AMY ACTON TAKES THE PLUNGE INTO POLITICS.

[ MUSIC ] WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

WE CAN DO 2025 AND WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OF OHIO IN THE 2026 CAMPAIGN.

DR. AMY ACTON HAS FILED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AS DEMOCRATS AMY ACTON ROSE TO STATEWIDE FAME AND NATIONAL TENSION IN THE SPRING OF 2020 WHEN SHE BECAME THE FACE OF OHIO'S FIGHT AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS.

SHE STOOD ALONGSIDE GOVERNOR DeWINE AS A STATES CLOSED BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

FOR MANY SHE WASN'T EMPATHETIC REASSURING VOICE IN THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

FOR OTHERS SHE BECAME THE FACE AND NEEDLESS PANDA.

ACTING CONSIDERED RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE IN 2022, BUT DECIDED AGAINST IT.

THIS TIME SHE IS JUMPING IN REPUBLICANS AT THE STATEHOUSE HAVE PUT OHIO ON THE WRONG PATH.

JO INGLES, SHE HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS A CANDIDATE FOR A WHILE NOW.

THIS IS REALLY A.

WE ARE GETTING FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE PANDEMIC AND ALL THE GOODWILL SHE DEVELOPED THEN.

STILL EXACTLY.

SHE REALLY NEEDED TO RUN NOW OR NEVER.

AMY ACTON HAS A VERY UNUSUAL BACK STORY AS WELL.

SHE WAS HOMELESS FOR A SHORT.

OF TIME IN HER PAST WHEN SHE WAS GROWING UP AS A CHILD.

SHE HAS HAD SOME HARD TIMES.

SHE WANTED TO SPEAK TO THOSE, SPEAK ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT SHE SEES THAT HER HOLDING OHIOANS BACK.

>> HEALTHCARE WAS ONE, SHE IS A PHYSICIAN.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MUCH THAT HELPS OR HURT HER.

OBVIOUSLY, THE COVID-19 CRITICISM AWAY WAS HANDLED IN DIFFERENT STATES .

IN OHIO, AS YOU GET FURTHER FROM 2025 , YEARS AGO NOW, I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING BAD AT IT MORE CRITICALLY.

THE SMALL BUSINESSES CLOSING DOWN.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT HER RESPONSE HELPED OR HURT HER AND WHETHER 2025 IS FAR ENOUGH AWAY.

>> SHE'S A ROOKIE.

THAT HAS DISADVANTAGES AS SHE IS AN EXPRESS AS A POLITICAL CANDIDATE.

THE ADVANTAGES, SHE DOESN'T HAVE A VOTING RECORD.

WHICH WINS OUT?

>> NOT HAVING A VOTING RECORD CAN BE A PLUS.

WHEN YOU HAVE NOT EVEN RUN FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION OR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, THE LEARNING CURVE IN POLITICS IS STEEP IF YOU WANT TO RUN STATEWIDE IT'S EVEN TOUGHER.

HERE'S ANOTHER ANGLE.

SOME OF THE KEY PEOPLE PUSHING HER, BOTH THE LAST TIME AND THIS PUSH TIME, OR SHARE BROWN'S PEOPLE IN WHICH TO ME SAYS JARON BROWN IS FOCUSED ON U.S. SENATE, NOT THE OPTION OF RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> 70 ALSO DID NOT HAVE ANY ELECTION EXPERIENCED IS NOWHERE TO BE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

VANCE BECAUSE.

SOME PEOPLE CAN GRASP POLITICS QUICKLY.

TODAY'S TOLEDO BLADE HARDLY A PRESERVATIVE --CONSERVATIVE PUBLICATION CITED OR NAà VETÉ ON SOME DIFFERENT THINGS AND HOW SHE WOULDN'T BE THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

WE WILL SEE.

>>>> THERE DECIDED TO HAVE A CANDIDATE.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE FINAL CANDIDATE.

LOOK, WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE PREVIOUS SHOWS ABOUT WHAT IS THE DEMOCRATIC BENCH.

WHO ARE THE OTHER NAMES THAT YOU COULD MENTION?

DOES TIM RYAN WANT TO RUN?

DOES ALLISON RUSSO WANT TO RUN?

THERE JUST ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO DEMOCRATS, WHO SEEM ON THE FACE OF IT, TO BE STRONG CANDIDATES.

