THE PLAN, RETURN TO NORMAL.

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"COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, JESSIE BALMERT.

>>> THE SLOW TROURN NORM -- THE SLOW RETURN TO NORMAL.

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JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, JESSIE BALMERT, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE "CINCINNATI ENQUIRER."

BOB CLEGG, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST, AND SAM GRESHAM OF COMMON CAUSE OHIO.

SPRING IS A SEASON OF HOPE, AND RENEWAL.

AND THERE ARE SIGNS THAT LIFE SOON WILL START TO GET BACK TO NORMAL IN OHIO.

WITH CASES ON THE DECLINE AND MORE PEOPLE GETTING THE COVID VACCINE, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE STARTING TO LOOSEN THE RULES.

STARTING MARCH 1st, INDOOR ARENAS AND CONCERT HALLS CAN HAVE SPECTATORS UP TO 25% OF CAPACITY.

OUTDOOR SPORTING EVENTS CAN HAVE FANS UP TO 30%.

GOVERNOR DeWINE SAYS OHIO IS CROSSING A BRIDGE TO NORMALCY.

>> AND THE BRIDGE IS REALLY BUILT ON TWO THINGS -- ONE IS VACCINATIONS, AND THE OTHER IS TO CONTINUE DURING THIS BRIDGE TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS.

>> CASES ARE MUCH BETTER THAN THEY WERE IN THE LATE FALL, EARLY WINTER.

BUT THEY'RE STILL HIGH.

BUT WHAT IS DRIVING THE GOVERNOR'S THINKING RIGHT NOW LOOSENING THE RAENS ON THE RESTRICTIONS?

>> I THINK IT IS THE NUMBER OF CASES HAS BEEN DOWN, BUT PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS FOR COVID-19 HAS BEEN DOWN.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS HAS BEEN THAT SHOWS YOU THE MOST SERIOUS CASES ARE NOT AS PREVALENT AS THEY WERE IN DECEMBER.

WE'VE SEEN A PRETTY MARKED DECREASE SINCE THE WINTER -- OR THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER.

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE DONE WITH WINTER IN OHIO.

SO I THINK THAT IS WHAT HE'S LOOKING AT IN ORDER TO EASE THESE RESTRICTIONS.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST TIRED OF BEING COOPED UP AND ALL OF THE RESTRICTIONS.

SO IF YOU GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THINGS IN A SAFE WAY, THEN THERE WILL BE LESS FRUSTRATION.

>> SAM GRESHAM, YOU COULD ARGUE ONE OF THE REASONS, MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE VACCINE, THAT IS HELPING KEEP CASES DOWN.

BUT YOU CAN ARGUE THAT THE VISITATION PART OF THE YEAR WAS REALLY SLOW, STARTING AFTER CHRISTMAS AND THROUGH FEBRUARY, PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING TOGETHER FOR BIG GATHERINGS.

AND THIS MIGHT BE -- THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE REASON THE CASES ARE DOWN.

IS THIS PERHAPS TOO SOON IN YOUR MIND OR THE RIGHT TIME TO START LOOSENING THE REINS ON THE RESTRICTIONS?

>> I'M A GUY THAT BELIEVES IN THE MOST AUSTERE PREPARATION AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

SO I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP IT LOCKED DOWN UNTIL WE GET THE POSITIVITY RATES AT A LEVEL THAT MAKES US COMFORTABLE.

I ALSO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SCHOOLS, AND I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN GOING WITH THE SCHOOLS.

IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE TODAY WITH THE POSITIVITY RATE IN TWO WEEKS FROM NOW.

AND IF YOU OPEN IT UP, YOU RUN INTO A NEGATIVE POSITIVITY RATE DOWN THE WAY.

I'M NOT COMFORTABLE YET, AND I'M NOT HURRY TO GET OUT WITH 1,000 PEOPLE.

>> BOB CLEGG, I THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO BE RELUCTANT INDIVIDUALLY TO GO OUT.

BUT THIS DOES ALLOW, YOU KNOW, CONCERT HALLS, THE SYMPHONY, THINGS LIKE THAT, THE BLUE JACKETS ASKED FOR 10% CAPACITY, THEY GOT THAT.

