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>>> FINAL DAYS OF CRAMMING FOR
THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL LEVY.
♪♪
>>> FROM WOSU AT COSI, THIS IS
"COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."
JOINING MIKE THOMAS, DARRYL
ROLAND, PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR
FOR "THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH,"
JULIE, STATE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT
FOR THE "ASSOCIATED PRESS,"
TERRY CASEY, REPUBLICAN
STRATEGIST, AND JOSEPH MOTT,
CHAIR OF THE OHIO HISPANIC
COALITION.
>> HERE TO FACE THE FACTS, MORE
THAN HALF COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS
HAVE GRADES OF "D" OR "F."
SCHOOL OFFICIALS FACE A CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION FOR DATA
MANIPULATION.
SCHOOL AND CITY LEADERS ARE
ASKING VOTERS TO INCREASE SCHOOL
TAXES BY 24%.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG REQUEST
WITH LONG ODDS AGAINST IT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE COLUMBUS
SCHOOL LEVY LOOKS LIKE A
TOSS-UP.
A "COLUMBUS DISPATCH" POLL LAST
WEEK SHOWS 40% OF LIKELY VOTERS
SUPPORT THE LEVY, 44% OPPOSE IT,
AND 11% ARE UNDECIDED.
COMPARE THAT TO 2008, THE LAST
TIME COLUMBUS WENT TO THE BALLOT
FOR A LEVY.
THE LEVY WON EASILY BY A
28-POINT MARGIN, 64%-36%.
DARRYL OWEN, FIVE YEARS IS A
LONG TIME.
WE'VE HAD A GREAT RECESSION IN
THAT TIME, BUT WHAT DO THOSE
NUMBERS TELL YOU ABOUT THE MOOD
OF THE VOTERS NOW WHERE THIS IS
A TOSS-UP?
>> I THINK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE,
IT'S A SURPRISE IT'S EVEN A
TOSS-UP.
AND THIS SHOWS YOU, FRANKLY,
IT'S BEEN A FAIRLY EFFECTIVE
CAMPAIGN FOR THE LEVY.
OBVIOUSLY, THE OTHER THING
THAT'S OCCURRED IS THE BIG DATA
SCANDAL WHICH IS STILL
UNRESOLVED, AND THAT'S ONE OF
THE MAJOR ISSUES HERE.
THE CAMPAIGN IS PUSHING THE
MESSAGE THAT THE LEVY IS THE FIX
TO ALL THOSE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE
BEEN UNCOVERED.
OUR POLL, WHICH SAVORSTEIN AND
ASSOCIATES DID FOR US AT
"DISPATCH" SHOWED ONLY A THIRD
OF VOTERS BOUGHT THAT.
A MAJORITY THOUGHT WE SHOULD GET
THAT ALL BEHIND US AND THEN GO
FOR THE LEVY.
BUT AS YOU SAY, THE LEVY VOTE
WAS ESSENTIALLY A DEAD EVEN
RACE.
>> IF ONLY A THIRD OF THE VOTERS
BELIEVE THE LEVY IS THE REFORM,
WHICH IS THE MESSAGE, HOW IS IT
CLOSE?
>> WELL, IT'S CLOSE BECAUSE MY
UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS MUCH
FARTHER BEHIND, LIKE MAYBE 20
POINTS.
AND THE BIG THING OUT OF THAT
POLL IS THE DEMOGRAPHICS, THE
CROSS PATHS THAT THE "DISPATCH"
HAD ARE VERY TELLING BECAUSE
THERE'S A LOT OF GROUPS, LIKE
YOUNGER VOTERS WHO ARE MORE
SUPPORTIVE, WHO ARE LESS LIKELY
TO VOTE IN THIS TYPE OF
MUNICIPAL ELECTION YEAR.
THE LAST TIME, '08 WAS A
PRESIDENTIAL YEAR.
TURNOUT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT 55-PLUS,
YOU LOOK AT HOMEOWNERS, IT'S A
LOT MORE NEGATIVE.
SO, IT'S GOOD NEWS WITH $2.5
MILLION THAT ARE IN THE GAME AND
HAVE GOT A CHANCE, BUT IT ALL
RESTS ON WHO TURNS OUT.
>> MIKE, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
A DIFFERENT TAKE ON THIS.
I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS
THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT SURE WHAT
THE PROBLEM IS.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE SCANDAL
ON THE DATA-RIGGING?
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PERFORMANCE
ISSUES?
AND I THINK THAT AT THE BOTTOM
LINE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT
THERE ARE PERFORMANCE ISSUES
RELATED TO COLUMBUS PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY WITH
MINORITY KIDS, AND THIS MONEY
COULD GO A LONG WAY AT
ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
ONE OF THE ITEMS IS, BY THE WAY,
THAT OF COMPUTER MONEY COULD
HELP.