IS HE A STRONG CANDIDATE?

I THINK SHE HAS A LOT OF THIS IS.

AND I THINK HER RECORD ON THE PANDEMIC IS REALLY GOING TO BE , IF YOU IMAGINE HOW THE REPUBLICANS WILL ATTACK HER.

SHE IS THE PERSON WHO CLOSED THE BUSINESS IS.

SHE IS THE PERSON WHO DISRUPTED SHE IS THE PERSON WHO FORCED US TO WEAR MASKS I THINK WILL BE A NEGATIVE THING THERE.

SHE ALSO, IF SHE PICKS OR ISSUES CORRECTLY, AND I HOPE SHE WILL BE COMFORTABLE IN TALKING ABOUT PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION , TAX REFORM, A WHOLE VARIETY OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

LAST THING IS I THINK THAT SOMEHOW FOR THOSE WHO KNOW HER, AND THEY WONDER IF SHE IS STRONG ENOUGH .

DOES SHE HAVE THE SPINE OF STEEL?

PEOPLE ARE SAYING NOW , WHO KNOW HER, THAT SHE REALLY IS A DIFFERENT PERSON THAN SHE WAS A YEAR AGO.

SHE IS NOT A TOUCHY-FEELY.

SHE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE DRIVEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE BECAUSE THE HAVING GUNS IN EUROPE AND PROBABLY TOUGHENED YOUR SPINE A LITTLE BIT.

WHO ELSE MIGHT RUN?IT WILL BE A PRIMARY DEMOCRATIC SIDE EVEN SOMEONE AMONG PRIMARIES, >> TIM REITH IS NOT THE ONE THAT MIGHT RUN.

WE HAVE HEARD ALLISON RUSSO MENTIONED.

SHE IS AHEAD OF, THE HEALTH MINORITY LEADER, HEAD OF SHE MIGHT RUN.

YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE THING, THE DEMOCRATS DO NOT HAVE A DEEP BENCH THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY SHOWING UP, NOT SO MUCH WITH THE SENATE AND WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, BUT WHEN YOU GO DOWN TICKET, I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO GET DEMOCRATS WITH NAME RECOGNITION., SHARON BROWN, IF HE DOES IF HE DOESN'T DO, WHICH SEEMS HE HAS SUPPORTED ACTON IN THE PAST.

HE DOES RUN FOR SENATE AND TRIES TO GET J.D.

VANCE' OLD SEAT.

THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD TOP OF THE TICKET COMBO AMY ACTON AND SHERROD BROWN, IF SHE WERE TO MAKE IT TO THE PRIMARY.

>> PRESUMABLY, IT MIGHT BE A BETTER YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS IN 2026, TWO MIDTERM ELECTIONS, THE PARTY IN POWER.

NEVER FARES AS WELL IN THOSE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

OF THE TICKET.

THE PROBLEMS, I THINK, GOING TO BE THE FUNDRAISING WE MENTIONED DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE THE DEEPEST BENCH RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WHAT WE SAW IN THE LAST ELECTION IS THAT THEIR CAMPAIGNS FOCUSED A LOT OF THINGS LIKE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WHEREAS A LOT OF OHIOANS ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON OTHER ISSUES, LIKE THE ECONOMY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHILE THAT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, I DON'T THINK IT IS RESONATING WITH OHIOANS THE WAY THEY MIGHT WANTED TO BECAUSE.

DON'T FORGET THE NAME OF JENNIFER BRUNNER, WHO IS THE LAST DEMOCRAT STATEWIDE OFFICEHOLDER THAT IS LEFT IN OFFICE.

SHE HAS GOT A FEW PINCHING IN YOUNGSTOWN FEDERAL COURT THAT MIGHT ALLOW HER TO STAND THE BENCH AND RUN, BECAUSE SHE IS UP IN 26 AND KNOWS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO GET RE- ELECTED ON THE OHIO SUPREME COURT.

THERE ARE NAMES, BUT YOU CAN ALMOST COUNT THEM ON ONE HAND IF THEY GET THAT FAR.

>> AS THE YEAR UNFOLDS, IF IT LOOKS LIKE REPUBLICANS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS IN WASHINGTON OR IN OHIO AND THE ECONOMY IS NOT DOING THAT WELL, THEN THERE WILL BE MUCH TO COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK AND TRY TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

AND NOT JUST THE TOP OF THE TICKET, BUT FILLING OUT THAT TICKET.

