THE TEACHERS' STRIKE ENDS AND VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS SHUN PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

TECHNICALLY THE COLUMBUS TEACHERS STRIKE DOES NOT END UNTIL THE UNION RATIFIES THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT, BUT IT APPEARS THE LABOR DISPUTE HAS ENDED.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS BECAUSE CLASSROOM LEARNING WOULD BEGIN MONDAY.

THE CONCEPTUAL AGREEMENT CAME VERY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING AFTER A 12-HOUR BARGAINING SESSION ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE UNION REFUSED TO RELEASE DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT.

SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SIZE PAY RAISES TEACHERS WILL GET AND HOW THE CONTRACT ADDRESSES THINGS LIKE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, ART AND MUSIC PROGRAMS AS WELL AS CLASS SIZES.

DERRICK CLAY, IT'S REALLY HARD SINCE WE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS.

BUT WHAT DOES YOUR GUT TELL YOU?

>> I CAN TELL YOU WHO LOST IS THE KIDS.

THE KIDS LOST IN THIS.

THERE'S THIS OLD AFRICAN PROVERB THAT WHEN THE ELEPHANTS FIGHT IT'S THE GRASS THAT SUFFERS.

AND IN THIS INSTANCE IT'S THE KIDS THAT ARE SUFFERING.

WE WON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THIS NEW DEAL UNTIL IT'S RATIFIED.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET RATIFIED TONIGHT.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE WAY IT IS SOUNDING THROUGH THE MEDIA, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TEACHERS PREVAILED ON THIS ONE.

>> BOB CLEGG, I THINK THE SCHOOL BOARD PERHAPS DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE THE TEACHERS WOULD GO ON STRIKE.

THEY DID, BUT THEY SETTLED THE FIRST DAY.

>> I GOT TO AGREE WITH DERRICK THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE TEACHERS PROBABLY WILL MAKE OUT OKAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT.

I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT IT CAME TO A STRIKE BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE DISRUPTIONS WE'VE HAD BECAUSE OF COVID AND ALL THE SCHOOL DAYS THAT WERE MISSED, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED WHEN BOTH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE TEACHERS KEEP SAYING THE KIDS ARE OUR TOP PRIORITY.

WELL, WERE THEY REALLY THE TOP PRIORITY HERE?

I QUESTION WHETHER THEY REALLY TOOK INTO ACCOUNT, YOU KNOW, HAVING KIDS ONCE AGAIN MISSING DAYS OF SCHOOL.

>> YEAH, I HAD PREDICTED ON THIS SHOW THAT THEY WOULD REACH A DEAL BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THAT REASON, BECAUSE OF ALL THE DISRUPTION THAT THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE MAD.

AND, JO, THAT FIRST DAY WAS ROUGH.

ALL FIRST DAYS ARE ROUGH ANYWAY, BACK FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

BUT THE PORTAL DIDN'T WORK, THEY COULDN'T GET IT ONLINE, A LOT OF PARENTS SHOWED SOLIDARITY, THEY KEPT THEIR KIDS HOME VIRTUALLY.

>> YEAH.

I SAW ONE OF THE PARENTS INTERVIEWED I THINK OUT ON THE WEST SIDE, AND THEY ASKED THE PARENTS ABOUT THAT FIRST DAY.

AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TIRED, SHE GOES, I'M ON STRIKE TOO.

AND I THOUGHT THAT'S EVERY PARENT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, RIGHT?

BUT I THINK THEY'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF FRUSTRATED, THE PARENTS ARE FRUSTRATED, EVERYONE'S FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK MAYBE THAT PLAYED INTO THE STRIKE TOO BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TIRED.

>> AS A COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONAL, I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE STRATEGY OF THIS.

AND THE UNION WAS STRESSING HVAC SYSTEMS, SMALLER CLASS SIZES, GYM, TEACHING ARTS, MUSIC.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT PAY RAISES.

THAT WAS INTENTIONAL, I'M GUESSING.

>> OF COURSE IT WAS INTENTIONAL.

PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO BUILDING CONDITIONS.

PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO SMALLER CLASS SIZES.

