>>> TWO DEADLINES MISSED, ONE TO GO FROM OHIO LAWMAKERS.

♪♪ ♪♪ >>> JOINING US ON COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK, LAURA BISCHOFF, REPORTER FOR THE USA TODAY OHIO NETWORK.

DERRICK CLAY, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST AND BOB CLEGG, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

THE FINAL PHASE OF THE 2021 REDISTRICTING PROCESS NOW HAS IS IN ITS FINAL STAGE.

LAWMAKERS FAILED TO MEET A SEPTEMBER DEADLINE, AND THEN THE TWOES IS LEADS TO THE COMMISSION AND THEY WERE MISSING AN OCTOBER DEADLINE AND NOW THE PROCESS GOES BACK TO LAWMAKERS IN THE NEW DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 30th.

THE COMMISSION NEVER EVEN PRESENTED A MAP DRAFTED BY THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.

IS THIS WHEN WE EXPECTED TO HAPPEN?

ONCE IT CAME OUT AND THEREFORE WE KIND OF FIGURED THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME COURSE.

NO?

>> I THINK HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL FOR A WHILE THERE THAT THESE NEW PROCESSES APPROVED BY VOTERS WOULD TAKE SOME OF THE POLITICS OUT OF THE MAP DRAWING PROCESS, AND ONCE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WENT AS IT DID FOR THE LEGISLATIVE MAP, I THINK THAT KIND OF PUPTING IT ON THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS WAS TO BE EXPECTED.

>> BOB, DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE A MAP SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE NOW WITH THE REPUBLICANS IN OHIO AND THE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS THEY ARE FAVORED TO WIN?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, HERE IS THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PROCESS.

WE STILL HAVE POLITICIANS DRAWING POLITICAL LINES AND ANY TIME THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME GAME PLAYING GOING ON.

WE'VE SEEN THIS IN OTHER STATES AROUND THE UNITED STATES WHERE SOMETIMES IT HELPS CERTAIN PARTIES IF YOU DON'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT ONLINE BECAUSE IN SOME CASES LIKE WEST VIRGINIA IT GOES TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY THE REPUBLICANS SO THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

HERE YOU MAY HAVE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE LOOKING AT A 4-3 SUPREME COURT THAT COULD FLIP NEXT YEAR AND THEY MAY JUST WANT TO HAVE FOUR YEARS OF LINES OR LINES THAT THEY CAN PICK WITH THE SUPREME COURT WITH THE NEW DEMOCRAT MAJORITY.

SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF GAME PLAYING GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THEY ARE BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE LEGISLATURE WITH THE THRESHOLD OF DEMOCRATS SUPPORT TO GET A 10-YEAR MAP?

WHAT'S THE PATH TO GET THEM IN THE SENATE FOR A 10-YEAR CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO DO THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO DO THAT.

I THINK BOB WAS RIGHT IN HIS ASSESSMENT THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF GAME PLAYING GOING ON AT THE STATE HOUSE AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH OF THE CHAMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

THIS PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT.

IT HAS NOT BEEN FAIR AND THESE ARE TWO OF THE THINGS THAT THE PRESIDENT AND CO-CHAIR WANTED TO ACHIEVE WHEN THEY WENT OUT AND GOT THE INITIATIVE PASSED IN 2015 SO WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF GAME PLAYING AND WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SEE A TEN-YEAR MAP AND QUITE HONESTLY THE REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD A LOT OF TIME OVER THE SUMMER TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT WAS NOT DONE AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE AT THE LAST MINUTE AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT.

>> THE DEMOCRATS MAY WANT WANT TO NEGOTIATE IN THE HOPES THAT THINGS CHANGE IN FOUR YEARS, AND IS THAT A PART OF THE PROCESS, AS WELL?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE FOR THE DEMOCRATS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE SUPER MINORITY.

THEY'RE BEING LOOKING AT ALL OPTIONS.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WERE HOPING THAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MORE FAIR AND INCLUSIVE PROCESS SO THAT WE COULD POT SHALLY GET TO A TEN-YEAR MAP.