THE OTHER THING WE DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW IS WHO WILL THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE BE?

I WOULD SAY TODAY THAT ANY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE STARTS OFF AS THE UNDERDOG.

PARTICULARLY AN UNDERDOG AGAINST SOMEBODY LIKE JOHN CHEESMAN.

OF COURSE, THE RUMORS NOW HAVE IT THAT YOU SAID MAYBE APPOINTED TO THE SENATE AND THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE PUSHING VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

>> LET'S GET TO THOSE NUMBERS.

OHIO NOW ONLY HAS ONE US SENATOR, AND BERNIE MORENEO HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A WEEK.

THAT'S BECAUSE JD VANCE RESIGNED THIS WEEK, AS HE PREPARES TO TAKE THE OATH NEXT WEEK AS VICE PRESIDENT, WHO SUCCEEDS HIM REMAINS UNCERTAIN.

STILL NO WORD FROM GOVERNOR DEWINE ON HIS CHOICE TO REPLACE VANCE FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

MOST OF THE SPECULATION SURROUNDS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JON HUSTED.

HUSTED WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR, BUT FACES A DIFFICULT PRIMARY IF DONALD TRUMP FAVORITE AND OHIO NATIVE, VIVEK RAMASWAMY, RUNS.

ANOTHER LEADING CONTENDER WOULD BE FORMER STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR JANE TIMKEN… THAT U.S. SENATE SEAT.

WHAT IS THE LATEST?

>> WE DON'T EXPECT AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK, OF COURSE, TODAY IS FRIDAY BECAUSE GO RIGHT.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO EXPECT SOMETHING THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR MIKE DeWINE INDICATED THAT HE WILL, QUOTE, PROBABLY HAVE A DECISION NEXT WEEK.

WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

I THINK WE HAVE ASKED THE GOVERNOR ENOUGH TIMES FOR HIM TO BE ADEQUATELY ANNOYED WITH THE WHOLE ENTIRE PRESS CORPS AT THIS POINT.

HE HAS STAYED PRETTY TIGHTLIPPED ABOUT IT, SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.

JOHN HOUSTON, I ASKED HIM BEFORE THE ELECTION AND HE SAID , OH, WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ELECTION.

IF WE WIN WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT BUT I ASKED HIM THIS WEEKEND HE SAID, WELL, I'M WEIGHING ALL OF MY OPTIONS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS TO TURN DOWN.

IF HE IS APPOINTED THAT WILL PUT INTO EFFECT A WHOLE OTHER TENABLE PREMISE THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN.

HE IS DEFINITELY TOP OF THE LIST, AS YOU MENTIONED, JANE ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE YOST HAS NO INTERESTED IN IT.

IT WOULD BE SHOCKING IF IT WAS HIM.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR DECIDES NEXT WEEK.

>> IS THIS JOHN HUGHES DEAD'S DECISION OR IS HE STILL UNDECIDED?

IS.

TO THE CREDIT OF HERB IN EARLY DECEMBER HE FIRST RAISED THE QUESTION OF WHO'S DEAD FOR THE SENATE.

I POOH-POOHED IT BUT I CHECKED THE MORE AND FOUND OUT AND THEN YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THE MEETINGS SET UP MAR-A-LAGO.

ALL THE OTHER SIGNS ARE POINTING PRETTY CLEARLY THAT IT IS GOING TO BE HUGHES DEAD.

TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THE BURDEN OF THE HAND OF BEING A U.S.

SENATOR CAN BE FAIRLY APPEALING AND FOR BERNIE MARINO SWEARING- IN, BOTH TINA HIS WIFE AND JOHN WERE THERE.

AND GOT A SAMPLE OF THE D.C.

ENVIRONMENT.

D.C. AT CERTAIN TIMES CAN BE VERY INTOXICATING AND VERY APPEALING.

I THINK PROBABLY THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO NOT JUST APPOINT A NEW SENATOR, BUT APPOINT A NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> WHEN YOU'RE GOVERNOR YOU RUN THE SHOW.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LEGISLATURE, OF COURSE.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE IN THE SENATE YOU ARE ONE OF 100.