BUT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT MORE MONEY, YOU KNOW, ANY TIME YOU WANT MORE MONEY WHEN YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR YOUR JOB, YOU'RE NOT GOING IN SAYING, HEY, I WANT MORE MONEY.

YOU START TALKING ABOUT THE INTANGIBLES FIRST.

AND THEN EASE INTO THE PAY RAISE.

I THINK THAT STRATEGY WAS USED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT'VE PREVAILED ON THIS ONE.

>> BOB, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT TOUCH STUDENTS CLASSES THAT ARE TOO HOT, TOO COLD, BUILDINGS IN POOR REPAIR, CLASS SIZES, THERE'S TOO MANY KIDS IN MY KID'S FIFTH GRADE CLASS.

>> YEAH.

THEY WERE SMART TO DO THAT.

BUT THE PROBLEM THEY GET IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT DOES COME OUT PUBLIC, WHICH I AM AMAZED THEY CAN KEEP THIS SECRET WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BUT SOMEHOW THEY ARE, BUT ONCE IT BECOMES PUBLIC, THEY KNOW A LOT OF THESE PARENTS OF THESE KIDS MAKE A LOT LESS THAN WHAT THESE TEACHERS MAKE.

AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS THE PROBLEM THERE JUST PRWISE OF IF THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, WE'RE NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY.

WHEN A LOT OF PARENTS ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT, A LOT OF TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO SAY, WAIT A SECOND, THAT LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD SALARY TO ME, AND THEY WANT MORE MONEY.

>> PERHAPS THAT'S WHY PART OF THE REASON CERTAINLY WHY THEY SCRAPPED THE PLANS TO PUT A SCHOOL LEVY ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

>> WE'VE GOT TO SEE THE DETAILS WHEN IT COMES OUT.

>> BOB, LABOR HAS TAKEN A LOT OF HITS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES.

BUT THE TEACHERS SEEM TO BE PRETTY -- WE DON'T KNOW YET -- BUT THEY SEEM TO BE VERY ENERGIZED, MOBILIZED, HAVE HAD A LOT OF BUSINESS AND PUBLIC SUPPORT.

WE'VE SEEN UNIONS POP UP AT STAR BUCKS AND AT AMAZON.

IS ORGANIZED LABOR SEEING A LITTLE MORE ENERGY LATELY?

>> YEAH.

I THINK WE HAD A PERIOD OF TIME LIKE, LET'S SAY, OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS WHEN THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS GONE DOWN, PUBLIC SECTOR WENT UP FOR UNION MEMBERSHIP.

I THINK THAT'S CHANGING A LITTLE BIT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING, I THINK, MORE ACTIVITY REALLY ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR SIDE.

AND THAT'S MORE, I THINK, THIS NEW ECONOMY THAT WE'RE IN, WHICH IS MORE VIRTUAL, MORE, YOU KNOW, INTERNET CONNECTED.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING LIKE AMAZON AND STARBUCKS.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS WE HAVE THESE COMPANIES THAT SPOUT VERY WOKE OR VERY LIBERAL LINES OF SPEECH, BUT THEN WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO THEIR OWN COMPANY LIKE STARBUCKS AND THEY'RE STARTING TO UNIONIZE, IT'S FUNNY HOW A LOT OF THESE UNIONIZED STORES ARE STARTING TO GET CLOSED DOWN NOW.

NOW THEY'RE CLAIMING IN SOME INSTANCES THAT, OH, IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT, IT'S ABOUT THE SAFETY IN THE AREA THAT THE STORES ARE IN.

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

BUT I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO SEE, YEAH, UNIONS ARE A GREAT IDEA UNTIL IT'S REALLY AFFECTING YOUR OWN COMPANY.

>> DERRICK, THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE, SO SUPPLY AND DEMAND, IF THERE IS A SHORT SUPPLY OF TEACHERS, THAT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM LEVERAGE.

PLUS THE UNION, DO YOU THINK THE UNIONS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND GET MORE FOR THEIR WORKERS?

>> UNIONS WILL DEFINITELY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, BUT THE GAME WAS REALLY CHANGED FOR EVERYBODY.

