CAN NAIL THEIR BALLOTS.

THEY CAN SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY.

THEY CAN SHOW UP 28 DAYS BEFOREHAND AND VOTE.

I'M NOT SO SURE WHY WE'RE OBSESSED WITH DROP BOXES.

A BOARD OF ELECTION, THAT'S WHERE YOU VOTE.

PUT THE DROP BOX OUT THERE.

SOMEBODY DOESN'T WANT TO WALK IN BECAUSE OF COVID.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OBSESSION IS.

>> SAM, DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE OBSESSION?

>> I UNDERSTAND THE DEAL ABOUT DROP BOXES.

IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO EXERCISE THEIR FRANCHISE.

IF THEY'RE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED.

I COULD GIVE YOU MY WHOLE THEORY ABOUT PRESIKTD VOTING DROP BOXES TO LET IT GO.

I THINK THE HONOROUS PART OF THE DROP BOX, WHY DOES IT NEED A 24-HOUR SURVEILLANCE?

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

DOES THAT MEAN YOU GOT TO STAND THERE, GOT TO HAVE A SET OF CAMERAS TO LOOK AT IT?

I THINK THAT'S AN UN -- THAT'S NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

I THINK THE IDEA OF DROP BOXES IS THAT POOR PEOPLE, STUDENTS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WOULD USE THEM MORE THAN THE GENERAL COMMUNITY, SO THEREFORE, THEY KNOW.

>> NOT EVERYTHING'S ABOUT RACE, SAM.

>> YOU CAN'T EL TELL THAT FROM MY SPACE.

>> WELL, I JUST -- >> I WOULD ADD TO THAT THAT THERE ARE REPUBLICANS IN A NUMBER OF STATES THAT ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE DROP BOXES.

IT WAS VERY POPULAR WITH BOTH PARTIES LAST YEAR AND AS YOU KNOW, THE LOT OF LIVES WERE CHANGED BY SOME CONVENIENCES THAT PEOPLE GOT TO SEE LAST YEAR AND WE'VE SEEN IT A NUMBER OF STATES WITH THESE RESTRICTIVE BILLS THAT THEY'RE RETHINKING ABOUT THE DROP BOX ISSUE, SO THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE PART OF IT WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE.

>> AND JULIE, WHAT ABOUT THE HEARING PROCESS FOR THIS LEGISLATION?

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE ABOUT HOW FAST IT'S GOING TO MOVE?

DID I -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

THEY SAID SOMETIME THIS SUMMER THEY WANT TO BE PASSED AND IN LAW?

>> RIGHT.

AND IT'S -- WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS A HOUSE BILL AND THEY ARE -- IT SEEMS TO BE PRIORITY LEGISLATION OVER THERE, BUT WE ALSO HEARD THAT THERE'S A SIMILAR TOPIC BILL BEING CREATED IN THE SENATE, AND SO WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT IT WOULD MOVE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN BOTH OF THOSE HOUSES AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO WORK OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES, AND THAT'S A MATTER OF WHAT THE LEGISLATORS.

>> HOCK.

AFTER YEARS OF DEBATE, HIGHWAY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE BUSTING OUT A PLAN TO OFFER 43-YEAR SPORTS BETTING LICENSES FOR $1 MILLION APIECE.

SENATOR CURT SHEERING SAYS IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY.

HE PUT THE OHIO CASINO CONTROL COMMISSION IN CHARGE AND SPLIT THE PROCEEDS MOSTLY BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND GAMING ADDICTION SERVICES.

WHAT WAS ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?

>> WELL, IT WAS A TOTAL GUT PUNCH THIS WEEK WHEN WE -- I THINK WE WERE ALL CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND SURPRISED BY THIS.

IT'S A DISSERVICE TO SOCIAL CONSPIRATORS.

THIS WOULD BE THE LARGEST EXPANSION OF GAMBLING.

MORE THAN WHAT WE DID IN THE CASINOS, IN MY OPINION, AT LEAST.

THAT THE VOTERS PASSED WHEN THEY PURT THE BRICK AND MORTAR, HOW GAME LIPPING WOULD BE IN OUR STATE.

WE CAN'T PASS A LAW THAT'S CONTRADICTORY TO OUR CONSTITUTION.

I THINK A LOT OF LEGISLATORS NEED TO TALK TO THEIR 20s IF THEY SUPPORT THIS EXPANSION OF GAMBLING.

>> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT HASN'T GAMBLING ALREADY EXPANDED BEYOND THE CASINOS, ANYWAY?

>> I WOULD SAY NOT WITHOUT BEING IN THE CONFINES OF THE CONSTITUTION, THAT IS, AND WHAT WE CAN DEAL WITH AT BRICK AND MORTAR CASINOS.

