>> OPPOSITION TO OHIO DATA CENTERS GROWS.

DOES OHIO HAVE TOO MANY UNIVERSITIES?

?

?

?

?

>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

ONCE THE PIONEERS OF THE ICON HEARTLAND, DATA CENTERS ARE FALLING OUT OF FAVOR.

AT FIRST THEY WERE WELCOMED AS THE TECH INDUSTRY STARTED TO GROW IN OHIO.

OHIO HAS 200 OF THE CENTERS WITH MORE ON THE WAY.

THEY ARE GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER AS COMPUTING NEEDS GROW.

THAT HAS PUT PRESSURE ON ELECTRIC GRIDS, INCREASED DEMAND HAS LED TO RISING UTILITY BILLS.

THEY NEED A LOT OF WATER.

DATA CENTERS ARE ENCROACHING ON SUBURBAN SUBDIVISIONS AND EATING UP FARMLAND.

THIS WEEK, A GROUP BEGAN AN EFFORT TO ASK VOTERS TO BAN LARGE DATA CENTERS IN OHIO.

WHERE IS THIS ALL COMING FROM?

IS IT ONE THING THAT'S FUELLING THE OPPOSITION OR A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS?

>> I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE STRANDS OF ORGANIZING GOING ON HERE.

I KIND OF PUT IT IN TWO BUCKETS.

THE FIRST IS THOSE THAT ARE DATA CENTER FIRST.

THE FOLKS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FROM AREAS.

FOLKS IN COLUMBUS THAT HAVE HAD DATA CENTERS NEXT TO THEM THAT ARE BOREWORRIED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN ADDITION TO LIFESTYLE AND PROPERTY VALUE.

THEN WE HAVE THE UTILITY FIRST ANGLE ON THIS.

PEOPLE WHO ALSO JUST FROM A COST OF LIVING PERSPECTIVE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASE ON THE GRID AND HOW IT'S IMPACTING WATER AND ELECTRICITY BILLS.

I THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE, WHEN THEY COME TOGETHER, HOW MUCH PRESSURE ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NOW ARE SEEING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> LAWMAKERS CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

WHEN GOOGLE AND AMAZON AND META STARTEDED BUILDING THEM.

NOBODY NOTICED THEM.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, LAWMAKERS ARE HEARING ABOUT IT.

>> I HAVE SPOKEN TO A VAST MAJORITY OF LEGISLATORS.

THEY ARE ALL HEARING IT.

THEY ARE ALL FEELING IT.

THEY'RE IN A TOUGH POSITION HERE.

THERE ARE ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR DATA CENTERS.

THERE ARE TAX IMPLICATIONS THAT HELP LOCAL SCHOOLS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FIND A WIN/WIN.

THIS BATTLE IS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

YOU HEARD FROM MORGAN TALKING ABOUT AN EFFORT TO PUT IN A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

BROWN COUNTY WANTS TO BAN IT.

THERE COULD BE A WIN/WIN.

MICROSOFT ANNOUNCED --OR THE SECOND TIME IN A MONTH THEY ARE WILLING TO DO FOUR THINGS.

MICROSOFT, NO TAX ABATEMENT.

THEY WILL PAY FOR THEIR OWN GRID UPGRADE.

NO MORE ON THE BACKS OF RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS.

A COUPLE OTHER THINGS, INVEST IN SCHOOLS AND THAT.

IS IT PERFECT?

IT'S A START.

WE CAN ALLOW THEM TO BE BUILT.

I DON'T WANT THEM IN MY BACKYARD.

I GET THAT.

I'M WITH YOU.

IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE'S POSITION.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CAN DO THIS.

WE HAVE TO WORK AT THE LOCAL LEVEL FIRST.

>> COMPANIES SAYING NO TAX ABATEMENT.

>> THAT'S A BUSINESS DECISION.

THEY NEED THE CENTERS TO BE BUILT.

