>>> VACCINE VOTES COME TO AEND AT THE STATE HOUSE FOR NOW.

>> THE STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR OHIO PUBLIC RADIO, BOB CLEG REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND PRESIDENT AT INNOVATION OHIO DOWNUS.

>>> FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS FALL, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS TRIED TO FIND A WAY TO LIMIT COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES.

BUT ONCE AGAIN THEY COULD NOT AGREE ON HOW TO DO IT.

ONE SIDE OF THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE WANTS TO BAN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MANDATES ALTOGETHER.

THE OTHER SIDE WANTS TO GIVE BUSINESSES THE FREEDOM TO REQUIRE WHAT THEY WANT OF THEIR WORKERS.

AFTER THE LAST ATTEMPT AT COMPROMISE FAILED, HOUSE SPEAKER BOB CUPP SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M DONE.

>> I THINK WE'VE OUT IN COUNTLESS HOURS, NOT ONLY WEEKS, BUT MONTHS ON THIS BILL WITH ALL KINDS OF INPUT.

SO IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON TO OTHER IMPORTANT TOPICS THAT ARE FACING OHIOANS, THAT ARE BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> DOES THAT MEAN THE BILL IS DEAD?

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING ON TO OTHER TOPICS NOW.

>> IS THERE END AT THE LAW MAKING AT THE STATE HOUSE AT THIS POINT?

>> YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW IT IS.

WHO KNOWS?

ANY GIVEN HOUR IT COULD CHANGE.

WE SAW THAT WAS WHAT HOUSE SPEAKER BOB CUPP HAD SAID.

AND THEN THE NEXT DAY THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE HEALTH COMMITTEE SAID THEY WANTED TO HOLD ANOTHER HEARING ON THE BAN ON ALL VACCINE MANDATES.

AND THEN ONCE AGAIN, BOB CUPP HAD TO SAY, NO, YOU HAVE TO CANCEL THAT MEETING.

THAT HEARING CANNOT HAPPEN.

SO THERE IS DEFINITELY IN FIGHTING WITHIN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS RIGHT NOW AS TO WHERE TO GO.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO FORGET THE ISSUE, MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS LIKE SPORTS BETTING AND OTHER PEOPLE SAY THAT THIS IS ALL THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT'S THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FACING THE STATE.

>> BOB, WHY COULDN'T THEY COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE?

THIS LEGISLATURE IS, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN PRETTY UNIFORM IN THEIR PREVIOUS VOTES ON HEALTH REQUIREMENTS AND HEALTH MANDATES.

THIS ONE THEY COULDN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON.

>> NO.

LIKE ANDY SAID, THEY JUST COULD NOT COME TO ANY CONSENSUS WITHIN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

OBVIOUSLY DEMOCRATS SIDE IS AGAINST ANYTHING THEY MAY TRY TO DO.

SO THEY HAD TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH THE CAUCUS ALL IN LINE WITH WHATEVER PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS GOING TO BE PUT FORWARD.

THEY JUST COULDN'T GET THERE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, YET OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OTHERS WHO WERE NOT THRILLED ABOUT THIS BILL AND I THINK THAT PLAYED SOME PART IN SOME OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS AND THEIR THINKING ABOUT IT.

I THINK THE SPEAKER IS SMART THOUGH TO JUST SAY, HEY, THIS IS -- THIS WEEK WE CAN'T GET ANY CONSENSUS.

LET'S JUST MOVE ON AND START DEALING WITH OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE EQUAL IF NOT GREATER IMPORTANCE.

>> BOB, DOES THIS SHOW THE FAR RIGHT IS PRETTY POWERFUL IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR THE PAST EIGHT OR TEN YEARS?

DOES THIS SHOW THAT MORE BUSINESS FUNDING FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, YOU CALL THEM THE MORE MODERATE SIDE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SHEDS STRENGTH ON THIS DEBATE?

>> I MEAN, WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE 60-SOME MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE 15 OF THEM NOT WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH LEGISLATION, IT'S DEAD.

