>>> BACK TO THE MAP DRAWING BOARDS AND CALLS TO RETURN TO REMOTE LEARNING.

♪♪ JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, JO INGLES, HERB ASHER AND MICHAEL MILLER.

THE SUPREME COURT USED SIMPLE MATH TO DECIDE TO INVALIDATE MAPS.

A SPLIT COURT RULED THE MAPS ALL VIOLATE THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

THE COURT RULED HALF OF OHIO VOTERS ARE REPUBLICAN, THEN THE LEGISLATIVE MAPS CANNOT FAVOR REPUBLICANS.

THAT'S WHAT THE MAPS DID.

JUSTICES ARGUE THE MAPS MET THE LETTER OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE COURT WAS OVERSTEPPING ITS AUTHORITY AND NULLIFYING THE DISTRICT.

THE COURT GAVE THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TEN DAYS TO COME UP WITH NEW STATE MAPS AND LAWMAKERS TO COME UP WITH A NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

HERB, YOU ARE A VETERAN OF THE LONG FIGHTS.

YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS WAS NOT UNEXPECTED.

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THESE RULINGS?

>> I THINK WE EXPECTED THAT WITH THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAVING INDICATED THAT SHE WAS OPPOSED TO GERRYMANDERING, AND SHE SAID THAT MANY TIMES, THAT SHE AND THE THREE DEMOCRATS WOULD FORM A 4-3 MAJORITY TO DECLARE BOTH THE STATE SEATS AND THE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THE RULING WASN'T THAT MUCH OF A SURPRISE.

WHEN THEY ACTUALLY DRAFTED THESE PLANS, THERE WERE COMMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR AND MAYBE THE SENATE PRESIDENT SAYING, WELL, I'M SURE WE ARE GOING TO SEE YOU BACK IN COURT.

THEY WEREN'T VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT THE PRODUCT THEY PRODUCED.

I THINK THIS WAS A RULING THAT WE EXPECTED.

AND IT'S THE RIGHT RULING.

IT REALLY IS THE RIGHT RULING.

IT IS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT THE VOTER SUPPORT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT CALL FOR A CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM.

THE MAPS CURRENTLY DO NOT REFLECT THAT VERY WELL.

BUT THEY, IN FACT, CAN MODIFY THESE MAPS TO BETTER REFLECT WHAT THE VOTERS WERE VOTING FOR IN THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.

>> JO INGLES, THEY USED THE GOVERNOR'S WORDS IN THE OPINION, THE WRITTEN OPINION.

THEY USED THE GOVERNOR'S WORDS AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYING THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE MAP BUT THEY VOTED FOR IT ANYWAY.

THOSE WORDS CAME BACK TO HURT THE SUPPORTERS OF THE MAP IN THE DECISION.

>> YEAH.

THEY DID USE THOSE WORDS IN THE DECISION.

THEY ALSO -- THERE WAS A VERY STRONG ARGUMENT MADE BY THE JUSTICES WHO MADE THIS RULING SAYING THAT BASICALLY THEY FELT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS WAS JUST THROWN OUT.

THE LAWMAKERS WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER, THAT THEY WEREN'T FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF WHAT VOTERS PASSED.

EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE RULING, CHIEF JUSTICE O'CONNOR, WHO WAS THE SWING VOTE IN THIS REALLY, SHE'S RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, SHE'S MORE OF AN INDEPENDENT MINDED PERSON.

SHE SAID THAT, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEHIND THE REFORM EFFORTS AND BROUGHT THE REFORM EFFORTS FORWARD, THEY MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT GOING BACK TO VOTERS AGAIN TO TRY TO FIX THIS.

>> LET'S GO TO SHERRY KENNEDY.

THE REMEDY PROVIDED BY THE CONSTITUTION MAY NOT PLEASE ALL OHIO VOTERS.

THIS COURT DOES NOT HAVE LICENSE TO DEMAND THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLAN.

MIKE MILLER, DO YOU AGREE WITH HER?

DID THE COURT OVERSTEP ITS ROLE HERE BY THROWING OUT THESE MAPS?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY OVERSTEPPED THEIR ROLE.

