>> GRIDLOCK.

THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN --WHAT IT MEANS, AND WHEN WILL IT END.

> >> GRIDLOCK.

THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN --WHAT IT MEANS, AND WHEN WILL IT END.

> >> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

WHEN CONGRESS CANNOT AGREE OR COMPROMISE, THINGS STALL.

THIS TIME, MUCH OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS STALLED.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 7 YEARS, CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE SHUT DOWN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMETNT, AT LEAST PARTIALLY.

ENOUGH DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE HAVE BLOCKED A BILL TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED.

DEMOCRATS WANT REPUBLICANS TO RESTORE CUTS TO MEDICAID MADE OVER THE SUMMER, AND EXTEND SUBSIDIES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE OBAMACARE HEALTH INSURANCE.

REPUBLICANS SAY, BOTH ARE TOO EXPENSIVE AND THEY BLAME DEMOCRATS FOR FURLOUGHING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL WORKERS, AND DENYING PAYCHECKS TO TROOPS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS STILL ON THE JOB.

JESSIE BALMERT, IT IS EARLY, JUST A FEW DAYS IN, BUT WHAT IMPACT THIS IS HAVING ON OHIO RIGHT NOW?

>> IF YOU ARE A FEDERAL WORKER IN OHIO, YOU ARE FURLOUGHED, SO I THINK THAT HAS AN IMPACT, FOLKS AT THE AIR FORCE BASE, FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT, I THINK A LOT OF THE SERVICES YOU WOULD EXPECT, LIKE THE POSTAL SERVICE, YOU WILL STILL GET YOUR MAIL.

SO, THE LONGER THESE THINGS GO ON, THE MORE YOU START TO FEEL THE IMPACT AND THE GRIDLOCK OF SERVICES NOT BEING PROVIDED.

>> YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE A BIG NATIONAL PARK, NO BIG NATIONAL PARK FACILITIES, BUT STATES WILL FEEL IT WITH TOURISM RIGHT AWAY, AND OF COURSE THE D. C. AREA FEELS IMPACT RIGHT AWAY, WE DON'T.

>> YEAH, ACTUALLY, I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS AT THE NATIONAL FOREST TODAY AND THEY DID NOT, LIKE, PADLOCK THE ENTRANCES, BECAUSE THERE ARE ROADS IN THE CITY OF RIDGEFIELD AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT IT IS CLOSED.

ALSO, OHIO DOES HAVE A LOT OF FEDERAL WORKERS, INCLUDING LIKE HOW JESSIE MENTIONED, THAT CENTER IN CLEVELAND, SO -- >> BOB, MY QUESTION IS, WE HAVE GRIDLOCK IN THE STATE AND IN CONGRESS, WHETHER WE HAVE SHUTDOWNS MORE OFTEN?

IT SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULD HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE EVERY EIGHT YEARS.

IT IS AMAZING, THEY DON'T.

>> YEAH, THEY SHOULD.

HERE IN THE STATE, IT IS ALL REPUBLICANS SO UNLESS THEY ARE GOING TO FIGHT AMONGST THEMSELVES, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A SHUTDOWN.

NOW, WITH CONGRESS, WE DON'T HAVE THEM BECAUSE USUALLY, POLITICALLY, THE PARTY THAT IS BLOCKING AND CAUSING A SHUTDOWN --WHICH WOULD BE THE DEMOCRATS THIS TIME --POLITICALLY SUFFER FROM THAT AND NOBODY WANTS TO SUFFER POLITICALLY.

SO, THEY TRY TO WORK THINGS OUT.

>> ARE DEMOCRATS POSTURING HERE, TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR WHEN THEY DIDN'T TAKE A HARD LINE IN MARCH WHEN THEY HAD THE LAST CHANCE TO FORCE A SHUTDOWN, POSSIBLY?

>> YEAH, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR THIS KIND OF REACTION IN MARCH, WHEN THERE WAS THE OTHER OPPORTUNITY.

AND LOOK, DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON ARE IN A TOUGH SPOT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT CONTROLLING ANY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, DON'T HAVE POWER IN CONGRESS AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW POINTS OF LEVERAGE THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS, THE STATED REASON WHY DEMOCRATS ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO OCCUR IS BECAUSE OF THE HEALTHCARE PAYMENTS, LIKE YOU SAID, AND MEDICAID CUTS.

THE ISSUE IS, THERE HASN'T REALLY BEEN AN ORGANIZATION AROUND THAT POINT, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT.

