>> WHAT'S NEXT FOR OHIO'S HAITIAN REFUGEES?

>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

AN ESTIMATED 30,000 HAITIAN REFUGEES LIVE IN THE COLUMBUS SPRINGFIELD AREA UNDER TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS.

IT ALLOWS THEM TO LIVE IN THE U. S. BECAUSE THEIR HOME COUNTRY IS TOO DANGEROUS.

THIS WEEK THE U. S. SUPREME COURT RULED PRESIDENT TRUMP CAN END THAT STATUS FOR HAITIANS, AS WELL AS SYRIANS.

REVOCATION OF THE STATUS WOULD BAN THEM FROM WORKING LEGALLY IN THE U. S. AND MAKE THEM SUBJECT TO DEPORTATION.

GOVERNOR DeWINE --WHO IS PERSONALLY CLOSE TO THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY --SAID ENDING TPS IS A MISTAKE BUT ADDED THERE IS LITTLE HE CAN DO.

THIS RULING DOES NOT MEAN REFUGEES LIVING IN COLUMBUS AND SPRINGFIELD WILL MEDIALLY HAVE TO LEAVE OR WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DETAINED.

RIGHT?

>> YES AND NO.

THEY IMMEDIATELY HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO LEAVE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

TO ANSWER THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THERE IS GOING TO BE ANY TYPE OF A PARTIAL MOVE AS WE SAW EARLY ON IN CHICAGO AND NEW YORK AND IN MINNEAPOLIS, PROBABLY POLITICS WILL INTERFERE AND THAT.

ALSO THE FACT WE HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATOR OF THE I. C. E. PROGRAM.

SO I DOUBT THAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE DEGREE OF ENERGY AND CRUELTY THAT WE SAW AT THE BEGINNING.

>> THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HAITIAN REFUGEES HERE.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE SPRINGFIELD AREA FOR FILLING JOBS.

COLUMBUS AREA, AS WELL.

GIVEN HAITI IS STILL IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.

>> WELL, MIKE , WE HAVE A LOT OF COUNTRIES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE AWFUL.

THIS IS A TEMPORARY --OKAY -- PROTECTED STATUS.

IT'S JUST TEMPORARY.

IT'S NOT PERMANENT.

AND IT'S UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE EXECUTIVE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

YOU CAN CHANGE THE LAW.

YOU CAN TRY TO CHANGE THE LAW AND GIVE THESE PEOPLE PERMANENT STATUS WHEN THEY APPLY FOR ASYLUM AND NOT TEMPORARY.

ABOUT THE LAW IS THE LAW.

AND THE COURTS BASICALLY SAID, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT DECIDES.

HE GRANTS IT.

HE DECIDES WHEN THAT TEMPORARY PERIOD OF TIME IS OVER.

AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE THAT.

>> SO, JAKE, WHAT IS THE THINKING?

ARE WE GOING TO SEE THE ROUNDUPS WE SAW IN CHICAGO AND MINNEAPOLIS THIS WINTER?

>> YEAH.

LIKE JOE SAID, THERE WILL BE SOME POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A BIG HUMANITARIAN PROBLEM.

HAITI, THERE ARE ASSASSINATIONS.

I BELIEVE WE DON'T FLY PLANES THERE.

BECAUSE OF GUN FIRE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO WITH THESE PEOPLE.

AS A MATTER OF GOOD CONSCIENCE, I ASSUME IF THERE WAS A DEPORTATION CAMPAIGN, YOU WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THIRD-PARTY COUNTRIES WILLING TO TAKE THEM.

BUT THERE IS A VERY SERIOUS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

>> GOVERNOR DeWINE HAD A LONG HISTORY WITH HAITI.

HE HAS SUPPORTED SCHOOLS THERE IN MEMORY OF HIS DAUGHTER.

HE HAS BEEN TO HAITI MANY TIMES.

MAYBE NOT RECENTLY.

SPECIAL AFFINITY TO SPRINGFIELD AND THAT AREA.

WHAT IS HE DOING TO TRY TO APPEAR OR SUPPORT THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY IN THIS CASE?

>> YEAH.

A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE DECIDED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

HE IS MAKING THE CAMPAIGN BASED OFF HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THESE PEOPLE.

BOTH IN ACTUAL HAITI FROM VISITING THEIR .

.

TRAN08 SCHOOL.

ALSO WITH WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN SPRINGFIELD.

BOTH HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS BUT ALSO BUSINESSES.

