>>> OHIO'S SPEAKER SURPRISE.

>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

THE DRAMA ABOUT CHOOSING A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAS NOT LIMITED TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK.

IT HAPPENED HERE IN COLUMBUS.

BUT ONLY TOOK ONE VOTE.

IN NSK, REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE VOTE GATHERED IN PRIVATE AND SAID THEY SUPPORTED DERRICK MARIN TO BE THE NEXT SPEAKER.

BUT SIX WEEKS LATER, 22 REPUBLICAN STATE REPS AND ALL 32 DEMOCRATS TEAMED UP TO DENY HIM THE GAVEL.

THEY INSTEAD GAVE IT TO JASON STEVENS.

STEVENS TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE WITH DEMOCRATIC LEADER ALLISON RESO HOLDING THE BIBLE.

STEVEN WHOSE IS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, PROMISED STABLE AND INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP.

>> I PLEDGE TO RESPECT AND TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO ADDRESS THE MANY CONCERNS OF OUR STATE AND IN PARTICULAR THE CONCERNS OF YOUR DISTRICT.

TO RECOGNIZE BOTH CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES, TO DEVELOP REAL SOLUTIONS.

AND TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF OHIO.

I PLEDGE TO ALWAYS HAVE AN OPEN DOOR, I PLEDGE TO LISTEN.

AND I ENCOURAGE ALL TO DO THE SAME.

>> WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN MID-NOVEMBER AND THIS WEEK'S VOTE?

>> WELL, IF YOU ASK SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO DEFECTED AND WHO VOTED FOR STEVENS, THEY WOULD TELL YOU THEY FELT THEY WEREN'T BEING HEARD.

THEY SAID THAT THEY FELT THAT MARIN WAS NOT RETURNING THEIR PHONE CALLS, WAS NOT DOING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY FELT HE SHOULD BE DOING, GOING INTO THAT TIME.

THE DEMOCRATS, THEY FOUND THAT MAYBE THEY COULD HAVE A WAY TO HAVE SOME SAY IN GOVERNMENT.

THEY'RE SO FAR IN THE SUPER MINORITY THERE, AND THIS GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, GET A CHANCE TO GET AHEAD, YOU KNOW, BY PRESENTING A SOLID FRONT, ALL 32 VOTES IN THE HOUSE WENT TO STEVENS.

SO IT WAS INTERESTING, THE WAY IT PLAYED OUT.

>> DO WE KNOW WHO CALLED WHOM FIRST?

THE DEMOCRATS WHO CALLED JASON STEVENS OR JASON STEVENS CALLED THE DEMOCRATS?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT I DO THINK THAT JASON STEVENS HAD BEEN ON THE SLATE OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT THE SPEAKERSHIP AND HAD BEEN WORKING WITH MEMBERS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BECOME THE LEADER.

I UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME DEALING BETWEEN HIM AND THE OTHER NON-WINNER TO TRY TO SHARE SOME OF THAT SUPPORT PERHAPS, AND PROBABLY THE DEMOCRATS SAW AN OPPORTUNITY AS JOE SAID, TO SUDDENLY GO, WOW, MAYBE WE COULD GET SOMETHING OUT OF THIS AND ELEVATE SOMEONE WHO WAS SLIGHTLY LESS FAR RIGHT CONSERVATIVE PERHAPS THAN DERRICK MARIN.

>> IS THERE A BIG DIFFERENCE POLITICALLY IN THEIR POSITIONS ON ISSUES BETWEEN JASON STEVENS AND DERRICK MARIN?

>> NOT PARTICULARLY.

WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT IS THIS IS A MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAN IT WAS JUST THIS LAST CYCLE.

SO OF COURSE, THE SPEAKER MATTERS.

I KNOW SPEAKER STEVENS' FAMILY, GOOD PERSON.

THAT MATTERS LESS THAN WHAT THE MAJORITY WANTS TO DO, AND THEY'RE COMING IN WITH A MANDATE.

IN FUTURE SHOWS WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHETHER THEY AND THE GOVERNOR ARE SEEING EYE TO EYE ON THINGS.

WITH RESPECT TO THE SPEAKER, IT'S A CONSERVATIVE HOUSE THAT WANTS TO SEE CONSERVATIVE CHANGE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?

