>> TIM RYAN PASSES ON A RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

>> TIM RYAN PASSES ON A RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

THE DEMOCRATIC FIELD IS CLEAR FOR AMY ACTON IN HER RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

AFTER MONTHS OF SPECULATION, FORMER CONGRESSMAN TIM RYAN HAS ANNOUNCED HE WILL NOT SEEK THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

IN A STATEMENT RELEASED FRIDAY MORNING, RYAN SAID, "AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, MUCH PRAYER AND REFLECTION, AND AFTER LONG CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FAMILY, MY CLOSEST FRIENDS AND ADVISORS, I'VE MADE THE DECISION NOT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2026. "

THE MEANS, BOTH MAJOR PARTIES HAVE THEIR CANDIDATES.

REPUBLICAN VIVEK RAMASWAMY, AND DEMOCRAT AMY ACTON.

AFTER RYAN'S ANNOUNCEMENT, ACTON'S CAMPAIGN RELEASED A STATEMENT THAT SAID SHE'S FOCUSED ON RAMASWAMY AND LOWERING COSTS FOR OHIOANS.

Andrew Tobias, IT SEEMS LIKE TIM RYAN WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH, WHAT YOU THINK, ULTIMATELY, LED TO HIS DECISION NOT TO DO IT?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL DOCTORS, IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME, I THINK MAYBE HE MISSED HIS WINDOW TO MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.

EARLIER ON, THERE WERE CONCERNS AMONG DEMOCRATS ABOUT IF AMY ACTON WAS A STRONG ENOUGH CANDIDATE TO LEAVE THE TICKET.

I THINK AS TIME HAS GONE ON, DEMOCRATS FEEL BETTER AND BETTER ABOUT THAT, YOU HAVE SEEN COME OUT ABOUT THAT RECENTLY, INCLUDING ONE PRODUCED BY A TEACHERS UNION THAT I THINK SUPPORTS ACTON EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T OFFICIALLY DO IT, SHOWING HER LEADING VIVEK RAMASWAMY OR AT LEAST TIED WITH HIM IN POLLS, SO I THINK THOSE ARGUMENTS KIND OF CLOSED.

AND THEN, SHERROD BROWN MIGHT HAVE ENDORSED ACTON IN THE RACE, RYAN MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME CLIENTS THAT COULD POSE PROBLEMS FOR HIM, SO I THINK ULTIMATELY, HE DECIDED NOT TO RUN.

>> MORGAN HARPER, I THINK IT'S VERY SIMPLE, CANDIDATES DECIDE TO RUN OR NOT RUN, BASED ON WHAT IF THEY CAN THINK THEY CAN WIN OR NOT, THERE WERE POLLS SHOWING HE WAS GOING TO LOSE TO AMY ACTON IN THE PRIMARY.

>> YEAH, I TIM RYAN WAS GOING TO HAVE TO RECKON IN THE PRIMARY WITH HIS LAST CAMPAIGN FOR SENATE WHERE HE DID MAKE A DECISION THAT HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO DO WHAT HE BELIEVED WOULD WOO REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND HE UPSET A LOT OF DEMOCRATS IN OHIO WITH THE TYPE OF CAMPAIGN HE RAN AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS NECESSARILY GOING TO GO WELL FOR HIM AND I IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE RIGHT, THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE FACTOR, HERE.

BUT I THINK WHEN YOU ARE A LOBBYIST FOR CERTAIN INDUSTRIES AS YOUR CAREER, AND YOU WANT TO CHOOSE ONE POLITICAL PARTY TO RUN FOR, THEN IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED FOR THOSE CLIENTS AND THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT CALCULATION, AS WELL.

AN IN A NORMAL CYCLE, TERRY, IT WOULDN'T BE THAT WAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, VIVEK RAMASWAMY ANNOUNCED A LONG TIME AGO, AMY ACTON ANNOUNCED A LONG TIME AGO, BUT IT IS STILL A FEW MONTHS SINCE THE FILING, RIGHT?

>> THE COULD STILL BE TIME, BUT REMEMBER THE OLD SAYING, "FOLLOW THE MONEY. "

AND PART OF HIS PROBLEM IS, HIS MONEY SOURCES RIGHT NOW ARE FROM CRYPTOCURRENCY AND NATURAL GAS.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO CUT THOSE OFF.

HE NEEDED THE MONEY TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT HIS FAMILY AND HOUSE IN SUBURBAN COLUMBUS, AND ALSO, IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, BEING ON THE PAYROLL OF CRYPTO AND NATURAL GAS DOESN'T HELP YOU WIN.

