>>> PRIMARY ELECTION MONTH IS HERE, AND EVEN MORE GAMBLING COULD COME TO OHIO.

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

IT FEELS LIKE WE JUST HAD AN INTENSE ELECTION BUT HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

VOTING HAS BEGUN IN THE OHIO PRIMARY.

VOTERS ARE SELECTING THEIR NOMINEES FOR THE OFFICES OF PRESIDENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO COUNTY PROSECUTOR.

REPUBLICAN RACE FOR U.S. SENATE IS THE BIGGEST RACE IN OHIO.

THE WINNER WILL TAKE ON SHERROD BROWN IN NOVEMBER IN A CRUCIAL RACE NATIONALLY.

THEY MET FOR A DEBATE THIS WEEK ON SPECTRUM CABLE, AND THERE STANCES ON IMMIGRATION WAS A KEY POINT OF CONTENTION.

>> THE REALITY IS, NOBODY IS I AM THE GUY WHO FOLLOWED THE LAW TO COME HERE.

YOU ASKED ANY LEGAL IMMIGRANT OF THIS COUNTRY, AND WHEN YOU HEAR THINGS LIKE, YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE THEM VISA PREFERENCES, ET CETERA, WE HAVE TO REPORT ANYBODY WHO IS IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> THAT IS WHY YOU CAN'T TRUST THIS GUY.

A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN HE WANTED TO BE POPULAR WITH HIS CORPORATE ELITE, HE WROTE AN ARTICLE THAT SAYS THERE SHOULD BE POSSIBLE CITIZENSHIP.

MUCH EMOTION IT, IT IS HIS OWN WORDS.

NOW HE WANTS TO CONVINCE PEOPLE HE IS A CONSERVATIVE, HE CHANGED HIS TUNE ON THAT.

>> WHAT HE HAS HAD AMONGST HIMSELF IS THE DILEMMA THAT WASHINGTON HAS HAD FOR 30 YEARS.

30 YEARS, HE WANTS TO PASS THE RESIDENCY ALERT ADDED TALKING ABOUT CITIZENSHIP, NOW HE WANTS TO DEPORT CHILDREN.

THAT IS THE SAME EXACT ARGUMENT WE HAVE HAD IN WASHINGTON FOR 30 YEARS.

WHAT HAPPENS IN BETWEEN?

NOTHING.

THE BORDER DOES NOT GET SECURE.

LET'S FIX IT.

>> ALL THREE CANDIDATES ARE FIT RACING TO THE MAGA RIGHT.

WHO IS WINNING?

>> I DON'T KNOW, WHO KNOWS?

OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT ABOUT THE BORDER, BUT IF YOU WOULD LISTEN TO THAT, YOU WOULD THINK, MAYBE THERE IS SOME DIFFERENCE, BUT THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY DIFFERENCE.

>> WHAT DID YOU SAY FIVE YEARS AGO, WHAT HAPPENS?

I MEAN, BUT, IT SHOWS YOU IF NOTHING ELSE, IMMIGRATION IS A BIG ISSUE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

>> YOU WATCH THE DEBATE, YOU SEE THE AD, YOU SEE HOW THEY ARE.

THAT IS WHAT SEPARATES THEM, FRANK LAROSE HAS SAID THINGS ABOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD YEARS AGO AND THAT IS BEING USED AGAINST HIM IN AN AD.

BERNIE MORENO HAS DIFFERENT POSITIONS ON GUNS THAN HE HAS NOW, THAT HAS BEEN USED AGAINST HIM, AND IMMIGRATION.

>> RIGHT, AND ON DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF, WHO IS A BIG ELEPHANT HE HAS ENDORSED BERNIE MORENO, BUT MORENO IS A CRITIC OF TRUMP, AND FRANK LAROSE PREVIOUSLY HAVE SAID, I SHOULDN'T ENDORSE A RACE, BECAUSE THEN STATE ELECTIONS IN 2020.