INSTEAD OF PRESSURING FOR TAX ABATEMENT, JUST LET US BUILD IT.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

WE SEEING AT THE STATEHOUSE, THERE'S A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE AN OVERRIDE TO GET RID OF THESE TAX BREAKS FOR DATA CENTERS.

YOU ARE SEEING SOME INTERESTING BEDFELLOWS ON THIS TOPIC.

ON ONE HAND, YOU HAVE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE HEARING FROM THEIR UNION REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE SAYING, WE LIKE BUILDING THESE THINGS.

WE NEED THOSE JOBS.

THEN YOU HAVE OTHER DEMOCRATS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUEISSUES.

THE READY SIDE, THE CHAMBER SAYING WE LIKE THIS BUSINESS.

RURAL VOTERS ARE SAYING, WE DON'T WANT THESE IN OUR BACKYARD.

THERE IS AN INTERESTING MIX OF POLITICS ON THIS.

IT DOESN'T ALIGN VERY CLEARLY ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED, KAREN IN.

>> WHAT DO WE NEED?

>> A COMMISSION TO STUDY DATA CENTERS.

THAT'S WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO DO.

>> THERE'S A BILL THAT WOULD DO THAT.

WHAT WAS FUNNY IS HEARING THE TESTIMONY ON THAT.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SHOWING UP TO SAY THEY WERE OPPOSED TO DATA CENTERS.

IT'S ABOUT A COMMISSION TO STUDY THE ISSUE.

THERE ISN'T A LOT THAT WE THOUGH ABOUT DATA CENTERS INDEPENDENTLY.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DID A STUDY THAT SAYS, 95,000 JOBS ARE RELATED TO DATA CENTERS AS OF 2024.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO WITH A SAY, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE OF THAT.

I THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE DATA CENTER AMENDMENT AS WELL AS ABOLISH PROPERTY TAXES AMENDMENT.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAYBE NOT ALONG THE SAME LINES IN TERMS OF PERSPECTIVE WHO ARE SAYING, WE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT WE'RE GETTING FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS AND THE STATE.

WE WANT TO GO TO THE BALLOT AND DIRECTLY TAKE IT TO VOTERS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO GET THERE.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE BOTH OF THESE TWO CAMPS KIND OF SAYING, WE'RE FRUSTRATED.

>> I TALKED TO ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE DATA CENTER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PUSH.

THEY ARE PASSIONATE.

THEY DON'T SEEM VERY ORGANIZED.

THEY NEED 700,000 SIGNATURES BY JULY.

IT'S HARD TO DO.

>> THE OTHER THING I WOULD ADD, THE WIN/WIN PROPOSAL MIKE PUT OUT THERE, A LOT OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED DO DEPEND ON A PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO THAT IS WILLING TO DO ITS JOB AND OVERSEE THESE UTILITIES THAT ARE MAKING BILLIONS, OVERSEE THE TECH COMPANIES MAKING TRILLIONS.

DON'T NEED MORE TAX ABATEMENT.

IN A WORLD WHERE WE ALLOW THEM TO BUILD, THE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE BEING STRUCK NEED TO BE ENFORCED.

THERE IS A UTILITY BREAKDOWN, REGULATORY BREAKDOWN THAT'S CAUSING HIGHER PRICES FOR ELECTRICITY.

>> SOME OF THE DATA CENTERS ARE BUILDING POWER PLANTS NEXT DOOR.

BASICALLY, THEY ARE HUGE JET ENGINES FUELLED BY NATURAL GAS THAT WILL POWER THE PLANT.

NOT EFFICIENT.

PROBABLY COSTLY.

IS THAT A SOLUTION?

>> IT'S A PART OF THE SOLUTION.

THEY HAVE A GREAT CENTER THERE THAT IS --OTHER STATES ARE COMING TO OHIO TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE BUILDING.

THEY ARE PARTICULAR HOW THEY'RE BUILDING IT.

THEY ARE PUTTING A POWER PLANT IN.