SO, HE REALIZED IT WAS A LONGSHOT TO WIN AND AGAIN, HE FOLLOWED THE MONEY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO KEEP THE CASH FLOW.

>> SO, AMY ACTON RELEASED A STATEMENT TODAY BASICALLY SAYING SHE IS FOCUSED ON VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND AFFORDABILITY, TIM RYAN RELEASED A STATEMENT, WHY HE IS NOT RUNNING.

THEY DIDN'T MENTION EACH OTHER, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS RIGHT ODD, RYAN DIDN'T ENDORSED ACTON, ACTON DIDN'T PRAISE RYAN.

IS THERE ANYTHING THERE?

DO THEY NOT LIKE EACH OTHER?

>> I THINK ACTON'S CAMPAIGN WAS FRUSTRATED WITH -- THE FACT THAT HE DIDN'T MAKE A DECISION FOR SO LONG WAS KIND OF HANGING OVER THEIR HEADS, I THINK THAT KIND OF FRUSTRATED THEM EVEN MORE, SO I DON'T THINK TIM RYAN WILL GET A CHRISTMAS CARD ANYTIME SOON FROM THE ACTON CAMPAIGN.

>> WHY NOT ENDORSE AMY ACTON IN HIS STATEMENT TODAY?

WISH AMY ACTON THE BEST AS SHE GOES AGAINST VIVEK RAMASWAMY?

SHE DID NOT SAY THAT.

SHE DID NOT.

GOOD QUESTION FOR HIM, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT AMY ACTON IS NOT LOSING A LOT OF SLEEP OVER IT, OR NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THE PRIMARY TO THE GENERAL ELECTION AND LOOK, I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, THE LAST CAMPAIGN RUBBED PEOPLE A LOT OF WAY THAT TIM RAN AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE READY TO LOOK AT SOMEONE NEW.

>> ARE REPUBLICANS HAPPY THAT TIM RYAN IS NOT IN THE RACE TO SEE THIS?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS, IF YOU NOTICE FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM AMY ACTON TODAY, SHE HAS PROMISED CHANGE, BUT LIKE WHEN SHE WAS ON YOUR RADIO SHOW A MONTH AND A HALF BACK, SHE DOESN'T SAY CHANGE TO WHAT AND HOW TO PAY FOR ALL THESE THINGS.

AND THEN, SHE ALSO SEEMED TO PROMISE, SOMEHOW, AS GOVERNOR OF OHIO, SHE COULD REDUCE INFLATION AND REDUCE CONSUMER COSTS.

I'M NOT SURE THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, GOVERNORS OF OHIO HAVE THAT LAW, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

NOW, WE SHIFT TO THE SPECIFICS OF THE CAMPAIGN, WHAT WILL YOU DO AS GOVERNOR ON PROPERTY TAXES, ON SCHOOL FOUNDATION FORMULA, WANTING TO CONSISTENT OPERATIONS, KEEPING THE SNOWPLOWS RUNNING.

GOVERNOR IS DIFFERENT THAN JUST BEING IN THE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS, PRESIDENT, OR SENATE.

>> SHE WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST POLITICIAN TO NOT OFFER SPECIFICS AND ALSO MAKE WILD PROMISES, WOULD SHE?

>> WELL, THERE IS A LONG TRADITION AND AMERICAN POLITICS AND RECENTLY, BUT STILL, WHEN YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN ON CITY COUNCIL, OR SCHOOL BOARD, OR STATE REP, LEGITIMATELY, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE?

CAN YOU RELEASE --REALLY RUN SOMETHING AS COMP LOCATED NOT AS JUST GOVERNMENT, BUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND EVERYTHING THAT IS INVOLVED IN OHIO?

>> THE WISDOM IS, THEY WANT TO AVOID PRIMARIES, PRIMARIES DO A COUPLE THINGS, MORGAN, THEY SHARPEN CANDIDATES' MESSAGE, THEY ALLOW THEM TO MAKE MISTAKES WHEN THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION.

WITH A PRIMARY HAVE DONE AMY ACTON SOME GOOD, PERHAPS?