I THINK IT HAS ALSO BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE THAT A LOT OF WORKERS WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO REPORT TO WORK --LIKE TSA WORKERS, FOR EXAMPLE --ARE IMMEDIATELY MAKING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN, WAIT A MINUTE, I HAVE TO KEEP WORKING, AND THEN THESE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT WASHINGTON STILL GET PAID?

SO, THE POLITICS AROUND THIS ARE TRICKY.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS WANTED TO SEE DEMOCRATS TAKE THIS KIND OF MOVE, BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW IT WILL PAN OUT FOR US IN LOOKING AHEAD TO THE ELECTION.

>> SO, HOW LONG DOES THIS LAST?

THE LAST ONE WAS ABOUT 40 SOMETHING ODD DAYS, THE FIRST ONE IN THE FIRST "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD".

A WEEK, TWO WEEKS?

DO WE EVEN KNOW?

>> I WILL TAKE OUT MY CRYSTAL BALL AND TRY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT HERE, BUT I THINK YOU HIT SOME PRESSURE POINTS WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING A PAYCHECK FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT IS GOING TO BE A POINT OF FRUSTRATION FOR MANY, MANY WORKERS, AND OBVIOUSLY CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE LIVING REALLY CLOSE TO THE LINE.

SO, YOU SEE THOSE INFLECTION POINTS, WHERE THERE MIGHT BE MORE IMPETUS FOR COMPROMISE.

>> I THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT --AND THIS IS STARTING TO BE CLEAR FOR PEOPLE --THAT, YES, LIKE BOB SAID, USUALLY, THE PARTY THAT IS RESISTING THE FUNDING, IN THIS CASE, DEMOCRATS, WILL BE BLAMED FOR THE SHUTDOWN, BUT WE ARE NOT IN AN ORDINARY SITUATION AND THE FACT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS USING THIS AS A REASON TO LAY OFF MORE FEDERAL WORKERS WHO ARE NOT JUST IN WASHINGTON, BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY --I THINK THE POLITICS ARE TRICKY ON THEIR SIDE, TOO, THE LONGER THIS GOES ON.

>> SPEAKING OF TRICKY POLITICS, THE REPUBLICANS JUST PASSED TO EXTEND TAX CUTS, PART OF THE BILL OVER THE SUMMER.

WHY NOT EXTEND THE OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES THAT A LOT OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS ARE USING TO HELP PAY FOR THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE?

>> WELL, MIKE, GOOD POINT.

REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID TO THE DEMOCRATS, "YEAH, IF YOU PASS THIS CONTINUING RESOLUTION FUNDED AT THE CURRENT LEVEL, WE WILL SIT DOWN AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EXTENDING THE SUBSIDIES. "

THE REPUBLICANS AND EVEN PRESIDENT TRUMP REALIZE THE POLITICAL PROBLEM THEY MAY HAVE, IF THEY DON'T DO IT.

BUT, REMEMBER, THOSE SUBSIDIES WERE TEMPORARY, THEY WERE DONE DURING COVID, WITH EVERYTHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES THAT IS TEMPORARY, NEVER IS TEMPORARY, BECOMES PERMANENT.

>> LIKE THOSE TAX CUTS.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

>> YOU SAY, LOOK, WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT LATER, BUT THAT IS RISKY FOR DEMOCRATS, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IF REPUBLICANS SAY, "SORRY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT? "

>> WHAT OTHER OPTION DO THEY HAVE?

SHUTDOWN THE GOVERNMENT?

WE WILL SEE.

AND I THINK THEY MAY HAVE A POLITICAL ISSUE THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH THIS AND THAT IS THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS IN VIRGINIA.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF VOTERS IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ALEXANDRIA AREA, THAT ARE FEDERAL WORKERS.

AND IF THEY START GETTING MAD, THAT COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THOSE ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER.

>> SO, WHY NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM LATER FOR DEMOCRATS, MORGAN?

THE SUBSIDY PROBLEM?

>> YEAH, WHY NOT -- >> TAKE THE REPUBLICANS' WORD, KEEP THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING, THEN NEGOTIATE HEALTHCARE.

>> HERE IS THE KEY POINT, TAKING REPUBLICANS AT THEIR WORD.

IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, IT'S JUST LAUGHABLE THAT THIS IS ABOUT SAVING MONEY.

THIS ADMINISTRATION IS LITERALLY GIVING MONEY BACK TO COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND BY EXECUTIVE AGENCIES TO HAVE BROKEN THE LAW, THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO AMERICAN CONSUMERS.

