>> CAN OHIO DEMOCRATS MATCH THE NATIONAL SUCCESS?

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>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

DEMOCRATS HAD A GOOD WEEK IN THE FEW KEY RACES DECIDED IN THIS OFF-YEAR ELECTION.

DEMOCRATS WON GOVERNORS' RACES IN NEW JERSEY AND VIRGINIA BY WIDER THAN EXPECTED MARGINS.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI EASILY WON THE NEW YORK MAYORAL RACE.

EXIT POLLS SHOWED YOUNGER VOTERS WERE ENTHUSIASTIC.

VOTERS OF COLOR CAME BACK TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

AND POLLS INDICATE VOTERS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS GOING AND THEY BLAME PRESIDENT TRUMP.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR OHIO GOVERNOR, VIVEK RAMASWAMY, SAID THE RESULTS WERE ALARMING.

>> WE GOT OUR --HANDED TO US.

THERE'S TWO KEY LESSONS FOR REPUBLICANS.

LISTEN CAREFULLY.

NUMBER ONE, OUR SIDE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY.

MAKE THE AMERICAN DREAM AFFORDABLE.

BRING DOWN COSTS, ELECTRIC COSTS, GROCERY COSTS, HEALTH CARE COSTS, AND HOUSING COSTS, AND LAY OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

AND NUMBER TWO, CUT OUT THE IDENTITY POLITICS.

IT DOESN'T SUIT REPUBLICANS.

IT'S NOT FOR US.

THAT'S THE WOKE LEFT SCHEME, NOT OURS.

WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN OR YOUR RELIGION.

WE CARE ABOUT THE CONTENT OF YOUR CHARACTER.

THAT'S WHO WE ARE.

>> IS HE RIGHT?

HAVE REPUBLICANS GOTTEN AWAY FROM THE ECONOMY AS A PRIMARY ISSUE?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT HE'S SAYING IS HE THINKS THE ECONOMY MEANS A GREAT DEAL AND I THINK IT DOES TOO, SO HE WANTS TO HIGHLIGHT IT.

ALL THESE THINGS ARE GREAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO ALL OF THEM WITHOUT MONEY AND SO FORTH.

BUT I DON'T LOOK AT THE ELECTION THAT JUST TRANSPIRED AS A GREAT DEFEAT FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT GOOD.

BUT TRUMP, WHO WON THE PRESIDENCY FAIRLY EASILY, LOST VIRGINIA BY ABOUT SIX POINTS.

HE LOST NEW JERSEY BY ABOUT SIX POINTS.

THERE HASN'T BEEN A REPUBLICAN ELECTED MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY -- I THINK THERE'S BEEN ONE, GIULIANI --IN 60 YEARS.

THE REPUBLICAN THIS TIME GOT 7%.

NOW, HAD IOWA OR OHIO OR A RED STATE GONE THAT WAY, I WOULD SAY HE'S GOT REAL, REAL BIG PROBLEMS.

BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY OVERREACTING THAT THIS ONE DIDN'T TURN OUT WELL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE CANDIDATES WERE GOOD ON BOTH SIDES.

VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY, DEMOCRATS ELECTED.

THEY SEEM TO BE SOLID PEOPLE.

SO, I DON'T LOOK AT IT AS THAT BAD.

ALTHOUGH I CONCEDE THAT HE LOST THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, THEY LOST BY BIGGER AMOUNTS THAN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

>> IT WAS THE MARGINS, I THINK, THAT SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THEY WEREN'T UPSETS, BUT THEY WERE MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THEY EXPECTED.

>> I KNOW.

I HAVE A COUSIN IN NEW JERSEY THAT I TALKED TO JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

AND I SAID, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

I WAS ANXIOUS ABOUT IT.

SHE SAID, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

15 MINUTES LATER, I ASKED HER THE SAME QUESTION.

SHE GIVES ME THE SAME ANSWER.

SHE WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE NEW JERSEY HAD A, KIND OF, A AWKWARD HISTORY OF NOT GOING BEYOND TWO TERMS FOR A PARTICULAR PARTY, WHETHER IT BE IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WHETHER IT BE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

AND IT, YOU KNOW, NOWADAYS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON.

