>>> MASK OR NO MASK -- THE KIDS HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL.

JOINING ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK" JO INGLES, REPORTER FOR OHIO PUBLIC RADIO AND BOB CLEGG, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND MORGAN HARPER, PROGRESSIVE ACTIVIST.

OHIO KIDS HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK, AND THE CDC NOW CLASSIFIES ALL OF OHIO AS HAVING A HIGH LEVEL OF COVID TRANSMISSION, AND THOSE COUNTIES IN RED, AND FRANKLIN COUNTY AND ESSENTIALLY EVERY OTHER COUNTY IN RED.

WITH THE RISING CASES COMES AN INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>> NOW, WHILE WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL HOSPITAL AND VENTILATOR CAPACITY REMAINING HERE IN OHIO, WE NEVERTHELESS HAVE HEIGHTENED CONCERN AS REPORTS EMERGE FROM OTHER STATES THAT HOSPITALS THERE ARE BEGINNING TO TURN AWAY ELECTIVE PROCEDURES AND FACE REAL PRESSURE ON THEIR PHYSICAL RESOURCES.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE OUR HOSPITALS HERE IN OHIO FACING SUCH A SCENARIO.

>> OHIO'S NEWLY NAMED DIRECTOR SAYS THAT THE KEY TO FIGHTING COVID IS TO GET THE VACCINE AND TO WEAR A MASK EVEN IF YOU ARE VACCINATED.

JO INGLES, WHERE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FINDING THEMSELVES CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE, BECAUSE KIDS UNDER AGE 12 CAN'T GET VACCINATED.

>> YEAH, THEY CAN'T GET VACCINATED, AND THERE IS ALSO THE CONCERN THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED CAN GET SOME BREAKTHROUGH, AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN SO THAT PEOPLE GET, YOU KNOW, BREAKTHROUGHS WHERE THEY ARE ALREADY VACCINATED AND GET COVID ON TOP OF IT, AND NORMALLY, YOU DON'T GET IT AS SEVERE IF YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, BUT YOU COULD SPREAD IT, SO SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING TO SEE HOW TO STOP IT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, AND THAT IS WHY SO MANY OF THEM GO TO MASKS IN THE VERY LAST PART OF THE MONTH WHEN THEY START.

>> JO INGLES, THE GOVERNOR HAS NO PLANS AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS NO PLANS TO MANDATE THE VAX FOR THOSE UNDER AGE 12 WHO CAN'T GET THE VACCINE.

>> RIGHT.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO APPETITE FOR IT, THE GOVERNOR DEWINE IS NOT WILLING TO DO A MAX MANDATE, AND EVEN IF HE DID, MIKE, THE LEGISLATURE HAS A NEW BILL, A NEW LAW IN PLACE WHERE THEY COULD GO BACK ON THAT.

SO, THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT HIS HANDS ARE TIED ON THIS ONE.

>> BUT THEY ARE NOT THAT TIED, BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT IN SESSION RIGHT NOW, AND NOT BACK FOR A MONTH OR SO, AND IF HE WANTED TO, HE COULD START THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH MASKS FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SEE IF WE GET THROUGH THE SURGE THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH HERE.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR GOT IT RIGHT WHEN HE SAID THAT THERE IS NO APPETITE RIGHT NOW TO DO ANY KIND OF MASK MANDATE, AND I ALSO THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR THINKS THAT PROBABLY THE BEST ONES TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE THEIR PARENTS.

SO, I THINK THAT HE IS LEAVING IT UP TO THE PARENTS WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION.

>> BUT, BOB, IF, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOMEBODY WITH COVID, AND THE PARENTS ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATED OR HAVE COVID AND GIVE IT TO THEIR KID AND THEY SPREAD IT TO FOUR OR FIVE MORE PEOPLE, IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY TO GO ABOUT A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THERE IS NOTHING THAT -- I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF THE CHILD HAS BEEN EXPOSED AND THEY KNOW IT, THEY CAN PULL THEM OUT OF SCHOOL.