TOYOTA FINANCING, FOR EXAMPLE, "TAKE YOUR MONEY BACK, WE DIDN'T REALLY MEAN THAT ENFORCEMENT ACTION. "

SO, THE IDEA THAT THEY WILL SIT DOWN IN GOOD FAITH AND TALK ABOUT HOW MORE MONEY CAN GO TO AMERICANS' HEALTHCARE VERSUS REWARDING THEIR BILLIONAIRE FRIENDS, I WANT TO BE ON WHATEVER YOU ARE FOR THIS ONE.

>> WELL, MORGAN, TELL ME WHAT THE OTHER OPTION IS, HERE?

IF YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT EXTENDING THE SUBSIDIES, WHAT DO YOU DO?

KEEP THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AND HURT A LOT OF DEMOCRAT VOTERS THAT ARE LOW INCOME, DEPENDENT ON S. N. A. P. BENEFITS?

YOU KNOW, YOU JUST CAN'T PLAY WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES, LIKE THAT.

>> IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT --I AGREE THERE IS AN ELEMENT HERE IN THE VIRGINIA ELECTION, THE DEMOCRAT RUNNING TO BE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, HOW SHE MESSAGES THIS, BECAUSE I DO THINK THERE IS A MESSAGE TO MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE CAUSED THIS, THIS IS A REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN.

>> IT IS THE SCHUMER SHUTDOWN.

>> I DON'T KNOW DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS HAS DONE THAT EFFECTIVELY, SHE IS PROVING TO BE A PRETTY GOOD CAMPAIGNER.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S WHEN THE MESSAGING GETS TRICKY.

RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE CARE MORE ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT'S NEW ALBUM MORE THAN THEY DO ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

> >> ANYWAY --GOVERNOR DeWINE'S WORKING GROUP ON PROPERTY TAXES IS OUT WITH ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE GOVERNOR FORMED THE GROUP TO FIND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO RAPIDLY RISING PROPERTY TAXES AROUND THE STATE.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WELL, THEY FALL SHORT OF BOLD.

THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDS THE STATE ALLOW FOR A PROPERTY TAX DEFERRAL PROGRAM FOR SENIORS WHO QUALIFY.

IT SUGGESTS A CIRCUIT BREAKER TO REDUCE BILLS FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO PAY A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THEIR INCOME IN PROPERTY TAXES.

IT SUGGESTS GIVING COUNTY COMMISSIONS THE POWER TO REGULATE, EVEN ROLL BACK, PROPERTY TAXES DEEMED "UNNECESSARY. "

AND IT WOULD ALSO ELIMINATE SOMETIMES CONFUSING NAMES, LIKE "A REPLACEMENT LEVY," AND MANDATE SIMPLE BALLOT LANGUAGE ON WHAT A LEVY WILL FUND, AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST.

ANDREW TOBIAS, NO REAL SURPRISE THEY ARE SAYING, WE SHOULD DO AWAY WITH PROPERTY TAX, OR CUT IN HALF, OR LIMIT TO 6%.

THIS IS ACTUALLY IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, THE RECOMMENDED?

>> YEAH, THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THIS WORKGROUP HAVING BEEN FORMED, WHICH IS THAT A LOT OF THIS RESEARCH HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, LEGISLATURE LOOKED AT IT AND DECIDED TO DO WHAT THEY DID.

SO, WE WILL SEE WHETHER THEY TAKE THIS UNDER ADVISEMENT, BUT ANOTHER KIND OF CORE ISSUE HERE IS WHETHER STATE LEADERS WANT TO TRY TO PREVENT A TAX INCREASE, LIKE THE ONE WE SAW WHEN THE HOME VALUES ALL WENT UP, AND THE REVALUATIONS OCCURRED.

THEY WANT TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN?

OR, DO THEY WANT TO TRY TO GIVE PEOPLE TAX RELIEF, NOW?

THERE IS A BILL THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, BASICALLY GIVING TAX RELIEF TO MANY PEOPLE NOW AND SCHOOLS ARE SAYING IT WOULD FORCE THEM TO LAY OFF TEACHERS IMMEDIATELY, SO THAT IS THE CRUX OF THIS, GOING BACK TO THE DEBATE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON THE LAST TWO YEARS, OR SO.

AND REPUBLICANS JUST DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO PAY FOR THIS AT THE STATE LEVEL, PUSHING BACK TO THE LOCAL LEVEL AND THAT IS THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE.

>> HOW LONG HAS THIS GROUP BEEN IN PLACE, JESSIE?

JUST A COUPLE MONTHS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THIS IS RELATIVELY SHORT WORK, THAT IS PRIMARILY WHY THEY RELIED ON PREVIOUS RESEARCH.