THIS YEAR, HE IS ENDORSING AND HE HAS ENDORSED TRUMP.

AND MATT DOLAN, I DON'T THINK IS TRYING FOR THE TRUMP LANE.

AND, A FAR LEFT RECORD OF WHAT HE HAS SAID ON ISSUES BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN A STATE SENATOR.

BUT, I THINK THEY ARE EACH TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO SOMEHOW CALL THE OTHER ONE OUT AS EITHER NOT HONEST OR HAVING SWITCHED UP THEIR POSITIONS.

>> DARRELL, DOES IT COME DOWN TO THE SECOND ENDORSEMENT?

JOE BIDEN FAMOUSLY SAID ABOUT RUDY GIULIANI, EVERY SENTENCE HAD A NOUN, A VERB, AND 9/11.

BERNIE MORENO IS A NOUN, A VERB, AND I HAVE THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

AT THE RISK OF POUNDING THE NAIL ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE THAT.

BUT, SURE.

I THINK JD VANCE IS IN THE U.S. SENATE TODAY BECAUSE OF DONALD TRUMP.

I THINK THAT ENDORSEMENT IS PRETTY MUCH CAUSE AND EFFECT, FROM JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

SO, HE IS GOING TO PLAY IT HERE.

YOU KNOW, HE IS VOICING THE RHETORIC, AND FRANK LAROSE IS ATTEMPTING TO VOICE THE RHETORIC, AS WELL.

BUT, REALLY?

WE ARE GOING TO -- HOW MANY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE WE UP TO NOW?

15 MILLION?

WHATEVER.

REALLY?

I MEAN, TRUMP IS TALKING ABOUT THESE CONCENTRATION CAMPS ON THE BORDER, DETENTION CAMPS.

BLOCK, MILITARY, THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT CAME UP IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

EVEN OUR HOME STATE GOVERNOR, JOHN CASEY, WAS KIND OF THE TRUTH PILLAR THERE AND SAID, THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN AMERICA.

PICTURES OF LITTLE JOE GETTING SOMETHING, I DON'T DIG AMERICA WILL SIGN FOR IT.

>> IMMIGRATION, 10 1/2 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN UNITED STATES, ESTIMATED.

WHEN DEMOCRATS WATCH THIS, ARE THEY ROOTING FOR THESE GUYS?

YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?

SHOULD YOU RUN AGAINST SHERROD BROWN?

>> I DO NOT ROOT FOR ANYONE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, TO BE CLEAR.

I THINK IT IS REALLY SAD, HONESTLY, THAT THERE IS NO DISCUSSION OF POLICY.

IMMIGRATION IS THE REAL ISSUE.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT, WE NEED PLANS, WE NEED SOLUTIONS, THAT IS NOT WHERE WE ARE AT.

I AGREE WITH A LOT OF FOLKS ON THE PANEL, THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, WE HAVE NO GREATER EVIDENCE OF HOW EFFECTIVE THAT IS THEN JD VANCE BEING ABLE TO REDIRECT HIS CAMPAIGN IN THE SENATE PRIMARY.

AND FOR BERNIE MORENO, EVEN THOUGH HE MIGHT HAVE SOME WEAKNESSES AS A CANDIDATE, HE HAS FLIP-FLOPPED, JD VANCE ON --FLIP-FLOPPED ON SUPPORTING TRUMP AND HE WAS STILL ABLE TO COME BACK.

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS RACE IN A COUPLE YEARS AGO, IS THERE ARE ABOUT HALF AS MANY CANDIDATES AS THERE WERE, IN 2020 AND 2022.

>> YES, AND '24.

THEY ALL RUN TOGETHER.

>> IN '22.

SO, THAT ONLY TOOK A LITTLE BIT TO GET JD VANCE OVER THE THRESHOLD.

HERE, BERNIE MORENO IS GOING TO HAVE TO WIN SOME ON HIS OWN.

>> YEAH, BUT LOOK WHAT HAPPENED WITH JD VANCE.

