>> LAME DUCK LAWMAKING AND LAME DUCK PARDONS.

>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT IN THE CURRENT LAME DUCK LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT THE OHIO STATE HOUSE.

LAWMAKERS EXPECT LONG NIGHTS NEXT WEEK.

THE FLURRY OF LEGISLATION INCLUDES THE SO-CALLED PARENTS RIGHTS BILL THAT REQUIRES PARENTAL NOTIFICATION WHEN TEACHERS INTEND TO ADDRESS TOPICS OF SEXUALITY AND IT WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

ANOTHER BILL WOULD GIVE LAWMAKERS A RAISE, AND ANOTHER BILL WOULD EXTEND FRACKING LEASES IN STATE PARKS.

THAT'S JUST A SAMPLE OF THE MANY BILLS AND AMENDMENTS UNDER CONSIDERATION THIS SESSION.

JO INGLES, GIVEN THE STRIFE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, THIS ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IS THIS LAME DUCK PORTION OF THE SESSION ANY DIFFERENT THAN IN YEARS PAST?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY THAT IT'S DIFFERENT.

I WOULD SAY IT'S COMPLICATED.

WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE LEGISLATION IS ADDED TO SO QUICKLY, AND YOU HAVE SITUATIONS, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD SITUATION WHERE LAWMAKERS HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO READ WHAT'S BEEN ADDED TO THE --BUT IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.

AND IT ALSO KNOWING WHERE THE LINES ARE AND WHO'S -- WHOSE FACTION YOU'RE IN IS PLAYING INTO HOW PEOPLE WANT TO DIGEST IT.

>> IS THIS ANY WAY TO MAKE LAWS, TERRY?

>> REMEMBER, MIKE, THIS IS CHRISTMAS TIME.

SO COMING UP WITH CHRISTMAS TREE BILLS, ALL KIND OF THINGS ARE TACKED ON, IT'S KIND OF, QUOTE, 'TIS THE SEASON.

ONE STATE HOUSE PERSON SAID LAME DUCK, IS THAT A TASTY DINNER OR SOMETHING ELSE?

IT'S NOT A TASTY DINNER.

BUT WE'LL SEE NEXT WEEK WHAT THEY DO PRODUCTIVE.

BY THE WAY, IT ISN'T JUST THE PAY RAISE FOR LAWMAKERS, IT'S FOR A LOT OF COUNTY OFFICIALS AND JUDGES.

AND WITH TERM LIMITS THERE'S A LOT OF STATE REPS AND STATE SENATORS WHO MIGHT SEE THEMSELVES SOMEDAY AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER OR JUDGE OR SOMETHING ELSE.

SO THEY'RE --'TIS THE SEASON, CHRISTMAS THEY WANT TO BE GENEROUS.

>> THESE ARE --THESE ARE MODEST COST OF LIVING PAY RAISES.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING 10%, 20% PAY RAISES.

SO IT SEEMS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HAVE CONSIDERED BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

>> YOU WOULD IF YOU WANT TO DO IT DURING THE LIGHT OF DAY.

THE PROBLEM WITH LAME DUCK IS THAT YOU'RE DOING IT AT A TIME WHERE YOU THINK PEOPLE AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FLY IT THROUGH.

AND HONESTLY, IF SOMEBODY DIDN'T WRITE ABOUT IT, THEY WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN TOTALLY HAPPY TO GET THIS TO GO THROUGH.

THIS IS WHY A LOT OF STATES IN THEIR LEGISLATORS HAVE WHAT THEY CALL PART- TIME LEGISLATORS.

THEY'RE THERE TO DO THE BUDGET.

THEY CONVENE FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS.

THEY'RE OUT, AND THE ONLY PERSON THAT CAN CALL THEM BACK IS THE GOVERNOR FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

IT PROTECTS TAXPAYERS.

>> SOME WOULD SAY THAT IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY HIGHER SALARIES THEY WANT TO SEND A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

YOU WANT THEM WORKING A LITTLE BIT OR A LOT, PAY THEM MORE OR LESS.

>> WITH LAWMAKERS YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THE AVERAGE LAWMAKER MAKES OVER $71,000 A YEAR.

THE AVERAGE OHIO AN DOES NOT MAKE OVER $71,000 A YEAR.

AND THE PAY INCREASES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED IN THIS BILL ARE MUCH MORE GENEROUS THAN NORMAL EVERYDAY OHIOANS GET.

I MEAN, 5% THE FIRST YEAR, 5% THE SECOND YEAR.

THEN THERE'S A FORMULA TO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING.

