>>> THREE WEEKS UNTIL VOTING BEGINS AND STILL, NO MAP.

JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, JULIE CARS, OSU SCIENTIST AND MICHAEL MILLER, FORMER FRANKLIN COUNTY PROSECUTOR.

OHIO VOTERS CAN START CASTING BALLOTS IN 25 DAYS.

THAT'S WHEN EARLY VOTING BEGINS AND THEY STILL DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL VOTE FOR WHEN IT COMES TO STATE LEGISLATURE AND CONGRESS.

ANOTHER WEEK HAS PASSED AND STILL NO WORD FROM THE SUPREME COURT ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF OHIO HOUSE AND SENATE MAPS NOR THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE STICKING WITH THIS TIGHT TIMELINE REFUSING TO MOVE THE PRIMARY OR SCHEDULE A SECOND ONE.

SO JULIE, AS OF LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE OHIO SUPREME COURT.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE HOLD-UP IS OR IS IT JUST THE COURT TAKING ITS TIME?

>> IT'S NOT SO MUCH TAKING THEIR TIME AS THEY HAD TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PARTY TO OPPOSE AND OBJECT TO THE MOST RECENT ROUND OF MAPS AND AN UPDATE FOR THE PARTIES TO REPLY.

THAT PROCESS IS COMING ALONG, I GUESS, BUT WE'VE ALSO SEEN FROM ALL THE COURTS INVOLVED IN THIS THAT THEY ARE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN RUSHING THINGS IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S THE LEGISLATURE'S JOB TO MOVE THE PRIMARY SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO AND THE COURTS ARE SORT OF ADAMANT.

>> AS YOU SEE THIS, YOU KNOW, GO ON, WHETHER IT'S A DELAY OR JUST DUE PROCESS AND TAKING DELIBERATE TIME, HOW DO YOU READ THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW?

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS WHEN THE DECISIONS DO COME OUT?

>> WELL, PERSONALLY, I AGREE WITH JULIE THAT THE COURTS ARE DOING THE APPROPRIATE THING OF LETTING THE CONTESTING PARTIES HAVE THEIR SAY, IF WE NEED TO DELAY THE PRIMARY, WE CAN.

THE THREAT ABOUT THE PRIMARY IS NOT REALLY A MEANINGFUL THREAT TO FORCE THE COURT TO RUSH ITS DECISION, AND WHAT'S GETTING MORE FRUSTRATING NOW IS THAT I'M HEARING MORE AND MORE EXCUSES AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION TO TAKE CARE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AND IT SOUNDS A LITTLE LIKE THE POST 2020 OF PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN WHERE LAWYERS FOR THE LOSING CANDIDATE TRIED TO COME UP WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT EXCUSES OR CASES OR ARGUMENTS OR THEORIES FOR WHY, IN FACT, AN ELECTION SHOULD NOT BE CERTIFIED.

THE COURT WILL MAKE ITS DECISION.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT IS THE CASE AND KEEP IN MIND, THE LEGISLATURE ITSELF, PARTICULARLY THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THE DEMOCRATS TO BE COURT SHOPPING.

THEY PUT INTO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT THE OHIO SUPREME COURT WOULD BE THE JUDICIAL BODY TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.

SO IT'S NOW WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AND WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT WE GET.

>> THERE WERE A COUPLE OF DECISIONS THIS WEEK BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN CASES OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA AND PENNSYLVANIA.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID THE SUPREME COURTS IN THOSE STATES, THEY CAN DRAW MAPS, AND HEARD THAT HAS TO BE GOOD NEWS FOR DEMOCRATS AND SUPPORTERS OF GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS.

>> THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND OTHER GROUPS.

YEAH, NO, THE COURT REFUSED TO HEAR CASES FROM THOSE TWO STATES.

SO, IN FACT, THE DECISIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THOSE ARE, IN FACT, THE FINAL DECISION.

