>>> THE DEATH PENALTY DEBATE RETURNS TO OHIO. ♪♪ >> WELCOME TO “COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.” CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN OHIO HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR SEVERAL YEARS, MAINLY BECAUSE OHIO CANNOT GET THE DRUGS IT NEEDS TO EXECUTE CONDEMNED INMATES THROUGH LETHAL INJECTION. A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS ALSO RULED THE STATE’S PROTOCOL CAUSES
SEVERE PAIN AND NEEDLESS SUFFERING. OHIO LAST EXECUTED AN INMATE IN 2018. NOW A NEW METHOD HAS SURFACED, NITROGEN GAS. ALABAMA USED IT LAST WEEK TO EXECUTE A CONVICTED MURDERER. ALABAMA OFFICIALS CALLED IT CRITICS CALLED IT CRUEL AND EXPERIMENTAL. FOLLOWING THAT EXECUTION, ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE YOST, TWO STATE REPS, EXPECTED HAD THE OF
THE PROSECUTOR’S ASSOCIATION CALLED ON LAWMAKERS TO PASS A BILL TO ALLOW OHIO TO USE NITROGEN. >> I SUPPORT THIS BILL. SAYING THAT THE LAW OF OHIO SHOULD BE THWARTED, TO BE ABLE TO BE THWARTED BECAUSE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES DON’T WANT TO SELL THE CHEMICALS IS AN ABDICATION OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF
THE STATE OF OHIO WHICH STILL HAS THIS LAW ON ITS BOOKS. >> GOVERNOR DeWINE DID NOT WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT PROPOSAL, BUT HE NOTED HE IS NOT SURE THE DEATH PENALTY IS A DETERRENT. JESSIE BALMERT, IN HIS STATEMENT THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE WERE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT
NOW THAN THE DEATH PENALTY AND THESE BILLS. HOW BIG A PRIORITY IS IT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO ADD NITROGEN TO THE PROTOCOL? >> YEAH. WE HAD THIS PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK. YOU HAD TWO REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHO WERE THERE. THEY HAD 13 CO-SPONSORS ON THIS BILL. BUT THERE’S A LOT OF BILLS IN
THE OHIO LEGISLATURE WE HAVE YET TO HEAR WHETHER THIS IS A PRIORITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, EITHER THE SPEAKER OR THE SENATE PRESIDENT. SO I’M SURE WILL IT GET A DEBATE. BUT THIS IS STILL EARLY IN THE PROCESS. >> THIS EXECUTION DID NOT GO OFF PERFECTLY SMOOTHLY. >> NO.
>> THE WITNESSES SAY THE INMATE, KENNETH EUGENE SMITH, WRITHED ON THE TABLE, WAS STRUGGLING AGAINST THE CONSTRAINTS. SEEMED TO BE CONVULSING, TOOK MINUTES TO DIE. DOES THAT HURT THE CHANCES OF ADDED NITROGEN IN OHIO BECAUSE IT WASN’T SO CALL PEACEFUL? >> YEAH, YOU’RE TRYING TO KILL SOMEONE.
SO JUST THE MERE FACT MEANS IT’S NOT GOING TO BE PLEASANT. I THINK YEAH. I THINK IT COULD BE A PROBLEM. BUT I THINK WHAT THE GOVERNOR’S GETTING AT HERE AND WHICH I BELIEVE IS THAT THE DETERRENCE FACTOR THAT MAY HAVE EXISTED WITH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT 30, 40, 50 YEARS AGO JUST ISN’T THERE.
