>>> GOVERNOR DEVONTA SMITH GOVERNOR DeWINE SECOND TERM AGENDA.

>> >>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, I AM AND RICHARD SITTING IN FOR MIKE THOMPSON.

THE SECOND TERM HAS BEGUN AT THE STATE HOUSE.

THE GOVERNOR TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE , DURING ELABORATE TEMPING, THE THIRD AND POSSIBLY LAST TIME HE RAISED HIS RIGHT HAND FOR AN ELECTED OFFICE.

HIS SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS REFLECTED ON THE TRIALS OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, AND CELEBRATED OHIO'S POSSIBLE NEW INTEL FUELED MANUFACTURING BOOM.

THE GOVERNOR URGED EVERYONE TO OHIO'S TIME.

>> AS LEADERS, WE WILL REMEMBER THAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS NOT OUR DREAMS, BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WE CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE STATE OF OHIO WHERE EACH OHIOAN HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.

>> [ applause ]>> AS FOR BOLD POLICY INITIATIVES, THOSE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST UNTIL HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

AND WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS THAT GOVERNOR DeWINE WILL TAKE A DIFFERENT TACK AS A LAME-DUCK GOVERNOR?

>> HE'S MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT ONE THING HE WANTS TO PUSH FOR HIS MENTAL HEALTH, HE TALKED ABOUT IN THE STATE OF STATE AND WEEKS BUT IS A A LARGE AMOUNT SPENT IN HIS BUDGET, WHICH COMES RIGHT BEFORE THE STATE OF THE STATE, AND HE WANTS TO FULFILL THE PROMISE OF COMMUNITY CARE, SO A WE STOP PUTTING PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS AND PERHAPS REALIZE THAT WAS PERHAPS NOT THE BEST CHOICE BUT THERE WASN'T COMMUNITY CARE, THAT WRAPPED AROUND, SO YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND PRISON SYSTEMS ON THE STREET, AND HE WANTS TO MAKE A BOLD SORT OF PUSH TO CORRECT FOR THAT.

AND THAT WILL TAKE A FAIRLY DECENT CHUNK OF CHANGE.

AND WE SEE HE WAS TO FOCUS ON WHAT HE CALLED BRAIN DRAIN, INTEL IS COMING BUT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH OHIOANS TO FILL THE JOB, AND THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST MIGHT BE GOING ELSEWHERE.

HE WANTS TO FOCUS ON HOW TO KEEP OUR COLLEGE KIDS HERE.

>> WHAT DOES HE SUGGEST IN THAT REALM?

>> HE MADE A REALLY STALE PITCH, HE SAID WE HAVE AFFORDABLE COST OF LIVING AND GREAT SCHOOLS IN FOOTBALL, AND PLACES TO VISIT BUT YOU KNOW, THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, HOW DO YOU KEEP THAT, WE ARE AN AGING STATE, THE STATE TENDS TO AVERAGE AND I JUST MEANS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GRADUATING AND LEAVING.

>> INTEL MUST KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN THEY BRING A FACTORY LIKE THIS TO OHIO, BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES, THREE THINGS, ONE OF THE TOP IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, IS FEELING AND THAT TIES IN WITH POTENTIAL REFORMS AND CHANGES IN THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD, AND THE DISK CONNECT, AND HIRING COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

AND SOMEWHAT SEPARATE THEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND HE THINKS THAT OHIO'S DISPLAY IN THAT WAY IS NOT THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE, AND I THINK IT'S A REAL PERSONAL INTEREST FOR HIM.

>> I GET THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PIECE BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS PIECE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE BRAIN DRAIN?

>> I DON'T EITHER.

BUT IT IS LAND ACTUALLY THAT IS IN A PRIME LOCATION, IF YOU EVERYWHERE THERE IS A DEVELOPMENT, WHAT IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE, WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES CAN BE PLACED THERE AND HOW CAN WE DO A BETTER JOB OF LINKING SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT GO ON THERE ALREADY, INCLUDING SOME OF THE AGRICULTURAL STUFF, BUT I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> REMEMBER IT IS CLOSE TO THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, AND IF YOU CAN TIE THOSE TOGETHER YOU ARE RIGHT ON I 71, A FREEWAY THAT HAS 150,000 CARS A DAY PASSING IT, I PRIME LOCATION AND SOMETHING THAT CAN SHOW OFF OHIOAN WHAT IT IS ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE.