>> I LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE IN A RACE, YOU KEEP SPRINTING UNTIL YOU HIT THE FINISH LINE.

IT LOOKS AS THOUGH PERHAPS SOMEONE STOPPED SPRINTING BEFORE HE GOT TO THE FING LINE.

>> BIG WIN FOR DEMOCRATS OR JUST TAKING WHAT THEY CAN GET?

>> WELL, YES, IT WAS A WIN FOR DEMOCRATS.

THIS IS A TRUE PICTURE OF BIPARTISANSHIP, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN, ARE POSITIONED RIGHT NOW, IT'S A SUPER MAJORITY WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

THERE'S REALLY NO WAY DEMOCRATS WOULD GET ANYTHING DONE IN COMMITTEES, IN PASSING BILLS.

SO WITH THIS UNITY, WITH THE NOW NEW SPEAKER, JASON STEVENS, THERE'S HOPE THAT THERE MIGHT BE THINGS THEY CAN AGREE ON.

>> TO GET SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO GIVE SOMETHING.

WHAT DID JASON STEVENS GIVE, JOE, TO GET DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT?

DO WE KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT HE PROMISED?

>> WHAT DEMOCRATIC MINORITY LEADER ALLISON RUSSO SAID, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WAS EDUCATION.

AND EDUCATION FUNDING IN PARTICULAR.

THEY DIDN'T WANT THE BILL THAT HAD PASSED, THAT HAS A NEW FAIR FUNDING PLAN, THEY CALL IT, THEY DIDN'T WANT THAT TO BE TORN APART IN THIS LEGISLATURE.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THERE'S A THING CALLED THE BACKPACK BILL, WHICH WOULD EXPAND VOUCHERS AND TEACHERS UNIONS WHO BACKED DEMOCRATS REALLY DIDN'T WANT THAT -- DEMOCRATS DIDN'T WANT THAT.

THEY GOT SOMETHING THERE.

AND ALSO, THERE WAS THE CONCERN ABOUT ARE THE REPUBLICANS GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR CITIZENS TO PASS BALLOT INITIATIVES, AND THERE'S SOME INDICATION MAYBE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL.

>> STEVENS WASN'T A FAN OF THAT IN THE LAST SESSION, 60% THRESHOLD.

YOU HAD TO GET 60% OF THE VOTE ON AN AMENDMENT REFERENDUM TO GET IT PASSED.

THEY WERE HOPING TO DO IT QUICKLY THIS SESSION.

>> I THINK BRIAN STEVEN WHO SPONSORED THAT HAS EVEN SAID ON TWITTER AND CONFIRMED THAT STEVENS BARGAINED THAT AWAY IN EXCHANGE FOR DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT.

IT WAS CLEARLY UNPOPULAR, BUT NOT ONLY WITH DEMOCRATS.

I MEAN, OUR BALLOT HAS BEEN USED BY PEOPLE OF ALL POLITICAL STRIPES TO PASS MEASURES THAT THEY DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS ACTING ON.

>> THERE'S A LOT, THEY PICKED A THEW CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY TODAY.

THERE WAS TALK OF CENSURING THE 22 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR STEVENS AND WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

IS THIS ALL GOING TO BLOW OVER, IS THIS BAD FEELINGS OR IS THIS LIKE WE'RE SEEING IN WASHINGTON, A REAL DIVISION BETWEEN SOME IN AND OTHERS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SOMEWHAT DIVIDED.

FOR YEARS, DEMOCRATS WERE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE MODERATES AND THE LEFT, AND THE LEFT HAS WON, AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS A PARTY OF THE LEFT.

THE REPUBLICANS STILL HAVE DIVISIONS.

SOMETIMES IT'S PERSONALITY DRIVEN BASED ON A FORMER PRESIDENT OR A PARTICULAR SPEAKER CANDIDATE.

OTHER TIMES IT'S WHETHER YOU WANT TO BE MORE ESTABLISHMENT OR WHETHER YOU WANT TO SEE GENUINE CHANGE IN THE WAY GOVERNMENT RUNS.

AND SO THAT CAUSED THE PARTY TO HAVE AN INNER FAMILY FIGHT, BUT I THINK THE FIGHT WILL PASS AND WE WILL SEE GOOD GOVERNANCE FROM THIS REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE HERE IN OHIO.

>> DERRICK, DEMOCRATS TRIED THIS BEFORE.