THE TIMELINES YOU NOW HAVE — I’M NOT SAYING IT’S UNFAIR, I MEAN EVERYBODY’S GOT TO HAVE THE LEGAL PROCESS PLAY ITSELF OUT. BUT THE TIMELINE THAT’S NOW INVOLVED IS JUST SO LONG, I JUST DON’T SEE HOW THAT IS A DETERRENCE. THEN ALSO LIKE THE GOVERNOR, I’M PRO-LIFE, AND I THINK THERE’S A
BASIC PROBLEM THERE IN THAT YOU CAN’T REALLY BE PRO-LIFE ON THE ABORTION SIDE OF THINGS AND THEN TURN AROUND AND SAY, YEAH, I WANT TO DO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. AND I THINK THAT IS A KIND OF A BATTLE THAT MAY BE GOING ON WITHIN THE GOVERNOR’S HEAD RIGHT NOW. >> DESIREE, IN THE NEWS
CONFERENCE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE STATE REPS, THEY SORT OF DETAILED SOME HORRIFIC CRIMES, FOLKS ON DEATH ROW, WHAT THEY HAD DONE. HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR SHOULD, YOU KNOW, THE PEACEFULNESS, SO-CALLED, OF AN EXECUTION BE WHETHER OR NOT WE RESTORE IT? BEEN — WHEN WE LOOK OVER HISTORY ABOUT HOW PEOPLE HAVE
DIED, THERE HAVE BEEN 11 OHIOANS WHO WERE LATER EXONERATED, RIGHT, AND THEY WERE SENTENCED AND HAD THE DEATH PENALTY. SO I DON’T THINK — ME PERSONALLY, I DON’T BELIEVE IN IT. I DON’T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE LIFE INTO OUR HANDS WHEN WE DECIDE TO KILL PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT DNA EVIDENCE
OR ANYTHING MAY POP UP LATER JUST DEPENDING ON HOW A LOT OF THESE COURT CASES GO. SOMETIMES PEOPLE TURN OUT TO BE INNOCENT IN THE END. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THERE HAS BEEN FEEDBACK TO WHAT HAPPENED IN ALABAMA IN TERMS OF IT BEING EXPERIMENTAL AND THE STRUGGLE OF THE GENTLEMAN’S FACE, HOLDING
HIS BREATH TO AVOID INHALING NITROGEN, I DON’T THINK THAT’S SOMETHING WE SHOULD EMPLOY IN OHIO. CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT IS WRITTEN LANGUAGE IN THE CONSTITUTION FOR A REASON. >> JESSIE, THERE’S SOME TALK THAT THE COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE THE NITROGEN MAY TRY TO WITHHOLD THE NITROGEN FROM STATES THAT
WANT TO USE IT TO EXECUTE INMATES. >> YEAH. I’M FAMILIAR WITH THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE LETHAL INJECTION DRUGS AND A REASON MIKE DeWINE CITES FOR NOT PROCEEDING WITH EXECUTIONS. THE ONE EXECUTION METHOD THAT WE HAVE WHICH IS LETHAL INJECTION, HE SAYS HE JUST DOESN’T WANT TO
RISK POTENTIALLY LOSING ACCESS TO THOSE COMPENSATIONS FOR OTHER PARTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT, MEDICAID, OTHER USES, JUST FOR THE DEATH PENALTY. >> I THINK DAVE YOST SAID THAT THEY COULD PRODUCE NITROGEN RIGHT THERE IN THAT ROOM BECAUSE IT’S — THERE’S NITROGEN IN THE AIR. I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU GO ABOUT DOING THAT.
>> IN THE AIR, DOESN’T MEAN IT’S ALL THAT EASY TO PULL IT OUT AND ISOLATE IT. I JUST THINK — I JUST THINK IT’S PROBLEMATIC IN GENERAL. I MEAN, HOW — YOU’RE TRYING TO KILL SOMEONE. SO HOW CAN YOU DO THAT HUMANELY? I MEAN, THAT’S ALWAYS GOING TO
BE THE BIG FACTOR IN ALL THIS. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT SAY LET’S GO BACK TO HANGING OR SHOOTING BECAUSE IT HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY. BUT YOU’RE — COME ON. IT’S 2024. >> WHY DO YOU THINK GOVERNOR DeWINE HAS NOT — HE’S OBVIOUSLY HAD A LOT OF HESITANCY AT THE
LEAST ON THE DEATH PENALTY — >> I THINK IT’S BECAUSE OF HIS — HE HASN’T TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT. BUT IF I HAD TO GUESS, IT’S HIS PRO-LIFE BELIEFS. >> TO SAY I SUPPORT ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTI? >> ONCE AGAIN HE’S CAUSING A LOT OF CHAOS IN THE LEGISLATURE
BECAUSE HE MAY BE GOING AGAINST THE MAJORITY OF HIS FELLOW REPUBLICANS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. AND I DON’T THINK HE’S RIGHT NOW WANTS TO PICK THAT BATTLE OVER THAT ISSUE. >> DESIREE, THERE IS A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY. DOES IT HAVE A CHANCE?
IS THERE ANY REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR THAT? WHICH IT WOULD NEED. >> WELL, I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME REPUBLICANS IN OHIO WHO WOULD SUPPORT IT. I THINK A MAJORITY OF OHIOANS WOULD SUPPORT IT. THE STATE HOUSE, HOWEVER, IS A VERY DIFFERENT STORY. THEY JUST OVERRODE THE GOVERNOR’S VETO FOR THE TRANS BILL.