SO YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE THAT MANY MEMBERS IN THE CAUCUS TO STOP LEGISLATION.

YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S A WHOLE RANGE OF BELIEFS ON THIS ISSUE.

AND SURE THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE NOT AS STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THESE KINDS OF BANS THAN OTHERS.

AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THEY JUST COULDN'T GET A MAJORITY IN THE CAUCUS TO AGREE ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

>> DESIREE, WHERE WERE DEMOCRATS DURING ALL THIS?

HOW DO YOU SEE THE ROLE THEY PLAYED IN THIS?

>> I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN STRONG CHAMPIONS OF VACCINE MANDATES AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A SHOT.

I'M THRILLED THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS DEAD.

THE I HOPE IT IS AS DEAD AS THE IMPACT IT HAD ON THE PUBLIC IF IT WERE TO PASS INTO LAW.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT VACCINES WORK.

WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGHT OUR WAY THROUGH COVID-19.

AND LEGISLATORS SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON DEFEATING COVID-19 AND GETTING US BACK ON TRACK AND BACK TO NORMAL AND NOT SPENDING TIME ON BANNING VACCINE MANDATES.

WE KNOW VACCINES WORK.

>> THE FEDERAL VACCINE MANDATE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN PROPOSED TO KICK IN, HE HASN'T SET A DATE WHEN THIS MIGHT START.

IS THAT ANOTHER TIME TO WATCH WHEN THE LAWMAKERS MIGHT SAY IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STARTS REQUIRING COMPANIES OF 100 EMPLOYEES OR MORE TO GET THE VACCINE, THEN THEY MIGHT REKINDLED AT THE STATE HOUSE?

>> WELL THAT, WAS REALLY THE STORM THAT HOUSE REPUBLICANS WERE KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS WHOLE TIME.

THAT WAS SORT OF THE REASON WHY THEY REALLY WANTED TO KIND OF PUSH THIS FORWARD.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THIS PRESSING ISSUE.

THE OTHER THING THEY HAD TO REALIZE IS WITHOUT A BIG MAJORITY TO PASS AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE, ANYTHING THAT THEY PASS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 90 DAYS.

AT THAT POINT WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME TIME IN THE NEW YEAR WHEN THIS BILL WOULD ACTUALLY GO INTO LAW.

AND SO WHEN IS THAT BIDEN RULE COMING DOWN THE PIKE?

IT WOULDN'T HAVE IMPACTED PEOPLE IN OHIO -- THE VACCINE EXEMPTIONS OR ANY BAN ON VACCINE MANDATES.

WHAT IMPACT PEOPLE IN OHIO WHEN IT CAME TO THE BIDEN RULE UNTIL 90 DAYS FROM NOW.

THE SO THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THEY WERE FIGHTING ALL ALONG.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS THAT, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THERE WERE SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE OHIO HOUSE THAT WANTED TO WORK ON VACCINE ISSUES TO FIND A WAY TO LIMIT, RESTRICT OR BAN VACCINE MANDATES.

BUT IT WAS A VERY SMALL GROUP OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS.

IT DID GET A LITTLE BIT LARGER BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 ISSUE.

BUT WHAT I THINK WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS A SORT OF RESETTLING OF THE DUST WHERE MOST OF THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING BACK TO THE MIDDLE ON THIS ISSUE.

>> YEAH.

THIS ISSUE WILL END.

BOB CUPP SAYS IT'S DONE FOR NOW.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER PROPOSAL TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA FOR EVERY OHIO ADULT, NOT JUST FOR THOSE WITH A MEDICAL REASON TO USE IT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME A PAIR OF REPUBLICANS HAVE PROPOSED IT.

STATE REPS JAMIE CALLENDER AND RON FERGUSON WANT TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA FOR ANYONE 21 AND OLDER.

THEY WANT TO EXPAND THE CURRENT MEDICAL MARIJUANA SYSTEM.

