>> OHIO PROPERTY TAXES ARE HERE TO STAY.

WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON THE EFFORT TO ABOLISH OHIO PROPERTY TAXES HAS FAILED AT LEAST FOR NOW.

THE GROUP COLLECTING SIGNATURES TO PUT AN AMENDMENT ON NOVEMBER'S BALLOT SAYS IT HAS FALLEN SHORT OF THE NUMBER NEEDED TO QUALIFY.

THE GROUP HAD TO COLLECT AT LEAST 415 BALLOTTHE LEADER OF THE EFFORT SAID THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH BY THAT DATE.

.

BUT THE GROUP SIGNATURES.

CONTINUES TO COLLECT SIGNATURES IN THE HOPES OF GETTING ON NEXT YEARS BALLOT.

> >> WE WANTED TO GIVE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ENOUGH TIME TO ADDRESS THE NEEDED SPENDING CUTS TO THE BLOATED TAXING AUTHORITIES THROUGHOUT OHIO.

THE SPENDING PRIORITIES OF THE STATE LEGISLATURES.

WE DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM GENERATING REVENUE IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE A SPENDING AND A FRAUD WASTE AND ABUSE PROBLEM.

>> HAD THE QUESTION MADE THE BALLOT IT WOULD OF OVERSHADOWED THE CAMPAIGN AND ELIMINATE $120 BILLION IN TAX MONEY THAT MAINLY PAYS FOR LOCAL SERVICES LIKE SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE A MONTH TO GO BEFORE THE DEADLINE.

DO WE KNOW HOW SHORT THEY SELL?

NO.

BRIAN MASSIE, THE GENTLEMAN YOU HEARD FROM, THEY SAID BACK IN APRIL THEY HAD 305,000 BALLOT SIGNATURES.

THEY WANTED TO GET 620,000 SIGNATURES BECAUSE NORMALLY YOU NEED A PAD WHEN YOU GO INTO THIS AND, SO, THEY, HE IS NOT GIVING THE NUMBER BUT WE KNOW IT IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 305,000 AND 620.

>> WE GIVE THEM A LOT OF ATTENTION.

LAWMAKERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING AT IT CAUTIOUSLY.

>> IT HAD A CHANCE TO RESHAPE HOW THE POLITICS WORK AT THE STATE HOUSE.

PRETTY MUCH HAS DONE THAT.

AND THIS IS, THE RIPPLE OF THIS IS STILL GOING ON IN TALKING TO HOUSE REPUBLICANS.

I HAVE NOT DISCUSSED IT WITH THE HOUSE WITH ANY SENATE REPUBLICANS.

HOW REPUBLICANS HAVE EXPRESSED A SERIOUS CONCERN THAT LIBERTARIANS ARE OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING ON TWO ISSUES, ENDING ALL PROPERTY TAXES IMMEDIATELY AND A MORATORIUM ON ALL DATA CENTERS IMMEDIATELY.

AND, THAT IS SPEAKING TO THE REPUBLICAN BASE AND THAT IS TERRIFYING TO THESE HOUSE REPUBLICANS.

>> SO, DID THIS EFFORT IT IS STILL GOING.

FOR NOW.

DID IT FAIL BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SYMPATHY OR SUPPORT FOR ENDING PROPERTY TAXES OR FAILED BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH MONEY OR ORGANIZATIONS?

>> IT FAILED BECAUSE NO ONE WAS GOING TO HELP THEM.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS REPUBLICANS ARE, ON THE ONE HAND, NOT WANTING TO SAY THEY ARE AFRAID OF THIS AND DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN BUT THEY DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN.

WHAT HE SAID HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.

THEY ARE NOT MAKING THE SPENDING ISSUES.

THE PROPERTY TAX ISSUES ARE PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE PASSED AND VOTED ON, BY THE WAY, BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

WHEN YOU ARE IN A TOWNSHIP FOR INCIDENCE LIKE I AM ON A TRUSTEE LEVEL, YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON FUNDING YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THERE ARE NO OTHER TAXES THAT YOU CAN USE.

IT IS REALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THEY GET THE SIGNATURES NEXT YEAR.

NOT ONLY WILL IT END PROPERTY TAXES, BUT OOH.

>> IF IT PASSES.

>> YES.