HE WAS IN THIRD OR FOURTH PLACE.

HE HAD THAT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, AND HE JUMPED OVER EVERYBODY.

AND YOU KNOW, INCLUDING JOSH MANDEL, WHO HAD GREAT NAME I.D., STATEWIDE.

THAT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT IS JUST SO IMPACTFUL IN THESE PRIMARIES THAT I --YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE OTHER GUYS DO IT.

>> I THINK IT IS TRUE THAT JOSH MANDEL HAD NAME I.D.

THAT I DON'T THINK FRANK LAROSE CARRIES WITH HIM.

HE IS A TWO TIME STATE OFFICEHOLDER, HE IS A CITY, STATE SECRETARY.

THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE HERE, THE SMALLER FIELD, IN THAT FACTOR ON THE NUMBER TWO GOD.

IT IS NOT AS UNKNOWN, AND YOU KNOW, SUDDENLY, JD VANCE WAS LIKE, HE IS THE AUTHOR OF HILLBILLY-OLOGY, KIND OF A STAR FACTOR, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SAY SOMETHING PEOPLE COULD GRAB ONTO.

HERE, YOU DO HAVE A NUMBER TWO PERSON WHO DOES HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT THAT PEOPLE KNOW.

>> HOW DOES THIS SHAKEOUT?

AS AN ORGANIZATION, YOU THINK THAT FRANK LAROSE PROBABLY HAS THE BEST STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION, RIGHT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

FRANK LAROSE, BETWEEN THE ABORTION CAMPAIGN LAST FALL, AND THE SPECIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN, THE PREVIOUS AUGUST, I WAS WITH HIM FOR SOME OF THOSE STOPS WHEN -- YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF ALL BLENDED TOGETHER.

RIGHT NOW, I AM CAMPAIGNING ON ISSUE TWO, OR WHATEVER.

BUT, HEY, BY THE WAY, I AM FRANK LAROSE, REMEMBER, I WAS THE TRUE BELIEVER, I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU ALL ALONG.

AND HE HAS GOTTEN A FEW KEY -- ENDORSEMENTS ARE USUALLY PRETTY IMPORTANT IN THE GOP RACE.

GUN RIGHTS GROUPS, RIGHT TO LIFE.

>> IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME FOR US TO LEGALIZE CASINOS AND THEN CAME SPORTS BETTING ON SMART PHONES.

THE EXPANSION HAS CREATED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND NOW THEY WANT MORE.

THEY WANT TO LEGALIZE CASINO GAMES ON PHONES, AND PROPOSE PUTTING LEGAL BLACKJACK, POKER, AND SLOT MACHINES ON YOUR SMARTPHONES.

THEY ARGUE IT COULD GENERATE UP TO $400 MILLION A YEAR IN NEW TAX REVENUE.

MICHIGAN HAS IT, PENNSYLVANIA HAS BLACKJACK ON YOUR PHONE.

SO, OHIO HAS TO DO IT, RIGHT?

IS THAT A PUSH IN THE STATE HOUSE?

>> THAT SEEMS TO BE THE MAIN DRIVER IN OHIO GAMBLE POLICY, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BORDER STATES?

>> IS THAT SERIOUS?

>> I AM NOT QUITE SURE, BUT IT FEELS LIKE IF THESE GET SENT UP, AND THEN IT SORT OF SOFTENS PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS ON IT INITIALLY, AND THEN EVENTUALLY WE GET IT OF POLICY.

THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE CASE IN THE PAST WITH THESE THINGS, WHERE WE HAD AN ADAMANT OPPOSITION TO CERTAIN FORMS OF SCHEDULING AT THE SKATE HOUSE AT SOME TIMES, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE CASINOS, THIS AND THAT.

SO, WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> CASINOS, YOU HAVE TO DRIVE TO THE CASINO TO PLAY THE SLOTS.

SPORTS BETTING, YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE GAME.