IT'S A BIG ARENA.

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT MAYBE EVEN GO FASTER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMFORTABLE, PERHAPS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED TO GO OUT AND AWE TEND THESE EVENTS?

>> YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT MOVE EVEN FASTER.

BUT I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO BE AWARE OF THE MEDICAL CONCERNS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

BUT YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT.

INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THEY SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO GO OUT AND WEAR A MASK STILL, BUT JOIN IN THESE KINDS OF EVENTS, BECAUSE THE CHANCES OF THEM GETTING IN OR SPREADING IT IS MUCH, MUCH LOWER BECAUSE THEY ARE VACCINATED.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START ADJUSTING ALL OF THESE THINGS WHEN THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR VACCINATION RATE KEEPS GOING UP.

AND THE HIGHER IT GOES, OBVIOUSLY, THE MORE THINGS SHOULD LOOSEN UP.

>> WE REALLY DON'T KNOW, EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, IF YOU CAN CARRY THE DISEASE AND GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

I THINK HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE MORE RESEARCH INTO THAT AND MIGHT GIVE US MORE COMFORT INTO SAYING THE VACCINE PREVENTS YOU FROM GETTING SICK BUT PREVENTS THE SPREAD.

THE NEXT STEP IS FESTIVALS AND FAIRS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND IT'S HARDER TO CONTROL EVENTS LIKE THIS.

SAY THE COLUMBUS ARTS FESTIVAL, THERE'S NO TICKET THERE, SO YOU CAN'T LIMIT PARTICIPATION.

THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGHER FOR THE GOVERNOR TO LOOSEN UP ON.

>> IT'S TRUE, BUT ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE ACTIVITIES IS THEY ARE OUTSIDE AND YOU'RE GETTING A LITTLE MORE -- I THINK ONE THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PUSHING FOR IS THE COUNTY FAIRS TO BE MORE THAN JUST WHAT THE JUNIOR ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN, TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST COUNTY FAIR EXPERIENCE, AND THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S WILLING TO WORK TO GET TO THAT POINT.

SO I THINK THERE'S SOME CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM THAT THAT WILL MOVE FORWARD.

BUT, AGAIN, IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW MUCH DISTANCE IS THERE, CAN YOU WEAR A MASK, CAN YOU WASH YOUR HANDS AND SANITIZE.

I THINK THOSE PRACTICES ARE GOING TO BE WITH US FOR A LITTLE BIT.

>> BOB CLEGG, ON THE ISSUE OF MASKS, THE GOVERNOR SAID YOU STILL HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.

IF YOU GO TO THE GAMES, WHEN THE BASEBALL SEASON STARTS IN THE STRING, HOW IS THAT GOING TO GO OVER?

ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BE OKAY WITH THAT, WEARING MASKS THROUGH THE SUMMER?

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH A FACILITY, INDOOR FACILITY, WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS, WHETHER IT'S AN ARENA, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM REQUIRING INDIVIDUALS TO WEAR A MASK TO GO INTO THEIR FACILITY OR A BUSINESS.

YEAH, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE UPSET ABOUT THAT.

BUT IT'S THE TIMES WE LIVE IN RIGHT NOW, AND IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ABIDE BY THAT RULE, WHICH IS WEAR A MASK.

>> SAM GRESHAM, THESE FESTIVALS AND CONCERTS THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS TALKING ABOUT IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS EVENTS, THESE ARE BIG TICKET ITEMS.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF VACCINATION IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN COLUMBUS?

IS IT PROGRESSING BETTER THAN IT DID AT THE START OR THE STATE AND PHARMACIES IN SCHOOL IN INSTITUTIONS GETTING OUT THERE, AND ARE THOSE COMMUNITIES WILLING TO TAKE THE VACCINE?

>> WELL, I'VE HAD PFIZER ONE AND PFIZER TWO.

BUT I HAD TO GO TO THE WHITE COMMUNITIES TO GET THAT VACCINATION.

WE HAVE SENT OTHER PEOPLE TO THAT SAME SITE, AND THEY'VE BEEN TURNED AWAY.