>> BUT THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF MOST OF OUR BONDS WOULD GO DOWN WHICH WOULD LEAD TO AS ONE OF THE LARGEST STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

A MAJOR WALL STREET PROBLEM.

WE WOULD HAVE COLLAPSE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INCLUDING ALL TOWNSHIPS.

IT WILL BE A DISASTER AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

SO, THE CALL, AS WE JUST HEARD FROM BRIAN MASSIE IS FOR LAWMAKERS TO DO.

THEY WILL BE BACK IN NOVEMBER WITH THE QUESTION AGAIN.

ANY APPETITE AT THE STATE HOUSE TO ACT ON PROPERTY TAXES OR NOW IS THE PRESSURE OFF?

IT WILL NOT BE ON THE BALLOT?

>> WELL, THERE ARE PLANS AND BILLS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT CAN DEAL WITH PROPERTY TAXES THAT, TO THE EXTENT IT WOULD SATISFY THE FOLKS THAT ARE WITH THE AXE THE TAX CAMPAIGN.

NOTHING THAT WILL OBLITERATE PROPERTY TAXES RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT WILL MAKE BOB AND BETTY BUCKEYE HAPPY ON THIS IS IF PROPERTY TAXES WERE REDUCED BACK TO THE 2019 LEVEL.

IN TALKING THAT IS ABOUT, THAT IS WHAT THEY THINK IT SHOULD ALL DO NOW.

THEY HAVE DONE INTERESTING REFORMS THAT IF THEY MAY HAVE DONE 15 YEARS AGO WHEN THE ISSUE FIRST STARTED.

PEOPLE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT WOULD OF MODERATED THE RESPONSE ON THIS A LOT BY NOW.

BUT, THEY DIDN'T DO IT.

NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO CATCH UP AND THE REFORMS, WHILE GOOD, JUST ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH TO MOVE THE NUMBERS BACK TO 2019.

WHICH IS WHAT THEY WANTED.

>> DON'T YOU FIND IT FASCINATING THAT HERE WE ARE, REPUBLICANS IN CONTROL FOR 16 YEARS, FISCAL CONSERVATIVES AND YET THEY LOST CONTROL OF PROPERTY TAXES?

>> IT IS BECAUSE THEY VIEW THE VARIOUS TAXES THAT ARE OUT THERE, THE BIGGEST SIN, IT IS THE INCOME TAX AND THEY SPENT ALL, EVERY TIME THEY CAN SAVE A DIME IN STATE GOVERNMENT THEY USE IT TO DECREASE THE NEXT TAX.

>> WHICH INCREASES THE PROPERTY TAX.

>> WELL .

>> YOU ARE SORT OF --ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ONE OF THE CRITICISMS IS THERE ARE TOO MANY GOVERNMENT TAX AGENCIES, TOO MANY TOWNSHIPS S THERE A WAY TO CONSOLIDATE WITH CLINTON TOWNSHIP AND HILLIARD.

>> WE ALREADY DO THAT.

WE PROVIDE FIRE SERVICES FOR MANY DUEL THINGS THAT WE DO WITH THE CITY OF HILLIARD THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING, BUT, IF WE ARE RUNNING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THEY ARE RUNNING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT IS GOING TO COST THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY TO RUN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> SO, 20 YEARS AGO I WAS WORKING WITH BROOKINGS METRO ON THIS ISSUE.

THEY SAID TO ME, YOU MUST LOVE GOVERNMENT IN OHIO BECAUSE YOU HAVE SO MUCH OF IT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ALL OF THEM, SO MANY OF THEM HAVING OVERLAPPING TERRITORIES, OVERLAPPING SERVICES, OVERLAPPING DUTIES, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LIKE THEY DID FOR THE FEDS WHEN IT CAME TIME TO START CLOSING MILITARY BASES, A BASE RE-ALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE PROCESS.

WE NEED TO DO ONE LIKE THAT IN OHIO WHERE WE SIT DOWN AND STUDY AND BEGIN TO GO.

WE NEED TO CONSOLIDATE THESE BUSINESSES.

I WILL TELL YOU, TOWNSHIPS, I AM STARTING TO SEE IT FOR 20 YEARS, TOWNSHIPS, MUNICIPALITIES THEY ARE DOING THE THINGS THEY KNOW TO DO.

