>>> DEMOCRATS TRYING TO REGROUP.

REPUBLICANS WANT TO MAKE CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION HARDER.

♪♪ WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD," THE DUST HAS MOSTLY SETTLED AFTER LAST WEEK'S ELECTION.

J.D.

VANCE HAS HAD HIS FIRST U.S. SENATE ORIENTATION IN WASHINGTON.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AT THE STATE HOUSE BEGAN PICKING THEIR LEADERS FOR THE NEXT SESSION.

OHIO REPUBLICANS ARE STILL BASKING IN THE GLORY OF THEIR BIG WINS.

OHIO DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DIG THEMSELVES OUT OF A DECADE'S LONG SLUMP.

BRIAN, HOW DO THEY DIG THEMSELVES OUT.

>> I WAS AWAY FOR A WHILE, BUT I'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION BEFORE ANSWERING THIS QUESTION, BUT LOOK, YOU'RE NEVER AS GOOD ON ELECTION DAY AS YOU THINK YOU ARE, AND YOU'RE NEVER AS BAD.

THE U.S. SENATE RACE WAS 7 POINTS APART, THAT'S ACTUALLY A 3 1/2 POINT SWING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

BUT WE DIDN'T WIN.

WE DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB, AND THERE ARE THREE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO IN A MAJOR WAY.

ONE, WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THE ELECTION TURNOUT IN THE BIG CITIES AND NONPRESIDENTIAL YEARS AGO, TWO, THE EX-URBAN COUNTIES, I'M FROM PORTAGE COUNTY, WHEN I CAME UP AS A YOUNG GUY, THERE WAS LIKE ONE REPUBLICAN OFFICE HOLDER.

IT'S ALL REPUBLICANS.

SO THESE EX-URBAN COUNTIES, LORRAINE, PORTAGE, TRUMBLE, HERE IN LINCOLN COUNTY, CLARK COUNTY.

THEY'VE GOT TO BUILD UP AN INFRASTRUCTURE AND DO THAT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND THEN IN THE RURAL AREAS IN THIS STATE, YOU CAN LOSE PACMAN STYLE, THAT'S HOW TED STRICKLAND LOST TO JON KASICH.

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT A WIN NUMBER IS.

IT MIGHT BE 42, 43, IF YOU DO THOSE FUNDAMENTALS AND WORK AT IT, YOU CAN REBOUND FROM THIS.

IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK.

IT REALLY DOES.

>> MIKE.

>> ARE THERE ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> WELL, I AGREE WITH BRIAN TO A GREAT DEGREE, THERE'S ALWAYS TROUBLE.

I MEAN, LOOK AT THE LOCAL STUFF, AS WE DID VERY POORLY WITH AND I SUPPOSE THAT WILL HAPPEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

BUT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN PART OF BOTH SITUATIONS WHERE THE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED EVERYTHING STATEWIDE, AND THE DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED EVERYTHING STATEWIDE.

I MEAN, IT IS A PENDULUM, AND OBVIOUSLY THE MOST DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO VOTE DEMOCRATS, MOST REPUBLICANS REPUBLICAN, BUT THE TRUE INDEPENDENTS CAN DECIDE ANY ELECTION, AND IF THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T LIKE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER SIDE'S GOING TO WIN.

I DON'T THINK THEY REALLY CARE IF THE OTHER SIDE IS AN R OR A D, THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR THE PERSON THEY THINK IS BEST.

AND SO EACH ELECTION IS DIFFERENT.

I THINK REPUBLICANS MAKE A BIG MISTAKE IF THEY SIT AROUND AND THINK, WE'VE GOT THIS, WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE TRUE.

>> ANDREW, I HAVEN'T SEEN A WHOLE LOT OF FINGER POINTING OR BLAMING, YOU KNOW, BACK STABBING AMONG DEMOCRATS.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANY OF THAT?

IS THERE ANY KIND OF MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING?

>> THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, ACTUALLY.

NAN WHALEY LOST BY 25 POINTS, AND PERSONALLY I THINK BEATING AN INCUMBENT IS DIFFICULT.

MIKE DEWINE HAD A LOT OF CROSSOVER APPEAL.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU PUT IN ANOTHER CANDIDATE THE OUTCOME IS DIFFERENT BUT SHE DID LOSE BY A NEAR HISTORIC MARGIN.

SHERROD BROWN IS A MENTOR OF HERS.