>> LAURA BISCHOFF, THE STATE LEGISLATIVE MAP PROCESS IS NOW BEFORE THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND ATTORNEYS FOR THE GROUPS SUING LAWMAKERS OVER THOSE MAPS WOULD DEPOSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THERE IS A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT WAS THE MAIN TAKEAWAY OF THE HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF DEPOSITIONS YOU WENT THROUGH.

>> EVERYONE SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT THERE ARE REPORTERS LIKE JESSE BOH, IN ERT WHO WOULD READ ALL OF THOSE DOCUMENTS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT TOO MUCH FUN, BUT THE TAKEAWAY IS THAT BOB COOKE AND MATT REALLY DROVE THE PROCESS AND FRANK LAROSE ALL SAID THAT THEY HAD NO HAND IN DRAWING THE MAP WHATSOEVER AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROGRAM TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE MAPS WERE BEING DISCUSSED WERE CONSTITUTIONAL.

HEED THE DEMOCRATS INVITED THEM INTO THEIR MAP-MAKING LAIR.

THEY -- HOW THEY CAME TO DRAW THEIR MAP, BUT THE SAME COURTESY WASN'T EXTENDED TO THEM ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND FRANK LAROSE AND MIKE DEWINE ARE ALL REPUBLICANS, AND SO IT'S -- IT IS REMARKABLE TO ME THAT THEY INVITED TWO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

>> THE WAY YOU REFORM OR DESIGN WAS TO PUT THIS STATEWIDE OFFICE HOLDERS ON THIS COMMISSION TO TRY TO TEMPER THE INTEREST OF LAWMAKERS DRAWING THEIR OWN DISTRICTS.

IT APPARENTLY DIDN'T REALLY WORK HERE.

>> DID WE THINK IT REALLY WOULD?

I MEAN, COME ON.

THIS WITH PRESIDENT HUFFMAN WERE DRAWING THEIR NUMBER LINES AND SO OF COURSE, THEY WOULD BE IN CONTROL OF THAT PROCESS.

NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD SAY TO THE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE, HEY, UNLESS YOU START RECRUITING US WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO FOR WHATEVER PLANS YOU PUT OUT THERE.

THEY DIDN'T BECAUSE ALL THREE OF THEM ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR AND THEY NEED THE HELP OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT IN THE SELECTIONS.

SO I MEAN, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU PUT POLITICIANS IN CHARGE OF DRAWING LINES AND THEN THE DEMOCRATS ARE ACTING LIKE, OH, WE'RE OPEN.

WE'LL LET THE -- OF COURSE, THEY WILL, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR LINES WILL GO ANYWHERE SO THEY CAN SHOW THEM TO ANYBODY AND LOOK LIKE THEY'RE BEING OPEN ABOUT IT, BUT IF THEY'RE HONEST THEY'LL SAY WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE WANT TO LOOK GOOD AND THERE'S NO CHANCE THAT WE'LL EVER GET OUR LINES IN PLACE SO WE HAVE TO LOOK MAGNANIMOUS ABOUT IT, AND IN THE END THEY WANT TO HAVE LINES IN PLACE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES IN A SUPREME COURT THAT THEY HOPE THEY'LL GET CONTROL OF SOON.

>> AND JUST TO PROVE THE POINT THAT IT'S NOT JUST REPUBLICANS WHO DRAW STRANGE-LOOKING DISTRICTS.

THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE ON FRIDAY APPROVED THEIR MAP.

14 OF ILLINOIS'S 17 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE FAVORING DEMOCRATS EVEN THOUGH 40% OF THE STATE WAS RELEASED IN 2020 AND THAT'S HOW IT WENT.

IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE.

>> OHIO CONTINUES ITS DECLINE.

THIS WEEK THE RATE WAS 359 CASES PER 100,000 RESIDENTS.

THE COVID SPREAD RATE HAS BEEN CUT IN HALF SINCE ITS MOST RECENT HIGH POINT IN LATE SEPTEMBER.

YOU ARE STILL AT A VERY HIGH RATE AND THERE'S NO SIGN THAT OFFICIALS WILL LIFT MASK MAP DATES ANY TIME SOON.

OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW RULES WILL KEEP MORE STUDENTS IN CLASS.

>> THIS IS GOOD NEWS ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE STARTING TO HEAD BACK INDOORS AND THE CASE WORK IS COMING DOWN.

OFFICIALS MAY START SAYING THE MASK MANDATES SHOULD BE GONE.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ANY TIME SOON BECAUSE MASKS HAVE BEEN POLITICIZED.

THE BOTTOM LINE AND THE ONLY REASON WHY WE WEAR A MASK IN THIS COVID PANDEMIC IS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

YOU KNOW, IF IT'S POLITICIZED THAT IF A FREEDOM OF CHOICE ITEM VERSUS A SAFETY PROTOCOL ITEM, YOU KNOW, VACCINATIONS AND THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE VACCINES IS SO WE CAN TRY TO ERADICATE THE DISEASE THAT HAS KILLED SO MANY PEOPLE ON OUR STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE SOONER THAT WE TRY TO DO THINGS THAT'S GOING TO TAKE COVID OUT THE QUICKER THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO SOME NORMALCY THAT WE'VE ENJOYED IN THE PAST.

>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE OFFERING CASH INCENTIVES TO EMPLOYEES WHO GET THE VACCINE.

MUCH OF THIS MONEY COMES FROM THE FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUND AND THEY'RE LOCAL TAX DOLLARS, NONETHELESS.

IS THAT THE APPROPRIATE USE OF TAXES?

>> A LOT OF THESE ENTITIES WHETHER IT'S STATE OR CITIES, THEY'RE USING MONEY THAT THEY GOT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THE COVID RELIEF BILL THAT THEY WERE PASSED.

YEAH.

I CAN SEE WORST WAYS THAT THEY CAN SPEND IT, BUT ANYTHING TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND I'M OKAY WITH MONETARY -- I WAS OKAY WITH GOVERNOR DEWINE'S IDEA OF DOING THE LOTTERY TO GIVE PEOPLE FREE TUITION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK ANYTHING THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO GET VACCINATED IS GREAT.

I WOULDN'T WANT THEM USING LOCAL OR STATE TAX DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIDN'T HAND OVER QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO LOCAL AND STATE ENTITIES, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST WAYS YOU CAN SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY.

AND CALLING ON THE SET OF GOVERNMENTS AS A WAY TO BOOST VACCINATION RATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THEY EXITED THE STAGE AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A BRIEFING FROM HIM IN A LONG TIME.

HE'S OUTDOING OTHER THINGS AND BROADBAND AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND STUFF.

WHAT'S THE TENET OF STATE LAWMAKERS AND THE DEWINE ADMINISTRATION.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF TENSION BETWEEN THE LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR AND THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNOR HAS THE MEDICAL EXPERTS AND HE HANDLED THE COVID RATINGS.

YOU SAW THERE WAS A FIGHT OVER WHO WAS ON THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD AND THERE'S BEEN A FIGHT OVER -- THE GOVERNOR HAS AGREED TO SIGN -- HE HASN'T SIGNED IT YET, BUT THERE WAS A FIREWORKS BILL THAT HE'D VETOED EARLIER IN THE SUMMER.

SO I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS MAKING EFFORTS TO COOPERATE A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH LAWMAKERS.

>> NOT TRYING TO STIR THE POT, BUT THE CASERS DOWN AND HOPEFULLY THEY CONTINUE.

POLICE OFFICERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, NEW YORK, BOSTON, CHICAGO HAVE BEEN PROTESTING VACCINE MANDATES IN THEIR CITIES.

CONGRESS DOES NOT MANDATE ITS POLICE OFFICERS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEAD FOLKS GETTING VACCINATED.

SHOULDN'T THE CITY HAVE REQUIRED ESPECIALLY FIRST RESPONDERS AND THOSE WHO WERE CLOSE WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE VACCINES?

>> WELL, AGAIN, IT COMES DOWN TO CHOICE.