THIS WAS WHEN REPUBLICANS WERE SEEKING TO OVERRIDE SOME OF MIKE DEWINE'S 67 SOMETHING ODD VETOES, IN NUMBER OF THEM RELATED TO THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WANTED TO ENACT.

AND SO, YES, EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING EVERYTHING, THERE IS DISAGREEMENT ABOUT HOW THIS SHOULD GO FORWARD.

>> BOB, THE TAXPAYER WANTS TO KNOW, 20 SOMETHING ODD RECOMMENDATIONS, IF THEY ALL GET ENACTED, WILL MY TAXES GO DOWN?

PROPERTY TAXES?

>> AND, MIKE, THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

BECAUSE ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED, JUST NEEDS AROUND THE EDGES OF THE PROBLEM.

AND THE PROBLEM IS, PEOPLE ARE PAYING TOO MUCH IN PROPERTY TAX.

THEY WANT RELIEF.

WELL, THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN RELIEVE THEM IS LOWER THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY ARE GOING TO PAY ON PROPERTY TAXES.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY HAS GOT TO BE MADE UP, SOMEHOW.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW?

IF THIS THING HITS THE BALLOT AND IS VOTED ON, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MILLIONS, UPON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT TO TRY TO DEFEAT IT, BECAUSE BUSINESS KNOWS THEY ARE --THEY'VE GOT THE NUMBER ONE TARGET ON THEIR BACKS.

IF THIS THING PASSES AND WE DO AWAY WITH PROPERTY TAXES, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS' TAXES, CAT TAX, YOU KNOW -- SALES TAX --EVERY TAX THAT IS OUT THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO UP TO MAKE UP THAT HOLD.

>> MORGAN, ARE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ENOUGH TO SATISFY VOTERS TO NOT APPROVE, IF THIS PROPOSAL TO DO AWAY WITH THE INCOME TAX GETS ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR?

ARE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ENOUGH FOR THE VOTERS TO SAY, "OKAY, YOU ARE TRYING, I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE YES ON THIS? "

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THIS HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ISSUES THAT PEOPLE BRING UP IN A LOT OF OUR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING.

JUST LAST NIGHT, WE DID A COMMUNITY DINNER IN DUBLIN, A PRETTY AFFLUENT AREA IN COLUMBUS AND PEOPLE WERE BRINGING THIS UP, ANGRY ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY, ANGRY THAT THEIR PARENTS AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE HOUSE AS THEY GREW UP IN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD PROPERTY TAXES AND PEOPLE ARE ORGANIZING THEIR WHOLE LIVES AROUND THIS TAX, AND BUSINESSES ARE GETTING OFF SCOTT FREE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK.

>> THIS DEFERRAL PROGRAM, ANDREW, BASICALLY, IF YOU ARE A SENIOR, YOU HAVE BEEN IN YOUR HOUSE FOR 10 YEARS, YOU MEET THE INCOME REQUIREMENT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY TAXES UNTIL YOU SELL THE HOUSE OR UNTIL YOU PASS AWAY.

SO, IT DOESN'T REALLY ELIMINATE TAXES, JUST KIND OF PUTS THEM OFF AND THE STATE HAS TO KICK IN MONEY TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

>> AND THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER WHICH I THINK IS THE MEDIA PROBLEM, PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THEIR TAXES HAVING GONE UP AND THEY WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT.

AND IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DEFERRING SOMETHING FOR 10 YEARS, THERE IS USUALLY NOT GOING TO BE ANY IMMEDIATE POLITICAL BENEFIT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

>> SO, WHERE DO WE GO, FROM HERE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO GET DONE QUICKLY, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF ON YOUR NEXT TAX BILL, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO DECIDE WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO WITH THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, WHEN THIS PARTICULAR GROUP GETS ON THE BALLOT.

THERE IS A BILL IN THE HOUSE, NEXT WEEK, THAT IS GOING TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, LIKE A 20 MILL FLOOR TYPE SITUATION, BUT AS SOON AS YOU START PULLING MONEY AWAY AND GIVING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ONE $.

7 BILLION IN SCHOOL MONEY.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT SIMPLE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE COUNTY COMMISSION, HAVING THE ABILITY TO --AFTER FIVE YEARS --IF THEY FIND THE TAX AGENCY DOESN'T NEED THE MONEY, THEY HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY IN THE BANK, THEY CAN PULL IT BACK?

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> VOTERS APPROVED IT, SO YOU COULD ARGUE -- >> MIKE, DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK THEY ARE GOING TO DO THAT?