I MEAN, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ELSE THEY CAN DO IN THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO WEAR A MASK AND NOT GET VACCINATED AND THAT IS THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

YOU CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO FORCE THEM.

YOU CAN ENCOURAGE THEM WHICH THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE WITH VAX-A-MILLION AND OTHER THINGS, WHICH HAVE HAD RESULTED IN MORE PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED, BUT I'M, HE CANNOT GO DOWN THAT ROAD OF REQUIRING VACCINATIONS OF EVERYONE, PLUS LIKE YOU SAID, CHILDREN UNDER 12, WE ARE STILL, WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE ARE STILL AT A POINT WHERE THEY CAN'T BE VACCINATED.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER IT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF A VACCINE FOR CHILDREN, BUT I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT BY NOW THEY WOULD HAVE.

>> YEAH.

THE TESTS ARE UNDERGOING RIGHT NOW FROM THE BIG COMPANY, MODERNA AND PFIZER AND TO SEE THE SAFETY AND THE EFFICACY OF THE VACCINE ON CHILDREN, AND AS WE KNOW IT, IT TAKES A WHILE, AND THEY ARE BEING EXTRA CAUTIOUS ON THE KIDS.

THE APPETITE FOR MASKS IS NOT THERE, AND FOR THE HEALTH OFFICIALS AND THE CITY OF COLUMBUS HEALTH DIRECTOR IS SAYING THAT YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK WHEN THEY GO INTO THE GROCERY STORE, AND A FEW PEOPLE WEARING MASKS IN THE GROCERY STORE, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT, AND EVEN IF THEY ARE PRO MASKS OR NOT, THEY DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE MAXMASKS.

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE FOLKS ARE GETTING THE CLEAR MESSAGES OF WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING.

SO WE REALLY NEED LEADERSHIP, AND THE GOVERNOR CAN DO WHAT HE BELIEVES IS NECESSARY TO DO IN PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO REQUIRE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO BE VACCINATED AND MASKED UP, AND THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF CONSISTENT MES SANGS TO -- MESSAGES TO ALLOW US TO STAY HEALTHY AND A GOOD ECONOMY.

I HAVE SPOKEN TO A BUSINESS OWNER WHO IS TERRIFIED THAT THEY WON'T HAVE THE SAME BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO STAY OPEN, AND SO THIS IS A TIME MORE THAN EVER WHEN WE NEED CLEAR LEADERSHIP, AND LEADERSHIP THAT IS WILLING TO STAND UP AGAINST THE MISINFORMATION AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THROUGH THE DELTA VARIANT, AND THE NEXT FEW MONTHS OF HOW THE VIRUS CONTINUES THE EVOLVE AND CHANGE AND CHALLENGE US.

>> AND JO, THE PACE OF THE VIRUS HAS CHANGED AN INCREASED OVER THE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IS THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE, AND HAS IT BEEN THE FEAR OF THE INCREASE?

>> IT HAS INCREASED A LITTLE BIT, BUT BE CLEAR IT IS NOT A MASSIVE INCREASE, BUT IT IS THE DELTA VARIANT THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CONCERN OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.

ONE THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT ABOUT KIDS WEARING THE MASKS AT SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US CAN PROBABLY RELATE THAT WHEN WE WERE KIDS, MOM SAID, OH, YOU HAVE TO PUT ON A SWEATER AND NOT HAVE BARE SHOULDERS WHEN YOU GO TO SCHOOL ON A HOT DAY, A WE PUT -- AND WE ALL PUT ON THE SWEATER AND PUT IT IN THE BACKPACK WHEN WE GO TO SCHOOL THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

A LOT OF KIDS ARE GOING TO SAY, MOM AND DAD WANT ME TO WEAR THE MASK TO SCHOOL, BUT WHEN I AM OUT OF SIGHT AND WITH MY FRIEND, I WILL TAKE IT OFF.

SO IF THERE IS NOT A MASK MANDATE, IT IS VERY HARD FOR TEACHERS AND FOR SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO ENFORCE THAT SELECTIVELY.