WE KNOW THERE IS FRICTION THERE. SO I COULD UNDERSTAND HOW THE GOVERNOR PROBABLY WOULDN’T WANT TO PICK THAT FIGHT. BUT BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE FAIR DISTRICTS THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE HAVE A LOT OF POWER. >> MIKE, I THINK THAT BILL DOES HAVE REPUBLICAN CO-SPONSORS. SO I THINK IT IS A BIPARTISAN
BILL TO DO AWAY WITH THE DEATH PENALTY. >> DOES IT HAVE ENOUGH REPUBLICAN SUPPORT? >> I WILL SAY THERE HAS BEEN A GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE STATE OF OHIO. AND I THINK THAT COULD CREATE A BLOCK THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM
FOR SOMEONE WHO’S TRYING TO IMPLEMENT A NEW METHOD LIKE THIS. BUT IT REALLY HASN’T BEEN ENOUGH PEOPLE TO ELIMINATE THE DEATH PENALTY SO FAR. >> WE — WE HAVEN’T TALKED ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY ON THIS SHOW IN QUITE A WHILE. I DON’T THINK OHIOANS HAVE REALLY — HAVE THEY MISSED IT?
THAT WE DON’T HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY? DO THEY FEEL LESS SAFE BECAUSE WE HAVEN’T EXECUTED AN INMATE SINCE 2018? >> CRIME’S A BIG PRIORITY, BUT I THINK THAT FORM. DETERRENCE IS VIEWED AS BEING NOT VERY EFFECTIVE JUST BECAUSE THE TIME THAT THE DEATH PENALTY IS IMPOSED AND THE TIME THAT IT
ACTUALLY HAPPENS IS 20, 25, 30 YEARS SOMETIMES. >> THEN YOU ADD IN THE EXONERATIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN. >> CORRECT. >> STILL RELATIVELY RARE BUT NOT TOTALLY UNHEARD OF. >> RIGHT. WE HEAR ALL SORTS OF STORIES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ABOUT INNOCENT MEN BEING EXONERATED DECADES LATER AFTER SPENDING SO
MUCH TIME BEHIND BARS. AND I THINK THE REALITY IS MOST OHIOANS LIKE MOST AMERICANS, ONCE THE POLICE OFFICERS SHOW UP AND THAT PERSON IS LIKE ENTERED INTO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEY FORGET ABOUT IT. IT’S — THEY’RE DONE WITH IT. SO COURT CASES ARE COMPLICATED, AND LEGISLATION IS COMPLICATED.
I DON’T THINK THAT THE AVERAGE OHIO AN IS PONDERING AT HOME OVER THEIR KITCHEN TABLE THINKING ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY. >> ALL RIGHT. >>> SATURDAY MARKS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIERY TOXIC TRAIN DERAILMENT IN EAST PALESTINE. IT SPILLED TOXIC CHEMICALS INTO THE GROUND AND NEARBY WATERWAYS. AUTHORITIES RELEASED VINYL
CHLORIDE INTO THE AIR TO KEEP TRAIN CARS FROM EXPLODING. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLED THEIR HOMES. THEY HAVE RETURNED, BUT FEARS OF CONTAMINATION AND LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS REMAIN. AFTER THE DERAILMENT, FEDERAL LAWMAKERS MOVED QUICKLY TO FILE LEGISLATION AIMED AT IMPROVING RAIL SAFETY. IT HAS GONE NOWHERE. DESIREE TIMS, THESE TRAINS GO BY
ALL THE TIME. YOU THEME IS WAITING IN TRACK, YOU SEE THEM AS YOU GO OVER TO RAIL GUARDS. THERE HASN’T BEEN ANOTHER BIG DERAILMENT SINCE THEN. DO YOU THINK OHIOANS FEEL AS SAFE NOW AS THEY DID A YEAR AGO? >> NO, I THINK IT’S STILL TOP OF MIND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EAST
PALESTINE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WEEKS LATER, DAYS LATER I BELIEVE THERE WAS ANOTHER DERAILMENT, ALBEIT NOT AS MAJOR AS EAST PALESTINE, IN SPRINGFIELD. PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT’S HAPPENING WHEN THESE TRAINS MOVE THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL SUPPORT AND CHAMPION MORE REGULATION. OF COURSE YOU KNOW THESE GIANT
CORPORATIONS OWN AND OPERATE A LOT OF THESE TRAINS. AND SO THEY’RE STILL BRINGING IN BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RECORD PROFITS. SO THEY HAVE THE LOBBYISTS WHO GO OUT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE NOT REGULATED AND THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT. >> WE SEE THIS TIME AND TIME
AGAIN. YOU SEE A MAJOR ACCIDENT, MAJOR INCIDENT, WHETHER CONTINUE A SCHOOL SHOOTING, A TRAIN DERAILMENT, A PLANE CRASH, CALL FOR LEGISLATION, LEGISLATION GETS FILED, AND THEN DELAY. >> YEAH. >> OFTENTIMES NOTHING HAPPENS. >> YEAH. OFTENTIMES — AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN IN ONE YEAR IS, YOU’RE RIGHT, WE HAVEN’T HAD
A MAJOR TRAIN DERAILMENT, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE MORE TRAIN DERAILMENTS NOW SINCE THEN THAN WE HAD PREVIOUS. SO THE SITUATION’S ONLY GETTING WORSE. I THINK WE’RE LUCKY THAT THE CARGO THAT’S BEING, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTED ON THESE TRAINS ISN’T REALLY DANGEROUS OR AS DANGEROUS AS IT WAS A YEAR AGO.