HE'S CATCHING FLAK.

THE QUESTION FOR DEMOCRATS IF SOMEBODY ELSE IS NOMINATED, DOES THAT HELP GET TIM RYAN OVER THE LINE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE RESULT HEADING INTO 2024.

>> SHERROD BROWN IS UP IN TWO YEARS.

HE HAS TO BE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT RUNNING AND HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

HE HAS TO BE A LITTLE BIT WORRIED.

>> I THINK HE HAS TO BE A LITTLE BIT WORRIED BUT THE THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT SHERROD BROWN, HE'S ALREADY A KNOWN QUANTITY.

IT'S NOT LIKE OHIOANS NEED TO REDISCOVER SHERROD BROWNED.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING WITH HIM.

IF YOU LOOK AT RYAN, TIM RYAN TOOK A LOT OF PAGES OUT OF SHERROD BROWN'S PLAYBOOK, AND HE DID BETTER.

HE PERFORMED BETTER THAN THE OTHER DEMOCRATS BY DOING SO.

SO IT KIND OF TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT OHIO AND HOW OHIO THINKS AND DON'T FORGET THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE TWO YEARS FROM NOW, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT PLUS ITS A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR.

SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

>> BRIAN, YOU WERE UP IN MICHIGAN BEFORE YOU CAME BACK.

IT'S A VERY SIMILAR STATE, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN INDUSTRIAL-BASED ECONOMY FOR A LONG TIME, RURAL, URBAN, BUT THEY HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

THEY HAVE A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, THANKS TO REDISTRICTING REFORM, BUT WHY IS OHIO SO DIFFERENT THAN MICHIGAN?

>> WELL, WHEN I GOT THERE, BY THE WAY, MICHIGAN WAS VERY MUCH LINING OHIO IS NOW, WHICH GETS TO MIKE'S POINT, WHICH IS THIS CAN CHANGE ON A DIME, BUT THE POPULOUS GOVERNOR AND FRANKLY, DONALD TRUMP BECAME THE SYMBOL OF THE MIDTERMS, NOT JOE BIDEN UP THERE.

REDISTRICTING IN THE LEGISLATURE IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TOPIC, AND EVEN IN OHIO WHERE DONALD TRUMP WAS A FACTOR, LIKE THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES, THAT HAPPENED I THINK IT WAS A BIG MISTAKE DOWN TICKET HERE THAT DONALD TRUMP DID NOT BECOME THAT KIND OF -- IT WASN'T A REFERENDUM ON HIM AND HIS DIVISIVE POLITICS.

IT PLAYED OUT NATIONALLY AND IN OUR CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

>> A WEEK AFTER THE 2022 ELECTION WAS OVER, THE 2024 CAMPAIGN OFFICIALLY BEGAN WITH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCING HE WANTS TO CONTINUE HIS PRESIDENCY INTO A SECOND TERM.

ALBEIT, INTERRUPTED BY JOE BIDEN.

REPUBLICANS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT ANOTHER TRUMP RUN.

HERE IN OHIO, STATE SENATOR MATT DOLAN OPPOSES TRUMP'S BID.

THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

HERE WE GO AGAIN.

ARE WE READY FOR IT.

OHIOANS LIKE THE PRESIDENT.

J.D.

VANCE WAS HIS PICK AND HE WON.

>> I THINK IF TRUMP RUNS AGAIN, THE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT GOING TO WIN.

I DON'T CARE WHETHER BIDEN RUNS AGAIN, I DON'T THINK TRUMP CAN WIN.

I THINK TRUMP WAS EXTREMELY -- CAUSED A LOT OF DIVISIVENESS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I THINK WE LOST A NUMBER OF RACES NATIONWIDE BECAUSE OF TRUMP.

AND WHAT SCARES ME REALLY MORE THAN ANYTHING IS NOT THAT HE GETS THE NOMINATION, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK HE WILL, BUT IF HE, NOT THAT I KNOW HIM, BUT GUESSING WHAT TRUMP WOULD DO, HE'S GOING TO RUN A THIRD PARTY AND I THINK THE STRONGEST THING THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GOING FOR THEM RIGHT NOW NATIONWIDE IS DONALD TRUMP.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A DISASTER IF HE'S THE CANDIDATE.

>> WE'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE.

2016, BRIAN.

>> WE HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP NATIONALLY AND EVEN IN OHIO WILL CAUSE ALL KINDS OF CONSTERNATION.