BECAUSE WHEN EVERYBODY WAS FORCED INTO A VIRTUAL SITUATION WHERE THEY HAD TO WORK FROM HOME AND THEY SAW THAT IT COULD WORK, NOW FOLKS ARE, YOU KNOW, TO JO'S POINT, IT MAKES IT EASIER WHEN YOU CAN HAVE A WORK/LIFE BALANCE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, WORK/LIFE BALANCE.

>> JO, DO YOU SEE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVING A LOT OF CALLS TO CHANGE HOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATES, MORE MONEY FOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE, FEWER ADMINISTRATORS?

DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE POINT WHERE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MIGHT CHANGE THE WAY IT OPERATES, OR DOES IT JUST GET THROUGH THIS AND MOVE ONTO THE NEXT ONE?

>> I CAN'T EVEN GUESS WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S GOING TO DO.

EVERY TIME I THINK IT'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING, IT DOES SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> I THINK THE ONLY WAY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL CHANGE IS IF THEY DO PUT A LEVY ON THE BALLOT.

AND I HEARD THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT NEXT YEAR.

IF IT GOES ON A BALLOT AND IT GOES DOWN, AND WHEN THEY'RE THEN FORCED TO CUT AND MAKE CHANGES, I THINK THEY FINALLY WILL.

BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WILL UNTIL THEY'RE FORCED TO.

>> FIRST, TIM RYAN STARTED RUNNING AWAY FROM THE LEFT WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HE SAID HE AGREES WITH TRUMP AND NOT OBAMA ON TRADE IN ONE AD.

IN ANOTHER AD HE STRINGS TOGETHER FOX NEWS HOSTS TOUTING HIM.

NOW ANOTHER LONGTIME DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF CONGRESS IS FOLLOWING THE STRATEGY.

JOE BIDEN'S LETTING OHIO'S SOLAR MANUFACTURERS BE SWALLOWED UP BY CHINA.

WORKING WITH ROB PORTMAN PROJECTING OUR JOB.

COMMUNIST CHINA'S NOT HAPPY, NEITHER THE EXTREMIST J.R. MAJEWSKI.

HE OPPOSES MARCY'S ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY PLANS.

MARCY FIGHTS FOR EVERY OHIO JOB.

MARCY KAPTUR, SHE DOESN'T WORK FOR JOE BIDEN, SHE WORKS FOR YOU.

>> DERRICK CLAY, THE TOLEDO NATIVE FACES A TOUGHER RE-ELECTION FIGHT THIS CYCLE.

HER NEW DISTRICT IS MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE THAN HER CURRENT DISTRICT, WHICH MAKES ALONG LAKE ERIE FROM TOLEDO TO CLEVELAND.

KAPTUR FACES REPUBLICAN J.R. MAJEWSKI IN THAT NOVEMBER ELECTION.

DERRICK CLAY, SHE'S BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE 1982.

DOES SHE RISK ANYTHING BY REALLY STIFF-ARMING THE PRESIDENT OF HER OWN PARTY?

>> SHE HAS TO DO THAT.

SHE HAS TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE WAY THAT DISTRICT IS WRITTEN OR DRAWN, THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF REPUBLICANS IN THAT DISTRICT, AND THIS IS A TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE THAT SHE'S RUNNING AGAINST.

SO SHE HAS TO SPEAK TO THE MODERATES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY PICK UP SOME VOTES FOR HER.

SHE'S GOING TO BE FINE WITH HER DEMOCRAT, SHE'S GOING TO BE FINE IN THE CITY OF TOLEDO.

BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RACES WHERE SHE HAS TO GO OUT AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE.

>> BOB CLEGG, J.R. MAJEWSKI IS A MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE TYPE CANDIDATE.

A LOT OF REPUBLICANS AFTER HE WON IN THE PRIMARY THOUGHT IT'S OVER, KAPTUR WINS THIS.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY CLOSE.