AND THEY WANT TO TAX SALES AT A RATE OF 10%.

THE PROBLEM IS THE HOUSE SPEAKER, THE SENATE PRESIDENT, THE GOVERNOR, AND ALL BUT A FEW OF THEIR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES >> IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE, BUT I THINK THIS IS DOABLE.

IT'S ABOUT PERSONAL FREEDOM.

IT'S ABOUT MOVING THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY FORWARD.

IT'S ABOUT GOING WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING ANYWAY.

SOMEONE MENTIONED LEADERSHIP, THIS IS ALMOST FOLLOWING BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF OHIOANS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ALREADY.

>> THESE TWO ARE IN THE MINORITY NOW, THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

A HANDFUL OF FOLKS WOULD SIGN ON TO THIS.

BUT THIS BILL COULD GAIN IMPORTANCE IN THE BALLOT EFFORT GAINS SOME TRACTION.

>> WELL, MIKE, YOU KNOW I HAVE MY OWN BIAS IN THIS WHOLE ISSUE AREA BECAUSE I WAS INVOLVED IN THE LAST BALLOT ISSUE IN 2015 TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.

AND IT DIDN'T SUCCEED.

OBVIOUSLY.

THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO ASK THEMSELVES A QUESTION.

DO THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA?

OR ARE THEY GOING TO LET SOMEBODY ELSE TAKE IT OFF THEIR HANDS?

ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE CASINO ISSUE AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY MOVE ON THAT.

THAT WAS -- ENDED UP PASSING ON A BALLOT ISSUE.

AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM HAD PROBLEMS WITH WHAT WAS PASSED.

AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

WHEN YOU DON'T ADDRESS THE ISSUE, THEN SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO ADDRESS IT.

AND IF THEY CAN GET A MAJORITY OF OHIOANS TO VOTE FOR IT, THEN IT, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES AN AMENDMENT.

AND THERE IS NOT A LOT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT UNLESS THEY WANT TO TRY TO GO BACK IN AND MAKE CHANGES.

THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT.

SO THAT IS A QUESTION THEY HAVE TO ASK THEMSELVES.

>> ANDY CHOW, BEHIND THE SCENES, THESE FOLKS AREN'T GETTING LEFT OFF THE STAGE, ARE THEY?

THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THIS BILL COULD BECOME LAW IF THEY GET ENOUGH SIGNATURES ON THE BALLOT.

>> THAT'S A GOOD WAY OF PUTTING IT.

HOURS BEFORE THE REPRESENTATIVE INTRODUCED HIS MEASURE, WE WERE TALKING TO HOUSE SPEAKER BOB CUPP ABOUT IT.

JAMIE WAS IN THAT ROOM.

WE ASKED BOB CUPP WHAT DO YOU BY THIS THIS BILL?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT A MEMBER OF YOUR OWN PARTY INTRODUCING A BILL TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA FOR PERSONAL USE?

HE SAID HE DIDN'T READ THE BILL.

AND HE SAID YOU DIDN'T READ THE BILL YET?

WE HAVE HOUSE DEMOCRATS PROPOSING.

THIS WE HAVE SOME HOUSE REPUBLICANS PROPOSING THIS.

THE WE HAVE CITIZENS INITIATIVE THAT IS A STATUE, AN INITIATED STATUTE.

IT ISN'T GOING TO THE CONSTITUTION BUT IT WOULD COMPEL THE LEGISLATORS TO PUT SOMETHING INTO THE OHIO REVISED CODE.

SO YOU HAVE THREE THINGS MAINLY LINED UP ON TOP OF EACH OTHER REALLY SHOWING THAT THERE IS MOMENTUM ON THIS ISSUE.

BUT YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF BIG GOALTENDERS IN THE WAY.

YOU HAVE BOB CUPP WHO SAYS HE'S NOT FOR IT AND THEN GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE WHO IS NOT FOR IT EITHER.

>> ALABAMA LEGALIZED MARIJUANA AND SO HAS MASSACHUSETTS.