THEY ARE PAYING FOR IT THEMSELVES.

THEY ARE TAKING THE STRESS OFF RESIDENTS.

I CAN TELL YOU FOR A FACT THAT IT'S WORKING.

THAT'S A SOLUTION FOR THEM.

THAT MIGHT NOT BE A SOLUTION FOR -- >> IT'S NOT A SOLUTION FOR MORGAN HARPER BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS MESS THAT WE WILL SOLVE THIS SUBURB BY SUBURB.

THESE ARE SYSTEMIC ISSUES.

REGULATION IS DONE AT THE STATE AND ACROSS THE REGIONAL LEVEL.

THIS IDEA THAT SOMEHOW WE CAN JUST TAKE IT THAT NEW LBANY WILL STRIKE A GOOD AND WE WILL BE OKAY IS A ALLACY.

>> THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, NEW TECHNOLOGY COMES IN.

IT'S DISRUPTIVE, WHETHER A NEW TEXTILE MILL, A SHOPPING WALL, SUBDIVISION SPRAWL.

IS THIS THE LATEST CHAPTER IN THIS EVOLUTION OF SOCIETY?

IT'S DATA CENTERS NOW AND THAT'S WHAT'S DISRUPTING THE ECONOMY AND SOME LIVES IN SUBURBS AND RURAL AREAS.

>> I THINK WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE TECHNOLOGY AND THE BUSINESS IS GOING AHEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAVE STATE LAWMAKERS TRYING TO LEARN UP ON THIS.

LOCAL ZONING BOARDS ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR LIMITS AND BENEFITS ARE.

I THINK WE'RE LAGGING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.

THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT AS WELL.

>> THE FALLOUT FROM TED CARTER'S RESIGNATION.

HE ADMITTED TO AN INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH A PODCASTER.

SHE GOT $60,000 FOR FOUR EPISODES OF THE LITTLE WATCHED PODCAST ON VETERANS.

JOHN KASICH ACCUSED JOBS OHIO OF MISSION CREEP.

THAT BROUGHT A RESPONSE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO CRITICIZE KASICH FOR CREATING THIS.

HE SAID, LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

AS AUDITOR OF STATES, HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THESE THINGS, YOU IGNORED A SUBPOENA AND TWISTED ARMS TO PASS A LAW TO STOP ME FROM AUDITING JOBS OHIO.

WHAT OTHER THINGS HAVE NOT COME TO LIGHT?

KAREN KASLER, IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

LET'S HAVE A LITTLE REFRESH OF JOBS OHIO.

IT'S A PUBLIC AGENCY.

IT'S PRIVATE.

THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS SET UP.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IT WAS CREATED IN 2011 WHEN JOHN KASICH TOOK OFFICE.

HE WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SAYING THERE WERE TOO MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT OHIO WAS LOSING OUT ON, TOO MANY COMPANIES, TOO MANY JOBS.

THE STATE WAS MOVING AT THE SPEED OF GOVERNMENT.

HE WANTED TO SEE IT MOVE AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS.

THIS AGENCY WAS CREATED.

IT'S FUNDED WITH LIQUOR PROFITS AS OF 2013 GOT A 25-YEAR DEAL FOR LIQUOR ENTERPRISE.

THERE'S NO TAXPAYER DOLLARS HERE.

THAT ALSO ALLOWS JOBS OHIO TO ESCAPE PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS.

THEY RELEASE SOME INFORMATION.

IT'S NOT AS TRANSPARENT AS A STATE AGENCY WOULD BE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE CRITICISMS ABOUT JOBS OHIO.

THERE IS NOT A LOT KNOWN ABOUT WHY THEY ARE DOING AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> WHAT'S THE ATTITUDE AT THE STATEHOUSE?

THIS IS ONLY A WEEK OLD STORY.

IS THERE CALLS FOR BETTER OVERSIGHT?

