>>> DITCH THE MASK, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE AND YOU COULD BE A MILLIONAIRE.

JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, SHANNON JONES, FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR.

OF THE OHIO HISPANIC COALITION AND ANDY CHOW FOR OHIO PUBLIC RADIO.

GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HE WOULD NOT WAIT FOR COVID SPREAD IN OHIO TO REACH 50 CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE.

WE'RE AT MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT RATE RIGHT NOW AND JUST LIFT MOST HEALTH ORDERS IN THREE WEEKS.

THE REASON?

THE VACCINES WORK, SLOWING THE SPREAD AND KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF HOSPITALS.

>> EVERYONE CAN NOW CONTROL THEIR OWN HEALTH.

EVERYONE CAN NOW CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY.

SO IT IS TIME.

IT'S TIME TO END THE HEALTH ORDERS.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR.

YOU FOLLOWED THE PROTOCOLS.

YOU'VE DONE WHAT WE'VE ASKED YOU TO DO.

THE CASES ARE DOWN AND WE HAVE A TESTED AND PROVEN WEAPON IN THIS VACCINE THAT ALL 12 AND OVER CAN NOW UTILIZE.

>> TWO DAYS TO MEMORIAL DAY.

NO MORE HEALTH ORDERS.

NO MASK MANDATES OR LIMITS ON BARS AND RESTAURANT CAPACITY, NO MORE LIMIT ON LARGE CROWDS.

NURSING HOME AND ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS STILL HAVE TO ABIDE.

CASES, WHILE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPREAD, ARE DECLINING STEADILY IN OHIO.

IT COMES AS OHIO LAWMAKERS ARE POISED TO RESCIND ALL THE STATE'S ORDERS LATER IN JUNE BECAUSE OF THE STATE LAW.

THEY PASSED GOVERNOR DeWINE'S VETO EARLIER THIS YEAR.

ANDY CHOW, THE LIMIT WAS SET.

50 CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE IN OHIO.

THAT WAS THE STANDARD, BUT NOT ANYMORE.

IT'S GOING TO BE JUNE 2nd, NO MATTER WHAT THE CASE RATE IS.

WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR WILL TELL YOU THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINE AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO MONTHS IS THAT AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GET THE VACCINE, WE HAVE SEEN THE CASE RATE GO DOWN AND IT DECREASES WEEK BY WEEK.

WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID IS WHO KNOWS, MAYBE IN THREE WEEKS, THE CASE RATE WILL GO DOWN TO 50 CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO GET DOWN THAT LOW BUT IT HAS BEEN DROPPING, AGAIN, EVERY WEEK SINCE FOUR WEEKS AGO.

THIS PUSH FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH RESTRICTIONS.

YOU SEE THE VACCINES WORKING.

THE GOVERNOR'S ALSO SORT OF USING THIS AS AN INCENTIVE TO GET PEOPLE OUT THERE TO GET THE VACCINE SAYING, HEY, LISTEN, THE WAY THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT THE WAY THINGS ARE ALWAYS GOIN TO BE WHEN IT COMES TO BEING AT RESTAURANTS AND GOING TO DIFFERENT COMPANIES.

THE VACCINE RIGHT NOW USING A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCENTIVE AND ALSO, THE OTHER THING SORT OF COMING DOWN OVER HIS SHOULDER IS THE POSSIBILITY OF LEGISLATORS MAKING THIS DECISION FOR HIM AT THE END OF JUNE, BEING OHIO LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO RESCIND HIS HEALTH ORDERS VIA A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SO ALSO HAD THAT PRESSURE ON HIM AS WELL.

>> IS THAT TOO EARLY?

STILL AN ANALYSIS WITH THE CURRENT PACE, WOULD HIT THE 50 CASES PER 100,000 SOME TIME IN JULY.

IF PROBABLY PERHAPS A MONTH BEFORE WE HIT THAT LEVEL.

IS THIS TOO EARLY TO LIFT THE ORDERS?

>> WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT OF TALKING ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, MAYBE IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH AND LIKE ANDY SAID, THE STATISTICS TO DECLINE IN NEW CASES IS REALLY STEADY HERE IN OHIO.

IF COMPARE IT TO THE SURROUNDING STATES, I'M GETTING READY TO GO TO MICHIGAN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THEIR RATES ARE MUCH HIGHER AND HOSPITALS ARE STILL FILLED WITH PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM COVID.