NOT DOING THE THINGS THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF IN THE FUND AND COUNCIL THAT THEY CAN DO.

THEY ARE NOT.

>> IS CONSOLIDATION INEVITABLE?

DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS.

BECAUSE THE COSTS ARE THE SAME WHEN IT COMES TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND RUNNING THE DIFFERENT THINGS.

I THINK IT WILL NOT HAPPEN ANY WAYS IN A REPUBLICAN GOVERNED STATE BECAUSE MOST TOWNSHIPS, BY THE WAY, ARE RURAL TOWNSHIPS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE.

IT IS OVERWHELMING THREE REPUBLICAN ALL >> ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE FRAUD IS A SCANDLOUS PROBLEM IN RIGHT.

OHIO.

THE NATIONS TOP LAW ENFORCMENT OFFICERS TRAVELED TO COLUMBUS THIS WEEK TO SAY OHIO IS A LEADING LOCATION FOR GOVERNMENT FRAUD.

ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD BLANCE, FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL, MEDICAID DIRECTOR MEHMET OZ AND OTHERS JOINED SOME STATE OFFICIALS IN ANNOUNCING 14 INDICTMENTS CHARGING THEM WITH DEFRAUDING THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF $50CASES INVOLVED MEDICAID FRAUD, COVID RELIEF FRAUD AND A MILLION, THE ROW PLANS FRAUD SCHEME.

>> THESE NUMBERS ARE HIGH, SADLY, OHIO IS FACING SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FRAUD SCREAMS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THE OFFICIALS SAY THE INDICTMENTS RESULT FROM A FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERSHIP AND VOW TO CONTINUE TO ROOT OUT FRAUD IN OHIO AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

ARE WE REALLY THE EPI-CENTER OF FRAUD IN THE UNITED STATES?

IT SOUNDED LIKE WE ARE.

>> WELL, IF YOU BELIEVE TODD BLANCHE WE ARE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN THIS NEWS CONFERENCE THEY HAD 14 DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT WERE ACCUSED OF FRAUD.

ONE OF THOSE, ONE OF THOSE 14 WAS MEDICAID FRAUD.

IT IS THE THING THAT WE ARE ALL HEARING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

THE OTHER THINGS WERE DIFFERENT SCAMS AND FRAUDS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT IN THE LAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS, THAT SCAM, THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.

AND, THE COVID MONEY.

>> UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD MONEY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING ON FOR YEARS.

THERE IS NOT, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE NEWS CONFERENCE AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, 14 PEOPLE AND THE ARREST AND WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GO AFTER ALL OF THIS MONEY.

THE THING IS, NOT MEDICAID FRAUD, JUST MEDICAID FRAUD.

>> NOW, OHIO IS A SCANDALOUS AMOUNT OF FRAUD.

TWO PEOPLE ARE ON THE STAGE THAT ARE IN CHARGE OF OVERSEEING AND INVESTIGATING THE FRAUD.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IN GOING, OUTGOING, INCOMING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WHERE WERE THEY IN ALL OF THIS.

THEY WERE THERE FOR 7 1/2 YEARS.

>> RIGHT.

>> I DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES BACK HOME, WHAT THEY, VARIATION OF POURING WATER ON A ROCK NOTHING SOAKS IN.

THEY ARE NOT PAYING THAT MUCH ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE.

FOR A BUNCH, I THINK, A BUNCH OF SURPRISING ISSUES, THEY JUST VIEW, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE GOVERNMENT, IT IS NATURALLY CORRUPT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU ARE POINTING OUT MORE CORRUPTION AND THEY WOULD TURN TO ME AND GO, WELL, YOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE AND I GO, WELL, YEP.

THEY ARE THE ONES BRINGING IT OUT.

WHY WERE THEY NOT ON TOP OF THIS?

YEAH.

HERE IS THE THING, THOUGH.

NOT GAINING ANY TRACTION.

WHAT IT IS THAT NOW THERE IS NOT A ENOUGH LOCAL NEWS AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE FULL AMOUNT OF STUFF FROM THE LOCAL GENERATION AND FRANKLY EVER SINCE THEY CLOSED DOWN 20 YEARS AGO, MY LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE LOST A WHOLE IMPORTANT SORT OF LOCAL INPUT.