AND WE’RE LUCKY THAT WE HAVEN’T HAD ANOTHER MAJOR ONE. BUT WHAT’S INTERESTING IS, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE HOUSE, DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE SENATE. WE HAVE A BIPARTISAN SENATE BILL THAT SENATOR BROWN AND SENATOR VANCE CO-SPONSORED. IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER. I MEAN, NOTHING IS MOVING, AND IT’S JUST GOVERNMENT, I HATE TO SAY IT.
BUT GOVERNMENT JUST MOVES AT A SNAIL’S PACE. YOU GET A LOT OF MOVEMENT RIGHT AWAY WHEN SOMETHING’S FRESH IN THEIR MINDS, BUT THEN AS TIME PROGRESSES IT JUST — THE URGENCY JUST STARTS DROPPING LIKE CRAZY. >> JESSIE, THERE WAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THIS ACCIDENT.
AID WENT IN, INSPECTORS FROM THE FEDERAL EPA, THE STATE EPA HAVE GONE IN. THEY SAY THE WATER IS SAFE, THE AIR IS SAFE. RESIDENTS STILL COMPLAIN ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS, HEADACHES, RASHES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE CONTINUES THOUGH, RIGHT? THE. >> YEAH. I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE SOME
TIME BEFORE WE KNOW ANY LONG-TERM MPACT FROM THIS, THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS. TO BOB’S POINT, I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF ATTENTION AT THE TIME, THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON NORFOLK SOUTHERN, THE COMPANY THAT HAD THE TRAINS, AND THEY HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES BECAUSE OF THAT PRESSURE.
I THINK ONE YEAR LATER YOU’RE SEEING A LOT MORE ATTENTION, PEOPLE ARE KIND OF LIKE TALKING ABOUT THE ANNIVERSARY, YOU’RE GOING TO SEE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN COME FINALLY TO THE LOCATION. AND SO WE’LL SEE IF THIS KIND OF RENEWED ATTENTION ON THIS ISSUE DRIVES ANY MORE SUPPORT.
>> THIS GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION A YEAR AGO, GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION NOW. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SPECULATES THE REASON WHY IT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION IS BECAUSE OF THE ATTENTION AND THE — DONALD TRUMP’S STIRRED UP IN FOLKS FROM RURAL AREAS WHO FELT LIKE THEY
WERE SORT OF DISENFRANCHISED OR SEPARATED FROM WHAT PEOPLE FROM — FROM THE SUCCESSES OTHER PEOPLE HAVE. HOW MUCH DID DONALD TRUMP AND HIS EFFECT ON THE VOTE AFFECT THE RESPONSE TO THIS ACCIDENT DO YOU THINK? >> I DON’T THINK DONALD TRUMP PLAYED ANY ROLE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE ACCIDENT.
IF ANYTHING, A LOT OF HIS POLICIES GUTTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO REGULATE THESE TRAIN COMPANIES, RIGHT. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRUMP, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE DETRIMENTAL POLICIES IMPLEMENTED UNDER HIM. AND LUCKILY SHERROD BROWN AND AMELIA SYKES AND OTHERS HAVE PROPOSED A BIPARTISAN ACT THAT WILL HOPEFULLY GET US BACK ON TRACK LITERALLY AND
FIGURATIVELY. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THESE TRAINS, BECAUSE IT IS A BIG DEAL ESPECIALLY AS WE TALK ABOUT EXPANDING AMTRAK IN OHIO. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PAY MORE ATTENTION IN TERMS. HOW THESE BIG CORPORATIONS ARE REGULATED AND GOVERNED. AND THAT’S WHAT CHEMICALS AND PRODUCTS THEY’RE CARRYING BEHIND OUR BACKYARDS.
>> WHAT IS THE LEGACY OF THIS STORY, BOB? THIS GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION. MORE ATTENTION THAN OTHER INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS HAVE GOTTEN THAT — FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU COULD SAY THAT THE PEOPLE FROM EAST PALESTINE PROBABLY BENEFITED MORE THAN, SAY, PEOPLE FROM OTHER ACCIDENT SITES. >> YEAH. THEY DID. I MEAN, FOR NOW.