SO I THINK WE'RE DOING WELL AND ONE OTHER THING IS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN, ALSO RESPONDING TO, IS THE NEED TO REWARD PEOPLE FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR AND COMPLYING WITH THE MANDATES AND GETTING INOCULATED.

SO I THINK THE GOVERNOR WITH THAT LOGIC.

>> SURE, WHY NOT JUST ERASE THE MANDATES NOW?

THE CDC SAID YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, THAT CAME OUT AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH TO ALIGN WITH THAT AT SOME POINT BUT WHY NOT JUST RIGHT NOW?

OTHER STATES HAVE DONE IT.

>> IT'S JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO PROVIDE SOME NOTICE FOR BUSINESSES TO PREPARE.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME READY TO DO IT MORE THAN OTHERS BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESSES WHO SPENT THE LAST YEAR CHANGING THEIR OPERATIONS AROUND IN ORDER TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AND INCREASE SANITATION PROCEDURES AND OTHER THINGS.

SO AGAIN, THE COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES SOME LEAD TIME.

CERTAINLY ALL OF THIS IS A BALANCING ACT.

THE GOVERNOR FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IS PUTTING FORWARD THESE ORDERS HAD TO REALLY TREAD IN A WAY THAT BALANCES ALL OF THE INTERESTS.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO BALANCE OFTENTIMES COMPETING INTERESTS.

AND MORE ABOUT THE VIRUS.

WE KNOW MUCH MORE THAN WE DID IN FEBRUARY THAN MARCH OF 2020.

WE KNOW MORE THAN WE DID TWO MONTHS AGO.

YOU CAN STILL ORDER CUSTOMERS TO WEAR A MASK.

AND TO CUT CAN YOUR HAIR.

PROBABLY ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO WEAR A MASK TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

SO IT DOES NOT PUT BUSINESSES IN A TOUGH SPOT AND THEY TRULY HAVE TO BE THE ENFORCER.

THEY CAN'T BLAME THE GOVERNOR.

THEY CAN'T BLAME THE STATE MANDATE FOR MAKING CUSTOMERS WEAR A MASK.

>> WELL, I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S OPENING REMARKS ON THE STATEMENT THAT YOU JUST PLAYED AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW ABOUT HOW PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY PART AND PARCEL TO THIS.

INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TYPES OF BUSINESS THEY OPERATE.

AND CUSTOMERS THEN CAN TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE BUSINESSES.

I MEAN, AT WHAT POINT DOES GOVERNMENT HAVE TO BE THE HEAVY HAND AND LIKE I SAID, YOU HAVE TO SORT OF BALANCE THESE INTERESTS, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THE QUESTIONS, THE PUBLIC IS GETTING FATIGUE AND YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO PRESERVE, AS A GOVERNOR, THE ABILITY TO PUT THINGS BACK IN PLACE IF THAT IS AND YOU HAVE TO RUN OUT THE GAS SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO THAT ABILITY IN THE FUTURE.

>> AND IT SHOWS THE VACCINE IS WORKING AND GOVERNOR PROMOTED THAT.

REAL QUICKLY ON THE WHOLE LEGISLATURE TAKING OVER THESE HEALTH ORDERS AND HAVING MUCH MORE POWER IN THIS, BUT THE GOVERNOR THREATENED TO GO TO COURT NOT FOR HIM BUT FOR THE NEXT GOVERNOR.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD A WHOLE LOT.

IS HE STILL PLANNING TO GO TO COURT TO CHALLENGE FOR THE NEXT GOVERNOR?

>> I THINK WHAT WE SAW IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE LEGISLATURE PASSING THAT BILL WAS SORT OF A COMING TOGETHER FROM THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE GOVERNORS SORT OF TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS SHOULD BE AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE HEARING ESPECIALLY IN REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCING THAT ALL THE HEALTH ORDERS ARE GOING TO BE LIFTED, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO USED TO BE SOME VOCAL CRITICS OF THE GOVERNOR COMING OUT TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS GREAT.

THIS IS WHAT WE WANTED.

NO NEED FOR A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION THEM.

WE STAY WITH THE GOVERNOR ON THIS ISSUE AND BEING MORE BUDDY BUDDY WITH THE GOVERNOR IN TERMS OF TALKING POINTS AND NARRATIVES.

I THINK WHAT WE MIGHT BE SEEING IN THE COMING WEEKS IS MORE OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE HE'S BEEN BUTTING HEADS WITH FOR THE PAST YEAR AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY TELLING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE IS NOW GETTING WHAT THEY'VE BEEN WANTING FOR A LONG TIME NOW.