I THOUGHT THAT THE WAY MIKE DEWINE HANDLED THE DONALD TRUMP ISSUE THIS TIME WAS WAY DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SATES LIKE MICHIGAN AND NEW YORK AND OTHER PLACES.

HE DIPPED HIS TOE SO HE DIDN'T GET CRITICIZED.

I THINK HE WAS ON STAGE WITH HIM FOR 25 SECONDS BUT THE REST OF THE TIME HE KNEW HE NEEDED CROSSOVER VOTES AND HE WAS REALLY GOING AFTER THESE CROSSOVER VOTES BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID TIM MIGHT WIN AND HE NEEDED DEMOCRATIC VOTES IF THAT WAS THE CASE.

>> THE POLLS IN OHIO CONSISTENTLY SHOW STRONG SUPPORT IN OHIO FOR DONALD TRUMP, AND EMERSON COLLEGE POLL DONE JUST BEFORE THIS PAST ELECTION HAD TRUMP WITH A 12-POINT LEAD OVER JOE BIDEN IN OHIO.

JOE, HE'S STILL POPULAR HERE.

I DIDN'T SEE THE OVERWHELMING REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAY GO DONALD TRUMP IN 2024 LIKE THEY WERE DOING AT THE END OF THE 2016 CAMPAIGN.

>> NO, I MEAN, THERE YOU GO.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

I THINK THIS, IF YOU LOOK OUT IN THE RURAL AREAS IN THE SMALL TOWNS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I MEAN, I KNOW WHEN I DRIVE TO AND FROM FAYETTE COUNTY EVERY WEEK, I SEE A LOT OF BIG SIGNS, BARNS, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST A LITTLE YARD SIGN, BUT THESE ARE THINGS PEOPLE WENT OUT AND PUT UP HUGE SHRINES TO DONALD TRUMP ON THEIR PROPERTIES, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE EVER SAW IN A CANDIDATE, AND I DON'T SEE ANY KIND OF FERVOR LIKE THAT FOR ANYONE ELSE.

>> MY FAVORITE SIGN IS UP IN RURAL HOLMES COUNTY, THEY HAD A BIG TRUMP SIGN BUT IT SAID TRUMP, PENCE AND THE GUY PUT DUCT TAPE ACROSS MIKE PENCE'S NAME.

>> ANDREW, IF HE RUNS AGAIN, HE COULDN'T HAVE THE SAME THING HE HAD IN 2016 WHERE THERE WERE 15 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES RUNNING AND HE WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE JUST ENOUGH TO GET THE NOMINATION.

>> IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE NEW POLLING ON THIS.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T PERCEIVE THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS LOST OUTRIGHT SUPPORT AMONG KIND OF THE DIE HARD REPUBLICANS, AND EVEN KIND OF THE SOLID REPUBLICANS, BUT RON DeSANTIS, SOME OF THESE NATIONAL POLLS SHOW HIM LEADING TRUMP ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND GRANTED THEY'RE TAKING THESE IN THE DARKEST HOUR SORT OF, WHEN EVERYBODY IS FEELING BAD ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN SIDE ABOUT NOT TAKING THE SENATE.

TAKE THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, BUT I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'LL SEE REPUBLICANS START TO ASK IS DOES DONALD TRUMP HAVE BAGGAGE, CAN WE DO BETTER AS A PARTY, AND RON DeSANTIS PRESENTS AN ALTERNATIVE.

IT'S A LONG WAY OFF, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE QUESTION SHAKES OUT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU NEVER SAW DONALD TRUMP LOSING IN A REPUBLICAN POLL PREVIOUSLY.

THAT'S DIFFERENT FOR ME.

>> YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THAT OHIO POLL WOULD HAVE BEEN IF IT WAS TAKEN AFTER THE ELECTION, THOUGH HIS CANDIDATE DID WELL HERE IN OHIO, HIS OTHER CANDIDATES AROUND THE COUNTRY DID NOT DO WELL.

>> THE ONLY QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS I'M NOT SURE THE QUESTION IS DOES HE HAVE BAGGAGE, IT'S DOES HE NOT HAVE BAGGAGE, AND DOES IT MATTER, HIS BAGGAGE.