A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES THAT EMPLOY INDIVIDUALS ARE NO LONGER LEGALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THEM BY WAY OF STOPPING?

ALSO, IF THEY CONTINUE TO EMPLOY THESE PEOPLE, THEY COULD FACE PENALTIES AS WELL.

>> WHAT I ANTICIPATE THOUGH IS PERHAPS SOME OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE --LET ME IS A DIFFERENT WORD.

SOME OF THE MORE TRUMP-ALIGNED LEGISLATURES WILL THEN PRESSURE THE GOVERNOR INTO HAVING THE STATE POLICE ASSIST IN THE IDENTIFICATION, IF NOT THE DIRECT DEPORTATION.

THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED IN FLORIDA, BY THE WAY.

THEN , IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, THEN THE GOVERNOR MAY VERY WELL TAKE A STAND.

AND I ANTICIPATE HE WOULD UNDER THOSE EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.

>> TO THE POINT WHERE THERE ARE BAD PLACES AROUND THE WORLD, THE STATE DEPARTMENT ADVISORY FOR HAITI IS DO NOT TRAVEL.

IT IS THE HIGHEST, WORST LEVEL.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ALLOWING REFUGEES IN FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

THEY ARE AT LEVEL TWO, WHICH IS THE SECOND HIGHEST.

BASICALLY, USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING THERE.

THAT IS THE SAME AS GREAT BRITAIN, SPAIN, AND FRANCE RIGHT NOW.

BUT, HAITI, YOU GO BACK .

>> WELL, HE IS BRINGING THEM IN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL, TOO.

BUT THAT'S THE ONE EVERYBODY LIKES TO POINT TO.

TRY TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT IS A RACIST THING, WHICH IT ISN'T.

TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS.

I DON'T THINK HE HAS GIVEN PERMANENT STATUS TO ANYBODY OUTSIDE OF HAITI.

OH, WELL, ONLY THE HAITIANS AND SYRIANS GET TEMPORARY.

EVERYBODY ELSE GETS PERMANENT.

IT IS A SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE AND HE IS USING IT THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED.

YOU GIVE TEMPORARY STATUS.

>> HE IS GIVING GIFT BAGS TO THE FOLKS THAT COME IN, TOO.

THERE'S A DIFFERENT STANDARD THERE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

>> YEAH.

AND OF THE TEMPORARY STATUS.

IT IS NOT JUST A CLOCK THAT RUNS SOUTH.

AND THE CONDITIONS IN THAT GIVEN COUNTRY, AS YOU SAID, ARE NOT IMPROVED, THEN THE MAIN THING TO DO IS TO CONTINUE THAT STATUS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS SOMETHING HAPPENS AND TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR A MORE EXPANDED STATUS, SUCH AS PERMANENT LEGAL RESIDENT AND SO ON.

>> CURIOUS.

IN THE STATE LEVEL, THIS IS THE STATE THAT CAN MAYBE HELP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

LOW LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT IT IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE IN THIS RACE BETWEEN HIM AND JARON BROWN.

>> YEAH.

HIS STATEMENT WAS INTERESTING.

VERY MUCH LIKE I SUPPORT THE RULE OF LAW.

HE WAS KNUCKLING HARD ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ON THIS.

HE DID NOT WANT TO RUN AFOUL OF EITHER TRUMP OR MIKE DeWINE WHO WAS HIS GOVERNOR WHEN HE WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

PRETTY, I GUESS, DOWN THE MIDDLE.

>> WELL, THE POLITICS OF THIS.

YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THIS WAS A BIG, BIG ISSUE, WHICH WAS STRANGE IN THAT WE DON'T HAVE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS WHERE OHIO HAS SOMETHING GOING ON THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

SO THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

HERE IN OHIO, OBVIOUSLY TRUMP DID MUCH BETTER.

HE WON CLARK COUNTY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER HE WON THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD.

POLITICALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT HURTS OR WOULD HELP.

>> LET'S NOT FORGET THAT WAS BASED ON A COMPLETE, OUTRIGHT LIE ABOUT EATING DOGS AND CATS.

>> I THINK THE NAMES THEY CAME UP WITH IMMEDIATELY.

YOU KNOW?

>> BUT TRUMP SAID THAT AT THE DATE.

>> THEY WERE MAKING FUN OF HIM AFTERWARDS.

EVERYBODY KNEW THAT WAS NOT TRUE.