I THINK THAT THE -- THE MAYOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION HERE WANTED TO SEE IF FOLKS WOULD VOLUNTARILY GO OUT AND GET VACCINATIONS AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE DONE THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S THE ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN CREATED VERSUS PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED AND THEY CAUSE A CONUNDRUM IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE BACK TO NORMAL, BUT NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO BE BACK TO NORMAL AND THAT MEANS GETTING VACCINATED AND THAT MEANS DOING YOUR FAIR SHARE OF STOPPING THE SPREAD BY WEARING MASKS AND PROTECTING OTHERS.

>> 500 POLICE OFFICERS, ESTIMATED HAVE DIED FROM COVID IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO AND MANY MORE HAVE DIED FROM GUN FIRE IN THE COURSE OF DUTY.

COVID IS ON THE PATH, AND THE VIRUS ITSELF AND HOW SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE DEALT WITH IT OVER THE PAST 20 MONTHS.

THOSE CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING ON THE PLATFORM OF PARENTS -- THEY WANT PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHETHER THEIR CHILD WEARS A FACE MASK AND MANY HAVE ATTRACTED A FAIR AMOUNT OF CAMPAIGN DONATIONS AND THEY SHOULD GET LESSONS ON CRITICAL RACE THAT EXAMINES THE IMPACT OF RACE ON AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> THERE WASN'T THIS MUCH INTEREST AND THIS MUCH MONEY GOING INTO SCHOOL BOARD RACES.

>> WELL, MIKE, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THIS ALL STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WITH GEORGE SOROS AND GETTING A HINT AND MOVEON.ORG AND HIS ORGANIZATIONS GETTING INVOLVED WITH LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY RACES AND COUNTY PROSECUTOR RACES AND THAT WAS AN ISSUE OF REGARDING CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND THEY WERE SAYING THAT IF YOU GET INVOLVED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL YOU COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT AND I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THE SAME THING HERE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD RACES.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GOVERNOR'S RACE IN VIRGINIA WHICH CAN TURN ON THE AMOUNT OF INVOLVEMENT PARENTS SHOULD HAVE IN SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

SO THIS HAS BECOME IN JUST THE LAST YEAR OR SO A REALLY BIG ISSUE AND IT'S TIED INTO THE MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS AND IT'S TIED INTO CRITICAL RACE THEORY, AND NO, I'M NOT REALLY SURPRISED THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE EMPHASIS AND SPOTLIGHT ON THESE LOCAL RACES.

>> THE MASK MANDATES AND THE VACCINE MANDATES AND THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS DRIVING THIS INCREASED PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.

IT'S NOT A BAD THING TO HAVE PARENTS MORE INVOLVED WITH WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOL OR IS THERE A DANGER OF THE MINORITY OF PARENTS DICTATING WHAT THE MAJORITY SHOULD LEARN AND HOW SCHOOLS SHOULD OPERATE.

>> I WILL FIRST SAY THIS.

I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR, IF YOU TONIGHT LIKE SOMETHING THEN YOU GO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT OUR COUNTRY IS IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY THINGS ARE BEING RUN IN YOUR CITY, YOU CAN RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL AND RUN FOR MAYOR.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE HOW THE STATE RUNS THE HOUSE YOU CAN RUN FOR STATE LEGISLATURE.

THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THESE SCHOOL BOARD RACES.

NOW GETTING INTO WHY THESE FOLKS ARE RUNNING AND THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT DISCUSSION AND WE CAN TALK ANOTHER DAY ABOUT THAT, BUT I DO, JUST AS PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED IT RUN ON THESE ISSUES LIKE CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND WHETHER PEOPLE SHOULD BE VACCINATED OR KIDS SHOULD BE VACCINATED OR WEAR MASKS.

I HOPE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM SEES THAT AND THEY RUN FOR THESE RACES AS WELL, SO ANYBODY THAT RUNS CHANGE YOU SHOULD RUN FOR OFFICE BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU BETTER BE READY FOR WHAT THAT RESPONSIBILITY COMES WITH.

>> IT IS NON-PARTISAN RACES AND YOU GET FROM EACH PARTY AND THERE ARE CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD AND TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE.

THAT WAS NON-PARTISAN ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME.