NOW, THE SITE WOULD NOT -- IT WAS IN REYNOLDSBURG.

BUT WE SENT SOME 20 COUPLES, MY WIFE AND I, TO THAT SITE USING THAT LINK, AND OUT OF THE SITE, 18 AFRICAN-AMERICANS GOT SERVED.

TWO GOT TURNED AWAY.

>> WHY WERE THEY TURNED AWAY, SAM?

>> YES, FOUR PEOPLE WERE TURNED AWAY.

SO THEY HAD TO COME OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, GO TO REYNOLDSBURG TO GET A VACCINATION, THEY COULDN'T GET IT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND THERE WAS SOME CONSTERNATION WHEN THEY WENT.

WHEN I WENT, IT WAS INTERESTING.

TWO THINGS THEY DID.

THEY DIDN'T WANT ANY VIDEO, AND THEY DIDN'T WANT ANY PHOTOGRAPHS.

THEY DIDN'T WANT YOU TAKING ANY PHOTOGRAPHS.

NOW, THE PEOPLE WHO TREATED ME WELL, I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

BUT IN ALL MY VISITS, I SAW VERY, VERY FEW AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

IT'S A LARGE ROOM UP AT THE REYNOLDSBURG HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 800 TO 1,000 PEOPLE UP THERE.

>> JESSIE BALMERT, THE MAYOR HAD A THING THIS WEEK IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS WHEN THEY BROUGHT A VACCINATION CLINIC, A MOBILE CLINIC OUT TO AN INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOOD, A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS, PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO LIVE THERE.

ANY NEWS ON THE STATE INCREASING ITS EFFORTS TO TRY TO GET INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE POORLY SERVED?

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

THERE'S BEEN A RECENT PUSH FROM THE OHIO LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION AND A FEW OTHER GROUPS SAYING THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS SHOULD BE TREATED AS A PRIORITY GROUP, LIKE SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE AN IMMUNO COMPROMISED CONDITION OR A LOT OF PROFESSIONS TO MOVE UP THE LIST RIGHT NOW OR FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE ON THE LIST RIGHT NOW, AND THE REASONING BEHIND THAT IS JUST DISPROPORTIONATELY COVID HAS IMPACTED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND ALSO JUST DISPROPORTIONATELY, THE EFFECTS HAVE BEEN HIGHER.

BUT THE PUSH IS BEING MADE, BUT THE GOVERNOR HASN'T BEEN REAL CLEAR ABOUT WHAT GROUPS OF PEOPLE WILL BE NEXT, EXCEPT FOR HE HAS SAID THAT THE NEXT AGE GROUP THAT WILL BE INCLUDED ARE THOSE 60 YEARS OLD AND ABOVE.

>> THEY MADE THE EXCEPTION FOR TEACHERS, FOR INSTANCE.

USUALLY THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, STUDENTS ARE PREPARING FOR SPRING BREAK.

WITH HALF AN EYE ON GETTING OUT OF SCHOOL.

THIS YEAR, FOR MANY OHIO STUDENTS, THEY WILL FINALLY BE GETTING BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS WILL BE IN SCHOOL TWO DAYS A WEEK.

OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE DOING THE SAME.

OSU HAS ANNOUNCED IT PLANS TO HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE BACK ON CAMPUS IN LABS AND LECTURE HALLS THIS COMING FALL.

SAM GRESHAM, YOU MENTIONED YOUR GRAND KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

CAN YOU ELABORATE MORE ON THAT?

WHAT'S THE FEELING AMONG THEM, THEIR PARENTS, THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEIR FRIENDS, ARE THEY READY TO GET BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM?

>> I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH MY 10-YEAR-OLD.

SHE'S VERY CONCERNED GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

AND IT HAD MORE TO DO WITH THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS.

WERE THE KIDS GOING TO BE THERE, ARE THEY GOING TO SEE THEIR FRIENDS?

ARE THE TEACHERS GOING TO BE THERE?

THEY CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

I HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT SENDING THESE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.

I HAVE QUALMS ABOUT OPENING UP EVERYTHING.

I THINK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS ARE OKAY.

