>> OHIO PRIMARY VOTERS TO DECIDE KEY RACES.

WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" I'M MIKE THOMPSON, TUESDAY'S PRIMARY DAY IN OHIO, THE DAY ONE PRIMARY VOTING ENDS, THE BIGGEST RACE , GOVERNOR AND U. S. SENATE DO NOT HAVE COMPETITIVE PRIMARIES BUT A COUPLE OF DOWN BALLOT STATEWIDE POSITIONS TOO.

PRIMARIES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, TREASURER, ATTORNEY GENERAL, SUPREME COURT , THERE'S AN INTERESTING REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR CONGRESS UP IN NORTHWEST OHIO, GENE KREBS, IT'S KIND OF A LOT OF LITTLE STUFF IN THIS PRIMER, NOT A BIG RACE, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> I'M LOOKING FOR THE TOTAL COUNT ON VARIOUS ONES TO THE RIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, HE'S FLAT OUT SAID THAT IF RAMASWAMY WINS, HE'S NOT VOTING FOR HIM AND HE'S ENCOURAGING HIS PEOPLE NOT TO VOTE FOR HIM, IF YOU WEEKS AGO YOU HAD THE BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY PULL ON AND WHEN YOU GO DOWN YOU FIND OUT A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF BOTH CASEY AND HEATHER HILL, THEIR FOLKS WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR RAMASWAMY, AND TALKING TO MY NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES WHICH WHERE I'M FROM, THAT THE SAME THING, THERE GOING, NO, WE ARE NOT VOTING FOR RAMASWAMY NO MATTER WHAT.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AS A DEMOCRAT?

>> I'M ACTUALLY A POLITICAL INDEPENDENT SO I DON'T PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THE PRIMARIES.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY QUALMS WITH STAYING OUT OF THE MUD FIGHTS.

I SIMILARLY ARE AND LOOKING AT THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RESULTS TO SEE HOW BIG THE DIVIDE AMONGST THE PARTY REALLY IS.

>> TURNOUT IS ALWAYS THE KEY, IS THIS GOING TO BE A SIGN OF HOW MOTIVATED EACH PARTY IS OR BECAUSE THERE ARE SO FEW CONTESTED RACES, IT'S HARD TO TELL.

>> SOMETHING I'M LOOKING AT, THE PICTURE WILL BE LESS CLEAR ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE BECAUSE THE LAST COMPARABLE ELECTION IN 2022, THERE WAS A RIP COMPETITIVE PRIMARY THAT YEAR, I DON'T THINK IT WAS PEOPLE GETTING SUPER ENGAGED IN THAT YEAR, THERE WERE ABOUT 1 MILLION REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND HALF 1 MILLION DEMOCRATS.

I WILL LOOK TO SEE IF THERE ARE MORE THAN 500,000 DEMOCRATIC VOTERS THAT TURN OUT AND IF IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY MORE, I WOULD SEE IT AS A SIGN OF PEOPLE BEING MORE ENTHUSIASTIC THAN THEY WERE DURING BIDEN'S MIDTERM.

>> CASEY PUTSCH, THE COMPETITOR FOR RAMASWAMY, WHAT NUMBER WOULD GIVE RAMASWAMY PAUSE, TO GIVE HIM CONCERN ?

MARK >> AND TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW MORE THAN I DO WISH, THAT'S A HUGE UNIVERSE, WE GENERALLY CONSIDER ANYTHING OVER 14% TO BE DEADLY FOR RAMASWAMY, IF IT'S 10 TO 8 FOR CASEY PUTSCH, THAT'S POSSIBLY SURVIVABLE BUT THE OTHER COMPLICATION IS THAT NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THAT MUCH IS THAT THERE'S LIBERTARIANS ON ALMOST ALL OF THESE IMPORTANT KEY RACES AND, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO SPOIL, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SPOILED CAMPAIGNS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND OHIO.