YOU HAVE TO BASICALLY ANSWER TO YOUR MAJORITY LEADER OR THE MINORITY.

AND NOW IF YOU ARE REPUBLICAN YOU DANCER YOU ANSWER TO DONALD TRUMP.

YOU ARE A COG IN A VERY BIG WHEEL.

>> YOU ARE.

THERE'S ANOTHER THING WE NEED TO REMEMBER.

THE RELATIONSHIP THAT ELON MUSK HAD TO DONALD TRUMP.

ELON MUSK SEEMS TO BE IN DONALD TRUMP'S YOUR EVERY SECOND DAY, MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.

IF YOU LOOK AT HUGHES DEAD' AS BACKGROUND HE HAS BEEN WORKING IN OHIO, ALL OF THESE DEALS WE HAVE BEEN GETTING IN OHIO.

HE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH BANKS, FINANCIAL ISSUES.

THESE COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO SOME OF THE BUSINESS INTERESTS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE ELON MUSK MIGHT STAND ON THAT OR SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT ARE PROBABLY WAITING IN.

THE FACT IS, THAT MIGHT MAKE HIM MORE OF A ESSENTIAL CANDIDATE.

A LOT OF THOSE THINGS, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A RUN OF GOVERNOR.

HE WAS PUT IN FRONT OF THE INTEL PROJECT AND JOBS OHIO AND KEEPING HELPING BUSINESSES DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

NOW IT'S ALMOST AS IF THE RUG IS BEEN PULLED OUT FROM UNDER HIM.

BUT I THINK JOHN HUGHES DEAD IS DEFINITELY QUALIFIED TO SERVE AS GOVERNOR.

WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH HIM ON ISSUES OR WHATEVER, HE HAS THE EXPERIENCE, HE'S GOT THE POLITICAL SKILLS WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?WHAT WE BELIEVE BEHIND THE SCENES IS THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS OUR NEXT GOVERNOR TO BE VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

SO YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO -- HUGHES DEAD OUT OF THE RACE FOR THAT.

IF YOU'RE DEMOCRAT THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, YOU WOULD MUCH RATHER RUN AGAINST RAMASWAMY THEM JOHN HUSTED.

>> WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR THE CALCULATION IN 26?WHETHER THE WINE HAS TO FILL TWO YEARS UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION AND IS REQUIRED TO RUN AGAIN IN 26 NATALIE, DOES IT SEEM MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR SHERROD BROWN TO RUN AGAINST HIM?

WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR THE OTHER SIDE?

RUN AGAINST JOHN HUSTED?

IS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE GIVE THEM TO MAC OPPORTUNITIES TO WIN THAT SEAT BACK.

IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, BUT NOW SOMEONE LIKE SHERROD BROWN SAYS I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY IN 2026 MAYBE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE CONFUSED.

WHY AM I VOTING YOU AS SENATE AGAIN?

DIDN'T WE JUST DO THIS?

PEOPLE MIGHT BE MORE MOTIVATED TO GET OUT TO THE POLLS, DEPENDING ON HOW THE NEXT FEW YEARS GO.

I THINK IT COULD BE FAVORABLE FOR THE OTHER SIDE TO HAVE THESE TWO OPPORTUNITIES, NOT TOO FAR AWAY, TO TRY AND GAIN SOME POWER BACK IN THE U.S. SENATE FROM OHIO.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IF JOHN HUGHES DEAD , IF IT IS HIS CHOICE AND HE SAYS, NO, I'M GOING TO GO FOR GOVERNOR.

WHO'S NEXT?

>> I DON'T THINK THE NEXT IS JOHN HUGHES DEAD.

I THINK WILL BE JANE TIMKEN.

>> THERE'S A LITTLE CATEGORY THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

HE WANTS A PROVEN WINNER.

JOHN HUSTED HAS BEEN ON THE BALLOT FOR TIME SUCCESSFULLY.

MOST OF THOSE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN THERE OR NOT BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL.

I'M STILL BETTING THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE HUGHES DEAD AND THERE WILL BE A NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

JUST FANS MORE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT IN THE COMING YEAR.

>> JO, SPECULATION , WE ARE GETTING TWO STEPS DOWN THE ROAD NOW.

WHICH IN THE GOVERNOR POSSIBILITIES?

