>> OHIOANS COULD VOTE AGAIN ON GERRYMANDERING.

> >> OHIOANS COULD VOTE AGAIN ON GERRYMANDERING.

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

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

LAST YEAR, OHIOANS VOTED ON AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE WAY LAWMAKERS DRAW LEGISLATIVE MAPS.

AFTER A BITTER CAMPAIGN, VOTERS REJECTED THE CHANGES.

NOW, DEMOCRATS THREATEN TO PUT THE ISSUE BACK ON THE BALLOT.

THAT'S IF REPUBLICANS PASS A PARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL MAP THAT GIVES THEM MORE SEATS.

THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK, AND REALLY DID NOTHING EXCEPT RAISING THEIR RIGHT HANDS AND TAKE OATHS.

COMMISSION MEMBER GOVERNOR DeWINE SAYS HE STILL HOPES FOR A BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE, BUT THE DEADLINE FOR THE COMMISSION TO COME UP WITH ONE IS LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY.

ANDREW TOBIAS, ARE DEMOCRATS SERIOUS ABOUT GOING ON THE BALLOT?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I HAVE LOOKED AT THIS THE WHOLE TIME, THROUGH THE LENS OF, MAYBE THIS IS A WAY FOR THEM TO FORCE REPUBLICANS TO NEGOTIATE, KIND OF A HAIL MARY TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE, GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE SO FEW OTHER OPTIONS.

BUT, THE OTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS, IS IF NATIONAL DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING AT FUNDRAISING, IT COULD JUST BE PUTTING OUT A SIGNAL, BUT IF THEY ARE PLANNING ON DOING IT, THEY COULD BE TELLING DEMOCRATS HERE NOT TO TAKE A DEAL BECAUSE THEY LIKE THEIR CHANCES IN NOVEMBER, SO THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO READ PEOPLE'S MINDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S A FASCINATING THING TO THINK ABOUT.

>> YEAH, LOU GENTILE, THE PERSON WHO SAID THAT, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER IN D. C. , SAYS HE WANTS TO HELP HOUSE OHIO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN JEOPARDY, GET ON THE BALLOT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THIS REDISTRICTING ISSUE SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED HE WAS GOING TO DIRECT STATES LIKE TEXAS TO START GERRYMANDERING, ESSENTIALLY, TO GIVE HIM CONTROL IN THE HOUSE, HAS BECOME MORE OF A NATIONAL ISSUE.

SO, I DO TAKE IT TO BE A VERY SERIOUS GESTURE.

WE HAVE THREE IMPORTANT HOUSE DEMOCRATS WE NEED TO PROTECT, IN 2026.

AMELIA SYKES, MARCY CAPORN IN THE TOLEDO AREA, AND THEN MY FRIEND, CONGRESSMAN LANDSMAN DOWN IN CINCINNATI.

SO, A VERY SERIOUS MOMENT FOR THE COUNTRY, I THINK, AS A WAY TO TRY TO BLOCK THE ABUSE OF POWER WE ARE SEEING COMING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL GET A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT HERE IN OHIO REALLY REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT I THINK THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE AND I THINK THIS GIVES DEMOCRATS A LOT OF LEVERAGE, KNOWING THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF NATIONAL MONEY COMING IN FOR A REFERENDUM.

>> GENE KREBS, MIKE DeWINE SAYS HE THINKS THERE IS A CHANCE FOR A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMISSION, BEFORE IT GETS TO THE FULL LEGISLATURE.

IS THERE?

>> IT WOULD NOT BE IN THE DEMOCRATS' BEST INTEREST.

WATCH ME, I AM ADVISING THE DEMOCRATS OF WHAT TO DO.

OH, WOW!

IN ANY CASE, IT WOULD NOT BE IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT, I WANT TO EXPAND UPON WHAT ANDREW BROUGHT UP, HERE.

THE LONGER THEY CAN DELAY IT, FIRST OF ALL, IT HELPS THEM WITH CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT.

THEY HAVE TO RECRUIT TWICE AS MANY CANDIDATES AS THE REPUBLICANS DO FOR THE VARIOUS SEATS, BECAUSE THEY CONTROL TWO THIRDS OF THEM.

OKAY?

AND IN THAT CASE, IT COULD CAUSE MORE MISCHIEF.