>> BOB CLEGG, WHEN COME BACK, THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT MANDATES AND ONE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION, IT WOULD BAN BUSINESSES AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES FROM MANDATING THE EMPLOYEES OR THE CUSTOMERS TO BE VACCINATED AND WE SAW TODAY, A COUPLE OF THE CONCERT VENUES ARE GOING TO MANDATE THAT THEIR CONCERTGOERS, THE CUSTOMERS BE VACCINATED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO BAN PRIVATE COMPANIES FROM ISSUING THESE RULES?

>> HEY, YOU KNOW, MIKE, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OF THE BELIEF THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE TELLING BUSINESS WHAT TO DO.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY SHOULD NOT BE TELLING BUSINESS WHAT TO DO EVEN IN THIS STUFF.

A BUSINESSMAN LIKE MORGAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE OR ARE WORRIED TO SURVIVE IN ALL OF THIS, AND SO WHEN YOU OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS YOU WILL HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS BEST FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

WHEN YOU HAVE BARS AND RESTAURANT, THEY WON'T BE INTO MANDATING THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS DO THIS OR THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE OWNER THEMSELVES.

I DON'T THINK THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TELLING BUSINESS OWNERS WHAT THEY SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T DO.

>> MORGAN, COULD BUSINESSES MARKET THIS?

I BET THAT THERE ARE LOT MORE PEOPLE GOING TO CONCERTS AT EXPRESS LIVE OR NEWPORT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT EVERYONE THERE IS GOING TO HAVE SOME DEGREE OF PROOF TO BE VACCINATED, AND THEY COULD MARKET THAT, MY EMPLOYEES OR MY CUSTOMERS ARE VACCINATED.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND TO TRY TO IMPEDE A BUSINESS'S ABILITY TO MARKET SAFETY AND HEALTH AND KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES SAFE, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, AND REALLY NOT A GOOD SENSE OF TIME FROM THE LEGISLATURE, AND SO, YEAH, I AGREE THERE THAT WE SHOULD ALLOW THE BUSINESSES TO NAVIGATE THIS, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE ABLE OR ARE PUTTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY FIRST IS ALSO GOING TO BE BEST FOR US ECONOMICALLY, AND IT REALLY DOES MAKE SENSE FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY MASKED WHETHER IT IS A RESTAURANT OR CONCERT WHERE IT IS NOT AS STRAIGHT FORWARD TO PEOPLE TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINE OR RECENTLY BEEN TESTED, THIS IS STRAIGHT FORWARD OR BASED ON SCIENCE, AND THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD ALL BE ENCOURAGING AND NOT SEEING THE GOVERNMENT OR THE LEADERS TO TRY TO IMPEDE FOLKS FROM DOING THE RESPONSIBLE THING.

>> OKAY.

TWO BIG NAMED DEMOCRATS IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND SENATOR JOHN CRANLEY MAKES A NUMBER OF PROMISES.

>> WE WILL CREATE 30,000 NEW GOOD PAYING JOBS THAT PAY $60,000 A YEAR TO BUILD ROADS AND BROADBAND, AND NEW ENERGY ECONOMY.

AND WHEN WE LEGALIZE MARIJUANA, WE WILL USE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT.

MY PLAN ALSO STARTS A $500 ANNUAL DIVIDEND FROM ENERGY PROFITS TO CUT POVERTY AND TO RAISE UP THE MIDDLE-CLASS.

>> KRANLEY SAYS IF HE DOES NOT GET ALL OF THAT DONE IN HIS FIRST TERM, HE WOULD NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

WE KNOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN OHIO, OR AT LEAST WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD NEW ESTIMATE.

>> WELL, WE WILL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS.

BECAUSE IT COULD BE INTERPRETED AS A LACK OF COMMITMENT TO SEE THE FULL COURSE THROUGH, AND I THINK THAT THEY ARE INTERESTING IDEAS THAT HE IS PRESENTING WITH A LOT OF THEM DRIVEN BY ECONOMIC VISION FOR THE STATE, AND A LOT OF NEW FOLKS ARE IN NEED OF A NEW PLAN THERE, AND WE WILL SEE HOW THE VOTERS RESPOND.