>> FOR NOW. >> BUT LIKE JESSIE JUST SAID, WE DON’T KNOW LONG-TERM EFFECTS. I THINK WHAT THIS DOES IS GETS TO PEOPLE THAT JUST VIEW GOVERNMENT AS NOT BEING VERY EFFECTIVE, YOU KNOW. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, WELL, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE YEAR SINCE, WHAT LEGISLATION’S BEEN PASSED,
I MEAN THIS JUST FEEDS INTO — ESPECIALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE IN EASTERN OHIO, THEIR VIEW OF GOVERNMENT, IT’S TAKEN THE MT. OVER A YEAR TO FINALLY GET THERE TO VISIT THE SITE. IT JUST SHOWS TO PEOPLE WHAT IS GOVERNMENT FOR? YOU KNOW, WHAT — WHAT IS GOVERNMENT CAPABLE OF ACCOMPLISHING?
AND THIS JUST FEEDS INTO GOVERNMENT REALLY CAN’T DO MUCH. >> OKAY. >>> A NEW POLL SHOWS THE BENEFIT OF DONALD TRUMP’S ENDORSEMENT IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE. THE EMERSON UNIVERSITY POLL SHOWS THE MAN WHO GOT THE ENDORSEMENT, BERNIE MORENO, IS NOW TIED BASICALLY WITH SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LaROSE.
MORENO AND LaROSE AT 22%, 21%, MATT DOLAN IS THIRD AT 15%. STILL, 42% OF LIKELY PRIMARY VOTERS REMAIN UNDECIDED IN THIS RACE, AND THAT’S WHERE MONEY COULD PLAY A ROLE. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS FILED THIS WEEK INDICATE THAT MATT DOLAN HAS THE MOST MONEY TO SPEND IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF THIS CAMPAIGN.
BOB CLEGG, IS THE MONEY THAT MATT DOLAN HAS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? COULD HE CLOSE THAT GAP WITH THAT MONEY DO YOU THINK? >> NO, I DON’T THINK HE CAN. YOU KNOW, MATT DOLAN IS THE ODD MAN OUT HERE. AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, I DON’T THINK HE IS ANTI-TRUMP, BUT HE’S
ALWAYS HAD THIS KIND OF AURA AROUND HIM OF ANTI-TRUMP. AND I THINK THAT HURTS HIM IN PRIMARIES. HE ENDED UP THIRD IN 2022, BUT THAT WAS LIKE FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE. SO WHEN YOU END UP THIRD, THAT’S NOT BAD. >> HE’S A CLOSE THIRD. >> YEAH. KIND OF CLOSE. >> YEAH.
>> BUT WHEN IT’S A THREE-PERSON RACE AND YOU END UP THIRD, IT’S NOT QUITE AS GOOD. AND I’M JUST AFRAID BETWEEN FRANK LaROSE’S BEING SO MUCH BETTER AND MATT DOLAN RAN IN 2022. AND THE BERNIE MORENO ENDORSEMENT FROM DONALD TRUMP HELPING HIM, I THINK MATT DOLAN
IS GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH ROAD TO HOE HERE. >> IS IT BERNIE MORENO’S RACE TO LOSE? HE JUMPED 12 POINTS BETWEEN THE EMERSON POLL LAST WINTER AND THIS ONE HERE DONE LATER IN THE WINTER. >> I THINK SO. WHEN I WAS WATCHING THE NFL CHAMPIONSHIPS, EVERY ADVERTISEMENT I SAW SAID BERNIE
MORENO ENDORSED BY DONALD TRUMP. AND I CERTAINLY THINK THAT’S A MESSAGE THAT HE’S TRYING TO GET OUT TO REPUBLICANS. AND IT’S A MESSAGE THAT WORKED WELL FOR J.D. VANCE WHEN HE GOT THE ENDORSEMENT LAST TIME AROUND. >> DEMOCRATS FIGURE IT’S BERNIE MORENO, DESIREE? IS THAT THE PERSON SHERROD BROWN
WANTS TO FACE IN INVESTIGATOR? >> I CAN’T SPEAK TO WHO THEY WANT TO FACE, BUT BERNIE MORENO IS CLEARLY LOOKING TO BE THE LEAD CANDIDATE ESPECIALLY WITH THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT. LIKE JESSIE, I CONTINUE TO SEE THE COMMERCIALS, TOO. THAT SAID, SHERROD BROWN IS STILL VERY POPULAR AND VERY STRONG.