I HAVE PLAYED BLACKJACK ON MY PHONE FOR FUN.

YOU CAN LOSE A LOT OF MONEY, REALLY FAST.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF GAMBLING THAT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE, RIGHT?

>> I AM PRETTY TROUBLED BY THIS, AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW ADDICTIVE THAT IS, OR IF THE APP IS ON YOUR PHONE, AND JUST THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SAW PEOPLE SPENDING ON SPORTS GAMBLING, IN JUST A YEAR.

I KNOW THE JUSTIFICATION IS ALWAYS THE TAX REVENUE, BUT WHAT IS IT, A LITTLE OVER $100 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE, WE GET $11 BILLION A YEAR IN TAX BREAKS TO LARGE CORPORATIONS?

NOT QUITE SURE WE ARE GETTING AS MUCH AS WE DESERVE AND WE ARE CREATING A LOT OF RISK, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> THE GAMBLING INFLUENCES OF THE STATE HOUSE, HAS IT GROWN TO A POINT WHERE LAWMAKERS WILL GIVE THEM SOME TAX BENEFITS AND REGULATIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> WELL, I AGREE WITH JULIE IN THAT I THINK THIS IS A SOFTENING UP PROCESS.

I COULD SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEING INSERTED IN NEXT SESSIONS BUDGET BILL.

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS, IT JUST WILL GENERATE SO MUCH MONEY, THAT I JUST FEEL THE STATE IS GOING TO START THINKING, HOW DO WE NOT TAKE IN $300 MILLION, $400 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE.

I THINK IT WILL JUST BE A MATTER OF -- >> THEY'RE MAKING PEOPLE PAY TAXES!

>> WELL, THIS IS AN EASIER WAY TO GET MONEY, AND NOT GET THE PEOPLE THAT PAY TAXES MAD AT YOU.

SO, THAT IS WHY I THINK IT IS AN EASIER ROUTE TO GO TO GET A LOT OF TAX DOLLARS.

>> WE HAVE HAD CASINOS FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS IN OHIO.

WE HAVE HAD SPORTS BETTING FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A YEAR.

HAS GAMBLING REALLY CHANGED IN THE STATES THAT MUCH?

TAX REVENUES THERE, BUT, WHAT YOU THINK?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT LIKE YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND SAY, OH, LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF GAMBLING.

BUT, THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEM GAMBLERS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING.

YOU TALK TO TEACHERS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM.

THAT IS THE THING, WE HAVE A PHONE THAT I AM SURE WOULD BE ILLEGAL FOR MINORS --BUT I WAS TALKING TO JAY EDWARDS WHO WAS CO-CHAIRING A BICAMERAL STUDY COMMISSION ON GAMBLING IN OHIO.

HE TALKED ABOUT I GAMES.

SO, I LOTTERY, I CASINO.

HE WAS SAYING OTHER STATES THAT HAVE THEM CEMENTED THAT, $1 BILLION IN TAX REVENUE.

YOU START THROWING NUMBERS AROUND THAT, EVERYBODY IN THE STATE HEALTH HAS A PET PROJECT.

THEY SAY, WHAT, WE COULD REALLY USE THAT BILLION HERE OR HERE.

>> AND THEY ARE WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL DEEP-POCKETED INTERESTS AT THE STATEHOUSE.

THERE IS SOME MONEY THAT FLOWED INTO MIKE DEWINE'S CAMPAIGN AND OTHER CAMPAIGNS HERE, AND IT CAME CIRCUITOUSLY, BUT THEY HAVE THE EAR OF THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO ARE MAKING POLICY.

>> SAY THE MONEY DOES GO TO COUNSELING FOR PROBLEM GAMBLERS AND TO TRY TO HELP FOLKS THAT GET IN TO TROUBLE, BUT IT IS AN OPTIONAL THING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GAMBLE.

IF WE TRY TO PROTECT FOLKS FROM PROBLEM GAMBLING, IS THERE REALLY THAT MUCH HARM IN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT MONEY IF IT IS $1 BILLION?