I THINK IT'S LIMITED AROUND THAT, MY OPINION.

>> YAY.

JULIE CARR SMYTHE.

>> THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT, AND SO DOES THE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION, KIRK SHEERING AND THE SENATE HAS SAID WE ALREADY ARE SEEING THESE PRACTICES HAPPEN.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POOLS ON SPORTS EVENTS AND OTHER SORTS OF ITEMS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE STATE AND NOW ARE NOT REGULATED AT ALL.

THE BILL IS ATTEMPTING THAT.

WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE TO ME WAS SOME KIND OF GRAND COMPROMISE WITH BETWEEN THE FACTIONS THAT HAVE WANTED CONTROL.

THE CASINO COMMISSION VERSUS THE LOTTERY WAS A BUSY DEBATE THAT'S BEEN HOLDING THIS UP FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT GIVES LITTLE PIECES OF THIS BOTH -- WELL IT GOES TO THE LOTTERY COMMISSION.

THEN THE PULL AGAINST THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SOME ABOUT TO EXPAND CHARITABLE GAMING IN VETERANS HOMES AND THAT KIND OF THING AND VETERANS CLUBS.

I THINK THAT IT'S TRYING TO BE A GRAND COMPROMISE BUT AS MIKE SAID, THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO.

AS FAR AS OPPOSITION TO IT, IS IT -- >> MIKE GONIDAKIS SAID THERE ARE GROUPS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO IT BUT IS THERE ANY SENSE THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO GO FORWARD?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT -- YES, THERE ARE GROUPS ON BOTH SIDES WELL FUNDED.

WE'VE BEEN ALREADY SEEING QUITE A FEW COMING OUT WITH THEIR OPEN PARTICULARLY ISSUES AROUND THE WAY THAT IT'S BEEN SPLIT UP.

SO I THINK THAT IT WILL -- IT NEEDS TO GO FORWARD IN SOME WAY TO REGULATE WHAT'S ALREADY OUT THERE.

AND WE ARE SURROUNDED BY STATES THAT HAVE ALREADY DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE.

SO IN SOME WAYS, OHIO NEEDS TO GRAPPLE WITH THAT.

I DOUBT THAT THE BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED WILL BE THE LAST WORD ON IT.

>> SAME QUESTION.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO GENERATE SOMETHING.

OHIO TENDS TO COME IN ON THE 11th HOUR AND THEN DOES NOT REAP THE SAME BENEFITS FINANCIALLY THAT OTHER STATES HAVE WHEN THEY GO FORWARD FASTER.

>> MY RESPONSE TO HIM, THAT IS POPPY COCK.

IT IS ABOUT THE MONEY.

WHO GETS THE MONEY AND WHAT AMOUNT THEY GET THAT MONEY.

I THINK ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE INEVITABLE.

I SAID THAT ABOUT THE LOTTERY.

I SAID THAT ABOUT OUTSIDE GAMBLING.

THESE THINGS ARE INEVITABLE BECAUSE OF THE GREED THAT EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE DISEASE OF GAMBLING THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

JUST ANOTHER WAY OF GETTING YOUR MONEY.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN EVENTUALLY, SO I SAY LET'S REGULATE IT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN AND MAKE THEM SHARE THE MONEY.

>> I'M NOT -- I'M NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR ON THIS BUT WOULD ADDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO THE LIST OF BENEFICIARIES BE THE RULE OF GOVERNMENT, MIKE GONIDAKIS?

I DON'T THINK THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS GET LOTTERY FUNDS.

I MIGHT BE WRONG.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY DO, EITHER.

MY FACTS ARE A LITTLE FUZZY THERE, SO GIVE ME SOME WIGGLE ROOM.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT WAS INTRODUCED, THERE ARE A LOT OF POWERFUL PEOPLE ON THE PODIUM THE OTHER DAY, PEOPLE THAT I RESPECT AND ADMIRE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO PUSH THE BRAKES.

THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE WAS NO PARTY BEFORE THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED.

THERE'S SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT LET'S THROW DOWN, SIT IN A ROOM, LET'S FIGURE IT OUT TOGETHER AS OHIO.

>> THE COLUMBUS REVIEW BOARD IS OFF TO AN UNUSUAL START.

THE MAYOR NOMINATED NINE MEMBERS.

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL WANTED TWO MORE SO THEY ADDED THEM AT THE LAST MINUTE.

WHILE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT AIMS TO GET BOARD BROAD DISCIPLINARY POWERS, THAT ULTIMATELY WILL BE UP TO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE POLICE UNION.