AND I’VE SPOKEN TO REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS, AND OF COURSE DEMOCRATS, AND THEY ALL LIKE SHERROD BROWN BECAUSE HE HAS NAME I.D., AND HE HAS A TRACK RECORD. HE’S BEEN OUT THERE WORKING FOR THE AVERAGE JOE. AND I THINK THAT’S GOING TO GO A LONG WAY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, WHO UNDERSTANDS WORKING CLASS AND REGULAR PEOPLE AND WHO’S A MEGA BILLIONAIRE BACKED BY ANOTHER MEGA BILLIONAIRE. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE, BOB, EQUATE BERNIE MORENO TO J.D. VANCE. J.D. VANCE WON, BUT J.D. VANCE RAN AGAINST TIM RYAN, AN OPEN SEAT. TIM RYAN WAS NOT A THREE-TERM INCUMBENT.
SHERROD BROWN HAS A LOT OF MONEY, NO PRIMARY OPPONENT. >> YEAH. WELL, OKAY, MIKE. FIRST OFF, I’M THE ONLY CAMPAIGN MANAGER THAT EVER MANAGED A CAMPAIGN THAT BEAT SHERROD BROWN. SO I KNOW PERSONALLY HE’S BEATABLE — THAT WAS BOB TAFT, SECRETARY OF STATE, 1990. SO YEAH. I KNOW HE’S BEATABLE.
HERE’S THE PROBLEM THAT SHERROD HAS — SHERROD HAS NOT RUN IN THE NEWLY ALIGNED OHIO WHERE HE ALWAYS COULD RELY AND ALWAYS HAS CARRIED MAHONING COUNTY, TRUMBULL COUNTY. TRADITIONAL DEMOCRAT COUNTIES. HE’S NOT GOING TO CARRY THOSE ANYMORE. AND — >> HE WAITED 2018 AFTER TRUMP WON — >> SWENT NO MONEY.
THAT’S NOT HAPPENING THIS TIME. THIS IS A TARGETED RACE. IT WASN’T THERE. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE POLL THAT SHOWED HIS HEAD TO HEAD WHERE’S HE’S WINNING BY ONE OR TWO. IT ALSO SHOWED PRESIDENT TRUMP BEATING JOE BIDEN BY 11 POINTS HERE IN OHIO. AND THAT BIDEN ANCHOR IS GOING
TO JUST HOLD HIM DOWN. TIM RYAN OUTSPENT J.D. VANCE 4-1 IN 2022, AND LOST BY SEVEN POINTS. YOU KNOW, SHERROD BROWN’S GOING TO SPEND PROBABLY EVEN MORE THAN THAT. HAVE IS JOE BIDEN. HE NEVER RUN FOR RE-ELECTION OR ELECTION IN OHIO WHERE THE TOP OF THE TICKET IS WINNING BY 10
OR 11 POINTS. >> JESSIE, IN HIS FIRST AD OUT, HE DOESN’T SPECIFICALLY SAY HE OPPOSED JOE BIDEN, BUT THE ANALYSTS ARE SAYING HE’S TALKING ABOUT HOW HE FOUGHT JOE BIDEN ON ISSUES ABOUT STEEL AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND HE’S TRYING TO BE THE INDEPENDENT IN THIS MESSAGING. >> YEAH.
SHERROD BROWN IS GOING TO TRY TO DRAW A BIT A DISTINCTION FROM JOE BIDEN, BUT HE HAS SUPPORTED A LOT OF THE SAME POLICIES. THEY HAVE SIMILAR POSITIONS ON THINGS. SO THAT WILL BE HARD TO DO. >> HOW DOES HE DO THAT, HOW DOES HE GET A SPLIT TICKET?
IF PEOPLE VOTE FOR TRUMP AND ALSO VOTE FOR SHERROD BROWN? >> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT CAN HAPPEN. AGAIN, IT’S BECAUSE OF HIS POPULARITY, HIS NAME RECOGNITION, AND HE’S BEEN DOING THE WORK. LOOK, WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE WHO SAY I DON’T LIKE JOE BIDEN, I’M A DEMOCRAT OR I USED TO BE A
DEMOCRAT, BUT I LIKE SHERROD, OKAY, WHY? IT’S BECAUSE THEY CAN BASIS POINT TO EXACT ACHIEVEMENTS THAT THEY FEEL THAT SHERROD BROWN HAS DONE OR HAS DELIVERED FOR THEM. SO WHAT SHERROD BROWN’S TEAM WILL HAVE TO DO IS TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE WINS FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE, WHAT HE’S DONE IN
THE SENATE, THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND EXTENDING THAT. EVERYTHING HE’S BEEN FIGHTING FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN THE PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE. JOE BIDEN’S MESSAGE WILL BE MORE OF A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN, RIGHT. THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME MESSAGE IN PROBABLY MOST OF THE SWING STATES. SHERROD BROWN’S MESSAGE IS GOING
TO BE OHIO-SPECIFIC. HAD IS WHAT I’VE DONE — THIS IS WHAT I’VE DONE FOR YOU. >>> STATE LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO TAKE AIM AT REGULATING THOUGHT ON OHIO’S PUBLIC COLLEGE CAMPUSES. AS PERCENT OF THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING AND APPROVING STATE MONEY FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, STATE LAWMAKERS WANT COLLEGE PRESIDENTS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE
MONEY THEY SPEND ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS. DEI PROGRAMS INCREASED AFTER THE 2020 MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, FOCUSED ATTENTION ON RACIAL ISSUES, STILL BEFORE LAWMAKERS IS A BILL THAT WOULD BAN DEI PROGRAMS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. SUPPORTERS CLAIM COLLEGE CAMPUSES HAVE BECOME TOO LIBERAL ADMINISTRATORS STIFLE CONSERVATIVE SPEECH. JESSIE BALMERT, HOW UNUSUAL IS
IT FOR A — A NONCAPITAL REASON TO BE INSERTED INTO THE CAPITAL BUDGET PROCESS? IT’S USUALLY WHETHER YOU NEED THE BUILDING OR NOT, IF YOU HAVE THE MATCHING MONEY. THIS IS OFF ON A TANGENT. >> IT’S ATYPICAL FOR SURE. THERE’S A LOT THAT CAN GET ADDED TO THE BUDGET.