COME ON!

ONCE GOVERNMENT HAS YOUR MONEY, THEY KEEP YOUR MONEY.

THEY DON'T GIVE IT BACK!

AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

ALSO, LIKE THAT DEFERRAL THING?

COME ON.

YOU ARE DEFERRING IT, WHICH MEANS YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY IT.

WHAT IF YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, A SENIOR CITIZEN, AND YOU ARE COUNTING ON THAT PROFIT FROM YOUR HOME SALE TO GET ANOTHER HOME, OR JUST TO LIVE?

YOU KNOW?

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A BIG CHUNK OF IT TAKEN AWAY, BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T PAY YOUR TAXES.

I MEAN, PEOPLE WANT IT, NOW.

THEY DON'T WANT IT 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WORKING GROUPS!

> >> ANYWAY, OHIO DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO WAIT ON TIM RYAN.

THE FORMER CONGRESSMAN, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, AND U. S. SENATE CANDIDATE, HAS YET TO ANNOUNCE IF HE WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR.

FORMER HEALTH DIRECTOR AMY ACTON REMAINS THE SOLE MAJOR DEMOCRAT TO FACE REPUBLICAN VIVEK RAMASWAMY NEXT FALL.

MEANWHILE, NATIONAL DEMOCRATS SAY THEY WILL HELP OHIO DEMOCRATS IN THIS OFF YEAR.

THE PARTY PROMISES TO SEND SOME MONEY TO THE STATE, TO HELP THE PARTY BUILD GRASS ROOTS INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE WILL GET TO TIM RYAN, WAITING ON HIM IN A MOMENT, BUT THEY SAY SIX FIGURES, WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS 100,000, OR $900,999, OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN, BUT IF YOU HAD THAT MONEY, WHO WOULD YOU SPEND IT ON?

>> I WILL ADMIT, MAYBE THEY ARE AT FAULT HERE, THAT HEADLINE, I WAS EXPECTING A REALLY BIG NUMBER FROM THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY AT SIX FIGURES, THAT WAS A LITTLE SURPRISING.

BUT, I THINK IT SHOULD GO TOWARD SUPPORTING DIFFERENT KINDS OF GROUPS ON THE GROUND THAT CAN SPEAK TO THE AUDIENCES WE NEED TO PULL IN TO TRY TO BE COMPETITIVE.

INDEPENDENCE, YOUNG PEOPLE, BLACK VOTERS.

THERE IS A REAL LACK OF TRUST AND IF THERE IS A BUILD UP TRUST, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENINGS AT THE LONG-TERM AND GRASS ROOTS LEVEL.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK SHOULD HAPPEN.

>> OKAY.

I MEAN, IS $100,000 ENOUGH?

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE?

WHAT IS A FIGURE --WOULD WE NEED SEVERAL MILLION?

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO DO?

>> WELL, WHAT I THINK IS REALLY STRIKING ABOUT THAT IS, YEAH, THERE HAS BEEN MILLIONS THAT HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED TO NATIONAL EFFORTS, BINATIONAL PEOPLE, THAT ARE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TALK TO YOUNG MEN AND GET THEM TO WANT TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS.

SO, THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD TAKE A STATE WHERE --IF THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, INFLUENCING AN ELECTION IN 2026, AND HAVE THAT ONLY BE IN THE SIX FIGURES --I HAVE HEARD IT WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE 20,000 PER MONTH RATE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE ARE KIDDING OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW?

OR, AT LEAST THAT IS THE REFLECTION OF PRIORITIES.

BUT, I DON'T THINK YOU NEED $20 MILLION TO REBUILD TRUST.

SO, THE SEVEN FIGURES WOULD BE BETTER.

>> MORE IS ALWAYS BETTER, RIGHT?

BOB, YOU TALK ON THIS SHOW ONCE IN A WHILE, HELLO WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED, DEMOCRATS WERE IN CONTROL.

>> OH, GOSH, YEAH.

ONE SUPREME COURT, THAT WAS IT, ONE REPUBLICAN.

>> THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR, BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HAD.

>> RIGHT!

AT THAT STAGE.

>> SO, HOW DID THE PARTY, HOW DID THE REPUBLICANS, RECOVERED?

HOW DID THEY GET BACK IN THE GAME AND BECOME BIG IN POWER?

>> WELL, SOME OF IT IS JUST CYCLICAL BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAD CONTROL OF ALL STATEWIDE OFFICES FOR TWO OR THREE ELECTIONS.

SO, PEOPLE WANTED A CHANGE.