IT'S.

I HAVE HEARD THAT LYDIA MALIK, I CAN'T SAY HER LAST NAME, ALL NECK, DID I SAY THAT RIGHT?

SHE IS OVER BUDGET.

I HAVE HEARD THAT SHE MIGHT STAND A CHANCE.

SHE IS SOMEONE WHO HAD AN UP- AND-COMING CAREER.

SHE IS PRETTY WELL-KNOWN IN THE PIKE, OBVIOUS THE, .

>> WE'LL SEE.

THE OHIO LEGISLATURE STARTED ITS NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION MONDAY.

THE ONLY DRAMA WAS WHETHER LAWMAKERS FROM SOUTHERN OHIO WOULD MAKE IT THROUGH A FOOT OF SNOW TO GET TO COLUMBUS.

THERE WAS NO DRAMA IN THE HOUSE OR SENATE CHAMBER.

NONE OF THE LEADERSHIP FIGHTS OR INTER-PARTY HORSE TRADING YEARS.

FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT, MATT HUFFMAN, TRADED GAVELS AND WAS UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER.

HIS CLOSE ALLY, ROB MCCAULEY, WAS CHOSEN SENATE PRESIDENT.

HERB ASHER, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT MATT HUFFMAN' AS POLITICS OR HIS PRACTICES, THIS IS A PRETTY EXTORT EVERY MOVE THAT HE HAS DONE HERE, GOING FROM THE TOP SPOT IN ONE CHAMBER IMMEDIATELY TO THE TOP SPOT IN THE OTHER.'S.

AND DONE IT VERY SMOOTHLY WITHOUT THE KIND OF CONTROVERSY OR CONFLICT WE MIGHT HAVE IMAGINED.

MATT HUFFMAN REALLY IS A VERY TALENTED, VERY SMART , VERY STRATEGIC PERSON.

HE PLAYS HARDBALL POLITICS , BUT WITH A SOFT TOUCH TO IT.

HE DOESN'T COME ACROSS AS A STRIDENT PERSON.

HE HAS EIGHT YEARS, POTENTIALLY, AS SPEAKER.

I THINK WILL BE THE MOST PROMINENT REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

AND HE HAS A GOOD FRIEND IN McAULEY AS THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

I HAVE KNOWN MATT SINCE HE WAS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN LIMA, OHIO.

PART OF IT IS HE IS VERY QUICK, IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO RESPOND, SHIFT GEARS AND PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP.

I THINK IN THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SURPRISED THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GET DONE OR PASSED, INCLUDING RIGHT OR WRONG ON A HIGHER ED FEEL THAT SOME PEOPLE AT UNIVERSITIES MIGHT NOT LIKE.

SOME OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE K-12 FUNDING .

THE BUDGET THAT IS GOING TO BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF THINGS MOVED THROUGH IN THE FIRST TWO, THREE, FOUR MONTHS OF THE SESSION.'S.

YOU HEAR STORIES THAT HOST NUMBERS DON'T GET ALONG WITH THE SENATE.

EVEN IN THEIR OWN PARTY.

DOES THAT EVAPORATE NOW OR IS THERE STILL GOING TO BE A LITTLE TENSION BETWEEN THE CHAMBERS?

>> I DON'T THINK IT NECESSARILY EVAPORATES NOW.

THERE ARE STILL 99 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND THIRTYSOMETHING MEMBERS IN THE SENATE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET ALONG AND AGREE ON TOPICS.

OF LEADER ROB McCAULEY IS GOING TO BE.

MATT HUFFMAN HAD A PRETTY STURDY HANDLE ON HIS CAUCUS IN THE SENATE.

IS THAT GOING TO TRANSLATE AS A PLEA TO THE HOUSE?

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE PERSONALITIES.

THERE'S DIFFERENT FACTIONS IN THE HOUSE.

THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

I DO THINK THERE IS JUST IN GENERAL GOING TO BE MORE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CHAMBERS AND SO THINGS LIKE, TERRY SAID, ARE JUST GOING TO GET THROUGH A LOT QUICKER.

SOMETHING LIKE KLONDIKE SOME OF THOSE MARIJUANA ISSUES THAT THE SENATE PASSED WITH DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT MIGHT GET ROOM HOUSE A LITTLE BIT EASIER THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE IN FIGHTING MIGHT NOT BE AS PROMINENT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT CAN NEVER GO AWAY WHEN YOU HAVE BODIES THAT BIG.