SO, I AGREE.

I THINK THAT THE MARGINS WERE SURPRISING.

TO ME, IN BOTH VIRGINIA AS WELL AS IN NEW JERSEY.

>> I'D HAVE TO AGREE WITH MIKE.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, NEW JERSEY AND VIRGINIA ARE BLUE STATES.

OHIO IS VERY RED.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE NATIONAL MEDIA LIKES TO DRAW THESE BIG CONCLUSIONS AND, YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS THE POLLS CLOSE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL --IT'LL PLAY OUT THAT WAY.

IT MIGHT BE MORE IMPACTFUL IN STATES THAT ARE SWING LIKE PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN MAYBE.

>> JO, LOOKING AT VIVEK RAMASWAMY IS A CLEAR FAVORITE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE STATE REGARDLESS OF WHO RUNS AGAINST HIM.

SHERROD BROWN HAS TO BE ENCOURAGED BY THESE RESULTS, PARTICULARLY IN VIRGINIA, I WOULD SAY.

>> YEAH, I THINK SO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, KIND OF, TAKING THE PAGE OUT OF HIS PLAYBOOK.

HE'S ALWAYS TALKED A LOT ABOUT WORKING PEOPLE ISSUES AND HOW THEY'RE AFFECTED, THE ECONOMY.

THAT'S WHERE HE LIKES TO, YOU KNOW, TALK WHEN HE'S ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

AND THAT SEEMED TO BE THE TALKING POINTS THAT WERE POPULAR.

>> OHIO DEMOCRATS, I THINK, HAVE A TWO-FOLD PROBLEM.

NUMBER ONE IS GETTING THE PEOPLE, THE NORMAL, TRADITIONAL DEMOCRATIC SUPPORTERS, TO GET OUT AND VOTE.

TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITIES FAIL TO REACH NUMBERS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO --WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

AND ANOTHER THING IS SOMETHING MIKE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS, AND THAT IS THE DEMOCRATS THAT HAVE DEFLECTED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

HAVE THEY GOTTEN TIRED OF THE MAGA EXPERIENCE AND ARE NOW COMING BACK?

AND IF YOU COMBINE BOTH OF THOSE CONSTITUENCIES, I THINK THAT SHERROD BROWN CAN EASILY GET ELECTED.

>> SO, MIKE, DO 2026 REPUBLICANS IN OHIO, DO THEY CLOSELY ALIGN WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, OR DO THEY TRY TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM HIM A LITTLE BIT?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU DO EITHER.

A YEAR FROM NOW IS A LONG TIME.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN POLITICS.

I THINK TRUMP IS PROBABLY STILL, AS WE SPEAK TODAY, VERY STRONG IN OHIO.

SO, I THINK YOU TAKE A DANGER IN NOT LINING UP WITH HIM.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, PEOPLE WHO, GENERALLY SPEAKING, ARE NOT TRUMPSTERS, REALLY DISLIKE HIM.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST THE REPUBLICAN/DEMOCRAT, I ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN, I ALWAYS VOTE DEMOCRAT.

IT'S NOT THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DO DISLIKE HIM.

AND I THINK IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE TO HIM, UNLESS HE IS REALLY RIDING HIGH IN NOVEMBER OF '26, IT COULD BE A MISTAKE.

SO, I THINK THEY'LL LOOK, AS POLITICIANS DO, PUT THEIR FINGER UP TO SEE WHICH WAY THE WIND'S BLOWING, AND REACT ACCORDINGLY.

>> JO, REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO TIE DEMOCRATS FOR MA'AM MDANI.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHO CAME OUT IN NEW YORK ESPECIALLY, IT DREW OUT A LOT --THAT RACE DREW OUT A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG ADULTS.

AND THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY CAN'T AFFORD A HOUSE.

THEY SAY THEY'RE SADDLED WITH COLLEGE DEBT THAT THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE GETTING INTO.

THEY SAY THAT THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, INHERENT TO THEIR GENERATION.

SO, IF YOU'VE GOT THAT GROUP COMING OUT AND THAT GROUP IS ENERGIZED, IT COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

I MEAN, JUST LOOK, YOU KNOW, IN THE '60s, YOUNG PEOPLE WERE THE ONES THAT DREW ABOUT THE CHANGE.