>> YOU CAN CHECK OUT MY RECORD AND KNOW THAT I BELIEVE IN HER PRIMARY, SO YEAH.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE FIGHT.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONSOLIDATE ALL THE REPORT -- SUPPORT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND HE IS VERY WELL-FUNDED, SO NOT HAVING TO SPEND A LOT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES, OR POWER ON GETTING THROUGH A PRIMARY AND JUST BEING ABLE TO REFINE THE TARGETING AND THE ATTACKS ON VIVEK I THINK MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR AMY ACTON AND HER CAMPAIGN TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT DECISION LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

I DON'T THINK, IF WE ARE GOING BASED ON EXPERIENCE IN THE STATE OF OHIO AND WORKING HERE, I'M NOT REALLY SURE VIVEK IS THE SELLING POINT FOR ANYONE, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A FIGHT, HE IS A VERY SAVVY CAMPAIGNER AND SHE WILL HAVE TO BE READY FOR IT.

>> ANDREW, VIVEK NOW MOVES TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PECK, THE PEOPLE DON'T VOTE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BUT IT CAN HELP THEIR CAMPAIGN.

FOR ACTON AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY, MORE OR LESS OUTSIDERS, DO THEY GO WITH STATE INSIDERS AS THEIR RUNNING MATES?

>> YEAH, IF YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT RAMASWAMY MIGHT DO, THERE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE IDEA THAT HE IS THE BUSINESS GUY, WHO WOULD UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT BETTER, I ACTUALLY DON'T HEAR A LOT ABOUT WHO ACTON WOULD BE PICKING US HERE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY TODAY AND I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED TO REMEMBER WHO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATES ARE IN THE PAST ON DEMOCRATIC TICKETS, TOO.

IT IS OFTEN NOT WHO YOU THINK.

IT MIGHT BE SOMEBODY WHO IS MORE OF A WELL-KNOWN NAME.

THERE ARE DECISIONS THAT GO INTO THESE THINGS, I JUST BRING THAT UP TO SAY YOU WON'T SEE IT COMING SO IT IS HARD TO SPECULATE.

>> I WILL STEAL FROM MY FRIEND TO COME UP WITH A NEW ONE AT THE END, BUT AMY IS PROBABLY GOING TO EITHER GO WITH DAVID PEPPER BECAUSE HE IS A GOOD ATTACK DOG, KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT STATE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND HE CAN RAISE MONEY, OR THE CLEVELAND MAYOR BECAUSE THE DEMOCRAT TICKET IS LACKING ANY REPRESENTATION FROM THE AFRICAN- AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

>> THEY NEED TO ENERGIZE THOSE OHIO VOTERS IN SOME WAY, THE DEMOCRATS DO, ANYWAY.

>> IN THE END, THIS WEEK'S VOTE ON THE EPSTEIN FILES PROVED ANTI-CLIMACTIC.

OHIO REPUBLICANS WERE GOING TO BE IN A TOUGH SPOT --HAVING TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO ANGER PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO FOUGHT THE RELEASE OF THE FILES, OR ANGERING MANY VOTERS, WHO DEMANDED THEIR RELEASE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP LET THEM OFF THE HOOK, WHEN HE CHANGED HIS POSITION AND ASKED CONGRESS TO RELEASE THE FILES.

ALL BUT ONE ABSENT OHIO REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN VOTED TO RELEASE THE FILES.

THEN, SENATORS JON HUSTED AND BERNIE MORENO AGREED THEY SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC.

THE SENATE AGREED WITH THE HOUSE, THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE BILL.

AND WE SHOULD SEE AT LEAST SOME OF THE FILES IN ABOUT A MONTH.

MORGAN HARPER, IS THIS OVER, NOW?

NOW, DEMOCRATS ALSO VOTED TO RELEASE THE FILES, BUT THERE ARE DEMOCRATIC NAMES IN THESE FILES, AS WELL.

>> YEAH, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING REVOLUTIONS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WAS THE EPSTEIN FILES, AT THE FOREFRONT OF A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC POLICYMAKING AND ADMINISTRATION AND HE IS NOW HAVING TO RESIGN FROM HIS TEACHING POSITION AT HARVARD BECAUSE OF HIS COURT CONNECTION TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN AS BEING REVEALED.

I THINK WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE A REFERENDUM ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE OF RUNNING THE ELITE WORLD OF THIS COUNTRY, OR ELITE CIRCLES OF THIS COUNTRY, AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH IT AND I DO THINK THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE MORE RAMIFICATIONS.

>> REPUBLICANS AT LEAST IN RECENT TIMES HAVE BEEN QUIET ON THIS, BUT ONCE TRUMP IS OKAY, REPUBLICANS CAN GO TO RELEASE THEM, TERRY, JON HUSTED CAME OUT AND SAID TO RELEASE THEM, AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY CAME OUT AND SAID RELEASE THEM, SO THEY ARE OFF THE HOOK, RIGHT?

