>>> VIVEK RAMASWAMY JUMPS INTO OHIO GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

I AM MIKE THOMPSON.

THE 2026 RACE FOR GOVERNOR IS GAINING ANOTHER MAJOR OFFICIAL CANDIDATE.

FORMER REPUBLCIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAS FILED PRELIMINARY PAPERWORK TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

HE PLANS TO PUBLICLY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN THIS COMING WEEK WITH A TOUR AROUND THE STATE.

THIS OF COURSE IS NO SURPRISE.

THE CINCINNATI NATIVE WHO NOW LIVES OUTSIDE OF COLUMBUS HAS BEEN TOYING WITH THE IDEA SINCE HE DROPPED OUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

HE'S THOUGHT TO BE A FAVORITE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT'S FAVORITE THINGS ARE SUBJECT TO RAMASWAMY JOINED ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE YOST AS THE TWO MAJOR REPUBLICANS SEEKING TO SUCCEED MIKE DeWINE.

JUMPING INTO STATEWIDE OFFICE POLITICS IN OHIO.

WILL RAMASWAMY HAVE THE SAME SUCCESS AS JD VANCE AND -- >> IT IS AN EXCITING TIME.

LOOK, HE IS ALREADY HEADLINING OR SO, BIG EVENTS IN OUR COUNTY.

HE HAS A TREMENDOUS STAR POWER.

NOT JUST IN OHIO, BUT NATIONALLY.

OVER $40 MILLION ON A CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT.

YOU CAN SEE THAT MANY AMERICANS IN THE TRUMP BASE GRAVITATE TO HIS LIKING AND WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

HE INVITED ME TO HIS HOME LAST WEEK, WE SAT DOWN.

HE PRESENTED HIS MISSION FOR OHIO.

AS YOU SAID, ENERGETIC NINE- YEAR-OLD FAMILY OF FOUR.

I THINK HE WILL BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE.

I THINK ELON MUSK WILL PROBABLY ENDORSE HIM HERE.

MAYBE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

WELL KNOWN.

THE TRUMP BASE LIKES THEM, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

>> DOES THAT HELP VIVEK RAMASWAMY RIGHT NOW?

>> IN A WEEK OR TWO.

HE MIGHT NOT WANT THAT ENDORSEMENT.

>> WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT HIS ENDORSEMENT?

HE SORT OF CAME OUT OF NOWHERE THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> THE COMMON THING I AM HEARING ABOUT VIVEK FROM REPUBLICANS WHO ARE MORE TRADITIONAL.

IT WILL BE EASY FOR DEMOCRATS TO ATTACK HIM.

EVEN THOUGH THE DEMOCRATS ARE SO WEAK.

HE WILL DO FOR OHIO WHAT ELON MUSK IS DOING FOR THE COUNTRY.

THAT CAN HAVE VERY DIFFERENT MEANINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

MY OWN SENSE, IF THEY CAN EVER GET THEIR ACT IN ORDER, I WOULD RATHER RUN AGAINST HIM THAN JOHN EUSTON.

AND PROBABLY RATHER AGAINST -- ON HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POPULARITY FARES OVER THE TWO YEARS?

>> I COULDN'T PREDICT TWO YEARS INTO THE FUTURE, BUT VIVEK HAS A KNACK FOR ATTENTION.

HE IS GOOD AT KEEPING IT, BASKING IN IT REALLY.

I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS THAT.

>> SO WHAT DOES HE NEED TO DO TO BE COMPETITIVE?

>> HE WOULD HAVE TO GO AFTER RAMASWAMY AND DECIDE ON WHAT GROUNDS TO GO AFTER HIM.

DO YOU GO AFTER HIM BECAUSE HE'S NOT ONE OF US?

HE'S OUT OF TOUCH?

ARROGANT?

AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS THAT IN HIS >>> TO REALLY GO AFTER HIM.

HE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD TO THE RIGHT.