>> FORMER PROSECUTOR, YOU KNOW, HE'S UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THEY NAMED A SPECIAL COUNSEL TODAY TO TRY TO TAKE SOME OF THE HEAT OFF OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

WON'T BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATING THE MAR-A-LAGO DOCUMENT SITUATION, BUT WHAT DO PROSECUTORS DO?

DO THEY PROSECUTE DONALD TRUMP, INVESTIGATE DONALD TRUMP LIKE THEY WOULD ANY OTHER CITIZEN?

YOU KNOW, HE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AGAIN, HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT?

>> WELL, I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR HIMSELF, WHO I DON'T KNOW, YOU TOLD ME JACK SMITH IS HIS NAME.

>> BUT EVEN MERRICK GARLAND ON THESE OTHER INVESTIGATIONS.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

YOU WANT TO TREAT HIM LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

YOU KNOW, I'M CONCERNED THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND HE'S ACTUALLY CHARGED, THE PROBLEMS IT'S GOING TO CAUSE IN THE COUNTRY.

I JUST THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THE FAR RIGHT AND THE FAR LEFT, ALL WHOM IN MY OPINION ARE ALMOST MENTAL PROBLEMS, AND YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED JANUARY THE 6th.

HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THAT IT COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN, AND IT DID.

AND I CAN SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING AGAIN IF TRUMP IS INDICTED, CHARGED, WHAT HAVE YOU.

I THINK THE POWERS THAT BE, IF THEY REALLY LOOK AT THIS POLITICALLY AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE JUST THE LAW ITSELF, I DON'T THINK THE DEMOCRATS WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

I DON'T THINK JOE BIDEN WANTS THAT TO HAPPEN.

AND I DON'T KNOW JOE BIDEN EITHER, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN, WHETHER IT SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T, SO FAR AS THE LAW GOES IS ONE THING.

BUT SOMETIMES OTHER THINGS ENTER INTO IT.

SO WAIT AND SEE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY EITHER WAY.

>> THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS WANT TO MAKE CHANGING THE OHIO CONSTITUTION HARDER THAN IT IS NOW.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO GET A PROPOSED AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT.

STATE LAWMAKERS CAN DO IT WITH A 60% MARGIN OR VOTERS CAN DO IT BY COLLECTING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES.

ONCE IT IS ON THE BALLOT, A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF VOTES CAST CHANGES THE CONSTITUTION.

SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LAROSE NOW WANTS TO MAKE IT SO AMENDMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY 60% OF OHIO VOTERS.

HE SAYS THE 50% BAR IS TOO LOW.

>> SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS AMENDING OUR CONSTITUTION SHOULD REALLY DEMAND THE KIND OF CONSENSUS NECESSARY TO GET TO 60%.

>> IRONICALLY IF THIS GETS TO THE BALLOT, THIS CHANGE TO THE CONSTITUTION WOULD ONLY REQUIRE A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

ANDREW TOBIAS, HE TALKS ABOUT SPECIAL INTERESTS AS WELL, THAT'S WHY HE'S PUSHING THIS.

>> THIS DATES BACK A WILE.

FOR ME, YOU SAW THE SMOKE FREE ISSUE IN 2008, I THINK, MAYBE IT WAS 2006, IT WAS A WHILE AGO BUT PEOPLE WANTED TO HAVE A SMOKING BAN AND THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY WANTED TO HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE.

YOU SEE INDUSTRIES GOING AND THE CASINOS, NOT ONLY DID THEY LEGALIZE GAMBLING BUT WROTE THE GPS COORDINATES INTO THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.

IT'S A LONG STANDING COMPLAINT.

IT'S INTERESTING OBVIOUSLY THAT IT'S COMING ON THE PRECIPICE OF MAYBE AN ABORTION STATEWIDE ISSUE COMING UP.

THERE'S MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION MEASURE THAT'S KIND OF FLOATING AROUND AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE MORE CONCERNING TO REPUBLICANS.

RANK CHOICE VOTING, THAT'S SOMETHING THERE'S STEAM BEHIND, SO I FEEL THAT IF THEY WERE TO PURSUE THIS, THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY JUST MOVE THE TIME LINE UP FOR SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE IDEA IS TO PREVENT A PARTICULAR ISSUE FROM HAPPENING, IF IT DOES ANYTHING PRACTICALLY, ALSO AT THE SAME TIME I DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MUCH CONSENSUS THERE IS BEHIND THIS ISSUE.