THEY'RE SEEING THESE HEALTH RESTRICTIONS LIFTED AND AS FAR AS WHAT THAT BILL DID, THE NEW LAW THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE FOUGHT THIS COURT DOWN THE LINE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS CURRENT PANDEMIC.

>> MAYBE FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC.

THEN WE'LL FIGHT IT OUT.

ANYWAY, IF PROTECTING YOUR HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY IS NOT ENOUGH INCENTIVE, SO GOVERNOR DeWINE WANTS TO MAKE YOU A MILLIONAIRE TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO HAS NOT GOTTEN THE SHOT TO GET THE SHOT.

THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED A $5 MILLION GIVEAWAY.

FIVE OHIOANS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE WIN A MILLION DOLLAR EACH.

THE GOVERNOR CALLS IT THE VAX A MILLION SWEEPSTAKES.

>> PEOPLE SAY THAT'S A CRAZY WASTE OF MONEY.

WHAT'S A WASTE, WHAT'S A WASTE IS AT THIS POINT WHEN WE NOW HAVE THE VACCINE AND WHEN SOMEONE DIES OF COVID BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET THE SHOT, THAT IS WHAT IS THE HUMAN WASTE.

>> AND BECAUSE TEENAGERS CAN NOW GET THE VACCINE, THE GOVERNOR WILL GIVE AWAY FIVE FULL RIDE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GET THE VACCINE BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF MAY.

THIS IS AIMED AT NOT THE TRUE ANTI-VAXORS, PEOPLE WHO THINK IT'S A MICROCHIP FROM BILL GATES BUT THE FIRST PROCRASTINATORS, PUTTING IT OFF, DO YOU THINK IT WILL PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO GO GET THE SHOT NOW?

>> I THINK IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE.

I WANT TO SAY ONE THING TO THE GOVERNOR.

WELL PLAYED, SIR.

ONCE UPON A TIME WHEN DINOSAURS ROAMED THE EARTH, RECEIVED A DEGREE IN ECONOMICS AND RAN SOME STATISTICS RELATED TO A BREED BETWEEN THE PEOPLE WHO PLAY THE LOTTERY OR LIKE TO ENGAGE IN THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR OR FOLKS THAT REMAIN TO BE VACCINATED.

DISCOVERED THE FOLLOWING.

THE H GROUPS THAT PLAY THE LOTTERY AND BY THE WAY, ABOUT 50% OF THE POPULATION PLAYS THE LOTTERY, ARE FOLKS, MOSTLY MEN, ABOUT 60% MEN AGES 31 TO 64.

WELL, GUESS WHO ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT GETTING THE VACCINE.

WE FOUND OUT THERE ARE FOLKS, THIS IS GOING TO OHIO DATA.

THERE ARE 20 TO 64.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S GREAT.

IT'S ALSO ENHANCED CAPACITY AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE MIDDLE CLASS AND PRIMARILY WORKING CLASS FOLKS AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THOSE ARE THE SAME FOLKS WHO LIKE THE LOTTERY.

>> IT MAKES SENSE.

>> THE IDEA, PUT A VACCINE CLINIC BY THE CONVENIENCE STORE.

GET MORE SCRATCH-OFF TICKETS TO DO ALL THE GAMBLING YOU WANT THERE.

>> SLOW DOWN, PICK UP THE SIX PACK OF BEER AND GO HOME.

>> SHANNON, CONSERVATIVES SAY THIS IS NOT A GOOD USE OF THE PUBLIC'S MONEY.

FEDERAL COVID RELIEF MONEY THAT SHOULD BE USED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES OR HELP THE UNEMPLOYED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE USE OF THIS HUNDRED FOR THIS PURPOSE?

>> IT'S GREAT, ACTUALLY.

BEEN REALLY USING FINANCE TO HELP THE DECISION-MAKING AND USING NOW THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING.

AND I THINK PSYCHOLOGISTS WITH HOW THIS DRIVE, PARTICIPATION IN THE VACCINE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS FROM THE BEST SCIENCE ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO BEHAVE IN CERTAIN WAYS.

AND SO THIS IS DEFINITELY FOLLOWING THAT SCIENCE.

THE OTHER THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT EVEN IF THE GOVERNOR LOOKS TO INVEST IN A PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN THE VACCINE, THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR AND HE'S GOTTEN MORE PRESS, MORE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE VACCINES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS THAN THE LAST YEAR OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PUT TOGETHER ON SOCIAL MEDIA TOGETHER COMBINED.