>> THERE WAS A SECRETARY OF STATE RACE THAT WAS COMPETITIVE BUT DEMOCRATS, THE GOOD AND BAD AS HAVING A PRIMARY, THE GOOD IS IF YOU DON'T HAVE OPPONENT YOU GET TO SAVE YOUR MONEY THE BAT IS, YOU DON'T GET ANY ATTENTION, YOU DON'T MOTIVATE YOUR VOTERS.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH AMY NOT HAVING THE SAME NAME RECOGNITION, I'M SURE THAT'S A CONCERN BUT ON THE OTHER HAND I DON'T THINK YOU GET IN THEIR WAY WHEN THEY ARE DESTROYING THEMSELVES, SO AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, PRE-PRIMARY, I DON'T THINK THEY MIND STAYING OUT OF THE LIGHT AND LETTING THE REPUBLICANS YOU KNOW, THROW MUD ON EACH OTHER.

>> SPEAKING OF, THE REAL ROCKSLIDE IS THE GOP RACE FOR TREASURER, EDWARDS, FORMER STATE REP, IT'S GOTTEN KIND OF NEGATIVE OR NASTY RAMASWAMY, VOTES FOR, JD VANCE BACKS EDWARDS, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE?

>> THE BOWLING GREEN POLE THAT GENE REFERENCED A FEW WEEKS AGO SHOWED THAT THE RACE WAS TIED AT 15% WITH 70% OF VOTERS UNDECIDED.

THAT'S BASICALLY A DART AT A DARTBOARD AND SEE WHERE IT LANDS.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THE RACE HAS GOTTEN NASTY, AT THE VERY END, THERE'S BEEN NEGATIVE ADVERTISING MOVING ON BOTH SIDES I MEAN, I GUESS I WON'T SAY WHAT IT IS BECAUSE, BUT LIKE, WE WILL SEE HOW THAT ONE TURNS OUT AND THAT IS MONEY THAT REPUBLICANS ARE SPENDING THAT THEY ARE NOT SPENDING FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

FOR A RACE LIKE STATE TREASURER WHICH TYPE -- TYPICALLY FLIES UNDER THE RADAR, IT'S BEEN MORE EVENTFUL THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT.

THEY ARE ARGUING ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE THE STATE'S FINANCES.

IT'S NOT THE SEXIEST TOPIC.

>> WHY IS IT SO NASTY?

>> BECAUSE OF THE HUGE AMOUNT OF UNDECIDEDS AND YOU GOT TWO CONFLICTING TRENDS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME, TRADITIONALLY IN OHIO, WE COULDN'T BEAT MARYELLEN WHEN SHE WAS THE STATE TREASURER IN OHIO BECAUSE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THINK THE TREASURY KEEPS THE CHECKBOOK AND IN MANY HOUSEHOLD, THAT'S THE WIFE'S RESPONSIBILITY, SO IT SHOULD BE DONE BY A WOMAN THEY THINK, I'M JUST THE MESSENGER, DON'T HATE ME FOR SAYING THIS.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE, THE LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES RIGHT NOW IN OHIO AND MANY OTHER STATES, IS THE APPELLATION DIASPORA, THEY CAME UP 50 YEARS AGO AND THEIR DESCENDENTS.

THEY ARE VOTING FOR JAY EDWARDS, SENIOR MOMENT, VOTING FOR EDWARDS BECAUSE OF THAT APPELLATION ROOTS AND HIS ADVERTISING ACTUALLY SAYS, I HAVE APPELLATION ROOTS, VOTE FOR ME, I'M ONE OF YOU I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO ON THIS.

>> ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, RUSSO, FORMER HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE AGAINST BRIAN HAMBLY, A PHYSICIAN FROM CINCINNATI.

YOU WOULD THINK RUSSO, PRETTY GOOD NAME RECOGNITION, >> I THINK PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH HER VOTE ON THE MAPS.

I THINK REDISTRICTING IS A HUGE PRIORITY ESPECIALLY FOR DEMOCRATIC BASED VOTERS, SO THE FACT THAT SHE HAS BEEN ON HER RECORD, THAT'S HARD FOR A LOT OF FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND.

PERSONALLY, I UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS A CASE OF TWO HARD CHOICES BUT I THINK THAT HURT HER A LOT.