TWO VERY DIFFERENT STATES.

MICHIGAN ALSO LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL POT.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS BAN?

IS IT JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE OHIO JOINS THE 18 STATES THAT HAVE DONE IT?

>> I'M VERY REPUBLICAN.

I FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW MUCH MONEY OHIO IS LOSING TO MICHIGAN.

IT'S A SHAME THAT PEOPLE CAN BUY MARIJUANA A KNEW MILES UP THE ROAD WHILE OTHER OHIOANS ARE STILL BEING ARRESTED AND CHARGES FOR THE EXACT SAME SUBSTANCE.

WE'VE SEEN FORMER REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JOHN BOEHNER ADVOCATE FOR LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

WE'VE SEEN OTHER ADVOCATES SUPPORTS THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

SO I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR CHANCES OF GETTING THAT PASSED.

HOPEFULLY THE REST OF THE REPUBLICANS WILL WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.

>> YOU SAID YOU WORKED ON THE BILL IN 2015.

WE HAD THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA SYSTEM IN PLACE NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA SYSTEM?

WHAT MIGHT OHIO DO DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME AROUND?

>> WELL, I THINK THE ONLY REASON WE HAVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA NOW IN OHIO IS BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE IN 2015, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD ARGUMENTS FOR LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

A LOT OF THEM REVOLVED AROUND THE MEDICAL SIDE OF IT.

SO THAT FINALLY PUSHED THEM TO ADDRESS AT LEAST THAT PART OF IT.

I THINK WHAT I HAVE SEEN SINCE THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA HAS BECOME LEGAL IS THE FOOT DRAGGING BY THE STATE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT.

YOU CAN TELL THEY REALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DO THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT IT IN PLACE.

AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE.

BUT IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET IT GOING.

>> AND THERE ARE STILL ESTABLISHMENT THAT'S HAVE YET TO OPEN IN THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA SYSTEM.

>> THE U.S. SENATE RACE HAS BEEN KIND OF QUIET.

BUT CANDIDATES LOOKING TO SUCCEED ROB PORTMAN ARE BUSY, MAINLY RAISING MONEY AND COLLECTING ENDORSEMENTS.

THIS WEEK DEMOCRAT TIM RYAN PICKED UP THE OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT OF SENATOR SHERROD BROWN.

RYAN'S COMPETITOR MORGAN HARPER SAYS SHE'S OFF TO A GOOD FUND-RAISING START.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, BUSINESSMAN BERNIE MORENO CLAIMS HE'S RAISING A LOT OF MONEY AS DOES AUTHOR J.D.

VANCE.

AND THIS WEEK JOSH MANDEL GOT ESCORTED OUT OF A SUBURBAN CINCINNATI SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AFTER HE WAS ACCUSED OF DISRUPTING IT.

>> FIRST TO THE TIM RYAN ENDORSING TIM RYAN.

NO SURPRISE.

VERY SIMILAR POLITICIANS.

NOT A BIG SURPRISE THAT SHERROD BROWN IS DOING IT.

WHAT ABOUT THE TIMING?

SHOULD HE HAVE ENDORSED HIM THIS EARLY WHEN HE HAS NO OPPONENT.

>> BROWN IS A POPULAR SENATOR WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

I THINK SENATOR BROWN'S ENDORSEMENT CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT.

IT WAS A BIG GET FOR CONGRESSMAN TIM RYAN TO SECURE THAT ENDORSEMENT SO EARLY.

SHERROD BROWN'S ENDORSEMENT MEANS A LOT IN THIS STATE.

A PAST CANDIDATE, IT IS A COVETED ENDORSEMENT THAT EVERYONE WANTS.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO CONGRESSMAN RYAN FOR SECURING THAT BIG, BIG, BIG ENDORSEMENT.

>> IS THIS A WAY TO BLOCK ANY EXCITEMENT THAT MORGAN HARPER MAY GENERATE IN HER CAMPAIGN.