>> THERE WAS A TIME IN OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY THOUGHT ABOUT TALKING WITH THE STATE OF OHIO ABOUT PERHAPS WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT LAND, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS REALLY COULD YOU PUT IN INNOVATION DISTRICT THERE AND OF COURSE THE UNIVERSITIES DOING THAT ON THE WEST CAMPUS.

>> YOU KNOW, THE OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR SAID SHE HOPED THAT GOVERNOR DeWINE WOULD STAND UP, THIS IS IN HER WORDS, TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT, MATT HOFFMAN, THE GOVERNOR IS THE TITULAR HEAD OF THE PARTY BUT THEY ARE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH IN THEIR FAVOR.

>> AND REALLY ALIGNED, WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION REFORM, HE WANTS TO DO THE OVERALL PROGRAM, IN LOCKSTEP ON THAT, THEY DIFFER ON SOME ISSUES LIKE HOW FAR YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO WITH SCHOOL CHOICE AND OTHER ISSUES, BUT THE TO SHARE A LOT OF COMMON GROUND.

WHEN THEY WERE TOGETHER, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY HOFFMAN GETTING HIS WAY BUT BOTH OF THEM GETTING WHAT THEY WANT.

>> AND YOU NOTICED YOU MADE IN REFERENCE THAT HIS FATHER PLANTED SEEDS AND WOULDN'T BE AROUND TO SEE THE BENEFIT BUT THERE'S A LOT OF BRICK-AND- MORTAR THINGS AND THE STATE HAS MONEY NOW, AND HE WANTS TO FOCUS ON SOME OF THOSE AND HERE I WAS THAT JIM RHODES IS PRETTY GOOD ON HOW USE BRICK-AND-MORTAR TO DRIVE THE FUTURE.

>> LAST YEAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKED ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE WORKING ON THIS ISSUE OR THAT ISSUE, HE SAID LET THEM WORK ON GETS MY OFFICE.

THAT IS NOT THE WAY YOU DO THINGS TO ME BUT PERHAPS YOU ARE CAUTIOUS AND ELECTION-YEAR, BUT NOW HE HAS BEEN REELECTED AND PERHAPS WE WILL NOW SEE THE GOVERNOR TRYING TO PLAY MUCH MORE OF A ROLL BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE PRESENTS HIM A FAIT ACCOMPLI.

>> LAST YEAR IN THE ELECTION- YEAR, CERTAIN LEGISLATURES I COULD NAME, AND LEGISLATORS, WOULD ANNOUNCE IT BUT IN THE ELECTION-YEAR THEY WANTED HIM TO ENDORSE HIM, THE PICTURES WITH HIM AND DO COMMERCIALS, WHEN YOU WIN BY THE MARGIN HE DID, I REMEMBER THIS IS A GUY THAT JUST TURNED 76, BUT HE ACTS LIKE A 46-YEAR-OLD IN TERMS OF HIS ENERGY, AND HE DRIVES THE YOUNGER STAFF AROUND CRAZY BECAUSE HE'S SO FULL OF IDEAS AND ASKING QUESTIONS AND PUSHING FOR THINGS TO GET DONE.

>> AND THE SENIOR STAFF AND SOME OF THE MORE JUNIOR PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, CAPABLE OF WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE STAFF AND UNDERSTANDING THE LEGISLATIVE NEEDS AND PROCESSES AT THE SAME TIME, REPRESENTING THE GOVERNOR'S INTEREST.

>> IS GETTING, GET A, THE OHIO HOUSE OFFICIALLY HAS TWO CAUCUSES, ONE FOR REPUBLICANS AND ONE FOR DEMOCRATS.