SO, YOU KNOW.

>> AND POLLING SHOWS THAT THOSE PEOPLE, THAT CONSTITUENCY, IS NOT PARTICULARLY SPOOKED BY THE TERM "SOCIALIST" AS PERHAPS SOMEBODY OF MY GENERATION OR MY PARENTS' GENERATION.

>> HE WAS VERY DISCIPLINED ON HIS MESSAGE, AFFORDABILITY, COST OF LIVING, EVERYTHING.

WHATEVER THE QUESTION WAS, DO THE JETS --SHOULD THEY TRADE THEIR QUARTERBACK?

I DON'T KNOW, BUT THE COST OF RENT IS TOO HIGH.

YOU KNOW?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THAT DISCIPLINED MESSAGE THAT FOCUSED ON POCKETBOOK ISSUES REALLY WAS SOMETHING THAT SOLD THE YOUNGER PEOPLE IN NEW YORK WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

AND, YOU KNOW, MAMDANI MANAGED TO TRANSLATE THINGS INTO SHORT, SIMPLE THINGS LIKE FREEZE THE RENT.

IT'S NOT THAT HARD.

IT'S NOT A COMPLICATED POLICY.

NOW, IT'S COMPLICATED TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THAT.

BUT FOR THE VOTERS, THEY LIKE THE SOUND OF IT, AND THEY SAID, YES.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE BOMB.

IF YOU GO ONTO SOCIAL MEDIA, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, 10, 15-SECOND TAKES, VERY SHORT TAKES, EXPLAINS WHERE HE IS WITH SOMETHING.

THAT'S REALLY POPULAR WITH A LOT OF ESPECIALLY YOUNGER USERS.

>> BUT DOING IT, AS MENTIONED AGO, IS SO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN PROMISING --I MEAN, WHO WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY, IF YOU'RE LIVING IN NEW YORK AND OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET FREE BUS RIDES, FREE TRANSIT, FREE THIS --IT'S ALL WONDER.

HOW'S HE GOING TO DO IT?

IT'S NOT THE MOST STAY IN CERTAINLY THE CITY.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF BLUE INK, BLACK INK THERE.

THEY'RE IN TROUBLE.

>> THERE'S A LONG LIST OF POLITICIANS THAT MAKE PROMISES THAT ARE NOT HELD.

>> BEGINNING WITH OUR PRESIDENT.

AND THAT'S ONE THING I THINK THAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS THAT IT'S OKAY IF YOU'RE WELL-INTENTIONED TO MAKE A PROMISE EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE WORKED OUT THE DETAILS YET.

>> IF THE PROMISES AREN'T FULFILLED IN A YEAR, IT COULD HURT DEMOCRATS IN '26.

> >> --ONE WAS EVEN CONTESTED AND THAT WAS BETWEEN TWO DEMOCRATS.

IN DISTRICT SEVEN, COLUMBUS CITY ATTORNEY TIARA ROSS NARROWLY BEET JESSE VOGEL BY 1,600 VOTES.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT RESULTS FROM DISTRICT SEVEN, VOGEL WON EASILY, CAPTURING MORE THAN 60% OF THE VOTE.

BUT ROSS WILL REPRESENT THE DISTRICT THAT DID NOT VOTE FOR HER BECAUSE THE CITY CHARTER SAYS WHILE COUNCIL MEMBERS MUST LIVE IN DISTRICTS, THEY HAVE TO WIN CITYWIDE TO GET ELECTED.

AND ROSS WON MORE VOTES CITYWIDE.

JO , IS THIS A FAIR SYSTEM?

>> NO.

I'M GOING TO STICK TO SHORT ANSWERS FROM NOW ON.

I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THIS.

I THINK ONE THING YOU CAN REFLECT ON, IT'S PARTICULARLY IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, MAYBE STATE-WIDE.

IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, YOU HAVE THE INSIDE TRACK, AND THAT INSIDE TRACK MIGHT BE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF MONEY, COULD BE BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT NAME.

IT COULD BE BECAUSE --ANYWAY, YOU'RE NEXT IN LINE OR WHATEVER IT IS.

