>>> DONALD TRUMP MAKES HIS CHOICE.

MAYBE.

>>> JOINING US FOR "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, LAURA BISCHOFF, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE USA TODAY OHIO NETWORK.

HERB ASHER, OSU POLITICAL SCIENTIST.

AND MARK WEAVER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

>>> FOR MONTHS, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR SENATE HAVE BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON ONE MAN AND HIS ARDENT SUPPORTERS.

IN A TIGHT CROWDED RACE, HIS ENDORSEMENT COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE, AND ALL BUT ONE OF THE FIVE REMAINING CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN DOING THEIR BEST TO WIN HIS FAVOR.

NOW REPORTS SAY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS MADE HIS CHOICE.

NBC WAS FIRST TO REPORT TRUMP IS READY TO ENDORSE BUSINESSMAN AND AUTHOR JD VANCE.

JD VANCE, THE MAN WHO ONCE CALLED TRUMP AN IDIOT AND REPREHENSIBLE, BUT NOW SUPPORTS THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

OTHER CANDIDATES ARE NOT HAPPY.

THEY REPORTEDLY ARE PLEADING WITH TRUMP TO HOLD OFF AN ENDORSEMENT.

THE A. P. REPORTS A GROUP OF OHIO REPUBLICANS HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER PLEADING WITH TRUMP TO STAY NEUTRAL.

THIS IS A BIT OF A SURPRISE.

THE RACE IS VERY TIGHT.

ONLY ONE POLL, AN INTERNAL POLL, SHOWS JAMIE VANCE IN THAT TOP GROUP.

HE DIDN'T SAY TRUMP WAS GOING TO ENDORSE UNLESS THERE WAS A CLEAR FAVORITE.

>> ACTUALLY, THERE IS A NEW POLL OUT RELEASED BY TRAFALGAR GROUP BETWEEN VANCE AND THE FORMER STATE TREASURER, AND IN THE MID-20S, AND GIBBONS, MORE IN THE TEENS.

AND THERE'S LIKE 13% OF VOTES THAT ARE UNDECIDED.

BUT HE THINKS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HOLDS ENORMOUS SWAY IN THESE RACES, AND AN ENDORSEMENT WOULD HELP CONVINCE THE UNDECIDED TO GO WITH HIS PICK.

SO THIS IS, IF IT HASN'T, THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO PAN OUT FOR VANCE, IT WOULD BE A BIG DEVELOPMENT.

>> MARK WEAVER, WOULD THAT PUSH VANCE OVER THE TOP?

AND WITH THE REPORT, EVEN WITH TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT, THAT VANCE DOESN'T DO THAT WELL, WOULD NOT WIN, IN THE PRIMARY?

>> THIS CLEARLY HELPS JD VANCE, BUT IT IS A LATE ENDORSEMENT, AND LATE ENDORSEMENTS ARE LESS EFFECTIVE.

SOME NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS HAVE ALREADY CAST THEIR BALLOT IN EARLY VOTING.

SOME HAVE ALREADY LINED UP AND FOUND A CANDIDATE THAT THEY LIKE AND IT MAY BE HARD TO PEEL THEM AWAY, AND SOME OF THEM MAY HAVE TAKEN A LIKING TO ONE CANDIDATE OR ANOTHER AND DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT MIGHT NOT HAVE THE EFFECT IT WOULD HAVE, IF IT HAD BEEN SIX OR EIGHT WEEKS AGO.

HAVING SAID THAT, IT IS STILL A BIG PLUS.

>> HERB ASHER, IS JAMIE VANCE THE MOST FORMED ANNUAL REPUBLICANS IN NOVEMBER AGAINST TIM, ASSUMING HE GETS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION, HE IS HEAVILY FAVORED.

AND BETTER KNOWN STATEWIDE, WITH SOME MOMENTS DURING THE PRIMARY.

DROPPED OUT ANOTHER TIME.

>> WELL, I THINK THE PRIMARY HAS NOT ENHANCED THE REPUTATION OF A NUMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, AND I THINK THE PRIMARY HAS DONE LESS DAMAGE TO JD VANCE, SO IN THAT SENSE, HE MIGHT BE A STRONGER CANDIDATE.