>> WHERE DO DEMOCRATS LAND HERE?

THEY HAD A SMIDGEN, A SMIDGEN, OF POWER WHEN THEY HELPED ELECT MARY HOUSEHOLDER AND JASON STEVENS.

THERE IS NO SMIDGEN ANYMORE.

>> THERE IS NO SMIDGEN OF POWER HERE.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

BUT IF THERE IS ANY IN FIGHTING ONCE AGAIN THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO THE DEMOCRATS COMING IN.

PLUS, A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, A LOT OF THE ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE GOING INTO THE BUDGET BUT THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF.

YOU LOOK AT THINGS LIKE CHILDREN'S HEALTH ISSUES, EDUCATION, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME MORE COMMON GROUND THAN WHAT WE THINK.'S.

THEY HAD VETO-PROOF MAJORITIES, REPUBLICANS DO RIGHT NOW.

AND THEY HAVE A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.

WHERE DOES MATT HUFFMAN AND ROB McCAULEY SIT WITH GOVERNOR DeWINE?

>> THEY DON'T AGREE ON ALL ISSUES ALL THE TIME.

IN GENERAL, IF YOU LOOK AT GOVERNOR'S BUDGETS, ALL TOLD ME, 98.5% ALL GETS ADOPTED.

THEY WILL WORK IT OUT.

THE ONLY TROUBLE IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE, AND THERE ARE DARK CLOUDS LOOMING, IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY GOT , THE COVID MONEY IS NOT ONLY GONE, BUT THERE IS SOME WARNING SIGNS, SALES TAX AND INCOME TAX REVENUE MIGHT START CRANKING UP.

IS TOUGH TO DO A BUDGET 30 MONTHS AHEAD AND PROTECT ALL THE ECONOMIC FACTORS.

IN TERM LIMITS, HERB, RIFE AS HOUSE SPEAKER FOR 20 YEARS.

THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS.'S.

IN EIGHT YEARS MATT HUFFMAN GOES BACK AND SERVES AS HOUSE SPEAKER?

>> YOU ARE SAYING DOES HE GO BACK IN EIGHT YEARS >> YEAH.. NO.

WE HAVE THAT --HAD A COUPLE OF LEGISLATURES THAT HAVE GONE BACK SINCE WE'VE HAD TERM LIMITS.

>> NOT IN TOP SPOT THOUGH.

>> MATT HUFFMAN IS SO TALENTED .

I THINK YOU WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS DON'T GO TOO FAR OFF THE RAILS.

HE WILL DO A GOOD JOB, I THINK, IN MAKING SURE THAT THE EXTREMELY WACKO FRINGE DOESN'T DOMINATE THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IS DOING.

HE'S A GOOD CONSERVATIVE.

HE HAS A NUMBER OF ISSUES HE WANTS TO PURSUE.

AGENDA VERY EFFECTIVELY.

>> HE WENT WITH THE WRONG SIDE ON THE MERIT WANTED TRAFFIC MARIJUANA ISSUE AND THE ABORTION RIGHTS ISSUE.

THOSE BOTH PAST, BUT BOTH HAD 60% OF THE VOTE.

HE WAS:OPPONENTS OF BOTH OF THOSE.

HE ADJUSTS AND SHIFT GEARS.

THAT BACKGROUND IN LIMA IS A AN URBAN AREA.

HE UNDERSTANDS THAT IS PRETTY WELL, THE DIVERSITY OF OHIO.

YOU JUST LIKE TO GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT, BUT HE ADJUSTS AND ADAPT ACCORDINGLY.

ALSO IN THE LEGISLATURE YOU ALWAYS HAVE EACH WEEK MAYBE ONE OR TWO TOUGH ISSUES WHEN THEY ARE IN SESSION.

BUT YOU HAVE TO ADJUST, TURN THE PAGE, KEEP MOVING.

HE UNDERSTANDS THAT PROCESS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MANY THOSE WAREHOUSE LOOKING BUILDINGS POPPING UP ALL AROUND CENTRAL OHIO ARE NOT WAREHOUSES AT ALL.

THEY ARE DATA CENTERS.