SHE'S RUNNING AN AD INDICATING THAT IT'S CLOSE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, SHE'D RUNNING AN AD IN A STATE WHERE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS AN APPROVAL RATING IN THE UPPER 20s.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S CALLED POLITICAL SURVIVAL, I FIND IT HILARIOUS THAT SHE'S RUNNING ADS AGAINST JOE BIDEN.

I FIND IT HILARIOUS THAT TIM RYAN IS THE TRUMP-ENDORSED CANDIDATE, IF YOU WATCHED HIS ADS.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK ABOUT IT.

TRUMP WON OHIO NOT ONCE BUT TWICE BY EIGHT POINTS, THE BIGGEST MARGIN SINCE 1988.

SO, I THINK THEY HAVE TO DO IT.

BUT I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS WHEN YOU LOOK AT BOTH OF THEM AND YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THEY VOTED IN CONGRESS THE LAST TWO YEARS.

99% OF AGREEMENT WITH JOE BIDEN AND HIS POLICIES.

>> BUT MARCY KAPTUR IS BASICALLY RUNNING IN A NEW DISTRICT.

SO THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT OF VOTER THERE'S WHO DON'T KNOW WHO SHE IS.

FOLKS LIKE US KNOW WHO THEY ARE BECAUSE WE'RE POLITICAL JUNKIES.

BUT SHE'S BASICALLY REINTRODUCING HERSELF FOR THE FIRST TIME TO THESE VOTERS.

>> AND J.R. MAJEWSKI IS DOING THE SAME THING.

THE DIFFERENCE IS MARCY KAPTUR HAS A LONG HISTORY THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE SHE STOOD ON VARIOUS ISSUES.

SO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO FIND OUT IF SHE REALLY DOES STAND WITH JOE BIDEN, JUST GO LOOK HAS SHE SIDED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN ON HIS MAJOR ISSUES?

THE THING IS THAT I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT JOE BIDEN IS BAD IN ALL CASES FOR HER BECAUSE WITH THE DEMOCRATS UP THERE, THERE ARE SOME THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, SOME DEMOCRATIC PROPOSALS BEING PASSED.

AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS THINKING THIS IS REALLY GOOD.

AND IF THEY GO LOOK AT HER RECORD AND SHE'S STANDING WITH JOE BIDEN, THAT'S NOT A NEGATIVE THING.

>> NOW, J.R. MAJEWSKI COULD RUN NEGATIVE ADS, POINTING OUT MARCY KAPTUR'S VOTING RECORD.

BUT HE DOESN'T PROBABLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.

DOES THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE PUMP A LOT OF MONEY INTO HIS CAMPAIGN, GIVEN HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE JANUARY 6th CAPITOL HILL RIOT?

HE DIDN'T GET CHARGED AT ALL, BUT HE WAS THERE.

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE POLL SAYS.

IF THE POLL IS CLOSED, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY DUMPED INTO THAT RACE.

BUT IF IT'S NOT CLOSE, THEN THEY WILL NOT WASTE TIME ON THAT RACE.

MARCY KAPTUR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STEADFAST ADVOCATE FOR NORTHWEST OHIO, NOT JUST THE CITY OF TOLEDO BUT FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST OHIO.

>> JOE BIDEN, THE DATE'S BEEN ANNOUNCED EARLY SEPTEMBER, THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE INTEL PLAN IN NEW ALBANY.

HE'S GOING TO BE THERE.

MIKE DeWINE WILL BE THERE.

WHO ELSE IS GOING TO BE THERE, BOB?

>> GOSH, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

IT'LL BE INTERESTING BECAUSE I'M WONDERING IF, YOU KNOW, DOES TIM RYAN COME, DOES MOILEY COME?

I DON'T THINK TIM RYAN WILL.

I THINK HE IS JUST SO WORRIED ABOUT JOE BIDEN BEING SO RADIOACTIVE HERE IN OHIO THAT HE'S JUST GOING TO STAY AS FAR AWAY AS HE CAN.

HE'S NEVER GOING TO MENTION HIM.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK FOR HIM.

I MEAN, I THINK IN THE END IT'S JUST GOING TO TOO MUCH.

HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PREVAIL.

>> I KIND OF THINK MAYBE TIM RYAN MIGHT.