THEN THE SYSTEM IS GAME TO SUPPORT YOU, PERIOD.

AND I THINK THAT THAT --THE GREAT EVIL IN THAT IS THAT IT DISCOURAGES VERY CAPABLE CANDIDATES, LIKE VOGEL, AND NOT TO SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT ROSS.

I'VE MET ROSS.

SHE'S A WONDERFUL YOUNG WOMAN, AND I THINK SHE'LL DO A GOOD JOB.

BUT I THINK THAT THE PROCESS FOR THE ELECTION IS --WELL, I DIDN'T WANT TO USE THE WORD "RIGGED," BUT IT IS, TO SOME EXTENT, RIGGED.

SO, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF HOW THINGS ARE BEING DONE.

>> MIKE, THE ARGUMENT IS THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS LIVE IN THE DISTRICT SO THEY LIVE CLOSE TO THE PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT THAT DISTRICT, SO THEY HAVE TO LIVE THERE.

BUT BY GETTING A CITYWIDE VOTE YOU MAKE SURE YOU REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY AND NOT THE NOT IN MY BACKYARD ARGUMENT.

DO YOU BUY THAT ARGUMENT?

>> NO, I DON'T BUY THAT ARGUMENT.

UNDERSTAND THIS, A LOT OF THE TALK IS MEANINGLESS BECAUSE IT'S A ONE-PARTY CITY.

THE REPUBLICANS, TO MY RECOLLECTION, HAVE NOT ELECTED A SINGLE PERSON IN A CITYWIDE RACE IN OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.

YOU SEE ALL THESE RACES ARE UNCONTESTED, MUNICIPAL COURT, THE CITY COUNCIL.

THERE'S NEVER ANYBODY UP.

THERE'S NO REASON TO BECAUSE THEY CAN'T WIN.

SO, THE DEMOCRATS GET TOGETHER AND SAY, WELL, WE LIKE IT THAT WAY.

WHY WOULD WE ENCOURAGE SOMEBODY AGAINST THIS?

SO, THEY TAKE THE ENDORSED CANDIDATE, AS JO SAID.

THEY PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN, THE INCUMBENT DEMOCRATS, INTO HER CAMPAIGN, AND THIS GUY'S OUT.

TO ME, IT'S JUST BASIC POLITICS.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW THE CITY'S GOING TO RUN.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THE OTHER SIDE WOULDN'T DO IT IF THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

BUT IT'S A ONE-PARTY GOVERNMENT HERE.

IT'S JUST LIKE THE STATE HAS BEEN MAINLY ONE PARTY THE OTHER WAY.

YOU KNOW, 82% OF THE ELECTIONS IN THE LAST I FORGET WHAT IT WAS, 20 YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

>> I MEAN, OTHER CITIES IN OHIO BASICALLY FACE THE SAME SITUATION, WHERE THE REPUBLICANS BASICALLY SEEDED THE GROUND.

RIGHT, LAURA?

>> I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIGGER CITIES IN OHIO, CINCINNATI, COLUMBUS, CLEVELAND, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RUNS IT.

AND MIKE'S RIGHT.

THERE'S THE INSIDER GROUP AND THE OUTSIDER GROUP.

BUT THEY'RE ALL D s.

>> WHY AREN'T REPUBLICANS EVEN TRYING IN COLUMBUS, JO, OR THESE OTHER BIG CITIES?

>> FOR THE SAME REASON IT'S HARD TO GET, YOU KNOW, A DEMOCRAT TO RUN IN A SOLIDLY CONGRESSIONAL OR EVEN LEGISLATIVE REPUBLICAN SEAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, KIND OF, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

BUT THE THING ABOUT THIS THAT I THINK IS INTERESTING IS HOW CLOSE IT WAS BECAUSE YOU GOT JESSE VOGEL, WHO LOST BY 1,600, 1,700 VOTES.

AND HE DIDN'T HAVE THE MACHINE BEHIND HIM.

HE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY BEHIND HIM, THE WAY THAT THINGS WERE GOING, HE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE ADVANTAGES.

IT DOES TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS WHO ARE OUT THERE WANTING CHANGE.

>> YOU COULD ARGUE THAT IT KIND OF WORKED.