THEY HELPED LARRY HOUSEHOLDER BECOME SPEAKER.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD, DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR THEM THEN, AT LEAST IN THE LONG TERM.

IS THERE A FEAR THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK OUT EITHER?

>> IT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR THEM THEN BECAUSE LARRY HOUSEHOLDER ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED THIS CRIME HE'S ON TRIAL FOR NOW.

BUT I THINK THE REAL STORY HERE IS HOW MUCH OF A MASTER NEGOTIATOR ALLISON RUSSO, OUR MINORITY LEADER, HAS BECOME.

AND GETTING ALL OF THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS VOTE FOR A SPEAKER THAT SHE FELT COULD LEAD THE DEMOCRATIC -- THE DEMOCRATS IN A DIRECTION WHERE THEY COULD GET SOMETHING DONE.

AND REALLY, THE WINNERS OF ALL OF THIS ARE THE VOTERS AND THE PEOPLE OF OHIO.

>> IS IT A BAD THING TO HAVE A BIPARTISAN SPEAKER?

IT NEVER HAPPENS.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL.

I MEAN, I WOULDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE TRULY BIPARTISAN AT ALL.

I THINK THAT MAYBE THE DEMOCRATS MIGHT GET A BETTER SHOT ON SOME ISSUES.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THIS IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURE IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

AND A LOT OF THESE FOLKS, AS YOU SAID, ARE FURTHER TO THE RIGHT THAN THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATURE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK TOOK STEVENS OVER THE FINISH LINE, AS MARK SAYS, IS HE IS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

HE'S BEEN COUNTY AUDITOR AND THAT HE UNDERSTANDS HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.

HE'S NOT REALLY AS I UNDERSTAND IT BEEN INVOLVED IN SORT OF THE CULTURE WAR TYPE ISSUES.

HE'S SPONSORED SOME PRETTY PRACTICAL SORT OF BILLS AND I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT MAYBE TIPS SOME OF THE VOTES IN HIS DIRECTION.

>> AND HE CAN BE SPEAKER FOR SIX YEARS WHERE HIS OPPONENT WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN FOR TWO.

THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE FLIPPING THE SPEAKER'S RACE AND HAVE TO HAVE IT HAPPEN YET AGAIN COULD BE AN UNSTABILIZING FACTOR.

>> HE COULD THANK DEMOCRATS TWICE BECAUSE IT WAS DEMOCRATS WHO MAKE LARRY HOUSEHOLDER THE SPEAKER WHICH DENIED RYAN SMITH THE SPEAKERSHIP.

HE LEFT THE LEGISLATURE AND WHO TOOK HIS PLACE?

JASON STEVENS.

NOW HE CAN THANK DEMOCRATS BEN FOR BECOMING SPEAKER.

CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR DEMOCRATS FOR TWO OCCASIONS.

NOW THAT THE HOUSE HAS A NEW SPEAKER, STATE REPS AND SENATORS AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE BEEN SWORN IN.

LAWMAKERS SOON WILL GET BACK TO LEGISLATING.

THERE ARE MANY BIG THINGS TO TACKLE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

THE BIGGEST IS THE TWO-YEAR STATE BUDGET, BUT THERE IS ABORTION LEGISLATION POSSIBLY, EDUCATION SYSTEM CHANGES, AND THE ISSUE THAT JUST WILL NOT GO AWAY, REDISTRICTING.

THE BUDGET OBVIOUSLY IS THE PRIORITY.

WILL ANYTHING ELSE INTERFERE WITH DELIBERATIONS ON THAT BETWEEN NOW AND JULY?

>> WHAT HISTORY TELLS US IS THAT WILL TAKE THE FRONT SEAT FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE REDISTRICTING ISSUE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK, BUT IT REALLY CAN'T DO THAT UNTIL MID-YEAR ANYWAY, SO THEY'LL PROBABLY SET THAT ON THE SIDE BURNER.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, SOME TALK ABOUT THE EDUCATION PIECE AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT SCHOOL FUNDING ELEMENT.

THERE IS A PUSH TO FIX, IF YOU WILL, OUR ABORTION, THE FUNCTIONING OF OUR ABORTION NEAR BAN IN WAYS THAT MIGHT PERHAPS ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME ABOUT WHEN IT WAS IN EFFECT FOR THAT SHORT TIME.