I THINK RYAN HAMBLY WAS WELL- FUNDED, HE WAS TRAVELING THE STATE AND NO ONE MIGHT'VE HEARD OF HIM A FEW MONTHS AGO, HE'S PUT THE WORK IN TO BE A RECOGNIZABLE NAME NOW.

>> NORTHWEST OHIO KNIFE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, MARCY KAPTUR C, FIVE REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR THE CHANCE TO TAKE HER ON.

JOSH WILLIAMS, DEREK MERRIN NARROWLY LOST TO HER, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS WHEN SHAPING UP?

>> THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF POLLING ON IT.

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT BETTING DATA WHICH GOD KNOWS WHAT THAT IS ACTUALLY TEACHING ME THERE'S A HIGH PERCENT CHANCE OF WINNING, FOR DEREK MERRIN, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S JUST BECAUSE OF THE NAME RECOGNITION, MADISON SHEAHAN, SHE'S BEEN SPENDING THE MOST RUNNING --MANY IN THE RACE, SHE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO'S BEEN ON TV A LOT SO, THERE'S SOME CROSSCURRENTS GOING ON.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO'S GOING TO COME OUT ON TOP BUT WE WILL FIND OUT TUESDAY.

>> JOSH WILLIAMS HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO PLEASE THE FAR RIGHT UP IN THE DISTRICT.

IS THAT GOING TO HELP HIM?

>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF THAT MATTERS AND HERE'S THE UNFORTUNATE, I'M JUST BEING THE MESSENGER HERE, FOLKS, DON'T HAVE ALL THE HATE MAIL COME TOWARDS ME.

THAT SEAT LAST TIME WAS DECIDED BY LIBERTARIAN, TAKING VOTES FROM MARCY KAPTUR, THE THING IS, IS THE LIBERTARIANS ARE RUNNING ON ONE SINGLE ISSUE, VOTE FOR US, WE WILL ELIMINATE YOUR PARKING TAXES .

BECAUSE THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT, THEY ARE FILLING THAT VOID AND THE QUESTION IS, HOW MANY REPUBLICANS CROSSOVER TO VOTE FOR THE LIBERTARIAN ON THAT, THAT'S A DIRECT FIELD FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

I THINK THAT RACE BECAUSE OF HOW THE LIBERTARIANS ARE STRUCTURING IT, I THINK A LOT OF RACES ARE NOW IN REAL DANGER.

>> WHO DOES MARCY KAPTUR WANT TO FACE?

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DIFFERENCE, DOES SHE WANT TO FACE THE FORMER I. C. E. OFFICIAL?

>> THEY COME WITH THEIR OWN BAGGAGE.

IF I HAD TO SUSPECT, I THINK IN A DISTRICT THAT IS GOING TO BE MORE MODERATE MINDED, I THINK JOSH WILLIAMS, FOR ALL OF HIS PANDERING THE PRIMARY, YOU KNOW, HE HAS SET HIMSELF UP FOR A HARD GENERAL GIVEN THAT HE HAS ALL OF THESE BILLS CONNECTED TO HIM THAT ARE REALLY UNPOPULAR IDEAS.

>> AND MAY HAVE DRAWN THE DISTRICT TO HELP REPUBLICANS BUT SHE IS STILL VERY POPULAR.

>> IT'S A +10 REPUBLICAN INDEX BUT, TOLEDO HAS THE LARGEST SINGLE POPULATION OF HUNGARIANS IN AMERICA, I'VE BEEN TOLD.

AND SHE'S HUNGARIAN, ONCE AGAIN, IT GOES TO ETHNIC LOYALTY, THAT TENDS TO TRUMP EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> I SAW A POLL THAT SHOWED A MAGA REPUBLICAN LOSING TO A DEMOCRAT, IT'S A MODERATE DEMOCRAT, SO JUST BECAUSE THEY VOTED FOR TRUMP, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD ASSUME THESE ARE LIKE HARD RIGHT REPUBLICANS.

I THINK BEING TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT COULD BE DAMAGING IN THE GENERAL.