>> I WAS SPEAKING WITH MATT HUFFMAN.

HE SAID THEY'RE NOT PLANNING TO BRING IN JOBS OHIO AND HOLD HEARINGS.

HE DID ASSERT THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS THE ROLE THAT'S SET UP BY STATUTE AND THAT THIS IS OUTSIDE OF THEIR REALM OF CONTROL.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, A COUPLE LAWMAKERS INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD ADD SOME TRANSPARENCY ISSUES, BUMP UP THE AUDITS, REQUIRE JOBS OHIO TO COME INTO THE STATEHOUSE OCCASIONALLY AND EXPLAIN WHAT PROJECTS THEY ARE WORKING ON.

RIGHT NOW, JOBS OHIO DOESN'T HAVE TO COME UNTIL THE LIQUOR PROFITS ARE UP.

THAT'S 2035.

2053.

I THINK THEY NEED TO SET FOOT IN THE STATEHOUSE AND SAY WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR DECADES NOW.

>> IT IS FUNDED THROUGH A PUBLIC RESOURCE, THE LIQUOR PROFIT.

THE LEASE ON THE LIQUOR SALES.

THERE'S NO SHAREHOLDERS.

NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

IT'S A FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS WITH - -IT'S $300 MILLION.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

>> A LOT.

THIS MIGHT BE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

WE DON'T KNOW.

JESSIE MENTIONED LEGISLATION.

IT'S A BIPARTISAN BILL.

THAT DOES HAVE TEETH.

I WOULD TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER.

THERE'S NINE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THE FIRST IS THE GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR IS A BOARD MEMBER.

HE GETS TO APPOINT THE OTHER EIGHT.

WOW.

WE DON'T GET TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

WHY DON'T WE DO THIS AND SAY THEY HAVE TO BE SENATE CONFIRMATIONS?

I'M A MEMBER OF THE STATE MEDICAL BOARD OF THE .

I HAVE TO BE CONFIRMED.

LET'S ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS TO THESE GUYS AND GALS BEFORE THEY GET ON THIS BOARD THAT'S BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THAT NO ONE CAN SEE.

WE NEED OVERSIGHT.

LESS THAN 60% OF THE LIQUOR PROFITS WENT TO NEW DEVELOPMENT.

WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING?

>> THIS IS $60,000 FROM A $300 MILLION ORGANIZATION.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THIS IS PRETTY MINOR.

THIS IS A GRAIN OF SAND.

>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THIS EXAMPLE.

THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS NOT A LOT, BUT THE CONNECT TO OSU IS PEOPLE ASKING, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OHIO?

ARE WE LOOKING OUT FOR OUR INSTITUTIONS?

ARE WE USING MONEY WISELY?

BACK TO JOBS OHIO IN PARTICULAR, THAT $60,000 MIGHT BE INDICATIVE OF OTHER PROBLEMS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE --IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T THINK THERE'S GOOD USE.

I WAS IN ATHENS THIS WEEK LOOKING AT THE ARMORY.

THEY WERE ABLE TO INCLUDE MONEY FROM JOBS OHIO IN THEIR CAPITAL STACK.

IF THERE'S THAT LEVEL OF FUNDS AND WE DON'T HAVE MEASURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY, CHANCES ARE A LOT IS GOING TO THINGS WE WOULDN'T SUPPORT.

>> OHIO STATE, NO OFFENSE TO THE UNIVERSITY, IS NOT KNOWN FOR TRANSPARENCY IN MANY CASES.

YOU HAVE GOT THAT INVOLVED HERE AS WELL.

WHAT'S INTERESTING -- >> IT'S CLEAR GLASS COMPARED TO JOBS OHIO.

>> GOOD POINT.

>> IT TAKES A WHILE BUT WE GET THEM.

>> I THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING IS TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE DIFFERENT.

WHEN JOBS OHIO WAS CREATED, THERE WAS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR KASICH.

IT PASSED.