>> AND BOB CLEGG, YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND YOU DON'T ADVISE DEMOCRATS, AND SHOULDN'T HE BE FOCUSED ON THE MODERATE DEMOCRATIC INDEPENDENTS WHO WOULD VOTE FOR GOVERNOR DEWINE IF THE VOTE WERE TODAY?

>> WELL, HE IS A MODERATE DEMOCRAT, AND IN MY ROLE, THAT IS A OXYMORON, BUT I AM NOT SURE, AND WHAT THIS IS WINDING UP TO BE IS WHAT WE JUST SAW IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION UP IN CLEVELAND AND AKRON OF THE 11th DISTRICT WHERE YOU HAD A QUOTE, UNQUOTE MODERATE OR MORE ESTABLISHED DEMOCRAT RUNNING AGAINST A PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE.

I THINK THAT NAN WHALEY IS VIEWED MORE OF THE PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE, AND THIS IS BATTLE THAT THE DEMOCRAT PARTY IS GOING TO BE FIGHTING OVER THE NEXT TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS.

WE ARE SEEING IT IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW IN CONGRESS OVER THE SIMILAR LEGISLATION WHERE DEMOCRATS FROM MORE SWING DISTRICTS ARE NOT SIGNING ON BOARD FOR SOME OF THE GENEROUS MONEY GIVE-OUTS THAT THE PROGRESSIVE PART OF THE CAUCUS WANT.

THIS IS A BATTLE THAT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE HERE IN OHIO.

I'M JUST GOING TO SIT BACK AND WATCH AND ENJOY.

>> THAT IS THE QUESTION, JO INGLES, TWO SCHOOL OF THOUGHTS ON THE PRIMARY, AND ONE IS THAT IT SPENDS RESOURCES THAT ON OF THE CANDIDATES COULD USE OR NEEDS, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, IT KEEPS DEMOCRATS IN THE NEWS CYCLES, AND BOTH PILING UP ON MIKE DEWINE, AND BOTH OF THEM ARE, AND THEY ARE FRIENDS, BOTH OF THEM, MAYORS FROM SOUTHWEST OHIO.

>> YEAH, AND YOU KNOW, THE THING WITH NAN WHALEY IS THAT SHE HAS BEEN OUT THERE A WHILE DRAWING A DISTINCTION BETWEEN HER AND GOVERNOR DEWINE.

AND SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE PLAN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN OUT WITH, AND THEY TOOK IT TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE A LOT OF IT, AND DIDN'T DO IT, AND RIGHT THERE, SHE WITH HIM ON THAT POINT, AND WHEN THINGS FELL APART, AND WHEN IT GETS DONE, AND THEN, THEY CAME OUT WITH THEIR OWN PLATFORM, AND HOW SHE WOULD HANDLE IT.

SO SHE HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SHE HAS REALLY BEEN IN THE PUBLIC EYE TRYING TO DRAWBACK THAT DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT SHE DOES AND GOVERNOR DEWINE DOES.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT FROM JOHN CRANLEY, AND I AM SURE THAT HE IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE AND TRY TO DO HIS THING IN THE COMING MONTHS.

>> AND BEFORE IT WAS GOVERNOR DEWINE AND JOHN HOUSTON TRYING TO COMPETE, AND THEN JOHN HOUSTON DEFERRED, AND DO YOU SEE THAT SCENARIO HAPPENING HERE WHERE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES SAID I WILL RUN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND YOU RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND WE WILL HAVE A UNITED FRONT?

>> POSSIBLY EARLY ON IN TERMS OF THE RACE FOR THE PRIMARY.