>> I THINK IT IS HARDER TO SOLVE A PROBLEM ONCE YOU HAVE IT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS A PERSISTENT JUSTIFICATION.

CERTAINLY WE SHOULD HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO DO OR DEVELOP A PROBLEM.

BUT, I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT THERE ARE WAYS TO GENERATE MONEY AS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING, WE DON'T HAVE TO ENDANGER THE HEALTH AND FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR STATE TO DO IT.

TAKING THESE TYPES OF RISKS.

AND I JUST THINK ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE THE PHONE COMPONENT -- ALTHOUGH THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO HAPPEN -- PEOPLE KNOW TIKTOK CAN BE BAD FOR THEM, IT IS NOT A GOOD USE OF THE TIME, BUT GOOD LUCK TRYING TO STOP IT ONCE YOU GET ON THAT PLATFORM.

>>> TURNING TO A1C LEGAL VICE, MARIJUANA.

THE STATE CONTINUES THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THE LAW PASSED IN NOVEMBER WHICH LEGALIZES RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE.

OFFICIALS EXPECT THE FIRST DISPENSARIES TO START SELLING LEGAL CANNABIS IN LATE SUMMER, FALL, AND IN CHARGE OF REGULATING THE INDUSTRY PREDICTS OHIO COULD HAVE UP TO 300 LEGAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS LAWMAKERS TO HESITATE TO CHANGE THE LAW PASSED BY VOTERS.

I WILL BE UP TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS BOSS, GOVERNOR DeWINE, TO FINE-TUNE THESE TOOLS.

HOW MUCH FINE-TUNING CAN THERE BE?

IT WAS PASSED BY VOTERS, AND IT IS QUITE LENGTHY.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THEY GO.

THIS LEGISLATOR IS THAT THEY DON'T CHOOSE TO DO MUCH.

SO, THEY LEFT IT TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE BODY TO INTIMATE THIS, BUT I THINK IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE SOME SORT OF CLARITY AND GUIDANCE ABOUT HOW TO GO ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE LAW.

>> WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE THEY LOOKING AT?

ARE THEY LOOKING AT BANNING DRIVE-THROUGH MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES, THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> CERTAINLY, THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT THE THC CONTENT, JUST HOW POTENT IS THIS MARIJUANA WE WILL BE SELLING IN OHIO?

THINGS OF THAT NATURE, YOU KNOW?

KEEPING IT AWAY FROM KIDS, MAKING SURE ANY VARIETIES, OR PACKAGING, WHATEVER --BUT, YEAH.

RIGHT NOW, MIKE DeWINE IS ABLE TO ROCK AND ROLL ON THIS, AND THE HOUSE WILL GET BACK TO US AFTER THE PRIMARY AND WILL START THINKING ABOUT IT.

NOW, THIS IS A STATUTE, SO, IT IS NOT LIKE THE ABORTION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> SO, LEGISLATORS CAN PLAY AROUND WITH IT?

WE TALKED ABOUT RULES, THEY CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE THE LAW, TINKER WITH THE LAW, AS WELL.

I DON'T KNOW.

HOPEFULLY, SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN.

>> THERE IS A PRIMARY IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS, DO THEY THINK IF THEY VOTE ON A MARIJUANA LAW, IT WILL BE TO CHANGE IT TO MAKE MORE REGULATION?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THAT KIND OF POLITICS, I THINK IT IS MORE THE POLITICS, WHAT IS GOING ON BETWEEN THE SENATE PRESIDENT, MATT HUFFMAN, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

I THINK IT IS MORE THAT POLITICS.

BUT, ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF OHIO HAS GOT TO -- THIS WHOLE WORLD OF MARIJUANA, WHICH YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN A PROPONENT OF LEGALIZING FOR YEARS, THE STATE OF OHIO HAS ALWAYS PULLED, KICKING, DRAGGING THEIR FEET, AND I JUST HOPE THIS TIME, IT DOESN'T TAKE AS LONG AS IT TOOK TO SET UP THE WHOLE MEDICAL SIDE.