I THINK IF YOU WENT OUT ON THE STREET AND TALKED TO ORDINARY OHIOANS YOU WOULD FIND THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FOR LESS THAN THE LAWMAKERS, THEY'RE NOT GETTING THOSE COST OF LIVING RAISES.

>> COMING FROM LABOR, THEY MUST HAVE GOOD NEGOTIATORS, BUT THEY'RE NEGOTIATING WITH THEMSELVES.

>> LET'S GET TO THE PARENTAL RIGHTS BILL.

CRITICS CALL IT A DON'T SAY GAY BILL, WHICH REQUIRES TEACHERS IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES OF SEXUALITY YOU HAVE TO LET PARENTS KNOW.

TERRY, ISN'T THAT GOING TO STIFLE EDUCATION?

IF SOMEBODY RAISES THEIR HAND IN A CLASSROOM AND ASK ABOUT TRANSGENDER RIGHTS AND ISSUES, DOES THE TEACHER SAY TIME OUT WE'VE TO LET THE PARENTS KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS?

>> THERE'S A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ON WHAT SHOULD PARENTS KNOW OR NOT KNOW, WHAT SHOULD THEY BE AWARE OF.

AND BECAUSE OF THE COVID SHUTDOWN A LOT OF PARENTS WATCHED ON ZOOM WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND GOOD OR BAD, THAT'S RAISED SOME QUESTIONS.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS LIKE IN TERMS OF WHAT SCHOOL OFFICIALS --MY WIFE IS A LONGTIME SCHOOL NURSE - -THERE ARE ALREADY A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS OF THINGS WHERE PARENTS HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED.

THERE ARE AREAS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSED.

THAT'S PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, DEBATING WHAT'S GOOD OR BAD, WHAT SHOULD BE SHARED, WHAT SHOULDN'T BE SHARED.

>> SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF REGULATION.

>> IT'S RIDICULOUS.

A PARENT WHO HAS A CHILD WHO IS TRANS OR -- OR HAS SOME OF THESE ISSUES, THAT THEY DON'T KNOW, IF THEY DON'T KNOW THEY'RE NOT BEING VERY GOOD PARENTS, FIRST OF ALL.

SECONDLY, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

SECONDLY, MAYBE THEY DON'T KNOW OR THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE CHILD DENY WHAT THEY ARE, WHICH CAN BE A VERY HARMFUL THING.

WE'VE LEARNED FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL THINGS.

YOU KNOW, AND THEN HERE'S THE IRONY OF THIS WHOLE THING --THIS IS THE SAME LEGISLATURE THAT TOLD PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE YOU CAN'T MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHERE YOUR KID GOES TO THE BATHROOM, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN'T MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT HOW TO TREAT YOUR TRANS CHILD, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AS A LEGISLATURE.

SO FIRST THEY SAY WE DON'T WANT YOU TO MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE YOU KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND NOW THEY'RE SAYING TO SCHOOLS, TELL THE PARENTS.

>> THIS IS A CHRISTMAS TREE BILL, JO, BECAUSE THE PARENTS RIGHTS BILL WAS STRICTLY ABOUT THIS.

THEN THEY TACKED ON YOU --ORDERING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO LEAVE FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION DURING, YOU KNOW, RECESS OR A STUDY HALL OR SOMETHING -- >> OR LUNCH OR WHATEVER THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION --LIKEWISE THE ORGANIZATION STATEWIDE THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO.

THIS IS KIND OF THE LIFE-WISE BILL.

IT WOULD BASICALLY TELL SCHOOL DISTRICTS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A POLICY ON RELEASE FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

ONE THING LAWMAKERS ARE MISSING AND I THINK NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT IS WHERE ARE KIDS LEARNING A LOT OF THINGS?

IT'S NOT THAT SOME TEACHER'S SITTING DOWN TELLING THEM A LOT OF THINGS.

A LOT OF THINGS KIDS LEARN, NO DIFFERENT FROM WHEN WE WERE KIDS, KIDS LEARN THINGS FROM OTHER KIDS.

IT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM.

IT HAPPENS ON THE BALL FIELD.

IT HAPPENS -- >> YES, THE SCHOOL BUS.

>> THE BUS.

ANYWHERE.

>> YOU HAVE TO NOTIFY PARENTS IF THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WEIRD STUFF ON THE BUS -- >> THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

>> PEOPLE FORGET THE SCHOOLS MIGHT ONLY HAVE THE KIDS FOR 5.

5 HOURS A DAY FOR MAYBE 180 HALF THE DAYS.

SO KIDS ARE LEARNING A LOT OF WAYS, AND THERE ARE QUESTIONS --ONE OF MY GRANDSONS LIKES DOING YOUTUBE.