NOW, WE --REPUBLICANS --HAVE SWEPT SEVEN OUT OF THE LAST EIGHT CYCLES AND PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO BE WANTING CHANGE.

SO, IT'S NOT THAT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE, THAT HAS TRICKLED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE STATE LEVEL.

THEY DON'T HAVE A BENCH OF ANY KIND.

I MEAN, THE MERE FACT THEY ARE REHASHING GOOD OLD SHERROD AGAIN AND STILL TALKING ABOUT TIM RYAN --WHO, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO MORGAN ABOUT TIM RYAN --BECAUSE LAST TIME HE RAN STATEWIDE, HE RAN AS A REPUBLICAN.

AND, YOU KNOW, HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK, RUNNING AGAINST AMY ACTON?

NOW, HE IS A LOBBYIST.

THAT IS THE BEST OF THE PROFESSIONS IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON RUNNING AGAIN.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S A -- THEY GOT TO --I FEEL SORRY, THEY HAVE A TOUGH JOB.

>> TO THAT POINT ABOUT THE BENCH, ANDREW, THERE ARE NO CAN'T -- DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR TREASURER OR AUDITOR RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, THE FILING DEADLINE IS NOT UNTIL FEBRUARY, BUT STILL, CANDIDATES SHOULD BE STARTING TO LINE UP FOR THESE OFFICES.

>> YEAH, I DEFINITELY MAKE INFERENCES ABOUT WHAT POLITICIANS THINK, ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY.

AND THE FACT WE HAVE FIVE REPUBLICANS THAT WANT TO RUN FOR OHIO SUPREME COURT FOR ONE SEAT, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE FIVE DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR STATE OFFICE, TOTAL.

IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS NOT THE MOST OPTIMISM ABOUT THEIR CHANCES NEXT YEAR, BUT MAYBE AT FIRST WE ARE WAITING FOR SHERROD BROWN TO SEE WHAT HE WOULD DO, HE RAN FOR SENATE.

I DO THINK THAT DID OPEN THE LOGJAM A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WAITING TO SEE WHAT TIM RYAN DOES, PEOPLE WAITING TO THINK ABOUT WHO MIGHT GO ON THE TICKET OR RUN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THERE MIGHT BE PEOPLE WAITING FOR THOSE TO FALL THROUGH.

>> I MEAN, I THINK THE OTHER ELEMENT HERE IS, VIVEK RAMASWAMY IS VERY WELL RESOURCED.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF MONEY IT WOULD TAKE TO BE COMPETITIVE AGAINST HIM, AND HALF OF THE TICKET, AS WE KNOW, DICTATES THE REST OF THE TICKET IN MANY WAYS.

THAT IS NOT A FUN PROSPECT, FOR SOMEONE WHO IS LIVING IN A NORMAL LIFE, WHO IS NOT A MULTIMILLIONAIRE WITH THE BACKING OF MAGA NATION.

YOU KNOW?

AND WE HAVE A SEPARATE ISSUE ABOUT, WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT, AND WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE THEM WANT TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATS?

AND THAT IS THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS THAT I DON'T THINK WE TALKED FOR AS A PARTY, TO MAKE ANY OF THESE FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS WORTHWHILE.

>> SO, JESSIE, WHAT IS THE TALK AT THE STATE HOUSE ON A TIM RYAN DECISION?

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LAST WEEK, MIGHT BE NEXT WEEK.

>> YEAH, SO, HE PUT OUT A STATEMENT AT THE END OF THE MONTH WHICH IS WHEN HE SAID, PREVIOUSLY, HE WAS GOING TO MAKE A DECISION BY, WHICH ESSENTIALLY SAID THAT HE THINKS HE IS THE BEST CANDIDATE TO TAKE ON VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

SO, IF YOU ARE KIND OF, LIKE, LEANING TOWARDS NOT DOING ANYTHING, MAYBE YOU ARE LEANING TOWARDS MOORE, HE IS DOING SOMETHING --BUT, WE REALLY WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE KNOW.

>> BECAUSE THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, WE HAD TWO REALLY STRONG CANDIDATES POTENTIALLY AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET WAS MIKE DeWINE AND JON HUSTED IN 2018 AND THEY TEAMED UP.

IS THERE A CHANCE THAT COULD HAPPEN, MORGAN?

TIM RYAN AND AMY ACTON TEAM UP IN SOME WAY?

>> OH, AS GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> YEAH.

>> PERHAPS.

BUT, AGAIN, WHO CARES?

IT'S WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT?