HE DOES HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE TRUMP BASE, OR WHATEVER.

SO HE HAS TO FIGURE OUT, WHAT IS MY LANE?

AND I'M NOT SURE HE'S YET THEY ARE.

>> THEY ARE PERSONAL FRIENDS OF MINE.

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE DAVE AT ALL.

HE IS IN LAST GO AROUND MOST LIKELY.

HE WOULD DO EVERYTHING HE CAN TO DIFFERENTIATE HIMSELF.

DAVE'S GOT TO FIND A LANE AND AN AVENUE.

>> JAKE, IN THE SENATE RACE WHEN JD VANCE WON, AND EVEN IN THE PRIMARY, THERE WERE THE CANDIDATES DO GET THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

IS IT A DONE DEAL FOR VIVEK RAMASWAMY RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK THE MACRO POLITICAL CLIMATE IS THE MAJOR DETERMINANT HERE.

IT'S BEING ALMOST RIPPED UP TO ZERO AND COMPLETELY REORGANIZED.

THE OUTCOME OF THAT COULD ENTIRELY TURN THIS RACE.

MAYBE THERE IS A HUGE BACKLASH THAT COMES.

MAYBE THERE IS A NEW WAY TO APPROACH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WHO KNOWS IF YOU WANT THE AFFILIATION WITH THE TRUMP MINISTRATION IN TWO YEARS?

>> DONALD TRUMP WON OHIO NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE, BUT THREE TIMES.

THIS TIME BY 12%.

>> I TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I'M GOING TO RIP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I'M GOING TO DO THIS IF YOU VOTE FOR ME.

WE ASKED FOR GUYS LIKE ELON MUSK TO COME IN AND HELP FIX A BROKEN SYSTEM.

MAYBE NOT OTHER STATES, BUT OHIO.

I THINK THE TRUMP CURRENCY IS STRONG TODAY, AND IT WILL BE IN TWO YEARS.

>> AND NOW HE HAS A WEBSITE, I'M ASSUMING HE'S GOT A FUNDRAISING LINK ON THERE.

HOW DOES HE FIT INTO THIS THREE- WAY RACE?

>> IT IS INTERESTING.

I THINK ACTUALLY OF JIM TRISSEL BEING THE OUTSIDER.

HE IS A TRUE OHIOAN.

I THINK HE WILL BE A GREAT CANDIDATE.

>> JOHN HOUSTON WAS A GREAT GOVERNOR, BRINGING A LOT OF JOBS TO OHIO.

TO DO THE JOB.

YOU CAN'T TURN AROUND AND START RUNNING ALL 88 COUNTIES.

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> FRANK IS GOING TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CONGRESSPEOPLE LOOKING FOR RE-ELECTION ARE GOING TO DO THAT.

>> KEEP IN MIND, HE IS BEEN DOING HIS JOB VERY WELL FOR THE PAST 6 OR 7 YEARS.

JIM TRESSEL IS ONE PERSON WITH A STAFF OF MAYBE TWO OR THREE.

HE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON JOBS IN OUR STATE AS OPPOSED TO RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> IS HE DEFINITELY GOING TO RUN?

JIM TRESSEL?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE KNOWS.

>> IT'S TWO MONTHS AWAY, THOUGH.

MICKEY'S GIVING WISHY-WASHY STATEMENTS.

NOT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, BUT ALSO NOT NOT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

INTERPRET THAT AS YOU WILL.

>> THE MORE MIKE DeWINE SHOWCASES JIM TRESSEL , THE THAT HE DOES SUCCESSFULLY.

>> HE HAS TO ENDORSE PUBLICLY.

>> KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT JIM TRESSEL CAN VEER OFF THE MIKE DeWINE CHEERLEADING BANDWAGON.

HE'S GOT TO SUPPORT MIKE DeWINE.

DUE IS HE ENDORSED IN THIS RACE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK WE WILL WEIGH IN ONE MORE TIME.

>> BEFORE THE PRIMARY, WE SHALL SEE.