NO.

IT IS THE PEOPLE THERE THAT MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

THEY VOTED THE WAY THEY VOTED.

NOW, YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE WAY THEY VOTED, BUT THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE THERE DID.

>> WE HAVE LIKE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN SOLVED?

IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR 25 YEARS.

>> MIKE , YOU ARE REALLY ASKING THAT QUESTION?

I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SAVE THAT FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> THAT WAS THE KENNEDY-MCCAIN OR McCAIN-KENNEDY ACT BACK IN 1996.

>> McGEE LOST HIS SEAT BECAUSE THEY CAME UP WITH IMMIGRATION REFORM THING.

>> IT GOES ON AND ON BUT NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT YET.

WELL, BEFORE IT RUSHED OFF TO SUMMER RECESS, OHIO LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED HOW OHIOANS VOTE BY MAIL.

IT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED MAIL-IN VOTERS SUBMIT SOME FORM OF PHOTO I. D. THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO COPY THEIR I. D. AND SEND IT IN THE MAIL OR UPLOAD IT THROUGH A WEBSITE.

CRITICS BLASTED THE NEW RULES AS UNNECESSARY AND CLAIMED IT WOULD KEEP SOME VOTERS FROM CASTING BALLOTS.

GOVERNOR DeWINE AGREED.

THIS WEEK HE VETOED THE BILL.

HE SAID IT WOULD NOT DISCOURAGE FRAUD AND WOULD POSE A SIGNIFICANT ADDED BURDEN ON OHIOANS WHO VOTE BY MAIL.

JAKE ZUCKERMAN , FIRST TO THE BILL THAT WAS PROPOSED.

A MILLION PEOPLE VOTED BY MAIL IN THE LAST ELECTION IN OHIO.

SEEMS LIKE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPLY WITH AND IMPOSSIBLE TO ADMINISTER OR CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE.

>> CONFUSING.

IT SETS UP A NEW SLATE OF RULES FOR VOTING BY MAIL BUT DON'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THIS CURRENT ELECTION, BUT IN THIS CURRENT ELECTION THERE IS ANOTHER SEMI- RELATED VOTER I. D. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT.

THIS IS ENDLESSLY CONFUSING STUFF FOR A PROBLEM --IT IS GUARDING AGAINST A PROBLEM IT HAS NOT SHOWN TO EXIST OR BEEN ANY SORT OF WIDESPREAD OR RELATIVELY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM OF VOTE BY MAIL MISIDENTIFICATION.

SO THERE IS NO PROBLEM BEING SOLVED BY THE BILL IT CONFUSES HERE.

>> THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT MIKE DeWINE HAS SAID, JESSIE.

RIGHT NOW, THE VOTING SYSTEM HERE IS PRETTY GOOD.

WE DON'T NEED TO CHANGE IT .

HE STUCK WITH THAT.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID A FEW YEARS AGO HE DID NOT WANT TO BE SIGNING TOO MANY MORE VOTING BILLS.

HE DID SIGN WHEN UNDER THREAT OF POTENTIAL LAWSUITS OR PROBLEMS WITH THE FEDERAL SYSTEM THAT WAS MAKING SURE THE BALLOTS ARRIVED BY ELECTION DAY VERSUS AFTERWARD.

BUT THIS PARTICULAR MEASURE WASN'T SOMETHING BEING PUSHED FROM D. C. IT REALLY WAS PART OF A COMPROMISE TO PASS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT JAKE REFERENCED.

IT WAS A WAY TO KIND OF GENERATE SUPPORT FOR THIS OTHER MEASURE.

>> THE CASES OF FRAUD ARE MINUSCULE.

WHY DO THEY KEEP CHANGING?

TRYING TO MAKE IT TOUGHER?

FOR FRAUD THAT IS NOT OCCURRING?

>> WELL, BECAUSE THEY FEEL THERE IS AN ISSUE OUT THERE THAT HAS GOT TO BE ADDRESSED.

EVERY TIME THEY DO PASS SOMETHING --AND HAPPENED WHEN THEY PASSED THE LAW.

OH, MY GOSH.

YOU ARE GOING TO BE SHUTTING DOWN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE.

HAPPEN IN GEORGIA WHEN THEY CHANGE THEIRS.

OH, MY GOSH.

IT IS GOING TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM VOTING.

GUESS WHAT?

PEOPLE ARE VOTING MORE THAN EVER.

STOP PEOPLE FROM VOTING.