I DO THINK THAT WE AS DEMOCRATS ARE UNITED IN WANTING TO BE ANTI-CORRUPTION THOUGH, AND ALSO TRYING TO STOP A LOT OF THE OBSTRUCTIONISM THAT IS HAPPENING FROM THE OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY BOTH, YOU KNOW, WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE NOT ONLY WITHIN OHIO, BUT IN WASHINGTON, AND TO LOOK AT THINGS THAT ARE POSSIBLE TO BE WORKING TOGETHER AND BE UNITED IN THAT EFFORT IN THE OFFICE AND ALL OF US THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OHIO DESERVE MORE, AND MORE FROM THE CRONYISM AND CORRUPTION THAT SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN HOLD AT THE STATEHOUSE, AND FOLKS THAT ARE NOT LOOKING TO USE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND SMALL OWNERS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, NAN WHALEY, AND JOHN CRANLEY, AND ALSO GOVERNOR DEWINE'S PRIMARY OPPONENT, AND THIS CULTURE OF CORRUPTION, AND IS THAT IS GOING TO GIVE YOU ANXIETY OF THE CORRUPTION OF MIKE DEWINE IN THE CANDIDATES THERE.

AND SO, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYBODY IN THIS STUFF, AND SO, FOR HIM TO BE DAMAGED, IT IS GOING TO BE BROUGHT A LOT MORE INTO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAN IT HASN'T YET, AND SO UNTIL THAT HAPPEN, HE'LL BE FINE.

>> OKAY.

WE NOW KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN OHIO, AND THE U.S. CENSUS HAS RELEASED DATA THAT OHIO HAS 11.8 MILLION PEOPLE, AND THIS IS HIGHER THAN IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO AND THE STATE IS NOT GROWING AS FAST IN OTHER STATES, AND THIS IS HOW WE WILL LOSE CONGRESSIONAL STATES, AND THE CITY OF COLUMBUS IS UP TO NEARLY 900,000 AND CENTRAL OHIO LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS BECOMING MORE DIVERSE.

AND FRANKLIN COUNTY SAW BIG INCREASES OF POPULATIONS OF BLACK, HISPANIC AND ASIAN RESIDENTS.

THIS IS A BIG DATA DUMP AND TAKES YEARS TO GET THROUGH THIS, BUT WHAT DOES THE CENSUS TELL YOU ABOUT OHIOANS AND CENTRAL OHIOANS?

>> THERE IS NOTHING IN THE DATA THAT IS ALL THAT SURPRISING.

IT SHOWS THAT THE STATE GREW A LITTLE BIT, WHICH WE ALL KNEW, AND IT SHOWS THAT IN OHIO THE AREAS THAT ARE GROWING THE MOST ARE OBVIOUSLY CENTRAL OHIO AND THEN A LITTLE MORE SOMEWHAT DOWN IN SOUTHWEST OHIO.

THE TOLEDO, CLEVELAND, YOUNGSTOWN, NORTHERN SECTOR IS LOSING POPULATION, AND WE EXPECTED ALL OF THAT.

SO, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS ANYTHING GOING ON HERE THAT WAS ALL THAT SURPRISING, AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOSE ONE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, AND THAT GOING TO SHAKE THINGS UP ON THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL, AND THE MAIN THING IS THAT THIS DATA NOW MEANS THAT WE CAN START DRAWING OUR NEW LINES BOTH FOR CONGRESSIONAL PURPOSES AND ALSO FOR STATE LEGISLATIVE PURPOSES, TOO.

>> AND NOW FOR A DIVERSITY ISSUE, AND NO SURPRISE THAT WE SEE IT ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIVERSE, AND MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS, AND MORE LATINO, HISPANIC AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN, AND EAST ASIAN FOLK, AND HOW DO YOU LOOK AT THE CENTRAL ASIAN FOLKS, AND DO WE REPRESENT WHAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS SEEING?