AND RAISED SO MANY QUESTIONS.

SO I THINK THAT PEOPLE WANT TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.

>> IS THERE A HOPE THAT SOME OF THESE BILLS COULD BE ADDRESSED, THE 60% THRESHOLD FOR AMENDMENT CHANGES.

THERE WAS A HOPE THESE COULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THE BUDGET SEASON BEGINS, LIKE IN FEBRUARY.

>> THERE'S NO ONE THING THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE, BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON.

IT'S NOT JUST ALL ABOUT THE LEGISLATION HERE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS GOING ON, WE HAVE A TRIAL COMING UP THAT I THINK ALL FIVE OF US ARE GOING TO BE REAL INTERESTED IN WATCHING.

THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME AIR OUT OF THE ROOM.

>> LARRY HOUSEHOLDER TRIAL.

>> THE LARRY HOUSEHOLDER TRIAL.

THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS AT STAKE GOVERNMENT LEVEL WE'RE DEALING WITH AS FAR AS HOW TO DEAL WITH THE, YOU KNOW, MONEY WITH THE BUDGET, THE MONEY PLANS THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE.

YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IS SAYING HE HAD SOME BIG IDEAS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT.

WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH NEW PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

>> MARK, HOW BIG A TAX CUT AND WHERE WILL THE TAX CUT COME IN THE BUDGET?

WE KNOW THERE'S ONE COMING.

THEY NEVER MISS A CHANCE TO CUT THE TAXES WHEN REPUBLICANS ARE IN CHARGE IN ANY BUDGET YEAR?

WHERE DOES IT COME, INCOME TAX?

>> WE CAN ONLY HOPE PEOPLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO KEEP MORE OF THEIR MONEY.

I THINK WHAT WE'LL SEE IS GOVERNOR DeWINE NOW HAS HIS LEGACY ON THE LINE, SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS GOVERNOR STEPPING UP WITH SOME PRETTY BOLD IDEAS.

HE'S ALWAYS WANTED TO BE GOVERNOR.

NOW HE HAS HIS EIGHT YEARS, AND HE'S GOING TO BE DOING INTERESTING STUFF.

IT MAY INCLUDE TAX CUTS AND LETTING PEOPLE KEEP MORE OF THEIR MONEY.

I ALSO THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HIM BOLDLY ACTING IN THE AREAS HE'S ALWAYS CARED ABOUT.

>> GIVE US AN EXAMPLE.

>> HE'S ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT CHILD WELFARE.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE HIM LEAN INTO THAT.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG VOICE FOR A REASONABLE APPROACH ON GUNS ON THE RED FLAG THING, HE'S GOING TO REVISIT THAT AGAIN.

HE'S A STRONG SECOND AMENDMENT ADVOCATE, BUT THERE ARE SOME WAYS HE CAN REACH OUT WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND MAKE SOME CHANGES IN THE AREA OF GUNS.

>> LAST YEAR AND A HALF, MAYBE TWO YEARS AFTER THE INITIAL COVID RESPONSE, THE LEGISLATURE PRETTY MUCH TIED THE GOVERNOR'S HANDS.

DO YOU SEE THE GOVERNOR TAKING THAT MORE FORCEFUL ROLE AND WILL HE BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE LEGISLATURE?

>> AGAIN, AS MARK INDICATED, HE JUST GOT RE-ELECTED.

FOUR YEARS.

AND HE'S NOT COMING BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

SO HE WILL BE IN A POSITION WHERE HE CAN MAKE SOME BOLD MOVES.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK HIS VETO PEN IS ALWAYS READY TO GO.

IF THERE'S ISSUES THAT THE LEGISLATURE PUTS OUT THERE THAT'S JUST NOT IN LINE WITH HIS VALUES.

>> AND WE CAN'T FORGET THAT HE WAS DELIVERED A MARIJUANA ISSUE THAT THEY NOW HAVE FOUR MONTHS TO ACT ON TOO.

>> LET'S GET TO THAT.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE ON THE CLOCK TO ACT ON LEGAL RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

AS PART OF THE LEGAL SETTLEMENT, THE SECRETARY OF STATE SUBMITTED TO LAWMAKERS AN INITIATED STATUTE SPONSORED BY THE COALITION TO REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL.