I THINK THAT THEY WILL WORK TO DELAY IT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

FOR THEM, THE HOME RUN WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THIS THING TIED UP IN ENDLESS COURT PROCEEDINGS AND EVERYTHING SO THAT IT DOES NOT GET A CHANCE TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN 2026.

I MEAN, IT DOES NOT GET A CHANCE FOR THE NEW DISTRICT TO BE THERE FOR 2026 AND BE ON THE BALLOT FOR THAT.

I THINK WE WILL TAKE A FABIAN APPROACH, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WILL KEEP DELAYING THIS AS LONG AS POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO WIN.

>> BUT, THERE IS A DEADLINE, ANDREW, THE END OF NOVEMBER, BASICALLY, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A MAP BECAUSE CANDIDATES HAVE TO KNOW, IN THEORY, WHERE THEIR VOTERS ARE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE DISTRICTS.

>> WE KIND OF SAW SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED THE LAST TIME WE REDISTRICT IT IN 2022, BUT YOU HAVE THAT FILING DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES IN MAY, THAT DEADLINE AND THERE ARE SOME DATES BEFORE THAT WHERE YOU HAVE TO START GETTING BALLOT LANGUAGE FINALIZED, TECHNICAL LANGUAGE AND STUFF ON THE ELECTION SIDE, SO IT IS REALLY EASY TO SEE IF THERE IS A REFERENDUM EFFORT THAT GETS INITIATED, THE MAP THAT REPUBLICANS PASSED MAYBE GETS PUT ON HOLD AND WE START GETTING INTO FEBRUARY, IT IS EASY TO SEE ABOUT CHANGING THE ELECTION DATE, I MEAN, WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND IT COULD BE A MESS.

>> LOU, IT IS HARD TO GET ON THE BALLOT, THE CONSTITUTION SAYS IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LAW, YOU HAVE 90 DAYS TO COLLECT, BASICALLY, 300,000 OR 400,000 SIGNATURES, THEN ONCE YOU DO THAT, THE LAW IS ON HOLD.

>> YES.

>> SO, DOES THAT MEAN THE CURRENT MAP WOULD BE ON HOLD FOR THE 2026 ELECTION?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS, YOU WOULD RUN UNDER THE CURRENT MAPS, WHICH IS HOW I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS REDISTRICTING ISSUE IS SO IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY NATIONALLY, BUT IN OHIO.

YOU SEE ALL OF THE GRIDLOCK IN WASHINGTON, D. C. RIGHT NOW, AND PEOPLE NOT SURE IF THEY WILL GET THEIR S. N. A. P. PAYMENTS, NOT SURE IF THEY WILL GET THEIR MILITARY PAY.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS --SO MANY SERIOUS ISSUES --THE GOVERNMENT IS ACTIVELY SHUTDOWN, RIGHT NOW.

SO, THIS ISSUE IS RELEVANT BECAUSE WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE IN COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR CONSTITUENCY AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.

TAKE A LOT OF THESE REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS.

THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR ACTION OR INACTION.

>> YOU SAID THAT DEMOCRATS SHOULD COMPROMISE, SHOULD REPUBLICANS COMPROMISE?

MIKE DeWINE, HE NEEDS ONE MORE VOTE ON THE COMMISSION IF THEY ARE TO PRESENT A MAP, BUT IF THEY GET A MAP, A COMPROMISED MAP, HE NEEDS ONE MORE VOTE IN THE COMMISSION.

WOULD ANYONE JOIN HIM?

HE'S NOT RUNNING AGAIN.

HE'S DONE.

>> I --I JUST DON'T SEE THAT.

AND ONCE AGAIN, GOING BACK, ONCE AGAIN TO ADVISE THE DEMOCRATS -- >> WELL, ADVISE THE REPUBLICANS, SHOULD THEY COMPROMISE?

>> NO.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THE INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO DO SO.

THEY COULD TRY, BUT THEN, THEY WOULD BE DISOBEYING THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE THIS AN ORDER, EVERY STATE, YOU WILL RING OUT OF THE SYSTEM, ONE OR TWO MORE REPUBLICAN SEATS, AND THEY HAVE TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THESE RACES.

>> WHAT IF THE DEMOCRATS SAID, "LET'S HAVE 10 REPUBLICAN SEATS, FIVE DEMOCRATIC SEATS, WITH THE OHIO DELEGATION. "

WHAT IF THEY WERE TO SAY, WHAT IF IT WAS 11-4?