>> YEAH.

I WAS GOING TO ECHO WHAT DERRICK WAS SAYING.

THERE WERE TWKS 00 PEOPLE RUNNING FOR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD RACES THIS YEAR AND IT'S A 50% INCREASE OVER FOUR YEARS AGO AND NEARLY HALF OF THEM ARE RUNNING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

IT DOES SHOW PEOPLE ARE GETTING INVOLVED AND THEY'RE INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT MEANS THERE IS THIS DIVIDE AND INFIGHTING WITH THIS NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF LOCAL POLITICS, LIKE THEY'RE AGAINST CRITICAL RACE THEORIES, MASK MANDATES AND ET CETERA.

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT WILL TURN OFF A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM BEING INVOLVED IN LOCAL POLITICS.

THERE IS A DISTASTE FOR THAT HYPERPARTISANSHIP FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> I WAS SPEAKING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THEY WERE WITHIN THE PARTY AND TWO REPUBLICANS CALLING THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE BOARD HAD RESIGNED THIS WEEK THEY BET AGAINST THE MOVE TO REPEAL AND A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD HAVE LOOKED FOR THE REASONS WHY AND THERE WAS A GAP BETWEEN THE ACHIEVEMENT BETWEEN COLOR AND WIDE STUDENTS.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> SO THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTERESTING PLACE OF HOW POLITICAL DISCUSSION AND POLICY DISCUSSION.

IN A 19-MEMBER BOARD, EIGHT ARE ELECTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND ON THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTMENTS, THERE'S SENATE, ADVICE AND CONSENT ON THE APPOINTMENTS AND AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER THE BOARD VOTED 10 TO 7 IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION.

IT'S SINCE CHANGED AND THIS, LIKE, I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK AND THERE WAS A VOTE TO REPEL THAT REVOLUTION AND REPLACE IT WITH ONE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES ANY TEACHINGS THAT SEEK TO DIVIDE AND THEY ARE EACH AGAINST ROW PEELING THE ANTIRACISM RESOLUTION AND WORD GOT OUT THAT THE SENATE WAS NOT GOING TO CONSENT TO REA POIMS.

IT WOULD RECONFIRM THE OTHERS WHO DID VOTE TO REPEAL THE ANTI-RACISM RESOLUTION.

>> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE OF EDUCATION SHOULD BE GETTING INTO?

IT IS DEEP IN THE WEEDS.

>> THIS ROOM CAN GO EVEN DEEPER AND CURRICULUM.

DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THIS PERIOD AND I'M TRYING TO CHANGE WHEN THEY DID OF THEIER.

>> I THINK WHAT EXACTLY IS THE TOOTS AND THE RESPOCHSIBLEITIES OF THE I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY CLEAR-CUT JOB FOR THEM.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE TOTALLY ELECTED BODY, BUT THEN A LOT HAS CHANGED TO INCLUDE APPOINTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR SO THAT THE GOVERNORS WOULD HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BY HAVING APPOINTEES AND I'M NOT SURE HOW THE BOARD IS WORKING AS FAR AS CURRICULUM AND DEALING WITH EDUCATION ISSUES HERE IN OHIO.

THE DEPARTMENT THAT I SEE IS THE DRIVING FORCE AND NOT SO MUCH THE FORD.

>> YEAH.

DERRICK, A LOT OF COMMISSIONERS AND CITY COUNCILS AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER CAME OUT WITH THESE THINGS AND IT'S ODD THAT IT STARTED TO BECOME CONTROVERSIAL.

WELL, THE WHOLE OPEN ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS TELLING THE WHOLE STORY AND THAT'S A POINT THAT PEOPLE GET HUNG UP ON.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT SLAVERY AND THE HISTORY BOOKS OR TALK ABOUT IT ON THE SURFACE IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE STORY AND SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE GETTING INTO THESE DEBATES ABOUT WHETHER CRITICAL RACE THEORY SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF OUR CURRICULUM IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

GEORGE FLOYD, THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, IT WAS TRAUM ATEC.