>> THE SCANDAL AND THE REFORM,
THE THING I HEAR MOST OFTEN IS
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
IT'S $315 FOR EACH $100,000 IN
PROPERTY VALUE.
SO FOR AN AVERAGE HOUSE, WE'RE
TALKING $400 TO $500.
FOR A HOUSE IN CLINTONVILLE OR
VICTORIAN VILLAGE, WE'RE TALKING
$1,000 MORE A YEAR IN NEW SCHOOL
TAXES.
>> I THINK THAT HAS SORT A DUAL
EFFECT IN SOME WAYS BECAUSE
THERE'S A FEELING OF IT'S SO
MUCH MONEY, HOW COULD IT NOT
HELP?
SO IN OTHER WORDS, EVEN IF I MAY
WONDER ABOUT THIS, OBVIOUSLY, IT
HAS TO BE A STEP TOWARDS A
SOLUTION TO, AS JOE SAYS, YOU
KNOW, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE
LOW-INCOME ISSUES, THE
PERFORMANCE ISSUES.
AND HE'S RIGHT THAT WHAT EXACTLY
WE'RE ADDRESSING HASN'T REALLY
BEEN OUT THERE YET.
BOTH INVESTIGATIONS OF THE
AUDITOR AND THE FBI AND SO FORTH
ARE STILL OUT THERE, AND SO, I
THINK PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE
THEIR BEST GUESS IN TERMS OF
WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO.
>> AND ON THE MONEY, THE
"DISPATCH," TO THEIR CREDIT,
WHICH HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF
COVERING PRO AND CON ON THIS
ISSUE, BUT TWO DAYS AGO WHEN
THEY DID THE BIG FRONT-PAGE
STORY ON, WHOOPS, WE MADE A MATH
MAT CAPITAL ERROR, WE REALLY
DON'T NEED THE MONEY -- IN FACT,
I THINK THEY'RE GOOD FOR ALMOST
TWO WEEKS -- IT RAISED THE
QUESTION OF DO THEY REALLY NEED
THAT MUCH MONEY RIGHT NOW?
BUT CLEARLY, IT IS A LOT OF
MONEY, AND PEOPLE FORGET THERE'S
A LOT OF PARTS.
I LIVE IN THE CITY IN COLUMBUS,
CLINTONVILLE, BUT THERE'S A LOT
OF HOMEOWNERS IN COLUMBUS WHO
HAVEN'T GOTTEN OVER THE BAD
ECONOMY WE'VE HAD AND THEY'RE
STRUGGLING TO PAY THAT MUCH
MORE.
>> IT'S INTERESTING AS YOU LOOK
AT THE DISTRIBUTION, AND AGAIN,
IN THE POLL, THE RATIO SPLIT WAS
VERY TELLING.
AMONG BLACKS, IT WAS WINNING BY
23 POINTS.
AMONG WHITES AS BEING DEFEATED
BY 14 POINTS, AGAIN, JUST VERY
GENERICALLY LOOKING AT CENSUS
NUMBERS, WHITES ARE MORE
AFFLUENT GRAPHICALLY SPEAKING
THAN BLACKS.
YOU LOOK AT THE PARTS OF TOWN,
THE SOUTHEAST AND THE CENTRAL
PORTIONS WHERE THE LEVY'S BEING
SUPPORTED, NOT NECESSARILY THE
MORE POORER PARTS OF THE
DISTRICT.
SO, WHILE MONEY IS OFTEN CITED
AS THE REASON, SOME OF THE
POORER PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT
ARE THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC.
THAT'S BECAUSE THEY SEE
EDUCATION AS A WAY UP AND OUT.
>> SO, IT COMES DOWN TO TURNOUT.
IF THOSE IN THOSE AREAS TURN OUT
AND VOTE IN GREATER NUMBERS,
MORE AFFLUENT AREAS OF THE
OPPONENT, THEY'RE GOING TO WIN.
>> AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS, THE
MAYOR AND HIS TEAM, THEY'RE
HOPING TO DO WHAT THEY DID IN
AUGUST OF '09 OR IN THE PRIMARY
FOR CONGRESS FOR JOYCE BEATTY,
TARGET THE AUDIENCE.
A LOT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY, A
LOT OF IT FEMALE TO GET THAT
TURNOUT.
BUT WHETHER THEY WILL OR NOT'S A
QUESTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS TO WATCH IS
HOW MUCH SO-CALLED WALKING
AROUND MONEY IS DONE TO TARGET
CERTAIN AUDIENCES TO GET THE
VOTE OUT.
>> I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW NOT
PASSING THE LEVY WILL HELP THE
KIDS, THOUGH.
>> BUT THE OPPONENTS ARGUE THAT
BY NOT PASSING THE LEVY, YOU GET
THE REFORMS FIRST.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CARROT
AND STICK.