SAM GRESHAM, DO THE HICCUPS MATTER AT THIS POINT?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

THE INTENT IS VERY GOOD TO TRY AND PUT SOME SYSTEMS AND GUARDRAILS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT THE WAY THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD TO IT, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED, BUT I THINK WE'LL GET OVER THAT.

I DON'T -- I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF UNFORTUNATELY YOU SAID, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE HECK OF A TIME GETTING THE POLICE FORCE TO AGREE TO THAT IN THEIR CONTRACT.

SO WE'RE A LONG WAY FROM ESTABLISHING THIS ORGANIZATION AND GETTING IT RUNNING.

>> MIKE GONIDAKIS, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE PROCESS AND HOW DO YOU THINK THE PROCESS AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW REFLECTS WHAT WE MIGHT SEE GOING FORWARD?

>> OVERALL, I THINK THE IDEA IS GOOD.

HOWEVER, THEY MUCK IT UP.

RIGHT MOMENTS AFTER WE HAD THE MOST RECENT SHOOTING AND THAT KIND OF PERSON DOESN'T GO ON ON A NONJUDGMENTAL BOARD TO JUDGE IT.

BUT THINGS ARE STACKED AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS.

MORALE IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW.

WHICH MEANS PEOPLE WON'T BE SAFE.

WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER AND NOT ALWAYS OPPOSE THEM.

>> SAM, I'M WONDERING, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF OVERSIGHT ON THIS WHOLE THING THAT'S GOING TO CREATE CONSISTENCY AND STANDARDS GOING FORWARD?

>> I'M -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT MICHAEL WAS TALKING ABOUT.

FRANKLIN COUNTY AND THE STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN 2015, FRANKLIN COUNTY HAD TO -- WAS RATED 18th FOR THE MOST SHOOTINGS WITH THE POLICE.

MOST REAM WE HAD 38 SHOOTINGS.

23 OF THOSE ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

THEN REAM FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, NOW WE'VE AT EIGHT.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR POLICE FORCE AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE POLICE FORCE.

EVEN THE RARE INCIDENT THAT OCCURS.

THAT POLICE OFFICER RAN TO THE SCENE WITH HIS GUN OUT.

HE WAS NOT GOING TO DECELERATE THIS THING.

HE WAS GOING TO SHOOT SOMEBODY.

WHEN HE FINALLY DECIDED TO SHOOT SOMEBODY, HE SHOT A GIRL FOUR TIMES.

HE DIDN'T NEED TO SHOOT THAT GIRL FOUR TIMES.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN FRANKLIN COUNTY HAS RUN AMOK AND HAS COMMITTED ALL SORTS OF PLEERDS THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE NAME OF GOOD POLICING.

I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER ONE THING.

POLICING DOES NOT OCCUR GOOD WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE PUBLIC.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT GIVING THE CITY OF COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT PERMISSION TO POLICE OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE KILLING OUR PEOPLE.

>> SAM, THAT'S A -- SAVE A YOUNG BLACK GIRL'S LIFE.

DON'T FORGET THAT.

>> THAT'S IT.

WE HAVE TIME FOR PARTING SHOTS.

MIKE GONIDAKIS.

>> BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PROMISED ONE MILLION JOBS.

TODAY WE ONLY GOT 266,000 AMERICANS BOTHERED TO GET A JOB IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.

HUGE DIFFERENCE.

WE NEED TO STOP THE DOUBLE UNEMPLOYMENT AND GET AMERICA BACK TO WORK.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE HURTING.

RESTAURANTS ARE CLOSING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND ANYONE TO WORK.

>> JULIE CARR SMYTHE.

>> AS I SAY I THINK THIS VOTING BILL IS GOING TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING SOME INTEREST IN NEGOTIATING ON SOME OF THESE POINTS, AND SO I THINK WHAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH IS WHETHER DEMOCRATS GET A ROLE IN THIS PROCESS, BECAUSE THEY ALSO ARE GUARANTEED A ROLE IN REDISTRICTING AND THOSE TWO MIGHT GO HAND IN HAND.

>> AND SAM GRESHAM.

>> I THINK THE COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT SLEEP THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION COMING OUT OF THE STATE CAPITAL ON OUR VOTING RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TONE A MAJOR PIECE.

IF IT'S NOT OVER, THERE WILL BE AMENDMENTS TO THE PROCESS.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT HE SHOULD KEEP HIS EYE ON.

>> I'M GOING TO PREDICT THAT MIKE THOMPSON WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

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

PLEASE CHECK US OUT ON LINE.

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CONNECT TO ALL OF THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

I'M ANN FISHER.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.