SO FROM BOTH OF THOSE STANDPOINTS, OR FROM THE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, WHAT INCENTIVIZES PEOPLE WHO HESITATE ABOUT ACTIVITIES TO DO THEM AND THEN INFORMATION SHARING.

>> BOTH SIDES COMPLAINING ABOUT, THIS WAS A GIMMICK, GAME SHOW STUNT.

NOT BEST USE OF MONEY.

IS THERE ANY TALK OF TRYING TO PASS LEGISLATION TO STOP THE SWEEPSTAKES?

ANY TALK OF MAYBE GOING TO COURT, CALLING THIS PERHAPS AN ILLEGAL SWEEPSTAKES?

OR GOING TO LET THE GOVERNOR DO HIS THING?

>> AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS TAKING THE NEXT STEP.

PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES TRYING TO CRITICIZE IT AND I THINK THIS MIGHT BE AN EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE ISSUES WHERE YOU DO HAVE A LOT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS THINKING ONE WAY ABOUT IT.

THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE OUT OF TOUCH WITH WHAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC THINKS ABOUT IT.

AND AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE, TRYING TO ASK AS MANY PEOPLE WHAT THEY THINK AND THEY MIGHT THINK IT'S A LITTLE BONKERS OR A LITTLE OUT THERE, BUT THEY DON'T THINK IT'S A WASTE OF MONEY.

YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT THEY RECEIVED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS, AND USING $5 MILLION FOR A LOTTERY LIKE SHANNON SAID.

IT'S GENERATING A LOT OF TALK, GENERATING A LOT OF INTEREST AND IT COULD LEAD TO PEOPLE GETTING THE VACCINE.

IT'S NOT PROVEN.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT REALLY GO OUT THERE AND GET THE VACCINE BECAUSE OF IT.

BUT THE STATE TRIED PSAs, DIFFERENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICE PROGRAMS AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEP, ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOL BOX FROM THE GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION AND GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO SEE HOW IT GOES.

>> THE CURRENT RATES, 5 MILLION OHIOANS VACCINATED NOW.

ASSUME WE GET TO THAT BY THE END OF MAY.

ONE IN A MILLION TO GET THE MILLION DOLLARS, BASICALLY.

5 MILLION HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IN THE FIVE, SO DO THE MATH.

TO GET THE MILLION BUT ANYWAY.

BECAUSE OF COVID-RELATED JOB LOSSES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE STATE HAS BEEN GIVING UNEMPLOYED WORKERS AN EXTRA $300 A WEEK.

STATES CAN OPT OUT OF THE EXTRA PAYMENTS.

SOME DID FROM THE START.

OHIO AT THE END OF JUNE, THE STATE WILL STOP SENDING AN EXTRA $300 A WEEK TO UNEMPLOYMENT RECIPIENTS.

WHILE THEY COULD NOT POINT TO ANY PROOF, THEY CANNOT FIND WORKERS BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA UNEMPLOYMENT CASH.

>> YOU ASK FOR DATA, I'VE ACTUALLY TALKED THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SAID TO ME, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR ME TO GO BACK TO WORK BECAUSE I MAKE MORE ON UNEMPLOYMENT THAN I DO WORKING.

AND I DON'T BLAME THEM.

I MEAN, I DON'T CAST ANY BLAME ON THE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT MADE A POLICY THAT SAID WE'LL PAY YOU MORE NOT TO WORK THAN TO GO BACK TO WORK.

AND WE JUST HAVE TO CORRECT THAT POLICY WHEN THINGS HAVE STABILIZED.

>> HOUSTON SAID THE PAYMENTS ARE NOT NEEDED BECAUSE THERE'S PLENTY OF JOBS AND THE VACCINE MAKES IT SAFE TO RETURN TO WORK.

WE ASKED THE QUESTION DURING THE NEWS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY.

IS IT THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE TOO GENEROUS OR WAGES ARE TOO LOW?

AND THEY REALLY DIDN'T ANSWER THAT.

>> THAT'S BEEN THE DEBATE, THAT'S BEEN THE CONVERSATION THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK WHEN YOU'VE HEARD IN THE NEWS CYCLES ABOUT THIS ADDITIONAL FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.