AND THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT I THINK THEY'LL ALL BE THERE IS THEY WERE WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED.

IF YOU LOOK AT JANUARY WHEN THIS WAS ANNOUNCED, YOU SAW THE REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, ANYONE THAT THOUGHT THEY COULD GET SOME KIND OF CREDIT FOR IT, THEY WERE THERE.

BECAUSE IN THE END THIS PRODUCES JOBS, IT'S A HUGE DEAL, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT AMERICAN MANUFACTURING AND MAKING THOSE SEMI COMPUTER THINGS HERE AT HOME.

THE CHIPS.

AND YOU'RE MAKING THEM HERE AT HOME.

SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PLAYS WELL, AND IT PLAYS ALONG WITH WHAT TIM RYAN'S BEEN SAYING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> BETTER GET HIS PICTURE TAKEN SHAKING HANDS WITH JOE BIDEN.

IT'LL BE USED IN ADS.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH JOE BIDEN AT THIS EVENT.

BUT THIS EVENT IS REALLY NOT ABOUT JOE BIDEN.

IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF OHIO AND THIS STATE WINNING ECONOMICALLY.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

SO I THINK THAT YOU WILL SEE TIM RYAN THERE, AND I THINK THAT HE WILL UTILIZE THAT TO CATAPULT HIS MESSAGE OF, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF THE OHIO WORKER.

BECAUSE HE IS THE AMERICA-FIRST CANDIDATE.

[ laughter ] >> NO, HE'S NOT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OUR NEXT TOPIC.

ONE ISSUE ON WHICH CENTRIST DEMOCRATS DIFFER WITH THEIR PRESIDENT IS STUDENT DEBT FORGIVENESS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ORDER TO FORGIVE UP TO $20,000 IN COLLEGE DEBT LIKELY PLEASED THE 1.8 MILLION OHIOANS WHO HAVE SCHOOL LOANS.

IT ANGERED OTHERS WHO FEEL IT FAVORS ONLY THOSE WHO GO TO COLLEGE.

TIM RYAN SAID WAVING STUDENT DEBT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO OHIOANS WITHOUT A DEGREE WORKING JUST AS HARD TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

JD VANCE SAYS SOMETHING SIMILAR, CALLING IT A BAILOUT FOR THOSE LEAST IN NEED.

THIS REALLY IS A TRICKY POLITICAL ISSUE, BUT IT DOES AFFECT A LOT OF OHIOANS.

>> IT DOES AFFECT A LOT OF OHIOANS, AND IT AFFECTS A LOT OF THE YOUNGER VOTERS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN PARTICULARLY ENGAGED, SO THERE'S A NEW VOTING POPULATION RIGHT THERE.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THE PROBLEM IS THE WAY THAT WE FINANCE STUDENT AID IN THIS COUNTRY AND OUR SCHOOLS ANYMORE, IT'S GOTTEN OUT OF HAND IN A LOT OF CASES.

AND A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS ARE COMING OUT WITH HUGE DEBTS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHO HAS THAT DEBT, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE FIRST-TIME COLLEGEGOERS.

THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE MINORITIES AND PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DIDN'T HAVE WELL-HEELED PARENTS WHO HAD SAVINGS TO HELP THEM GO THROUGH.

THE THING THAT THIS IS HELPING PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED IT, I SPOKE WITH A GIRL WHO SAID THAT SHE OFTEN FOUND HERSELF IN THE SITUATION OF CHOOSING BETWEEN PAYING THE RENT AND EATING OR MAKING HER STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT.

SO THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO TRULY THIS IS A BIG THING FOR THEM.

>> WOULD REPUBLICANS OPPOSE THIS FOR THE MOST PART?

BOB, WOULD THEY HAVE AGREED TO THIS HAD IT INCLUDED PROVISIONS TO TRY TO FIX THE SYSTEM, TO TRY TO REIGN IN COLLEGE TUITION?

>> I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BETTER OF IT.

I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BETTER OF IT IF IT WAS FINANCED SOMEHOW, WHICH IT ISN'T.

AND I THINK THAT'S A VALID POINT.