WAREHOUSE SIZE BUILDINGS FILLED WITH COMPUTERS.

THEY ARE PROCESSING, STORING AND TRANSFERRING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF DATA.

OHIO HAS SOME 170 OF THESE DATA CENTERS, THE FOURTH MOST IN THE COUNTRY.

OHIO HAS WORKED HARD TO ATTRACT THESE FACILITIES, OFFERING TAX BREAKS AND OTHER INCENTIVES.

BUT THEY COME WITH A COST.

THEY ABSORB FARMLAND.

THEY ONLY EMPLOY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE.

AND THEY NEED A LOT OF ENERGY.

SO MUCH SO THAT UTILITIES LIKE AEP WILL HAVE TO MAKE BIG IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GRID OF HIGH TENSION WIRES AND TRANSFER STATIONS.

THE ESTIMATED COST TO IMPROVE THE GRID COULD APPROACH $5 BILLION.

AND THE QUESTION NOW IS, WHO PAY FOR IT?

THE DATA CENTERS OR OTHER RATE PAYERS.. IS THIS DATA CENTER BROOM A GOOD THING FOR THE STATE OF OHIO?

IT'S.

THE ANSWER, CORRECT ANSWER IS YES AND NO.

THERE IS CLEARLY RIGHT NOW A OF A BATTLE GOING ON IN BUSINESS INTERESTS.

SOME DATA BUSINESS PEOPLE WANT IT ALL BUILT AND SPREAD AMONG ALL RATE PAYERS.

A LOT OF OTHER RATEPAYERS, INCLUDING PEOPLE THAT OWN A LOT OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BUSINESSES, FACTORIES, ET CETERA, PLUS HOMEOWNERS WHO DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY FORK HERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE WRINKLE.

TECHNOLOGICALLY COMING IN THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS WILL BE THE ABILITY OF THESE OPERATIONS TO MAYBE HAVE THEIR OWN IN-HOUSE NATURAL GAS GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY OR THE TECHNOLOGY MIGHT BE THERE FOR MANY NUCLEAR PLANTS TO SUPPLY IT.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH DO YOU BUILD IN GENERATING AND TRANSMISSION AND DOES THE TECHNOLOGY CHANGE IN HOW ELECTRIC IS GENERATED FOR THE FUTURE?

>> THE STATE IS OFFERING A LOT OF INCENTIVES TO THESE DATA CENTERS.

WHAT IS A STRATEGY?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF JOBS WITH THESE DATA CENTERS.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF JOBS.

THERE IS TAX REVENUE THAT COMES IN.

PLUS, THIS IS AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD POSITION IN OHIO WELL IN THE FUTURE.

YOU KNOW, TO TERRY'S COMMENT ABOUT HAVING POTENTIAL NEW FACILITIES , IN WITH SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WITH THEIR OWN UTILITIES, I MEAN, WE HEARD THAT WITH ELECTRIC THAT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO AND IT REALLY HASN'T MATERIALIZED.

>> AEP IS ASKING THESE DATA CENTERS TO PUT THE MONEY UP FRONT TO HELP EXPAND THE GRID.

WHICH KIND OF MAKES SENSE, BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID THEY'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, WE SPENT ALL THIS MONEY TO EXPAND THE GRID AND THEN THE DATA CENTER PULLS OUT.'S.

THE CONVERSATION IN OHIO WAS REALLY INTERESTING , IN GENERAL.

LAST SUNDAY THERE WAS A BICAMERAL, BISTATE MEETING.

LAWMAKERS FROM PENNSYLVANIA CAME TO OHIO.

EACH CHAMBER MET WITH HIM.

IT WAS THIS MADE HIM ABOUT OHIO AND WHAT THE FUTURE OF ENERGY IN OHIO LOOKS LIKE.

I THINK THE BIG THING THAT A LOT OF UTILITIES ARE WARNING AGAINST AND LAWMAKERS ARE NOW TRYING TO ADDRESS IS THIS LOOMING ENERGY CLIFF THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT.

WILL OHIO START HAVING RULING BROWNOUTS, BLACKOUTS, THINGS LIKE THAT?

THE ENERGY CONVERSATION IS A LOT BIGGER.

I THINK THE CONCERN IS SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH ENERGY THAT OHIO CAN HANDLE RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED ENERGY ISSUES SINCE HEALTH BILL SIX.

