>>> THE AUGUST IS ALL ABOUT ABORTION THE OHIO SENATE WANTS A TAX CUT AND UNIVERSAL VOUCHERS.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

.

.

.

>>> THE AUGUST VOTE IS ALL ABOUT ABORTION, AND THE STATE SENATE WANTS A TAX CUT AND UNIVERSAL VOUCHERS.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

WE STILL WAIT FOR THE OHIO SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE IF VOTERS WILL BE ASKED TO MAKE IT HARDER TO CHANGE THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION.

AT ISSUE IS WHETHER THE STATE LEGISLATURE CAN ORDER AN AUGUST ELECTION MONTHS AFTER IT MADE SUCH ELECTIONS ILLEGAL.

THE AMENDMENT IF PASSED WOULD REQUIRE A 60% MAJORITY TO PASS FUTURE AMENDMENTS.

A LEADER OF THE EFFORT, SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LaROSE, RECENTLY CONFIRMED WHAT MOST BELIEVE.

THE AUGUST VOTE IS TO THWART A POSSIBLE NOVEMBER ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

>> AND SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS IS ALL ABOUT ABORTION, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M PRO-LIFE.

I THINK MANY OF YOU ARE AS WELL, RIGHT?

[ applause ] AND THIS IS ABOUT -- THIS IS 100% ABOUT KEEPING A RADICAL LEFT ABORTION AMENDMENT OUT OF OUR CONSTITUTION.

THE LEFT WANTS TO JAM IT IN THERE THIS IS COMING NOVEMBER.

SO, YES, THIS IS ABOUT ABORTION, BUT IT'S ABOUT SO MANY THINGS AS WELL.

BECAUSE THE NEXT THING THEY WANT TO DO IS PUT A $15 MINIMUM WAGE IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHO KNOWS WHAT'S NEXT.

IS HIS MATH BAD OR DOES THE TRUTH SNEAK OUT?

>> EIGHT MONTHS AGO ON THIS SHOW, I SAID THAT FRANK IS GETTING BAD POLITICAL ADVICE, AND I REALLY HOPE HE'S WATCHING THIS SHOW AND BEGINS TO BACK AWAY FROM SOME OF THIS STUFF.

THIS IS JUST BAD POLITICS ON HIS PART.

AND HE'S PUTTING ABOVE HIMSELF A GLASS CEILING.

I WISH HE WOULD BACK OFF OF SOME OF THESE THINGS.

BECAUSE WHAT HE SAID WAS THAT, IN EFFECT, THEY ARE GOING TO PASS THIS ABORTION ISSUE, BUT HE FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.

AND SO HE'S DENYING CITIZENS THEIR AGENCY, THEIR FREE WILL, THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE UP THEIR OWN MIND.

THAT'S A DANGEROUS THING FOR CONSERVATIVES TO SAY.

>> BUT YOU DO GET THE VOTE.

>> HE BLEW RIGHT PAST THAT.

>> IT'S OBVIOUSLY TIMED FOR THE ABORTION AMENDMENT.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE DOING THIS IN AUGUST BECAUSE THE MINIMUM WAGE AMENDMENT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE BALLOT.

THEY COULD DO THAT IN NOVEMBER.

THEY COULD DO IT NEXT NOVEMBER.

>> RIGHT.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THE VOTERS HAVE HAD THIS POWER SINCE, WHAT, 1913, SO 110 YEARS OR SO.

AND OVER THE COURSE OF THAT TIME, THE VOTERS HAVE PUSHED THE LEGISLATURE WHEN IT DIDN'T WANT TO BE -- LIKE, WHEN IT WOULDN'T BUDGE ON CERTAIN ISSUES, THAT'S WHEN CITIZENS TOOK IT TO THE BALLOT AND WE GOT THE MINIMUM WAGE TIED TO INFLATION, WE GOT CASINO GAMBLING.

WE GOT THE INDOOR SMOKING BAN, WHICH WAS AN INITIATED STATUTE.

THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES IN WHICH IF THE LEGISLATURE IS HESITANT TO MOVE ON AND THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUSH.

>> TERM LIMITS COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT CITIZENS DRIVING THIS.