WOULD DEMOCRATS BE OKAY WITH THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

THERE IS ALWAYS SOME RISK IN THAT SORT OF NEGOTIATION, RIGHT?

AND I THINK, GIVEN WHAT IS AT STAKE NATIONALLY, IT PUTS A LOT MORE ATTENTION ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE BASE DEMOCRATS.

AT SOME POINT, WE WILL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THESE POLLS AND TRYING TO GET BASE DEMOCRATS REALLY ENGAGED.

SO, IT IS A BIT TRICKY AROUND THAT.

ULTIMATELY, I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THREE SEATS WE REFERENCED, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN KEEP THOSE IN THE DEMOCRATIC COLUMN.

>> THAT WOULD LEAD TO FIVE BECAUSE JOYCE BEATTY'S DISTRICT IS SOLID.

> >> NEXT TOPIC --WITH A POSSIBLE BALLOT QUESTION TO ABOLISH PROPERTY TAXES LOOMING, LAWMAKERS ARE SCRAMBLING TO DO SOMETHING LESS DRASTIC.

THIS WEEK, THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD CAP THE AMOUNT FUTURE TAX BILLS, HOW MUCH THEY COULD RISE OF PROPERTY VALUES RISE AND WE KEPT THE INCREASE ON THEIR TAXES, AS THEIR VALUES RISE.

ESTIMATES SAY IT WILL SAVE TAXPAYERS UP TO $2 BILLION OVER THREE YEARS.

THAT MEANS IT WILL COST SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER AGENCIES UP TO $2 BILLION, OVER THREE YEARS.

TO HELP THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE BILL CALLS FOR THE STATE TO KICK IN SOME $300 MILLION.

ANDREW TOBIAS, THIS GETS REALLY COMPLICATED, REALLY FAST.

BUT, TO KEEP IT AT A HIGH LEVEL, THIS WOULD BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY TAX REFORM IF THIS WERE TO BECOME LAW, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, SOME OF IT WOULD KIND OF ADDRESS THE FUTURE SITUATION IF WE WERE TO EVER SEE AGAIN PROPERTY VALUES RISE IN THE MANNER IT DID A FEW YEARS AGO, IT STILL KIND OF GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM, ACTUALLY, THERE IS A RE-EVALUATION TAKING PLACE NEXT YEAR TRYING TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, BUT ALSO IT IS RETROACTIVELY LOOKING AT PEOPLE WHO THIS DID HAPPEN TO, AND GIVING THEM ON THEIR TAXES, BASICALLY, A TAX BREAK, MOVING FORWARD.

SO, I THINK IT'S MEANINGFUL.

POLITICALLY, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, I HAVE, YOU KNOW, DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER THAT WILL ACTUALLY OCCUR, BUT THERE IS AN ELECTION HAPPENING NEXT YEAR, AND REPUBLICANS ARE IN CHARGE, AND THIS IS TRUE, TOO, OF DEMOCRATS IN COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, BUT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ANGRY ABOUT THIS AND I THINK THERE IS A BIG POLITICAL IMPERATIVE FOR REPUBLICANS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT IS TO THEIR DETRIMENT IF THEY DON'T.

>> TYPING PROPERTY TAXES TO INFLATION, IS BASICALLY WHAT THIS BILL DOES, IT MAKES MORE SENSE THAN HOME VALUES RISING, BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN, THERE, WHILE YOUR PROPERTY VALUES INCREASE.

>> THIS WILL AFFECT A LOT OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE IN SMALL TOWNS OR RURAL AREAS, MOSTLY.

SOME OF THE LARGER, METROPOLITAN AREAS WON'T REALLY SEE THAT SAME RELIEF.

BUT, I THINK YOU REALLY HAVE TO STEP BACK AND LOOK, HISTORICALLY, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES, REALLY, OF WHAT HAS OCCURRED IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS, THERE HAS BEEN A TAX SHIFT FROM, YOU KNOW, 47%, 48% OF STATE REVENUE GOING TO FUND SCHOOLS, NOW DOWN TO ABOUT 37%.

AND WHAT THAT HAS DONE, IS PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FUNDING SCHOOLS ON PROPERTY TAX PAYERS.

WELL, WITH THE COST OF LIVING ESCALATING, YOUR UTILITIES ARE UP, YOUR GROCERY BILLS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF, EVERYTHING AROUND YOU IS EXPENSIVE, CARS ARE MORE THAN EVER, HOMES ARE MORE THAN EVER, PEOPLE ARE REALLY FEELING THAT CRUNCH.