SHE SAID SHE RAISED HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE FIRST SIX WEEKS OF HER CAMPAIGN.

>> ANY CANDIDATE WHO CAN RAISE MONEY HAS A SHOT.

AND SO DON'T TAKE MORGAN HARPER FOR GRANTED.

I'M EXCITED THAT WE HAVE A PRIMARY AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE OUR FINAL CANDIDATE THAT MUCH SHARPER AND STRONGER ON THE ISSUES.

>> BO CLEGG.

HOW DO YOU MAKE UP THE FUND-RAISING NUMBERS AS THEY'RE COMING UP NOW?

VANCE, $2 MILLION.

>> WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE THE GUYS THAT HAVE MONEY, THE GUYS AND GIRLS BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT ON OUR SIDE TOO, YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT HAVE MONEY ARE PUTTING THEIR MONEY IN IT WHICH IS SMART.

YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO PUT IN ARE RAISING MONEY BUT NOT AS -- YOU KNOW, AS FAST OF A CLIP AS YOU WOULD EXPECT.

YOU KNOW, BERNIE MORENO, NO ONE KNOWS WHO HE S THE AVERAGE REPUBLICAN CONTRIBUTOR PLUS WE HAVE SO MANY CANDIDATES ON OUR SIDE RUNNING THAT YOU KNOW, POT IS ONLY SO BIG.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR ANY ONE OF THOSE CANDIDATES TO GET THAT LARGE OF A SHARE OF REPUBLICAN CONTRIBUTORS.

BUT, I MEAN, I AM HAPPY THEY'RE ALL RUNNING.

THEY THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD -- I DO TOO -- THAT WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF HOLDING THIS SEAT.

SO IT'S LIKE ONCE IN A LIFETIME SITUATION FOR A REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN.

>> ANDY CHOW, WE DIDN'T GET THE OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE NUMBERS.

WE'LL GET THEM LATER ON FRIDAY.

WE RECORD THIS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

BUT THE FACT THAT THE CANDIDATES, THERE IS STILL FEAR.

THEY'RE ALL CLAIMING TO BE RAISING MONEY AT A DECENT CLIP.

THAT LEADS YOU TO THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO STAY IN FOR A WHILE.

ALL OF THEM WILL STAY IN FOR A WHILE.

IT WILL BE CROWDED FOR A WHILE.

>> USUALLY IN THE PAST WE DO SEE OTHERS JUMP IN AND SAY I'M GOING TO LOAN MYSELF MONEY AND PUT MY OWN MONEY INTO THIS AND THEY NEVER DO.

THE FACT THAT YOU DO HAVE SEVERAL CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE SENATE WHO ARE REALLY PUTTING THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS AT THIS POINT DOES SHOW HOW SERIOUS THEY ARE.

AND I DO WONDER HOW IMPORTANT THEY BELIEVE THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE WHEN IT COMES TO MAYBE ATTRACTING THE POTENTIAL ENDORSEMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP MAYBE WHOEVER RAISES THE MOST THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO THINK THAT THEY CAN BE THE BIGGEST SELL TO GET THAT COVETED ENDORSEMENT FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND SO WHAT YOU DO SEE IS PEOPLE LIKE MORENO, J.D.

VANCE PUTTING IN THEIR OWN MONEY.

YOU HAVE JOSH MANDEL WHO IS A HARD WORKER.

HE IS GOING AROUND KNOCKING ON DOORS.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY BUTTING IN THE WORK SO EARLY IN THIS RACE.

YOU MENTIONED TIM RYAN GETTING THE ENDORSEMENT OVER MORGAN HARPER.

THE FACT THAT SHERROD BROWN CAME OUT SO EARLY AND SAID, HEY, THIS IS THE PERSON I'M GOING TO ENDORSE, RIGHT BEFORE THE CAM PAWN FINANCE DEADLINE WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN MAYBE A BIG BOOST IN THE NUMBERS AT THE END, TOO, IS REALLY TELLING OF HOW SERIOUSLY THEY'RE TAKING THIS RACE ON THAT SIDE AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

BOB CLEGG, JOSH MANDEL, GOP SIDE IN ALL LIKELIHOOD.