I MEAN, I'M SORRY TO BE FRANK, BUT IS 2025, HERE.

YEAH, IT'S A VESSEL.

IT'S A VESSEL, BUT WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT?

IF WE ARE GOING TO RUN THE SAME CAMPAIGN, TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES, WE WILL LOSE.

AND IF WE ARE NOT WILLING TO BE HONEST ABOUT THAT, WE WILL NEVER WIN.

THAT SEVEN OUT OF EIGHT STAFF THAT WE LOST ELECTION, THAT IS HORRIFIC.

AN EARLY, RADICAL CHANGE THAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION IS GOING TO GIVE US A HOPE, HERE.

>> YOUR PROBLEM --PARTY HAS A PROBLEM WITH RADICAL CHANGE.

THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN YOUR PARTY THAT DON'T WANT THAT RADICAL CHANGE BECAUSE THEY VIEW THAT AS, "OH, THAT'S A SURE WAY TO LOSE. "

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW ISN'T WORKING, SO MAYBE THEY NEED CHANGE.

>> AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY "RADICAL," BUT I MEAN "RADICAL CHANGE," IN THE SENSE OF DIFFERENT, SUBSTITUTES, FOCUS ON PEOPLE'S ECONOMICS, THAT IS THE CHANGE PEOPLE ARE CRAVING AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN TESTED THE GROUND ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD VOTE DIFFERENTLY IF WE GAVE IT TO THEM.

> >> BRIEFLY, WE WILL TALK ABOUT OHIO'S LATEST REDISTRICTING EFFORT HAS ENTERED ITS SECOND PHASE.

TUESDAY WAS THE DEADLINE FOR LAWMAKERS TO PASS A NEW, BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

THEY DID NOT VOTE.

REPUBLICANS DID NOT EVEN PRESENT A MAP ON WHICH TO VOTE.

NOW, THE PROCESS MOVES TO THE OHIO REDISTRICTING COMMISSION, WHICH HAS ABOUT A MONTH TO DRAW AND APPROVE A BIPARTISAN MAP TO DIVIDE OHIO INTO 15 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

IF THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, THE PROCESS GOES BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH CAN APPROVE A MAP WITH ONLY REPUBLICAN VOTES.

BOB CLEGG, WHY DON'T REPUBLICANS JUST PUT A MAP ON THE TABLE, YET?

>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED TO!

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> IT'S A SIMPLE AS THAT!

>> WHAT ARE THEY AFRAID OF?

>> WELL, THEY ARE AFRAID OF WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DID, WHICH IS PUT OUT AN 8-7 NOT THAT NOBODY TOOK SERIOUSLY, SO THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE AFRAID OF.

>> SO, THE MAP IS GOING TO BE, 15 -- >> WELL, IT WILL EITHER BE 13-2 --WHICH I HOPE IT IS --OR, 12- 3.

I MEAN, IT WILL BE ONE OR THE OTHER.

SIMPLE AS THAT.

>> JUST DELAYING THE CONTROVERSY, BASICALLY?

>> YEAH, WHY PUT SOMETHING OUT UNTIL YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON IT?

I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY --A LOT OF LEGISLATION IS DONE THAT WAY.

>> AND DEMOCRATS CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THEM PRESENT THE MAP, RIGHT?

>> NO, THEY HAVE KIND OF WON -- I GUESS THEY HAVE TWO PLAYS.

ONE IS JUST TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT A LOT, AND HOPE REPUBLICANS FEEL BAD ENOUGH TO CHANGE THEIR STRATEGY AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S VERY LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

THE OTHER IS THAT REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE OHIO HOUSE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THESE MAPS TO TAKE EFFECT ONCE THEY ARE PAST, THAT COULD POSE ADMINISTERED OF PROBLEMS FOR THE ELECTION, NEXT YEAR.

SO, MAYBE REPUBLICANS WILL DANGLE SOMETHING SLIGHTLY MORE APPEALING FOR DEMOCRATS JUST TO PICK UP A COUPLE HOUSE SEATS.

BUT, IF IT PASSES, THERE IS THE OPTION THEY HAVE TO GO TO COURT OR TRY TO GET A REFERENDUM ON IT.

BUT, WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THEM ACT FASTER HERE, BASICALLY ALL THEY CAN DO IS ASK.

> >> THIS WEEK, ABORTION RIGHTS OPPONENTS HELD THEIR ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

THE FIGHT HAS CHANGED SINCE OHIO VOTERS, TWO YEARS AGO, APPROVED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, GUARANTEEING OHIO WOMEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.

LEGAL CHALLENGES ARE WORKING THROUGH THE COURTS.