I'M NOT SURE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS SHOULD BE GOING BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

I UNDERSTAND THE PSYCHOLOGY, THE SOCIOLOGY AND ALL THAT STUFF.

BUT IF A KID GETS SICK, THAT'S A LONG-TERM PROBLEM.

THAT'S NOT A COLD.

THAT'S A LONG-TERM PROBLEM.

THE PARENTS HAVE CONSTERNATIONS, TOO.

WHEN YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN A HOUSEHOLD, THE PARENTS STRUGGLE WITH THIS IDEA, AND THEIR CONCERN IS, THEY ONLY HAVE THIS CHILD.

AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THIS CHILD ON THEIR WATCH, THEY'RE REALLY UPSET, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT.

>> BUT SAM, THE SCIENCE, A LOT OF STUDIES SHOW THAT AS LONG AS THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY AND STAFF ARE WEARING MASKS AND THEY KEEP REASONABLE DISTANCE AND SANITIZE, THE SPREAD IN THE SCHOOL, EVEN IF THE SPREAD IS HIGH IN THE COMMUNITY, THE SPREAD IN THE SCHOOL IS PRETTY LOW.

>> I CAN AGREE WITH THAT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE COLUMBUS SCHOOLS, BECAUSE COLUMBUS, A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN RENOVATED.

BUT ALL IT TAKES IS ONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND I'M AN UNHAPPY CAMPER.

SO FOR ME, I WANT TO GO TO THE FURTHEST DISTANCE TO KEEP THEM FROM GETTING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, EVEN WITH THE PROBLEM THEY'RE HAVING SOCIOLOGICALLY.

I'M THE MOST DRACONIAN ON THIS ISSUE.

STAY AT HOME UNTIL THIS STUFF IS OVER.

>> BOB CLEGG, THE PUSH BY THE GOVERNOR WAS TO GET THE TEACHERS VACCINATED.

MOST OF THE TEACHERS WILL GET THEIR SECOND SHOT SECOND WEEK OF MARCH.

THAT'S WHEN COLUMBUS GOES BACK AFTER WHAT THEIR SPRING BREAK WOULD HAVE BEEN.

HOW DO YOU VIEW THIS SITUATION WITH GETTING BACK TO SCHOOL?

>> WELL, MY YOUNGEST SON IS A FRESHMAN AT OLENTANGY HIGH SCHOOL AND HE'S BEEN GOING TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY SINCE LAST AUGUST.

I'M NOT LIKE SAM.

I THINK THE KIDS HAVE TO BE IN SCHOOL.

I THINK WE'RE LOSING SO MUCH -- THESE KIDS ARE LOSING SO MUCH.

NOT JUST ON THE SOCIALIZATION, BUT LEARNING.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME TESTING IN ALL THE SCHOOLS HERE IN OHIO, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SAID HE WANTS TO HAVE TESTING TO SEE HOW FAR BEHIND ALL OF THESE KIDS HAVE FALLEN.

AND I REALLY WORRY ABOUT KIDS THAT ARE LIKE IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE SCHOOL IS, FOR A LOT OF THEM, A STABLE ANCHOR THAT THEY GO TO EVERY DAY, WHERE THEY GET THEIR MEALS AND IT'S -- IT'S A LOT OF THEIR LIVES.

AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET ALL KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.

>> JESSIE BALMERT, THE GOVERNOR HAS SOME FAIRLY STRONG WORDS IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WEREN'T LIVING UP TO THE BARGAIN THEY MADE WHEN THEY GOT THE VOOERNS.

-- GOT THE VACCINES.

THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR WAS SATISFIED THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THAT THEY WERE AT LEAST MAKING PROGRESS TO BE BACK IN SOME FORM IN THE CLASSROOM IN EARLY MARCH.

>> YEAH.

IT WAS INTERESTING.

HE CALLED UP KIND OF LAST MINUTE, LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ESSENTIALLY CHASTISE A NUMBER OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO HAD GOT IN THE VACCINES BUT WEREN'T PLANNING TO MEET THAT MARCH 1 DEADLINE.

IT WAS INTERESTING, BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY LIKE THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HE WAS SO UPSET ABOUT AND IT FRUSTRATED TEACHERS TO KIND OF OVERGENERALIZE THE PROBLEM.