>> THERE'S AN INTERESTING BALLOT ISSUE IN RICHLAND COUNTY, NORTH OF COLUMBUS, VOTERS THERE WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO OVERTURN A BAN ON A BIG SOLAR FARM IN MOST OF THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BANNED UTILITY SCALE SOLAR FARMS BUT A GROUP CALLED RICHLAND COUNTY CITIZENS FOR PROPERTY RIGHTS AND JOB DEVELOPMENT PUT THE ISSUE ON THE BALLOT, SUPPORTERS OF THE BAN ON SOLAR FARM SAID THEY WANT TO PRESERVE FARMLAND, OPPONENTS SAY THE BAND AMOUNTS TO GOVERNMENT OVERREACH THAT INFRINGES ON FARMERS PROPERTY RIGHTS.

THIS WILL BE AN INTERESTING THING.

MANSFIELD IS A MANUFACTURING TOWN, THEY LOST A LOT OF JOBS OVER THE PAST DECADE, BUT IT'S ALSO VERY RURAL.

IT'LL BE AN INTERESTING JOBS VERSUS PRESERVING FARMLAND.

>> IT'S RARE TO SEE THIS KIND OF ISSUE BE DIRECTLY ON THE BALLOT.

I KNOW I'VE BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT WHERE PUBLIC SENTIMENT IS ON THESE THINGS BECAUSE A LOT OF OPPOSITION THAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN KIND OF LIKE BY, YOU KNOW, A VOCAL SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, SO IF WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN ELECTION ON IT, WE WILL SEE WHERE THAT STANDS BUT I'M INTERESTED WHETHER PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES ARE DIFFERENT NOW THAT LIKE GAS IS FIVE DOLLARS A GALLON AND MAYBE, THEY SEE ALTERNATE ENERGY SOURCES BEING SOMETHING WORTH EXPLORING MORE THAN THEY WERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

I THINK YOU SEE THE SOLAR PEOPLE THEY AREN'T ARGUING FOR SOLAR ENERGY AND THEIR ARGUING FOR PROPERTY RIGHTS.

THERE'S INTERESTING POLITICAL FACTORS IN THIS RACE .

>> GENE, YOU LIVE IN RURAL OHIO, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS PLAYING OUT?

>> UGLY, NEIGHBORS AGAINST NEIGHBORS, WE HAVE A SOLAR FARM GOING IN , COUPLE OF FARMS AWAY FROM US.

OKAY, IT'S THEIR PROPERTY, IT'S THEIR RIGHT TO DO IT.

I TELL EVERYBODY, THOUGH, BACK HOME, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S NO PRETTY WAY TO MAKE ELECTRICITY, EVERY SINGLE WAY TO MAKE ELECTRICITY IS UGLY AND TO TRANSMIT IT IS EVEN UGLIER.

AND UNLESS YOU ARE AMISH , YOU HAVE A STAKE IN THIS.

SO YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT.

IF YOU WANT TO BAN RENEWABLES, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND YOUR ELECTRICITY IS GOING TO GO UP.

BE AWARE OF THE TRADE-OFFS.

>> THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT LEANING INTO THE CLIMATE CHANGE OF GREEN ENERGY, IS THAT WISE ON THE OPPONENTS OF THE BAN, SUPPORTERS OF THE SOLAR FARMS?

>> I THINK WHEN YOU ARE TALKING TO OTHER RURAL OHIOANS, YOU WILL HEAR QUICKLY WHAT YOU JUST SAID, IT'S THEIR LAND AND THEY WANT TO DO WHAT THEY WANT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN WHAT'S GOING ON , TARIFFS, THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS THAT FARMERS ARE LOOKING FOR WHAT TO DO TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN KEEP THE ROOF ABOVE THEIR HEAD ON THEIR FARM.

AND SO ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS LEASING OUTLAND FOR SOLAR FARMS.

AMONG MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

THERE'S STILL THIS FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE WHETHER YOU ARE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH YOUR OWN PROPERTY.

SO I THINK IT'S A SMART MOVE, HONESTLY.