BUT A UNOFFICIAL CAUCUS HAS EMERGED, IT WOULD BE HOUSE SPEAKER, GATHERING REPUBLICANS TO PLOT A WAY FORWARD, NOT INVITED, THE 22 REPUBLICANS WHO TEAMED WITH DEMOCRATS TO PICK JAYSON STEVENS TO RUN THE HOUSE.

IT CAME A WEEK AFTER THE OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY CENSURED THE 22 STATE REPS FOR TEAMING UP WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

YOU KNOW 18 PARTY GETS IS POWERFUL, A SUPER MAJORITY, AND IS THE SORT OF POLITICAL CANNIBALISM PART OF THE OCCASION?

>> DRUMROLL, I WOULD INVOKE THE NAME GAME OF THRONES.

THERE IS LITTLE THINGS SOMETIMES, NOT JUST IN HOLLYWOOD SCRIPTS, BUT OTHERWISE, AND HAVING WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE IN THE PAST, THE OHIO HOUSE IS THE WILD WEST SHOW, WHEN YOU HAVE 99 DIFFERENT MEMBERS AND SUCH DIVERSITY OF INTERESTS, AND DISTRICTS, IT IS ALWAYS VERY CHALLENGING, AND THAT THE GOVERNOR'S INAUGURAL ON MONDAY, ONE I TALKED TO WHO IS VERY HAPPY, MAYBE AN OHIO, BOB CUP , NO LONGER >>, SPEAKER, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO WITH A DIFFERENT MEMBERS AND INTERESTS, A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT SHY IN ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THEY WANT ERIC >> I WILL BUY THAT BEING HAPPY THING BUT IT IS NOT THAT DIVERSE OF A CAUCUS REALLY, A LOT OF THEM ARE IN SUBURBAN AND RURAL AREAS THAT SHARE A LOT OF ISSUES?

>> THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE MORE IDEOLOGICALLY PURE.

I THINK IS THE CORRECT WAY OF PUTTING IT AND MORE PRAGMATIC, AND WHEN YOU HAVE A 67 VOTE MAJORITY AND A SUPER MAJORITY AND ALL OF THE STATEWIDE OFFICES, AND THE SUPREME COURT, THOSE SAY HEY, WHY DO WE NEED TO COMPROMISE, WHY DO WE NEED TO GET 70% OF WHAT WE WANT?

AND THAT BECOMES REALLY CHALLENGING RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY SEE, WE HAVE EVERYTHING, WE DON'T NEED TO PLAY NICE WITH THE OTHER TEAM BUT WE DON'T WANT TO.

BUT THEY ALSO FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF HARD FEELINGS, SOMEBODY DESCRIBED TO ME AS YOU WERE CHEATED ON BY YOUR PARTNER, THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT, THEY VOTED TOGETHER AND DECIDED THEY WERE GOING TO PICK MAREN, AND IN A PICK TO STEVENS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE 45 FELT LIKE THEY WERE STABBED IN THE BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT, ISN'T POLITICS SORT OF THE ART OF COMPROMISE THEY SAY?

>> YES, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY THE ART OF STEALING --STABBING PEOPLE IN THE BACK.

[ laughter ] >> AN OPPORTUNITY, AND AND ON BEHALF OF MATT HOFFMAN.

AND A LOT OF THINGS IN THE SUBTEXT, INCLUDING WHAT WILL HAPPEN, AND THE SPEAKER, AND OVER HERE ON THE OHIO HOUSE, AND THE MEDIA.

MATT HOFFMAN ASPIRES TO BE THE SPEAKER PEERS, AND TRYING TO SAY TO THE COMPETING REPUBLICAN GROUPS, LET'S TRY TO WORK TOGETHER, HERE'S AN AGENDA.

AND IF WE CAN GET DEMOCRATS ON BOARD ON CERTAIN ISSUES, I WOULD LIKE THAT A LOT.

BUT REALLY SOME REPUBLICANS WOULD SAY IF THE DEMOCRAT IS FOR I CAN'T BEFORE IT, IT IS THAT PART.

AS YOU SAID, THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE PRAGMATIC, A LITTLE BIT MORE FOCUSED ON GOVERNING.