I MEAN, IT WAS -- HE WASN'T THE ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE.

HE WAS ABLE TO RAISE MONEY.

HE RAN A VERY GOOD CAMPAIGN.

HE HAD GRASS ROOTS SUPPORT, AND HE ALMOST PULLED IT OFF.

>> AND HE ALMOST PULLED IT OFF.

AGAIN, IT'S OBVIOUS WHO HAS THE ENSIDE TRACK AND WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE INSIDE TRACK.

THE SUPPORT FROM THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF COUNCIL OR THE MAYOR OR THE CITY ATTORNEY.

AND YOU HAD THOSE ENDORSEMENTS.

AND IF YOU CAN GET A GOOD PART OF THE COMMUNITY OUT, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GET ELECTED.

AND I WANT TO ALSO MENTION ANOTHER THING THAT MY PARTY DOES IS ENDORSE PEOPLE IN PRIMARIES.

I'M SORRY.

MIKE, KIND OF, ALLUDED TO THAT, TOO.

THAT KIND OF GAMEMANSHIP IS NOT DEMOCRATIC.

>> THEY ENDORSED IN THIS RACE.

WHEN YOU'RE ENDORSED, YOU GET YOUR NAME ON THE SLATE CARD THAT PEOPLE CARRY INTO THE BOOTH.

THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR THE D OR R. DO YOU SEE AN OUTSIDER LIKE ZOHRAN MAMDANI WINNING HERE IN COLUMBUS?

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD PROPEL A TRUE OUTSIDER TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE?

>> I THINK IF THE CANDIDATE, IF THEY HAVE THE KIND OF PIZAZZ AND MESSAGE AND ENERGY AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE THAT HE DID, YEAH.

I THINK SOMEBODY LIKE THAT COULD TOTALLY CATCH FIRE.

>> I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN ANYONE WITH THE PRESENCE THAT HE HAD, THE CHARISMA, SINCE OBAMA.

>> IF THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO HAD THE BACKING OF SOME BIG MONEY INTEREST IN THE CITY, THAT WOULD MAKE IT A LOT EASIER.

THAT'S UNLIKELY BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, THE STANDARD ISSUES.

BUT STILL -- >> THE BIG MONEY IN COLUMBUS TENDS TO GO WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT RIGHT NOW, WITH THE DEVELOPERS AND CORPORATIONS.

>> EXACTLY.

> >> FOR ALL THE TALK ABOUT VOTER ANGER, ABOUT RISING SCHOOL AND PROPERTY TAXES, VOTERS APPROVED MOST OF THE TAX ISSUES IN CENTRAL OHIO.

HIGHER TAXES TO BUILD TWO SCHOOLS.

WESTERVILLE SCHOOLS VOTERS APPROVED HIGHER INCOME TAXES.

FRANKLIN COUNTY VOTERS APPROVED LEVIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THE COLUMBUS ZOO.

MOST TOWNSHIP LEVIES WON.

JONATHAN ALDER SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVY LOST BUT BY JUST A DOZEN VOTES.

AND THAT HEADS TO A RECOUNT.

WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN, VOTERS ARE REALLY MAD ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, BUT THEY ALL VOTED FOR TAX ISSUES.

>> THAT'S BECAUSE THEY LIKE GOOD SCHOOLS.

THEY KNOW THE TEACHERS OF THEIR KIDS AND THEY WANT THEM TO BE PAID APPROPRIATELY.

THEY LIKE HAVING A GOOD ZOO AND LIBRARIES.

THE LIBRARY MILLAGE IS STATE-WIDE BATTING .

900 ON TUESDAY.

PEOPLE LIKE TO HAVE GOOD GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

>> IS THAT IT, PROPERTY TAX DEBATE IS OVER NOW, JO?

>> OH, NO.

NO, NO, NO.

NO, IT'S NOT OVER.

YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

THE PROPERTY TAXES PEOPLE VOTE ON ARE FOR SERVICES CLOSEST TO THEM, THAT AFFECT THEIR LIFE IN THE CLOSEST WAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A SAY OVER.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING, YOU KNOW, INCOME TAX AT THE STATE LEVEL, PEOPLE SAY CUT THE TAXES, CUT THE TAXES, CUT THE TAXES.