>> AS MY PHYSICS TEACHER WOULD TELL ME, --SOLAR FARMS ACTUALLY HAVE A MINIMUM IMPACT , RESEARCH FROM SAN FRANCISCO SHOWS, I THINK THIS IS TRUE FOR THE MAJORITY OF MY NEIGHBORS, WHO ARE AGAINST MY OTHER NEIGHBORS HAVING SOLAR FARMS, IT'S A MATTER OF JEALOUSY, I WASN'T OFFERED THAT MUCH, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEM GETTING AHEAD ECONOMICALLY.

>> GEOGRAPHY, WHERE YOU ARE, IT'S FLAT, SO YOU CAN HIDE THE SOLAR FARMS WITH TALL ARBORS, YOU CAN PUT IN A BUSH, RICHMOND IS HILLY.

YOU WILL SEE THEM WHEN YOU DRIVE UP 71 ON THE HILL, YOU WILL SEE SOLAR FARMS IF YOU DON'T BAN THEM.

IS THAT A FACTOR?

IT COULD BE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER, A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVE INTO A COMMUNITY TO SAY, OH, LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL VIEW, I WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BUT NOT PAY ANYTHING TOWARD KEEPING THAT VIEW SHED.

NOW IF YOU WANT TO ASSEMBLE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND PAY THE FARMER AND AGREE NEVER TO PUT SOLAR FARMS IN THERE BECAUSE YOU VALUE YOUR VIEW SHED, WHAT LOOKS OUT YOUR KITCHEN WINDOW, YOU COULD DO THAT.

>> ARE OTHER COUNTIES WATCHING THIS VOTE, ANDREW, I'M GUESSING, THIS IS LIKE 30 OR SO COUNTIES IN THE STATE THAT HAVE BAD SOLAR AND WIND FARMS.

>> IT'S A NOVEL CASE FOR AN ELECTION TO BE HELD, THIS WAS PUT UP WITH A REFERENDUM AND YOU HAVE OUTSIDE GROUPS COMING IN, I THINK THEY'RE WONDERING IF THIS FAILS, IT MIGHT INFORM WHETHER OTHER COUNTIES TRY AND DO THAT.

IT'S A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN IN THAT REGARD EVEN THOUGH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY.

>> IT ALSO FEELS IMPORTANT TO MENTION, THE STATE HAS TREATED SOLAR ENERGY DIFFERENT THAN ITS TREATED OIL AND GAS.

I THINK WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RENEWABLE VERSUS NONRENEWABLE, ADDING THAT INTO THE PROPERTY RIGHTS CONVERSATION, IT'S FINE IF YOU POISON THE WATER BUT IT'S NOT FINE IF ON MY OWN LAND I HAVE SOLAR PANELS.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER ANY CONSEQUENCES.

>> THE STATE HAS PROHIBITED LOCAL COMMUNITIES FROM BANNING FRACKING WELLS WHERE THEY ALLOWED THE COMMUNITIES TO BAN WIND AND SOLAR.

>> WE CELEBRATE 30 YEARS SINCE THE FARM PRESERVATION TASK FORCE WAS FORMED.

I'LL TELL YOU, WE ADOPTED AS A STATE, EVERYTHING WE SUGGESTED IN THERE, YOU'D BE HAVING TOOLS TO PROPERLY MANAGE THIS AND WE WOULD HAVE 1 MILLION MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN OHIO, BUT WITH ALMOST NO FARMLAND HAVING BEEN CONVERTED OVER TO HOUSING.

SO, THERE ARE SOLUTIONS OUT THERE, BUT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE, LOOK AT THAT AND CREATE A GOOD PROPER BALANCE.

>> IT'LL TAKE A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON THIS WEEK THE U. S. UP IN COURT UPHELD THE BRIBERY AND RACKETEERING CONVICTIONS, THE COURT DENIED THE APPEAL OF CODEFENDANT LOBBYIST MATT BORGES, THEY WERE CONVICTED FOR THEIR ROLES IN THE $60 MILLION SCHEME TO GET ELECTED SPEAKER AND GUIDE THE PASSAGE OF $1 BILLION BAILOUT TO THE POWER PLANTS.