AND YOU CAN FIND ALL KIND OF THINGS, GOOD AND BAD.

>> IF IT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE LEDGE URE --IT POLLS WELL TO PICK ON THESE GROUPS AND ISSUES.

>> BRIAN, A LOT OF TIMES DEMOCRATS ARE FOR REGULATION, BUT IN THIS CASE THEY'RE AGAINST REGULATION.

SO THERE'S A LEGITIMATE DEBATE -- >> HOPE SOME OF THAT IS YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE FOR REGULATION.

>> I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

>> SURE SOUNDED LIKE -- >> HOW MUCH DO YOU REGULATE -- >> SOUNDED LIKE -- >> HOW MUCH DO YOU NOT REGULATE IT?

INTERESTING ECONOMY.

> >> ANOTHER AMERICAN LAME DUCK TRADITION IS THE PRESIDENTIAL PARDON.

PRESIDENTS OF BOTH PARTIES DO IT ON THEIR WAY OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

THEY PARDON CRIMINALS OR COMMUTE SENTENCES.

PRESIDENT BIDEN PARDONED HIS SON HUNTER, AND THIS WEEK PARDONED 39 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE AND COMMUTED THE SENTENCES OF NEARLY 1,500 OTHERS.

IT WAS THE LARGEST SINGLE-DAY PRESIDENTIAL CLEMENCY ACTION IN HISTORY.

AMONG THOSE GRANTED CLEMENCY WAS FORMER CUYAHOGA COUNTY COMMISSIONER JIMMY DIMORA.

A JURY CONVICTED HIM OF CORRUPTION CHARGES IN 2012.

HE SERVED 11 YEARS IN PRISON BEFORE BEING RELEASED TO HOME CONFINEMENT BECAUSE OF COVID.

BIDEN'S COMMUTATION DOES NOT ERASE THE CONVICTION BUT MEANS DIMORA NO LONGER HAS TO SERVE THE REST OF HIS SENTENCE.

BRIAN ROTHENBERG, BEFORE THE LARRY HOUSEHOLDER SCANDAL, THIS WAS THE BIGGIE IN OHIO, THE JIMMY DIMORA.

>> YEAH, BUT -- >> SHOULD HE GET -- >> PRESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS, THE PRESIDENT --TRUMP, BY THE WAY, DID THIS FOR THE MAYOR OF DETROIT AND FORMER GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS WHO BOTH WERE IN JAIL.

IN THIS INSTANCE THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY IN JAIL.

IN THIS INSTANCE THE LIST OF 1,000 PEOPLE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS THAT WERE IN THEIR HOMES BUT UNDER, YOU KNOW, HOME CONFINEMENT.

AND HE RELEASED THEM.

IT'S JUST PART OF THE RIGHT OF THE PRESIDENT WHO'S RETIRING, AND REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE IT JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, JARED KUSHNER'S FATHER.

IT JUST IS PART OF THE -- >> IF I COULD POST A CLEVELAND "PLAIN DEALER" THEY MADE STRONG POINTS THAT JIMMY DIMORA HAS NEVER BEEN CONTRITE FOR ALL THE STEALING AND CORRUPTION THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN.

I MEAN, OVER 60 PEOPLE WERE TRIED.

THIS WAS A HUGE, MASSIVE CORRUPTION SCHEME.

AND THE GUY'S OUT.

WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND TO PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE -- >> SAME MENTAL THAT TRUMP SENT TO --MESSAGE THAT TRUMP SENT TO THE -- >> YOU KNOW YOU CAN GET -- >> IN ILLINOIS AND -- >> THAT'S THE QUESTION.

I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE --IN MOST CASES, SOME FOLKS WERE GIVEN SENTENCES THAT WERE EXTREMELY LONG, YOU COULD UNDERSTAND WHY THEY MIGHT COMMUTE THOSE.

JO, PROSECUTORS AND POLICE BROUGHT CASES AGAINST THESE PEOPLE.

THEY EITHER PLED GUILTY, OR A JURY PRESUMABLY WORKED HARD TO CONVICT THEM.

THEN WITH JUST ONE STROKE OF THE PEN OR TYPE OF THE KEYBOARD IT'S OVER, NEVER HAPPENED.

>> EVERYTHING'S RELATIVE ANYWHERE.

LOOK AT POLITICS.

EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE.

WHEN YOUR GUY DOES IT, IT'S BAD.

WHEN MY GUY DOES IT, IT'S OKAY.

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

AND SO YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE PARDONED, AND I GUARANTEE YOU CAN FIND PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO DID SOMETHING THAT WAS COMPARABLE.