>> YEAH, IT SEEMED LIKE IT, AND BOB WAS MENTIONING, AND NO SURPRISE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF GROWTH IN CENTRAL OHIO AND FRANKLIN COUNTY, AND IT IS DIVERSIFYING, AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE MOVING FROM THE OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, AND PEOPLE COMING FROM OTHER STATES, BUT BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY HERE, AND THAT IS WHERE LOOKING LONG TERM WHERE WE ALSO NEED TO FIGURE OUT A GAME PLAN FOR HOW WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FOLKS ACROSS THE STATE WHO CAN BE EMPLOYED AND GROW THEIR FAMILIES AND ALL OF THAT, AND IT IS IMPORTANT, TOO, I WOULD SAY TO NOTE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE REPRESENTATION THAT IS REFLECTING THE GROWING DIVERSITY AMONG THE POPULATION, AND SO AS I AM LOOKING FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES THAT IS SPEAKING TO THE POPULATIONS THAT ARE EXISTING IN CENTRAL OHIO AND THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL.

>> THE PROCESS BY WHICH CANDIDATES PICKED THEIR VOTERS CAN GET GOING AS BOB MENTIONED AND THE FIRST DEADLINE IS THREE WEEKS AWAY OR SO FOR STATE LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES TO COME OUT -- >> I CAN'T REALLY HEAR WHAT YOU ARE ASKING, BUT I THINK THAT YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT THE DEADLINES.

AND NOW THAT IT IS SENT OUT TO OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY LOOKING THROUGH IT FOR THE REDISTRICTING PURPOSES, BUT ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, THERE ARE TEN HEARINGS TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND THOSE ARE PUBLISHED SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THOSE.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THERE IS NOT ONE IN CENTRAL OHIO WHICH IS THE FASTEST GROWING AREA THAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE STATE.

SO MAYBE THAT IS BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT MAYBE IT IS NOT SO CLOSE TO THE STATEHOUSE OR WHATEVER, BUT THE LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION COMING UP WITH MAPS THAT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THESE HEARINGS BY THE WAY, AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE MAPS, AND LOOKING AT THOSE, AND THEN ON THE CONGRESSIONAL SIDE, THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE STARTING THAT PROCESS AS WELL, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE.

>> AND WHAT IS YOUR PREDICTION HERE WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY WILL BE PLAYING HARDBALL, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THEM, OR THEY COULD GO FOR THE FOUR-YEAR PLAN AND MIGHT THAT HAPPEN?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

I WOULD ONLY HAPPEN IF IT IS PUSHED TO THAT LEVEL, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

TO BE HONEST, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE PUSHED TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE WE HAVE 15 CONGRESH NACH -- CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE A EIGHT REPUBLICAN AND SEVEN DEMOCRATS IS THE ONLY THING THEY WOULD APPROVE, AND IT JUST DEPENDS OF THE ATTITUDE OF THE REPUBLICANS HAVE GOING INTO THIS AND THE DEMOCRATS GOING INTO THIS, AND DO THEY REALLY WANT TO COME TOGETHER AND AGREE ON SOMETHING OR IF WE ARE JUST GOING TO TRY TO BE OBSTRUCTING THE PROCESS AND NOT GET TO ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT SO THAT THERE IS ONLY A FOUR-YEAR PLAN.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS.

>> GOOD.

OUR LAST TOPIC, REALLY QUICK.

THE OHIOANS WHO RECEIVE MEDICAID WON'T HAVE TO WORK THE RECEIVE THE BENEFITS AND ALTHOUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION WAS DELAYED BY THE PANDEMIC, AND THE LAWMAKERS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAID THAT ALL THOSE WHO RECEIVE MEDICAID WORK OR GO TAKE JOB TRAINING FOR 20 HOURS A WEEK, AND THAT IT WOULD HELP THOSE BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT, AND REDUCE THE COSTS ACROSS THE PROGRAM, AND OTHERS SAID THAT IT WOULD HURT THOSE WHO NEEDED THE PROGRAM THE MOST.

THIS WEEK, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RESCINDED THE REQUIREMENT OF THE PROGRAM.

SO IT SEEMED THAT THE FOLKS WHO WERE MADE ELIGIBLE OF THE PROGRAM WERE ALREADY WORKING.

SOT IS THIS MORE SYMBOLIC THAN ANYTHING ELSE, BOTH THE REQUIREMENT, AND THE RESCINDING OF THE REQUIREMENT.