BUT IN THE DAYS SINCE, HE'S KIND OF DIALED IT BACK.

IT IS TRUE THESE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE ABLE TO SKIP THE LINE AHEAD OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY WANT THE VACCINE AND SO THE TRADEOFF PER SE WAS THE RETURN TO CLASSES.

AND THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS DONE SOME PRELIMINARY LOOKS INTO THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON EDUCATION AND SHOWN THAT ATTENDANCE WAS DOWN AND TEST SCORES GENERALLY WERE DOWN.

AND DEPENDING ON DEMOGRAPHICS, IT WAS EVEN WORSE.

SO I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF NOT BEING IN CLASS AND, YOU KNOW, THE TRADEOFF, WHETHER THAT IS WORTH IT.

>> YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH TO SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT.

BOB CLEGG, I AM A PUBLIC RECORDS, EVERYTHING SHOULD BE OPEN.

BUT WHEN THEY DO THE STANDARDIZED TEST, THE PRESIDENT WANTS IT, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF OHIO SCHOOLS WANTS THEM, JUST TO SEE WHERE STUDENTS ARE, WHICH KIDS ARE BEHIND, WHERE THEY'RE BEHIND.

BUT, YOU KNOW, PARENTS, POLITICIANS ARE GOING TO USE THOSE TESTS TO JUDGE THE SCHOOL.

IS THAT FAIR?

MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE PRIVATE.

MAYBE THE TEST SCORES SHOULD BE PRIVATE.

YOUR MATH TEST YOU TOOK ON THURSDAY IS NOT OPEN FOR PUBLIC RECORDS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, BOB?

>> YEAH, I THOUGHT THAT THESE TESTS WERE NOT GOING TO BE USED FOR ANY KIND OF SCHOOL EVALUATIONS OR DISTRICT EVALUATIONS.

AND I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE.

BUT AS FAR AS TRANSPARENCY ON THIS, YEAH, I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE OUT THERE.

I THINK PARENTS NEED TO KNOW HOW FAR BEHIND THEIR KIDS ARE.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME, NOW A YEAR, WHERE A LOT OF KIDS HAVE NOT BEEN IN SCHOOL.

I THINK THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW FAR THEY'VE FALLEN BEHIND.

>> YEAH, SAM, THE PARENTS SHOULD KNOW, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT SHOULD EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THIS CLASS HERE IS REALLY BEHIND, WHEN THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP THEM GOING FORWARD?

>> I'M AFRAID OF THE POLITICS OF THAT, MIKE.

I'M AFRAID OF HOW PEOPLE WILL USE THAT.

YOU KNOW SOMETHING ELSE?

I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK AGAINST BOB.

I DON'T THINK WE WILL REALLY UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF THIS VIRUS.

AND THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS IT CAN HAVE ON US.

NOT ONLY THE LUNGS B THE COGNITIVE PROCESS, THE ABILITY TO BREATHE, THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A LOT OF THINGS.

I THINK THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE OPENED THEMSELVES UP FOR LITIGATION.

AND THERE WILL BE PARENTS WHO ARE GOING TO LITIGATE WHEN THIS KID REALLY GETS SICK.

AND THE FURTHER OUT THEY GET, YOU'RE PUTTING THEM BACK IN SCHOOL.

I DON'T THINK A KID LOSES THAT MUCH FROM 12 MONTHS TO 18 MONTHS OF SCHOOL, AS LONG AS THEY ARE HEALTHY.

BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, IF THEY GET SICK, THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO HAVE TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THIS?

>> I DO KNOW CERTAINLY IN MANY DISTRICTS, COLUMBUS BEING ONE, IF PARENTS FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILD TO GO TO SCHOOL, THEY CAN HAVE THE OPTION TO LEARN AT HOME.

MAYBE THAT WILL EASE SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CHILD GETTING SICK.

OUR NEXT TOPIC IS GOVERNOR DeWINE STARTS TO EASE UP ON THE HEALTH ORDERS, REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR HIM TO IMPOSE THEM.

AT LEAST LONG-TERM.