BUT WHAT THEY DON'T WANT IS TO STATE SUPPORT COMING OUT OF THE THINGS THAT THEY LIKE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND SO WE SEE THAT OVER AND OVER.

AND NOW THERE'S A - - THERE'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT'S TRYING TO MAKE IT SO THAT IT'S HARDER FOR LIBRARIES TO BE ABLE TO GET TAXATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND, YOU KNOW, ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, PEOPLE WERE GOING GANG BUSTERS AGAINST THAT IDEA.

AND THE SPONSOR OF THAT PLAN IS FROM MY AREA.

>> AND ALSO IN THE PAST BECAUSE SOME OF THESE LEVIES HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED JUST IN RECENT MEMORY.

AND THE EFFECT HASN'T BEEN GOOD.

LIKE LAURA WAS SAYING, THE HIGH SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOLS, ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE LIKE MANY COMMUNITIES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND A LOT OF STUFF IS GOING ON, A LOT OF VISIBLE STUFF.

AND THE PARENTS WANT TO SUPPORT THAT.

>> BUT THEN WHEN THEY GET A TAX BILL, MIKE, THEY'RE UP IN ARMS.

I MEAN, HOW IS IT --WHERE'S THE DISCONNECT?

BECAUSE BETWEEN A VOTER -- I MEAN, A SCHOOL LEVY PASSES BY 10 OR 12 POINTS, BUT THEN LAWMAKERS HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN THAT DISTRICT OR THAT CITY OR THAT TOWNSHIP SAYING, I'M PAYING TOO MUCH IN PROPERTY TAXES.

>> WELL, I DON'T REALLY KNOW, BUT I SUGGEST --I THINK ONE OF THE REAL REASONS IS IF YOU JUST TAKE ANY SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY, ANY PRECINCT, AND YOU BREAK IT DOWN ECONOMICALLY MONEYWISE, AND THE RATES GO UP AND PEOPLE AT THE LOWER END OF THE INCOME SPECTRUM ARE REALLY BADLY HURT.

AND SENIORS.

SO, MANY SENIORS LIVING OFF LIMITED INCOME AND THE RATES KEEP GOING UP, UP, UP.

I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE IT'S HAPPENED, BUT I DON'T EVER REMEMBER BY PROPERTY TAXES DROPPING.

IT ONLY SEEMS TO GO ONE WAY.

AND SOME OF THE OLDER PEOPLE, LIMITED INCOME - -I MEAN, IT IS NOT JUST A YOU'RE UPSET BUT IT WILL PASS TOMORROW.

IT REALLY HURTS THEM.

SO, I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU GET A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT.

I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND IT.

>> I LIVED IN FLORIDA FOR MANY YEARS, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, ONE OF THE PHENOMENONS, OF THERE BECAUSE ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WERE LOTS AND LOTS OF RETIREES, MAYBE THERE STILL ARE, GOING DOWN TO FLORIDA, EXCEPT NOW A DIFFERENT BALANCE.

AND THEY WOULD ALWAYS VOTE AGAINST THE LEVIES.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME.

SO, THAT WAS THE DETRIMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT WASN'T GOOD.

>> SO, WESTERVILLE, THEY WENT A DIFFERENT ROUTE.

THEY VOTED TO INCREASE THE INCOME TAXES, AND RETIREE INCOME IS PRETTY MUCH EXEMPT FROM THIS FOR THE MOST PART.

DO YOU SEE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS GOING THIS WAY?

>> I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ALREADY HAVE AN INCOME TAX ON THE BOOKS.

BUT YEAH, IT'S A WAY OF SAYING, LOOK, WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS, BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT RETIREES ON FIXED INCOMES CAN'T AFFORD TO SEE THESE BIG INCREASES IN THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

>> IT WON 60-40.

DID PRETTY WELL.

>> PRETTY POPULAR.

> >> THE RECORD LONG FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES AS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS REMAIN DEADLOCKED IN WASHINGTON.

WITH EACH WEEK, MORE AND MORE AMERICANS FEEL THE EFFECTS.