AND THE SAME THING COULD VERY WELL HAPPEN HERE IN OHIO.

>> MICHAEL, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

IT'S GONE ON FOR MONTHS NOW AND WE'RE RIGHT UP AGAINST THIS AND MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE WIGGLE ROOM THERE TO GET THOSE BALLOTS OUT, SHOULD THEY BE ABLE TO DO IT BUT EVEN THAT IS LOOKING MORE AND MORE UNLIKELY.

>> I DON'T KNOW, MIKE.

THE USUAL INFIGHTING AMONG THE PARTIES.

THEY CAN'T SEEM TO DO ANYTHING.

SOMETIMES I WONDER ABOUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM, HOW IT'S OPERATING BECAUSE EVERYBODY GETS IN THE CORNER AND THAT'S IT.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS WERE INTERESTING.

DIDN'T MENTION ALABAMA WENT THE OTHER WAY.

ALABAMA WAS CHALLENGED BY THE DEMOCRATS, CHALLENGED BY THE REPUBLICANS, AND THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO BE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHOEVER IS GOING TO CLAIM AND OFF YOU GO.

SO EVENTUALLY, I SUPPOSE THEY HAVE THE LATEST THING.

I AGREE THE OHIO SUPREME COURT TAKES THEIR TIME AND HAVE THE PRIMARY, IF THEY DON'T, MOVE IT BACK.

I DON'T KNOW, A MONTH OR SO AND THEN WE'LL DO IT THEN.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING, WE'RE FOCUSED ON OHIO, JULIE CARR SMYTH, IN NEW YORK, IT'S MORE GERRYMANDERING THAN OHIO.

HELD BY DEMOCRATS, NEW YORK IS A BIT MORE DEMOCRATIC THAN WE ARE REPUBLICAN, BUT STILL, THE "NEW YORK TIMES" HAD A PIECE THIS WEEK SAYING DEMOCRATS HAD REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB THIS TIME AROUND AND GERRYMANDERING THE STATE THEY CONTROL, SO TO HELP THEM PERHAPS HOLD ON TO CONGRESS OR ONLY LOSE A SLIGHT NUMBER OF SEATS TO THE REPUBLICANS.

>> RIGHT.

I MEAN, GERRYMANDERING IS A PROPOSITION THAT EACH PARTY WILL DO WHEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

THIS IS WHY SOME STATES HAVE OPTED FOR SYSTEMS WHERE THE POLITICIANS AREN'T IN CHARGE BECAUSE IT'S NATURAL TO WANT TO BRING YOURSELF INTO POWER OR KEEP POWER WHEN YOU HAVE IT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN HERE IN OHIO FOR SURE IS WHETHER IT'S THE READ-IN OF THE CONSTITUTION BY THE REPUBLICANS OR IT'S SIMPLY THE DEFENDING OF THEIR TURF.

MOST CERTAINLY HAVE DRAWN MAPS SO FAR THAT HAVE NOT REALLY BEEN THERE TO 46% OF OHIO VOTERS WHO ARE DEMOCRATS.

>> MIKE, AS YOU WERE SAYING, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THE PARTIES IN CONTROL HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THOSE.

THE CITY OF NASHVILLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 146 YEARS IS NOW BEING SPLIT INTO THREE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

WHY?

BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE DECIDED IT DIDN'T WANT A DEMOCRATIC SEAT IN NASHVILLE.

TEXAS, WHERE THE REPUBLICANS THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO PICK UP, IT TURNS OUT THE LEGISLATURE THERE BASICALLY DREW NON-COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS THAT ACTUALLY PROTECT THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES AND THE REPUBLICANS, THEY PICK UP A COUPLE OF SEATS IN TEXAS BUT NOT THE NUMBER THEY COULD HAVE.

AS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT NEW YORK, THE DEMOCRATS WITH A MAP OF GERRYMANDERING, PUTTING STATEN ISLAND IN BROOKLYN.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT OHIO IS THE VOTERS OF OHIO HAD TWO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN RECENT YEARS SAYING, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS.