IT WOULD LEGALIZE SOCIAL MARIJUANA FOR PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 21, LAWMAKERS HAVE UNTIL EARLY MAY TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED LAW AS IS OR THE GROUP PROMISES TO COLLECT MORE SIGNATURES.

IF THEY DO LEGAL MARIJUANA FOR FUN WOULD GO BEFORE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER.

HUFFMAN SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT A PART OF THIS.

IS THIS DESTINED FOR THE BALLOT?

>> IT MAY WELL BE GOING TO THE BALLOT.

LET'S REMEMBER THIS, THE LAST TIME WE HAD A MAJOR CHALLENGE OF GETTING SIGNATURES AND PETITIONS DONE WAS THE HOUSE BILL 6 DEBACLE.

WE SAW SO MANY FIGHTS ABOUT SIGNATURES AND BLOCKERS AND COUNTER BLOCKERS AND HIRING AWAY PETITION GATHERERS.

YOU COULD SEE THAT HAPPEN HERE AS WELL.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S MONEY LINED UP ON BOTH SIDES THE WAY THERE WAS WITH HOUSE BILL 6, BUT WE HAVE NOT YET HAD A BALLOT ISSUE PUT ON THE BALLOT STATE-WIDE SINCE THE HOUSE BILL 6 ATTEMPT, AND LARGELY IT'S BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO GET GOOD VALID SIGNATURES.

>> MY GUESS IS MARIJUANA GROWERS, JULIE, MARIJUANA RETAILERS, THEY HAVE CASH, OUT OF STATE CASH, PERHAPS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE MONEY TO COLLECT THE SIGNATURES.

>> I WOULD THINK SO.

AND IT IS INTERESTING WHAT MARK SAYS ABOUT HOUSE BILL 6, BECAUSE SOME OF THE PUSHBACK ON THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY TANGLED UP IN THE HOUSEHOLDER MESS, I GUESS, AND WE FOUND NOW THAT SOME OF THAT INTERFERENCE WAS ILLEGAL, BASICALLY.

SO I THINK THAT IT IS STILL VERY HARD TO GET ON OUR BALLOT, THOUGH, AND WHO KNOWS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT -- I MEAN, THERE'S SOME INCENTIVE FOR LAWMAKERS TO ACT ON IT THEMSELVES, BECAUSE THEY CAN THEN CONTROL SORT OF WHAT'S IN STATE LAW.

>> THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME WITH THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THERE WAS TALK OF GOING TO THE BALLOT, AND LAWMAKERS SAID HOLD ON, WE SEE IT'S GOING TO PASS, LET'S DO IT OUR WAY.

THEY PASSED A LEGAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL.

THEY WANT TO MAKE IT LOOSER.

DO YOU EVER SEE THEM -- THIS LEGISLATURE GOING TO MAKE POT BASICALLY LEGAL IN ALL CASES?

>> NO.

I DON'T.

BUT I SEE THEM KIND OF GOING THAT DIRECTION WHERE THEY COULD SET AN AVENUE, JUST LIKE THEY DID WITH THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THEY COULD COME UP WITH THE PLAN THAT WOULD SET AN AVENUE TO ALLOW THAT.

AND IT WOULD BE SPECIFIC, IT WOULD BE IN A WAY THAT THEY STILL HAVE CONTROL OVER SOME OF IT.

HAVING WHAT CALIFORNIA OR COLORADO OR SOME OF THE OTHER STATES THAT HAVE LEGAL MARIJUANA, ARE WE GOING TO SEE IT DONE THE SAME WAY?

OH, NO, I DON'T THINK THE OHIO LAWMAKERS WOULD GO FOR THAT, BUT I THINK THEY WOULD TRY TO DO ENOUGH THAT THEY COULD KEEP IT OFF THE BALLOT.

THAT WILL BE THE SWEET SPOT.

>> THE WORLD HAS NOT ENDED IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

IT'S BEEN LEGAL THERE FOR SOME TIME, MARIJUANA.

MASSACHUSETTS, CALIFORNIA, MANY STATES.

AND IT'S BEEN -- COLORADO.

>> THE WORLD HASN'T ENDED, BUT THERE ARE HIGHER USAGES NOW OF CHILDREN GETTING ACCESS, PARTICULAR TO THE EDIBLES AND OVERDOSES.