THERE WERE LAWSUITS BUT THEY WENT AWAY.

NOW YOU ARE SEEING WHAT REALLY SEEMS TO BE SOME CONCERN ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED AT THE BEGINNING BY PEOPLE WHO WERE OPPOSED TO JOBS OHIO, WHO THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE NOT BEING HEARD.

YOU ARE HEARING THOSE TEN YEARS ON.

>> JOBS OHIO GAVE $150 MILLION TO THE INTEL PROJECT.

THAT'S NOT GOING AS WELL AS PLANNED.

IS THAT SOMETHING LAWMAKERS WILL PAY MORE ATTENTION TO BECAUSE OF THIS $60,000 PODCAST?

>> I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.

I THINK WHEN YOU ONLY SEE THE RESULTS AND YOU DON'T SEE THE PROCESS AND YOU ONLY SEE WHAT MONEY DOES GO OUT WHEN THERE ARE PROJECTS LIKE INTEL, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED ON NEAR THE TIMELINE THEY EXPECTED TO, PEOPLE ASK QUESTIONS.

I'M SURE THAT'S SOMETHING THE STATE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.

>> THE ONLY OTHER POINT, THERE ARE AGENCIES WITHIN THE STATE GOVERNMENT THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DEPLOY PUBLIC RESOURCES.

IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE THIS QUASI-PRIVATE --ALMOST LIKE A FAMILY BUSINESS TO SUPPORT GOOD PROJECTS AND THINK ABOUT WHEN NECESSARY CERTAIN TAX INCENTIVES?

A LOT OF OTHER STATES SEEM TO BE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF.

>> A BALANCE BETWEEN SPEED AND BUREAUCRACY.

STARTING FRIDAY, OHIOANS CAN NO LONGER BUY MOST HEMP PRODUCTS.

AN EFFORT TO REPEAL THE NEWLY PASSED STATE BAN FAILED.

OPPONENTS FAILED TO COLLECT ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO STOP THE LAW AND PUT THE ISSUE ON THE BALLOT.

THE NEW LAW ALSO PLACES NEW MINOR CHANGES TO OHIO'S LEGAL MARIJUANA SYSTEM.

YOU CANNOT SMOKE POT IN PUBLIC.

YOU CANNOT BRING OUT OF STATE MARIJUANA INTO OHIO.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP ALL OF THAT POT IN YOUR TRUNK WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING.

JESSIE, THIS WAS NOT ABOUT LENGTH.

THIS WAS ABOUT PROFITS.

THIS REPEAL EFFORT AND THIS LAW.

HEMP FOLKS WANTED TO SELL THEIR PRODUCT.

MARIJUANA S DIDN'T WANT COMPETITION.

>> I THINK FOLKS WHO WANTED TO CONTINUE, PARTICULARLY THE THC-INFUSED BEVERAGES ARE POPULAR.

PEOPLE WERE BUILDING BUSINESSES.

TO HAVE THAT TAKEN AWAY, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS MURKINESS ABOUT THE LAWS UNDERNEATH, I THINK THAT WAS CERTAINLY A POINT OF FRUSTRATION FOR PEOPLE PURCHASING THOSE ITEMS.

>> COULD THERE HAVE BEEN A MIDDLE GROUND, ESPECIALLY THE BEVERAGES?

THEY WERE POPULAR.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN BUYING A BEER OR A DRINK AT A BAR.

IF IT WAS REGULATED DIFFERENTLY.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THE INDUSTRY HUNG THEMSELVES.

13-YEAR- OLDS WALKING INTO A GAS STATION.

LUCKILY THEY DIDN'T BUY THEM.

IF YOU CAN'T BE A RESPONSIBLE ADULT AND MARKET YOUR ENTITY AND MAKE A PROFIT, SHAME ON YOU.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND BECAUSE THEY'RE BAD ACTORS.

THERE'S NO ROOM FOR THEM.