SO THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY DRIVING THIS RIGHT NOW.

IT'S REALLY THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CONVENIENCE, IT'S ABOUT GIVING VOTERS DISTRICTS THAT ARE NOT GERRYMANDERING.

>> WE'LL SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT.

CAMPAIGNS CONTINUE.

OUT WITH A NEW AD WHERE HE SHAKES DONALD TRUMP'S HAND TWICE.

EX-GOVERNOR DeWINE, SAYS THANKS BUT NO THANKS.

AND THE NEW POLL SHOWS BUSINESSMAN MIKE GIBBONS ALTHOUGH FAIRLY THE SENATE RACE.

SHOWS GIBBONS WITH A NARROW LEAD OVER JOSH MANDEL TIED AT 22%.

VANCE IS NEXT AT 11%.

AT 9 AND MATT DOLAN IS AT 7, A QUARTER OF REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS REMAIN UNDECIDED.

MIKE MILLER, YOU KNOW, MIKE GIBBONS IS A POLITICAL UNKNOWN FOR THE MOST PART.

MADE SOME NOISE IN RECENT YEARS, BUT HE HAS CLIMBED TO THE TOP THANKS TO THOSE GOOD, YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH THEM BUT THEY ARE GOOD AT TARGETING THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTER.

WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?

MIKE MILLER?

>> I WOULD SAY OF ALL THE ADS I'VE SEEN AND I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE THE SAME, LITERALLY FOR MONTHS AND I SUPPOSE THE SECOND MOST I'VE WHICH HAS STARTED RECENTLY IS MANDEL AND I THINK THESE OLD, WITH THAT SO FAR AS I'VE SEEN, ADVANCED RELATIVELY FEW COMMERCIALS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE SEEN ONE FROM JAY, BUT IF I HAD, IT MADE NO IMPRESSION ON ME.

SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDECIDED, SO I'M NOT SURE THAT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT HAS GIVEN I THINK THE 22%, MANDEL A 20.

THEY'RE THE ONLY TWO AND I KNOW BOTH ARE PUSHING FOR THE TRUMP VOTES.

MAY SPLIT INTO SOMEBODY ELSE.

IT'S VERY EARLY, I THINK.

I KNOW IT'S LATE, BUT IT'S EARLY.

>> STILL A LOT OF TIME LEFT, EVEN MORE IF THEY GO TO JUNE.

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE MANDEL ALMOST UNDECIDED.

FOLKS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THESE CANDIDATES AND THEN THEY GO TO VOTE WHETHER MAY 3rd OR SOME TIME IN JUNE.

>> RIGHT.

I FEEL LIKE AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT MIKE HAS A GOOD POINT THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS JUST CAMPAIGN STRATEGY.

WHO DECIDES TO GO OUT FIRST, WHO'S HOLDING BACK, WHO'S GOT THEIR MONEY IN THE CAN THAT THEY'RE WAITING TO SPEND, WHAT ARE THE SUPER PACKS GOING TO DO AND REALLY, THE VOTERS ARE OFTEN NOT PAYING ATTENTION, EVEN AT THIS CLOSE DATE TO THE PRIMARY AND THEY'LL WAIT UNTIL THE RUN-UP AND START STUDYING A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE POLL.

SO I THINK THAT THE GIVEN LEAD IS LARGELY REFLECTING THAT RIGHT NOW, AND I'VE SEEN JD VANCE GO OUT WITH A POSITIVE BIOGRAPHICAL AD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PAST WEEK AND I THINK IT'S TRUE, HAS REALLY BEEN OUT THERE OTHER THAN A BUNCH OF ATTACKS ON HER SUPER PACS BEHIND JOSH MANDEL, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT SHAKES UP AS THE CAMPAIGN REALLY GEARS UP.

>> ONLY HAVE A MONTH OR SO LEFT.