JOSH HAS CERTAINLY HAD THE CONTROVERSY, SURROUNDING A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS, BUT AS LAURA SAID, THE TRAFALGAR HAS MANDELL AHEAD OF VANCE BY ABOUT FIVE POINTS AND OTHER POLLS DON'T HAVE VANCE THAT CLOSE.

SO I WOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THAT IF TRUMP DOESN'T ENDORSE HIM, THEN HE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CANDIDATE WHO IS WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE, AND THEN WHEN AND IF THAT CANDIDATE WINS, WITH THE ENDORSEMENT, HE CAN CLAIM HE WAS VERY, VERY INFLUENTIAL.

SO IF JD VANCE IS THAT CLOSE, THEN I THINK THE ENDORSEMENT COULD PUT HIM OVER THE TOP.

BUT NOT ALL OF THE POLLS AGREE THAT HE REALLY IS THAT CLOSE.

SO IT IS AN INTERESTING -- YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS HAVE ENJOYED SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON IN THIS PRIMARY, AND WILL BE HAPPY TO HAVE IT CONTINUE FOR A WHILE, BUT A CANDIDATE IS VERY UPSET, INVESTING SO MUCH OF HIS OWN MONEY, AND A LOYAL TRUMP SUPPORTER FOR A LONG TIME.

>> LAURA BISCHOFF, WHAT DO THE OTHER CANDIDATE DOES HERE, IF DONALD TRUMP DOES INDEED, HE'S GOT THE RALLY PLANNED IN DELAWARE, AT THE DELAWARE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS ON APRIL 23rd, NOT TOO FAR AWAY, IF HE DOES ENDORSE JD VANCE, DO THE OTHER CANDIDATES SHOW UP?

DO THEY ATTACK THE PRESIDENT?

DO THEY SAY I DISAGREE, BUT I STILL SUPPORT HIM?

HOW DO THEY PLAY THIS?

>> SO, I'M NOT SURE, AS MARK SAID, THIS IS A LATE ENDORSEMENT, AND I THINK THAT SO MANY OF THEM, OTHER THAN DOLAN, HAVE BEEN REALLY SEEKING THE PRESIDENT'S ENDORSEMENT.

AND I DON'T SEE THEM ATTACKING THE PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY NOT.

AS FAR AS WHAT, WHETHER OR NOT THEY GO TO THE RALLY, OR YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO SAY THAT THEY'RE THE TRUMP CANDIDATE, THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION.

>> AND IF THEY SHOW UP, AND OF COURSE, WE'RE STILL WONDERING IF GOVERNOR DEWINE WILL APPEAR AT THE RALLY, AND HE IS THE LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE IN OHIO.

LAURA, USING PRESIDENT GRANT, THE LATE FORMER PRESIDENT GRANT AS A POPULAR REASON WHY HE CAN'T ATTEND.

>> HE CONFLICTS WITH SOME EVENTS SURROUNDS THE FORMER PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT.

AND CELEBRATING THE GRANT BIRTHDAY.

>> YOU ARE A BIG FAN OF ULYSSES S. GRANT, MARK, IS THAT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO MISS, THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO HAS AN 80% OF APPROVAL AMONG REPUBLICANS IN YOUR STATE, WOULD YOU WIN A PRIMARY?

>> YOU HAVE A GOOD MEMORY.

JUST BECAUSE I HAVE READ THE BIOS, DOESN'T MEAN I'M A BIG FAN, I'M A FAN, AND I'M A FAN OF MIKE DEWINE, HE IS A CAREFUL POLITICIAN, HE KNOWS HE WOULD NOT BE WELL RECEIVED AT THAT RALLY EVEN THOUGH I DON'T THINK DONALD TRUMP WOULD CALL HIM UP BECAUSE HE AND DONALD TRUMP HAVE KIND OF A DETANTE BETWEEN THEM BUT A LOT OF VOTERS MIGHT BE MAD WITH MIKE DEWINE, AND MIKE DEWINE WILL SUPPORTING MY FAVORITE OHIO PRESIDENT ULYSSES GRANT.

>> AND DEWINE IS ENDORSING HIM, BECAUSE IT SHOWS IN THE POLLS.