I DON'T HAVE A CLEAR SENSE OF WHERE THIS ONE IS GOING.

>> THE TIMETABLE, JOE, IS PRETTY AGGRESSIVE.

THEY WANT TO GET THIS DONE DURING THE LAME DUCK SESSION BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND MAYBE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT IN MAY.

WHICH WOULD PREVENT AN ISSUE POSSIBLY IN NOVEMBER OF '23.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

I THINK ONE THING WE NEED TO REMEMBER HERE IS THERE'S A WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER KIND OF THING AND THE LEGISLATURE COULD GO AHEAD UNDER THIS PROPOSAL AND PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT, AND THEY'D ONLY NEED A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

YOU KNOW, SO IT WOULDN'T APPLY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT VOTERS ARE GOING TO LOOK AT, AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE THEY WANT TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT IN MAY BECAUSE THAT WOULD HEAD OFF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED.

IT MIGHT HEAD OFF THE MARIJUANA BALLOT ISSUE.

IT MIGHT HEAD OFF AN ABORTION BALLOT ISSUE, RANK CHOICE, WHO KNOWS WHAT'S OUT THERE THAT MIGHT COME BEFORE VOTERS.

>> IT IS CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE HARD.

IT'S VERY HARD TO CHANGE THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE THESE DAYS.

>> NOT SO EASY EVEN WITH THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION, MIKE.

>> WHEN THE VOTE COMES AROUND, ISN'T 60% A REASONABLE THRESHOLD THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST 50% PLUS ONE.

>> I'M GOING TO BORROW FROM MIKE AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION, THIS IS THE THING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

IT'S COMING BECAUSE OF DOBBS.

IT IS COMING BECAUSE THEY KNOW OVERWHELMINGLY PEOPLE DON'T AGREE WITH THIS LEGISLATURE ABOUT ABORTION.

THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU CAN DO IT SO THEY CAN PREVENT THAT.

IT IS PURELY BEING DONE FOR ONE ISSUE AND THAT IS THE PRO LIFE ISSUE, TO MANIPULATE AND KEEP VOTERS FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THIS.

IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND PEOPLE CAN SPIN IT ALL THEY WANT.

I SPIN FOR A LIVING.

YOU CAN'T SPIN AROUND THIS ONE.

>> MIKE, DO YOU AGREE?

IS THIS JUST TO PREVENT AN ABORTION QUESTION FROM PASSING?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I APPRECIATE RYAN'S THOUGHTS, BUT LIKE YOU SAID ABOUT THE OHIO UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, IT'S VERY HARD TO CHANGE.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE.

OTHER STATES HAVE THE 60%.

I BELIEVE ILLINOIS HAS IT, FLORIDA HAS IT, SO YOU GOT A LIBERAL STATE, A DEMOCRATIC STATE, REPUBLICAN STATE.

THE IDEA OF EVERYTHING COMING ON TO THE CONSTITUTION, ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER WANTS TO MAKE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT JUST SITS BADLY WITH ME.

AND I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT AN ABORTION.

LET'S HAVE THE VOTE ON IT.

LET PEOPLE MAKE THEIR CHOICE.

THEY SHOULD.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AS EASY AS YOU THINK, RYAN, BECAUSE IF THEY PUT THAT ON, THEY GOT TO DRAW A LINE SOMEPLACE.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SAY ABORTION GOOD UP TO NINE MONTHS.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAY THAT.

AND WHEN YOU DRAW THAT LINE, THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE ON EITHER SIDE OF IT, REASONABLE PEOPLE, NOT, YOU KNOW, JUST THE -- >> BUT, MIKE, I DO HAVE TO SAY THIS, THERE IS A -- THIS LEGISLATURE IS TRYING TO PLAY A LOT OF GAMES LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THAT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THE RULES ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY GOT DEMOCRATS ELECTED THERE.

YOU HAVE BILL SIKES SAYING HE WANTS TO CHANGE THE RULES EVEN ON THE COURT OF APPEALS LINES JUST BECAUSE AS HE SAID, THERE ARE LIBERALS THAT GOT ELECTED DOWN IN CINCINNATI.

HE'S POINT-BLANK SAYING THAT.

IT IS EVEN THE VOTING STUFF.

IT'S ALL VERY AIMED AT PARTISAN REASONS.

>> THE HISTORY OF THE GAY MARRIAGE BAN AMENDMENTS BACK IN 2004, THAT GOT 62% SUPPORT, ANDREW, IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET 60%.