RECIPIENTS OF S. N. A. P. BENEFITS MAY OR MAY NOT RECEIVE ALL OR SOME OF THE FOOD BENEFITS THEY WERE PLANNING ON.

AIR TRAVELLERS FACE FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS, AS THE FAA PLANS TO REDUCE AIR TRAFFIC AT 40 BUSY AIRPORTS BECAUSE OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER ABSENCES.

AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WE'RE STILL SHUTDOWN.

BUT OUR DISCLAIMER THERE.

BUT THE STATE IS TRYING TO HELP WITH THE S. N. A. P. BENEFITS, AND THEY DID MORE THIS WEEK ON THAT.

>> THEY DID.

THEY TOOK $7 MILLION.

THEY PUT IT TOWARD THE FOOD BANKS SO THE FOOD BANKS GET MORE HELP.

HONESTLY, THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING WHEN THEY CAN'T GET MONEY FROM THEIR EBT CARDS, THEY'RE TURNING TO THE FOOD BANKS WHEN THEY'RE NEEDING HELP, AND FOOD PANTRIES.

THE STATE IS STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GAP SOME OF THE MONEY PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING IN THEIR EBT CARDS FOR THE LOWEST INCOME PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THAT --THE SYSTEM IS VERY DIFFICULT, AND IT'S HARD TO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'VE GOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKING ONE DIRECTION, IT'S HARD TO GET THE STATE MOVING ANOTHER WAY.

AS LONG AS THIS GOES ON, I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING --THERE'S AN EFFORT TO TRY TO GAP SOME MONEY.

BUT WHO KNOWS HOW FAST THE MACHINE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK SO THEY CAN GET WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO DO THAT.

>> IT'S A LOGISTICS THING.

THEY HAVE MONEY IN THE RAINY DAY FUND.

WE HAVE AN UNCLAIMED FUNDS FUND THAT PAID FOR THE BROWN STADIUM OR A GOOD PORTION OF IT.

THE STATE HAS A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY.

>> YES.

BUT LIKE JO SAID, IT'S HARD TO UNRAVEL IT AND SEE IF YOU CAN APPLY IT TO THIS OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE AND, KIND OF, LIKE AN EMERGENCY MEASURE.

I THINK A LOT OF STATE OFFICIALS ARE JUST HOPING THAT IT WOULD GET RESOLVED AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS.

BUT NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH IT.

I THINK WHETHER OR NOT WE FEED POOR PEOPLE IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIKE A BASIC QUESTION.

AND I THINK THAT THE AIR TRAVEL, THE PINCH ON AIR TRAVEL IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT PRESSURE POINT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO MAKE AIR TRAVEL EVEN MORE OF A CATTLE CALL FLOG THAN IT NORMALLY IS.

>> THAT'S WHAT SOLVED THE LAST SHUTDOWN, MIKE.

AFTER 35 DAYS OR SO, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION -- THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AIR TRAFFIC WAS BEING AFFECTED AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A COMPROMISE AND THEY REOPENED THE GOVERNMENT.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN THIS TIME?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL BE THE CATALYST.

BUT CERTAINLY WE ALL KNOW, ANYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE HAS TO BE AN END TO THIS.

THE WAY IT HAPPENS, UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES, IS DIFFERENT.

I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW WHOSE FAULT IT IS, BUT I PUT A BLAME ON BOTH SIDES.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO REALIZE OR UNDERSTAND, WHAT'S AT STAKE, AS LAURA WAS SAYING, PEOPLE EATING AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, AND PREMIUMS AND ALL THAT, THAT THE TWO PARTIES CANNOT GET TOGETHER AND EACH GIVE A LITTLE BIT AND END THIS LOGJAM.

I THINK IT'S HURTING TOO MANY PEOPLE, BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO DO IT.

>> YOU HAVE TWO PARTIES THAT ARE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO AT LEAST ONE OF THE ISSUES.

AND THAT IS THE SUPPORT FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

AND IF ONE WANTS IT TO GO FORWARD AND THE OTHER WANTS TO COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DESTROY IT, AS THEY HAVE VOTED TO DO MANY TIMES, IT'S TOUGH TO NEGOTIATE.

>> HOW DOES THE ELECTION AFFECT THIS?