AND THEY GOT PARDONED OR DIDN'T GET PROSECUTED OR SOMETHING.

THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY TO JUSTIFY THIS.

IT'S A PERMISSION STRUCTURE BASICALLY FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY DID IT, SO I CAN DO IT, TOO.

>> TERRY, GOVERNOR DeWINE HAS THE EXPEDITED PARDON PROJECT.

THIS WEEK HE NOTED HE'S PARDONED NEARLY 200 PEOPLE, BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE --THEY HAVE TO BE NONVIOLENT, I BELIEVE.

THEY ALSO HAVE TO PROVE THEY HAVE BEEN REHABILITATED, THAT THEY HAVE STAYED OUT OF TROUBLE AND THAT THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY.

SO HE'S COME AROUND.

HE'S A FORMER PROSECUTOR.

AND HE'S SEEING PARDONS AS A GOOD THING.

>> I THINK HIS PROCESS IS A LOT BETTER THAN JUST TAKING CARE OF YOUR SON OR THE DEMOCRAT BOSS IN CLEVELAND WHO -- >> OR KUSHNER'S FATHER WHO YOU MAKE AN AMBASSADOR.

WHY NOT?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S A TRULY BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

PARDONS I THINK --PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT PARDONS DIFFERENTLY NOW BECAUSE THEY SEE THE UNFAIR SENTENCES PERHAPS IMPOSED ON DRUG OFFENSES OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS.

>> THERE'S CLEARLY BEEN SOME PROBLEMS.

EVERYTHING'S NOT PERFECT.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS COMING UP IS WHETHER BIDEN'S IN MY VIEW EXCESSIVE USE OF THE PARDON MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY ON WHATEVER TRUMP DOES.

NOW THE PEOPLE ARE CONDITIONED TO PARDON -- >> YOU WERE OPPOSED TO WHAT HE DID?

>> I SAY - -WHEN BIDEN DOES WHAT HE DOES -- >> ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT HE -- >> WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS ABSOLUTELY PROVING WHAT I JUST SAID ABOUT ALL THE RELATIVES -- >> JANUARY 6 FOLKS GET PARDONED, THAT WILL BE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO WATCH AFTER THE 1st OF THE YEAR.

> >> OHIO'S RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LAW BEGAN AFTER BEING PASSED THIS SAW.

THE INDUSTRY HAS GENERATED NEARLY $200 MILLION IN SALES.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING SOME CHANGES TO THE LAW AS THEY'RE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE IT WAS A VOTER-APPROVED STATUTE.

AMONG THE THINGS UNDER CONSIDERATION -- INCREASING THE TAX RATE FOR CANNABIS SALES, LIMITING POTENCY, AND LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PLANTS THAT PEOPLE CAN GROW AT HOME.

LAWMAKERS ALSO WANT TO INCREASE REGULATIONS ON HEMP PRODUCTS LIKE DELTA.

JO INGLES, THE INCOMING HOUSE SPEAKER, NOW SENATE PRESIDENT, HAS NEVER LIKED THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LAW.

HE WANTS TO PUT RESTRICTIONS ON IT.

WOULD HE GO FURTHER AS HOUSE SPEAKER?

WILL HE TRY TO GO FURTHER?

>> I THINK HE'LL TRY.

I KNOW HE'S NOT A BIG FAN OF THE HOME GROW, BUT THE THING IS HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE WHOLE ISSUE --IS THAT A LOT OF THE RURAL COMMUNITIES, IF YOU GO OUT THERE, THEY LIKE THE HOME GROW.

THEY LIKE SOME OF THESE OTHER PARTS OF THE LAW AND WANT IT TO STAY IN PLACE.

WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THIS REVENUE STREAM AND WHERE IT'S GOING, LAWMAKERS HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT WHERE THEY WANT THOSE TAXES TO GO.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THEM DISCUSSING THAT.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THEM LOOKING AT THESE VARIOUS ISSUES IN THE LAW AND SAY OH, I WANT TO DO THIS OR THAT.

BUT FOR EVERY PIECE THAT THEY MOVE, THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER PEELS THAT GETS MOVE -- PIECE THAT GETS MOVED.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HARDSHIP TO TRY GET THE SWEET SPOT.

>> THERE'S NO CHANCE THEY WOULD RESCIND THE LAW COMPLETELY.

BASED ON THE MARGIN OF THE VICTORY LAST YEAR AND THE MONEY THAT'S COMING IN.

>> IT MONEY IS BIG ABOUT OUT OF A $90 BILLION STATE BUDGET IT'S TARGETED AND SMALL IN HOW IT'S PUT OUT.