HE ARGUED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE BAILOUT DID NOT INVOLVE A QUID PRO QUO.

WHAT WAS THE FEELING, WAS THIS A LONG SHOT ON HOUSEHOLDERS PART OR DO THEY REALLY THINK THEY HAD A SHOT?

>> I'M NOT A LEGAL EXPERT BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME CASES AT THE US SUPREME COURT IN THE RECENT PAST THAT HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR THE DEFINITION BRIBERY TO BE MADE BASICALLY HARD TO CONVICT SOMEBODY, HARDER THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN.

SO I DO THINK THE PARDON ROUTE IS KIND OF MORE VIABLE IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN CINCINNATI , IT SHOWS THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED FOR AN OHIO POLITICIAN AND YOU EVEN SEE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PURSUING HIS STATE CASE AGAINST LARRY HOUSEHOLDER EVEN THOUGH HE'S CURRENTLY SERVING A DECADES LONG PRISON SENTENCE BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE IMMUNE FROM FEDERAL PARDONS.

I THINK THE PARDON ISSUE IS DEFINITELY, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY DOING, YOU CAN INFER THAT IT'S MORE OF A POSSIBILITY.

>> IS THERE ANY MERIT TO HOUSEHOLDERS CLAIM THAT LOOK, THEY GAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO THE CAMPAIGN BUT IT'S BECAUSE HE SUPPORTED THE NUCLEAR PLANTS, HE SUPPORTED THE FIRST ENERGY UTILITY STRATEGY AND IT WASN'T A QUID PRO QUO, THEY PAY THE POLITICIAN THEY SUPPORTED.

>> I THINK IF WE HAD LESS INFORMATION IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT BUT WE'VE SEEN SO MUCH EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS DEEPER THAN JUST SUPPORTING THE POLICY.

HE WAS ACTIVELY LOBBYING FOR THE POLICY AND DOING A LOT OF THE LEGWORK AROUND GETTING IT DONE BECAUSE HE WAS GETTING THESE CHECKS.

TO ME, THAT'S QUITE DIFFERENT THAN JUST HAPPENING TO HAVE THE SAME POSITION AS THE PEOPLE THAT DONATE TO YOU.

>> HE HAD SOME PERSONAL BENEFIT.

GENE, IS THIS CASE OVER NOW, BARRING THE PARDON.

IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE HE WAS INDICTED, LARRY HOUSEHOLDER.

>> I THINK THE PRESIDENT WILL PARDON LARRY FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT LARRY HAS THE RECEIPTS.

I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS, TWO SEPARATE SOURCES, HE HAS THE RECEIPTS ON VERY DAMNING EVIDENCE ABOUT SOME REPUBLICANS, EXCUSE ME, AND I EXPECT THAT TO BE SIGNIFICANT.

IT'S ALSO COMING UP FOR TRIAL AND LARRY WILL PROBABLY OFFER DAVE YOST EVERYTHING HE HAS ON THE TABLE TO GET OFF OF THAT.

>> THERE ARE TWO DEFENDANTS IN THIS CASE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SENTENCED.

THEY WOULD AGREE TO PLEAD GUILTY YEARS AGO.

>> THERE'S AN ONGOING FEDERAL CASE AGAINST THE FORMER EXECUTIVES WHO PROSECUTORS SAY MASTERMINDED THIS THING BUT I GUESS, I CAN INFER THAT IT'S BECAUSE THE CASE IS STILL OPEN BUT IT HAS BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THEY PLEADED GUILTY AND WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY RESOLUTION THERE, FOR SURE.

>> MARIA, THE SYSTEM HASN'T CHANGED.

THE SUPREME COURT, HOW SUPREME COURT IS UPHELD, THE UTILITIES, CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR THE TWO COAL POWER PLANTS THAT WERE A PART OF THE SCANDAL THAT WERE INEFFICIENT OR OBSOLETE .