>> AND THE BOTTLE BILL AND DOVE BILL WENT DOWN.

>> I WILL SAY THIS.

FIRST OF ALL, WHILE IT IS ABOUT ABORTION, EVERYBODY BEHIND THE SCENES KNOWS THAT.

THE REAL SHOCK OF IT IS THAT THE TALKING POINTS THE REPUBLICANS ARE PUTTING OUT IS DON'T SAY THAT, AND THEN HERE THE SECRETARY OF STATE GOES AND DOES THAT.

THE END THING THAT HE SAID IS WHAT I'M REALLY KEYING IN ON.

WHAT IS THIS WAR ON POOR PEOPLE THAT'S GOING ON AT THE STATE HOUSE?

$15 AN HOUR RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU HAVE MINIMAL UNEMPLOYMENT, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE TO WORK, THEY'RE EVEN TRYING TO GET RID OF CHILD LABOR LAWS AND LET YOUNGER PEOPLE WORK.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY THEM 15 BUCKS?

>> THE SUPREME COURT RULING HAS NOT COME DOWN AS WE RECORD THIS SHOW ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

WE DON'T ANTICIPATE IT COMING DOWN TODAY.

BUT IT SHOULD COME DOWN SOON, RIGHT, LAURA?

THEY HAVE TO PRINT THE BALLOTS AND WE'RE GOING TO VOTE AUGUST 8th.

>> I THINK MILITARY BALLOTS START GETTING SHIPPED OUT JUNE 23rd OR SO.

SO, YEAH, THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION PRETTY SOON.

SO, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF IT DIDN'T COME OUT, LIKE, NEXT WEEK SOME TIME.

>> AND I DON'T THINK THE OUTCOME WILL BE ANY MORE OF A SURPRISE THAN THIS IS ABOUT ABORTION.

THIS IS A POLITICAL COURT.

INCREASINGLY THE SUPREME COURT HAS BECOME A POLITICAL ARM.

AND I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF YOU FIND THAT IT'S NOT ON THE BALLOT.

>> THE WILD CARD HAS BEEN MENTIONED ON THIS SHOW AND BY OTHERS, THE POSSIBLE SWING VOTE WOULD BE JUST THIS PAST YEAR.

A PRETTY STRICT CONSTITUTIONALIZ BELIEVES STRONGLY IN DUE PROCESS.

HE OPPOSED THE ROE V. WADE DECISION BECAUSE SAID IT WAS AN ACTIVIST JUDGE'S RULING.

COULD HE VOTE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU GUYED PASSED THE LAW, SAID NO AUGUST ELECTIONS, BUT YOU TRY TO DO ONE ANYWAY?

>> I HAVE TO GIVE FULL CREDIT TO MY FORMER PROFESSOR ON THIS SHOW HER FIRST POINTED OUT PAT FISHER'S POSSIBLE ROLE IN THIS.

I WOULD THINK THAT ALL REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS NEED TO BE PRAYING AND HOPING THAT PAT FISHER RULES AGAINST THEM ON THIS ISSUE SIMPLY BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO SAVE THEM FROM THEMSELVES.

THIS IS FOR THE REPUBLICANS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE 1983 TAX INCREASE THAT WE SUCCESSFULLY USED TO THROTTLE THE AMBITIONS OF ESSENTIALLY A WHOLE GENERATION OF DEMOCRATS.

>> IS THERE A PLAN B, LAURA?

HAVE YOU HEARD OF A PLAN B IF THE AUGUST ELECTION GETS CANCELED BY THE SUPREME COURT?

OR IF ABORTION RIGHTS OPPONENTS LOSE AUGUST?

IS THERE A PLAN B TO COMPETE AGAINST A POSSIBLE NOVEMBER AMENDMENT?

>> MEANING IF THE AUGUST ELECTION IS CANCELED -- >> IS CANCELED OR THE 60% THRESHOLD THING LOSES.

>> THEN THE ANTIABORTION FOLKS JUST GO ALL OUT WITH THE MESSAGE OF THIS IS TOO EXTREME, THIS IS NOT WHAT OHIOANS WANT, WE NEED TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE CONSTITUTION.

>> IF THEY'RE SMART, I CAN DRAFT FOR YOU IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS A MODERATE ABORTION AMENDMENT TO BE PUT UPON THE BALLOT.