BUT HE IS SWEETING STUFF THAT IS VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

MANY TIMES FALSE.

YOU MENTION THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

WHY THEY TALK ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY, MASKS, CHECK BOOKS, HE WAS TREASURER.

I FORGET WHAT HE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.

HE WAS ESCORTED OUT.

HE WAS VIDEOTAPING THE WHOLE THING.

DOES THIS KIND OF STUFF HELP OR HURT HIS CAMPAIGN IN THE LONG RUN?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, YOU WANT YOUR NAME OUT THERE.

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

HE ALREADY GOT THE -- ALL THE CANDIDATES ARE ON OUR SIDE.

HE HAS THE BEST NAME ID OF ALL OF THEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS HE TALKED ABOUT, THE ENDORSEMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, WELL, WE COULD HAVE A SITUATION WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T ENDORSE.

IF HE DOESN'T, THEN I THINK JOSH MANDEL IS PROBABLY BEST PLACED TO WIN IT BECAUSE HE'S RUN STATEWIDE TWICE ALREADY AND WON BOTH TIMES.

AS YOU KNOW, HE DOES A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING HIS NAME OUT THERE.

SO IF YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT -- IF THIS IS GOING TO BE BASED ON WHO HAS THE BEST NAME ID, YOU KNOW, HE'S OUT IN FRONT.

ON THAT PART.

>> THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL PART.

MAYBE THAT'S HIS TACTIC.

>> THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS HAS GONE SILENT.

THE SPECIAL COMMISSION HAS UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP DEMOCRATS WILL ACCEPT, OTHERWISE THE PROCESS GOES BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE.

ON THE SIDELINES REPUBLICANS SAY SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JENNIFER BRUNNER SHOULD RECUSE HERSELF FROM A CASE CHALLENGING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE MAPS.

THE STATE GOP SAYS BRUNNER, A DEMOCRAT, CAMPAIGNED ON THE ISSUES LAST YEAR AND THAT SHOULD DISQUALIFY HER.

THIS COMES AFTER JUSTICE PAT DEWINE, A REPUBLICAN, AND SON OF THE GOVERNOR, REFUSED TO RECUSE HUM SELF FROM THE CASE, EVEN THOUGH MIKE DEWINE IS A DEFENDANT.

DESIREE TIMES, SHE DID MENTION THIS DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

SHE SAID THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

SHE RAN FOR SUPREME COURT.

DOES THAT -- SHOULD THAT DISQUALIFY HER FROM RULING ON IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I THINK THAT CLAIM IS GIVEN THAT DEWINE'S SON IS ALSO A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

AND REFUSES TO RECUSE HIMSELF.

EVERYONE SHOULD SUPPORT THE MATCH REGARDLESS OF YOUR BATTY.

WE SHOULD BAN JERRY MANDERING.

THAT'S WHY OHIOANS VOTE FOR A FAIR PROCESS TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

I THINK THAT OUTRAGEOUS CLAIM IS ABSOLUTELY LAUGHABLE.

>> BOB CLEGG, IS THIS A WAY TO BLUNT THE CRITICISM HE IS FACING BY NOT RECUSING HIMSELF?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT THE THING ABOUT JENNIFER BRUNNER WAS THE FACT THAT ERIC HOLDER DID FUND-RAISING FOR HER SUPREME COURT RACE AND HE IS FRONT AND CENTER HIS MAIN BATTLE RIGHT NOW IS TRYING TO GET MORE DEMOCRAT LINES IN A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN STATES.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SAYING SHE SHOULD RECUSE HERSELF.

BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, THE -- LET'S GET HONEST HERE.

JENNIFER BRUNNER IS GOING TO VOTE FOR WHAT SHE THINKS WILL HELP GET BETTER DEMOCRAT LINES.