TRUMP OVERSHADOWED A CANDIDATE, MIKE GIBBONS.

THE TRUMP DRAMA HAS OVERSHADOWED A CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT MADE BY SENATE CANDIDATE MIKE GIBBONS.

IT CAME DURING AN OLDER INTERVIEW THAT SURFACED THIS WEEK.

IN A SEPTEMBER INTERVIEW FOR THE CRAINS CLEVELAND BUSINESS PODCAST, GIBBONS SAID THE MIDDLE CLASS IS NOT PAYING ENOUGH IN TAXES.

>> THE TOP 20% OF EARNERS IN THE UNITED STATES PAY 82% OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX, AND IF YOU DO THE MATH, AND 45 TO 50% DON'T PAY ANY INCOME TAX, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MIDDLE CLASS IS NOT PAYING ANY KIND OF FAIR SHARE DEPENDING ON HOW YOU WANT TO DEFINE IT.

NOW THE PROBLEM IS YOU NEED THE MIDDLE CLASS TO WIN AN ELECTION, SO THE NARRATIVE IS THE MIDDLE CLASS IS GETTING SCREWED AND THE WEALTHY, THE ELITE, ARE CHEATING EVERYBODY AND GETTING BY UNFAIRLY.

HOW MUCH OF THE TOTAL TAX BILL CAN A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE NATION PAY AND STILL BE A DEMOCRACY?

>> WHILE ACCURATE, GIBBONS FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE TOP 20% OF AMERICANS EARN 52% OF ALL AMERICA'S INCOME.

AND HE'S ONLY TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL INCOME TAXES, NOT THE MANY OTHER TAXES WE ALL PAY.

GIBBONS IS FACTUALLY CORRECT, THE RICH PAY A LARGER PORTION OF THE TAXES.

MANY ARGUE IT IS BECAUSE THEY MAKE A LARGER PORTION OF THE MONEY.

BUT IT'S STILL TRUE.

BUT HE SAYS IT'S THE MIDDLE CLASS, WHO IS NOT PAYING ITS FAIR SHARE.

THAT'S NOT HOW YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT, CORRECT, AS A POLITICIAN?

>> YEAH, NO, THERE IS A GRADUATE COURSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON FOR MANY YEARS AND DO YOU THE POLLING SEGMENT AND HOW YOU POLL A QUESTION, HOW YOU CHECK THE WORDING MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU ASK PEOPLE, DO YOU THINK THE MIDDLE CLASS NEEDS A TAX INCREASE, YOU'LL GET 70 TO 80% WHO SAY NO.

IF YOU TELL THEM THAT LAST YEAR, 60% OF AMERICANS PAID ZERO FEDERAL INCOME TAX, AND SHOULD EVERY AMERICAN PAY SOME FORM OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX, YOU'D GET 60 OR 70% OF PEOPLE SAYING YES.

SO IT DEPENDS HOW YOU WORD IT.

THE LARGER QUESTION HERE IS THAT MIKE GIBBONS IS KINDS OF SHOWING HE'S NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME.

AND THE WAY YOU HEAR HIM TALKING THERE IS MORE THE WAY OPERATIVES TALK TO ONE ANOTHER IN POLLING MEETINGS, CANDIDATES SHOULD NOT BE SPEAKING LIKE THIS.

AND HAD HE COME UP THROUGH THE RANKS LIKE SO MANY CANDIDATE DOES RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL, AND THEN STATE REP, AND THEN MAYBE CONGRESS, HE'D PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SMOOTHED OFF THESE ROUGH EDGES.

BUT WE'RE SEEING HERE, WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS MAKING SOME FLUBS ON A VERY BIG STAGE.

>> TO SAY A GAFFE IS A TRUE FACT, AND HERB ASHER, TO THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, JUST SLIGHTLY LESS THAN HALF OF AMERICANS PAY NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX, THEY PAY OTHER TAXES BUT NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX, BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE ENOUGH TO QUALIFY.

BUT ARE DEMOCRATS BEING DISINGENUOUS BY SAYING WE CAN HAVE FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, FREE DAY CARE, WE CAN HAVE GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE, BUT WE STILL ARE GOING TO ONLY TAX THE RICH.

IT DOESN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY, DOES IT?