>> THAT IS ANOTHER SHOW.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> WHAT IS DRIVING IT?

THE SOCIAL MEDIA FOLKS GOING AROUND TO NORTHEAST FRANKLIN COUNTY WITH THEIR CAMERAS AT THE DAYCARE CENTERS AND THE MEDICARE, HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCIES AND SEEING NOBODY THERE?

>> WHAT IS DRIVING IT IS MINNESOTA AND DRIVING, PICKING ONGOING AFTER MEDICAID PROVIDERS THAT HAPPEN TO BE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE, HAVE FOREIGN NAMES.

WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING HERE IS TRYING TO BE POLITICAL ABOUT IT.

WHY WAS THERE, TREASURE AND RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS FOR 16 YEARS BOTH KEITH FABER AND DAVE YOST HAVE BEEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AND IF THERE HAS BEEN FRAUD, YOU GUYS WERE THE ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IT.

AND IF YOU WERE SAY, SOMEBODY PULLS THE WOOL OVER YOUR EYES, THEN WAS IT MIKE AND JOHN HOUSTON THAT WERE THERE FOR SIX YEARS?

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.

>> MIKE WAS NOT AT THIS.

THE ONLY TOP OFFICIAL THAT WAS NOT THERE.

>> HE WAS NOT.

>> HE WAS NOT THERE.

>> HE HAD SOMETHING WITH DR.

OZ THE WEEK BEFORE THAT, HE SAID, HEY, I TRUST THE GOVERNOR WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH MEDICAID FRAUD.

SO, YOU KNOW, HE SPOKEN ON THE ISSUE BUT HE WAS NOT AT THIS PRESS CONFERENCE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING THAT DAY >> PERHAPS THE REAL ROMANCE FRAUD WAS DR.

OZ AND MIKE DEWINE, SOMEBODY THERE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

>> THEY SAID SINCE 2011 THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE MORE THAN 2,000 INDICTMENTS INVOLVING MEDICAID FRAUD.

HE IS POINTING OUT THERE HAVE BEEN.

>> THIS IS WHY, THIS IS LIKE WITH HOUSE BILL SIX.

MY NEIGHBORS, THEY GO, OF COURSE THE UTILITIES WERE BRIBING PEOPLE.

THAT IS HOW THIS GOES TO, HOW THEY VIEW CORPORATIONS.

AND IT IS INCREASINGLY THIS TERRIFIES ME.

IT IS BECOMING VERY MUCH A CLASS-DRIVEN DISCUSSION.

THAT JUST TERRIFIES ME.

>> IT EMPOWERS PEOPLE LIKE YOUR PEOPLE LIKE BERNIE SANDERS.

AND HAVE THIS CLASS WARFARE GOING ON.

NOTHING MORE DESTRUCTIVE.

>> YES.

GO AHEAD.

COULD DEMOCRATS MEAN, FOLLOWING IT, THE BAIL OUT SCANDAL, $60 MILLION.

WE HAVE $50 MILLION IN FRAUD, HERE.

IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRATIC AD MAKER YOU COULD MAKE SOMETHING WITH CORRUPTION AND WITH THE REPUBLICAN CONTROL, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK YOU ARE SEEING THAT AT THE POLLS, SEEING THE OVERREACH, TRUMP IS DOING, THEY HAVE CYNICISM ABOUT IT.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS THAT ARE SEEING THIS, STARTING TO TURN OFF ABOUT EVEN ABOUT IT.

SO, YOU ARE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN THERE WAS TALK ABOUT HOUSE BILL 6, ABOUT THE ENERGY SCANDAL.

IT IS NOT THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT IT, IT IS THE WAY THEY TALKED ABOUT IT AND THE WAY THAT IS RESINATING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING.

>> REPUBLICANS WILL ARGUE THAT RULES, PUT IN PLACE BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LED TO A LOT OF THE FRAUD.

THEY LOOSENED THE RULES, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS, ANY WAY.

>> FOR YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO DR.

RICHARD STRAWS.

THIS WEEK CAME THE FIGHT NEARS AN END.

IN A SURPRISE LAST-MINUTE ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AGREED IN PRINCIPAL TO SETTLE MANY OF THE MOST REMAINING CLAIMS OF HUNDREDS OF MEN ABUSED BY STRAUS FOR $100 MILLION.