>> IS IT TOO HARD, MORGAN, TO GET ON THE BALLOT IN THE STATE?

THEY HAD TWO MONTHS.

THE FIRST PETITION WAS REJECTED.

THEY CUT THE TIME MORE.

IT'S SHOWS HOW HARD IT IS TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

>> IT IS.

THE LACK OF FAITH THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE LEGISLATURE IS AN AVENUE FOR MOVING DIFFERENT CHANGES.

I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY UNREALISTIC OR WEIRD TO WANT TO HAVE TO ADJUST DIFFERENT REGULATIONS AS WE LEARN MORE INFORMATION.

IF WE CAN'T DEPEND ON THE LEGISLATURE TO BE A SOURCE FOR THAT, THEN FOLKS CONTINUE TO HAVE TO GO HERE.

IT'S A VERY HIGH BAR TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED AT AN AMENDMENT OR BALLOT INITIATIVE.

>> ARE WE DONE TALKING ABOUT MARIJUANA?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

>> YOU CAN'T PUT IT IN YOUR TRUNK.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, OPEN CONTAINER IN A CAR.

SIMILAR TO THAT.

CAN'T SMOKE IT IN PUBLIC.

CAN'T GO TO MICHIGAN AND BRING POT BACK ANYMORE.

ARE WE DONE?

>> IT TOOK TWO YEARS FOR THE CHANGES FROM THE LAW THE VOTERS APPROVED UNTIL THEN.

THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT THE HEMP, PRESSURING LAWMAKERS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

RIGHT NOW MAYBE WE'RE IN A LULL.

CERTAINLY, THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT WILL LIKELY COME UP THAT MAYBE CHANGES WILL WANT TO BE MADE IN THE FUTURE.

TO MORGAN'S POINT, ARE LAWMAKERS RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO VOTERS WHO --YOU HAVE A GROUP OF VOTERS, MAJORITY, SAID THIS IS WHAT THEY WANTED.

THE LEGISLATURE MADE SOME TWEAKS IN THAT LAW.

>> THE TWEAKS ARE SATISFYING TO THE FOLKS WHO DON'T LIKE THIS LAW?

>> FOR THE TIME BEING.

FOR THE TIME BEING.

YOU CAN ONLY BEAT A HORSE SO MANY TIMES.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING LEFT TO DO NOW.

SOMETHING MIGHT EVOLVE.

THE PRIVATE SECTOR MAY TRY TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S LESS THAN DESIRABLE.

THEY WILL HAVE TO RE-VISIT.

THERE'S 400 TOTAL LICENSES AVAILABLE.

THEY HAVE ISSUED 200.

THERE'S 200 MORE DISPENSARY LICENSES AVAILABLE ACROSS THE STATE OF OHIO.

SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> THERE'S BEEN MINOR PROBLEMS.

I DID RESEARCH THAT SHOWS IT'S NOT AS HARMLESS AS PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS ORIGINALLY.

THE DISPENSARY SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE WORKING OKAY, RIGHT?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

I THINK THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE PRICE.

ESPECIALLY COMPARED WITH MICHIGAN.

AS FAR AS SAFETY CONCERNS AND SO FORTH, I HAVE NOT HEARD OF IN MASSIVE ISSUE THAT HAS COME UP.

>> I WONDER IF I WILL STILL GET THE COUPONS FROM THE MICHIGAN DISPENSARIES.

>> WHAT LIST ARE YOU ON?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE.

STAY ALONG THE WHATEVER --THE NEWEST THING.

IT'S DIFFERENT THAN OHIO.

I GET THEIR COUPONS.

THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, VIVEK RAMASWAMY DREW CRITICISM FOR A BOLD IDEA.

WHEN TOUTING HIS PLAN FOR ELIMINATING THE STATE INCOME TAX, HE SAID THE STATE HAD TO CUT COSTS AND OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY.

>> LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES IN OUR STATE.

I LOVE OHIO.