IT TAKES ME 30 SECONDS TO DRAFT IT.

IT WOULD BEAT THE CURRENT LANGUAGE BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS.

AND, SO, I THINK -- I EXPECT THEM TO DO THAT AND PUT IT UP.

THEY HAVE UNTIL AUGUST 8th TO PASS IT THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

>> WELL, THE REPUBLICANS KEOILIS AROUND, SAY, A 12-WEEK BAN OR A 15-WEEK BAN?

>> THE PROBLEM IS THAT, AGAIN, THAT CAUCUS AND THAT SPLIT IS SO TOUGH.

WILL THEY BE POLITICALLY REALISTIC ABOUT THIS?

OR WILL THERE BE ABSOLUTISTS WHO SAY I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR ANYTHING THAT ALLOWS FOR ANY KIND OF AN ABORTION.

THEY GET TWO ELECTIONS IN A ROW WITHIN THREE OR FOUR MONTHS.

A LOT OF MONEY'S GOING TO BE FLYING THROUGH THE STATE.

>> THE OTHER ISSUE THAT'S STILL OUT THERE IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE SUMMARY.

IT SAYS THAT SIGNATURE GATHERS NEED TO COLLECT 5% OF ALL REGISTERED VOTERS IN A COUNTY TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT.

BUT THE AMENDMENT SAYS IT'S 5% OF THOSE WHO VOTED IN THE LAST GOVERNOR'S ELECTION.

50% TURNOUT.

IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> IT'S LIKE DOUBLE.

THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE LIFT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE FOR THESE KINDS OF BALLOT INITIATIVES.

>> IF IT WERE A DIFFERENT SITUATION WITH DEMOCRATS INVOLVED, IT WOULD'VE BEEN TOSSED OVER THAT ISSUE, BUT IT'S NOT.

>> THEY SAY THE SUPPORTERS, IT'S IRRELEVANT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE SUMMARY, IT'S NOT IN THE AMENDMENT, AND EVERYONE'S GOING TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE VOTING ON ANYWAY.

>> IT'S A FAIR AMOUNT OF QUIET BUZZ THAT THEY ARE PURPOSELY SABOTAGING THIS.

THAT'S CLUMSY ON THEIR PART TO PUT THAT IN.

IT'S NOT ACCURATE, IT'S JUST LEGALLY CLUMSY.

AND IT MAKES YOU WONDER IF THEY ARE GOING SAVE US FROM OURSELVES, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, THEY GET THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS.

THEY'VE SATISFIED THEIR PRO-LIFE BASE, BUT IT DOESN'T -- THEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> INTERESTING.

>>> THE THIRD AND FINAL VERSION OF THE STATE BUDGET IS OUT.

THE OHIO SENATE BUDGET PLAN CALLS FOR A SIZEABLE TAX CUT AND PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY OHIO FAMILY.

THE SENATE CALLS FOR A $1.5 BILLION TAX CUT.

OHIO'S INCOME TAX BRACKETS WOULD BE REDUCED TO JUST TWO.

BUSINESSES WOULD ALSO SEE A TAX CUT.

AS FOR THE VOUCHERS, THE SENATE PLAN WOULD ALLOW FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL STIPENDS FOR FAMILIES OF FOUR MAKING UP TO $135,000 A YEAR.

VOUCHERS FOR FAMILIES MAKING MORE THAN THAT WOULD BE LESS, DETERMINED ON A SLIDING SCALE.

BASED ON THE FAMILY'S INCOME.

LAURA BISCHOFF, THIS IS THE THIRD BUDGET.

THIS BUDGET SEEMS TO BE THE MOST CONSERVATIVE AND THE MOST AGGRESSIVE AS FAR AS CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES OF THE THREE.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY GOING DEEPER WITH TAX CUTS AND DEEPER WITH EDUCATION, ED CHOICE OR SCHOOL VOUCHERS IS DEFINITELY, THOSE ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE IDEAS.

AND THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IT SEEMS THAT MAYBE THE SENATE HAS GONE FARTHER.

IT'S NOT REALLY THE FINAL -- IT'S THE THIRD VERSION BUT IT'S NOT THE FINAL VERSION.

THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING BY JUNE 30th.

>> PLENTY OF TIME.

[ laughter ] >> BUT IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE'S JUST SO MUCH EDUCATION POLICY CHANGE IN THERE.

THEY WRAPPED IN SENATE BILL 83, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH CONDITIONS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND WHETHER OR NOT PROFESSORS, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FREE OF BIAS.

IT'S BEEN VERY CONTROVERSIAL, IT'S GINNED UP A LOT OF ATTENTION.

SO IT'S A HEFTY POLICY BUDGET.

>> BUSINESS LEADERS SAID WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON K-12 EDUCATION MORE THAN WE NEED A TAX CUT.

>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY BE ABOUT 20 YEARS BEHIND THE CURVE ON THIS.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS A KID, YOU LOOKED FOR A JOB, YOU FOUND A JOB, THEN YOU MOVED TO WHERE THAT JOB WAS.

NOW THE YOUNG AND THE CREATIVE CLASS NOW LOOK FOR WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE AND THEN THEY GO LOOK FOR A JOB THERE.

SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE STATE DOING FOR QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES?

AND THAT'S HOW YOU BEGIN TO REALLY ATTRACT YOUNG AND CREATIVE AND INNOVATION.

IF YOU WANT TO BUILD THE INDUSTRIES OF TOMORROW, YOU START OFF WITH TODAY BY ASKING COLLEGE GRADUATES AND GRAD STUDENTS WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET YOU TO MOVE THERE, AND YOU GIVE IT TO THEM, YOU DO NOT ARGUE WITH THEM.

>> USED TO WORK WITH THE UAW AUTO WORKERS IN MICHIGAN.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS HUGE.

>> THE PROBLEM IS THAT HE'S RIGHT, THIS IS AN AUSTIN POWERS BUDGET GOING BACK DECADES.

THEY'RE EXPANDING VOUCHERS.

THE WHOLE POINT OF VOUCHERS WAS TO GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS.

BUT NOW YOU'RE LETTING WEALTHIER PEOPLE GO GET THAT ACCESS.

YOU'RE LIMITING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES THE ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS.

I MEAN, IF THERE WERE A FLAT EARTH MEMBER PERSON SOCIETY IN THE LEGISLATURE, THEY'D PROBABLY TRY TO THROW THAT IN.

THIS IS DRACONIAN BUDGET WHERE THEY'RE CUTTING SCHOOL LUNCHES BUT PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THE POCKET OF WEALTHIER PEOPLE TO SEND THEIR KIDS AND HELP SUBSIDIZE THEIR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

IT IS NOT GOING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE.

AND IN THE EIGHT YEARS I WAS IN MICHIGAN AT THE UAW SINCE I'VE COME BACK, IN MOST MEASURABLE STATISTICS, THIS STATE HAS FALLEN BEHIND, AND THE WAGE GAP AND THE WEALTH GAP HAS JUST EXPLODED, AND THIS IS GOING TO DO IT MORE.

>> THE SENATE DID TALK ABOUT JUST THE LITERACY PROGRAM, WHICH IS A FAVORITE OF GOVERNOR DeWINE.

SO THERE IS SOME EDUCATION STUFF IN THERE.

EDUCATION POLICY IN THE BUDGET AS WELL, WHICH OFTEN HAPPENS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A MONEY DOCUMENT.

>> I THINK THEY EARMARKED $100 MILLION WHICH WOULD SHIFT THE FOCUS FROM BALANCE LEARNING TO MORE OF A PHONICS-BASED APPROACH, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

THERE IS SUCH HUGE NUMBER OF KIDS WHO ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN READING.

THE SENATE ELIMINATED A PLAN TO BUMP UP THE MINIMUM SALARY FOR TEACHERS FROM 30,000 TO 40,000, SO THAT'S GONE.

SO IT'S A MIX AND MATCH.

>> A LOT OF CUTS TO SOME SOCIAL SUBJECTS IN THE BUDGET.

THAT'S NOT THE BEST LOOK TRYING TO HELP FOLKS WHO ARE UNFORTUNATE OR LOWER ON THE INCOME SCALE.