SO, THIS IS A REAL THING PEOPLE ARE FEELING, BUT I REALLY THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT HERE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE POLICY SHIFT HAS BEEN AND WHAT THE PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN, AND AS THEY REDUCED SPENDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AT THE STATE LEVEL, MOSTLY IN THE REPUBLICAN DOMINATED LEGISLATURE, THAT HAS BEEN SHIFTED ON DOWN TO THE PROPERTY TAX PAYERS, AND DEMOCRATS ARE, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATING FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH MONEY YOU EARN, YOU WOULD ONLY PAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN UP.

BUT, I ALSO FEEL FOR SOME OF THESE MORE RURAL, SMALL DISTRICTS, GOING FORWARD.

>> YOU LIVE IN RURAL OHIO, GENE.

HOW ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES?

YOUR PEOPLE, HOW ARE THEY WATCHING THIS?

>> THEY DON'T TRUST ANYTHING THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING, AND I THINK THAT IN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS FROM NOW, THEY WILL GET THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL.

AND, UNLESS THEY SEE IT CUT BY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, THEY ARE GOING TO FEEL THEY WERE MISLED.

YOU KNOW?

BECAUSE THEY WILL SAY, "OH, LOOK, WE FIXED PROPERTY TAXES. "

BUT, UNLESS THEY SEE IT CUT BY ONE THIRD, ONE HALF, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS, THEY WILL SAY, "OH, LOOK, THEY SAID --" BUT, KEEP IN MIND FOR ONE THIRD OF THE COUNTIES IN OHIO RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE GOING THROUGH RE- EVALUATION.

SO, THOSE TAXES WOULD ALREADY GO UP, THEY WOULD REDUCE THE OVERALL RATE SOME, I --WATCH ME DISAGREE WITH THE MEDIA ON SOMETHING, HERE.

IT'S THAT, IF THIS REPEAL MAKES IT TO THE BALLOT, IT WILL PASS WITH ABOUT THE SAME MARGIN AS TERM LIMITS DID IN '92.

>> BUT, NOW, IN SOUTH DAKOTA, THEY HAD THIS LAST YEAR.

WE JOKED LAST WEEK, THEY ARE NOT EXACTLY A LIBERAL FACTION, THEY LOST, 60-40.

>> THEY DID.

>> WHY WOULD VOTERS IN OHIO BE DIFFERENT THAN SOUTH DAKOTA?

>> BECAUSE I THINK THE VOTERS HERE ARE ANGRIER.

THIS IS THE UNIFIED THING THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THEY DO NOT LIKE EITHER PARTY.

I MEAN, THE AMOUNT OF --HERE'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK --BOTH PARTIES THINK THEY OWN A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE VOTERS.

YOU RENT VOTERS, YOU DON'T OWN THEM.

AND I THINK THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT, AND I AM SENSING THAT THERE IS JUST MASSIVE ANGER.

AND I THINK THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO PUNISH.

>> SO, THIS HAS PASSED THE HOUSE, ANDREW.

HOW IS THE SENATE FEELING IT?

BECAUSE THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO CHIP IN SOME MONEY, IT WILL NOT COVER THE WHOLE $2 BILLION DIFFERENCE, BUT THEY WILL CHIP IN SOME MONEY.

>> YEAH, THE SENATE AND HOUSE, ARE SEEN FROM THE SAME SEMINAL WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR GOALS OF CUTTING PROPERTY TAXES.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING, HOW THEY RECEIVE THE IDEA OF SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR SCHOOLS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE PRETTY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE ABOUT THAT KIND OF THING, BUT THE FEEDBACK WE HAVE GOTTEN, IT IS NONCOMMITTAL, IT WILL WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.

IT IS NOT A DONE DEAL, FOR SURE.

>> GOING BACK TO THE NORTH DAKOTA SITUATION, TOO, THAT IS HEAVILY SCANDINAVIAN AND THEY HAVE A MUCH MORE COMMUNAL VIEW OF SOCIETY.

AND IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND OHIO AND ITS POPULATION, AND ITS ETHNIC BACKGROUND, AND THE POLITICS HERE, YOU NEED TO READ THE BOOK "BUCKEYE BATTLEGROUND," AND IT WILL DESCRIBE IT FOR YOU.