THE THC LEVEL IN THE MARIJUANA IS MUCH HIGHER THAN IT WAS YEARS AGO.

THE WORLD HASN'T ENDED, BUT ADDICTION RATES HAVE INCREASED AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS WORRIED ABOUT TAKING WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A GATEWAY DRUG AND MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING CHILDREN.

>> MARIJUANA HAS BEEN HERE FOREVER.

PEOPLE WANT IT.

I'M NOT PERSONALLY ADVOCATING FOR IT, BUT PEOPLE WANT IT.

THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WILL PREVAIL IF THIS GETS ON THE BALLOT.

AS YOU SAID, SEVERAL STATES HAVE ALREADY PASSED IT.

AND IF THE STATE CAN CONTROL IT, THEN I THINK THAT'S BETTER OFF FOR EVERYBODY.

>> 10% IS GOING TO BE THE TAX ON THIS.

AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A SMART CAMPAIGN OFF THE BAT.

REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL.

WE HAVE HAD ALCOHOL REGULATIONS FOR YEARS.

WHAT ABOUT STATE MINIMUM PRICING ON MARIJUANA, IF THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF IT, BUT PRETTY SIMPLE.

NO MONOPOLY, NO, IT'S GOING TO BE MAKE IT LIKE BEER.

>> RIGHT.

I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE THEIR BEST ARGUMENT, AS YOU SAY, BUT AS JOE POINTS OUT, THE POLITICAL CLIMATE ISN'T SUCH THAT THEY WANT TO BE DOING THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF POLITICAL COVER FOR PEOPLE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM TO PASS THIS.

IT'S CHANGED NATIONALLY.

IT'S NOT WHAT IT ONCE WAS IN TERMS OF IT'S BEING SEEN AS MORE SOME SORT OF BALANCE BETWEEN THE SOCIAL ILLS OF USAGE AND THE SOCIAL COST OF THINGS LIKE INCARCERATING NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THERE IS A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CHANGE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD LOOSEN, MAKE IT BASICALLY YOU COULD USE MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR ANYTHING THAT COULD BE HELPED PIE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THAT'S PRETTY BROAD.

IS THIS AN ATTEMPT TO SORT OF THWART THIS EFFORT?

>> THAT MIGHT BE THE VEHICLE THEY USED TO DO THIS.

THEY REALLY -- THE OHIO LAWMAKERS, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZING MARIJUANA FOR EVERYONE, BUT THEY DO LIKE THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ENOUGH THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO RELAX IT.

I THINK THE THING WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, THOUGH, IS OHIO IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUNCH OF STATES THAT ALLOW MARIJUANA.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SITTING HERE ON AN ISLAND ALL BY OURSELVES.

AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO OTHER STATES TO GET MARIJUANA AND BRING IT BACK ILLEGALLY.

BUT THAT DOES CUT INTO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY OHIO CAN MAKE.

SO THERE'S A SWEET SPOT THERE.

>> AND THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE ALREADY HAVE A WORKFORCE ISSUE.

BUT I HAVE HEARD FROM SOME EMPLOYERS THAT THEY CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO COME AND WORK FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T ALLOW MARIJUANA.

SO IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AT LEAST PUT SOME SAFE FP GUARDS IN PLACE WHERE YOU CAN REGULATE IT AND MAKE SOME RULES AROUND IT SO THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RULES ARE AND IT'S CLEAR.

>> THIS IS WHAT THE GAMBLING DEBATE ALL OVER AGAIN.

WE STARTED WITH CASINOS AND THEN RACING, AND AS OF JANUARY 1st, WE CAN BET ON OUR PHONES.

>> YES, IT DOES SEEM LIKE A SLIPPERY SLOPE.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IN THIS CASE IS THEY TOOK A FINDING FROM A POLL WHERE PEOPLE WANTED TO REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL AND NAMED THEIR COMMITTEE THAT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MORE COMMON USES OF TAKING ONE OF YOUR PERSUASION POINTS AND MAKING IT THE NAME OF YOUR CAMPAIGN IN HOPES THAT PEOPLE ON FRIENDLY OUTLETS WILL ACTUALLY USE THAT PHRASE, WHERE PEOPLE WILL GO, WHY SHOULDN'T WE?