>> THE SURVIVOR SURVIVORS, ALL BUCKEYES, WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF OUR FAMILY.

I BELIEVE THAT.

WE CONTINUE TO BE GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR THEIR COURAGE IN COMING FORWARD AND REACHING A FINAL RESOLUTION IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD.

>> THIS IS $100 MILLION IS ON TOP OF THE $61 MILLION THEY AGREED TO PAY THREE OTHER PEOPLE ABUSED BY STRAUSS THAT CAME IN 2020.

THEY DECLINED TO PROVIDE DETAILS POINTING TO CONFIDENTIALITY.

IT WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO THAT IT CAME TO LIGHT.

YET IS IT TAKING SO LONG AND WHY SETTLE IT NOW?

>> IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SETTLED A LONG TIME AGO IF YOU LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED AT MICHIGAN AND PENN STATE.

THEY DID NOT TAKE THIS LONG.

IT IS ABOUT TIME THEY GET ALL OF THESE THINGS SETTLED.

I SAID IT BEFORE.

THEY ARE SAYING IT IS NOT COMING FROM TUITION OR OTHER FUNDS GENERATED BY FOLKS BUT NOT SAYING WHERE IT IS GENERATED FROM.

THEY ARE A PUBLIC INSTITUTION.

THEY HAVE NOT LEARNED THAT.

THAT IS WHAT CONCERNS ME.

>> SHE SAYS NO TAXPAYER MONEY, NO TUITION MONEY AND NO DONOR- DIRECTED FUNDS ARE USED FOR THE SETTLEMENT.

THERE ARE DONORS THAT DO NOT DIRECT THE MONEY.

>> WHY SETTLE DOWN.

A LOT OF IT.

A COUPLE COURT DECISIONS THAT WENT AGAINST OHIO STATE.

THEY WIDENED THE POOL.

FOOTBALL PLAYERS JOINED.

30 JOINED THE SUIT.

>> A COUPLE MONTHS AGO >> POLICE CHIEFS.

IT JUST IS A MASSIVE PR DIRECTOR PROBLEM.

AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY HOW NOT TO HANDLE A CRISIS.

THEY SHOULD OF DEALT WITH IT.

QUICKLY, EARLY, THOROUGHLY, FULLY, AND THEY DIDN'T.

AND I AM STILL JUST BAFFLED.

MY DAD WENT TO OHIO STATE.

I AM JUST BAFFLED HOW THEY ARE HANDLING THE WHOLE THING.

MICHIGAN STATE, AND MICHIGAN, SIMILAR SEX ABUSE CASES THERE.

YOU CAN ARGUE WORSE THERE THAN HERE.

SIMILAR CASES.

THEY SETTLED FOR $500 MILLION EACH.

OSU IS GOING TO BE IN THE RANGE OF $170 MILLION TOTAL.

LESS THAN THE TWO UNIVERSITIES >> IF YOU TALKED TO AND LYNCHED TO WHAT THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED ARE SAYING, THEY REALLY WANTED CHANGES MORE THAN MONEY.

THAT IS WHERE THE RUBBER HIT THE ROAD ON THIS.

THEY WERE JUST WANTING CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM SO IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

WE DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE DETAILS.

I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN THIS RELM AS FAR AS WHAT WAS PROMISED, WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

WHAT SAFE GUARDS ARE IN PLACE.

THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE THE ANSWERS TO THOSE.

>> A LOT OF OTHER RECENT BAD NEWS FOR OSU.

THE TED CARTER, PRESIDENT CARTER RESIGNATION, THE MINISCANDAL THERE.

OF COURSE, JEFFREY EPSTEIN TIES, ONE THING TO GET OFF OF THEIR PLATE FOR NOW, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> CORPORATIONS, THAT IS WHAT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY IS NOW.

A MEGACORP.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SELF-CORRECTING --THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO --AT THE END OF ALL OF MY STAFF MEETINGS WHEN I HAD STAFF I WOULD ASK THE SAME QUESTION, WHAT ARE WE MISSING, I AM NOT GETTING THE SENSE THAT IT HAS BEEN ASKED UNTIL RECENTLY.

WHAT ARE WE MISSING?

HOW ARE WE NOT HANDLING THIS?