>> WELL, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, BECAUSE YES, THEY ARE GOING TO RELEASE A BUNCH OF STUFF, BUT THERE WILL BE THINGS REDACTED FOR CERTAIN LEGAL REASONS AND I ALSO THINK TODAY CHANNEL 4 REPORTED THAT AS MS.

WEXLER MENTIONED, I WOULD GET CAUTION, JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S NAME IS MENTIONED IN THE FILE OR SOMEBODY MAY HAVE HAD AN ASSOCIATION, IT DOESN'T MEAN IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM THAT THEY ARE GUILTY OF A CRIMINAL ACT, THAT IS ONE OF THE CONFUSING THINGS.

THERE ARE ALSO CONSPIRACY PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IF THERE ARE CERTAIN NAMES NOT MENTIONED OR THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, IT MUST BE HIDDEN.

SO, THESE ARE THE THINGS PEOPLE WILL KEEP CHASING BECAUSE THERE IS NO PERFECT ANSWER IN CRIMINAL FILES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING.

IN FACT, THERE IS A LOT OF SPECULATION AND GOSSIP, THAT THERE IS, IN FACT, EVIDENCE.

>> AND THIS IS UNUSUAL.

USUALLY, AN INVESTIGATOR DOES NOT RELEASE FILES UNLESS THEY CHARGE THE PERSON, IT IS UNFAIR TO ACCUSE SOMEONE WITHOUT EVIDENCE, BUT THAT YOU PUT THE EVIDENCE OUT THERE AND THEN YOU ASSUME THEY ARE GUILTY.

>> THAT IS THE POINT, WHY PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING THIS.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE CARE JUST ABOUT THE CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS.

OF COURSE, THE WOMEN THAT HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY VIOLATED AND CRIMES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED AGAINST THEM HAVE BEEN LEADING THEM BUT THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON HERE, YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE LARRY SUMMERS WHO MAYBE DIDN'T COMMIT A CRIME BUT ARE UPHOLDING SOMEONE, JEFFREY EPSTEIN, WHO DEFINITELY HAD, WHO IS PRETTY WELL KNOWN TO BE ACCUSED OF THESE THINGS AND YOU ARE OKAY WITH THAT --WHY?

SO, THAT TYPE OF ACCOUNTABILITY, I THINK IT WILL BE MUCH BROADER THAN PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.

IT WILL BE THE REFERENDUM ON THE PEOPLE RUNNING THE ECONOMY AND THE POLITICS OF THIS COUNTRY FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

>> ANDREW TOBIAS, THAT STAYING POWER, THAT PULLED AT BOWLING GREEN DID, 85% OF OHIOANS WANTED THESE FILES RELEASED AND THOUGHT THERE WAS A COVER-UP AND THEY WERE PAYING ATTENTION, THEY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO JON HUSTED WAS, BUT THEY KNEW WHO JEFFREY EPSTEIN WAS IN THOSE FILES AND WHAT WAS GOING ON, THERE.

>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE RAW POLITICS OF IT, THIS IS SOMETHING REPUBLICANS WERE HARPING ON GOING INTO THE 2024 ELECTION INCLUDING DONALD TRUMP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OHIO.

I THINK DEMOCRAT VOTERS ARE NOW INTERESTED IN WHETHER THERE IS A COVER-UP.

I THINK IT IS BENEFICIAL FOR DEMOCRATS, GENERALLY, TO HIGHLIGHT THE HYPOCRISY OF TRYING TO FIRST RUN ON RELEASING THESE FILES, THEN TRYING TO BLOCK THE RELEASE, NOW THEY ARE BEING RELEASED, SO THERE IS AN OVERLAP IN PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT COMES OUT OF THEM, AND WHETHER WHAT SPECIFICALLY COMES FROM THAT --BUT, I THINK THAT EXPLAINS THE BROAD PORT FOR IT.

>> YOU HAVE 30 DAYS TO RELEASE THE FILES BUT THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS --CLASSIFIED MATERIAL, ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS.

HOW MANY OF THESE FILES WILL WE ACTUALLY SEE, THESE SUPPOSEDLY IMAGES AND VIDEO, CLOSED CIRCUIT CAMERA VIDEO, WILL WE SEE ANY OF THAT?