I MEAN, THAT TOOK FOREVER TO GET UP AND RUNNING.

SO, SO FAR, IT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I STILL DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE THAT QUICKLY.

>> THE MEDICAL DISPENSARIES WOULD GO FIRST, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY SET UP.

THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SELL RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, THEN OTHERS WOULD JOIN THE THREE.

TODAY, I FIND OUT THAT THERE ARE 700 --I MEAN, THESE COULD BE EVERYWHERE.

>> YES.

I DON'T THINK THAT 300 SPREAD ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE IS THAT MANY, WITH HOW MANY STARBUCKS WE HAVE.

BUT, I DO THINK THE FACT THAT THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS ARE HERE, AND THEY CAN JUST ADD IT ON, PROBABLY, WILL EASE SOME OF THAT.

BUT, TO MORGAN'S POINT, THE LEGISLATURE COULD HAVE DONE THIS, AND THEY SEEM TO BE JUST NOT DOING THINGS.

IN PARTICULAR, THINGS THE VOTERS ARE TELLING THEM THEY WANT.

THEY JUST SEEM TO BE DRAGGED, KICKING AND SCREAMING.

>> BUT, THERE ARE THINGS THE GOVERNOR COULD DO AND HIS CANNABIS BAZAAR COULD DO.

I MEAN, WE HAVE STATE MINIMUM PRICING FOR ALCOHOL.

COULD WE HAVE STATE MINIMUM PRICING FOR MARIJUANA?

>> SURE, YOU CAN DO A LOT WITH RULES.

I MEAN, RULES CAN REALLY SET THE STAGE FOR HOW YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IT.

NOW, I DO THINK THE LEGISLATURE WILL COME BACK UP TO THIS.

AT SOME POINT, TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF WHAT THE TAXES ARE GOING TO BE ON IT.

I SEE THEM COMING IN AND RAISING THAT, WHAT IS IT, 10% IN THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED?

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE DOUBLED EVENTUALLY.

>> WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PROPONENTS THAT WANT THIS LAW PASSED IN NOVEMBER, AND THINK THE STATE GOES TOO FAR, AND LAWMAKERS, THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, IF THEY WANTED TO.

I ASSUME THEY WOULD GO TO COURT, RIGHT?

>> MAY BE, YEAH.

I THINK WE WOULD PROBABLY CLEAR THE THRESHOLD OF GOING BACK AND GETTING RID OF IT.

THERE IS JUST SO MUCH SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

THE BALLOT INITIATIVE WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

SO, I THINK AS LONG AS THERE IS FORWARD PROGRESS AND PEOPLE SEE THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THIS, THEN FOLKS WILL PROBABLY GIVE THEM A LOT OF LEEWAY THERE, BUT I THINK OF IT GOES ON TOO LONG --IT IS A WELL ORGANIZED OPERATION AND THEY HAVE RESOURCES TO COUNTER AND POTENTIALLY SUE, IF THEY WANT TO.

>> ARE WE STILL LOOKING AT A FALL, FOR THESE?

>> I SAW THAT TIMETABLE, AND I'M SORRY, I'M SKEPTICAL.

GOVERNOR DeWINE SAID THIS WEEK, SOMEONE ASKING ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, AND HE SAID HIS LEGAL TEAM RESEARCHED IT, AND THEY PLAYED OUT THE ROPE ON THAT ONE, THEY CAN GO NO FURTHER.

SO, HE EXPRESSED WORRY THAT IF WE WAIT TOO LONG OR THE RULES GET WACKY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF THIS WAS DRIVING THE BLACK MARKET OUT.

HE SAYS, WE WILL BUILD THE BLACK MARKET AND MAKE IT EVEN STRONGER IF WE DON'T EXERCISE CARE HERE.