WHEN THE ISSUE GOT PASSED THEY SAID MARIJUANA SHOULD BE REGULATED LIKE ALCOHOL.

WELL, ALCOHOL IS VERY CAREFULLY REGULATED.

THE TAXES ARE MUCH HIGHER.

>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE COUNT HOW MANY BEER CANS YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> BUT WHERE YOU CAN SELL IT, HOW YOU CAN SELL IT.

AND LIKE ON THE DELTA EIGHT, THERE'S GENERAL QUESTIONS, IF IT'S AT THE COUNTER PACKAGED LIKE LIFESAVERS IS THAT OVERSTEPPING AND PUSHING THINGS TOO MUCH.

CLEARLY THEY RAN A CAMPAIGN SAYING WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE REGULATED, BUT I THINK THE REGULATIONS ARE GOING TO BE TIGHTENED.

>> NOW WE HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT'S DOING.

IT LET ME POINT OUT THAT THE LESS PLANTS YOU CAN GROW AT HOME THE MORE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUY IT AND PAY THE TAX.

>> HERE'S MY QUESTION, I GOT THIS -- I GOT COUPONS.

>> WOW.

>> FOR MICHIGAN.

THAT CAME --HOW I GOT ON THE MAILING LIST, BUT IT GAME FROM MONROE --CAME FROM MONROE, MICHIGAN.

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE.

HIGH SUPPLY, $55 AN OUNCE.

I MEAN --IT'S A --THEY KEEP RAISING TAXES AND OHIO CAN'T OFFER COUPONS I DON'T BELIEVE WITH THE LAW, WILL THEY LOSE BUSINESS TO OTHER STATES?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE LEGISLATURE WILL START REGULATING THAT.

I MEAN, IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE IS IMPORTANT TO EVERY LEGISLATURE HERE.

THEY WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU CAN BUY, HOW MANY PLANTS YOU CAN GROW, HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK.

AND AT SOME POINT YOU GOT TO SAY THAT ISN'T YOUR ROLE.

>> AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT DELTA EIGHT AND MARIJUANA ARE TECHNICALLY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

THEY'RE REGULATED DIFFERENTLY.

THEY'RE TREATED DIFFERENTLY.

SO OHIO'S MARIJUANA LAW IS NOT OVER DELTA EIGHT.

THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING ALTOGETHER.

>> TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM -- >> CORRECT.

>> YOU CAN BUY THAT IN THE GAS STATION NOW.

>> YOU CAN.

>> IT HAS A HEMP- LIKE, MARIJUANA-LIKE EFFECT ON FOLKS.

>> RIGHT.

AGAIN, THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO BE REGULATED LIKE ALCOHOL.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.

>> OKAY.

>> POINTING OUT THEY MIGHT COUNT YOUR PLANTS, BUT NO ONE'S COUNTING YOUR -- >> IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS, MIKE DeWINE WAS WORRIED ABOUT KIDS STANDING IN LINE AT THE "NUTCRACKER" WERE GOING TO SMELL MARIJUANA.

THE "NUTCRACKER" IS PLAYING.

HAVE WE HEARD ANY INCIDENTS OF MARIJUANA WAFTING OVER THE CAPITOL SQUARE BY THE OHIO THEATER?

NO?

>> I WAS AT THE OHIO STATE GAME.

AT ONE POINT I DID CATCH A SNIFF OF SOMETHING.

SO IT DIDN'T QUITE SOUND LIKE HONEYSUCKLE.

>> ANYWAY.

HE STILL HAS TIME.

TECHNICALLY SENATOR J.D.

VANCE HAS NOT RESIGNED YET, BUT THE DEADLINE FOR PICKING OHIO'S NEXT U.S.

SENATOR APPROACHES.

DeWINE MUST CHOOSE A SUCCESSOR TO VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT J.D.

VANCE.

DeWINE TOLD REPORTERS THIS WEEK THE LIST OF APPLICANTS IS LONG.

HE HAS TALKED TO A FEW CANDIDATES, BUT HE DID NOT TIP HIS HAND AS TO WHO HE MIGHT PICK.

CONGRESSMAN MIKE CAREY, MATT DOLAND, SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LAROSE, FORMER STATE GOP CHAIR JANE TIMKEN.

TERRY CASEY, IT'S A LONG LIST OF INQUIRIES AND APPLICANTS.

BUT MIKE DeWINE'S LIST IS PRETTY SHORT, IS IT NOT?

>> BUT HE HOLDS HIS CARDS CLOSE BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZES IT'S NEARLY SIX WEEKS BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY 20th.