>> THE REFORMS ARE UNDER WAY.
I THINK THESE ISSUES ARE BEING
LOOKED AT.
>> BUT ON ELECTION DAY, WIN OR
LOSE, THERE'S STILL A LOT TO BE
DETERMINED BECAUSE ONE OF THE
BIG CRITICISMS IS THERE'S LOFTY
GOALS, ASPIRATIONAL IN THE
PACKAGE, BUT WHAT ARE THE
DETAILS, HOW'S IT GOING TO BE
DONE?
PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.
AND ESPECIALLY, THE THING THAT
DOESN'T CHANGE IS WE STILL HAVE
THE SAME DYSFUNCTIONAL, A FEW
FACES MIGHT CHANGE, BUT THE SAME
DYSFUNCTIONAL SCHOOL BOARD IS
GOING TO BE IN CONTROL.
>> I DISAGREE THAT IT'S THE
SCHOOL BOARD OR JUST THE SCHOOL
BOARD OR JUST THE ADMINISTRATION
OR JUST THE TEACHERS, BUT THE
MONEY HAS GOT TO HELP.
THE MONEY HAS GOT TO HELP.
NOT HAVING THE MONEY CERTAINLY
CAN'T.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO THE
NEXT TOPIC, THE ISSUE OF WHEN
GOVERNMENT SHOULD USE TAX
DOLLARS TO HELP PRIVATE BUSINESS
ONCE AGAIN IS HEATING UP.
THIS WEEK WE HAD A SERIES WHICH
RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT
STATE INCENTIVE DECISIONS.
THE REPORT'S POSTER CHILD IS
BUCKEYE SILICONE.
THE SOUTH TOLEDO COMPANY GOT $3
MILLION IN STATE LOANS TO HIRE
NINE PEOPLE TO MAKE 50 METRIC
TONS OF POLY SILICONE FOR SOLAR
PANELS.
HOWEVER, THE FACTORY REMAINS
EMPTY.
NO NEW JOBS.
THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THE
STATE HAS AWARDED TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COMPANIES
IT KNEW LITTLE ABOUT.
THE STATE ROUTINELY INVESTS IN
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LEGAL OR
FINANCIAL TROUBLES.
"THE BLADE" FOUND INACCURATE
RECORDS AND HALF OF THE
COMPANIES THAT RECEIVED GRANTS
FAILED TO LIVE UP TO THEIR JOB
COMMITMENTS.
JOE, INVESTMENTS ARE RISKY IN
THEIR NATURE, EVEN SAFE
INVESTMENTS IS A CHANCE YOU
COULD LOSE YOUR MONEY.
SO, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE
THAT YOU SEE?
IT'S THE OVERSIGHT?
>> YOU KNOW -- WELL, I THINK
OVERSIGHT IS SOMETHING THAT
WOULD HELP.
EVEN IF WE WEREN'T HAVING THE
PROBLEM, I THINK OVERSIGHT NEEDS
TO BE THERE.
BY THE WAY, EXCELLENT SERIES BY
CHRIS TURNER OF "THE TOLEDO
BLADE."
HE FOCUSED, AS YOU SAID, ABOUT
50% OF THE MONEY JUST DOESN'T
RESULT IN THE OUTCOMES THAT THE
STATE EXPECTS FROM THESE
COMPANIES COMING IN.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS
THAT THEY DISCOVERED IS THAT THE
RECORDS ALSO CONTAIN
INACCURACIES THAT SKEWED THE
NUMBER OF TOTAL JOBS CREATED BY
ABOUT 25,000, WHICH IS A SERIOUS
AMOUNT.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE OVERALL IS
ABOUT $253 MILLION, AND ABOUT
HALF OF THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE
GETTING THE *** OUT OF THE
BUCK.
SO, YOU ASK ABOUT THE OVERSIGHT.
THIS CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ADD FUEL
TO THAT FIRE THAT SAYS, LOOK,
THE JOBS OHIO MODEL WHERE YOU
DON'T HAVE THE AUDITING
CAPACITY, YOU DON'T HAVE THE
ABILITY, YOU DON'T HAVE THE
OVERSIGHT SEEMS TO SUPPORT THAT.
>> THIS IS TRULY A NONPARTISAN
ISSUE.
>> IT'S A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.
>> THEY WERE MADE DURING THE
STRICKEL ADMINISTRATION.
THEY SAY THEY HAVE TIGHTENED UP
THE SHIP AND OVERSIGHT, BUT ALSO
BEING A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION, WE
DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT'S THE
CASE.
>> BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT
YOU MENTIONED MOST OF WHAT "THE
BLADE" LOOKED AT WAS, INCLUDING
A LOT OF SOLAR STUFF THAT
HAPPENED UP IN TOLEDO, AND THAT
REPORTER'S PREVIOUSLY DONE SOME
GOOD REPORTING ON THE --
>> GREAT WORK.