>> LET'S BE CLEAR HERE.

ONE THING NEEDS TO BE MADE UP FRONT AND THAT IS THAT IT IS NOT EVER IN EFFECT.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO IN EFFECT JANUARY 1st, BUT IT WAS PUSHED OFF BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO IT WAS NEVER PUT IN PLACE.

AND THE SECOND THING IS THAT, YES, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED MEDICAID ARE INDEED WORKING.

THIS WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THAT AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR CHILD CARE AND SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, MOST PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE SEEN HAVE BEEN WORKING, AND THIS WOULD HAVE MADE IT A REQUIREMENT.

>> AND NOW, RON HARPER, IS THIS TO GO TO WORK OR JOB TRAINING FOR 20 HOURS A WEEK OR 80 HOURS A MONTH, AND IT WOULD HAVE HELPED THEM IN THE LONG RUN?

>> WELL, WE HAVE TO STOP MAKING PEOPLE JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO GET BASIC ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO BE HEALTHY AND BE PRODUCTIVE.

SO IT IS GOOD FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO TAKE THIS STEP, AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT FOLKS TO GET THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO BE STABLE AND HEALTHY, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE THE GOAL OF EVERYONE IN GOVERNMENT.

>> BOB CLEGG, ANY REPORTS THAT SHOW THAT THIS WORKS?

DOES IT HELP TO BOOST THESE FOLKS LONG TERM?

>> WELL, I THINK IT DOES IN THAT IT GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY LIKE JIM SAID, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY WORKING, OKAY.

WELL, IT ALSO, AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING, IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SKILLS, GET MORE EDUCATION, GET MORE THINGS GOING THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.

AND SO I THINK THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN CUT THAT ALL OUT.

HE SAID, WE DON'T NEED TO REQUIRE PEOPLE TO GET A SKILL OR LEARN A JOB OR TRY TO GET A BETTER, YOU KNOW, A JOB IF THEY HAVE A JOB, AND TRY TO GET A BETTER JOB BY GETTING AND BECOMING MORE SKILLED AND LEARN MORE.

SO, I THINK THAT IS THE BEST ASPECT OF THIS PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO BE LOST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TIME NOW FOR "OFF THE RECORD."

AND FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

MORGAN, YOU ARE FIRST.

>> A PLUG OUT FOR ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS AND THE FOLKS TO SUPPORT THAT.

YEAH, WITH THE DELTA VARIANT CONTINUING TO BE OUT THERE, WE NEED FOLKS TO GET VACCINATE AND ALSO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THE UNCERTAIN TIME.

>> GOOD.

BOB CLEGG, YOUR LAST THOUGHT.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SAYS THAT WE HAVE OVER 10 MILLION JOB OPENINGS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS A PROBLEM OF A SHORTAGE OF LABOR, AND THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE THE ECONOMY A DISRUPTION OF INFLATION BECAUSE OF THE WAGES TO BE PAID TO GET THE PEOPLE TO FILL ALL OF THESE POSITIONS.

>> OKAY.

JO INGLES.

YOU ARE UP NEXT.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE OHIO STANDS TO GAIN ABOUT $808 MILLION FROM THAT NATIONAL SETTLEMENT WITH THE OPIOID DISTRIBUTORS.

BUT NOW THAT WE ARE LEARNING FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE YOST THAT IS IN JEOPARDY, BECAUSE SO MANY DIFFERENT CITIES AND ENTITIES ARE NOT BUYING INTO IT, AND THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT, AND SO THEY NEED TO GET ON BOARD TO GET THAT $808 MILLION.

>> AND SO I HAVE A SUGGESTION TO CONVINCE DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTERS TO GET THE VACCINE.

PUT HIS PICTURE ON A BILLBOARD IN SOUTHERN OR WESTERN OHIO WITH THE QUOTE "EVERYONE SHOULD GO GET YOUR SHOT."

THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD A CONSERVATIVE CONVENTION IN APRIL.

THAT'S COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.