>> HERB, I DON'T SEE ANY PROTEST.

IT'S TAKING UP FARMLAND.

ITEMS INTO PROTESTS, LIKE WE ARE SEEING AT THE SOLAR FARMS OF THESE HIGH TENSION POLES ARE PRETTY TALL.

LIKE WINDMILLS AND WIND FARMS.

I DON'T SEE ANY PROTESTS THERE, LIKE PROTECTING THE BIRDS.

>> TERRY'S POINT, IF THEY DON'T COME UP WITH NEW WAYS OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY THEN WE WILL HAVE TO RELY UPON THE TRADITIONAL NOTION OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE GRID.

AND THEN YOU GET BACK TO THE QUESTION OF WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

AND I THINK IN SOME WAY RATE PAYERS ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT BUT THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW?

ARE YOU ONE TO FRONTLOAD ALL THESE COSTS?

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY TALK ABOUT PUTTING BOND ISSUES ON THE BALLOT TO HELP GENERATE REVENUE , TO HELP THE COMPANIES DO THESE UPGRADES.

AND THEN HOW WOULD YOU PAY FOR THE BONDS ?

IT WOULD BE A SURCHARGE ON YOUR ENERGY BILL.

THAT SURCHARGE MIGHT BE LESS THAN A DIRECT INCREASE IN YOUR RATE PAY.'S.

GOOGLE'S MARKET VALUE IS $2.4 TRILLION.

THINK, IS , AMAZON IS $2.3 BILLION IN META-IS LIKE 2.3 META-IS LIKE $2.3 TRILLION.

THERE IS SOME MONEY THERE.

>> IF YOU ARE A BIG TRICOLOR COMPANY AND YOU CAN GET THE LITTLE PEOPLE OF OHIO TO FLOAT THE 30 YEAR OBLIGATION AND RISK, THAT'S A GREAT DEAL FOR THEM.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD SHOTS.

>> WE GOT TO WATCH J.D.

VANCE WITH INTEREST.

UNIQUELY OHIO FOR ITS FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE THREE U.S.

SENATORS.

J.D.

VANCE WILL BE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, POTENTIALLY A TIEBREAKER.

PLUS, OUR OTHER TWO SENATORS.

WHAT ROLE DOES HE HAVE ?

IS IT A BENEFIT TO OHIO?

DOES IT WORK OUT?

>> HERB.

>> WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT OHIO STATE FOOTBALL COACHES, THEIR BONUSES.

WE HAVE HEARD THE PUBLIC STATEMENT ABOUT IS A $20 MILLION TEAM.

ARE GOING TO SEE GREATER OPENNESS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, IN TERMS OF WHAT FOOTBALL PROGRAMS ARE SPENDING TO ACHIEVE THE ELITE STATUS THEY WANT?

ESPECIALLY WITH TEXAS AND WHAT TEXAS A&M ARE DOING.'S.

JO.

>> BIN AS WE PASSED AWAY.

HE WAS ALSO VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN COLUMBUS , COLUMBUS POLITICS.

HE STARTED A LOT OF PROGRAMS.

BROKE A LOT OF COLOR BARRIERS.

A VERY INTERESTING MAN AND CONDOLENCES TO HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

ALSO, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS, READ ABOUT HIM, BECAUSE HE'S INTERESTING.

>> GREAT GUY BECAUSE GO STAY TUNED FOR 2025.

A NEW U.S.

SENATOR, POSSIBLY THE TENANT GOVERNOR.

THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE -- LOTS OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS STOLE THE PAST TWO YEARS IS LIKELY GOING TO GET THROUGH.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT GOING ON.

>> WE WILL BE WITH IT ALL THE WAY.

GOOGLE DID OFFER $1 MILLION TO HELP IMPROVE THE ELECTRIC GRID THIS WEEK.

NOT BAD.

IT'S GOING TO COST $5 BILLION IT'S A START.

THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN WATCH US ANY TIME ON YOUR TIME THE NEXT DAY IF YOU MISS US.

LIKE SAY IF YOU MISS US TO WATCH THE COLLEGE FOOBALL SEMIFINALS.

WATCH US ON OUR WEBSITE WOSU- DOT-ORG / COTR, YOUTUBE AND ALSO ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

>>