IS IT REALLY PLAYING THAT BIG OF A ROLE AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE NOT TO GO BACK TO WORK OR DOES THAT MEAN PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH OR NOT GETTING THE WAGES THAT THEY NEED TO LIVE OFF OF OR NOT GETTING THE BENEFITS THEY NEED TO LIVE OFF OF.

THAT'S BEEN THE DEBATE AND I ASKED THE QUESTION AND A GREAT ANSWER.

WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE, THEY'LL SAY THE MINIMUM WAGE NEEDS TO BE INCREASED.

THEY'LL SAY MORE COMPANIES NEED TO OFFER BETTER BENEFITS.

WHAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DID SAY IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF JOB OPENINGS AND OHIO NEEDS JOBS RIGHT NOW, THAT LISTS JOB OPENINGS.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE THE DEBATE AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE FURTHER AND GOING TO SEE THAT ASSISTANCE AND WE'RE STILL WEEKS DOWN THE LINE OF THE ASSISTANCE ACTUALLY ENDING.

GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THIS AND WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DOES THIS HAVE ON THE ECONOMY TO KIND OF, EVEN LOOKING FURTHER DOWN THE LINE, I BELIEVE THAT WAGES AND THE MINIMUM WAGE IS GOING TO BE A BIG POINT OF DISCUSSION DURING THE GUBERNATORIAL DEBATES AND DURING THE OPEN RACES FOR ELECTED OFFICES DOWN THE LINE.

>> UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, I THINK, 4.7%.

A TICK ABOVE WHERE IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

VACCINES WORK AND BE SAFE.

SHOULDN'T THE STATE GET BACK TO REGULAR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND SCRAP THE ADDITIONAL PANDEMIC BENEFITS?

>> MIKE, I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

AS A LIBERAL, GIVE YOU A CONSERVATIVE ANSWER.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THAT EVERYBODY IS OVERTHINKING THIS A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH, TRYING TO FIND THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE ALLEGED UNMET NEED IN FILLING JOBS AND THE MONEY AND SO ON.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THAT FAR.

THERE ARE JOBS THAT ARE UNFILLED AND THERE IS A POPULATION OUT THERE.

THEN YOU DO HAVE TO EITHER DIMINISH THIS OR THE BENEFITS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY OF PUTTING ITSELF.

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH RESPECT TO AS THE OTHER SIDE, WHETHER RESOURCES FROM WHATEVER OUGHT TO BE DEDICATED TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS OR THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, WHETHER YOU SHOULD USE THOSE RESOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL RECOVERING ECONOMICALLY FROM THE PANDEMIC.

WE CAN CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT AS FAR AS IT BEING THE TIME TO GO BACK TO THE GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS, AS YOU SAID, I THINK MAYBE NOW IS THE TIME.

>> THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN OHIO.

OHIO'S SYSTEM WITH THE BONUS.

THE BREAK EVEN POINT IS $15 AN HOUR.

THAT'S WHERE MAKING UNEMPLOYMENT PLUS THE BONUS MATCHES WHAT YOU WOULD MAKE WORKING FULL-TIME.

IF YOU MAKE LESS THAN $15 AN HOUR RIGHT NOW, UNEMPLOYMENT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF COMPANIES PAYING $15 AN HOUR.

THE HOME CENTER, THE GROCERY STORE, ADDING $15 OR $16 AN HOUR TO EMPLOYEES.

IS THIS JUST AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT PRESSURE ON $15 AN HOUR?

>> IT COULD, BUT I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

IT'S COMING TO A HEAD.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IN ADDITION TO THE WAGE PRESSURES, WHEN YOU TAKE PEOPLE HOURLY, IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'LL GET 40 HOURS A WEEK.

WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF COMPANIES DON'T PROVIDE 40 HOURS A WEEK.

THAT'S THE HOME DEPOT PAYING $15 AN HOUR FOR 40 HOURS A WEEK THAT'S OFFERING BENEFITS.

MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES AREN'T IN THE STRUCTURE.

BUT THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I THINK REMOVING THE $300 EXTRA UNEMPLOYMENT IS GOING TO START TO EXPOSE IS HOW IMPORTANT CHILD CARE IS TO BRINGING PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LEFT THE WORKFORCE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, SO THEY WERE LAST YEAR, 2020.

YOU HAD ALMOST AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF MEN AND WOMEN LEAVING THE WORKFORCE.

THOSE MEN HAVE RETURNED TO THE WORKFORCE IN TERMS OF ACTUAL NUMBER BUT OVER MILLION AND A HALF WOMEN WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOT RETURNED TO THE WORKFORCE.