THIS FORGIVES THE LOANS ARE PARTS OF THE LOANS.

SOME PEOPLE ALL OF THEIR LOANS.

BUT IT DOES NOTHING TO STOP THE RISE IN COST OF COLLEGE.

AND THE PRESIDENT KIND OF MENTIONED IT AND ADDRESSED IT BUT DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT.

AND I'M SURE TIM RYAN'S CAMPAIGN PULLED THIS WHOLE ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN PERCOLATING FOR A WHILE.

I'M SURE THE NUMBERS CAME BACK IN SUCH A WAY THAT HE HAD TO SAY WHAT HE HAD TO SAY NOW.

THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH WHAT HE SAID IS IT COMPLETELY GOES AGAINST WHAT HE SAID PREVIOUSLY, LIKE TWO YEARS AGO ABOUT COLLEGE FORGIVENESS, LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM.

>> HE SAID THE LOAN FORGIVENESS WAS ONE THING, BUT HE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS WHO DIDN'T GO TO COLLEGE GOT A SIMILAR BENEFIT OR MAKE SURE THEY WERE IN THE EQUATION.

$20,000 OR $10,000 DEPENDING ON THE INCOME LEVEL, THAT'S WHAT BIDEN HAS PROPOSED.

OTHERS WANTED COMPLETE FORGIVENESS, OTHERS WANTED 50,000, 1 HUNDRED THOUSAND.

WAS THIS A GOOD COMPROMISE?

>> OHIO RANKS SECOND IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF WHO OR THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT LOANS I THINK THE AVERAGE RIGHT AROUND $35,000.

SO, IT'S A GOOD THING, BUT POLITICALLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT GETS THE PRESIDENT, TO BE QUITE HONEST.

I MEAN, YOU GET THOSE FOLKS THAT SAY, OKAY, TAXPAYERS HAD TO BAIL THEM OUT, BAIL THESE STUDENTS OUT.

AND THE FOLKS THAT GOT THEIR LOANS FORGIVEN, THEY REMEMBER IT.

BUT HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE INTO VOTES, HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE INTO APPROVAL RATING NUMBERS GOING UP?

WHO KNOWS.

>> IF BIDEN WAS ON THE BALLOT, YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS MIGHT HELP HIM IN NOVEMBER.

BUT THE 25-YEAR-OLD WHO JUST GOT HER LOAN FORGIVEN, IS HE OR SHE GOING TO COME OUT AND VOTE FOR THEIR CONGRESSPERSON OR THEIR SENATOR?

>> I THINK THEY'D HAVE A REASON TO.

THIS DOES GIVE THEM A REASON TO GO VOTE.

SO MANY TIMES YOU GET -- REMEMBER WHEN EVERYONE GOT THE TAX CUTS AND EVERYTHING?

PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THEY GOT THEM BECAUSE IT WAS SO NEGLIG DINK BLE.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

>> GOING TO COLLEGE NEXT YEAR FOR A COLLEGE SENIOR, WHAT DO I GET?

>> NOTHING.

[ laughter ] >> IN I'M A PERSON WHO JUST WROTE THE LAST CHECK FOR MY STUDENT LOANS, I GET NOTHING.

>> BUT THAT'S JUST IT.

IF YOU'RE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS, ARE YOU GOING TO THINK, OH, EVENTUALLY PART IF NOT ALL OF IT'S GOING TO BE FORGIVEN.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE OUR GOVERNMENT IS SENDING TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THIS.

>> IS THAT A LEGITIMATE ARGUMENT?

>> IT IS LEGITIMATE.

NOW, SOMEBODY THAT PAID HIS STUDENT LOANS BACK, YOU KNOW, I WISH IT WAS GRANDFATHERED.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT IT IS, RIGHT?

[ laughter ] BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE IT SENDS.

I THINK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT IT'S BENEFITTING, IT SENDS A GREAT MESSAGE.

LISTEN, I WENT TO SCHOOL, THE GOVERNMENT DID SOMETHING FOR ME.

AND SO IT'S GREAT.

MOVING DOWN THE ROAD, I DO THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE FOR STUDENTS MOVING FORWARD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET TO OUR LAST TOPIC.