>> YEAH, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE PRETTY MUCH A CAPTURED COURT, WE SOUGHT IN THE REDISTRICTING SITE AND NOW WE SEE IT WITH THE BRIBERY SCANDAL.

WHEN THEIR MAIN GOAL SEEMS BE GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE OFF THE HOOK, THAT'S WHAT YOU END UP WITH.

>> WHY HASN'T IT CHANGED HOW THE STATE HOUSE WORKS OR UTILITY WORK, MAYBE I'M UNDERSELLING IT.

>> UNTIL PEOPLE GET PUNISHED, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE ANYTHING CHANGE AND TO GIVE YOUR LISTENERS MORE CONTEXT, IN OCTOBER OF 1992, TWO WEEKS BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE, I WAS OFFERED A BRIBE, OKAY?

AND WHEN I SPOKE TO MY POLITICAL SENIOR MENTOR ABOUT THAT HE SAID WILL THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE GAME IS PLAYED AROUND HERE.

AND HE SENT THE MESSAGE THAT YOU CAN'T BE BRIBED SO THEY WON'T OFFER IT TO YOU AGAIN BUT YOU ALSO PUT A GLASS CEILING ABOVE YOUR ABILITY TO MOVE UP THE FOOD CHAIN.

THEY SAID BASICALLY, IN THE NICEST WAY POSSIBLE, SON, YOU ARE DONE.

>> THE CONVICTION OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN A 20 YEAR FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE, WAS NOT ENOUGH.

>> NOT ENOUGH.

IT HAS TO BE FOR THE LOBBYIST, THEY HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OFFICIALS THAT THEY GOT PUNISHED FOR HANDING OUT THE MONEY.

>> THE UTILITIES HAVE TO GET PUNISHED FOR HANDING OUT THE MONEY.

>> SOMETHING I'VE HEARD THAT THE VAC RAMASWAMY HAS SAID, HE BELIEVES LAWMAKERS WERE RELUCTANT TO PAXIL --BECAUSE OF THE HOUSE BILL, LIKE WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ETHICS REFORM BUT SOME PEOPLE ARGUE THE STATES ENERGY POLICY WAS DIFFERENT AS A RESULT, JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE.

>> FOR DECADES, A LARGE SIGN HAS HOVERED OVER THE STATEHOUSE DECLARING THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH AS OHIO'S GREATEST HOME NEWSPAPER.

ITS ATTRACTIVENESS IS IN THE EYE OF THE PASSERBY BUT IT IS A HISTORIC LANDMARK RIGHT ON CAPITOL SQUARE.

THE CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN VIRTUE WANTS TO PUT A BIG DISPLAY ON ITS BUILDING ACROSS FROM THE STATEHOUSE.

THEY APPLY TO THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION TO PUT THREE CROSSES ON THE ROOF OF ITS BUILDING ON EAST BROAD STREET, THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION DENIED THE REQUEST.

IT RULED THE CROSSES DO NOT MATCH THE CITIES DESIGN GUIDELINES IN THE STYLE OF THE BROAD STREET COURT ORDER.

THE DISPATCH SIGN IS PRETTY BIG.

A LITTLE BIG FOR THE BUILDING.

WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING ON HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S AN INTERESTING LEGAL ARGUMENT.

EVEN WHEN YOU READ ABOUT IT, THEY REFER TO IT AS A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL, AS A GRAPHIC, THEY REFER TO IT AND FROM A FIRST AMENDMENT STANDPOINT, THOSE DISTINCTIONS WILL BE IMPORTANT.

I THINK IT'LL MAKE FOR AN INTERESTING CASE.

THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME OR EVEN THE THIRD I'VE BEEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON THESE SHENANIGANS.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A COINCIDENCE THAT IT MAKES FOR A NICE TEST CASE.

I'VE SEEN THE RENDERINGS, THEY'RE NOT PARTICULARLY ATTRACTIVE IN MY VIEW, THEY ARE A LITTLE GAUDY BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE POINT OF THIS.

I THINK IN FACT PERHAPS THE MORE ABRASIVE IT WAS, MAYBE THE BETTER.