>> THERE IS THE STUFF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS, AND THEN THE ESTATE OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN, WHAT HE HAS AND AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY VIDEOS, PICTURES, ALL OF THOSE OTHER KINDS OF THINGS ARE THERE, SO THIS IS A TANGLED TO GO ON, AND ON, AND ON, AND ON.

BUT AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MAGIC LIST THAT SAYS, "HERE ARE THE 14 PEOPLE. "

AND THERE ARE, IN THE GOSSIP RANGE OVER THE YEARS, THERE WERE QUESTIONS OF, IS HE AN AGENT OF MOSSAD, OR ISRAEL, OR WHAT IS HE DOING FOR THIS U.S.

GOVERNMENT OR CIA?

DOES ANYBODY KNOW FOR CERTAIN?

>> YEAH, WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE WON'T KNOW, I GUESS.

>> OHIO LAWMAKERS, THIS WEEK, TOOK SOME SIGNIFICANT STEPS TOWARD TRYING TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES.

THEY PASSED A SERIES OF BILLS DESIGNED TO GIVE HOMEOWNERS A BREAK.

ONE WOULD TIE INCREASES IN MANY SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES TO THE RATE OF INFLATION, WHICH IS OFTEN LOWER THAT OF RISING PROPERTY VALUES.

ANOTHER WOULD GIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THE POWER TO REDUCE VOTER APPROVED LEVIES, IF THE COMMISSIONERS SAY THE INCREASED TAXES PROVE TO BE EXCESSIVE.

AND, LAWMAKERS VOTED TO INCREASE THE DISCOUNT HOMEOWNERS GET ON PROPERTY TAXES, IF THEY LIVE IN THE HOUSE.

IN ALL THE BILLS, WOULD SAVE AN ESTIMATED $2 BILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

TERRY CASEY, THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS ENOUGH TO STOP THE EFFORT TO ABOLISH PROPERTY TAXES?

>> ON ONE HAND, THE ANSWER IS NO BECAUSE IT IS STILL A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT THERE IS ALSO THE QUESTION OF PEOPLE CIRCULATING THESE PETITIONS.

SUPPOSEDLY, THEY MIGHT HAVE, TODAY, 100,000, 150,000, 175,000 SIGNATURES.

THEY REALLY NEED TO FILE A GROSS NUMBER OF 800,000 WITH 44 AND 88 COUNTIES, AND IT IS NOT A SIMPLE PROCESS TO DO THAT, SO I STILL THINK THERE IS SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS, CAN THEY REALLY GET ON THE BALLOT IN THE NEXT SEVEN MONTHS, WITH ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO ALL OF FIVE QUALIFY?

AGAIN, THE CHECK MIGHT BE IN THE MAIL BUT YOU CAN'T CASH IT UNTIL IT ARRIVES, SO THERE WILL BE SOME BREAKS, THERE IS ACTUAL PROGRESS THIS PAST WEEK, BUT IT IS MORE OF A SHIFTING OF MONEY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE OWNERS, TO MAYBE SENIORS AND HOMEOWNERS, BUT BY THE WAY, THE TAXPAYERS ARE IN A SPOT MOSTLY AROUND OHIO, APPROVED PROPERTY TAX INCREASES, SO THEY WANT TO CUT PROPERTY TAXES, BUT THEY INCREASED THEM, SO WHAT GIVES?

>> ANDREW, THIS DOUBLING OF THE DISCOUNT, THE OWNER OCCUPIED DISCOUNT THAT YOU GET, YOU GET A CERTAIN DISCOUNT IF YOU LIVE IN THE HOUSE YOU ARE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ON, NOW THAT WILL INCREASE AND YOU WILL SAVE MORE, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WILL SAVE?

>> I DON'T KNOW, I KNOW IT IS SOMETHING LIKE $400 MILLION, SO PROBABLY $25 PER HOUSEHOLD OR SOMETHING IN THAT BALLPARK, AT LEAST.

BUT, I DON'T HAVE THE OFFICIAL NUMBER, NO.

BUT, >> IT IS SOMETHING THAT TAXPAYERS WILL SEE WHEN THE NEXT BILL COMES IN THE SPRINGTIME?

>> YEAH, IT IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE AMENDMENT CAMPAIGN, JUST GENERALLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT LAWMAKERS NEED TO SOLVE.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE 10 TO 15 OR WHATEVER STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT RACES NEXT YEAR, SO PEOPLE RUNNING FOR OFFICE IF THEY ARE AN INCUMBENT, THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW THE PUBLIC, "HEY, WE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. "

SO, EVEN IF IT IS $20 OFF OF YOUR BILL, IT IS STILL SOMETHING, AND THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO POINT TO.