NOW, THAT IS NOT BECAUSE IT'S ONLY WOMEN WHO ARE GAMING THE SYSTEM, IF YOU WILL, WITH THE EXTRA UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.

BUT IT IS BECAUSE MOSTLY FOLLOWING INTO THE CATEGORY OF LOWER INCOME WORKERS AND MOSTLY TAKING CARE OF THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN.

SO UNTIL WE REALLY ADDRESS THIS INHERENT BARRIER TO WOMEN LARGELY GETTING BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE SITUATION SYSTEMICALLY.

YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT BUSINESSES WERE CLAMORING FOR LABOR PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC IS SILLY.

THEY WERE, PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

ALMOST AT THE SAME UNEMPLOYMENT RATE PRE-PANDEMIC.

$300 AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO EXPOSE IS WOMEN CAN'T GO TO WORK BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TOWARD AFFORDABLE QUALITY CHILD CARE.

>> MANY OF THE CHILD CARE CENTERS WERE SHUT DOWN DURING THE PANDEMIC OR LIMITED CAPACITY WHICH WILL START TO ALLEVIATE.

GOVERNOR MENTIONED ALL THESE JOBS ON OHIO'S JOB WEB SITE.

$50,000 A YEAR.

BUT FOLKS WHO DECIDED TO STAY HOME TO MAKE AN EXTRA $300 A WEEK.

THIS DOESN'T COME CLOSE TO WHAT THEY COULD BE MAKING IF THEY QUALIFIED FOR ONE OF THOSE JOBS, RIGHT?

>> AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER SOME OF THE BUSINESSES AND SECTORS HIT THE HARDEST BY THE PANDEMIC ARE THE SERVICE SECTORS AND RESTAURANTS, ALSO LIKELY NOT THE JOBS THAT ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE ENTERING INTO SITUATIONS THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH AND HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH TRANSPORTATION LIKE SHANNON MENTIONED, CHILD CARE.

THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS GOING ON AT PLAY HERE, NOT JUST THE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BUT OF COURSE, THAT DOES SEEM TO BE PLAYING A ROLE HERE TOO.

>> A DIFFERENCE OF TWO MONTHS.

OHIO IS GOING TO END IT AT THE END OF JUNE AND THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN SEPTEMBER, I BELIEVE.

ONLY TALKING TWO MONTHS.

ASSUMING CONGRESS DOES NOT RENEW IT.

ANYWAY, GET TO THE FINAL OFF THE RECORD SHOTS.

PREDICTIONS FOR THE WEEKS AHEAD AND WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> THIS WEEK, FRANKLIN COUNTY WILL MISS TWO OF ITS MOST DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS.

ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT AS COUNTY COMMISSIONER AFTER 15 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE.

SHE IS A KIND SOUL WHO WILL NOW DEVOTE HER TIME TO THE NEEDS OF HER FAMILY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY MOURN THE PASSING OF FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AL BEATTY.

FRANKLIN COUNTY TRIAL LAWYER AND HUSBAND TO JOYCE BEATTY.

CONSUMMATE GENTLEMAN AND ALWAYS A GENTLE LADY.

>> YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE PAYING A LITTLE BIT OF ATTENTION TO THE 15th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ELECTION WITH STEVE.

I THINK WE HAVE STRONG CANDIDATES ON REPUBLICAN SIDE WITH STEPHANIE AND BOB PETERSON FROM THE DEMOCRAT SIDE AND WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATION OF SUBURBAN WOMEN, WE MAY JUST FIND OUT IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> FILING DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES COMING UP THIS WEEK.

WE SHOULD KNOW FINALLY WHAT THE FIELD LOOKS LIKE.

ANDREW CHOW, YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS.

>> THE CONTROVERSIAL ENERGY BILL.

NOW TIED TO AN ALLEGED CORRUPTION SCANDAL.

NOW TARGETING THE COAL SUBSIDIES WHICH HAS COAL PLANT IN OHIO AND INDIANA.

STAY TUNED WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME FOR TONIGHT BUT CONGRATULATIONS, THEY WON STATE LAW APPROVAL TO USE IN THEIR CRAFT OF HUNTING PREY AND THE FALCONERS USE OWLS, SHOULD THEY NOT BE CALLED OWLERS AT THIS POINT?

TO BE DETERMINED.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE WOSU.ORG/COTR.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.