>> ELON MUSK S SO-CALLED GOVERNMENT EFFICIENY DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO CUT FEDERAL SPENDING.

IT'S GOING AGENCY TO AGENCY LAYING OFF WORKERS.

THERE ARE REPORTS OF OHIO-BASED WORKERS LOSING THEIR JOBS.

THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS ARE ALSO LOOKING TO CUT SPENDING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AS WELL.

MANY SUSPECT CONGRESS WILL TRY TO CUT MEDICAID SPENDING.

LESS FEDERAL MONEY FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR DISABLED AND LOW INCOME PEOPLE, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OHIOANS CAN LOSE BENEFITS.

THEY BENEFIT FROM THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID THAT WAS A PART OF MET --OBAMACARE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD PULL BACK AND THE STATE WOULD BE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG, HAVING TO PAY MORE.

>> IT POSSIBLY COULD HAPPEN.

BUT THE WAY THAT IT READS RIGHT NOW, IT'S AS MUCH AS 1%.

OHIO WILL JUST MIX HEALTH INSURANCE FOR 70 100,000 PEOPLE.

THERE IS NOT CONSIDERATION OF, OH, IT'S INCREASING FUNDING BY SOME MARGINAL.

THIS IS A MASSIVE, MASSIVE PROGRAM.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS THAT VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP, THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS EXPANSION.

WHAT DOES IT DO IT THAT GETS CUT?

>> KEEP IN MIND BACK IN 2011 WHEN THEY IMPLEMENT IT MEDICAID EXPANSION, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, WOMEN THAT'S IT.

FAST-FORWARD TO 2024, ABLE- BODIED ADULTS, WHETHER IT'D BE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SHOULDN'T BE ON IT.

I THINK THEY BELIEVE IN TEMPORARY SYSTEMS, BUT NOT ABOUT WAY OF LIFESTYLE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.

NOT FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

THERE ARE 700,000 PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE WORKING.

>> THEY ARE WORKING.

THEY ARE MAKING $44,000 A YEAR.

MOST OF THEM ARE WORKING, AT LEAST PART-TIME.

>> TRUMP VOTERS LOVE TRUMP.

THEY EXPECT CHANGES.

I DON'T THINK THEY EXPECT TO BE HURT SO DIRECTLY BY DECISIONS OF ELON MUSK.

AND WHETHER THAT IS HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC SAFETY, WHETHER IT IS IN FACT THAT THE ECONOMY GOES INTO THE TANK BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY EXPECTED.

WE WANT TO BE A CHANGE AGENT WHO IN FACT CAN MAKE CHANGES THAT WILL BENEFIT US.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN A LOT OF THESE AREAS.

AND I THINK THAT THE RISK FOR THE CANDIDATE WHO GETS TOO CLOSE TO DONALD TRUMP AND ELON MUSK.

>> SIGNS OF SECOND THOUGHTS, TELLING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THIS WEEK THAT PERHAPS ELON MUSK'S BUDGET CUTTING IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL, JAKE.

THEY ARE GETTING CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS.

THEY ARE GETTING CALLS, AND THEY ARE SEEING HOW THIS COULD IMPACT THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

>> YEAH, THERE ARE TWO THINGS.

THERE ARE THESE BUDGET CUTS, PEOPLE WHO HAD JOBS IN THE GOVERNMENT YESTERDAY, BUT NOT TODAY.

AND IT'S CONGRESS THAT CREATED THESE AGENCIES.

AND NOW, YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT COMING IN AND SAYING, I DON'T LIKE THAT AGENCY.

EVEN CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.

YOU HAVE THAT DYNAMIC.

AND SOMETHING WORTH POINTING OUT HERE, IS MEDICAID IS PROPORTIONATELY COVERING PEOPLE, THESE PLACES DONALD TRUMP WON IN HUGE MARGINS.