>> YOU CAN START GROWING MARIJUANA IN YOUR YARD NOW.

>> YOU CAN GROW, YOU CAN USE, BUT YOU CAN'T BUY.

SO REALLY, THE STATE HAS THAT ABILITY.

AS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT MICHIGAN, THEY HAVE IT, LEGALLY.

THAT IS DRIVABLE.

ARE PEOPLE DRIVING THAT IN?

YOU KNOW, ARE THEY BYPASSING THE LAW, OR NOT?

YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THAT GETTING IT UP AND RUNNING, AND REGULATING IT IN A LOGICAL, UNDERSTANDABLE WAY FOR PEOPLE IS PROBABLY THE BEST BET.

>> AFTER WAITING NEARLY FOUR YEARS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COMPLETE ITS INVESTIGATION INTO THE NUCLEAR BAILOUT BRIBERY SCANDAL, STATE OFFICIALS THE STATE ENERGY IN THE EXECUTIVE AS WELL AS THE CHAIR, SAMUEL OBAMA.

THEY SAY IT WILL RESUME ITS INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT WENT AS WE SEE WHERE ALL THESE INVESTIGATIONS LEAD, THE SYSTEM THAT LED TO THE CRIMES REMAINS IN PLACE.

WE HAVE WATCHED THIS INDUSTRY FOR A LONG TIME.

THE FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN FEDERAL PRISON, AND THERE REALLY IS NO MOVEMENT TO CHANGE HOW THEY OPERATE.

>> AND MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN THE PUCO WAS FIRST FORMED, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MORE NEUTRAL.

RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS TO BE TOTALLY PRO-UTILITY EVEN THOUGH IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE CONSUMERS REPRESENTED ON THEIR OWN, AND ALL THAT STUFF.

THERE IS A LOT OF WAITING ONE SIDE VERSUS THE OTHER ON THE VALUE OF THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT.

AND CONSUMER CAPITAL HAS BEEN STRIPPED OF ALL AUTHORITY.

JOHN KASICH PRETTY MUCH DEFUNDED THAT OFFICE.

>> THE CONSUMER'S COUNSEL, BEING THE OFFICE THAT IS GRANT PERRY FUNDED TO TO SEND RATEPAYERS OF THEIR LAWYERS.

AND IT WAS SORT OF A GROUNDBREAKING OFFICE WHEN OHIO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA, BACK IN THE '70S, I THINK.

YEAH, THEN IT HAS SORT OF BEEN STRIPPED OF ALL OF ITS POWER.

>> IF YOU COULD PICK ONE CHANGE FOR THE OHIO STATE THE REGULATORY UTILITY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

>> THIS IS THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT UTILITIES.

THIS IS A NATIONAL CONVERSATION HAPPENING ABOUT HOW WE CAN HAVE BETTER UTILITY POLICY.

UTILITIES TO THIS POINT HAVE A LOT OF POWER, THEY ARE GOVERNMENT CREATED MONOPOLIES, THAT CAN ALSO BE ON THE STOCK MARKET AND PAY THEIR CEOS, LIKE WE SEE, $60 MILLION, AND DO STOCK BUYBACKS, PAY DIVIDENDS, AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE UNLESS WE HAVE STRONG REGULATORS IN THOSE POSITIONS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY ON SOME OF THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING WE DO, WE WENT TO THE STREET, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE CONSUMERS, AND LIVING UP TO THE MISSION OF PROTECTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST, WHICH IS THE PUCO MISSION, THEN YOU NEED TO RAISE ATTENTION IN A GRASSROOTS WAY TO SAY, CONSUMERS CAN'T TAKE ENOUGH PRICE HIKES.

>> WE HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN UTILITY, SO IT IS PRETTY COMPLICATED.

WHAT ABOUT A REVOLVING DOOR LOCK?

YOU CAN'T SERVE FOR PUCO IF YOU HAVE BEEN A LOBBYIST, OR EXECUTIVE FOR TWO YEARS, FIVE YEARS.