THEY'RE EXACTLY THE SAME, THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL.

SO THEY HAVE ACHIEVED THEIR GOAL.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR LAST TOPIC, THE SELECTIVE ADHERENCE TO OHIO'S HOME RULE REQUIREMENT CONTINUED THIS WEEK.

THIS TIME, HOME RULE WON.

GOVERNOR DeWINE VETOED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM BANNING SALES OF FLAVORED TOBACCO AND FLAVORED VAPING PRUX.

THE CITY OF COLUMBUS RECENTLY BANNED THOSE SALES.

SUPPORTERS OF THE BAN ON BANS SAY SUCH RULES SHOULD BE MADE STATE-WIDE.

GOVERNOR DeWINE SAID FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS ENTICE YOUNG SUPPORT A BAN.

IN A YEAR FROM NOW, WE COULD HAVE LEGAL MARIJUANA BUT MENTHOL CIGARETTES COULD BE ILLEGAL.

HOW STRANGE IS THAT?

>> WE HAVE SEEN STRANGER THINGS IN OUR STATE, RIGHT?

BUT LET ME JUST GO THROUGH REAL QUICKLY SOME OF THE OTHER -- SOME OF THE GOVERNOR'S HOME RULE HISTORY.

SO IN JUNE OF 2022, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A BILL THAT TOOK AWAY THE ABILITY FOR CITIES TO IMPOSE RENT CONTROL MEASURES.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO SIGNED INTO LAW LEGISLATURE BLOCKING CITIES FROM IMPOSING FEES ON THE USES OF PLASTIC BAGS.

IN 2019, THE GOVERNOR ALSO SIGNED A BILL THAT WOULD CUT STATE FUNDING FOR CONTROLLING TRAFFIC CAMERAS.

SO IS THIS REALLY ABOUT HOME RULE?

AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS COMING FROM IN TERMS OF WANTING TO PROTECT KIDS FROM THE FLAVORS, BUT IF THIS IS TRULY ABOUT HOME RULE, LET'S BE CONSISTENT ABOUT IT.

>> IS IT MORE -- THE GOVERNOR SAYS IT WAS MORE ABOUT ENTICING KIDS.

HE REALLY DIDN'T MENTION HOME RULE.

>> AS MARK MENTIONED, THAT'S ONE OF HIS KEY ISSUES, CHILDREN'S ISSUES.

HE HAS A HUGE FAMILY.

HE VALUES FAMILY VALUES A LOT, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, HE WAS WANTING TO BE CONSISTENT WITH HIS RECORD FROM THE U.S. SENATE WHEN HE HAD REALLY FOUGHT THIS ISSUE OF ACCESS OF THESE FLAVORED TYPE ITEMS.

I MEAN, HE'S BELIEVED IN IT AT A CORE LEVEL FOR A LONG TIME.

>> THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALLOWED THE EROSION.

HOME RULE IS IN THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, BUT COURT RULINGS HAVE ALLOWED IT TO BE BENT, THE RULE TO BE BENT.

WHAT IS THEIR REASONING BEHIND THAT?

>> HOME RULE WHICH IS THE POWER BETWEEN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS A LOT LIKE FEDERALISM, IT'S COMPLEX, A GIVE AND TAKE.

SO EVERYBODY HAS A ROLE.

ALL OF THE DECISION MAKERS HAVE A ROLE, AND THE GOVERNOR IS PLAYING HIS.

SO WHEN THE COURTS STEP IN AND DRAW PEOPLE BACK, THAT'S THEIR CHECK AND BALANCE, BUT WHAT I HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS IS HOME RULE IS NOT A SIMPLE THING WHERE ALWAYS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS GET TO HAVE THEIR SAY.

EVERY PLAYER GETS TO HAVE THEIR SAY AND THE GOVERNOR JUST HAD HIS.

>> HE ALSO THIS WEEK ALLOWED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REGULATE, HE SIGNED A BILL TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REGULATE WIND FARMS.

YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE.

>> YEAH.

LIKE YOU ALL SAID, JUST, YOU KNOW, DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.

>> SO HOW SERIOUS IS HE, IS HE GOING TO PUSH THIS STATE-WIDE BAN ON THESE SALES IN.

>> HE SAYS HE HASN'T TALKED TO ANY LAWMAKERS YET ABOUT IT.