I'M SAYING THAT WHEN THIS THING COMES UP, WHEN THESE ISSUES COME BEFORE THE COURT, IT ISN'T AS BLACK AND WHITE AS EVERYBODY MAY WANT TO APPEAR.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A DELICATE THING HERE.

YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DRAW THIS MAP IN AN ATTEMPT TO DO SOME THINGS.

HOW CLOSE DO WE COME?

I JUST THINK IT'S DIFFICULT.

IS THERE INBRED PREJUDICE, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE MAJORITY PARTY?

I THINK THAT'S TRUE.

I DON'T THINK IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

WE HAVE SEEN AS I MENTIONED A NUMBER OF TIMES -- I KNOW HERB IS AWARE OF IT.

WHEN THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAD A DEAL WORKED OUT AND EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY.

THEN THE DEMOCRATS DECIDED AS THE TIME CAME CLOSE TO FINALIZING THE DEAL, WAIT A MINUTE, WE'RE GOING TO WIN THIS ELECTION.

WE DON'T WANT THIS.

WE WANT TO WIN THIS ELECTION AND DRAW IT OUR WAY.

THEY TURNED IT DOWN AND THEY LOST THE ELECTION.

THAT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE.

DID THAT SURPRISE ME?

OF COURSE NOT.

IT'S A NATURAL THING.

IF YOU ARE DRAWING LINES, YOU ARE TRYING TO SLANT THINGS AS BEST YOU CAN IN THE EYES OF THE LAW TO GET IN YOUR FAVOR AND YET STILL PROPER.

THE SUPREME COURT SAID IT IS IMPROPER.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE ONE REPUBLICAN DECIDED THIS.

BROKE RANKS, IF YOU WILL.

I CAN'T SAY THE DECISION IS BAD.

HAD IT GONE THE OTHER WAY, I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE SAID THAT WAS BAD EITHER.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT LENDS ITSELF TO AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY.

>> THEY HAD TO EXPLAIN THREE TIMES WHAT THE WORD ATTEMPT MEANS.

>> YES.

>> THAT TELLS YOU HOW VAGUE THIS IS.

LET'S GET TO MAUREEN O'CONNOR'S QUOTE WHICH RAISED A FEW EYEBROWS.

HAVING NOW SEEN FIRSTHAND THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION COMPRISED THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PARTISAN LEGISLATORS, IT IS SEEMINGLY UNWILLING TO PUT ASIDE PARTISAN CONCERNS AS DIRECTED BY THE PEOPLE'S VOTE.

OHIOANS MAY OPT TO PURSUE FURTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO REPLACE THE CURRENT COMMISSION WITH A TRULY INDEPENDENT NON-PARTISAN COMMISSION THAT MORE EFFECTIVELY DISTANCES FROM THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS FROM PARTISAN POLITICS.

HERB, IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S TELLING YOU AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF FURTHER ANTI-GERRYMANDERING PROCEEDERS TO GO BACK TO THE BALLOT.

>> SHE MAY NOT BE AROUND MUCH LONGER TO SAVE OUR NECKS, SO TO SPEAK.

SHE ACTUALLY, I THINK, FOCUSED ON THE CORRECT PART OF THE ISSUE.

AS EVERYBODY HAS SAID, THE VOTERS MADE IT VERY CLEAR IN THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT THIS IS WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE.

THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION BASICALLY IGNORED THE VOTERS.

WHAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS CASE IS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO FALL BACK ON TO SAY THAT THIS IS WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DONE.

I THOUGHT THE MAJORITY OF FOUR, BIPARTISAN MAJORITY, GOT IT RIGHT.

WHAT'S ALSO INTERESTING IS THAT WHEN THEY WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THESE PLANS AND THESE AMENDMENTS, THE COURT WAS, I THINK, ENTIRELY REPUBLICAN.

IF YOU NOTICE, THE COURT OF APPEAL, IF YOU WILL, HERE, IS THE OHIO SUPREME COURT.