WHAT IF YOU HAVE NEVER WORKED FOR A UTILITY?

BUT OF COURSE, THAT WAS THE REASON WHY HE WAS PICKED, BECAUSE HE HAD THAT UTILITY BACKGROUND THAT EVERYONE FELT THAT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE.

NOW, WE HAVE TO DECIDE, DO WE WANT SOMEONE WITH UTILITY EXPERIENCE, OR DO WE WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST GOING TO BE FAIR ABOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS?

AND I DON'T THINK THAT HAS BEEN DECIDED.

I DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE TO BE LAW EXPERTS, OR SIT ON THE PUCO.

JOURNALISTS LEARN ABOUT IT TO A WHERE WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT, WHEN PEOPLE ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF, BY READING IT ON A PIECE OF PAPER, YOU KNOW?

PEOPLE CAN HAVE A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF INTELLIGENCE AND REGULATE AN INDUSTRY THEY ARE NOT EMBEDDED WITH.

>> WE TALK ABOUT SIZE DEALS, WHERE BIG CONSUMERS GET A SPECIAL RATE.

SHOULD THOSE BE LIMITED?

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE, I THINK THERE IS THIS RED HERRING THAT YOU HAVE TO BE SOME ACTUAL MAPPSBURG --ACTUAL EXPERT TO MAKE A DECISION, HERE IS GIVING AMAZON BRAKES ON THEIR UTILITY BILLS.

YOU NEED TO HAVE A PHD IN ENERGY POLICY TO SAY THAT IS A BAD IDEA?

THEY ARE TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED.

>> WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT PUCO INVESTIGATION.

>>> TIME NOW FOR OFF THE RECORD PARTY SHOTS.

MORGAN, YOU ARE FIRST.

>> THERE IS A CASE WE ARE HEARING TO BE FILED AROUND THE KROGER-ALBERTSON'S MERGER.

KROGER BASED IN OHIO IS TRYING TO ACQUIRE A GROCERY CHAIN BASED IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE SAYING THAT COULD RAISE PRICES, IT HURT WORKERS, UNLESS THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION DECIDES TO INTERVENE.

>> SUMMER IS COMING, AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE OHIO STATE FAIR ANNOUNCED THE FIRST COUPLE ACTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PERFORMING AT THE STATE FAIR.

ONE OF THEM, BEING ALABAMA.

>> INTERESTING.

YOU ARE A BIG ALABAMA FAN, I THINK?

>> NO, NOT REALLY.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> WELL, WE HAVE EARLY VOTING STARTING THIS WEEK.

IT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE THE LEVEL OF INTEREST IN THIS RACE, AND SEE HOW IT CONTRASTS OR COMPARES WITH 2023, WHEN HORDES OF PEOPLE CAME TO THE POLLS.

IT WILL BE TELLING, THEN, ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE SENATE RACE.

>> A TRICKY LETTER CAME OUT FROM THE DEMOCRATS.

RESET ALL POLITICS, BUT THEY REQUESTED FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS, ALMOST CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THE DeWINE ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL OF THESE HANGING ISSUES, THESE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING UP, A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN WRITING ABOUT IT, READING ABOUT IT, AND WATCHING IT ON OUR TVS.

JUMP IN AND SORT THIS OUT FOR US, BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT OURSELVES.

DAVE WAS COPIED ON THAT LETTER, AS WELL.

>> WE WILL SEE, MAN.

HE MIGHT COME TO THAT.

>> THEY HAVE GREAT TIES LIKE I HAVE, LIKE BOB HAS.

THEY ARE WEARING THE TRUMP UNIFORM, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GOLD SNEAKERS?

WE WILL HAVE TO GET A HOLD OF THEM BEFORE TRUMP COMES TO TOWN.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE.

WATCHES ANY TIME ON HER WEBSITE AND THE PBS STUDIO APP, AS WELL AS YOUTUBE.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!