SOME OF THE BIGGEST PEOPLE HURT WILL BE THE HOSPITALS THERE, WHICH ARE NOT ONLY SOME OF THE ONLY PLACES YOU CAN GET TO FOR HEALTHCARE, BUT FOR SOME OF THE BIGGEST EMPLOYERS.

>> NO ONE HAS LOST THEIR MEDICAID, SOCIAL SECURITY.

PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIKE DONALD TRUMP.

THE MEDIA IS REALLY GOOD AT THAT.

>> IT'S A POSSIBILITY, RIGHT?

>> IT'S A POSSIBILITY WE GO BANKRUPT, TOO.

THE BIGGEST EXPENSES THE FEDERAL TAXES.

HOW MANY FAMILIES WEREN'T ABLE TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO A GOOD COLLEGE, OR BY THEIR DREAM HOUSE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT?

BUT YET, GETTING ACCESS TO $2 BILLION OF OUR TALKS DOLLARS -- TAX DOLLARS?

BEING SICK AND TIRED.

WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF PAIN TO FIX THE GOVERNMENT SO WE DON'T HAVE THESE PEOPLE, MILLIONAIRES AND MULTIMILLIONAIRES LIVING OFF THE PUBLIC DIME.

>> A VERY DIFFERENT NARRATIVE WOULD BE WHY IS THE CASE THAT THE RANK-AND-FILE IS PAYING THE COST OF MANY OF THESE CUTS?

WHEN IN FACT, SOME OF THAT MONEY IS BEING FREED UP SO YOU CAN AFFORD A TAX CUT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE THE WEALTHIEST IN SOCIETY?

AND I THINK AT SOME POINT, WHEN MORE AMERICANS RECOGNIZE, WAIT A SECOND, THIS ISN'T FAIR.

I EXPECTED DONALD TRUMP TO LOOK OUT AFTER ME, NOT AFTER ELON MUSK.

I THINK IF IT EVER GETS TO THAT STAGE, HE'S A LIABILITY FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> WE WILL SEE.

OHIO LAWMAKERS FACE A DILEMMA AS THEY WERE TO PASS A STATE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

HOW DO THEY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PAY FOR THE STATES RAPIDLY EXPANDING PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM?

GOVERNOR DEWINE'S BUDGET PROPOSAL TRIES TO DO THAT.

THE INDEPENDENT LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION SAYS THAT DEWINE'S BUDGET WOULD CUT $100 MILLION FROM THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHILE INCREASING FUNDING FOR THE VOUCHER PROGRAM BY MORE THAN $260 MILLION.

CHARTER SCHOOLS WOULD SEE A MORE THAN 200 MILLION DOLLAR BOOST.

A BOOST FOR CHARTER AND VOUCHERS, A SMALL DECREASE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CAN THE STATE AFFORD TO SUPPORT ALL THREE LEGS OF THAT?

>> THEY WILL FIND A WAY TO DO IT.

THERE HAS BEEN A GAME PLAYED OVER DECADES.

WHEN YOU GET A STATE BUDGET, AND LEGISLATORS START LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY WANT TO LOOK AT IS HOW ARE MY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS DOING?

ARE THEY GETTING MORE MONEY?

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THE DISTRICTS ARE GROWING, SHRINKING, WHATEVER.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE IS.

SOME OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL HEARD.

WELL, THEY WILL PROBABLY LET THEIR VOICES BE HEARD.

DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THEY WILL DISCOVER 100 MILLION OR 200 MILLION?

WILL THEY CHANGE THE REVENUE ESTIMATES?

I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IT WILL BE OKAY.

FROM SOMEBODY PERSPECTIVE IT WILL BE OKAY.

>> HE SAYS IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

LONG-TERM, THEY CAN'T DO BOTH.

>> YES, AND I THINK THERE IS A POINT THAT HE SAYS HERE, THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW ON STUDENTS.