PORTIONS OF OLD LAWS ARE ON HOLD.

A HANDFUL OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS PROPOSE NEW LAWS TO RESTRICT, OR EVEN BAN THE PROCEDURE.

THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THIS WEEK, RELEASED STATISTICS THAT SHOW THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS PERFORMED IN THE STATE HAS DECLINED SLIGHTLY IN THE PAST YEAR.

JESSIE BALMERT, THE STATS, WHAT DO THEY SHOW US?

>> THE STATS SHOW US THERE WAS NOT AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN ABORTIONS IN 2024, THE YEAR AFTER OHIO APPROVED AN ABORTION RIGHTS, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS MEASURE.

YOU CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS AND SEE THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING FROM OUT OF STATE TO HAVE AN ABORTION HAS INCREASED BY ABOUT 13% OVER THE YEAR, WHICH REALLY SHOWS JUST A STATE-BY-STATE APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE, AND IT IS INTERESTING THAT OHIO HAS BECOME A DESTINATION FOR ABORTION SERVICES, COMPARED TO, LIKE, KENTUCKY OR INDIANA.

>> WELL, WHERE DOES THE ABORTION-RIGHTS OPPONENTS' DEBATE GO NOW, NOW THAT THIS ISSUE IS, MORE OR LESS, KIND OF SETTLED HERE WITH THE AMENDMENT?

>> ABORTION-RIGHTS PEOPLE, OR -- >> ANTIABORTION.

>> ANTIABORTION?

OKAY.

NUMBER ONE, THEY BLEW IT, WHEN THAT CAME OUT, THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT READY TO GO THAT WOULD HAVE HAD A 15 WEEK LIMIT, THAT IS WHERE WESTERN EUROPE, ALMOST EVERY COUNTRY IS AT -- >> WELL, VOTERS APPROVED THE STANDARD, THOUGH.

>> AND NOW, WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL ABORTION LAWS IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND THERE IS NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO.

I MEAN, IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, THEY ARE TRYING, THEY SCREWED UP, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN READY FOR THIS WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND THEY WEREN'T.

>> AND FOR ABORTION-RIGHTS SUPPORTERS, HOW DO THEY CHANGE THEIR TACTICS, OR DO THEY?

>> WELL, YEAH, I THINK CONTINUING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE FOR THE NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCESS, BUT AGREE, THERE'S NOT A LOT I CAN CHANGE POLITICALLY THERE, IN OHIO.

BUT, THE FEDERAL CUTS ARE GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

AND I THINK WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT HEALTHCARE, THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST ABORTION AND IN A LOT OF ENTITIES LIKE PLAN PARENTHOOD AND THE SERVICE THEY THEY PROVIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

> >> TIME FOR OUR OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS, MORGAN, YOU ARE UP FIRST.

>> 12 THINK I WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO HIS PRIVATE EQUITY, WE HAVE ALREADY HAD UTILITY ISSUES IN OHIO, IT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR OUR FUTURE SITUATION, BUT THAT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN, ACQUIRING UTILITY IN SOUTHWEST OHIO.

>> BOB?

>> I WAS HAPPY TO SEE RESPONSES FROM BOTH OF OUR U. S. SENATORS REGARDING THE SHUTDOWN.

JON HUSTED, SENATOR HUSTED IS PROMOTING A BILL THAT WOULD PREVENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM GETTING PAID WHEN THEY ARE SHUT DOWN AND SENATOR BERNIE MARINO IS GOING ONE STEP FURTHER, SAYING THAT THERE IS A SHUTDOWN, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SHOULD BE PENALIZED $500 A DAY, FOR EVERY DAY THAT IT IS SHUTDOWN.

I LIKE THAT.

>> ANDREW?

>> JUST WANTED TO WISH THE CLEVELAND GUARDIANS --ON A HARD-FOUGHT SEASON, THEY FELL SHORT.

>> THEY HAD A GREAT SEPTEMBER.

>> JESS?

>> REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS INTRODUCED A BILL RECENTLY THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM MARRYING A. I., SO SOMEONE MUST HAVE WATCHED THE MOVIE, "HER. "

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW I TOP THAT.

THE WORKING GROUP ON PROPERTY TAXES, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WANT TO DO IS REDUCE THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES WE HAVE THAT MIGHT REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES, SO THE PROPERTY TAX WORKING GROUP HAS A SOLUTION, FORM ANOTHER WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THAT ISSUE.

REFORMING GROUP WORKING GROUP FORMING A WORKING GROUP.

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

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