>> IS THIS HIGHER POWER TROLLING HERE, GENE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE PLANNING DOCUMENT ?

>> THEY HAVE THREE CROSSES, IT'S LIKE HEY, WE ARE WATCHING.

>> I HAVE TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MARIA SAID.

IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO WHAT DOES THE PLANNING DOCUMENT ACTUALLY STAY, HOW IS IT STATED AND CAN YOU LOOK AROUND TO OTHER EXAMPLES OF CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES, MOSQUES, HOW DO THEY HANDLE THEIR RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS, IF ANY ARE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED AS FAR AS THE PLANNING AND ZONING RULES AND REGULATION?

THAT IS ARCANE AND I'LL BE REAL HONEST WITH YOU.

I'M NOT TAKING THE 16 HOURS IT NEEDS TO GO AHEAD AND READ IT.

>> YOU GO DOWN EAST BROAD STREET FROM THE CORNER OF HIGH AND BRUSH, THERE'S A LOT OF SIGNS AND SOME OF THEM ARE GAUDY AND FLASHING AND ROLLING AND, I MEAN, THEY SAY THERE'S GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS, I DON'T SEE THEM.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE DISPATCH SIGN I WAS THINKING WHEN YOU SAID THAT ABOUT, YOU REALLY THINK COLUMBUS WOULD HAVE A POST SOMETHING THAT THE WHOLE FAMILY WANTED TO BUILD BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE CITY WORKED AT THAT TIME.

I THINK I CAN INFER THAT IT IS ABOUT POLITICS, IN THAT SENSE, THAT'S JUST LIKE A, I CAN'T PROVE DIFFERENT, BUT I ALSO SAW ERIN BAER WHO LEADS THE CITIZENS FOR CHRISTIAN VALUES TWEET, HE HAD A STATUE OF HERAT BAY, ONE OF THEM WAS THE ISRAEL BILLBOARD, I CAN'T TELL HOW SERIOUSLY THEY ARE TAKING IT BUT IT DOES RAISE INTERESTING FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES.

>> REMEMBER THE U. S. UP RAIN COURT THEY REFER TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT AS BEING FAIRLY ABSOLUTE.

WE WILL SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT AND HOW FAR THEY WILL TAKE IT.

>> LET'S GO TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD SHOT .

>> WHOEVER IS GOVERNOR IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR HAS A HUGE CRISIS NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT, THAT IS, I BELIEVE THE COMING FISCAL COLLAPSE AGAIN, OF THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DUE TO THE RISE OF GASOLINE PRICES.

PEOPLE ARE DRIVING SLOWER, COMBINING TRIPS AND THE GAS TAX HAS GOT TO BE TAKING A HIT FROM IT.

>> I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THESE REFERENDUMS CONTINUE TO PLAY ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF LOCAL ISSUES AND A LOT OF FOLKS TRYING TO GET ON THE BALLOT AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND I THINK IT'S GREAT OHIOANS ARE TAKING YOU KNOW, DEMOCRACY IN THEIR OWN HAND AND I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT FOR THEM.

>> I'M ALL ELECTIONS ALL THE TIME SO I WAS THINKING OF SOMETHING, THE CLEVELAND BROWNS CAME TO MIND.

>> MY TAKE ON THAT IS THEY BROKE GROUND ON THE NEW DOME STADIUM THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR DeWINE WAS THERE AS HE OFTEN APPEARS AT GROUNDBREAKING'S AND RIBBON CUTTINGS AND HE FLOATED THE IDEA OF A TAX ON BEDDING COMPANIES IF THE UNCLAIMED FUNDS CAN'T BE USED FOR THE BROWN STADIUM, BUT THAT WILL NOT FLY IN THE STATEHOUSE.

I THINK THE STADIUM WILL GET BUILT TO MATTER WHAT.

THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK, REMINDING YOU THAT YOU CAN WATCH US ON-DEMAND AT THE WOSU NEWS YOUTUBE PAGE, GO TO YOUTUBE AND SUIT --SEARCH WOSU NEWS.

ALSO ON-DEMAND AT WOSU.

ORG.

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

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.