THE SENATE HAS PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD LIMIT STATE'S EMERGENCY TO 90 DAYS, ALLOWING THE LEGISLATURE TO RESCIND THOSE STATES OF EMERGENCY AFTER 30 DAYS AND LIFT HEALTH ORDERS AFTER JUST 11 DAYS AND CANCEL ANY FINES BUSINESSES RECEIVE FOR VIOLATING HEALTH ORDERS DURING THIS COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

IT EQUATES IT TO LAWS THAT ERASE CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR CERTAIN OFFENDERS.

JESSIE BALMERT, I DON'T RECALL A WHOLE LOT OF BUSINESSES GETTING FINED FOR VIOLATING COVID HEALTH ORDERS.

THE GOVERNOR WOULD ALWAYS SAY, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM TO COMPLY.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THIS BUSINESSES GOT FINED?

>> SO I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC NUMBER FOR YOU, BUT I WOULD SAY THE OHIO LIQUOR CONTROL HAS BEEN MONITORING THIS, AND THERE'S PROBABLY A COUPLE DOZEN EVERY MONTH SO SO THAT COME OUT AND HAVE HEARINGS.

THEY'RE FOR THINGS LIKE PERHAPS EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING MASKS.

THEY'RE FOR TOO MANY PEOPLE JUST LIKE A LARGE CROWDED GROUP IN A BAR.

IT'S REALLY WHEN THEY SEE LARGER ISSUES OF VERY LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE GATHERING WITHOUT ANY SORT OF SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF ISSUES THAT ARE GOING BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND OF COURSE, THE BUSINESS HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THIS SITUATION AND POTENTIAL FINES AND SO FORTH FROM THERE.

>> GOING BACK TO THE BILL THAT PASSED THE SENATE.

BOB CLEGG, IS THIS WISE?

THE 11-DAY HEALTH ORDER LIMIT SEEMS KIND OF SHORT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TOO SHORT OR NOT.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THIS.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IS THE PERFECT WAY TO DO THIS.

I THINK WHAT MEMBERS OF THE OHIO LEGISLATURE IS LOOKING AT IS IT'S NOT SO MUCH GOVERNOR DeWINE, BUT I THINK THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE.

THEY LOOK AT STATES LIKE MICHIGAN AND GOVERNOR WHITMER WHERE SHE'S BEEN SO DRACONIAN IN THE SHUTTING DOWN OF THAT STATE.

HERE IN OHIO, THE LEGISLATORS DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

MIKE DeWINE IS NOT GOING TO BE GOVERNOR FOREVER.

SO A LOT OF THIS IS PLANNING SO THAT IF A DAY COMES THAT WE DO HAVE A MORE DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR WHO WOULD WANT TO TRY TO DO THAT KIND OF THING, THESE LAWS WOULD PREVENT THEM FROM DOING IT.

>> SAM GRESHAM, WE KEEP HEARING CALLS FOR OPEN UP OHIO.

OHIO IS FULLY OPEN, NO BIG CROWDS, BUT BARS AND RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN, YOU CAN GO SHOPPING ANYWHERE AS LONG AS YOU STAY SIX FEET APART.

BUT SHOULDN'T LAWMAKERS HAVE SOME KIND OF A CHECK ON LONG-TERM HEALTH ORDERS THAT GO ALONG FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS?

>> NO, I DISAGREE.

IT'S THE PREROGATIVE OF THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

NOT POLITICIANS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I THINK THIS IS A PURE ELEMENT OF HYPOCRISY, PARTICULARLY DIRECTED AT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THIS MAN IS IN YOUR PARTY.

HE'S TRYING TO DO THE BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND YOUR GREEDY TENDENCIES COME OUT.

AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO ATTACK HIM BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO DO THE BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY FROM A HEALTH STAND POINT.

WHEN WE COME BACK TO THIS PERIOD, AND HISTORIANS LOOK AT IT, STUPID LIKE THIS OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS DOING IS NOT GOING TO LOOK VERY GOOD.

IT'S GOING TO LOOK STUPID.

THEY DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

THEY ONLY HAVE ONE BOX TO DROP OFF OUR BALLOTS FOR THE ELECTION.