TOUGHER GUN REGULATIONS ARE BACK BEFORE STATE LAWMAKERS, AND A REPUBLICAN IS PUSHING THEM.

STATE SENATOR MATT DOLAN'S BILL WOULD ALLOW JUDGES TO TAKE GUNS AWAY FROM PEOPLE UNDERGOING COURT-ORDERED MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

IT WOULD EXPAND BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR BUYERS UNDER AGE 21.

IT WOULD ALSO USE FEDERAL COVID RECOVERY MONEY TO PAY FOR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

BOB CLEGG, THIS IS A PRETTY MODEST PROPOSAL.

I MEAN, BASICALLY ADVANCED BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR THREE YEARS, 18-YEAR-OLDS, 19-YEAR-OLDS AND 20-YEAR-OLDS.

YOU HAVE TO BE UNDER A COURT-ORDERED PROGRAM TO HAVE YOUR GUN TAKEN AWAY.

DOES THIS HAVE A CHANCE OF PASSING IN THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE?

>> MAYBE, MAYBE IT DOES.

I APPLAUD SENATOR DOLAN FOR TRYING TO TACKLE THE HARDEST PART OF ALL OF THIS.

WHICH I'VE ALWAYS SAID IT'S THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT.

AND IT'S THE ONE PART THAT GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHY BECAUSE IT'S THE TOUGHEST PART.

I MEAN, IT'S VERY EASY TO PASS LEGISLATION TO BAN GUNS.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT EASY, BUT IT'S EASY TO PROPOSE THAT.

BECAUSE THESE KINDS OF GUNS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

BUT THE REAL CRUX OF THE MATTER IN ALL THESE AWFUL INSTANCES THAT WE'VE HAD IS THE PERSON INVOLVED IS MENTALLY ILL. AND WE HAVE TO SOMEHOW TRY TO HANDLE THAT OR TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT.

AND I THINK SENATOR DOLAN IS TAKING A GOOD FIRST STEP.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S NOT THE ONLY STEP BUT A GOOD FIRST STEP TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

>> IT'S REALLY HARD EVEN WITH THIS PROPOSAL, THE SO-CALLED RED FLAG PROVISION IN THIS PROPOSAL.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF HURDLES TO OVERCOME.

IT'S NOT IMMEDIATE.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PREVENT IS A RASH INSTANT DECISION TO USE A GUN TO HARM YOURSELF OR HARM SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> SURE.

WELL, THANK GOD SOMEBODY ON THE GOP SIDE IS DOING SOMETHING AROUND GUN LEGISLATION AND RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY WITH GUNS.

AND I THINK IF YOU REALLY DID A POLL, MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO -- THEY DON'T WANT THE RIGHT OF THEIR GUN BEING TAKEN AWAY.

BUT PEOPLE WANT RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP.

AND PART OF THAT IS BACKGROUND CHECKS, DOING THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT SENATOR DOLAN IS DOING.

AND IN A STATE WHERE WE'VE HAD GUN VIOLENCE, MAJOR GUN VIOLENCE LIKE THE DAYTON SHOOTING AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THAT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'VE MADE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO CARRY GUNS AND CONCEAL THEM.

>> MATT DOLAN AFTER THAT DAYTON SHOOTING WAS THE PERSON WHO PROPOSED.

HE ACTUALLY CARRIED GOVERNOR DeWINE'S "STRONG OHIO," WHICH HAD MODEST BUT MORE STRICT REGULATIONS THAN THIS ONE HAS.

>> AND THAT WENT NOWHERE.

AND WHEN GOVERNOR DeWINE PROPOSED THAT, HE SAID I THINK THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR THE OTHER WAY BEING PERMISSIVE WITH GUNS AND I REALLY WANT THIS TO GET A STRONG LOOK BEFORE I SIGN ANY MORE GUN LEGISLATION.

AND THE FOLLOWING LAW HE SIGNS MORE GUN LEGISLATION INTO LAW.