THE ABORTION ISSUE IF YOU HAD THIS LINE, AS MIKE SAID, IF YOU WERE TO PUT PROBABLY THE SIX-WEEK ABORTION BAN ON THE BALLOT RIGHT NOW, THAT MIGHT LOSE, EVEN WITH THE 60% THRESHOLD.

>> SOME OF THE POLLS OUT THERE SUGGEST THAT TO BE THE CASE FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE SO I GUESS IT REALLY DEPENDS WHAT THE TURNOUT ENVIRONMENT IS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I HAVEN'T LOOKED BACK AT THE HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, THE ONES THAT, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY I DON'T REMEMBER THE ONES THAT PASSED THIS TIME IF THEY GOT 60%.

I THINK THEY DID.

>> 70%.

>> SOME OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES PROBABLY PUSH CLOSER TO THE LINE.

YOU MENTIONED GAY MARRIAGE IN 2004, PEOPLE OFTEN SAY GEORGE W. BUSH WON OHIO BECAUSE OF THE TURNOUT THAT THAT INSPIRED.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, BUT, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS ELECTION ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW WHETHER IT'S THE ABORTION MEASURE, WHETHER THERE'S A $15 MINIMUM WAGE MEASURE THAT'S FLOATING AROUND, THEY DO VIEW THESE THINGS IN TERMS OF ELECTION CYCLES, AND I HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT REPUBLICANS FOR 2024, WANTING TO TAKE THE SENATE SEAT.

IF THE GOAL IS TO HEAD OFF A SPECIFIC ISSUE, I'M NOT SURE IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

IF IT IS TO TRY TO HEAD OFF A TURNOUT ENVIRONMENT IN 2024, MAYBE THEY WILL BE SUCCESSFUL THERE.

>> A REFERENDUM TO CONSIDER CHANGES TO THE LAW, THE HEART BEAT LAW IS ON HOLD AFTER A JUDGE'S RULING ON THE SIX-WEEK BAN.

SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO BAN ALL ABORTIONS WITH NO OR VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS.

SENATE PRESIDENT MATT HUFFMAN HAS FLOATED THE IDEA OF JUST ADJUSTING THE LANGUAGE OF THE CURRENT SIX-WEEK BAN.

WE WERE KIND OF ANTICIPATING SOME MAJOR MOVEMENT ON THE ABORTION ISSUE DURING THE THIS LAME DUCK SESSION.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, BUT I THINK WHAT THEY DO WANT TO DO IS CLEAN UP SOME OF THE LANGUAGE, CLARIFY SOME OF THE LANGUAGE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A PROBLEM.

WHEN THE ABORTION BAN WAS IN EFFECT, WE HEARD STORY AFTER STORY AFTER STORY OF DOCTORS WHO COULDN'T PERFORM ABORTIONS ON WOMEN WHO HAD PROBLEM PREGNANCIES.

WE HEARD ABOUT THE 10-YEAR-OLD THAT WAS A RAPE VICTIM WHO HAD TO GO OVER TO INDIANA TO GET AN ABORTION.

THESE KIND OF STORIES DO NOT PLAY WELL FOR THE OTHER SIDE THAT WANTS THIS BAN.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE IN THERE TRYING TO FIX THIS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO CONSTRUCT IT VERY CAREFULLY IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN LIVE WITH THE OUTCOME AND IT DOESN'T LOOK SO EXTREME BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS EXTREME TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT POLLING.

>> ANDREW, BECAUSE NEXT SESSION, THE REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE EVEN LARGER MAJORITIES THAN THEY HAVE NOW, MIKE DEWINE IS STILL THE GOVERNOR, OPPOSED TO ABORTION RIGHTS, IS THERE URGENCY TO DO SOMETHING DURING THIS LAME DUCK SESSION, LIKE A COMPLETE BAN?

>> I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THEY COULDN'T HOLD OFF, ALTHOUGH IT'S JUST A REALLY STRANGE ENVIRONMENT IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE NEW SPEAKER VOTE, YOU KNOW, DEREK MARREN WAS SELECTED THIS WEEK AND I DON'T THINK THAT WAS -- PEOPLE DID NOT FAVOR HIM TO WIN THE RACE, SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE KIND OF DIGESTING THAT, SO I THINK THAT THEY LOOK AT SOME OF THESE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THAT THEY WANT TO PICK UP.

THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE BACK OF MY MIND ON THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY FEW COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THIS AMERICA ANYMORE SO EITHER PARTY, IF THEY GET A MAJORITY THERE IS LIKELY TO BE VERY SLIM, AND SO THEIR THOUGHT COULD BE HONESTLY TO TRY TO AVOID THIS KIND OF ISSUE.

IT MIGHT NOT BE CONTROVERSIAL STATEWIDE IN A WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR SUPER MAJORITY IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT IT COULD BE CONTROVERSIAL IN THESE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

THAT I MAY WANT TO SEE HOW REDISTRICTING PLAYS OUT.

THERE ARE JUST THINGS THAT I DON'T SEE WHY THEY WOULDN'T WAIT, BUT ALSO I JUST, I'M NOT IN CHARGE, I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE TAKE THE THINGS THEY DO IN LAME DUCK.

>> MIKE, THIS ISN'T AS EASY AS IT SOUNDED.

BEFORE THE DOBBS DECISION, IT'S LIKE ABORTION IS ILLEGAL, IT'S WRONG, WE SHOULD BAN IT DOBBS COMES DOWN, LAWMAKERS HAVE TO DO IT AND IT'S NOT AS EASY AS IT WAS BEFORE THE DECISION.

>> I'M SURE NOT TOO MANY WERE HAPPY WITH THE DECISION BECAUSE NOW IT FALLS ON THEIR SHOULDERS WHAT TO DO.

THEY MUCH PREFERRED THE BROAD LOOK OF THE PREVIOUS LAW.

ROE V. WADE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, AND YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WE HAVE TO -- THEY SEEM TO GET OVERLOOKED.

I'M NOT ONE OF THEM.

BUT THERE ARE A FAIR AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS STATE THAT JUST BELIEVE ABORTION IS WRONG.

NOW, WHETHER THEY'RE RIGHT OR WRONG, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY TAKES THEIR OPINION, BUT IT ISN'T JUST -- IT'S A MORAL QUESTION TO MANY PEOPLE, AND AS JOE WAS SAYING, WHERE IT REALLY GETS STICKY OR AS BRIAN WAS SAYING TOO, WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE?

IS IT SIX WEEKS?

IS IT THREE MONTHS?

I DON'T KNOW, AND WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THE 10-YEAR-OLD, AND WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT RAPE AND INCEST.

I MEAN, TO ME, I'M SORT OF A MIDDLE GUY ON ALL OF THIS STUFF, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DON'T MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR RAPE AND INCEST, ALTHOUGH MY FRIEND, MIKE, WHEN MIKE'S BEEN ON THE PROBLEM, HE SAYS NO EXCEPTIONS WHATSOEVER, AND I LIKE MIKE.

I HAPPEN TO DISAGREE WITH HIM ON THAT.

IT'S AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE.

IT'S LIKE THE DEATH PENALTY.

IT'S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE.

YOU'RE FOR IT, YOU'RE AGAINST IT.

IT'S JUST DIFFICULT.

>> IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, I'M GUESSING THERE'S NO ROOM FOR COMPROMISE.

>> YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU COMPROMISE ON JUST 15 WEEKS AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THEY CAN'T EVEN GET THEMSELVES ON THE SAME PAGE, AND FRANKLY, THE REASON THIS IS GOING THROUGH IN LAME DUCK, I THINK RIGHT NOW IS IT'S GOING TO ACCELERATE IS BECAUSE OF DEREK MARREN BECAUSE HE'S SORT OF AN ABSOLUTIST ON THIS ISSUE.

HUFFMAN RULES THE ROOST ON A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT NOW, AND HE'S PROBABLY LOOKING AT IT SAYING WE'RE IN TROUBLE IF WE DON'T GET SOME OF THESE EXCEPTIONS IN THERE IF I DON'T DO IT NOW.

HE'S IN A DIFFICULT SPOT BECAUSE HE LOSES HIS BASE IF HE SAYS THAT.

THE TIME TO DO IT IS LAME DUCK, AS OPPOSED TO DOING IT NEXT YEAR AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE NEXT SPEAKER.

>> IS THERE REPERCUSSIONS IF THEY RUSH IT THROUGH IN LAME DUCK.

INDIANA DID IT, BUT IT WAS A LONG TIME.

IT WAS HARD FOR THAT STATE, WHICH IS VERY CONSERVATIVE.