IF YOU HAVE MORE LEAVING INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHARTERS, THAT BRINGS YOU INTO THIS PROBLEM OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

YOU CAN'T ALLOCATE, YOU CAN SHRINK A BUILDING SIZE BY 10%.

BUDGET AS YOU HINTED, IT IS IN ITS VERY EARLY STAGES.

>> MIKE, THAT THEY UNDERESTIMATE HOW MUCH THIS VOUCHER PROGRAM WILL COST?

>> IT'S OVER $200 MILLION.

>> IT APPLIED TO EVERYONE.

THEY DIDN'T SAY FOR SOME PEOPLE, EVERYONE COULD GAIN ACCESS.

LET'S KEEP IN MIND, CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY CHARGE OUTRAGEOUS TUITION TO GO TO THIRD GRADE.

THEY ARE NOT GETTING ANY OF OUR STATE TAX DOLLARS.

>> YES, BUT PEOPLE ARE --MAYBE IT'S 500 A YEAR.

SO BE IT, IF THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

MY KIDS GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE POINT OF THE MATTER IS, IF KIDS ARE GRAVITATING AND GOING TO OTHER SCHOOLS, CHARTER, WHICH ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THAT IS A GOOD THING.

PUTTING THE MONEY TO.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION.

>> WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

WILL IT IMPACT THE RURAL AREAS?

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE SCHOOL FUNDING, YOU WILL FIND THAT THE RURAL DISTRICTS ARE THE ONES REALLY BEING HURT.

THE URBAN DISTRICTS AREN'T SHORT OF MONEY, BUT THEY HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS.

IF YOU HAVE A DOUBLE WHAMMY, YOU MIGHT LOSE SOME OF YOUR HEALTHCARE COVERAGE, AND YOUR SCHOOL FUNDING.

YOU CAN SAY, WELL, THERE'S TOO MANY OF YOU.

YOU NEED TO CONSOLIDATE.

THAT IS THE WHOLE IDENTITY OF SOME OF THESE RURAL COUNTIES.

>> UNCERTAINTY CONTINUES OVER WHO WILL RUN THE COMPUTER CHEAP --CHIP FACTORIES UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN NEW ALBANY.

LINDBERGH AND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTS TWO COMPANIES ARE INVESTIGATING TAKING OVER PARTS OF INTEL.

THE COMPANY BROADCOM IS LOOKING AT THE CHIP DESIGN AND MARKETING SIDE OF INTEL.

ANN TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY IS LOOKING AT THE MANUFACTURING SIDE.

THE JOURNAL REPORTS NO FORMAL OFFERS ARE ON THE TABLE YET.

INTEL FACES BUSINESS PROBLEMS IN THE FACTORY PROJECT HAS SUFFERED DELAYS.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN HAD THE FIRST FACTORIES RUNNING SOMETIME THIS YEAR.

IT COULD NOW BE 2030 BEFORE THE FACILITY IS OPERATIONAL.

THE POINT WAS TO BUILD THESE PLANTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

HAVE A U.S. COMPANY MAKING THESE TIPS.

AND NOW, A TAIWANESE COMPANY CAN BE MAKING THESE.

>> THAT'S QUITE INTERESTING.

>> I THINK WE ARE ALL SCRATCHING OUR HEADS.

I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT INTEL IS TOO BIG TO FAIL.

IT'S TOO BIG TO FAIL HERE IN OHIO.

RESOURCES BOTH AT THE FEDERAL WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, SHARON BROWN, AND OTHERS.

REPUBLICANS OF COURSE, AS WELL.

MIKE DeWINE, HOUSTON.

WHETHER IT IS DESIGNED FASHION, WE HAVE TO BUILD THIS PLANT.

AND I HOPE AN AMERICAN COMPANY OWNS IT.

NOT A FOREIGN NATIONAL COMPANY.

IT'S INTERESTING TIMES RIGHT NOW.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS CONTINUING OUT THERE.

>> SOME COMPANIES CAN WALK AWAY, BUT WE ARE PRETTY FAR DOWN THAT ROAD.