THE PRIMARY IS IN MAY.

DO YOU SEE THESE CANDIDATES PULLING OUT?

ACCORDING TO THIS POLL, PRETTY FAR BEHIND?

>> GETTING KIND OF LATE FOR THEM TO PULL OUT.

IT WOULD CERTAINLY DISAPPOINT SOME OF THEIR SUPPORTERS AND CONTRIBUTORS, AND IT'S NOT LIKELY TO SOMEHOW TRANSFER YOUR SUPPORT TO ANOTHER CANDIDATE AND VERY CLEARLY, I THINK THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES ARE NOT GOING TO PULL OUT.

THEY'RE THE THREE WHO IN FACT ARE TALKING MOST ABOUT BEING TRUMP LOYALISTS, IF YOU WILL.

AND I THINK MAYBE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR LONGER, THE REPORTER MIGHT START ASKING SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATE ABOUT WHERE THEY STAND, WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT UKRAINE.

BECAUSE REMEMBER, THESE ARE CANDIDATES FOR THE U.S., THEY COULD WIND UP ON THE SENATE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OR THE SENATE DEFENSE COMMITTEE, AND THE REASON I MENTION THAT, OF COURSE, IS JD VANCE MADE ONE OF THE DUMBEST COMMENTS OR INSENSITIVE COMMENTS WHEN HE SAID I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS WE ARE FOCUSED WITH THE BORDER IN UKRAINE.

I'VE GOT TO BE HONEST, I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO UKRAINE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

HOW COULD YOU SAY, I MEAN, IT'S ONE THING TO SAY IT'S NOT OUR ISSUE, I DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED BUT TO SAY YOU DON'T CARE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

THINK ABOUT THIS.

INITIALLY, DONALD TRUMP SAID PUTIN WAS BRILLIANT.

SMART.

SAID AN ATROCITY, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST, IT WAS CERTAINLY TRUMP WHO WAS TRYING TO THINK OF IT, KISSING UP TO PUTIN.

IT WAS TRUMP WHO WAS TRYING TO PUT THE BLAME ON UKRAINE FOR ELECTION INTERFERENCE AND NOW ALL THESE CANDIDATES ARE SAYING, I'M WITH TRUMP.

I'M WITH TRUMP.

I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING, WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IN UKRAINE?

AND AT LEAST SEE WHERE THEIR SYMPATHIES LIE.

THAT MAY BE AN ISSUE THAT WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT JD VANCE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A QUOTE THAT HIS OPPONENT CAN USE QUITE EFFECTIVELY.

DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> MANY PRESIDENTS FROM GEORGE W. BUSH TO OBAMA TO TRUMP AND NOW BIDEN HAD TO DEAL WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN AND NO ONE HAS REALLY FIGURED IT OUT YET.

SO IT'S REALLY TRULY A BIPARTISAN ISSUE IN THIS COUNTRY AND EUROPE.

THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

MICHAEL MILLER.

GREAT NEWS.

THE SAME FOX POLL HAS GOVERNOR DeWINE AT 50% FOLLOWED BY JOE BLYSTONE AND 18%, 10% UNDECIDED IN THAT RACE BUT MIKE MILLER, HAS TO BE PLEASED HE'S AT 50%.

BUMPING AROUND AT THE 30% RANGE, 20%.

PREVIOUS INTERNAL POLLS WE'VE SEEN.

>> WELL, I'M SURE HE IS PLEASED AND IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME.

YOU TALK ABOUT NAME RECOGNITION WITH THE RACES, STRESS.

AROUND FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

EVERY POSITION WE CAN THINK OF.

I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL, HIS OPPONENTS ARE STILL BASICALLY MORE AREA SIDE PEOPLE AND GOT THE MOST STATE RECOGNITION AND NOT MUCH.

DeWINE FOR THE MOST PART, REPUBLICAN PEOPLE ARE QUITE SATISFIED WITH HIM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MAP PEOPLE OR NOT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING SURPRISING ABOUT THAT.