AND OUTCOMES IN POLICY, AND THE 45, I THINK HALF OF THAT GROUP ARE REALLY VERY FAR RIGHT AND THE OTHER HALF ARE SORT OF UPSET THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN LIED TO.

BUT THEY ARE NOT AS FAR RIGHT AS THE OTHER HALF OF THE GROUP.

>> THEY SAID THEY WANT TO REWRITE THE RULES, AND DECENTRALIZED POWER IN THE >>'S OFFICE, THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS?

>> YOU MIGHT WANT TO REWRITE THE RULES, BUT IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE, IT REMINDS ME THAT SOME OF YOU KNOW WELL, THE FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE, WHO SENT ME A QUOTE THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, THAT SUMS IT UP PRETTY WELL, AIN'T NO POLITICS LIKE INTRAPARTY POLITICS, AND THE REASON IS THE KNIVES ARE ALWAYS SHARPER, AND THE TENSIONS ARE THERE, AND HERB SUMMARIZE IT WELL, THERE'S AN AMAZING VARIETY OF OPINIONS AND BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES AND I THINK ULTIMATELY, WHY THE NEW SPEAKER WILL COME OUT WELL, HE HAD EIGHT YEARS AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN LAWRENCE COUNTY, HE WAS A COUNTY AUDITOR AND HE UNDERSTANDS WORKING NOT JUST WITHIN THE COURTHOUSE BUT WITHIN LOCAL SCHOOLS, MAYORS AND POLICE CHIEFS AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING.

SO IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

BUT I THINK LIKE WHAT HAPPENED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THERE WILL BE HEALING AND HE WILL MOVE FORWARD.

>> WHAT IS THIS THE THE GOVERNOR?

HE HAS TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE MAJORITY REPUBLICANS THE PARTY, AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT MEANS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE RULES SO HE CAN GET THE STATE OF THE STATE, IT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE, AND THEY NEED RULES AND LEADERSHIP FIRST, AND WE HAVE NONE OF THAT, NO COMMITTEE CHAIRS, TECHNICALLY THE INTRODUCTION OF HIS BUDGET, SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE HOUSE TO GET DRAFTED IN THE HOUSE, NONE OF THAT CAN HAPPEN YET.

GET SLOW DOWN IN THE BEGINNING, AND WHETHER IT GRINDS TO A HALT KIND OF DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT THE BLOCK HOLDS.

>>> AT THE TOP OF THE CAUCUS AGENDA IS A PLAN TO MAKE IT HARDER TO AMEND THE THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.

LAWMAKERS COULD CONSIDER WHETHER TO REQUIRE 60% OF STATEWIDE VOTERS TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT, INSTEAD OF A SIMPLE MAJORITY CURRENTLY.

IT FAILED IN THE LAME-DUCK SESSION IN DECEMBER AND THE LATEST PROPOSAL TOUGHENS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGNATURE COLLECTION.

ANY CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE WOULD REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL BUT ONLY A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

ALL EYES ARE ON THE NEW HOUSE SPEAKER STEVENS, WHO WILL DETERMINE IF IT GETS A HEARING IN THE HOUSE AND WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS ON THAT SCORE?

>> LOOK, THE MAY BALLOT, WHICH IS WHAT BRIAN STUARD AND THE GROUP REALLY WANTED TO SEE, THE HOUSE SCHEDULE THAT WOULD'VE ALLOWED FOR TO GET THERE, IT DONE BY FEBRUARY 1, THAT'S JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO A -- AWAY, WE DON'T HAVE COMMITTEE CHAIRS, WE DON'T HAVE A SCHEDULE, AND THE IDEA, AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE BEFORE JANUARY 31, IT FEELS LIKE A REALLY HEAVY LIFT.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE NOTHING EVER IS BUT IF IT HAS TO GO ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, IT COULD BE GOING ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT WITH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROTECT ABORTION ACCESS.

>> AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE, AND EVEN THE SENATE, AND ANOTHER LITTLE FACTOR, ON THE MAY BALLOT, PUT TOGETHER 25 OR $30 MILLION TO RUN THE CAMPAIGN, AND WIN, AND YOU MIGHT LEARN FROM GENERAL CUSTER, IF YOU DON'T SEND SCOUTS AHEAD TO LOOK AT WHERE THE PITFALLS ARE YOU MIGHT END UP WITH A MASSACRE, THE TIME IS SHORT BUT EVEN IF THEY GET IT DONE BY FEBRUARY 1, IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

>> THEY REALLY WANT TO TAKE IT ON, THIS AMENDMENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY OF UNITING A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE, AGAINST THOSE PEOPLE PUSHING IT, SAYING YOU'RE TRYING TO WEAKEN THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE, AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD POSITION TO BE IN.

AND WHAT IS THE REAL REASON THEY ARE DOING THIS?

THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTION BUT THAT'S NONSENSE.

WHAT THEY'RE REALLY DOING IS THEY WANT TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHOM I COME FORWARD WITH AN ABORTION AMENDMENT OR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OR ANOTHER MINIMUM- WAGE AMENDMENT OR WHATEVER MIGHT BE.

WE ALREADY PROTECTED THE CONSTITUTION WHEN WE PASSED THE AMENDMENT THAT TRIED TO SAY THAT ISSUES, ECONOMIC INTERESTS THAT WERE GOING TO BENEFIT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, YOU CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

WHAT IT IS IS KIND OF AN ARROGANT ATTEMPT, AND I'M SURPRISED AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL PUSHING THIS, THEY DON'T REALIZE THEY WOULD GENERATE AN AWFUL LOT OF LOW BACK.

>> THE CHANGE THEY DID THE PAST WEEK INSTEAD OF 60% REQUIRED ON LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES AND THEY WENT BACK TO SPLIT IT AND SAY WHEN THE LEGISLATURE DOES IT IT'S DIFFERENT, AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS, IF YOU WANTED TO DO A BIG STATEWIDE BOND ISSUE AND REQUIRED 60% THAT WOULD BE TOUGH TO GET PAST.

THAT'S WHY THEY WANTED TO SEPARATE THEM OUT.

BUT THAT CREATES HYPOCRISY QUESTIONS.

>> EVERYONE BUT THE END ME SITUATION.

>> AND THE TOP PRIORITY FOR THE SENATE IS TO CHANGE WHO'S IN CHARGE OF STATE EDUCATION POLICY, SENATE BILL NUMBER 1 WHICH SHIFT CONTROL FROM THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO THE GOVERNOR, A SIMILAR PROPOSAL THAT INCLUDED LIMITS ON VACCINE MANDATES AND TRANSGENDER NEEDS FAILED IN THE LAME-DUCK SESSION.

THE NEW PLAN DOES NOT INCLUDE TRANSGENDER OR VACCINE ISSUES.

GOVERNORS HAVE SOUGHT MORE POWER OVER PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR DECADES BUT THE LATEST MOVE COMES AFTER DEMOCRATS WON THREE THE GOVERNOR STILL APPOINTS A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD ANYWAY, WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE HERE?

>> I THINK THE OSTENSIBLE REASON IS THAT THERE IS A CONCERN OHIO THAT THE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE AND CAREER PREPARATION, IS NOT WORKING AS WELL AS IT MIGHT.

I AM ONE WHO BELIEVES THAT SOMEHOW IF YOU CHANGE THE STRUCTURE IT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY GUARANTEE YOU BETTER OUTCOMES BUT IF THAT IS REALLY THE REASON, THEN THAT IN FACT NEEDS TO BE ARTICULATED WELL AND MEANS KEEP THESE OTHER THINGS OUT OF IT.

IF YOU START TALKING ABOUT OTHER ISSUES, YOU'RE REALLY SAYING, THERE'S A LOT OF HIDDEN AGENDAS HERE, PUNISH THE STATE BOARD FOR ELECTING DEMOCRATS, IMAGINE AND, IF THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN PROPOSED, FLORIDA, WITH GOVERNOR DESANTIS, OR IN TEXAS WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY WOULD BE SAYING?