BUT, I WOULD NOT --I WOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT --LIKE, THERE IS MINNESOTA NICE, THERE IS ALSO DAKOTA NICE, TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT, ANOTHER BOOK FROM THE GENE KREBS READING LIST.

>> YES.

> >> IT'S STILL PRETTY EARLY.

THE ELECTION IS A YEAR AWAY.

BUT, A NEW POLL SHOULD GIVE OHIO REPUBLICANS CONCERN, AND OHIO DEMOCRATS SOME HOPE, PERHAPS.

THE NEW POLL FROM BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY SHOWS SOME ANGST AMONG OHIO VOTERS.

LET'S LOOK AT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATING, FIRST.

IT HAS DROPPED TO 41%, THAT'S DOWN 16 POINTS, SINCE APRIL.

IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR, IT'S BASICALLY TIED.

REPUBLICAN VIVEK RAMASWAMY LEADS DEMOCRAT AMY ACTON BY THREE POINTS.

THE UNDECIDED CANDIDATE, TIM RYAN, TRAILS RAMASWAMY WITHIN TWO.

THE U. S. SENATE RACE IS ALSO WELL WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR, WITH SHERROD BROWN LEADING SENATOR JON HUSTED BY ONE POINT.

SO, AGAIN, THAT RACE IS BASICALLY TIRED.

LOU GENTILE, SHOULD DEMOCRATS SEE THIS RACE AS HOPEFUL?

OR, IS IT TOO EARLY AND BASICALLY REPUBLICANS WILL COME HOME TO THE CANDIDATES IN OHIO?

>> IT WAS A VERY ENCOURAGING POLL THAT CAME OUT, AS YOU KNOW, AND IT STATED, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SORT OF THE TWO TITULAR HEAD OF THE PARTY IN OHIO AND NATIONALLY, AND IT APPEARS, WITH THIS POLL, THAT HIS DISAPPROVAL RATING IS VERY HIGH, VERY HIGH AMONG INDEPENDENTS, WHICH IS VERY ENCOURAGING, BECAUSE HIS SHADOW HAS LOOMED LARGE IN ALL OF THESE STATEWIDE RACES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL CYCLES.

SO, I AM VERY ENCOURAGED BY THESE NUMBERS.

OBVIOUSLY, OHIO IS A TOUGH STATE FOR DEMOCRATS, SO YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.

BUT, AS WE SEE SOME OF THESE RESULTS COMING OUT OF THIS POLL, IT SHOWS THAT, I THINK, DEMOCRATS WILL BE ABLE TO MUSTER SOME COMPETITIVE RACES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SENATE RACE, IN PARTICULAR, IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

BUT, SHERROD BROWN RAISED ABOUT $7.

5 MILLION IN HIS LATEST HAUL.

I THINK IT WAS, JON HUSTED RAISED ABOUT $3.

5 MILLION.

SO, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN EFFORT, NATIONALLY, IN OHIO, TO PUT SOME RESOURCES INTO THIS STATE, SO I'M OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, TOO, THAT MR.

RAMASWAMY, HAVING NEVER BEEN ELECTED, ACTUALLY HAS PRETTY HIGH UNFAVORABLE'S IN THAT POLL, ABOUT 40%, FOR SOMEONE WHO HASN'T BEEN ON THE BALLOT, SO IT IS INTERESTING FOR ME TO SEE HOW THAT WILL SHAKE OUT.

SOMETHING DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED BY AND PERHAPS WILL HELP WITH FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.

>> GENE, YOU LIVE IN TRUMP COUNTRY.

IS HE THAT UNPOPULAR, THERE?

THIS POLL , ON SEVERAL ISSUES, HE IS UNDERWATER.

THE ECONOMY, HOW HE IS HANDLING TARIFFS AND THAT IS AFFECTING FARMERS, OF COURSE.

IS HE LOSING SOME OF HIS LOW?

>> NO, TRUMP IS NOT LOSING ANY OF HIS SUPPORT, THAT I CAN DETERMINE, AMONGST THE FARMING COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE IT'S STILL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TRUMP WAS A MEANS TO ACHIEVE CERTAIN VALUES, NOT OF THE ECONOMICS OF IT.

AND THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF THINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE YEAR PRICE, THE YEAR-LONG PRICE OF SOYBEANS, IT IS STILL JUST ABOUT WHERE IT WAS LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME.

SO, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LOT CHANGED.