THE MATH DOESN'T WORK.

>> SOME DEMOCRATS ARE BEING DISINGENUOUS, AND I THINK THE VERY LIBERAL AND THE VERY PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE PARTY, THEY HAVE MORE OF A CHALLENGE TO MAKE THE ARITHMETIC WORK.

BUT AS MARK WAS SAYING, I THINK IN GIBBONS' SPACE, THIS IS A PERSON WHO, ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, INCLUDING WHETHER WOMEN WERE REPRESSED, ABOUT VOTING, YOU KNOW, FEMALE VOTING, THAT SORT OF THING, TAXES, HE REALLY IS IN HIS OWN WORLD, AND THE WORLD IS NOT ONE THAT HAS BEEN SHAPED BY A LOT OF EXPERIENCES THAT I THINK MARK WAS SUGGESTING HAD HE GONE UP THROUGH THE RANKS, HE'D BE MORE SENSITIVE TO HIS COMMENTS.

SO BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK GOING BACK TO THE DEMOCRATS, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD.

SOME PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR ELIMINATING OR, YOU KNOW, ALL COLLEGE DEBT.

I ACTUALLY GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM A CANDIDATE, A LIBERAL CANDIDATE, FROM NEW JERSEY, SAYING, IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS THAT WHEN SHE WAS IN COLLEGE, IN LIEU, IN LAW SCHOOL, SHE ACCUMULATED $500,000 IN DEBT AND I STARTED LAUGHING, SHOULD I RESPOND TO HER AND SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE AN IDIOT, DON'T TELL ME THIS, YOU'RE NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME YOURSELF.

SO, BUT IT IS GOING BACKS TO THE GIBBONS POINT.

I THINK THAT IS A GAFFE.

>> THE REDISTRICTING DRAMA CONTINUES.

MAY IS AROUND THE CORNER AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE DISTRICT MAPS FOR STATE HOUSE AND SENATE DISTRICTS.

THE OHIO SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK CALLED STRIKE FOUR ON THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION FOR THEIR FOURTH ATTEMPT TO DRAW FAIR DISTRICTS.

THE COURT ONCE AGAIN SAID THE MAPS UNCONSTITUTIONAL FAVOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

THE COMMISSION HAS A NEW DEADLINE, MAY 6th, TO ADOPT ANOTHER SET OF MAPS.

HERB ASHER, TRIED FOUR TIMES.

WILL THE FIFTH TIME BE THE CHARM?

>> YES.

I THINK THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE REDISTRICTS COMMISSION WILL SAY, WE'VE DONE OUR BEST, IT'S TIME NOW TO SETTLE FOR SOMETHING, THAT WILL STILL GIVE US A VERY HEALTHY MAJORITY IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND I SAID THIS BEFORE, THAT IF IN FACT, THEY COME UP WITH A PLAN WHICH ON PAPER LOOKS LIKE IT IS 64/45, 65/44 ON PAPER OF THE GOP, WHEN THE ACTUAL ELECTION WILL TELL, REPUBLICANS WILL WIN MORE THAN THAT SHARE OF SEATS BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY RUN BETTER CAMPAIGNS, THEY HAVE BETTER FUNDRAISING, THEY HAVE CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT THAT'S SUPERIOR TO THE DEMOCRATS, SO THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, SO LET'S JUST GET PAST THIS ALREADY, AND REMEMBER, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, MIKE, WHEN THEY SUBMITTED THAT FIRST PLAN, A COUPLE OF THEM, REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE REDISTRICTING CONDITION SAID, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK HERE AGAIN, AND THE COURT IS NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THIS.

THEY KNEW IT FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> LAURA BISCHOFF, DO YOU THINK THEY WILL, THIS IS IN THE COURT THIS TIME, AND USE THAT INDEPENDENT MEDIATOR, AND THOSE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS THAT THEY TRIED TO USE LAST TIME, AND IN THE END, JUST DID IT THEIR OWN WAY?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY UNCLEAR.