>> AND DISCUSSED THE PROPERTY TAX BILL, BUT IT IS NOT A HUGE CUT AS TERRY MENTIONED, SO MAKING UP FOR THIS FUNDING, CAN BE DONE, THEY THINK, ANYWAY, RIGHT?

>> WE ARE IN THIS PERIOD WITH POST-COVID, A LOT OF FEDERAL POLICYMAKING THAT IS CUTTING FUNDING GOING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, IT IS NOT AN ABUNDANT PERIOD FOR A LOT OF CITY GOVERNMENTS.

SO, I THINK THIS IS STILL PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE NERVOUS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES, LIKE, IN COLUMBUS WITH A LOT OF THE CUTS FACING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ANY CHANGES AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT IS GOING TO LIMIT THE ABILITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HAVE SCHOOL MONEY IS TROUBLING.

I THINK IT IS INTERESTING, POLITICALLY, THOUGH, WHAT ANDREW IS SAYING ABOUT THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR HAVING STATE GOVERNMENTS DO SOMETHING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, BUT THEN PEOPLE ARE STILL VOTING FOR THEM --OR, IS THAT TERRY?

I'M SORRY, TERRY.

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE TO GIVE TERRY CREDIT FOR THINGS.

BUT, YEAH, FUNDAMENTALLY, YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE OVERALL COST OF LIVING INCREASES, BUT, WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, THEY WANT THEIR COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A STATE GOVERNMENT THAT WILL MATCH THAT GOAL, AS WELL, AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

>> THERE ARE NO SYSTEMIC CHANGES IN THIS, NO BIG CHANGES, TERRY, NO CONSOLIDATING, COMBINING THE STATE 600 OR 700 OR SO SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR 1300 TOWNSHIPS AND THE MANY, MANY, MANY OTHER TAXING ENTITIES IN THIS STATE.

DOES THAT EVER HAPPEN, WITHOUT THIS ABOLISHMENT PASSING?

>> IN SOME WAY, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF COUNTIES IN OHIO THAT HAVE SHOCKED UP DRAMATICALLY IN POPULATION AND EVEN IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO, THE LEGISLATOR LOOK AT CHANGING COUNTY CORNERS AND MOST OF THE COUNTIES, ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN COUNTIES, THE CORNER DOESN'T YOU OUT OF --DO AUTOPSIES OR ANY SORT OF AUTOPSY WORKS, BUT IN THE LEGISLATURE FOLDED AND DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

SO, WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH INEFFICIENCIES BECAUSE OHIO HAS TOO MANY UNITS OF GOVERNMENT AND THEY ARE NOT WORKING TOGETHER TO SAVE MONEY.

>> IS THERE ANY TALK OF THAT, ANDREW?

DO THEY OFFER ANY GOOD INCENTIVES?

RATHER THAN A STICK, USE A CARROT TO GET SOME OF THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE SMALLER, RURAL ONES TO COMBINE, YOU GET EXTRA STATE AID IF YOU COMBINE, YOU GET TOWNSHIPS COMBINING FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THEY GET MORE STATE AID.

>> WE HAVE SEEN CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS OR SO AND THEY NEVER SEEM TO GO ANYWHERE.

I KNOW EARLY ON IN THIS PROPERTY LEGAL PROCESS, THEY WERE LOOKING AT BASICALLY JUST, LIKE, CUTTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, JUST IMMEDIATELY THAT WAS ONE OF THE BILLS I GOT PROPOSED IN ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THAT SAID, "WELL, IF WE COULD CONSOLIDATE FOR EFFICIENCY AND STUFF LIKE THAT," SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC PROPOSAL THAT HAS ADVANCED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN BUT IT IS AT THE BOTTOM OF MANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS.

>> THAT WOULD ANGER A LOT OF LOCAL OFFICIALS, THAT THESE GUYS RELY ON.

>> AND REMEMBER, A LOT OF STATE REPRESENTATIVES NOW THAT ARE TERM LIMITED MIGHT WANT TO GO HOME AND BE A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, COUNTY AUDITOR, OR CROSSING ATTORNEY, SO THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO CUT OFF FUTURE CAREER OPTIONS.

>> AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY COMES UP IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, AS WELL.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY TALKED ABOUT MAKING EDUCATION A PRIORITY, MAKING OHIO COMPETITIVE AND I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AMY ACTON TO PRESENT A COMPETING VISION OF WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO GET THERE AND BE HONEST ABOUT THAT.

>> HE ORIGINALLY SAID, ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAXES, BUT HE CHANGED HIS MIND ON THAT TO SOME DEGREE WHEN HE REALIZED WHAT THE BILL WAS GOING TO BE.

>> HE FOUND OUT THERE WAS $720 BILLION HITTING AROUND IN THE TREASURY TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

>> LAWMAKERS ALSO THIS WEEK MOVED CLOSER TO TOUGHENING THE RULES ON INTOXICATING HEMP AND CHANGING THE VOTER APPROVED LEGAL MARIJUANA LAW.

THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE INTOXICATING HEMP PRODUCTS BE SOLD IN MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES.

THE BILL ALSO BANS THE SALE OF THC DRINKS, EXCEPT IN BARS AND BREWERIES.

THEY CAN SELL THE DRINKS IN THOSE PLACES FOR ANOTHER YEAR --THAT'S WHEN A FEDERAL BAN ON HEMP PRODUCTS TAKES EFFECT.

LAWMAKERS ALSO BANNED SMOKING MARIJUANA IN PUBLIC.

USERS NOW CAN ONLY SMOKE IT IN PRIVATE HOMES.

ANDREW, THIS IS VERY CONFUSING BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING ON THIS, THE FEDS STEPPED IN, BOTTOM LINE, WE CAN'T BUY THOSE GUMMIES AT THE GAS STATION ANYMORE, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S BASICALLY THE PLAN, MIKE.

I KNOW THAT IS BORING TO YOU, YOU WILL HAVE TO GO TO YOUR DISPENSARY.

BUT, THERE IS KIND OF AN AGREEMENT THAT IT IS BAD --ONE OF DeWINE STAFFERS KIDS COULD WALK INTO A GAS STATION AND WALK OUT WITH HALLUCINOGENIC SKITTLES OR WHATEVER.

YOU KNOW?

THE CONVERSATION REALLY GOT BOGGED DOWN OVER WHAT TO DO WITH THE DRINKS THAT HAVE BECOME REALLY POPULAR, YOU SEE THEM EVERYWHERE, IN SMALL TOWNS, IN LARGE CITIES LIKE COLUMBUS, SO IT'S AN INTERESTING AREA, AT LEAST WHERE THEY ENDED UP, WHERE THEY ARE BASICALLY --I GUESS THEY ARE GOING TO BEND THEM AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR, I HAVE QUESTIONS OF WHETHER CONGRESS WILL HOLD TRUE TO THAT, GIVEN THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THESE, BUT ANYWAY, THEY SEEM TO HAVE HANDLED THE MAIN STUFF AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE BEVERAGES.

>> I MEAN, MARIJUANA IS STILL ILLEGAL FEDERALLY, TERRY.

WHY CAN'T OHIO SAY, "YOU CAN'T SELL THESE DRINKS?"

>> AS ONE STATE REPRESENTATIVE EXPLAINED TO ME, THIS IS A CUP LOCATED ISSUE, BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS TO PROTECT THE KIDS, BUT HOW DO YOU DO IT, WHEN THE FEDS HAVE GONE OFF AND ON WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, AND WHAT THEY HAVE CRAFTED TOGETHER IN THE LEGISLATURE IS A VERY TIGHT COMPROMISE WHICH COULD FALL APART, BECAUSE IT IS NOT TOTALLY --IT IS A MESS.

AND AGAIN --AND ALSO, ON MARIJUANA, REMEMBER, WHEN THEY PASSED THAT, IT WAS DONE AS A LEGISLATIVE ACT, NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AND THEY SAID IT WANTED TO BE REGULATED LIKE ALCOHOL AND THERE ARE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON ALCOHOL AND THOSE RULES ARE KIND OF CONFUSING.

SO, THIS IS A LAWYER FOR EMPLOYMENT ACT AND THIS IS ALSO KIND OF SOME STOP AND GO KIND OF PLACES OUT THERE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF THESE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GRAVY TRAIN TO BE CUT OFF.

>> AND PRODUCERS OF IT, TOO, THAT PRODUCE THESE CANDIES AND DRINKS.