>> EVEN THOUGH CHINA ISN'T BUYING ANY OF THEM, ANYMORE?

>> RIGHT, BUT COMMODITIES, IF THEY ARE NOT SOLD SOMEPLACE, WILL BE SOLD SOMEPLACE ELSE.

BUT, SOMETHING I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON IN THAT POLL, IT DID NOT ASK ABOUT THIRD-PARTY, LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATES.

AND HERE IS THE THING THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT, ON THIS --IS THAT THE LIBERTARIANS WON'T BE ON THE BALLOT IN 2026.

THEY HAVE ACHIEVED REGULAR MINORITY STATUS.

TRADITIONALLY, THEY GET BETWEEN 3% AND UP TO 7% OF THE VOTE.

AND IN MANY, MANY LEGISLATIVE SEATS --I MAINTAIN, AS I HAVE MAINTAINED ON YOUR SHOW BEFORE --THIS IS NOT A PLUS 11 REPUBLICAN STATE, IT IS WITHDRAWN ON THE BALLOT.

TRUMP'S LEAD ON THE BALLOT IS 3 1/2.

>> WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR TIM RYAN, BUT A POLL SAYS AMY ACTON WOULD BEAT TIM RYAN IN THE PRIMARY.

IF I AM AMY ACTON, I WOULD SAY, "I WILL NOT SETTLE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I CAN BE YOU IN PRIMARY," BUT IT'S STILL PRETTY EARLY.

>> WE HAD SEEN OTHER POLLS WHERE SHE WAS LEADING OVER HIM, AND IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY THAT LAYER, IT IS SORT OF LIKE SOMEONE MIGHT CONCLUDE THAT FEMALE CANDIDATES HAVE AN ADVANTAGE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PLUS SHE IS A KNOWN COMMODITY, SHE HAS A RECORD, SHE IS POPULAR WITH DEMOCRATS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING PRIMARY, BUT WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER POLLS, TOO, THAT SHE HAS A LEAD OVER HIM IN THE EVENT THEY ARE RUNNING TOGETHER.

>> WHAT IS THE WORD?

ANYTHING NEW?

NOT TALKING ABOUT SPECULATION, I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYTHING NEW?

>> TIM RYAN SAID A FEW DAYS AGO, HE NEEDS A FEW DAYS, MAYBE IT'S A FEW WEEKS.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> YOU AGREE, AMY ACTON WILL SAY, "LOOK, I WON'T SETTLE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I CAN BEAT YOU "?

>> WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER, AND I WILL ADD THAT SHE IS ACTIVELY CAMPAIGNING -- >> SHE ISN'T EVEN TALKING ABOUT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> RIGHT, RYAN HASN'T EVEN LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN, SO IF HE WERE TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN, I THINK THAT WOULD LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

BUT, WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I THINK, CERTAINLY, WE EXPECT TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM THE RYAN CAMP, HOPEFULLY SOMETIME SOON.

WHAT I AM ENCOURAGED, THOUGH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT SHAKES OUT, IS I THINK THERE IS SOME CONSOLIDATION WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I THINK THERE IS ENTHUSIASM.

IF YOU RUN PAST THE STATEHOUSE LAST WEEKEND, THERE WERE 10,000 PEOPLE DURING THE NO KINGS RALLY.

I THINK TRUMP WILL CONTINUE HIS ABUSE OF POWER, WHAT HE IS DOING, TEARING DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE, THE EAST WING OF THE WHITE HOUSE, I THINK THAT IS METAPHORICAL FOR THIS ENTIRE PRESIDENCY AND THE DESTRUCTION IS DOING BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD, SO, THAT WILL KEEP DEMOCRATS HEAVILY ENGAGED, AND A LOT OF THESE STATEWIDE SEATS WILL BE OPEN.

AND SHERROD BROWN IS GOING TO ATTRACT A LOT OF NATIONAL MONEY, I THINK, COMING IN TO HELP OHIO.

>> DOES JON HUSTED FIRE UP THE CONSERVATIVE BASE?

>> NO.

>> WHY IS THAT?

IS HE JUST NOT KNOWN?

I MEAN, HE WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HOW DO WE NOT KNOW WHO HE IS?

>> HE IS KNOWN, BUT FOR THE CONSERVATIVE BASE, HE IS TOO CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH GOVERNOR MIKE DeWINE AND JON HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO EXCITE THE CONSERVATIVE BASE.