THEY NEVER STOP PEOPLE FROM VOTING.

THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

JUST NOT TRUE.

MORE ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAN EVER SINCE 2023 VOTING CHANGES IN OHIO HAVE LED TO PROVISIONAL BALLOTS NOT BEING COUNTED IN BALLOTS.

>> BECAUSE OF PHOTO I. D. THEY DON'T HAVE TO SHOW IT ON AN ABSENTEE BALLOT.

>> PEOPLE WHO GO TO VOTE IN PERSON IN 2023.

WE HAVE HAD A MARKET INCREASE OF PEOPLE COMING INTO ABOUT NOT MEETING THE NEW REQUIREMENTS AND THEIR VOTES ARE NOT BEING COUNTED.

>> SO WE HAVE LESS PEOPLE VOTING NOW THAN WE DID PRIOR TO PHOTO I. D. NO.

WE DON'T.

WE HAVE MORE.

>> BUT I THINK THE QUESTION IS --I THINK WHAT JAKE IS SUGGESTING, WITHIN THE SUBSET OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT VOTE ABSENTEE, THAT WE HAVE HAD A LARGER NUMBER OF THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS BEING REJECTED.

WHETHER MORE PEOPLE, WE, DEMOCRATS, OR, YOU, REPUBLICANS, OR POPULATIONS BIGGER OR WHATEVER, THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

BUT I DO AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S LOGIC.

EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO WITH A PHOTO I. D. IN A MAIL-IN BALLOT.

YOU CAN'T COMPARE IT.

AND COMPARE IT.

YOU COULD.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHY NOT USE THE NUMBER ON YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE?

>> I THINK WHAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE THOUGH IS WORKING TOWARDS IS DOING A SYSTEM WHERE YOU CAN VOTE ONLINE, WHERE YOU UPLOAD IT ON LINE.

ABSENTEE, VIA ONLINE.

>> I PREDICT --MAYBE YOU ARE PREDICTING RIGHT NOW.

MAYBE 10 YEARS, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I AM DONE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EVERYTHING DONE IN THAT FASHION.

>> COULD THIS HAVE BACKFIRED, BOB, ON REPUBLICANS?

VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP BY POINT YEARS AGO.

WHO TALK OUT ABSENTEE BALLOT?

IT WAS BASICALLY HALF REPUBLICANS.

HALF DEMOCRAT.

UNAFFILIATED.

>> I THINK STATEWIDE WE HAD MORE REPUBLICANS.

AND, WHEN YOU LOOK AT NOW ARE VOTING DEMOGRAPHICS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO, IT HAS SHOWN THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LESS FREQUENT , LESS FREQUENT VOTERS, ARE MORE REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

SO THIS WHOLE THING OF, OH, REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM VOTING, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

POLITICALLY, WE ARE HURT BY THIS.

POLITICALLY, THE MORE FRINGE PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T ALLOW TO VOTE BECAUSE WE MAKE IT HARDER WILL MEAN LESS REPUBLICAN VOTES.

>> WHY DO THEY WANT TO KEEP PASSING THESE BILLS THEN?

>> BECAUSE THEY FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM.

YOU GOT PEOPLE THAT AREN'T GETTING ALLOWED TO VOTE.

WELL, SHOULD THEY HAVE BEEN VOTING IN THE FIRST PLACE?

I MEAN, IS OUR PHOTO I. D. SYSTEM CATCHING A PROBLEM THAT NOBODY KNEW ABOUT?

DIDN'T EXIST?

I MEAN, WHY ARE THEY NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE?

>> I THINK THERE IS ANOTHER ANSWER TO WHAT BOB IS PONDERING.

THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS.

I DISAGREE.

I THINK THAT THIS HAS BECOME AN ISSUE ONLY BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP THINKS IT IS AN ISSUE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NEXT TOPIC.

LAST WEEK, GOVERNOR DeWINE, WHEN ANNOUNCING HIS OPPOSITION TO THE DEATH PENALTY, WAS ASKED IF HE WOULD CONSIDER COMMUTING THE SENTENCES OF DEATH ROW INMATES.

HERE'S THAT EXCHANGE.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE SOME OPPONENTS OF THE DEATH PENALTY WHO ARE CALLING ON YOU IN YOUR FINAL MONTHS TO USE YOUR CLEMENCY POWERS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THOUGHTS YOU HAVE ABOUT THAT?

>> NO.