WE ALSO ARE TAKING A LOOK AT APRIL 20th, ON WEDNESDAY, IT IS THE DROP DEAD DATE, ACCORDING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, REGARDING AN ORDER FOR THE AUGUST 2nd PRIMARY AND IT IS ALSO THE DATE THAT THE FEDERAL PRE-JUDGE PANEL IS SET TO -- THREE-JUDGE PANEL IS SET TO WEIGH IN ON THIS, SO THE HIGHER SUPREME COURT KIND OF CAUTIONS THE FEDERAL JUDGES, DON'T STEP IN JUST YET, WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THIS.

SO I MEAN THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS LIKE DEAR VOTERS, WE'RE STILL WORKING, EVERYONE SHARES BLAME, PLEASE VOTE FOR A BUNCH OF STUFF ON MAY 3rd AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THE REST OF IT, LOVE YOUR STATE LEADERS.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COMMISSION ON THIS FIFTH TRY DOESN'T COME UP WITH A MAP THAT SATISFIES THE COURT?

DO THEY GO BACK FOR A SIXTH TIME OR DOES THE COURT HAVE ANY OTHER OPTION FOR THEM?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK A CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.

LIKE I SAID, IT IS A HOT MESS.

>> MARK, THE CONSTITUTION IS PRETTY CLEAR, THE COURT ITSELF CAN'T DRAW STATE LEGISLATIVE MAPS BUT THERE IS SOME QUESTION SOMEBODY ELSE COULD IF YOU TAKE AN OLD MAP, YOU SAID BEFORE, THIS COULD GO ON FOREVER, BUT DO YOU SEE AN END GAME HERE?

>> I THINK THIS PETERS OUT TO A QUIET RESOLUTION SOMEHOW.

REMEMBER THESE ARE CO-EQUAL BRANCHES OF AN THEY EACH HAVE POWERS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

A FEW YEARS AGO, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAYS THE JUDICIARY SHOULD NOT WEIGH IN TO REDISTRICTING TYPICALLY, AND THEY SHOULD LEAVE IT TO WHAT THEY CALL THE POLITICAL BRANCHES OF UNDER WHAT'S CALLED THE POLITICAL QUESTION DOCTRINE, SO WE HAVE SEPARATION OF POWER ISSUES, WE HAVE CONFLICT OF LAW ISSUES NOW THAT WE HAVE FEDERAL COURTS INVOLVED, AND SO ALTHOUGH IT IS A MESS, I THINK IT WILL SLOWLY PETER OUT INTO SOME FORM OF A RESOLUTION, WHERE EACH SIDE IS EQUALLY UNHAPPY.

>> I THINK MOST OF US WANT IT TO QUICKLY PETER OUT BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>>> THE NUCLEAR BAILOUT SCANDAL DRIFTED A LITTLE CLOSER TO GOVERNOR DEWINE THIS WEEK.

CLEVELAND.COM REPORTS GOVERNOR DEWINE WAS WARNED NOT TO APPOINT SAM RANDAZZO TO HEAD THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

THE WARNING CAME FROM A FORMER DEWINE STAFF MEMBER, JB HADDEN, REPORTEDLY PROVIDED DOCUMENTS TO THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT RANDAZZO'S FINANCIAL TIES TO FIRST ENERGY.

FIRST ENERGY SAYS IT BRIBED RANDAZZO FOR HIS HELP IN REGULATORY DECISIONS.

IT GETS COMPLICATED BECAUSE HADDEN LOBBIES FOR AEP, A FIRST ENERGY COMPETITOR, AND DEWINE THEN CHIEF OF STAFF HAD TIES TO FIRST ENERGY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE GOVERNOR TOLD CLEVELAND.COM THE INFORMATION WAS UNDERWHELMING AND ALREADY KNOWN.

DEWINE APPOINTED RANDAZZO, WHO LATER RESIGNED AFTER THE FBI RAIDED HIS HOME.

HE HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN ABLE TO FLOAT ABOVE THIS, BELOW THIS, AND SO FAR, DURING THIS STORY, IS THIS THE SMOKING GUN, HIS COMPETITORS, BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, COULD USE AGAINST LIMB?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT THAT JULIE AND MARK FROM THE A. P. BROKE THIS STORY BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2020.

THEY REPORTED ABOUT THE DOSSIER, AND WARNINGS THAT WERE DELIVERED TO LAUREL DAWSON, AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY IT'S RESURFACED, YOU KNOW, JUST RECENTLY, BY CLEVELAND.COM AND ALSO OHIO CAPITAL JOURNAL BUT THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF OLD NEWS HERE.

SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IT MIGHT HAVE.

>> IT DID HAVE AN IMPACT THEN.

MIGHT IT HAVE AN IMPACT NOW THAT WE'RE WEEKS AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY AND THE CAMPAIGNS ARE HEATING UP?

>> MAYBE, ALTHOUGH I THINK THE CAMPAIGNS ARE FOCUSED, I MEAN THERE'S A LITTLE, THERE'S STILL SOME TALK ABOUT CORRUPTION, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAMPAIGNS ARE MORE FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC ISSUES THAN SOCIAL ISSUES.

>> MARK WEAVER, LOOKING AT THE TIES THAT WE ALL HAD TO SIDNEY, IN OHIO, IS THAT BOTHERSOME TO YOU, THAT THEY'RE SO INGRAINED IN THE UPPER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT?

>> I THINK EVERY MAJOR INDUSTRY HAS SOME CONNECTION TO GOVERNMENT.

I KNOW JB HADN'T PERSONALLY, HE IS A MAN OF CHARACTER AND HE SAID HE DID THIS BECAUSE HE CARES ABOUT THE GOVERNOR AND I KNOW FOR A FACT HE DOES.

WITH THE DOSSIER, WITH 2020 HINDSIGHT, WE KNOW THAT RANDAZZO IS UNDER SCRUTINY AND THIS IS MORE RELEVANT AND HAVING TO LOOK AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE STATEWIDE OFFICE AS DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, I CAN TELL YOU YOU GET TONS OF INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU ALL THE TIME AND TRYING TO PROCESS IT AND UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS IN RELEVANCE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING CAN BE DIFFICULT.

SO I THINK DEWINE AND HADDEN ARE BOTH TELLING THE TRUTH AND I THINK THEY'RE BOTH PEOPLE OF CHARACTER AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL TURN INTO MUCH OF ANYTHING.

>> HERB ASHER, VOTERS SEEM TO BE MORE WORRIED ABOUT INFLATION, DONALD TRUMP, THAN THEY ARE IN STORY.

DO YOU THINK IT GAINS TRACTION OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO?

>> I THINK THIS IS SERIOUS.

AND IT WILL BECOME MORE SERIOUS IF THERE'S EVER ANY EXTERNAL VALIDATION, IN TERMS OF FURTHER CHARGES THAT MIGHT BE UNVEILED WITH RESPECT TO FIRST ENERGY AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT FIRST ENERGY, FOR THOSE OF US WHO TALKED PRIVATELY ABOUT THE LOBBYING, WE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY LOBBIES IN THEIR OWN WAY, BUT FIRST ENERGY HAS HAD A LONG TRADITION OF CROSSING THOSE BOUNDARIES, IF YOU WILL.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THIS COMPANY, WE'LL SEE WHETHER IN FACT RANDAZZO AND WHAT THE GOVERNOR KNEW AND HOW WELL HE KNEW HIM, AND I THINK PROBABLY ELSE WHO SAYS, IT MAY NOT HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT RIGHT NOW, BUT SHOULD OTHER NEW THINGS BE REVEALED, OR SHOULD FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS BRING SOME NEW CHARGES AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE, THAT HAVE CONNECTIONS TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF STATE GOVERNMENT, THEN I THINK IT IS MORE SERIOUS.

>> MARK WEAVER, YOU'RE A FORMER, YOU WORKED IN THE PROSECUTOR, IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL, SAM RANDAZZO HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED BUT FIRST ENERGY ADMITS THAT THEY BRIBED LIMB.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON THERE?

DO YOU THINK THEY BELIEVE FIRST ENERGY OR THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT A PLEA DEAL, PROSECUTORS ARE?

>> ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF FEDERAL PROSECUTORS, IS THAT THEY MOVE VERY SLOWLY AND THEY TRY TO WRAP UP AS PLANE DETAILS AS THEY CAN BEFORE THEY -- MANY DETAILS AS THEY CAN BEFORE THEY BRING THEIR INTERMITTENT.

THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN PROSECUTORS THAT WORK QUICKLY.