I'M SURE HE'S HAPPY.

AS AN INCUMBENT, I DON'T THINK IT'S A SURPRISE HE SAID HE WILL NOT DEBATE FOR THIS PRIMARY RACE.

MY GUESS IS HE WILL DEBATE IF HE WINS THE PRIMARY AND SAY WINS THE DEMOCRATS, I IMAGINE HE WILL DEBATE.

BUT I THINK HE'LL JUST SIT QUIETLY NOW AND CERTAINLY IS GOING TO WIN THE PRIMARY.

THAT'S THE WAY HE LOOKS AT IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER.

>> REALLY, AND JOHN WOULD, ONE OF THOSE FOLKS WOULD FACE MIKE DeWINE, OF COURSE, AND IN THE SENATE RACE.

LET'S GET TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.

IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS AND TWO DAYS SINCE THE FIRST REPORTED COVID CASE IN OHIO.

SINCE THEN, 37,146 OHIOANS DIED FROM COVID AND IN OHIO, SAW 2200 CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE.

NOW THE STATE'S TRANSMISSION RATE IS AT 78.

JUST 78 FOR 100,000 PEOPLE.

>> THE SITUATION IS IMPROVING.

AND OUR EXPERIENCE IS COVID-19 IS EVOLVING FROM THAT OF A PANDEMIC TO MORE OF AN ENDEMIC STATE.

>> THIS WEEK, THE STATE OF OHIO ANNOUNCED IT WOULD SWITCH FROM DAILY TO WEEKLY REPORTING OF COVID-19 DATA.

THE CITY OF COLUMBUS OFFICIALLY ENDED ITS MASK MANDATE THIS WEEK.

SOME ARE SAYING IT'S A LITTLE TOO SOON, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DATA.

THEY LIKE TO SEE THAT REPORTED DAILY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THESE ARE THE RIGHT DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING NOW.

EVERYBODY IS TIRED.

EVERYBODY IS LOOKING TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE ARE MONITORING THE NUMBER OF CASES AND SO IF WE SEE A REVERSAL, IF WE SEE A SURGE, I THINK WE'LL BE BETTER PREPARED, BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW, EASING THE MASK MANDATE, EXCEPTION OF THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION BUT EASING THE MASK MANDATE, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT'S STILL NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IS, WILL PEOPLE NEED ANOTHER BOOSTER SHOT?

MANY PEOPLE WHO GOT THEIR FIRST BOOSTER SHOT GOT IT MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AGO.

SO WE'LL NEED ADVICE FROM THE DOCTORS AND THE CDC, BUT I THINK ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT WE STILL NEED TO MONITOR.

>> GOING TO BE MONITORING FOLKS COUNTY BY COUNTY.

THEY'LL LOOK FOR HOT SPOTS AROUND THE COUNTY, JULIE.

>> YES.

AND I THINK IT MAKES SENSE, DRILL DOWN AT THE MORE LOCAL LEVEL AND HAVE US GET ACCUSTOMED TO THESE CHARTS ON THE DIFFERENT DOORS OF THE INSTITUTIONS WITH COLORS LIKE ORANGE AND YELLOW AND RED SO THAT YOU KNOW, OKAY, MAYBE I SHOULD WEAR MY MASK INSIDE TO A GATHERING OR CONTINUE TO WEAR MY MASK IF UMM IN A BIG GROUP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THE IDEA IS TO, AGAIN, RETURN TO NORMAL.

AND THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO GET SICK AREN'T GOING TO GET TOO SICK.

I THINK I'M GOING TO GET THE WINNING DESIGNATION AS THE FINAL PERSON TO GET THE COVID VIRUS BECAUSE I GOT IT THIS PAST WEEK AFTER EVERYTHING OPENED BACK UP, AFTER TWO YEARS OF NOT GETTING IT, BUT I THINK THE RISKS ARE LESS WITH OMICRON, MORE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MOVE ON AT SOME POINT.