>> YEAH AND ESPECIALLY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE DESIRE TO COME FROM THE PEOPLE --IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD TIME -- GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS TAKING APART, LET'S DO A STUDY, LOOK AT THE IMPACTS AND THIS ONE IS, "LET'S JUST GO. "

I DON'T GET THAT, MAYBE SLOW DOWN AND TALK TO PEOPLE TO FIND OUT THE REAL FACTS HERE.

>> I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAD A STAFF MEMBER TEENAGE SON BY THIS STUFF, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT ABOUT OVERDOSES FROM THESE CANDY GUMMIES.

NOT TO DEFEND THE CANDY GUMMIES, KIDS SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BUY THEM, BUT IS THERE REALLY A HUGE PROBLEM OUT THERE?

>> I KNOW WHEN THE GOVERNOR CALLED ON THE LEGISLATURE TO BAN THESE THINGS, I FEEL LIKE HE HAD SEVERAL PRESS CONFERENCES WHERE HE HAD THE CANDIES IN HIS HAND, TAKING PICTURES, AND STUFF.

HE DID HAVE A DOCTOR FROM THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL DISCUSSED THAT THERE IS AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE CALLING POISONING CENTERS, WHETHER THEY ARE SEIZING, OR --BUT, I THINK PEOPLE WOULD AGREE THAT IT IS NOT GREAT THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON THIS, BUT WHETHER THERE IS A CRISIS OUT THERE, I DON'T KNOW.

>> IS IT A WORSE CRISIS THAN OUR CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM?

WHICH WE DON'T HEAR A LOT ABOUT.

>> I'M JUST GETTING USED TO THIS BECAUSE FOR DECADES, MARIJUANA WAS ILLEGAL, EVIL, THE DEVIL'S LETTUCE, BUT NOW IT IS BECOMING TO BE LEGAL, AND THE WORLD IS STARTING TO SPIN.

>> THIS IS AS SIMPLE AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND AS ONLINE BETTING AND SPORTS BETTING AND ALL OF THESE THINGS, BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE IS MONEY AND PEOPLE LIKE TO MAKE IT, BUT IT CAN HAVE A VERY CORRUPTING INFLUENCE, HOW DO YOU SORT IT OUT?

HOW DO YOU LEGISLATE IT?

IT IS NOT EASY.

BECAUSE WHATEVER YOU WRITE AS A RULE, THEY WILL FIGURE OUT WAYS AROUND IT --SO IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.

>> TIME FOR OUR "OFF THE RECORD" PARTING SHOTS.

MORGAN HARPER, YOU ARE FIRST.

>> AP, AN ELECTRICAL PROVIDER, IS TRYING TO RAISE RATES AND ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC CAN COME AND SHARE THEIR ABUSE WITH THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONER OF OHIO DECEMBER 4th AND NINTH IN COLUMBUS AND SOME THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

>> TERRY?

>> I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THAT IS PART OF THE SWEEPSTAKES PUTTING TOGETHER THE TICKET, BUT WATCH THE NAMES OF STATE SENATOR ROVNER WHO MIGHT GET TREASURER, MIGHT RUN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, MAYBE PICKED AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SO, NOW THAT WE HAVE FIGURED OUT THE TIM RYAN MYSTERY, WE MOVE ON TO FILLING OUT THE TICKETS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND IT IS EASIER FOR US THAN IT IS THE DEMOCRATS.

>> TIM RYAN MYSTERY SOLVED.

ANDREW?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE LATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE THEY PASSED THE HEMP WILL --BILL WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, MATT HUFFMAN THREATENED TO CALL EVERYBODY BACK IN DECEMBER AND APPARENTLY, THAT MOVED ENOUGH PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

I GUESS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

>> NOTHING LIKE TAKING DAYS OFF A WAY TO MAKE PEOPLE DO THEIR JOB.

THIS IS A BIG WEEK ON OHIO STATE'S CAMPUS, IT IS MISSION WEEK.

IT WILL BE A NEW TEST OF THE NEW SIGNAGE STANDERS THAT OHIO STATE HAS, 190 PAGES LONG, THESE STANDARDS, AND THEY USE THESE STANDARDS TO BAN TALKING ON CAMPUS, NO MORE WRITING ON SIDEWALKS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KEEP WAYFINDING SPECIFIC AND WHAT HAPPENED?

ALL OF THESE SIGNS GET COVERED UP WITH DUCT TAPE SO IF CHALKING IS NOT ALLOWED AND VIOLATES THE SIGNAGE STANDARDS, WE WILL SEE IF THE RED AND COVERINGS VIOLATE THE SIGNAGE STANDARD.

STAY TUNED.

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

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

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.