>> WE IMMEDIATELY COME TO THE THOUGHT, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TAIWAN --AND THE COMPANY WILL OWN IT.

WE HAVE THE GOOD INTENTIONS IN THE BEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE.

BUT OFTENTIMES, STATES DO THE BEST THEY CAN AND THEY ARE OFFERED BY NATIONAL FORCES.

THIS CAN TURN OUT TO BE A DISASTER.

IT CAN ALSO TURN OUT TO BE VERY THE ONE BENEFIT PRESUMABLY THAT WE KNOW OF, WE ARE IDENTIFYING OHIO AS PART OF TECH REVOLUTION.

>> HARTLINE SILICONE VALLEY?

>> IS THAT STILL GOING TO HAPPEN, JAKE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

THE CEO IS GONE, THAT'S NEVER A GOOD STORY --SIGN.

I DON'T THINK STORIES LIKE THIS ARE HELPFUL FOR ANYONE.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> IT'S LEVELED OFF.

THE CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT FOR INTEL.

AND YOU CAN SEE THEM FROM THE ROAD.

THIS THING IS GOING UP.

WHOSE NAME IS ON IT IS THE QUESTION?

>> ANY REGRETS ON THE STATE LAWMAKER SIDE?

>> PROBABLY NOT YET.

>> YEAH.

>> WHEN IT DOES BECOME OPERATIONAL, THAT FACTORY WILL NEED A LOT OF POWER.

AS TO THE GROWING NUMBER OF DATA CENTERS POPPING UP AROUND THE STATE.

NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO, OHIO LAWMAKERS PASSED A LAW THAT REQUIRED A PORTION OF OHIO'S ENERGY TO COME FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES.

LAWMAKERS SCRAPPED THAT MANDATE AS PART OF THE SCANDALOUS NUCLEAR BAILOUT LAW KNOWN AS HB- 6.

SINCE THEN, UTILITY REGULATORS SAY RATEPAYERS HAVE PAID HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SUBSIDIZE TWO COAL POWER PLANTS.

CLEVELAND.COM REPORTS OHIO RATEPAYERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $60 MILLION FOR SOLAR POWER GENERATORS, BUT ONLY A FRACTION OF THAT HAS GONE TO BUILD SOLAR FARMS.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH SOLAR MONEY?

IT'S SITTING IN AN ACCOUNT AND NOT BEING USED.

>> YEAH, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WAS ADDED WAS AN INSTRUMENT ADDED TO GET THE BILL TO PASS.

IN THIS CASE, ONLY SIX PROJECTS I BELIEVE ARE ELIGIBLE.

WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING, $64 MILLION TAKEN FROM OHIOANS.

IT IS NOW SITTING IN A STATE ACCOUNT.

THE DOOR.

THE REST IS JUST KIND OF HANGING AROUND.

I THINK THEY ARE PRETTY ESTABLISHED.

BUT WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE 54 OR SO MILLION DOLLARS WAITING AROUND?

>> PERHAPS ALLOWING OTHER SOLAR FARMS?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS HOLDING THEM BACK IN OHIO.

I THINK THE BIG PROBLEM WAS SOLAR IN OHIO.

PRETTY MUCH COUNTYWIDE THING WOULD HAVE THE DEVELOPMENTS HERE, AND ANY IN THE DEVELOPMENT Q.

FROM TOWNSHIPS OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONS.

>> SO RENEWABLE ENERGY, IS IT DEAD IN OHIO?

WILL IT NEVER GET OFF THE GROUND IN OHIO?

>> IT'S ON A WEAK FOUNDATION.

AND IT'S SAD.

I THINK A LOT OF US WOULD SAY A GOOD ENERGY POLICY IS SORT OF AND THAT WOULD BE NATURAL GAS, NUCLEAR, SOLAR, WIND.

IN FACT IN OHIO, AGAIN HISTORICALLY, WE ARE SO TRADITIONALLY COMMITTED TO FOSSIL FUELS.