>> THANK YOU FOR PLOWING THROUGH AND APPEARING ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEKEND.

OVERCOMING COVID.

MIKE MILLER, WHAT DO YOU LEARN MOST ABOUT THIS, THE PAST TWO YEARS, IT SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME.

>> I SUPPOSE LIKE ANYBODY ELSE, YOU REMEMBER THE UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF DEATHS THAT OCCURRED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING, SOMETHING THAT I HAVE NOT HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH IN MY LIFE, AND I DON'T THINK THE COUNTRY HAS EXCEPT FOR THE SPANISH FLU IN 1919 OR WHENEVER THAT WAS.

PERSONALLY, I SUPPOSE WITH THAT AS AN EXCEPTION, PERSONAL THINGS ARE VERY MINOR BUT MY WIFE AND I FOR YEARS, MARRIED ALMOST 56 YEARS, ALWAYS GONE OUT FRIDAY NIGHT FOR DINNER AND SO FORTH, AND WE SIT HERE FOR ONE SOLID YEAR.

THE SOLID YEAR, WENT NOWHERE.

AND FORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T KILL ONE ANOTHER.

ALTHOUGH I THINK IT WAS CLOSE.

SO I'LL REMEMBER JUST TO CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE LIFESTYLE, WAY OF LIVING, GOING TO WORK.

IT WAS ALMOST ALL, YOU KNOW, THROUGH NOT IN PERSON, GOING ALL OUTSIDE AND THE COURTS CHANGING AND EVERYBODY, IT JUST CHANGED EVERYTHING.

CHANGED EVERYTHING I DID.

AND EVERYBODY ELSE TOO.

>> A LOT OF MISSED AMERICANS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WHETHER YOU WERE A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE OR, YOU KNOW, A SENIOR CITIZEN LOOKING TO ENJOY THE REST OF LAST DECADE OF YOUR LIFE.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

ANYWAY, REMEMBER THAT LONG DEBATE OVER OHIO GASOLINE TAX FROM THE BEFORE TIMES, WELL, IT'S BACK WITH GAS PRICES TOPPING $4 A GALLON, SENATE REPUBLICANS WANT TO REPEAL THE GAS TAX APPROVED IN 2019.

10 CENTS A GALLON.

LAWMAKERS WANT TO WAIVE THE $100 YEARLY CHARGE FOR HYBRID VEHICLES AND THE $200 CHARGE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THE TAX AND THE FEES WOULD COME BACK AFTER FIVE YEARS.

SUPPORTERS SAY OHIO DOESN'T NEED THE MONEY ON HIGHWAYS BECAUSE OF ALL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY COMING OUR WAY.

GOVERNOR eWINE DISAGREES.

HE SAID THE STATE NEEDS THE GAS TAX MONEY STILL.

PAYING $4 A GALLON, 10 CENTS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT.

IS THAT A SYMBOLIC MOVE OR GENUINELY TRYING TO HELP FOLKS WITH THEIR GASOLINE BILLS?

>> I THINK IT'S SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE THERE.

I THINK THAT THE GAS TAX CAN BE SEEN RIGHT NOW AS ADDING TO OTHER BILLS THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THE SITUATION WITH INFLATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND THAT THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING NICE OR FOR PEOPLE.

BUT TO SOME EXTENT, IT'S SYMBOLIC FOR A LOT OF OHIOANS.

BUT IT ADDS UP.

YOU KNOW, SO AT A CERTAIN POINT, EVERY 10, 40 CENTS MATTERS.

>> IF WE'RE GETTING $10 BILLION FROM THE FED, 10 CENTS.

THE ENTIRE OHIO GAS TAX IS 38 CENTS PER GALLON.

WHY NOT JUST REPEAL THE WHOLE THING FOR MAYBE JUST TWO YEARS?