SO THE WILL OF THE LEGISLATURE SO FAR HAS BEEN TOWARD MAKING GUNS MORE AVAILABLE AND NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT WOULD POSSIBLY INFRINGE ON THE RIGHT TO HAVE A GUN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS CAN GET THROUGH.

IF IT DOES, I'M SURE GOVERNOR DeWINE WILL WANT TO HELP TAKE CREDIT FOR IT BECAUSE THESE ARE SOME OF HIS PLANS.

>> DOES THIS EVER GET ON THE BALLOT?

WE TALK ABOUT ABORTION RESTRICTIONS MAY GET ON THE BALLOT AT SOME POINT HERE IN OHIO.

DOES GUN CONTROL EVER GET ON THE BALLOT, DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT GETS ON FROM THE CONSERVATIVE PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT GETS ON IF THE STATE STARTS, IF IT LOOKS LIKE THE STATE IS STARTING TO COME IN AND REGULATE MORE AND MORE.

I COULD SEE GUN RIGHTS PEOPLE WANTING TO GET SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT TO RE-ESTABLISH THAT.

BUT THAT'S ON THAT SIDE OF IT.

>> FROM THE GUN CONTROL SIDE, DERRICK, ANY CHANCE OF AN ORGANIZATION CROPPING UP TO PUT REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS, SO-CALLED, ON THE BALLOT?

>> IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE, WHAT MORE WE CAN DO ON THE RIGHT SIDE OR THE GOP SIDE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET GUNS IN THE STATE.

BUT THERE COULD BE AN INITIATIVE THAT'S PUSHED BY SOME GUN RIGHTS GROUPS.

>> AND IT WOULD BE AN ODD CAMPAIGN, IT'D BE MONEY ON BOTH SIDES, AT LEAST ON ONE SIDE.

>> AND I THINK THE OTHER SIDE WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF CASH.

BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS WHAT DOES THAT REALLY ACCOMPLISH?

IF THE VOTERS SAY THEY WANT SOMETHING AND IT GOES INTO LAW, WHAT DOES THAT REALLY ACCOMPLISH?

WE JUST WENT THROUGH REDISTRICTING WHERE THERE WAS A REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL THAT IT WASN'T FOLLOWED BY THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN, AND THAT'S THE LAW.

SO DOES THAT REALLY ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING IF YOU HAVE A GUN LAW THAT VOTERS APPROVE?

>> WE'LL SEE.

>> ANYWAY, OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

>> GALLUP DID THEIR POLL ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE.

IT SHOWS ALMOST 50% OF AMERICANS ARE EITHER STRUGGLING OR SUFFERING IN THEIR LIVES.

AND THAT EXPLAINS WHY THE WRONG TRACK RIGHT TRACK HERE IN THE UNITED STATES IS OVER 70% WRONG TRACK.

>> DERRICK?

>> CHIPS ACT HAS BEEN SIGNED.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL BE IN TOWN SEPTEMBER 9th FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR A PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO TRANSFORM NOT ONLY CENTRAL OHIO BUT THE STATE OF OHIO.

>> CHARTER SCHOOLS THIS WEEK PUT UP BILLBOARDS AND THEY WERE DOING ADS TO TRY TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO COME INTO THOSE SCHOOLS.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE COLUMBUS TEACHERS STRIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MEANT, AND I'D LOVE TO KNOW THAT.

BUT I ALSO THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THIS EVERY TIME THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FAIL ON SOMETHING, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE CHARTER SCHOOLS COME OUT AND SAY I TOLD YOU SO.

>> NEXT WEEK ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD," IT'LL BE A "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" SPECIAL.

IT'LL BE MY CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST MICHAEL TOMASKY.

HE HAS WRITTEN A BOOK "IF YOU CAN KEEP IT," ABOUT THE STRUGGLING DEMOCRACY AND THE LONG, LONG HISTORY OF AMERICAN POLARIZATION.

CHECK IT OUT NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

THAT WILL DO IT FOR THIS WEEK'S SHOW.

PLEASE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK.

YOU CAN WATCH EACH EPISODE ANY TIME ON YOUR TIME AT WOSU.ORG OR THROUGH THE PBS VIDEO APP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

AND FROM OUR CREW, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.