REPUBLICANS REALLY FELT, IF THERE WERE OBJECTIONS TO IT, LET'S SEND IT TO THE OHIO SUPREME COURT RATHER THAN LETTING DEMOCRATS SHOP AROUND VARIOUS FEDERAL COURTS TO FIND A FRIENDLY COURT.

THAT BACKFIRED ON THEM, BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE PICKED UP THREE SEATS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF ELECTIONS.

CHIEF JUSTICE O'CONNOR IS A STRONG BELIEVER IN GETTING RID OF GERRYMANDERING.

>> WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP HERE?

THEY HAVE TEN DAYS, IT'S ABOUT A WEEK UNTIL THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH A NEW STATE LEGISLATIVE MAP AND THEN ANOTHER MONTH FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

DO WE EXPECT TO SEE MAPS THAT ARE A LOT DIFFERENT?

REPUBLICANS ARE STILL IN CHARGE.

DO EXPECT TO SEE MAPS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES THAT GOT REJECTED?

>> WE HAD BETTER SEE MAPS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WERE OUT THERE BEFORE OR THE COURT IS GOING TO STEP IN.

THE COURT WAS VERY CLEAR SAYING THAT THEY WANTED -- THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP, THEY ACTUALLY OUTLINED IN THEIR RULING HOW THEY WANTED IT CHANGED.

WHAT WAS STRUCTURALLY WRONG WITH IT, WHAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE CHANGES.

THEY ARE TELLING LAWMAKERS, EITHER YOU FIX IT AND BRING IT BACK SO IT'S IN GOOD SHAPE, OR YOU ARE GOING TO -- YOU ARE GOING TO BE OUT OF BOUNDS WITH THIS.

>> THE CLOCK IS RUNNING.

THE FILING DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES FOR THESE DISTRICTS IS FEBRUARY 2nd, JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AWAY.

THE OMICRON SURGE CONTINUES IN OHIO.

THE STATE IS AVERAGING ABOUT 20,000 NEW CASES A DAY.

THOSE ARE THE CASES WE KNOW ABOUT.

A LOT OF THE HOME TESTS GO UNREPORTED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE GLASS AS BEING HALF FULL WHILE THE CASE RATE REMAINS HIGH, IT HAS FLATTENED OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO.

WHILE THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE IS HIGH, IT HAS NOT SPIKED LIKE THE CASE RATE HAS.

THE STATE IS SHIFTING ITS TESTING STRATEGY.

THE NATIONAL GUARD CONTINUES TO HELP HOSPITALS.

WHEN IT COMES TO NEW MANDATES, STILL NONE FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK REJECTED PRESIDENT BIDEN'S MANDATE FOR LARGE EMPLOYERS.

JO, LET'S START WITH THE FLATTENED CURVE.

OTHER STATES ARE SEEING OMICRON CASES DECLINE.

IS THAT HOPEFUL WE COULD BE ON THE BACK END OF THIS?

>> WE'RE NOT SURE IT'S FLAT.

AS YOU POINTED OUT THERE ARE TESTS OUT THERE THAT AREN'T SHOWING UP BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T REPORT THEM.

THE OTHER THING IS TODAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS, THERE ARE OVER 40,000, WHICH IS WAY HIGH COMPARED TO THE OTHERS.

THE REASON THEY ARE HIGH IS THERE'S DATA PROCESSING PROBLEMS AND THEY DON'T GET PUT IN WHEN THEY SHOULD BE PUT IN.

>> BACKLOG.

>> THERE'S A BACKLOG, YES.

FOR NEXT FEW DAYS, THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE REALLY HIGH.

>> MIKE MILLER, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS OMICRON?

DO YOU SEE -- THE PRESIDENT'S MANDATE GOT SHOT DOWN THIS WEEK ON EMPLOYERS WITH 100 OR MORE EMPLOYEES THROUGH OSHA.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO MANDATE THEIR EMPLOYEES GET VACCINATED.

A LOT OF BUSINESS GROUPS APPLAUDED THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS NOW?

DO YOU SUPPORT THAT RULING?

>> WELL, AGAIN, MIKE, I HATE TO BE WISHY WASHY ON THIS.

I READ THE DECISION ON THAT.