THE REAL AGENDA HERE IS THEY REALLY WANT TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR CONTROL OVER THE CURRICULUM.

HE ISN'T ONE PEOPLE BEING TAUGHT ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY OR --NOBODY IS SAYING THAT, MIKE THE WIND IS NOT THE TO GOVERNORS, HE'S A MUCH MORE THOUGHTFUL AND REASONABLE PERSON OR WHATEVER BUT I THINK THEY WILL PUSH THIS FORWARD, THAT THEY REALLY FOCUS ON THE RATIONALE FOR IT.

AND IF IT DOESN'T GO FORWARD THEY STUDIED ASKED THE QUESTION, HOW CAN WE BETTER ALIGN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE?

WE HAVE HIS CAREER AND VOCATIONAL CENTERS THAT ARE SO UNDERUTILIZED.

YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE GOVERNANCE OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TO CORRECT THAT?

I'M NOT SURE YOU DO.

>> STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT HAS A NICE TITLE BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF POWER BECAUSE A LOT OF IT IS WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DYSFUNCTION, IT GOES BACK TO GEORGE WHEN HE SCHOOLS ARE THE COLUMBUS SCHOOLS, WHY ARE THEY FEELING, OR THE GOVERNOR, WHAT TO DO SOMETHING, SO WHEN GOVERNORS GET BLAMED THEY DON'T LIKE TO EXPLAIN THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY POWER.

>> GIVEN THE GOVERNOR MORE POWER BUT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATURE AT SOME LEVEL.

>> IT WOULD DO A SIGNIFICANT RESTRUCTURING, 2 SUB DIRECTORS, K-12 AND CAREER TECHNICAL, AND SOMETHING EVERYBODY IS ON BOARD WITH, TO MAKE ALTERNATIVES TO COLLEGE, ON EQUAL FOOTING, AND NOT THE STEPCHILD OF THE SYSTEM, BECAUSE IT IS OF GROWING IMPORTANCE AND IT WOULD CREATE THOSE BUT THE BIG ARGUMENT IS, WHO SITS ON TOP OF THE NEW DIRECTORS, AND YOU WANT A CABINET POSITION?

THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAID AND INSURANCE, A LOT OF BIG AGENCIES ARE CABINET LEVEL POSITIONS.

AND UNIQUELY NOT BUT THE OPTICS LITTLE BIT WEIRD WHEN YOU'RE TAKING POWER AWAY FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD IS.

>> AND FROM LOCALLY ELECTED OFFICIALS.

>> A BIG BATTLE, SHOULD EDUCATION BE LOCALLY CONTROLLED OR STATE CONTROLLED, AND THERE'S A LOT OF DEBATE.

>> THERE IS CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF MORE POWER BEING CENTRALIZED IN COLUMBUS.

WE HAVE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS, THEY MAY NOT BE DOING THE JOB THEY NEED TO BE DOING IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES, BUT WHY IN FACT ARE WE CENTRALIZING THEM.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE A GOOD ARGUMENT, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU CAN DO WITH THE STRUCTURE THAT YOU COULD DO TODAY, IF YOU HAD THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL THOUGH, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS PART OF THE REPUBLICAN STRATEGY, TO TAKE AWAY LOCAL CONTROL, THEY'VE DONE IT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, REDUCE LOCAL CONTROL OF ISSUES?

>> THAT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

STATEWIDE CURRICULA.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DRESSED NOW.

AND THROUGH AND INTERPRET THAT, AND FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGING WITH THE DIRECTOR, I SUPPOSE IT COULD, AND THESE ARE THE ONLY HISTORY BOOKS YOU CAN USE, THAT'S NOT DOWN NOW AND --DONE NOW, STANDARDS FOR READING AND HISTORY, IT STILL GETS ME AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> WE'VE GOT 88 DIFFERENT COUNTIES, OVER 600 DIFFERENT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS, YOU GET SIX, SEVEN OR EIGHT DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THERE, NOT ALWAYS EFFICIENT OR TARGETED TO WHAT WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY, OR THAT REGION.