WE HAVE TOO MANY.

THEY NEED TO BE CONSOLIDATED.

THEY COULD BE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE, THE BEST IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DOMAINS, INSTEAD OF CREATING CLONES OF ONE ANOTHER THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> THE DEMOCRATIC RIVAL CALLING RAMASWAMY OUT OF TOUCH WITH OHIOANS.

HIS CAMPAIGN ARGUED THE CANDIDATE WAS NOT CALLING FOR THE ELIMINATION OF SCHOOLS JUST CUTTING THE COSTLY BUREAUCRACY.

HE SAID CLEARLY OHIO HAS TOO MANY UNIVERSITIES.

IS THIS ANOTHER CASE OF HIM TAKING A BOLD STAND AND GETTING OUT TOO FAR AHEAD OF WHAT PEOPLE WERE THINKING?

>> PEOPLE CAN MAKE A STATEMENT AND CLARIFY IT.

THAT'S WHAT VIVEK DID.

I'M IN AGREEMENT.

OUR TAXPAYERS, WE PAY TAXES 14 FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES, 23 TWO- YEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN OHIO.

WE HAVE TO MANY.

WHY IS KENT STATE 15 MINUTES AWAY FROM AKRON, SAME PRESIDENT, TWO FOOTBALL TEAMS, TWO BASKETBALL TEAMS.

COLUMBUS STATE, OHIO STATE, TEN MINUTES FROM EACH OTHER.

WHY DO WE HAVE -- >> WHY NOT STICK WITH THE STATEMENT?

HE WALKED IT BACK.

>> HE DID.

>> YOU HAVE TOO MANY OF SOMETHING.

YOU HAVE TO GET RID OF THEM.

IF YOU HAD TOO MANY SOCKS, YOU GET RID OF THEM.

>> HE ALSO SAID IN THAT CLIP, FOCUS ON CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

I'M AN AKRON GRAD.

KENT STATE, THEY ARE GOOD AT NURSING.

LET THEM DO NURSING.

WHY DO WE HAVE CLEVELAND LAWSUIT AND AKRON LAW HOOL?

WE DON'T NEED TWO.

IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.

WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

>> IT'S FUNNY OF EVERYTHING THAT VIVEK RAMASWAMY SAID IS THE REMINDER TO ME HOW ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW IN REPUBLICAN POLITICS, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE VERY GOOD AT RUNNING FOR OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE LEGS.

IF YOU HAVE THE BACKING OF DONALD TRUMP AND A LOT OF MONEY.

FOR MOST CANDIDATES, IF YOU SAY SOMETHING THAT'S SILLY AND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT, THERE'S SOME REPERCUSSIONS FOR THAT.

HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SECURE THIS PRIMARY.

THAT'S ONE POINT.

ON THE ACTUAL SUBSTANCE OF HOW MANY SCHOOLS WE SHOULD HAVE IN OHIO.

I THINK AMY ACTON WAS RIGHT TO CRITIQUE IT.

HE WALKED IT BACK.

THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION, WE HAVE TO CRITIQUE AND OFFER THE FORWARD LOOKING VISION OF, OKAY, THERE'S A REAL DISCUSSION TO BE HAD ABOUT THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN OHIO.

WHAT'S OUR TAKE ON THAT?

>> ACTON'S CAMPAIGN PUT OUT A BRACKET AND CALLING IT VIVEK RAMASWAMY'S MARCH SADNESS.

THEY REALLY SEIZED ON THIS.

I THINK THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA GOING BACK TO JOHN KASICH.

WHEN HE WAS IN OFFICE, ONE OF THE FIRST DISCUSSIONS THAT WAS BEING HAD --THE FOR THOR ATTORNEY GENERAL CAME FORWARD WITH THIS.

PROPOSING DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS, GETTING RID OF THEM.

PROGRAMS THAT COST A LOT OF MONEY.

AVIATION.