>> THE GOVERNOR THOUGHT TO HAVE THE INCREASE TAX AND I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO WANT TO GO ALONG WITH REDUCING IT.

AND WITH INFLATION, MENTIONED ALL THAT, I KNOW PRICES ARE GOING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE ON EVERYTHING.

MEAT, CLOTHES, EVERYTHING.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT AFFECTS ME LESS THAN ANY, COMPLETELY ANCILLARY REASONS AND THAT IS I THINK THE 10 CENTS OR 12 CENTS, WHATEVER IT IS, DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE THAT IT MAKES ME FEEL IN A LIMITED WAY I'M DOING SOMETHING.

SO I DON'T MIND PAYING THE TA I DON'T LIKE IT BUT UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, I LOOK AT IT DIFFERENTLY THAN ANY OTHER TAX.

>> YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE A TEMPORARY REPRIEVE OF THE GAS TAX, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER FIVE YEARS.

YOU GO TO MAKE IT A PERMANENT REPRIEVE AND YOU OPPOSE THAT, GET ACCUSED OF RAISING TAXES.

DO YOU THINK THAT COULD HAPPEN HERE?

>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

I THINK THE PUBLIC POLICY HERE IS TO LEAVE THE GAS TAX ALONE, OR TO REALLY SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE IT FOR A MUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AND ACTUALLY SORT OF END, SO AN EVENT YOU'RE RAISING TAXES BUT SORT OF A RESPONSE TO SAY, INFLATION AND WORRY AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING.

BUT THE SOMETHING ISN'T VERY MUCH HERE, AND SO I WOULD THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR NOW HAS A GOOD ARGUMENT TO MAKE, THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE FLYING WITH THIS AND ACTUALLY, DESPITE THE FACT IT'S $10 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE MANY, MANY ROADS AND HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

THAT MONEY CAN STILL BE USED VERY EFFECTIVELY.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOT AND MICHAEL MILLER, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> GRATEFUL, EVERYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.

OF COURSE, IT'S IMPORTANT BUT I THINK IT PALES WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN UKRAINE.

AND DOMINATES THE NEWS AS IT SHOULD, DOMINATES MY THOUGHTS AND JUST KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THINGS WILL WORK OUT TO THE BENEFIT OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR FINAL THOUGHT.

>> FINAL COURT DECISION GIVES THE DEMOCRATS A SET OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE MORE FAVORABLE TO THEM THAN IN THE PAST.

DEMOCRATS SHOULDN'T ASSUME THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WIN MORE SEATS.

THEY HAVE TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB IN TERMS OF CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT, RUNNING CAMPAIGNS, THEY HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD JOB, CAMPAIGN FINANCING.

DO NOT GUARANTEE CERTAIN KINDS.

>> JULIE CARR SMYTH, FINAL THOUGHTS.

>> JUST BACK TO THE ELECTIONS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IN BOTH THE SENATE PRIMARY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, THE REAL QUESTION EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IS, DOES THE TRUMP MAGIC, IF YOU WILL, TRANSFER TO ANY OTHER CANDIDATES AND I THINK OHIO WILL BE A GREAT PLACE TO WATCH FOR THAT AND SEE IF EVEN WITH HIS ENDORSEMENT OR WITHOUT HIS ENDORSE ENDORSEMENT, EVERY POSSIBLE POSITIVE STATEMENT ABOUT HIM CARRIES A CANDIDATE THROUGH POTENTIALLY.

>> ALL THE WAY TO NOVEMBER.

THAT WILL BE TO WATCH.

THIS IS IT.

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY IS THE LAST, COLUMBUS TO GET RID OF MASK MANDATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

WE'RE DONE.

LET'S HOPE WE CAN KEEP THEM OFF FOR GOOD.

THAT IS THE LATEST ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

CHECK OUT OUR LINE.

EVERY EPISODE ON YOUR TIME.

WOSU.ORG/COTR.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.