>> HOW DO YOU GUARANTEE THAT IF YOU APPROVE THIS, THE FUTURE GOVERNOR AND HIS OR HER TO DIRECTORS, DON'T OVERREACH?

FOCUSING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PRIMARY AND SECONDARY, THEY START SAYING NO, WE NEED TO START GETTING INTO CURRICULAR MATTERS AND START LOOKING AT WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THESE DR. SEUSS BOOKS ARE GETTING KIND OF NERVE-RACKING, AND YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HERE, THERE ARE SOME A DIFFERENT MOTIVATIONS BUT I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS VERY CLEAN HANDS ON THIS, HE'S TALKED ABOUT IT IN A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T LIKE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND SAY HOW BAD THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE DOING BUT IF YOU LOOK AROUND, WITH THE EXPECT --'S EXCEPTION OF URBAN DISTRICTS, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY TALENTED GROUP OF PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EVERY SUBURBAN DISTRICT IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, NORTH OF US, SOUTHWESTERN OHIO IN CINCINNATI, PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE WORKING, LET'S BE CAREFUL THAT WE FOCUS ON THE ALIGNMENT ISSUES, RATHER THAN LETTING OTHER PEOPLE RAISE EXTRANEOUS ISSUES.

>> EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A GAMBLING PERSON, YOU'RE AWARE THAT SPORTS BETTING IS LEGAL IN OHIO, ALL OVER TV AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND OFF TO A FAST START, A MONITORING FIRM, MORE THAN 1 MILLION TRANSACTIONS WERE RECORDED IN THE FIRST WEEKEND ALONE IN OHIO, SIGNING OFF ON THE ILLEGAL SPORT --LEGAL SPORTS BETTING SEEM SURPRISED, CRITICIZING THE AD, ACCUSING THEM OF TARGETING UNDERAGE PEOPLE, WERE THEY EXPECTING?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT LOVE IT, BUT MY REACTION, AND MAKES IT SOUND LIKE HE IS --IT IS FREE AND FREE AND EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL BUT WHAT CAN GO WRONG WHEN YOU'RE ON YOUR CELL PHONE ANY TIME AT ANY HOUR, YOU CAN BE AT HOME AND IN THE BAR, AND CASINOS YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR CAR IN YOUR SOBER, GOING THERE AND DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND GOING HOME, AND ON YOUR CELL PHONE 24/7, DANGERS THAT PEOPLE WILL REALIZE WAIT A MINUTE, IN MARKETING, WHEN YOU'RE SIGNED UP, SENDING TEXTS, AND EMAILS AND YOU WANT TO TRY THIS AND TRY THE TRIPLE PLAY, AND WHATEVER, IT IS AWFUL SCARY.

>> TIME WILL TELL, RIGHT NOW, TIME FOR THE FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS, YOUR FIRST.

>> GOOD NEWS FOR THE SHOW AND REPORTERS, AND THE COMING WEEKS, JANUARY 23, AND PEOPLE TESTIFYING AND BEING ASKED QUESTIONS, AND THE BUDGET, A WHOLE LOT TO DO, AND A FEW TOPICS THAT GET A LITTLE TIRED, LOTS OF FRESH FEET FOR PEOPLE TO CHEW ON.

>> AND WHEN THE TRIAL STARTS, GETTING INTO THE HEART OF IT, I THINK WE WILL SEE NEW NAMES EMERGE WITH PEOPLE INVOLVED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND THAT WILL BE WONDERFUL FODDER FOR THE NEWS MEDIA.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> I WILL TAKE A DIFFERENT TACK, I THINK MARIJUANA AND THE RELATION TO WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THIS YEAR, THE OVERALL INVESTMENT OVERHAUL BILL FOR MEDICAL AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR LAWMAKERS TO DRAFTED , IF THEY DON'T LIKELY WE WILL VOTE ON IT IN NOVEMBER.

>> MY PREDICTION IS, THEY WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK, WATCHES ON-DEMAND, AT WOSU .ORG/ C OTR, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

WATCH US ON DEMAND.