WE TALKED ABOUT SCHOOL BUS SAFETY MIGHT FIND A WAY INTO IT SOMEHOW THIS YEAR. BUT THIS IS MORE BRINGING COLLEGE PROFESSORS AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS IN WHICH ASKING THEM HOW ARE THEY SPENDING THEIR MONEY AND IS IT GOING TO PROGRAMS YOU MENTIONED. >> ARE THEY HOPING FOR A IN A
MOMENT STATE HOUSE LIKE AT THE CAPITOL WHERE THE PRESIDENT OF BROWN AND HARVARD WERE THERE AND THEY CAN PIN THEM DOWN? IS THAT WHAT THEY’RE HOPING FOR HERE? >> I THINK THE PRESIDENTS OF OUR OHIO UNIVERSITIES ARE A LITTLE SMARTER THAN THOSE PEOPLE, SO I DON’T THINK THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT MIKE, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO PUT IT IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET. WHEN YOU LOOK AT STATE FUNDING OF UNIVERSITIES IN THIS DAY AND AGE, THAT’S WHERE THE BULK OF THE FUNDING GOES THROUGH NOW. IT’S NOT LIKE THEY’RE GETTING A LOT OF MONEY THROUGH THE ACTUAL BUDGET PROCESS. LINE ITEMS FOR UNIVERSITIES.
AND I THINK THIS IS — THE PROBLEM THAT THESE UNIVERSITIES HAVE IS IF YOU’RE TAKING STATE MONEY, THEN YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE TO PLAY BY WHATEVER RULES THE STATE OF OHIO GIVES YOU. AND IT’S JUST SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO EITHER, YOU KNOW, MAN UP TO OR JUST, YOU KNOW, NOT TAKE THE MONEY.
>> COULD — DESIREE, COULD COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES DO MORE TO ALLOW FOR THE EXPRESSION OR THE HIGHLIGHTING OF CONSERVATIVE SPEECH ON CAMPUS? BECAUSE A LOT OF CAMPUS SPEECH IS — IT LEANS LEFT. BUT THERE ARE CONSERVATIVES ON CAMPUS, AND SHOULD THEY DO MORE TO AMPLIFY THOSE VOICES TO TAMP DOWN THIS CRITICISM?
>> SO I WENT TO XAVIER FOR UNDERGRAD, AND I KNOW THAT’S PRIVATE. BUT WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, ANN COULTER CAME TO SPEAK TO US. I DON’T THINK WE LIVE IN A STATE OR AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE STIFLED IN TERMS OF THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS AND BELIEFS. WHAT WE’RE SEEING HAPPENING —
AND THIS IS HAPPENING IN STATE LEGISLATURES ACROSS THE COUNTRY — THEY ARE TRYING TO BAN DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS, THAT INCLUDES BANNING AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES, WARSHIP’S STUDIES, GENDER — WOMEN’S STUDIES, GENDER STUDIES, BLACK SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES. FOR ME AS A BLACK WOMAN WHEN I LOOK AT THE POLICIES AND HOW
GUNG-HO THEY ARE ON MAKING IT PASS IT SEEMS LIKE AN AGENDA LED BY REPUBLICANS AND EXTREME CONSERVATIVES IN THE NAME OF CULTURE WARS FOR SOME SORT OF LATER LONG-TERM VICTORY TO STIFLE THE PROGRESS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS COUNTRY. >> BOB, IS THAT WHAT THEY’RE TRYING TO DO?