>> IT GOES TO A SERIES OF QUESTIONS -- THE QUESTION IS, IS HOW MUCH CAN YOU PUNISH POOR PEOPLE FOR ALREADY BEING POOR, AND HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO REWARD RICH PEOPLE FOR BEING RICH?

AND THE THOUGHT IS REWARD RICH PEOPLE FOR BEING RICH, WE CAN ATTRACT MORE RICH PEOPLE TO COME TO YOUR STATE.

YOU NEED TO ATTRACT, ONCE AGAIN, THE INNOVATORS WHO WILL CREATE HUNDREDS OF RICH PEOPLE.

>>> OHIO'S UNEMPLOYMENT FUND IS PERPETUALLY LOW ON FUNDS.

IT'S FINE WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD, LIKE NOW, WITH A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

BUT WHEN RECESSIONS HIT, THE STATE OFTEN HAS TO BORROW MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COVER THE BENEFITS OF LAID-OFF WORKERS.

A NEW BILL IN THE SENATE WOULD TRY TO ENSURE THE FUND'S SOLVENCY.

IT WOULD CUT BENEFITS FROM A MAXIMUM OF 26 WEEKS TO AS FEW AS 12.

IT WOULD ELIMINATE DEPENDENT CHILDREN ALLOWANCES FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR THE HIGHEST BENEFITS.

THE PLAN DOES INCREASE UNEMPLOYMENT TAXES ON BUSINESSES, A LITTLE.

BUT BUSINESSES WOULD END UP PAYING LESS BECAUSE OF THE CUT IN OVERALL BENEFITS.

BRIAN ROTHENBERG, THIS SEEMS LIKE AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOREVER.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE -- TALK ABOUT A PLACE WHERE THERE IS MIDDLE GROUND.

LET'S CUT BENEFITS A LITTLE, RAISE TAXES A LITTLE, SOLVE IT, WE'RE GOOD.

>> THE THING THAT YOU'RE NOT SAYING, WHICH HAS HAPPENED ALL ALONG IS THEN A CRISIS WILL COME ALONG, AND THOSE LOANS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FORGIVEN, FOR THE MOST PART.

SO, LOOK, THIS 12 WEEKS WOULD BE LOWER THAN ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY, EVEN MONTANA HAS 26 WEEKS LIKE WE DO.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

IT'S ANOTHER ATTACK AND PUNISHES POOR PEOPLE.

AND IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT LOBBYISTS, FOR THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY, ARE RUNNING THE OHIO LEGISLATURE, AND LEGISLATORS ARE REPRESENTING THE BUSINESS INTERESTS.

LOOK AT -- YOU'D NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE MEETING THAT THEY HAD OVER FUNDING ISSUE ONE, WHERE THE SENATE PRESIDENT CALLED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN WHO HAD AMENDMENTS IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE BUDGET AND TOLD THEM ALL THEY HAD TO GIVE $2,500 APIECE.

WHERE I COME FROM, THAT KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE EXTORTION.

BUT THEY'RE RUNNING THE LEGISLATURE.

>> DOES UNEMPLOYMENT -- DOES THIS PROBLEM GET SOLVED IN THIS LEGISLATURE, IN GOVERNOR DeWINE'S TERM, OR NO?

>> BASED ON PAST PERFORMANCE, I WOULD SAY NO.

THIS IS SOMETHING BRIAN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW EVEN LIKE 15, 18 YEARS AGO WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS AS AN ISSUE.

IT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR DECADES IN OHIO.

AND THE LOANS THAT THEY TAKE OUT ONCE THERE'S AN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND WE HAVE TO GO TO THE FEDS AND BORROW MONEY, WELL, AT LEAST THE LAST ONE WAS REPAID WITH COVID CASH.

SO, THE FEDS GAVE OHIO MONEY, AND THEN OHIO GAVE SOME OF IT BACK TO WIPE OUT THE -- >> OR THE RECESSION FUNDS THAT WE GOT.

>> RIGHT.

>> MY MEMORY OF THIS GOES BACK TO 1993 WHEN SOME WERE SAYING LET'S PRIVATIZE ALL THIS.

AND GEORGE SAID, NO, I CAN MANAGE OUR WAY OUT OF IT.