>> SURE, THERE ARE REPERCUSSIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE AS A LEGISLATURE THAT PROBABLY IS TO THE RIGHT OF VOTERS, AND THAT'S THANKS TO GERRYMANDERING AND, YOU KNOW, THE PRIMARY DETERMININGS ON THE BALLOT IS GOING TO WIN, IN SOME CASES.

YOU'VE GOT SOME LAWMAKERS AS BRIAN JUST POINTED OUT WHO ARE POISED TO POUNCE ON THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY MAY BE TO THE RIGHT ON THIS ISSUE OF THE GENERAL ELECTORATE, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO KIND OF WATCH BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE INDEPENDENT VOTERS THAT WENT FOR GOVERNOR DEWINE, THEY SEE HIM AS SOMEONE WHO'S MORE MODERATE.

THOSE ARE THE SAME VOTERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE UP FOR GRABS IN 2024, AND THEY MAY REALLY TAKE OFFENSE IF YOU GO TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT ON IT.

>> IF ABORTION WAS ON THE BALLOT THIS CYCLE, ANDREW, ABORTION OPPONENTS WON IN OHIO.

ALL THE CANDIDATES STATEWIDE AND LEGISLATURE.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE THAT VOTERS MIGHT HAVE HAD IN MIND IS INFLATION, AND MAYBE THEY DON'T TRUST DEMOCRATS.

WE SAW IN KENTUCKY ABORTION WAS ON THE BALLOT, A BAN MEASURE FAILED.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, VOTERS MAKE DECISIONS FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS.

I THINK THAT WERE THE LEGISLATURE TO PUSH AN ABSOLUTE BAN THROUGH THAT WOULD PROBABLY -- SIMILAR TO TRYING TO RAISE A THRESHOLD FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY, I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY JUST INFLAME THE PRO CHOICE GROUPS, AND SO I DON'T KNOW, LIKE I'M NOT THE STRATEGIST HERE, BUT, YEAH, WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

>> OFF THE RECORD, FINAL PARTING THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THE LAME DUCK, AND THE NEXT SESSION AND THE NEW SPEAKER AND SENATE PRESIDENT ARE GOING TO BE CLASHING A LOT, AND IT'S GOING TO CAUSE ISSUES IN TERMS OF GETTING THINGS PRODUCTIVELY PASSED, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MIKE DEWINE CAN'T REFEREE BECAUSE HIS VETOES CAN BE OVERRIDDEN.

>> MIKE MILLER.

>> WELL, JUST A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS, NUMBER ONE, HAPPY THOUGHTS, BOTH OF THEM.

TERRY FRANCONA, MANAGER OF THE YEAR FOR THE CLEVELAND GUARDIANS.

>> YAY.

>> WHICH I'M VERY HAPPY WITH, AND ALSO VERY HAPPY THAT I DON'T HAVE TO SEE ANOTHER POLITICAL AD FOR ANOTHER EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ANDREW.

>> IT JUST STRIKES ME HOW QUICKLY AFTER THE 2022 ELECTION ENDED THAT I'M ALREADY THINKING ABOUT 2024, AND I FAILED TO MENTION EARLIER THAT FRANK LAROSE IS PROBABLY A LEADING SENATE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

IT NEVER STOPS.

>> IT NEVER STOPS.

JO ENGELS.

WE SAW A FLAP WITH TICKETMASTER, TAYLOR SWIFT TICKETS THAT WERE GOING FOR $22,000 AFTER THE BOTCHED SALE OF TICKETS AND WE SAW ALSO THAT BILLY JOEL AND STEVE NIX CONCERT COME TO GO OHIO STATE, THE FEES AND TAXES ON THE TICKET ARE $53.

IF LAWMAKERS ARE WANTING A BIPARTISAN ISSUE THAT THEY CAN GET BEHIND, THIS IS PROBABLY IS SOMEWHERE THAT THEY CAN GET MOST EVERYONE TO SAY, YEAH, THOSE FEES ARE GETTING A LITTLE STEEP.

>> MY COMMENT, I WANT TO THANK OUR PRODUCER, DARREN McDONALD, THIS IS HIS LAST SHOW, HE MOVES ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS AT WOSU.

WE WILL MISS HIM AND THANK HIM FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE PROGRAM.

THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THE WEEK.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE AND ON FACEBOOK.

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

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.