ARE DEMOCRATS MORE EMBOLDENED TO HOLD OUT, OR ARE REPUBLICANS MORE WILLING TO COMPROMISE BECAUSE THE RESULTS DIDN'T GO THEIR WAY?

>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GOT TO BE A LITTLE BIT EMBOLDENED BY THE RESULTS.

THEY'VE GOT TO BE THINKING, OKAY, LET'S KEEP HOLDING THE LINE.

LET'S HOLD OUT FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SUBSIDIES.

AND AGAIN, YOU HEAR SOMEBODY LIKE VIVEK RAMASWAMY SAYING, WE SHOULD FOCUS ON POCKETBOOK ISSUES.

THIS IS A POCKETBOOK ISSUE, HEALTH CARE.

THE SUBSIDIES ARE NOT EXTENDED.

THE COST OF HEALTH CARE IS GOING TO GO WAY UP.

>> THE OFFER ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW IS ONE-YEAR EXTENSION TO THE SUPPORT FOR THE INSURANCE IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR OPENING IT UP.

I THINK THEY WOULD SETTLE FOR SOMETHING LESS FOR 90 DAYS, FOR 180 DAYS.

>> WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN.

90 DAYS, ANOTHER SHUTDOWN.

> >> ANYWAY, TIME FOR OUR "OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS. "

>> I'M JUST ANXIOUSLY AWAITING WHAT THE U. S. SUPREME COURT WILL DO WITH THE TRUMP TARIFFS.

YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR BOTH SIDES, DIFFERENT VERSIONS.

BUT I THINK REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY RULE, IT'LL BE --WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME CHANGES MADE IN THE COUNTRY REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS.

AND I THINK IT WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT RULING.

AND THE SOONER WE GET A DECISION, THE BETTER.

>> JO?

>> IN SPITE OF SOME OF MY DISAPPOINTMENTS, I REMEMBER THE DAY, IT WAS AROUND JUNE, JULY OF 1959, WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT CUBA WOULD NO LONGER HAVE ELECTIONS, NOT IN THE WAY THAT WE COMMONLY UNDERSTAND IT.

SO, ANY TIME WE HAVE AN ELECTION, I CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT WE LIVE THE IN A DEMOCRACY.

AND A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT PREVAIL.

THEY HAVE BEEN SERVANTS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> SO, PAUL -- CHIEF OF STRATEGY FOR THE BROWNS, THE CLEVELAND BROWNS, AND HE'S LEAVING THAT POSITION TO GO OUT TO COLORADO.

AND I, ALONG WITH A LOT OF SPORTS WRITERS I'VE SEEN, WERE ALL WONDERING, DO THEY HAVE A STRATEGY?

BECAUSE WE NEVER REALIZED THAT THE BROWNS HAD A STRATEGY.

>> AND LAURA?

>> SO, WHEN I MOVED TO OHIO 30 YEARS AGO, CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY WAS IN DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS.

IT'S BACK IN DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS AGAIN.

THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORTS BY LAWMAKERS TO HELP THEM RIGHT THE SHIP, AND HOPEFUL THAT THEY DO BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY IN OHIO.

>> ONCE AGAIN THIS WEEK WITH THE LACK OF CAMERAS IN FEDERAL COURT ROBBED AMERICANS THE CHANCE TO SEE CRUCIAL JUDICIAL DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS.

OF COURSE THERE WAS A SUPREME COURT HEARING ON TRUMP'S TARIFFS.

BUT THERE WAS ALSO THE CASE OF SEAN CHARLES DUNN.

HE WAS ON TRIAL IN FEDERAL COURT, CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT FOR THROWING A SUBWAY SANDWICH AT A FEDERAL BORDER CONTROL AGENT.

WE MISSED THE OFFICER'S TESTIMONY THAT THE INCIDENT LEFT HIM SMELLING LIKE ONIONS AND MUSTARD, AND WE MISSED THE JURY'S VERDICT.

NOT GUILTY.

PLEASE, CAMERAS IN FEDERAL COURT.

THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK AND WATCH US ANY TIME ON YOUTUBE, OUR WEBSITE, AND OUR APP.

FROM OUR PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.