HE EXCITES THE BUSINESS, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THAT WHOLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH HE USED TO --THAT WAS HIS PROFESSION, AT ONE POINT IN TIME.

HE EXCITES THEM, HE EXCITES THE MONEY TO COME IN.

HE DOES NOT EXCITE -- AND WHEN I ASK FOLKS AT HOME, YOU KNOW, "ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR JON HUSTED? "

THEY GO, "WHAT IS HE? "

THEY HAVE NO IDEA.

>> IT'S STILL REALLY EARLY.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THE AS AND THERE WILL BE $30 MILLION ON BOTH SIDES AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

> >> ANYWAY, TIME FOR SPORTS.

THE REVOLUTION SWEEPING COLLEGE SPORTS IS TRICKLING DOWN TO HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

A FEW YEARS AGO, THE NCAA ALLOWED COLLEGE ATHLETES TO EARN MONEY IN SPONSORSHIP DEALS.

NOW, COLLEGES CAN DIRECTLY PAY ATHLETES.

SO, IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES STARTED SAYING, "WE WANT IN. "

THE AGENCY THAT REGULATES OHIO HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HAS PROHIBITED ATHLETES FROM EARNING SPONSORSHIP MONEY.

THEN, THIS FALL, A TOP HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER SUED THE OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, TRYING TO CUT A DEAL.

A JUDGE RULED THE PLAYER, AND OTHER PLAYERS, CAN NOW EARN MONEY.

AND NOW, THE OSHAA MAY CHANGE ITS RULES, TO ALLOW HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS.

GENE KREBS, A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL CENTER, CORRECT?

>> COLLEGE CENTER.

YOU MISSED IT!

>> I DID.

I DID.

>> IS THIS A GOOD IDEA?

>> LOOK, IT'S --THE COURT HAS SAID, IF YOU DON'T --YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO RULE IN 45 DAYS, AND YOU COULD TELL, FROM THE TENOR OF WHAT OSHAA SENT THEIR NOTICE OUT ON, IF WE DON'T DECIDE OUR RULES AND GUIDELINES, THE COURT WILL DO IT FOR US.

THEY WILL DECIDE TO GO AHEAD AND ALLOW THIS.

BUT, IN THE SAME VEIN, I'M ANNOUNCING AN EFFORT TO GO NIL FOR PEOPLE WHO APPEAR, THE "ON THE RECORD" SHOW, AND THE WEBSITE IS WWW.

SENDGENEKREBSMONEY.

COM.

>> ANYWAY, OHIO WOULD BE, LIKE, THE 46th STATE, WE ARE ACTUALLY KIND OF LATE IN ALLOWING HIGH SCHOOL KIDS TO MAKE MONEY, ANDREW.

>> YEAH, NOT A SPORTS REPORTER, SO I KIND OF HAVE A PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT THINGS WERE LIKE WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL 20 YEARS AGO, AND I REMEMBER VERY WELL, FOR JAMES GETTING IN TROUBLE FOR HIS MOM GETTING A LEASE ON A HUNTER, AND IT WAS ALSO -- YOU KNOW, IT WAS EITHER RECEIVING JERSEYS, OR SIGNING THEM, I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT HE GOT IN HOT WATER OVER THAT AND IT JUST SEEMS SO QUAINT WHEN YOU CONSIDER, ARE THERE GOING TO BE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WALKING AROUND MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS?

IT'S JUST A VERY DIFFERENT WORLD, WITH THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> WELL, IN NUMBER OF ATHLETES ARE REALLY GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS, IT IS VERY, VERY SMALL.

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WILL BE A HIGH SCHOOL VOTE IN NOVEMBER WITH HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS CASTING A VOTE.

THE LAST VOTE WENT 53-47, AGAINST.

SO, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE OSHAA IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME REAL GUARDRAILS AROUND THIS.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WILL HEAR FROM PRINCIPALS, ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, IS THAT FOR SOME OF THE LARGER, MORE WELL- HEELED SCHOOLS, ARE THEY ABLE TO LURE IN TALENT, TO TRANSFER, AND USE RESOURCES TO DO THAT, WHERE THAT MIGHT TAKE AWAY FROM OTHER SCHOOLS?

SO, IF YOU TALK TO COACHES OR PRINCIPALS YOU MIGHT HEAR SOME OF THAT, MY FATHER-IN-LAW IS A PROMINENT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH IN THE STATE, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THIS, YET, BUT I HAVE A SUSPICION WHAT HE WILL TELL ME.