WHAT NEEDS TO GO ON.

IT GOES BACK TO WHAT WE SAID.

THEY SHOULD OF JUST, HERE IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

HERE IS A FORMAL ACTION STATEMENT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REFORMS AND, THEY HAVE BEEN STONE WALLING >> HAVING LIVED THROUGH THIS.

IN A LARGE ORGANIZATION THAT WENT THROUGH FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS AS THE SPOKESPERSON.

IT IS NOT JUST THE GOING AFTER THE PERSON THAT DID THE WRONGDOING.

IT IS PUTTING THE SAFE GUARDS IN PLACE.

IT IS CHANGING THE CULTURE SO THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS ARISES AND IN THIS CASE THERE IS AN ADDED CULTURAL PROBLEM THAT IS, WHEN IT COMING TO MOLESTING OF MALES THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO STEP FORWARD AND THAT WAS A BIG PROBLEM.

>> MORE AND MORE OF THOSE MEN CAME FORWARD AND BUILT THE MOMENTUM.

>> AND NEW PRESIDENT, CHAIR, ALL OF THAT PLAYED INTO IT AS WELL.

ANY WAY >> IN MANY CORNERS OF OHIO DATA CENTERS HAVE BECOME PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE.

OPPOENTS .

CLAIM THE WAREHOUSES FILLED WITH COMPUTERS WILL INCREASE ELECTRIC BILLS, DRAIN WATER SUPPLIES AND REDUCE FARM LAND.

NOW TECH COMPANIES ARE FIGHTING BACK - AT LEAST A LITTLE.

AS SIGNAL OHIO FIRST REPORTED, TECH COMPAINES HAVE HIRED DOZENS OF LOBBIESTS AND WILL SPEND MORE THAN $10,000 ON DIGITAL ADSTHE BENEFITS OF DATA CENTERS.

THEY ARGUE THE FACI.

ITIES CREATE CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND TAUTINGLEAD TO OTHER TECH RELATED JOBS.

THE MOVES COME AS GOVERNOR DEWINE SUSPENDED A TAX BREAK FOR DATA CENTER BUILDERS.

WILL IT WORK?

WILL IT CONVINCE YOUR NEIGHBORS THAT DATA CENTERS ARE GOOD FOR THEM?

>> IT WILL NOT.

FOR THE SIMPLE REASON, THIS HAS BEEN --AND THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY TOUGH --THIS HAS BEEN INTERNALLY FRAMED BY MY PEOPLE AS A CLASS CONFLICT.

IT IS THE POOR RURAL FOLKS AGAINST THE BIG CITY BILLIONAIRES FROM THE COAST ARE COMING IN AND THEY ARE BUYING OUR FARMLAND AND I ASK THEM, WHAT IS IT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO, YOU KNOW, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO COMMUNICATE IT TO THE CITY FOLKS?

THEY SAY, PUT A DATA CENTER IN SHORE PARK.

OKAY.

IN OTHER WORDS YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE UP OUR GREEN SPACE.

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF IT WAS GOING INTO YOUR GREEN SPACE?

AND .

>> BUT THERE ARE DATA CENTERS BUILT IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS IN THE AREA.

YES.

>> IT DOES HAPPEN.

>> THEY ARE NOT TAKING THE PARK.

>> YES.

HERE IS THE RUB.

SO, WE DON'T HAVE AUTHORITY OVER PERMITTING.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS PUTTING TOGETHER A SERIES OF THINGS WE WANT TO MAKE OUR FOLKS COMFORTABLE.

WE ASKED FOR THIRD PARTY TESTING THAT ANYBODY IN THE BELIEVE PUBLIC CAN SEE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE PLANT.

WE ASKED FOR THEM TO SHARE THE PLANS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY LEAVE FOR WHAT IS LEFT OVER.

THEY WILL NOT AGREE TO THE AIR TESTING.

IN FACT, THEY ACTUALLY PASSED THE AIR PERMIT WITHOUT APPROACHING THE TOWNSHIP.

MY PREDECESSORS, THEY JUST PASSED IT.

THEY WILL NOT SHARE PLANS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY SAY THE PLANS ARE TOP SECRET.

SO, MY FIRST RESPONDERS ARE GOING TO GO IN AND TRY TO PUT OUT A FIRE AND PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK.

>> THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HEARD WITH THE FRACKING WELLS.

NOT COMING INTO GROUND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT.

>> THAT IS WHAT HE IS SAYING, PEOPLE SITTING IN AREAS OUTSIDE OF COLUMBUS WHERE THEY HAVE FARM SPACE AND GREEN FIELDS THEY ARE SKEPTICAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN THE OTHER THINGS ACT OUT IN THE LAST TWO DECADES.

IT IS THE SAME THING UP THERE.

BIG DEBATE ABOUT THIS.

AND THE 23.

>> YES, AND NOBODY TRUSTED THEINCE THE INSTITUTIONS ANYMORE.

>> THAT IS MY BIG TAKEAWAY.

NOBODY TRUSTS THEIR INSTITUTIONS.

>> THAT IS HARD.

I WANT TO TELL PEOPLE, YOU ARE SAFE, THE AIR IS SAFE, FIRST RESPONDERS CAN TAKE CARE OF IT.

I CAN NOT DO IT >> COMPUTERS ARE HERE TO STAY.

REPORTS, THE TECH COMPANIES ARE WORRIED WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA CENTERS.

THERE WILL BE CONTINUED PRESSURE.

TECHNOLOGY WILL IMPROVE WHERE IT WILL GET SMALLER, NEED SMALLER COMPUTERS TO PROCESS THE DATA.

THEY ARE HERE AND THEY -- WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

>> TRANSPARENCY.

THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE GOTTEN IN THE SIX MONTHS I HAVE BEEN A TRUSTEE FROM AWS, FROM AMAZON IS A BLANK LETTER SAYING THEY ARE GOING TO COOPERATE WITH US.

UNSIGNED BY ANYBODY.

NOT FROM ANY DEPARTMENT JUST AN EMAIL.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO REGULATE OR TIGHTEN UP REGULATIONS ON DATA CENTERS OR GO AGAINST THE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY APPROACH?

>> DEPENDS ON THE STATE LAWMAKER.

THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE WILLING TO GO AHEAD RIGHT NOW AND DO THAT.

THEN, WE ARE HEARING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HEARING OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A LOT OF CLOUT.

AND EVEN UNIONS ARE SAYING THESE ARE JOBS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WE ARE GOING TO GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD SHOTS.

YOU ARE FIRST >> IT IS A SIMPLE ONE.

FLAG DAY IS COMING UP.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE.

GO TO THE BOY SCOUTS, DISPOSE OF IT PROBLEMERLY.

>> IN A MEDIA MARKET.

I GOT EXPOSED TO ALL OF THE BRIAN MASSIE ADS WHEN HE WAS BOOTED OUT AND LOST HIS PRIMARY.

I SAW HIM ON THE TALKING HEAD SHOWS, HE WAS UNNATURALLY HAPPY AND I STARTED DOING DIGGING.

I BELIEVE THAT IN 2028 HE RUNS FOR PRESIDENT ON THE LIBERTARIAN TICKET.

AND THAT WILL HAVE HUGE SAD IMPLICATIONS FOR MY PEOPLE.

>> THIS IS THE KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN THAT LOST HIS PRIMARY.

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

THERE IS A BILL AT THE STATE HOUSE THAT IS NOT MOVING.

IT HAS TO DEAL WITH TAKING THE AGE FOR GETTING MARRIED IN OHIO, WHICH IS NOW 17, TAKING THAT UP TO 18.

SO THAT YOU CAN NOT GET MARRIED AS A CHILD AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT THIS WOULD HAVE SUPPORT BUT NO ONE IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IT.

STILL IT IS NOT PASSING.

THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT ONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> SO, NO BALLOT QUESTION THIS NOVEMBER ON PROPERTY TAXES.

MAYBE ONE NEXT YEAR.

I PREDICT IF THERE IS ONE THIS ONE DOES NOT MAKE THE BALLOT.

THERE WILL BE A BALLOT QUESTION IN OHIO IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OR SO TO LIMIT PROPERTY TAXES IF LAWMAKERS DO NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT THEMSELVES.

>> THAT'S COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK A REMINDERÖ TO CHECK OUT THE WOSU NEWS YOU TUBE PAGE.

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FOR OUR CREW AND OUR PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.