THINGS CAN HAPPEN, AND I'LL TOSS ON THE TABLE HERB ASHER HINTED AT IT IN LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM, THERE'S A GUY NAMED VIVEK RAMASWAMY WHO MIGHT HAVE INTEREST MAYBE IN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

MAYBE SENATOR.

THAT MIGHT AFFECT HOW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LOOKS AT WHAT HE DOES OR RUNS FOR.

SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

AGAIN, MIKE DeWINE, HE DOESN'T MIND HAVING PEOPLE TALKING TO HIM AND ASKING HIM ABOUT IT.

HE KIND OF LIKES THE MYSTERY.

WE GOT A LOT OF TIME.

IT GIVES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US TO TALK ABOUT ON THIS SHOW.

>> HE DID SAY THIS WEEK AT A --THERE WAS AN EVENT WITH REPORTERS.

HE SAID BASICALLY WHOEVER HE PICKS, HE WANTS THEM TO BE ABLE TO RUN AND WIN A PRIMARY WHEN THEY NEED DO THAT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO I THINK THAT'S PLAYING IN THE BACK OF HIS MIND, TOO.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO PICK SOMEONE WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO GET CASH, TO BE ABLE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

>> DOES HE WANT SOMEONE THAT -- >> AND THAT HE CAN ENDORSE.

BUT HE'S ALSO --HE'S IN THE TRADITIONAL SIDE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHICH IS MORE GENERAL COMMERCE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

HE'S GOT TO GET AN AGREEMENT WITH TRUMP ON THIS.

YOU GOT GET A CANDIDATE THAT CAN BOTH RAISE MONEY NOT JUST THIS CYCLE, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RUN AGAIN THE NEXT CYCLE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE AWFULLY EXPENSIVE.

SO IT'S TOUGH.

OTHER THING IS YOU WOULD HOLD YOUR CARD CLOSE TO YOUR VEST BECAUSE THE MINUTE YOU ANNOUNCE WHO THIS CANDIDATE IS, JUST LIKE CONGRESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS, THEY'RE UP FOR SCRUTINY.

AND YOU'RE GIVING THEM MORE TIME TO BE OUTNIZED.

>> THERE IS THAT SPECULATION THAT IF VIVEK RAMASWAMY COMES BACK FROM HIS COST-CUTTING MISSION IN WASHINGTON AND RUNS HERE HE WOULD GET THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, PRESUMABLY.

HE WORKED FOR DONALD TRUMP.

THEN JOHN HUSTED, HE WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR BUT MIGHT TAKE THE SAFER ROUTE.

>> THERE'S AN ATTORNEY GENERAL NAMED DAVE YOST THAT'S DEFINITELY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

AND THERE'S SOME OTHER PEOPLE LIKE JIM ARNACI WHO RUN IN THE PAST AND OTHER PEOPLE.

AGAIN, THERE'S LOTS OF CANDIDATES, LOTS OF INTERESTS OUT THERE.

AND ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SHERROD BROWN OR TIM RYAN MIGHT TOO.

BOTH OF WHOM -- MIGHT DO.

BOTH OF WHOM CAN RAISE MONEY NATIONALLY IN BUCKETS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

>> IS THERE A NAME WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THAT MIGHT SURPRISE US AT THE END OR WILL BE AMONG THE -- >> I THINK THERE ALWAYS ARE.

AND I THINK YOU DO HAVE OTHER CANDIDATES OUT THERE, INCLUDING SOME FEMALE CANDIDATES, THAT MIGHT WANT TO GET INVOLVED ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

MINORITY LEADER RUSSO, YOU'VE GOT THE FORMER HEALTH DIRECTOR, YOU'VE GOT SOME OTHERS.

AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THESE PLAY OUT.

I REMEMBER WHEN GRETCHEN WHITMER WAS RUNNING EVERYBODY WAS THINKING THERE SHE IS, NO PRAYER WHEN IT COMES TO THE RACE.

AND IT TURNED OUT PRETTY WELL.

>> REPUBLICAN NAMES?

>> HERE'S ANOTHER TWIST, SAY HE APPOINT HUSTED OR FRANK LA RECORDS THE STATE TREASURER, THAT OPENS THAT POSITION FOR SOMEBODY TO BE APPOINTED.

IT'S ALMOST --CAN HAVE A FULL HOUR SHOW SPECULATING ABOUT ALL THE NAMES AND PEOPLE AND MACHINATIONS.

>> LIKE A CHESS BOARD, MOVING THE PIECES AROUND.

IF YOU KNOCK ONE PERSON OFF IT, IT HAS RAMIFICATIONS.