AND REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP SAID WE HAVE TO LET THE GOVERNOR ATTEMPT TO MANAGE HIS WAY OUT OF IT SO WE HAD A CHANCE TO GRAB THAT BRASS RING WITH SOME TRULY CONSERVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT OTHER STATES HAVE IMPLEMENTED.

AND, POOF, WE LOST THAT OPPORTUNITY THEN.

>> PRIVATIZING, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> WE'D LOOK AT MOST OF THE STATES.

>> 26 WEEKS, HALF A YEAR, IN GOOD ECONOMIC TIMES THAT, SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME.

I THINK THE PLAN IS THAT IN GOOD ECONOMIC TIMES WHEN THE RATE IS FAIRLY LOW, THEN IT WOULD GO TO 12.

>> UNLESS YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THAT IMPACTS DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.

FOR INSTANCE, WITH THE UAW IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, 26 WEEKS YOU'RE RETOOLING A PLANT, THAT'S ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED SO THEY GET THE 26 WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND THEN FORD OR GM OR CHRYSLER, THEY SUPPLEMENT THAT WITH SUB PAY SO THAT THOSE FOLKS GET SOME KIND OF PAY WHILE THEY'RE RETOOLING THE PLANTS.

IT'S GOING TO HURT THINGS LIKE OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR IF YOU GET RID OF IT.

>> HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT DO THESE TAXES HAVE ON BUSINESSES?

IS IT A HUGE PART OF THEIR BUDGET?

>> LET ME ENGAGE IN SOMETHING HERE.

IF YOU HAVE UNSKILLED LABOR, THIS IS HUGE.

IF YOU'RE WORKING DOWN AT IF YOU'RE A COMPUTER PROGRAMMER, THIS IS A ROUNDING ERROR IN THE PAY.

SO THAT'S THE WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.

IF YOU ARE ENGAGED IN THAT TYPE OF SITUATION FOR LOGISTICS, IT'S HUGE.

>> THAT'S WHY THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION IS ENGAGED IN ALL OF THIS.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THIS ASSEMBLY.

>>> HOUSE BILL SIX IS STILL WITH US.

THE NEW-CLEAR BAILOUT REMAINS AS LAW DESPITE ONE OF ITS ARCHITECTS HEADING TO FEDERAL PRISON.

A NEW EFFORT IS TRYING TO REPEAL THE LAW AND THE SUBSIDIES IT GIVES TO TWO COAL-FIRED PLANTS, ONE OF WHICH IS IN INDIANA.

MEANWHILE, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER LARRY HOUSEHOLDER AND LOBBYIST MATT BORGES WAIT FOR THEIR SENTENCES.

THEY WILL COME IN LATE JUNE.

AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE WILL FACE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

LAURA BISCHOFF, THE CURRENT HOUSE SPEAKER DOES NOT SUPPORT REPEALING HOUSE BILL 6.

YOU WOULD THINK A NEW SPEAKER WOULD WANT TO WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN OF THIS TERRIBLE BILL THAT CAUSED ALL THESE PROBLEMS, BUT HE DOES NOT.

WHY NOT?

>> WELL, THEY'VE ALREADY REPEALED THE SUBSIDIES WHICH WERE THE MOST FOR THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, WHICH WERE THE MOST CONTENTIOUS, I WOULD SAY.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY THEY'RE KEEPING ON WITH THE COAL-FIRED SUBSIDIES.

IT'S ALMOST FOUR YEARS SINCE THAT GOT SIGNED INTO LAW AND THREE YEARS SINCE LARRY HOUSEHOLDER GOT ARRESTED.

>> THEY'RE TRYING TO GO AROUND WITH A SPECIAL PETITION.

WILL IT WORK, GENE?

>> SO, IF IT WORKS, IT GOES TO THE SENATE, AND THEN IT DIES IN THE SENATE.

THIS IS LEGISLATIVE MOSQUITO BITE SCRATCHING.

IT FEELS GOOD, BUT IT ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.

YOU'RE NOT HAVING BOTH CHAMBERS UNITED ON IT.

>> HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

WE HAVEN'T PASSED ANY NEW ETHICS REFORMS TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE.