AND IT SAID.

WE START HAVING THESE BLACKOUTS, WE KNOW THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

YOU CAN SEE THIS COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

LET'S DO MOST OF THE ABOVE.

>> MIKE DeWINE SAID ALL OF THE ABOVE.

WHY NOT PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND DO ALL OF THE ABOVE?

>> IT MIGHT NOT BE THE SEXIEST, BUT IT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING OUR STATE.

THE GOOGLES, AMAZONS, THE META'S THAT ARE BUILDING, THEY WILL STOP.

WE CAN'T BUILD A MORE ANYTHING WE NEED MORE NUCLEAR.

NOT IN MY BACKYARD, BUT WE NEED MORE NUCLEAR.

I THINK THE RENEWABLES COME AT THE END OF THE LINE.

I DON'T THINK IT IS AS ADAPTIVE TO THAT.

I THINK THEY REALLY NEED TO SIT DOWN, LEAVE THEM OUT OF THE ROOM, AND COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WORKS.

>> HOW ABOUT WHEN YOU GIVE A TAX TO THE DATA CENTER, DO THEY HAVE TO PUT THEM ON THE ROOF?

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?

>> THERE ARE SOME OF THE BIG ONES LIKE SOLAR FARMS IN OHIO.

RIGHT NOW, HOW HARD WE HAVE MADE IT TO DEVELOP WIND AND SOLAR.

IT IS TRYING TO ADD A GAS PLANT ON SITE.

I MEAN JUST FOR THAT DATA CENTER.

THAT'S ENOUGH TO POWER TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE'S HOMES.

INSTEAD, IT'S ALL GOING INTO ONE DATA >> YOU CAN TRACK ANYWHERE YOU WANT IN THE STATE, BUT YOU CAN'T PUT A SOLAR FARM ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.

>> YES, AND WE LET THAT HAPPEN.

AND IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.

AGAIN, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STATE, --AGAIN, THIS IS SO HISTORICAL.

WE KNOW THIS.

THE UTILITIES, THE INDUSTRIES, THEY DOMINATED THE STATE.

WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THAT LEGACY.

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

YOU ARE FIRST.

>> THE STAFF PURPOSELY DELETED FILES, AND DELETED ALL OF THEIR COMPUTER FILES.

THERE WAS NOTHING FOR THEM ON DAY ONE WHEN BERNIE CAME IN WITH HIS CONSTITUENT TEAM.

AND THAT'S A SHAME.

THERE ARE LOT HURTING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE SHARON BROWN DELETED EVERYTHING.

WHY DID HE DO THAT?

>> I DO THINK JIM TRESSEL WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

AND THE THEME WILL BE, LET ME SAVE YOU FROM RAMASWAMY BEING THE ELON MUSK OF OHIO.

>> OKAY, JAKE?

>> TESTIMONIES ARE OFTEN BORING, BUT THERE WAS ALMOST A PUSH-UP CONTEST BETWEEN OHIO STATE LAWMAKER AND --WE WERE THIS CLOSE.

>> OKAY.

THEY WERE ON THE FLOOR ABOUT TO DO HOW MANY PUSH-UPS THEY CAN DO?

>> IT WAS GOING TO BE, BUT HE SAID, AND I QUOTE, HE DID NOT BECAUSE OF THE --COULD NOT FIT.

>> SPEAKING OF SPORTS, THE BIG TEN IS NOW THE BIG 18.

FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT TIMES HAVE CHANGED, THEY WILL HOLD THEIR MEDIA DAY NOT IN CHICAGO, NOT IN MINNEAPOLIS, NOT IN CLEVELAND, BUT IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.

COLLEGE SPORTS ARE CHANGING RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES IN OHIO AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

ANYWAY, THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK.

YOU CAN WATCH US ANY TIME ON OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.ORG/COTR , ON YOUTUBE, AND ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

I AM MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.