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE REASONING BEHIND WHAT I WROTE AND WHAT I JUST READ.

>> IT TURNS OUT THAT ABOUT THREE WEEKS EARLIER HE HAD COMMUTED THE SENTENCE OF A DEATH ROW INMATE.

THERE WAS NO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL REPORTING FROM THE MARSHALL PROJECT THIS WEEK THAT WE LEARNED THAT ON MAY 27th DeWINE ON MAY 27th TOOK CONVICTED MURDERER GREGORY LOTT OFF DEATH ROW.

LOTT, WHO'S BEEN ON DEATH ROW FOR FOUR DECADES, HAS SEVERE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

THE STATE PAROLE BOARD RECOMMENDED CLEMENCY SIX YEARS AGO.

JESSIE BALMERT , HAS A GOVERNOR EXPLAINED WHY?

>> NOT SURE THE MARSHALL PROJECT GOT TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT.

LEANING IN, THE PAROLE BOARD RECOMMENDED IT.

EVEN THE FAMILY IN THE CASE HAD ASKED FOR MERCY FOR MR.

LOTT AND THE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES WERE CERTAINLY A FACTOR.

IT COULD PROVIDE A BIT OF A ROAD MAP THAT IF MIKE DeWINE WERE TO DO MORE, WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE THIS?

>> BUT WHY NOT?

THIS GUY WAS EXAMPLE NUMBER ONE OF WHY MIKE DeWINE OPPOSED THE DEATH PENALTY.

>> MIGHT HAVE BEEN A GOOD THING TO SHOW.

>> FOR FOUR DECADES, THE FAMILY DIDN'T OPPOSE HIM GETTING OFF DEATH ROW.

THE PAROLE BOARD OFFERED HIM CLEMENCY.

HE COULD HAVE SAID HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY.

WHY DIDN'T HE?

>> I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION, MIKE .

I CAN'T GET INTO MIKE DEWINE'S HEAD .

YOU KNOW?

I DISAGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR TOO MANY TIMES.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THEM ON THIS.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH HIM ON THIS.

HE IS RIGHT TO LIFE.

I'M RIGHT TO LIFE.

YOU CAN'T BE RIGHT TO LIFE AND THEN SOMEHOW BE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

IT WOULD BE LIKE BEING FOR ABORTION BUT AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY.

YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE A DEATH PENALTY THERE.

>> THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY INNOCENT.

WE OPPOSE ABORTION.

>> BUT IT'S NOT.

OKAY?

I THINK THE GOVERNOR SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT.

THE DEATH PENALTY IS NOT EFFECTIVE FOR THE VERY THING YOU JUST SAID.

FOUR DECADES.

HOW CAN YOU USE THE DEATH PENALTY IS SOME DETERRENT WHEN THE PERSON THINKS I'M GOING TO BE IN JAIL FOR DECADES.

>> BOB IS ABSENTLY CORRECT.

I AGREE WITH HIM AND I AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR ON THIS.

JUST BECAUSE, I THINK RIGHT TO LIFE IS A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

IT IS NOT SOLELY ETHICAL OR MORAL ONE.

BUT I'M DRAWING THE SAME DECISION THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS DRAWN.

THAT THEY ARE, YES, IN FAVOR OF RIGHT TO LIFE.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO IN FAVOR OF THE DIGNITY OF HUMANS, INCLUDING REFUGEES, AND THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF ELIMINATING THE DEATH PENALTY, AS HAS BEEN THE CASE WITH THE LAST THREE POPES.

THAT HAS BEEN THE POSITION THAT BOB AND I ARE TAKING.

>> SO, AS FAR AS OFFERING CLEMENCY DOWN THE ROAD, HE HAS GOT DAYS LEFT IN HIS TERM.

I WENT ON LAST.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION'S WEBSITE.

THERE WERE 109 NAMES ON DEATH ROW.

THE FIRST TIME I CHECKED, THERE WERE 107 NAMES.

I SAID WOW.

TWO ARE GONE.

I CHECKED TWO MINUTES LATER.

THERE WERE 106 NAMES.

SO I ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON.

ONE GOT BACK TO ME.

ANOTHER MAN DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES AND ANOTHER MAN HAD HIS SENTENCE REDUCED BY A COURT IN CLEVELAND, I BELIEVE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO?

GO IN EVERY WE CAN SEE WHO HAS BEEN COMMUTED?

>> WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID WAS THE SUPREME COURT HAS CHANGED THE STANDARD FOR COURTS EVALUATE WHETHER YOU CAN USE THE DEATH PENALTY ON SOMEONE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

AFTER THOSE RULINGS CAME DOWN, THE COURTS HAD ARE RETURNED HIM TO THE SYSTEM WITHOUT RULING CAME IN.

SO THE LEGAL STANDARD HAD CHANGED IN SUCH A WAY THAT WOULD RENDER HIM INELIGIBLE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY BUT THE COURTS HAD ALREADY SPOKEN BY THAT POINT.

THAT IS WHERE MIKE DeWINE STEPPED IN.

YOU COULD OFFER THAT IS LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN A PHILOSOPHICAL OBJECTION TO THE DEATH PENALTY.

>> WE GET A PRESS RELEASE ABOUT EVERY RIBBON-CUTTING BUT NOT ABOUT HIM COMMUTING THE SENTENCE OF A MAN?

>> TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> TRANSPARENCY IS --I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.

>> I CAN ADD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PARLOR GAME AMONG COLUMBUS REPORTERS.

WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR GOING TO MAKE HIS BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY.

I EXPECT THERE WAS A LOT OF PAGEANTRY BEHIND THIS.

THOSE THINGS INTERSECTED IN A MOST UNFORTUNATE WAY.

>> THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T WANT TO GO OUT OF HIS WAY TO GET THE LEGISLATURE UPSET.

YOU KNOW?

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PROPONENTS IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE DEATH PENALTY.

I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME HE WAS TO TAKE ON A FIGHT.

>> SOCIAL SECURITY.

OTHER THAN BEING EACH BEING A STATE'S SENIOR U. S. SENATOR, BERNIE MORENO AND ELIZABETH WARREN DON'T SHARE MUCH IN COMMON.

BUT, THIS WEEK, THEY TEAMED UP TO PROPOSE A FIX FOR SOCIAL SECURITY'S LOOMING FUNDING CRISIS.

EXPERTS PREDICT THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND, BASICALLY ITS SAVINGS ACCOUNT, WILL RUN OUT OF MONEY IN SIX YEARS.

IF THAT HAPPENS, BENEFITS WOULD HAVE TO BE CUT SIGNIFICANTLY.

MORENO AND WARREN SAY THEY HAVE A SOLUTION.

INCREASE SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES ON HIGHER INCOME EARNERS.

RIGHT NOW, SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES ARE CAPPED.

PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO PAY SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES ON INCOME ABOVE $185,000.

EXPERTS SAY LIFTING THAT CAP AND IMPOSING SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES ON UPPER INCOME EARNERS COULD DELAY THE TRUST FUND INSOLVENCY BY NEARLY 30 YEARS.

BOB CLEGG, YOU ARE OUR POLITICAL AD MAN.

BERNIE MORENO TEAMS UP WITH MASSACHUSETTS LIBERAL.

>> BERNIE MORENO, LOOKING OUT FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.

THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

>> BUT, JOKING ASIDE, THAT IS A PRETTY BAD MOVE ON HIS PART.

>> IT SHOWS YOU HE DOES CARE ABOUT SENIORS AND MAKING SURE THAT MONEY SO MANY SENIORS DEPEND ON IS GOING TO BE THERE.

I THINK --I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS.

WHY IT HASN'T BEEN SOLVED.

BUT, I THINK, IN THE END, THE WEALTHIER INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO BE HIT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

MAYBE BOTH WAYS.

IT'S EITHER GOING TO BE HIGHER.

THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE OFF THAT CAP OR TAKE THE CAP OFF ONLY SO FAR AND THEN MAYBE DO MEANS TESTING SO THAT WARREN BUFFETT AND BILL GATES DON'T RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS.

1968.

I AM A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE WERE TALKING.

MUST'VE BEEN CIVICS CLASS OR BUSINESS CLASS.

THE TEACHER WAS SAYING, YOU WERE A GENERATION, BEING AS LARGE AS IT IS, IS GOING TO MAKE SOME DEMANDS ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

THIS TOPIC CAME UP IN 1968.

THE CAP.

WHAT IS IT?

500.

>> IN 1937, WHEN THIS WAS PASSED, IT WAS $3000.

>> THE ONLY THING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BY THE WAY IS WHETHER THE 6% OR WHATEVER SHALL CONTINUE BEYOND THAT.