A LOT OF SCHOOLS HAD AVIATION PROGRAMS.

THOSE ARE EXPENSIVE.

I THINK ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS HERE IS COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

YOU HEAR PEOPLE ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE AND PROGRESSIVE SIDE TALKING ABOUT HOW COMMUNITY COLLEGES CAN REALLY PLAY A ROLE IN LOWERING COLLEGE COSTS AND PROVIDING BASIC EDUCATION BEFORE YOU GET TO THE HIGHER LEVEL OF INDIVIDUAL MAJORS.

>> ANY PERSON WHO FOLLOWS A SCHOOL BOARD KNOWS CLOSING A SCHOOL IS IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU LOOK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON.

ENROLLMENT IS DOWN 39% IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.

UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO, DOWN 32%.

CINCINNATI IS UP, OSU AND OU ARE UP.

THEY'RE DOING OKAY.

AKRON, TOLEDO, THAT'S SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

IS VIVEK ON TO SOMETHING?

>> THERE ARE REAL CHALLENGES FACING HIGHER EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY AS THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE GOING TO COLLEGE.

IS CONSOLIDATION THE RIGHT ANSWER?

VIVEK THOUGHT SO AND DECLINED BACK FROM THAT.

IT IS CONTROVERSIAL TO CLOSE SOMEONE'S ALMA MATER.

THAT WILL ALWAYS DRAW ATTENTION.

>> I WILL ADD, THERE WAS A STUDY DONE BY THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THESE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, HAVE IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES.

IF YOU CLOSE THE SCHOOLS, YOU WILL HIT THE ECONOMY OF THE SMALLER PLACES.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

MIKE, YOU ARE FIRST.

>> I'M NOT INVOLVED WITH THE PROPERTY TAX REPEAL.

I TALKED TO SOMEONE WHO WAS.

THEY ARE CONFIDENT THEY WILL TURN IN ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO MAKE IT TO BALLOT.

WHEN WE CRITICIZE VIVEK ABOUT CONSOLIDATING UNIVERSITIES, WE BETTER TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THOSE.

THIS IS COMING.

IF IT MAKES THE BALLOT, I GUARANTEE IT'S GOING TO PASS.

>> MORGAN.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT DAVE YOST GOING AFTER JOBS OHIO.

HE HAS DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT TO BREAK UP TICKETMASTER.

THAT WAS A SURPRISE.

A LOT OF REPUBLICAN AGs BACKED OFF AFTER THE FED SETTLES.

DAVE YOST IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

WE WILL SEE.

>> KAREN.

>> THIS IS GOING TO -- I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO WEIGH IN ON THE DATA CENTER ARGUMENT.

THIS AFTERNOON, THERE'S AN ENORMOUS DATA CENTER ANNOUNCEMENT COMING OUT OF PIKE COUNTY.

THE PLANT IS BEING REDEVELOPED.

A HUGE DATA CENTER, SO MUCH.

A NATURAL GAS PLANT TO POWER THAT.

THIS IS GOING TO COME INTO THE DEBATE WE STARTED OFF THE SHOW WITH.

>> JESSIE.

>> I'VE BEEN FASCINATED ABOUT A TRIAL THAT HAPPENED.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT DID PREVAIL.

>> HE WON OUT.

>> HIS SUIT.

THE AMERICAN FLAG SUIT.

OH, MY.

IT WAS SOMETHING.

>> MARCH MADNESS IS HERE.

BUCKEYE FANS ARE DISAPPOINTED.

THE MEN'S BOWING OUT EARLY.

THE WOMEN'S TEAM ARE STILL ALIVE.

THE OSU WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM IS DOING WELL.

GOING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP.

MARCH MADNESS IS NOT OVER FOR OUR TEAMS.

MIAMI, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WON BY THE TIME YOU SEE THIS SHOW OR NOT.

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

TO MATCH MARCH MADNESS, CATCH US ON YOUR TIME OR ON THE WOSU YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.