THIS ISSUE WAS THE COMPANY TRYING TO BUY LEGISLATION IN THEIR INTEREST, WHICH THEY DID, WHICH IS BRIBERY.

BUT I JUST TALKED ABOUT ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE YOU HAVE ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, THE SENATE PRESIDENT BRINGING LOBBYISTS AND THEN SAYING GIVE US $2,100 WITH EVERYBODY KNOWING THEY HAVE STUFF IN THE BUDGET, WHICH SOUNDS TO ME LIKE EXTORTION.

SO, WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING HERE.

>> DISCHARGE PETITIONS FROM EXPERIENCE ARE VERY EASY TO GET UP TO 46 SIGNATURES IN THE HOUSE.

GETTING THEM THE REST OF THE WAY -- [ laughter ] THE BIG ROCK COMES TO MIND REAL QUICK AND SISYPHUS.

>> THEY NEED 50 LAWMAKERS TO SIGN A PETITION TO PUT THE MEASURE ON THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE, WHETHER OR NOT THE SPEAKER OR ANYBODY ELSE.

>> I'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1986.

I DON'T REMEMBER THIS ACTUALLY EVER HAPPENING OTHER THAN PASSING THE HOUSE AND THEN DYING IN THE SENATE.

>> I REMEMBER SIGNING A DISCHARGE PETITION, AND THEN THEY HAD TO REATTACH MY HEAD BY VELCRO BECAUSE IT GOT TAKEN OFF.

>> JUNE 29th AND 30th, CORRECT, LAURA, IS THE SENTENCING FOR HOUSEHOLDER AND BORGES.

ANY INDICATION WHAT KIND OF SENTENCE THEY MAY GET?

>> I THINK THEY'LL GET PRISON SENTENCES.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS.

THAT'S ENTIRELY UP TO U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE TIM BLACK WHO HANDLED THE TRIAL.

AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON THIS PRESENTENCING REPORT, WHICH THEY GO AND THEY DO THE BACKGROUND AND THEN THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE JUDGE, AND THEN THE JUDGE CONSIDERS IT AND LOOKS AT ALL THE SENTENCING GUIDELINES, AND THEN WE GET TO JUNE 29th FOR HOUSEHOLDER AND JUNE 30th FOR MATT BORGES.

>> THE CASE IS STILL UNDER APPEAL.

DO THEY HAVE TO REPORT TO PRISON THAT DAY?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE JUDGE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU SHOW NO REMORSE IN THAT PRESENTENCING REPORT, THAT PLAYS INTO WHAT THE JUDGE WILL DECIDE TO DO.

AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY TREAT THE JUDGE VERY WELL DURING THE TRIAL EITHER.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL BE ABLE TO REMAIN OUT.

>> YOU DON'T ANTICIPATE LARRY HOUSEHOLDER EXPRESSING REMORSE IN HIS SENTENCING REPORT?

>> NO, I DO NOT.

I WILL AGREE WITH BRIAN HERE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS HIGHLY INCENSED OVER LARRY HAVING GAGGLES FOR THE NEWS REPORTERS AT THE STEPS OF THE COURTHOUSE.

AND THEY'RE VERY INCENSED ABOUT THAT.

AND THEY'RE URGING PRETTY HARSH TREATMENT.

>> I DON'T THINK -- I DIDN'T GET THAT SENSE.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY HELD A GAGGLE OUT ON THE STEPS OF THE COURTHOUSE AS WELL.

IT WAS INTERESTING TO ME, THOUGH, THE FIRST DAY OF TRIAL LARRY HOUSEHOLDER COMES IN BEFORE COURT STARTED, THE STATE HOUSE PRESS CORPS GATHERS AROUND AND IT WAS LIKE HE NEVER PUT THE GAVEL DOWN.

>> WILL THERE BE ANY OTHER GUILTY PLEAS, INDICTMENTS IN THIS CASE?

THE FORMER HEAD OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION?

FIRST ENERGY SAY THEY PAID HIM $4.5 MILLION IN BRIBES.

>> IT'S LIKE AN ONION, IT PEELS ITSELF.

SO I WOULD THINK THERE'S A CHANCE THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE.

>> GENE, WHAT'S THE TALK AT THE STATE HOUSE?