> >> OUR LAST TOPIC, POLITICS HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE COURT SYSTEM.

JUDGES AND JUSTICES ARE EITHER ELECTED BY VOTERS OR APPOINTED BY POLITICIANS.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE WALL BETWEEN POLITICS AND THE COURTS HAS BECOME THINNER IN RECENT YEARS.

TAKE THE LATEST RULING FROM THE OHIO SUPREME COURT REFUSING TO RECONSIDER ITS INFAMOUS CHICKEN WING DECISION.

THE COURT HAS UPHELD ITS DECISION THAT A MAN JR. ED BY A -- INJURED BY A BONE IN WHAT WAS A BONELESS CHICKEN WING COULD NOT SEE.

THE COURT RULED BONELESS WINGS ARE COOKING STYLE AND NOT A GUARANTEE OF NO BONES.

THE LATEST DISSENT OF THE DECISION, DEMOCRATS ON THE COURT DECRIED, CONSERVATIVES JUDICIAL ACTIVISM.

JUSTICE MELODY STEWART CALLED THE RULING ASININE.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A LATIN WORD YOU SEE IN LEAVE BRIEFS.

IS POLITICS GETTING TOO INVOLVED IN THE COURTS THESE DAYS?

>> WELL, POLITICS CREEPS INTO THE COURTS.

WE HAVE A FEDERAL JUDGE HERE WHO A YEAR AND A HALF AGO SAID HE WAS GOING TO RETIRE.

BUT WHEN THE PRESIDENT WOULDN'T APPOINT THE PERSON HE WANTED, HE DECIDED I'M NOT GOING TO RETIRE, AND DONALD TRUMP WINS.

SO JUDGES WEAR BLACK REASONS AND ARE MOSTLY -- ROBES AND ARE MOSTLY FOCUSED ON THE LAW.

UNFORTUNATELY THE LAW BOOKS DON'T DEFINE BONELESS CHICKEN.

AND ALSO IF YOU'VE BEEN AROUND, YOU KIND OF KNOW THINGS MIGHT BE BONELESS, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> COME ON.

COME ON.

I MEAN, YES, OUR OHIO SUPREME COURT HAS GONE WAY OVERBOARD IN RECENT YEARS.

WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO WIN OVER THE REDISTRICTING ISSUE, WHETHER IT'S THE EDUCATION DECISION AND JUST IT'S -- UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT YOU CAN'T FIX IT.

BUT CHICKEN WINGS, REALLY, BONELESS CHICKEN WINGS?

IF I'M EATING A BONELESS WING THAT'S ON THERE, I ASSUME THERE'S NO BONES.

IT'S REALLY SIMPLE.

>> I MEAN, THE CONCERN IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT CASE AND YOU LOOK AT THE REDISTRICTING BALLOT LANGUAGE, WHICH WAS LOADED AND BIASED AND MIGHT HAVE BEEN TECHNICALLY ACCURATE, BUT IT DEFINITELY WAS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE VOTERS AND HAVE THE OTHER SIDE WIN.

DOES IT ERODE TRUST IN THE COURTS?

>> NO, IT DOESN'T --IT SHOULD.

IT SHOULD, AND FOR SOME PEOPLE IT MAY.

FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE TUNED IN.

LET'S FACE IT, THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS ARE TUNED OUT.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE COURT, THEY DON'T KNOW WHO SITS ON THE COURT.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR PARTY AFFILIATION IS, AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT WATCHING EVERYTHING LIKE WE ARE.

I THINK A VOTING WIDESPREAD PUBLIC --ERODING WIDESPREAD PUBLIC TRUST IT DOES NOT.

IT DOES FOR THOSE PAYING ATTENTION.

>> WILL WE SEE A JUST -- WINS A SEAT AS -- A JUSTICE WHO SINS A SEAT AND THEN TAKE PAUL PFEIFER, A REPUBLICAN, MORT ONE, BUT RULED WITH DEMOCRATS.

>> THERE'S INTERESTING TWISTS IF YOU LOOK LIKE PAT FISHER FROM CINCINNATI IS NOT ALWAYS AS RIGID AND LOOKS AT DIFFERENT THINGS.

AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE ISSUE IS.

AND ALSO PEOPLE FORGET THE OHIO SUPREME COURT GETS ABOUT 1,700 CASES A YEAR.

SO SOMETIMES WE LOOK AT TWO OR THREE OR FOUR MORE POLITICAL CASES.

BUT MOST OF THEM ARE PRETTY FOCUSED ON THE LAW AND WHAT THE PREVIOUS COURT DECISIONS SAY, WHAT DOES THE LEGISLATURE SAY.