MIKE -- PAT DEWINE IS GOING TO VOTE FOR WHAT HE FEELS ARE GOING TO BE BEST FOR REPUBLICANS AND REPUBLICAN LINES.

OKAY?

ONE IS A DEMOCRAT, ONE IS A REPUBLICAN.

I'M GLAD THE STATE HAS GOTTEN RID OF THIS CHARADE AND WE'RE NOW GOING TO HAVE PARTY LABELS ON SUPREME COURT CANDIDATES.

BECAUSE THEY ARE PARTISAN.

I'M SORRY, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

YOU KNOW, JUDGING BY WHAT IS LEGAL AND FAIR, COME ON.

THEY'RE PARTISAN.

THEY ARE.

AND THEY'RE ACTING THAT WAY.

AND THEY RUN FOR ELECTION AS PARTISANS.

THAT'S WHY ERIC HOLDER IS FUND-RAISING FOR JENNIFER BRUNNER.

THAT'S WHY MIKE DEWINE HELPED HIS SON FUNDRAISE ON HIS RACE.

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S JUST ADMIT IT AND MOVE ON.

>> YEAH.

ANDY CHOW, WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

IT'S IN THE HANDS OF THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A VOTE AND HAVE A LEAD TO COME UP WITH MAPS.

WILL THERE BE A SCARE TO THE DEMOCRATS AS LAST ONE?

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE A TRICK OR TREAT?

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING?

>> YEAH.

>> TO ALSO CLARIFY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT CASE THAT'S ARE SITTING IN THE OHIO SUPREME COURT.

THAT IS OVER THE STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND NOW THE OHIO REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE IS LOOKING AT DRAWING THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LINES AND THAT'S THE DUE DATE THEY HAVE BY THE END OF THE MOVEMENT WE TALKED TO BOB CUPP.

ONCE AGAIN HIS NAME IS COMING UP.

HE IS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE OHIO REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE.

HE'S ITS ONE THAT CAN CALL EVERYBODY TOGETHER A LONG WITH DEMOCRATIC SENATORS AND HE IS SAYING, CUPP IS SAYING HE'S NOT GOING TO CALL THE OHIO REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TOGETHER UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A MAP TO WORK ON.

NOW IN THE PAST IT'S BEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE CAUCUSES CREATING A MAP AND THEN PROPOSING IT TO THE COMMISSION.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S THE ROUTE THEY'RE GOING TO GO THIS TIME.

LAST TIME WAS STATE LEGISLATIVE MAPS.

THEY HELD A BUNCH OF HEARINGS FIRST AND THEN HAD SOME MAPS INTRODUCED.

THIS TIME AROUND, HE SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO BRING EVERYBODY TABLE UNLESS THEY HAVE A PROPOSAL INNOCENT FROF THEM.

>> IT APPEARS DELAWARE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH SOLAR ENERGY.

AS FIRST REPORTED BY THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, THE COUNTY IS MOVING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A NEW STATE LAW THAT ALLOWS COMMISSIONERS TO STOP SOLAR OR WIND FARMS.

COMMISSIONERS CITED DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS AND THEY FEAR A LACK OF OHIO SUNSHINE.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS SAY THE MOVE COULD COST THE COUNTY TAX DOLLARS AND LAND OWNERS A GUARANTEED SOURCE OF INCOME.

>> ANDY CHOW, IS THIS THE FIRST OF MANY COUNTIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OF THIS LAW, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

THE INTERESTING THING HERE IS WHEN THE BILL IS IN THE STATE HOUSE, MOST OF THE COUNTIES THAT WERE FIGHTING FOR THIS CAME FROM THE NORTHEAST PART OF OHIO.

THAT SEE A LOT OF WIND TURBINES AND FARMS BEING PUT UP IN THEIR AREA.

THE IDEA OF SOLAR FARMS WASN'T THAT CONTROVERSIAL AND IT HASN'T BEEN THAT CONTROVERSIAL.