THE SUPREME COURT SAID, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, LOOK, THE SECRETARY OF LABOR DOESN'T HAVE THIS AUTHORITY.

CONGRESS CAN'T -- NEVER GAVE THE AUTHORITY UNDER THE ACT TO DO THIS.

THE ACT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SOMETHING LIKE 50 YEARS.

THEY ARE SAYING YOU CAN'T DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

YOU CANNOT GIVE THIS AUTHORITY TO COME IN AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO -- THE SUPREME COURT SAYS 84 MILLION PEOPLE IN GETTING SHOTS, NOT GETTING SHOTS OR LOSING THEIR JOB AND SO FORTH.

THE STATE CAN DO THAT BUT THIS ONE CAN'T, UNLESS IT IS MANDATED BY CONGRESS AND EVEN THEN THE SUPREME COURT SAYS, EVEN THEN, THERE IS A QUESTION BECAUSE YOU MAY BE DELEGATING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES TO SOMEBODY ELSE -- ANOTHER ENTITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD.

I SUPPOSE PEOPLE -- A COAT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THE PANDEMIC IS GOOD BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR CONSTITUTION.

I DON'T THINK I LOOK AT IT QUITE THAT STRONGLY.

AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THERE'S A REALLY ANSWER TO THIS.

>> DO YOU FEEL MORE PEOPLE WILL GET SICK AND MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE BECAUSE OF THIS RULING?

WITHOUT THE MANDATES FOR FOLKS TO GET VACCINATED.

>> WELL, I SUPPOSE THAT MAY BE TRUE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE, FROM WHAT THE EXPERTS I SEE SEEM TO SAY THIS THING IS PEAKING.

AS LONG AS YOU HAVE ANY VACCINATION, YOU WILL BE ALL RIGHT.

THOSE 84 MILLION PEOPLE -- A LOT OF THEM ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

MIKE, IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY AN EXTRA 10 OR 20 PEOPLE OR 50 PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE, IF THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS, CAN WE STOP THAT?

I SUPPOSE WE CAN.

OR GREATLY REDUCE IT.

YOU SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING.

THE ECONOMY GOES.

YOU DON'T LEAVE YOUR HOUSE.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A BALANCING.

NOBODY WANTS EITHER ONE OF THOSE EXTREMES.

>> WE HEARD ESTIMATES OF 250,000 PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A VACCINE MANDATE.

LET'S HOPE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.

HERB ASHER, HOW DO YOU THINK THIS GOES?

WE ARE MOVING THE TESTS NOW FROM DISTRIBUTING AT LIBRARIES TO RIGHT TO SCHOOLS.

WE WILL GET TO SCHOOLS IN A MOMENT.

WE WANT TO KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPEN.

DO YOU SUPPORT THAT IDEA OF MOVING TESTS TO THE SCHOOLS TO KEEP KIDS IN CLASSES?

>> IT'S NOT UNANIMOUS BY ANY MEANS.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY, STUDENTS ARE BETTER OFF GOING TO SCHOOL IN PERSON AND NOT DOING IT VIRTUALLY.

OBVIOUSLY, THE TEACHERS UNIONS IN SOME COMMUNITIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF TEACHERS AND THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS.

I THINK THERE'S A BROADER CONSENSUS, LET'S HAVE THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AND LET'S TAKE THOSE MEASURES THAT WE NEED TO TAKE, WHETHER IT'S TESTING OR MASKING OR SOCIAL DISTANCING OR BETTER VENTILATION.

LET'S TAKE ALL THOSE STEPS TO MAKE THE SCHOOLS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK WE RECOGNIZE HERE THAT IN THE UNITED STATES AND CERTAINLY IN COLUMBUS, THE SCHOOLS PLAY FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY A MUCH MORE EXPANDED ROLE THAN SIMPLY TEACHING.

THEY ARE PROVIDING NUTRITION AND HEALTH CARE AND SAFETY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK THERE'S A -- NOT UNIVERSAL CONSENSUS, SCHOOLS SHOULD BE OPEN, BUT THEY SHOULD BE SAFE.