ARE THEY TRYING TO END THESE PROGRAMS, DEI PROGRAMS, ALTOGETHER? >> FLOW. WHAT THEY’RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON’T OVERRULE EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON IN THE UNIVERSITY. WE NOW HAVE HIRES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE BASED ON, YOU KNOW, DEI THINGS WHICH YOU KNOW WHAT,
YOU GOT TO HIRE THE BEST PERSON NO MATTER THEIR SEX, NO MATTER THEIR COLOR, NO MATTER THEIR RELIGION. YOU HIRE THE BEST PERSON. I DON’T KNOW HOW THAT ALL THE SUDDEN WENT AWAY. WHY IS THAT A BAD THING? I MEAN, WHY IS IT BAD NOT TO HIRE THE BEST PERSON POSSIBLE?
WHY DO WE HAVE TO PUT A LOT OF, OKAY, THIS PERSON’S GOT TO BE FEMALE, THIS PERSON’S GOT TO BE A PERSON OF COLOR, WHY DO WE PUT THOSE KIND OF CONSTRAINTS ON WHAT WE’RE HIRING AND WHAT WE’RE TEACHING IN UNIVERSITIES? WHY CAN’T WE — >> I DON’T THINK THAT’S HAPPENING.
I MEAN, NAME A PERSON WHO YOU FEEL LIKE WAS HIRED BASED ON THEIR RACE. OFTENTIMES THESE PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY QUALIFIED. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT HIRING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BE IT C-SUITES AND EXECUTIVES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ENTRY LEVEL — >> 29 STATES HIRED A VICE PRESIDENT BASED ON HER GENDER
AND HER RACE. >> SHE’S — SHE WAS A U.S. SENATOR — >> I’M NOT SAYING — I’M NOT SAYING WHETHER SHE WAS QUALIFIED OR NOT. WE CAN ARGUE THAT. >> SHE WAS EXTREMELY QUALIFIED. >> WHY SHOULD WE BE PUTTING OURSELVES IN THE SELF-IMPOSED BLOCKS WHEN WE’RE PICKING SOMEONE OR DECIDING ON WHAT KIND
OF THINGS WE’RE GOING TO TEACH? WE HAVE TO PUT A BLOCK AROUND IT BY EITHER SAYING A CERTAIN GENDER, A CERTAIN SEXUAL PREFERENCE, A CERTAIN COLOR. WHY DO WE PUT THAT BOX AROUND IT? >> WE’VE GOT TO GET GOING — >> WE DO NOT DO THAT. I THINK WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION
TO THE EQUITY AND EFFECTS AND IMPACTS OF NOT INCLUDING AN INCLUSIONARY POLICY WHEN WE LOOK AT HIRING. >>> LET’S GET TO OUR OFF-THE-RECORD PARTING SHOTS. DESIREE? >> THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SENT A LETTER TO GOVERNOR DeWINE TO UPDATE MEDICAID ENROLLMENT AFTER 86,000 OHIO CHILDREN LOST THEIR
MEDICAID — OR CHIP COVERAGE IN 2023 I’M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THAT MOVES THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE IN THE COMING YEAR AHEAD, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE TRANS BILL HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT INVOLVES CHILDREN. >> BOB? >> OKAY. I’D LIKE TO NOTE THE PASSING OF FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT STAN ERNOFF.
I WORKED FOR HIM 30 YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS SENATE PRESIDENT. AND HE ALWAYS HAD THE BEST INTERESTS OF OHIOANS AND OHIO IN HIS HEART. AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE ARTS COMMUNITY. HE WAS A BIG ARTS SUPPORTER. >> AND JESSIE? >> THERE WAS AN OHIO SUPREME COURT RULING ON A LEGISLATIVE
CANDIDATE UP IN NORTHERN OHIO WHO HAD A PRIOR FELONY CONVICTION BUT IS NOW ABLE TO RUN AGAIN. SO WE’LL SEE THE IMPACT OF THAT GOING FORWARD. >> ALL RIGHT. IT’S GROUNDHOG DAY ON FRIDAY. AND BUCKEYE CHUCK DID NOT SEE HIS SHADOW. SO THAT MEANS SPRING ARRIVES EARLY. BUT WITH THE CAVEAT — BUCKEYE
CHUCK IS NOT HIS REAL NAME. APPARENTLY HIS NAME IS MURRAY. SO NEVER TRUST A GROUNDHOG WITH TWO FIRST NAMES. >>> THAT’S “COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD” FOR THIS WEEK. CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK, WATCH US ANY TIME AT OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.ORG/COTR, YOUTUBE, AND THE PBS VIDEO APP. FOR OUR CREW AND PANEL, I’M MIKE
THOMPSON. HAVE A GOOD WEEK. ♪♪
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