SO AGAIN, OUT OF 1,700 CASES YOU GOT TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

>> THEY MIGHT FOCUS ON THE LAW, BUT COMMON SENSE IS OUT THE DOOR.

>> THAT'S THE COMMON SENSE IS THE JOB OF THE LEGISLATURE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S SMART.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT WHAT'S THE CONSTITUTION.

>> I DON'T MY JUSTICES TO HAVE COMMON SENSE.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION, SHOULD WE ELECT MEMBERS OF THE OHIO SUPREME COURT?

>> I THINK THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT PEOPLE ELECT JUDGES IN OTHER STATES INCLUDING APPOINTING THEM AND THEN HAVING THEM RUN ONCE FOR --TO BE RETAINED.

I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT THIS.

I DON'T THINK THOSE STATES ARE THAT PARTISAN LIKE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> LONGTIME OHIO CHIEF JUSTICE REPUBLICAN TOM MOYER WANTED TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT SYSTEM WHERE THE VOTERS DIDN'T HAVE A SAY.

IT WENT TO THE VOTERS, AND DEMOCRACY IN ACTION, THEY PUT THUMBS DOWN AND SAID NO.

THEY LIKE TO VOTE ON THINGS, AND THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE HISTORY IN OHIO AND A LOT OF PARTS OF AMERICA.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO --THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW WHO THE COUNTY ENGINEER IS, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH MITCH McCONNELL HOLDING THAT SUPREME COURT SEAT OPEN FOR NINE MONTHS TO WAIT FOR THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP TO COME IN.

SO APPOINTMENTS DON'T ALWAYS -- THEY'RE NOT APOLITICAL EITHER >> NO.

ONE OF THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT WE'VE SEEN IS PUTTING THE Rs AND THE Ds NEXT TO THE CANDIDATES' NAMES BECAUSE IT USED TO BE THAT BEFORE WE HAD Rs AND Ds NEXT TO THE NAME, ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO I GUESS, THREE YEARS AGO, PEOPLE WOULD GO IN AND YOU WOULDN'T SEE A MASSIVE LANDSLIDE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

WHAT WE SAW -- >> LIKE JUSTICE O'NEIL THAT ONE TIME WHEN HE WON WITHOUT SPENDING ANY MONEY -- >> IT'S DIFFERENT NOW.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF-THE- RECORD FINAL COMMENTS, BRIAN ROTHENBERG, YOU'RE UP FIRST.

>> I WAS AT A MEETING OF THE OHIO HISTORY CENTER AND THE POINDEXTER VILLAGE GROUP, AND THEY ARE WORKING HARD AT TURNING THE POINDEXTER VILLAGE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM AND GETTING IT OPEN HERE IN COLUMBUS IN A FEW YEARS.

IT SHOULD BE TWO OR THREE YEARS.

IT WAS THE FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY DEDICATED BY THE ROOSEVELTS.

>> INTERESTING.

TERRY?

>> IN COLUMBUS, IT HASN'T GOTTEN AS MUCH ATTENTION, BUT THERE'S A TEAM UP IN CLEVELAND --THEY HAVEN'T HAD A GOOD SEASON --NAMED THE BROWNS.

THE BILLIONAIRE OWNER WANTS $1.

2 BILLION FROM THE TAXPAYERS, AND THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK HAS KIND OF JUMPED IN THE MIDDLE TRYING TO BRING THE MAYOR, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THE OWNER TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE FUTURE IS OF THE BROWNS AND DO THEY NEED LIKE -- AND JERRY JONES HAS DOWN IN THE THAT'S AREA, A LUXURY STADIUM, OR ARE WE GOING TO SUFFER IN OHIO WITH JUST STADIUMS IN COLD WEATHER?

>> JO?

>> I WANT TO SHARE A QUICK INTERCHANGE I HEARD THIS WEEK.

THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HUSTED WERE TOGETHER.

I ASKED ABOUT THE BILL TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM PLANTING A FLAG ON THE 50 YARD LINE AT OHIO STADIUM OR ANY OTHER STADIUM BASICALLY.

YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR KIND OF LAUGHED ABOUT IT, AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HU HUSTED SAID THERE'S ONE WAY TO DEAL WITH IT, WIN.

SO -- >> OF COURSE YOU CANNOT PLANT A FLAG --A FLAG IN OHIO STADIUM.

>> IT'S ARTIFICIAL TURF AND CONCRETE.

>> THIS IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

CHECK US ON LINE GO TO WOSU.

ORG/COTR.

WE'RE ON YOUTUBE AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

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

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.