SO THE FACT THAT NOT A NORTHEAST OHIO COUNTY BUT CENTRAL OHIO COUNTY LIKE DELAWARE COMING IN AND USING THE LAW CREATED THROUGH SENATE BILL 52 TO STOP A INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT.

THIS PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ARE INTO THE RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY ARE LOOKING AT OHIO AND LOOKING AT HOW THE LAWS ARE APPLIED TO SAY IS OHIO REALLY THE BEST PLACE TO COME IN AND INVEST?

THE FACT THAT, AGAIN, A CENTRAL OHIO COUNTY CREATING AN AREA TO NOT ALLOW A SOLAR FARM IS A PRETTY INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT.

>> BOB CLEGG, IS THIS A BRUISE ON DELAWARE'S PRIDE?

THEY GAVE UP A LOT OF TAX MONEY.

MAYBE AMAZON WOULD RELOCATE IN DELAWARE IF THERE WAS A SOLAR FARM NEXT DOOR?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY TRIED TO DO AN AMAZON FACILITY IN DELAWARE COUNTY IN THE AREA WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO DO THE RESIDENCE, YOU KNOW, WERE FIGHTING IT AND THIS ENDED UP NOT DOING IT.

DELAWARE COUNTY IS A COUNTY THAT REALLY DOESN'T NEED THE TAX REVENUE THAT MUCH.

THE SOUTHERN PORTION IS VERY BOOMING.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I MEAN, ONE OF THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES IS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT.

AND THAT INCLUDES THE FARMLAND THAT IS UP NORTH IN DELAWARE COUNTY.

SO WITHIN THEIR RIGHT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

I JUST DON'T -- THE ONLY THING I DON'T LIKE IS I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE WHO OWN LAND BEING TOLD WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH IT.

AND THAT'S JUST ME.

I DON'T LIKE GOVERNMENT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH LAND THAT THEY OWN.

>> OKAY.

>> THAT'S MY ONLY PROBLEM FOR IT.

>> OKAY.

TIME FOR OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD.

WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> YEAH.

BASICALLY, OHIO STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REJECTED AND REPAIRED AN ANTI-RACISM RESOLUTION AND WE'RE SEEING THIS HAPPEN ALL ACROSS THE STATE WITH EXTREMISTS RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARDS IN THE NAME OF BEING ANTI-CRITICAL RACE THEORISTS.

IT'S IMPORTANT NOW TO VOTE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS.

VOTE NOW OR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2nd OF THIS YEAR AND VOTE ALL THE WAY DOWN YOUR BALLOT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PRO PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> BOB CLEGG?

>> THIS WEEK WE HAD TWO ECONOMIC STATISTICS THAT CAME OUT.

ONE BEING THAT INFLATION FROM THE LAST YEAR IS NOW 5.4%, THE HIGHEST IN OVER 13 YEARS.

AND 4.3 MILLION PEOPLE QUIT THEIR JOBS IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST.

WE HAVE SOME CRITICAL ECONOMIC ISSUES WITH INFLATION, WORKER SHORTAGE THAT WASHINGTON JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO DEAL WITH OR EVEN ADMIT EXISTS.

>> GOOD.

ANDY CHOW?

YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> THE SUPREME COURT ONCE AGAIN CAME DOWN WITH A RULING THAT SORT OF UNTETHERED THE DECISION THAT ALLOWED FIRSTENERGY TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT THE OHIO SUPREME COURT SAID WAS NOT GOOD FOR CONSUMERS.

.

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THREE YEARS SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOOKING INTO THE BRIBERY CASE.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THE POLICIES THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS CREATED FOR FIRSTENERGY SORT OF GO AWAY.

>> OKAY.

>> IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS, BUT RUNNERS WILL BE BACK ON THE COLUMBUS MARATHON COURSE THIS WEEKEND.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THOSE RUNNING THE FULL AND HALF MARATHONS AND CONGRATS TO THE ORGANIZERS FOR DOING THEIR BEST TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.

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

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