BUT, I THINK THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME REAL GUARDRAILS IN PLACE IF THEY WILL PROCEED WITH THIS.

IT WILL BE A SMALL NUMBER OF ATHLETES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS.

BUT, WE WILL SEE HOW THAT VOTE GOES.

>> I WOULD SAY, GENE --YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT LeBRON JAMES, OF COURSE HE IS A MEGASTAR, AND FEAR ARE THESE FIVE-STAR RECRUITS FROM RECRUITING MAGAZINES, BUT IF YOU ARE THE HIGH SCHOOL QUARTERBACK, AND YOU ARE REALLY GOOD, IN A SMALL, LITTLE TOWN, AND THIS IS A LITTLE SHOCK IN THE --EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO THE QUARTERBACK IS, WHO THE STAR ATHLETE IS, THAT PERSON COULD CUT A DEAL, RIGHT?

WITH THE CAR DEALERSHIP, OR THE -- >> OR THE AIR CONDITIONING, VENTILATION PEOPLE, THE HVAC PEOPLE.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

IT WILL HAPPEN, BUT IT WILL BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.

BUT, WHAT THIS BASICALLY GOES TO IS THE COMMERCIALIZATION AND THE COMMODITIZATION OF OUR SOCIETY AND OUR CULTURE RIGHT NOW, WHERE EVERYTHING IS COMMERCIALIZED AND EVERYTHING IS A COMMODITY, INCLUDING PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF SAD.

>> I MEAN, STUDENTS, TOO, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM COLLEGE, RIGHT?

THEY CAN'T LEAVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY AND DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS, SO THERE HAVE TO BE A LOT OF GUARDRAILS IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND COMPETITIVENESS OF HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

>> YEAH.

FOR LAWMAKERS, ANY CHANCE THEY WOULD STEP IN AND MAN THIS?

THEY HAVE BIGGER --THEY HAVE PROPERTY TAXES.

>> PROPERTY TAXES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS ONE.

> >> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL "OFF THE RECORD" PARTING SHOTS.

GENE KREBS?

>> THE KEY ISSUE FOR 2026 IS GOING TO BE DATA CENTERS.

BACK IN MY RURAL COUNTY THAT HAS MORE LIVESTOCK THAN PEOPLE, THEY PROPOSED A DATA CENTER, I WENT TO A MEETING, IT WAS JAMPACKED WITH PEOPLE IN AN INSTANT.

THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE, THEY WILL BE ASKING BOTH CANDIDATES --MAJORITY PARTY CANDIDATES -- WHERE ARE YOU ON THIS?

AND IF RAMASWAMY SAYS HE IS AGAINST IT, HE LOSES HIS TECH PROSE, BUT IF HE SAYS HE IS FOR IT, IF HE SAYS HE IS FOR IT, HE LOSES VOTES IN TRUMP COUNTRY.

>> LOU?

>> GOING TO MAKE A BOLD PREDICTION THAT 2026 WILL BE A GREAT YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS AND DONALD TRUMP WILL CONTINUE TO PLUMMET IN THE POLLS POINT >> ALL RIGHT.

AND ANDREW?

>> THERE WAS A BIG GAMBLING SCANDAL IN THE NBA THAT ERUPTED THIS WEEK, AND TO KEEP IT SHORT, IT INCLUDED INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES BY INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS.

MIKE DeWINE SAYS HE WANTS TO BAN THESE TYPES OF BETS BECAUSE A SIMILAR SCANDAL HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER INVOLVING THE CLEVELAND GUARDIANS, SO MAYBE THIS WILL HELP MIKE DeWINE GET WHAT HE WANTS?

I DON'T KNOW, WE WILL SEE.

>> YEAH, EVERYONE IS SO SURPRISED THAT THERE IS A GAMBLING SCANDAL IN PRO SPORTS --WELL, COME ON.

EVERY OTHER AT IS A GAMBLING AD.

I THINK, WHAT MY PREDICTION IS, THE BETTING COMPANIES WILL COME TOGETHER AND WRITE UP SOME RULES BECAUSE THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE IN THEIR PRODUCTS.

POP BETS MIGHT GO AWAY OR MIGHT BE REDUCED BY THE BETTING COMPANIES THEMSELVES, AND NOT GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS.

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

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HAVE A GOOD WEEK.