>> LET'S EXPAND ON THAT.

COVID DOES CONTINUE TO CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE SCHOOLS.

TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND BUS DRIVERS ARE TESTING POSITIVE.

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS AND BUS DRIVERS.

CLEVELAND AND CINCINNATI SCHOOLS HAVE OPTED FOR DISTRICT WIDE REMOTE LEARNING.

COLUMBUS SCHOOLS IS USING A SCHOOL BY SCHOOL APPROACH WITH A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS GOING REMOTE EACH DAY.

THE DISTRICT CLOSED 19 ON FRIDAY.

MANY MEMBERS OF THE TEACHERS UNION CALLED ON THE ENTIRE DISTRICT TO GO TO REMOTE LEARNING FOR TWO WEEKS.

THE DISTRICT SO FAR HAS SAID NO.

MIKE MILLER, WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS?

DO YOU LIKE THE SCHOOL BY SCHOOL APPROACH?

IS THAT THE WAY TO GO FOR COLUMBUS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE WITH HERB.

THE BEST THING IS KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND NOT HAVE IT HANDLED VIRTUALLY, UNLESS THERE'S SOME OVERWHELMING REASON NOT TO DO THAT.

I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE TEACHERS UNION.

THEY SEEM TO WANT TO RUN EVERYTHING AND DO THESE THINGS.

IF THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING WE CAN HAVE THIS AND IT'S SAFE AND MOST OF THEM SEEM TO BE SAYING THAT, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THEN THE TEACHERS UNION COMES IN AND COLUMBUS, CHICAGO, ALL OVER THEY TAKE A DIFFERENT POSITION -- I FRANKLY SOMETIMES WONDER IF THE POSITION -- THE REASON THEY TAKE THE POSITION IS THE REASON THEY SAY.

I HAVE SOME DOUBTS ABOUT THAT.

>> TEACHERS ARE SAYING IT'S NOT FAIR, THEY GET LATE NOTICE, THEY GET NOTIFIED THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY HAVE TO SWITCH TO GO REMOTE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS, IN ADDITION TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS.

JO, WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL?

THE GOVERNOR SAID HE IS NOT GOING TO ISSUE A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WHERE IS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN THIS?

>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ACTUALLY ON THEIR MOST RECENT DASHBOARD, LESS THAN 30% OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ALL OF THEIR STUDENTS WEARING MASKS IN THE CLASSROOM.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS OUT THERE WHO AREN'T WEARING MASKS.

YOU HAVE GOT PEOPLE COMING IN WITH COVID.

THAT'S A BIG CONCERN.

THEY HAVE CHANGED THE PRIORITY AT THE STATE LEVEL SO THESE TESTS THAT YOU USED TO GET FOR FREE AT THE LIBRARY AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, THE ANTIGEN TESTS, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE GIVEN TO SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES FIRST, LIBRARIES, WHENEVER THEY GET ENOUGH TESTS OUT THERE, THEN THEY WILL GO BACK TO HANDING THEM OUT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THE LIBRARY.

NOW THESE AT-HOME RAPID TESTS ARE SO HARD TO GET THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THEY CAN'T FIND THEM.

THEY CAN'T GET THEM.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A PCR TEST AT ONE OF THE MANY TESTING SITES THAT THEY HAVE AROUND THE STATE, WHICH THEY KEEP EXPANDING BY THE WAY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN TESTING RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOL IS A REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

IF COMMUNITY SPREAD IS A PROBLEM, IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE SCHOOLS AS WELL.

>> BACK TO WHERE WE WERE IN MARCH OF 2020 WHERE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH TESTS AND YOU COULDN'T TRUST THE TESTING THE CASE NUMBERS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE GETTING SICK AND WEREN'T GETTING TESTED.

HERB, BACK TO THE POLITICS OF THIS.

MIKE MILLER MENTIONED THE POWER OF THE TEACHERS UNION.

DEMOCRATS ARE STUCK IN THAT THEY WANT TO HELP THE TEACHERS AND THEY SUPPORT TEACHERS AND TEACHERS UNIONS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE THEM TOO MAD.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE MAD PARENTS, PARTICULARLY SUBURBAN PARENTS WHO THEY WON OVER.

THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE THEM MAD.

WHAT DO DEMOCRATIC SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND DEMOCRATIC MAYORS, WHAT DO THEY DO?

>> I THINK WE HAVE SEEN HERE THAT DEMOCRATIC MAYORS IN CITIES SUCH AS CHICAGO AND NEW YORK HAVE COME OUT VERY STRONGLY IN SAYING THE SCHOOL SHOULD BE OPEN AND THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO BASICALLY HAS TAKEN ON THE UNIONS.

I THINK FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS NOT ON A SCHOOL BOARD BUT MAYORS, COUNCIL PEOPLE -- THIS IS NOT FOR ALL COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE SAYING IS TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY, PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO HAVE THE SCHOOLS OPEN.

UNIONS WORK WITH IT, LET'S BE FLEXIBLE.

TELL US WHAT YOU NEED.

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THE SITUATION SAFER?

THEY ARE NOT -- MANY ARE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THE UNION SIMPLY SAYING NO.

>> WE WILL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT IN THE MONTHS TO COME.

HOPEFULLY, THE SURGE IS SHORT.

WE ARE STARTING TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR U.S. SENATE STANDS.

CAMPAIGNS AND SUPPORTERS ARE RELEASING INTERNAL POLLS.

WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

CAMPAIGNS TEND TO TOUT POLLS THAT MAKE THEIR CANDIDATES LOOK GOOD.

JOSH MANDEL LEADS.

JANE TIMKEN IS NOT TOO FAR BEHIND.

GIBBONS IS NOT TOO FAR BEHIND.

VANCE HAS FALLEN A BIT.

JO, YOU SEE AT LEAST FOUR STRONG CANDIDATES.

I DON'T SEE ANY OF THOSE FOLKS LEAVING THE RACE AS WE GET CLOSE TO THE PRIMARY.

DO YOU?

>> NO.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE NOT THE TOP TWO ARE GOING AFTER THE TOP TWO.

RECENTLY WE HAVE SEEN MIKE GIBBONS PUT OUT AN AD DISPARAGING JD VANCE.

WE HAVE SEEN OTHER ADS FROM OTHER CANDIDATES.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S STARTING TO GET REAL.

PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT THE PRIMARY AND WHO THEY WILL VOTE FOR.

YOU CAN TELL THAT IN THE FERVOR FROM THE CANDIDATES AS WELL.

YOU SEE MORE OF THEM IN MORE PLACES, MORE ADVERTISING.

YOU SEE THEM PIT AFTER EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> MIKE MILLER, THE ADS HAVE BEEN RUNNING QUITE A BIT.

ESPECIALLY ON TV STATIONS AND NETWORKS THAT APPEAL TO A MORE CONSERVATIVE VOTER.

DOES THAT HURT YOUR PARTY IN THE LONG RUN?

INDEPENDENTS ARE WATCHING THOSE, MODERATES ARE WATCHING THOSE AND MAY BE TURNED OFF.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HURTS THE PARTY.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THESE THINGS GO MORE SMOOTHLY.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HAVE ONE CANDIDATE.

THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR THEM.

THAT IS THE WAY IT WORKS.

THE ADVERTISING, AT LEAST WHAT I'M SEEING, IS GIBBONS AND THE OTHER YOUNG MAN, I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME, THAT HAS THE AD.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ADS FOR TIMKEN OR MANDEL OR VANCE.

IT'S EARLY YET.

I THINK MANDEL IS PROBABLY THE BEST KNOWN.

THAT'S WHY HE IS AT THE TOP RIGHT NOW.

NONE OF THE OTHERS ARE WELL-KNOWN.

TIMKEN TO SOME REPUBLICANS.

THE OTHERS NOT.

IT'S WAY EARLY.

MANY, MANY DAYS TO GO.

YOU ARE RIGHT, MIKE, THE ONLY THINGS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO THEIR OWN CANDIDACY IS LEAKED.

I DON'T PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION.

WE HAVE A LONG TIME TO GO.

IT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.