ARE PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT THIS?

IT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS NOW.

>> EVERYBODY IS WHISTLING PAST A GRAVEYARD AND IF I DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, IT DOES NOT EXIST.

THEY KNOW IT'S COMING.

THOSE OF US WHO ARE ABLE TO STEP BACK AND GO, YOU SHOULD BE FRIGHTENED ARE GOING, YEAH, THEY REALLY SHOULD BE.

AND THEY'RE NOT.

>> FIRST ENERGY, THE COMPANY HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO BRIBERY, BUT NOT THE FOLKS WHO RAN THE COMPANY WHO ARE NOW OUT OF JOBS, OF COURSE, BUT NOT BEEN CHARGED YET.

>> YEAH, THE COMPANY CITED DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENT WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO NOT BE CHARGED AS LONG AS THEY FOLLOW THAT AGREEMENT, I THINK IT WAS IN PLACE FOR THREE YEARS AND PAID THAT $230 MILLION FINE AND COOPERATED.

BASED ON THE STUFF THAT CAME OUT OF THE TRIAL, THE COMPANY COOPERATED.

THERE WAS A LOT OF MATERIAL THAT THEY TURNED OVER TO PROSECUTORS AND IT WAS EMBEDDED IN THE EVIDENCE.

>> THE EVIDENCE OF THE TRIAL, DID IT INDICATE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME OTHER -- >> IT SURE LOOKS THAT WAY GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENED AND HOW IT'S DONE.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NEVER TELL YOU ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

I'M QUITE SURPRISED ACTUALLY THE TWO WHO ARE GOING TO BE SENTENCED HAVEN'T CUT A DEAL OF SOME KIND, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF A SENTENCE.

A LOT HAPPENS BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN YOU GET SENTENCED.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS, MAYBE SOME PREDICTION FOR THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD.

BRIAN ROTHENBERG, YOU'RE UP FIRST.

>> I JUST CAME FROM THE SWEARING-IN OF OUR NEW COUNTY CORONER, NATE OBERMEIER, I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, AND HE'S GOT A REALLY FRESH KIND OF ATTITUDE ABOUT HE'S NOT THERE JUST TO DO THE AUTOPSIES, HE'S THERE TO TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE LIVE LONGER.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THAT NAME AROUND THIS TOWN FOR A LONG TIME.

>> GENE?

>> I'VE BEEN BITING MY TONGUE THE WHOLE LAST TOPIC BECAUSE THE SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY OF McBETH IS GOING TO CONTINUE.

SENTENCING IS IN TWO WEEKS.

MY SOURCES TELL ME THAT EXPECT LARRY AND MATT TO GO TO TERRA HAUTE FEDERAL PRISON, WHICH IS NOT A NICE PLACE.

THE FEDS WILL INTERVIEW THEM AGAIN AND SAY NOW DO YOU WANT TO TURN OVER THE STATE'S EVIDENCE?

MY ADVICE TO ALL MY FRIENDS IN ELECTIVE OFFICE AND IN THE LOBBYING UNIVERSE, WHATEVER YOU KNOW, GO TELL THE FEDS NOW, PLEASE.

>> DON'T GO TO TERRE HAUTE.

>> LAURA?

>> SOMETHING GENE SAID EARLIER THAT THE YOUNG WORKERS AND CREATIVE CLASS, THEY WANT QUALITY OF LIFE.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON TAX POLICY AND JOB TRAINING.

AND I THINK THAT THEY WANT THOSE THINGS TOO.

BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH GENE THAT THEY ALSO WANT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES LIKE LEGALIZING MARIJUANA, LGBTQ POLICIES THAT ARE FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING, AND THAT SORT OF THING.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL IN COLUMBUS ELIMINATED THE, I THINK IT WAS THREE-WEEK CURFEW FOR FOOD TRUCK OPERATORS.

THEY CAN NOW SELL SLICES AND HOT DOGS AND WHATEVER UNTIL 2:30 IN THE MORNING NOW.

SO THAT CURFEW IS OVER.

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

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK.

AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANY TIME AT OUR WEBSITE WOSU.ORG OR ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

FOR OUR CREW AND PANEL, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.