AND THEY HAVE GREATER STATUTES TO WORK FROM AND THEIR FBI AGENTS ARE VERY ME THICK CLOUS HOW THEY PRESENT A CAN CASE AND ASK ANYONE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS WORK GLACIALLY BUT THEY TYPICALLY WIN MOST OF THEIR CASES BECAUSE OF THE PREPARATION.

>> AND LAURA BISCHOFF YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE TRIAL CLOSELY WITH THE OTHERS INVOLVED WITH IN, WHAT IS THE LATEST INVOLVED WITH THAT?

WE'RE LOOKING AT LATE THIS YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR?

>> SO THE TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN JANUARY OF 2023, AFTER THE ELECTION, AND YOU KNOW, JUST KEEP IN MIND, LIKE MARK SAID, THIS IS A REALLY BIG CASE, AND HAVE A REPUTATION OF REALLY MOVING IN A VERY DELIBERATIVE, CAREFUL, DETAILED WAY, AND I THINK 98% OF FEDERAL CASES END UP IN A RESULT BY PLEA BARGAIN, SO WE'LL SEE IF THIS ACTUALLY DOES GO TO TRIAL.

OF COURSE, THERE'S TWO HOLDOUTS, LARRY HOUSEHOLDER AND MATT BORGESS, THEY HAVE PLED NOT GUILTY, THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT GUILTY AND OTHERS IN THE CASE HAVE PLED GUILTY, INCLUDING JUAN, AND JEFF, AND SO YES, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT BEING TALKED ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THAT MUCH, THIS IS AN ENORMOUS CASE, INVOLVING A $1.3 BILLION BAILOUT, INVOLVING 4.5 MILLION RATE PAYERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

UNFORTUNATELY OTHER COMPANIES, HERE IN OHIO, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IT IS A GIANT CASE.

>> YES, IT WILL CONTINUE, AND BEAR RESULT PERHAPS IN THE NEXT EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS OR SO.

>>> OUR LAST TOPIC.

THE CENTRAL OHIO TRANSIT AUTHORITY HAS A BOLD PLAN TO BUILD RAPID TRANSIT BUS LINES CHRIS-CROSSING THE METRO AREA.

IT'S LESS COSTLY ALTERNATIVE TO LIGHT RAIL, BUT IT STILL WOULD BE EXPENSIVE, $8 BILLION TO START.

TO HELP PAY FOR IT, COTA PLANS TO ASK VOTERS TO DOUBLE ITS PORTION OF THE SALES TAX FROM A HALF PERCENT TO 1%.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO CHIP IN MONEY FOR THE PROJECT.

THE FIRST TWO RAPID BUS CORRIDORS ARE PLANNED TO RUN EAST/WEST ALONG BROAD STREET AND NORTH/SOUTH LARGELY ALONG OLENTANGY RIVER ROAD.

DOUBLING THE LOCAL INCOME TAX TO PAY FOR THIS PROJECT, IS IT WORTH IT?

>> BEFORE YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION, ONE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT ARE ALL OF THE COMPONENTS IN THIS?

HOW WILL THE MONEY BE SPENT, OVER WHAT TIME?

THE IDEA OF GOING TO THE VOTERS NOW, THAT SOMEHOW THIS IS, THIS IS SUCH A MAJOR PROPOSAL, VERY COMPLICATED, LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED, INCLUDING -- IT COULD BE A GOOD PROPOSAL BUT I THINK YOU REALLY HAVE A LOT OF EDUCATION TO BE DONE, WITH THE BROADER PUBLIC.

AND WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

AND AS YOU READ THE WONDERFUL STORY IN TODAY'S DISPATCH, THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER LITTLE THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, THE TRAILS, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY THERE, AND BEFORE YOU START TALKING ABOUT THIS, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW HOW COTA HAS BEEN SPENDING MONEY IN THE PAST, HOW IN FACT, THE RIDERSHIP IN COTA IS TODAY, WHAT THE PROJECTIONS ARE.

THERE ARE TREMENDOUS PROJECTIONS.

REMEMBER THE POPULATION GROWS.

MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE, WHAT COULD ULTIMATELY BE FIVE TRAILS IF YOU WILL, FIVE RIDERSHIP PLAN, BUT I THINK AS WE HEAR ABOUT THIS NOW, IT IS TOO MUCH OF A FLAW IN ONE PART AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF EDUCATION TO BE DONE.

>> MARK, LIGHT RAIL DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE IN THIS METRO AREA.

IS THIS RAPID BUS SYSTEM, WHICH IS LESS COSTLY, LESS PERMANENT THAN RAIL, MIGHT THAT BE APPEALING TO BUSINESS LEADERS AND TAXPAYERS?

>> SOME PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, BUT LET'S REMEMBER, ASKING VOTERS TO PAY MORE IN TAXES, DURING THE WORST ECONOMY SINCE THE JIMMY CARTER ADMINISTRATION, WITH INFLATION ON THE INCREASE, GAS PRICES, PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS, IT'S A TOUGH TIME TO ASK VOTERS TO RAISE TAXES.

I THINK THIS WILL GO DOWN.

>> LAURA BISCHOFF, ON THE STATE LEVEL, IS THERE ANY APPETITE FOR, YOU KNOW, LOCAL MASS TRANSIT PROJECTS?

>> NOT THAT I'VE SEEN.

IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK ROBUST PUBLIC TRANSIT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEMOCRATS CALL FOR ON THE REGULAR BUT I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN THE MAJORITY SUPPORT IT.

MARK TALKED ABOUT HIGH GAS PRICES, IF YOU WANT TO SAVE ON YOUR GAS BILL, TAKE THE BUS.

>> YES, THIS IS THE ALTERNATIVE TO THE LIGHT RAIL.

BUT IN OTHER CITY, THEY USE PROPERTY TAXES ALONG THE RAILS, TO PAY FOR THE PROJECT.

WE'LL SEE HOW THIS TURNS OUT.

JUST AS IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY.

TIME FOR THE FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOT.

MARK WEAVER, UP FIRST.

>> WHEN I HEARD THE RUMORS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, I TEXTED HIM BECAUSE I ALWAYS TEXTED AND HERE'S WHAT HE SAID TO ME LAST NIGHT, MARK, ON SATURDAY, I WILL GIVE YOU MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT TO MIKE THOMPSON AS THE MODERATOR OF "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD," SO I HAVE SOME NEWS FOR YOU.

>> AND LET'S SEE IF THE FORMER PRESIDENT WOULD COME ON, BUT PROBABLY NOT.

ANYWAY, HERB ASHER, YOU'RE UP NEXT.

>> A WONDERFUL CITIZEN OF OHIO, TED ROSENFIELD, DIED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND SHE WAS SUCH A LEADER IN ELECTION REFORM, VOTER RIGHTS, GERRYMANDERING, AND IN HER OBITUARY, IN THE DISPATCH, IT READ, PEG ROSENFIELD DIED MARCH 11th, 2022, AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH THE OHIO LEGISLATURE.

AND EVERYBODY WHO READ THAT JUST LAUGHED AND THOUGHT, AND THEN WE WERE THINKING, WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN OUR OWN OBITUARY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CAPITOL HILL STATEMENT WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ABOUT WHOMEVER.

>> LAURA BISCHOFF, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE REDISTRICTING REFORM BILL OF 2015 AND 2018, I THINK EVERYONE WOULD AGREE HAVE SOME SHORTFALLS, AND SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A PREDICTION THAT THERE WILL BE LIKE REDISTRICTING REFORM 2.0 PROPOSED SOMETIME AFTER THIS CURRENT MERRY-GO-ROUND PETERS OUT, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT KIND OF CHANGES THEY COME UP WITH.

>> OKAY.

MY PREDICTION IS I DO NOT THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL ENDORSE ME ON THE SENATE RACE.

I THINK HE WILL HOLD OFF BECAUSE THAT IS THE BEST SUSPENSEFUL TV HE CAN PRODUCE AND ALSO MAKE GOOD WITH GOVERNOR DEWINE, AND HE'S GOT TO WIN THE PRIMARY AND WIN IN NOVEMBER.

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

PLEASE CHECK US OUT ONLINE, WE'RE ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, YOU CAN WATCH EACH EPISODE ON DEMAND.

FOR OUR CREW I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.