>> MORINO IS RUNNING ADS.

HE IS 5% OR 7%.

MIKE GIBBONS WAS IN SINGLE DIGITS BEFORE HE WENT ON A BLITZ, A LOT OF ADS.

IT BROUGHT HIM UP.

>> SOME DEMOCRATS ARE WATCHING THESE ADS.

THEY THINK, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS MAY JUST DO US A FAVOR AND NOMINATE A CANDIDATE WHO IS SO FAR TO THE RIGHT THAT WILL GIVE A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE LIKE TIM RYAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE STRONGER THAN HE WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN AS A REPUBLICAN WHO HAS A GOOD SENSE TO GO WITH A MORE -- I THINK THE ADS ARE IMPORTANT.

THEY WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT SOME OF THESE CANDIDATES.

WHEN GIBBONS SAYS, VOTING SHOULD BE ON ELECTION DAY IN PERSON, NO MORE MAIL-IN ABSENTEE VOTING, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THEM, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

THE VIRUS IS RAMPANT, THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

MORINO HAS GOTTEN FURTHER AND FURTHER TO THE RIGHT IN TERMS OF HOW HE IS TRASHING IMMIGRANTS.

EVEN THOUGH HE IS TRASHING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, IT REALLY COMES ACROSS AS A REALLY NASTY SET OF THINGS.

THAT COULD BACKFIRE ON HIM IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> JO, QUICKLY, JD VANCE HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF ADS.

HE IS A CANDIDATE A LOT OF THE OHIO FOLKS ARE AFRAID OF.

>> YEAH.

BECAUSE HE CAME IN WITH A HUGE CHECK.

HE HAS BACKING OF THE SILICON VALLEY FUNDER.

VANCE HAD A MOVIE AND A BOOK.

PEOPLE KIND OF KNOW WHO HE IS.

THEY DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT HIM.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT AS THE CAMPAIGN IS GOING ON, MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEFINE JD VANCE THE WAY THEY WANT TO DEFINE HIM.

THAT IS NOT EXACTLY A GOOD THING FOR HIM.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN THE POLLS.

>> THE MEAN THINGS HE SAID ABOUT DONALD TRUMP COMING BACK TO HAUNT HIM.

FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

>> I THINK THE OHIO SUPREME COURT RULING ON THE GERRYMANDERING AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND SO FORTH, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER WITHIN THE TEN DAYS OR WHATEVER THE LIMIT IS AND PLACATING EVERYONE.

THE SUPREME COURT SAYS, THIS IS FINE.

IT'S GOING TO BE DELICATE.

I HOPE THEY WORK IT OUT.

I HOPE BOTH PARTIES WORK TOGETHER AND WORK SOMETHING OUT.

IT HAS TO BE DONE AT SOME POINT.

IF THEY TURN IT DOWN AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE TURN.

HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

>> HERB?

>> CONGRATULATE THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT THE REDISTRICTING ISSUE TO THE STAGE WHERE IT IS TODAY AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, INDIVIDUALS LIKE TED GUNTHER.

I DISAGREE WITH MIKE.

IT WOULD BE EASY IN TEN DAYS TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.

THE MAP MAKING IS EASY.

THEY HAVE THE MAPS ALREADY.

THEY DIDN'T OFFER THEM UP.

THE QUESTION BECOMES, WILL YOU BE WILLING TO SETTLE FOR SOMETHING BETWEEN 58 AND 64?

>> JO.

>> IN-SCHOOL LEARNING, A LOT OF SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE MASKS OR MASK POLICIES.

ARE THE TESTS ENOUGH TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL?

WE SEE HIGH ABSENTEE RATES.

I'M LOOKING TO SEE HOW THIS ACTUALLY PLAYS OUT NOW THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TESTS IN THE COMMUNITY AS YOU ONCE DID.

>> JUSTICES ON THE COURT, RUNNING FOR CHIEF JUSTICE, BOTH WROTE OPINIONS IN THIS CASE.

THE CASES LOOK FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE AN ISSUE IN THEIR UPCOMING CAMPAIGN.

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

FOR OUR CREW AND OUR PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.