IT SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER THAT , YOU SHOULD BE HAPPENING, AND IT ISN'T.

WHAT KIND OF A BREAK IS THAT?

>> BERNIE MORENO PRETTY CONSERVATIVE AND TIGHTLY ALIGNED WITH DONALD TRUMP AND ATTACKING LIBERALS.

THIS CAUGHT PEOPLE BY SURPRISE.

>> YES.

AN UNLIKELY PARTNERSHIP I WOULD SAY.

PARTICULARLY ELIZABETH WARREN WHO IS PRETTY WELL-KNOWN ON THE LEFT.

BUT TO THE POINTS WE HAVE BEEN MAKING, THIS REALLY WHAT IN EFFECT ABOUT 94% OF PEOPLE.

ABOUT 6% OF PEOPLE WOULD BE PAYING THIS INCREASED AMOUNT OF MONEY.

PERHAPS IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF A RISK.

>> DOES IT HAVE TRACTION, DO YOU THINK, JAKE?

>> POLITICALLY, YES.

AM I EXPECTING THIS TO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON?

NO.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN ELIZABETH WARREN WAS JUST A REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY LIVING IN OKLAHOMA.

>> BUT YOU LOOK AT THE COMMENTS IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AFTER THE OP-ED THAT THEY BOTH WROTE JOINTLY.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO ANY TAX INCREASE AT ALL.

BOB?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY?

YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO GET FIXED RIGHT NOW.

BUT BY WHAT?

2032?

2033, THEY ARE GOING TO FIX IT.

IT IS BETTER TO START TACKLING IT NOW SO THEY ARE NOT IN A CRISIS MODE.

>> IF THEY DON'T, THEY WILL ALL LOSE THEIR JOBS.

SERIOUSLY.

>> LOSE THEIR JOBS.

>> THEY WILL GET IT DONE.

IT MAY BE AT THE LAST MINUTE.

TIME FOR OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

YOU ARE FIRST.

>> THIS IS A PROBLEM, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE HAITIANS AND A MILLION OTHER, BY THE WAY, BUT THE LOGIC OF THE DECISION BY SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ALITO TROUBLES ME BECAUSE, BASICALLY, HE SAYS THAT THE COURT SHOULD NOT SECOND-GUESS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SUGGESTING THAT THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT HAS NO LIMITS.

AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS A PROBLEM, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THIS PRESIDENT, BIT BECAUSE OF THE NEXT DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT.

>> LEGISLATURE THIS MONTH FINALLY PUT MONEY IN A FUND.

THEY PUT MONEY IN FIVE YEARS AGO TO HELP FIRST RESPONDERS WITH PTSD AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND THEY FINALLY PUT IN $40 MILLION.

THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT FIVE YEARS AGO BUT THEY DIDN'T.

>> REJECTED SOLAR THIS WEEK WHICH SHOWS YOU CANNOT NAME YOUR PROJECT AFTER A BELOVED OHIO FIGURE.

DIDN'T EXPECT THAT TO CARRY AND SAVE THE DAY.

>> NICE TRY.

>> JESSIE?

>> TOTALLY OFF THE RECORD COMMENT.

I WOULD SAY, DeWINE ISSUED ANOTHER VETO THIS WEEK.

SOME THIRD-PARTY UTILITIES.

THAT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING DECISION AS WELL.

FLEW UNDER THE RADAR OF PHOTO I. D.

>> CONSUMER ADVOCATES APPLAUDED THE GOVERNOR FOR THAT VETO.

>> THIS WEEK, WE SAY GOODBYE TO A"COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" ORIGINAL.

OUR STUDIO MANAGER PAUL PELOQUIN RETIRES AFTER 27 YEARS .

HE WAS A VOLUNTEER FOR 13 YEARS BEFORE THAT.

HE HAS BEEN WITH THE SHOW FROM THE START.

HE CRAFTED OUR FIRST TABLE OUT OF FINE PLYWOOD.

HE HAS GUIDED MANY MANY EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS THROUGH THE YEARS.

HE'S THE QUINTESSENTIAL TEAM PLAYER.

WE HAD TO TELL HIM TO STOP HELPING US.

BUT WE WILL MISS HIM GREATLY, AND WE WISH HIM WELL IN RETIREMENT.

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

A REMINDER TO CHECK OUT THE WOSU NEWS YOUTUBE PAGE.

YOU CAN WATCH US THERE.

ALSO WOSU.

ORG AND THE PBS APP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.