IT WAS JUST -- THAT WAS THE BOILING POINT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I MEAN, AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER MINORITIES HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SO MANY BOUTS OF RACISM FOR CENTURIES IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD COUNTRY BECAUSE IT IS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE SOME ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT AND NOBODY WANTS TO DEAL WITH IT AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO SKIRT AROUND IT.

>> ON THAT TOPIC QUICKLY, THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED SHORT COMINGS AND PERHAPS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM LOST $3.8 BILLION IN LESS THAN A YEAR.

A HALF BILLION WERE LOST TO FIVE AND 3.3 TO OVERPAYMENT AND THERE IS THE UNPRECEDENTED STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM AND OFFICIALS RUNNING THE SYSTEM WAS TOO SLOW TO STOP THE FRAUD.

THIS IS A PERFECT STORM OR COULD THIS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED?

>> THEY WERE BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND THEY ALSO CONDUCTED WHAT JUST CAME OUT AND I THINK IT IS THE RESULT OF THE PERFECT STORM AND THERE WAS THE BIG SPIKE IN DEMAND FOLLOWING THE COVID SHUTDOWN WITH THE AGING I.T.

SYSTEMS AND THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO MOVE THE MONEY OUT QUICKLY TO THOSE AND THEY NEEDED TO MAKE RENT AND BUY THE GROCERIES AND SUCH.

THE STANDARDS WERE A LITTLE BIT LOOSER AND SO ALL OF THAT ADDED UP TO A BIG, FAT OPENING TO CAPITALIZE ON.

THIS ISN'T JUST A PROBLEM IN OHIO.

IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE NATION AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS LOOKING AT THIS AND IT WAS YEARS BEFORE THEY FIGURE OUT WHO DID WHAT AND THE CHANCES OF RECOVERING THE MONEY ARE PRETTY SMALL, FROM MY VIEW.

>> AND THE STATE HAS GRANTED FOLKS A CHANCE TO APPLY FOR A WAIVER AND THEY'RE OVERPAID WITH UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND LET'S GET TO THE PARTING SHOTS OF THIS WEEK.

BOB, WHAT IS IT?

>> A GROUP CALLED ADD IMPACT WHICH IS A POLITICAL TRACKING FIRM MAKING PREDICTIONS FOR 2022'S ELECTION YEAR.

THEY'RE PREDICTING THAT IT WILL BREAK ALL OFF-YEAR RECORDS IN THAT THERE WILL BE 8.9 BILLION WITH A B AND POLITICAL ADVERTISING ON RADIO AND DIGITAL.

DERRICK CLAY, FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> THE BALLOT ON TUESDAY AND THE PROPOSAL TO TAKE $81 BILLION OF CITY MONEY OUT OF THE COFFERS IF IT'S PASSED ALL IN THE NAME OF CLEAN ENERGY.

IT'S A BAD BALLOT MEASURE AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL NOT PASS.

>> LAURA BISCHOFF, YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS.

>> YEAH.

I JUST URGE VIEWERS TO CHECK OUT AN INVESTIGATION THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN ONE OF OHIO'S LARGEST PRESENCE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

WE DID HAVE VIOLENCE WITH THE PRISON STAFF AND THE MEDICAL CARE, LINE SPOTS AND SECURITY CAMERAS IN THE STATE OF A TEENAGER WHO CLEARLY NEEDS MORE HELP.

>> IT WAS WRITTEN BY LAURA BISCHOFF, AN EXCELLENT PIECE.

LONGTIME VIEWERS OF THIS SHOW, AND I JUST THINK IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON HALLOWEEN.

ON BEGGARS NIGHT A LITTLE GIRL DRESSED AS A DISNEY PRINCESS CAME TO OUR DOOR, TOOK OUR CANDY AND SAID IN A VERY MATURE MANNER, I DON'T KNOW WHO INVENTED TRICK OR TREATING ON A REASONY NIGHT.

>> THAT WOULD BE THE COMMISSION.

YOU SHOULD GIVE THEM A CALL.

MY VIEWERS LOVE ME.

THAT WILL DO IT FOR THIS WEEK.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

♪♪ ♪♪