BUT HE WAS CLEAR THAT THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

AND THIS WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY HE HAS HANDLED ISSUES LIKE THIS IN THE PAST.

HE'S VERY HEALTH ORIENTED, SO I GUESS WE'LL JUST WAIT TO SEE IF ANY OF THE LAWMAKERS WOULD PICK IT UP AND CARRY IT.

BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OPPOSITION IF HE TRIES TO DO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> TALKED ABOUT HOW MARIJUANA WAS LIKE GAMBLING.

THIS IS LIKE THE SMOKING BAN ALL OVER AGAIN.

WHEN THE SMOKING BAN WAS FIRST PUT IN PLACE, THE CITIES DID IT FIRST, AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITY OF COLUMBUS MAP, YOU COULD SMOKE IN ONE RESTAURANT, BUT IF YOU CROSS THE STREET, YOU'RE IN A TOWNSHIP OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND, YOU COULD SMOKE IN A COLUMBUS RESTAURANT, GO ACROSS THE STREET AND YOU COULDN'T SMOKE.

A STATE-WIDE BAN SOLVED THAT PROBLEM.

>> THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, BUT AGAIN, TO JO'S POINT, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY ON THE LINE HERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAX REVENUE, RETAIL SALES OF THOSE TYPES OF PRODUCTS.

SO IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE A FIGHT IF THE LEGISLATURE TRIES TO OVERRIDE THAT VETO.

>> YOU SEE A STATE-WIDE BAN WITH THIS LEGISLATURE?

>> NO, THE OTHER PRIORITIES TO DO AND THEN THE BUDGET WILL HIT.

THAT WILL TAKE OVER EVERYTHING.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

>> WE SAW A STORY LAST WEEK WHERE SOME STATES ARE SO GENEROUS WITH THEIR PUBLIC WELFARE BENEFITS THAT SOME FAMILIES MAKE AS MUCH AS $120,000 A YEAR.

IT'S IRONIC THAT SOME POLITICIANS HAVE WORKED SO HARD SO THEIR CONSTITUENTS WON'T HAVE TO WORK AT ALL.

PEOPLE WANT A SAFETY NET, NOT A HAMMOCK WITH BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS.

>> DERRICK.

>> SAD DAY, JANUARY 6th.

YOU KNOW, JUST WANT TO COMMEMORATE THOSE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE INSURRECTION.

AND HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE -- WELL, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT DAMAR HAMLIN SEEMS TO BE OKAY, SO WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JULIE.

>> I'M JUST INTRIGUED TO WATCH AS JASON STEVENS TRIES TO NOT ONLY RECRUIT A LEADERSHIP TEAM, BUT ALSO NEEDS TO HIRE A STAFF.

HE NEEDS TO MAKE COMMITTEES, HE NEEDS TO SET SESSION DATES.

AND HE'S NOT THE ONLY PERSON IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S DEALT WITH THESE SORTS OF DIVISIONS WITHIN THEIR LEGISLATURE.

AND SO FAR, THEY HAVE MANAGED TO DO BETTER THAN WASHINGTON.

>> JO.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED THIS WEEK AND IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO WHAT DERRICK SAID.

WHEN THIS WHOLE THING HAPPENED, THE WHOLE NATION SEEMED TO GET BEHIND HIM, INCLUDING THE OTHER TEAM, AND IT WAS A MOMENT OF UNITY, AND IT COMES ON A WEEK WHERE WE HAD SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS IN THE STATE HOUSE OR YOU KNOW, NATIONALLY, AND IT JUST WAS KIND OF INTERESTING THAT WE CAN HAVE UNITY AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, TOTAL DISARRAY IN THE SAME WEEK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY OFF THE RECORD COMMENT, WEDNESDAY, WOSU AND THE COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN CLUB CONTINUE OUR SERIES CALLED DEMOCRACY IN CRISIS.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY.

WHAT WILL POLITICS LOOK LIKE TEN YEARS FROM NOW?

I'LL MODERATE THE FORUM, KYLE AND OHIO COMMON CAUSES CATHERINE TERSER WILL JOIN ME.

IT'S THIS COMING WEDNESDAY AT NOON AT THE GRANGE AUDUBON CENTER.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.ORG/EVENTS.

THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

THANKS TO OUR PANEL AND CREW.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.