SO NOW THEY DON'T WANT TO PROTECT US, THEY WANT TO LET EVERYBODY RUN RAMPANT AND DO STUFF, STUPID STUFF.

THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY FROM ITSELF.

AND SOMETIMES IT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED FROM ITSELF.

I TOLD YOU, I'M PREPARED FOR THE WORST SOLUTION, AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

I DON'T THINK THIS THING IS OVER YET.

>> LET'S LET BOB CLEGG HAVE A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK SAM'S A LITTLE OVER THE EDGE ON THIS.

I MEAN, COME ON!

WE CAN'T HAVE OUR STATE SHUT DOWN.

THE DAMAGE IT DOES TO INDIVIDUALS, MENTALLY, FINANCIALLY, WE HAVE TO TAKE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS INTO ACCOUNT.

YOU CAN'T JUST WORRY ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO GET COVID, YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, WHETHER THEY CAN KEEP A BUSINESS GOING, WHETHER THEY CAN KEEP PAYING THEIR WORKERS.

I MEAN, THESE ARE ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH, AND YOU CAN'T JUST SAY WE'VE GOT TO STAY LOCKED DOWN BECAUSE IT'S A HEALTH CRISIS.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT, AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO LIVE.

>> LET'S GET JESSIE BALMERT TO WEIGH IN ON THE PROCESS.

WHERE DOES THIS STAND?

IS THE HOUSE GOING TO APPROVE THIS AND THEN GOVERNOR DeWINE SAID HE WOULD VETO IT.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO APPROVE SOMETHING.

I THINK DeWINE AND THE HOUSE ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET SOMETHING LESS -- MAYBE LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN WHAT THE SENATE PASSED.

I THINK THE VERSION THAT PASSED THE SENATE, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD VETO AND HE HAS VETOED OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S ABILITY TO ENFORCE HEALTH ORDERS.

SO I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS HOPING HE CAN NEGOTIATE WITH THE HOUSE ON THIS, AND MAYBE PASS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE CAN AGREE WITH, AND WE CAN MOVE ON.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> WE'VE GOT TO GET TO "OFF THE RECORD" SAM, SORRY, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

WE STARTED OFF THE RECORD, FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

SAM, WE WILL START WITH YOU.

>> MR. CLEGG, MY RESPONSE TO YOU IS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT SOUTH KOREA, NORTH KOREA, ALL THOSE COUNTRIES DID THAT, AND THEY'RE MUCH BETTER OFF.

WE NEED TO DO THAT, TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BOB CLEGG, YOU'RE NEXT.

>> MICHAEL BARONE, NOTED POLITICAL SCIENTIST, DID A STUDY OF ALL 435 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND LOOKED AT HOW THEY VOTED IN 2012 AND IN 2020.

THE BIGGEST SWING TO REPUBLICANS WAS IN THE SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HERE IN OHIO REPRESENTED BY BILL JOHNSON, WHICH RUNS FROM YOUNGSTOWN TO PORTSPOUT.

ISES THAT -- >> THAT'S TED STRIKELAND'S OLD DISTRICT.

AND JESSIE BALMERT, FINAL COMMENT?

>> MY COLLEAGUE PULLED OFF OF THE VANITY PLATES THAT WERE REJECTED BY THE OHIO BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

AND THERE ARE SOME COLORFUL THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS.

>> YES.

AND LIKE THE OHIO DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES, YOU CAN'T SAY THEM ON TELEVISION OR WE WOULD GET FINED.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, BUT DELAWARE'S OWN AND THE NATION'S 19th PRESIDENT HAS HIS OWN BOBBLEHEAD.

THEY UNVEILED RUTHERFORD B. HAYES' BOBBLEHEAD.

BUT HAYES IS PART OF THE HALL OF FAME'S NEGLECTED PRESIDENT'S COLLECTION.

AND IT GETS WORSE.

HAYES IS NOT ALONE.

SIX OF OHIO'S SEVEN PRESIDENTS ARE AMONG THE NEGLECTED PRESIDENTS.

NO RESPECT.

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

CHECK US OUT ONLINE, WATCH US ON OUR WEBSITE.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AND STAY SAFE.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com