>> -- 50,000 OR SO IN
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MAGICALLY
RIGHT AT THE TIME THE MONEY CAME
TO THESE COMPANIES WENT BACK TO
THE STRICKLAND CAMPAIGN.
BUT CLEARLY, I MEAN, THE KASICH
ADMINISTRATION, YOU'RE SEEING
AND MOST OF THE THINGS THEY'RE
TYING IT, THEY DON'T GET THE
MONEY UP FRONT.
THEY ONLY GET THE MONEY WHEN
THEY'VE PROVED AND DOCUMENTED,
THEY'VE REALLY BUILT THE
BUILDING, THEY'VE REALLY HIRED
THE PEOPLE, WHICH IS THE WAY IT
OUGHT TO BE.
>> RIGHT, BUT BEFORE THEY GET
THE MONEY, IF THEY GET THE
MONEY, IT DOESN'T MATTER FROM A
POLITICAL STANDPOINT.
YOU GET TO HAVE THAT PRESS
CONFERENCE THAT SAYS WE ARE
GIVING THIS MONEY, THIS GREAT
INCENTIVE, WE'RE CREATING THESE
JOBS AND WE'RE HAVING TO WATCH
MORE AND MORE CLOSELY AND
CAREFULLY ABOUT THESE JOBS
PROMISES AT THE FRONT END,
BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY'RE DOWN
THE ROAD.
MAYBE THEY'RE DOWN THE ROAD PAST
WHEN YOU'RE EVEN GOING TO BE
GOVERNOR.
MAYBE THEY'RE PAST, WHEN THE
NEXT ELECTION IS, OR MAYBE
THEY'LL NEVER COME TO FRUITION.
SO, IT'S GOOD TO KEEP AN EYE IN.
I THINK IT RAISED THAT ISSUE OF,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO, PERHAPS,
BE IN THIS RUNNING WITH OTHER
STATES FOR THE MONEY, BUT WE
HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL OF THE
PROMISES.
>> I KNOW AT THE "DISPATCH,"
WE'VE HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH
ADMINISTRATIONS DAILY.
BACK IN THE TAFT ADMINISTRATION.
FIRST AND MOST ELEMENTARY, THEY
COULDN'T EVEN TELL US WHAT THE
RECORDS WERE FOR YEARS AND
YEARS.
THEN I REMEMBER GOING AROUND AND
AROUND WITH LEE FISHER, WHAT WAS
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ABOUT
GETTING THE DATABASE SO YOU CAN
DO THE MEASUREMENT.
NOW WE'RE AT POINT WHERE WE CAN
DO MEASUREMENTS, ALBEIT AS JOE
SAYS WITH SIGNIFICANT ERRORS,
BUT NOW YOU HAVE THE RECORDS TO
EVALUATE.
SO, WE'RE BEING TOLD THIS IS TO
HELP YOU OHIOANS.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY,
PUT IT HERE, AND THIS IS GOING
TO BRING US JOBS AND PROGRESS,
LIKE WE ALL WANT.
WHAT IF IT'S NOT WORKING?
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT IS THE REASON FOR
KEEPING THEM QUIET?
I DON'T THINK JOBS OHIO SAYS WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY.
COMPANIES DON'T WANT THEIR
RECORDS TO BE AN OPEN BOOK
AND --
>> WELL, THEY DON'T WANT THEIR
PITCHES TO BE KNOWN FOR THEIR
PLAYING OFF AGAINST OTHER
STATES, AND MAYBE SEVERAL STATES
AGAINST EACH OTHER.
NEGOTIATION, THEY WANT THAT TO
BE KEPT CLOSE TO THE VEST UNTIL
THE DECISION GETS MADE.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, YOU'RE
LOOKING AT WHAT IS PROMISED.
WE DON'T EVEN KNOW SOMETIMES IF
THESE JOBS ARE GOING TO LEAVE
THE STATE.
SO HOW DO WE CALL THEM CREATED
JOBS?
THEN, AS THE THEORIES SHOWED,
SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GET CREATED
EVER, AND IT'S VERY -- THE STATE
IS UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE.
>> IT'S NOT A BAD TIME TO HAVE
THIS DISCUSSION.
AND IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT THESE
LOANS AND GRANTS AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL.
WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT TAX
INCENTIVES.
AND IS IT WRONG TO HAVE THE
PEOPLE, THE TAXPAYERS KEEP AN
EYE ON THIS THROUGH SOME MEANS?
I THINK THE DISCUSSION NEEDS TO
BE HAD.
>> LET ME BE REALLY CYNICAL.
OFFICIALS DON'T WANT TO KEEP
TRACK IN CASE THEY DON'T WORK
OUT.
THAT WAY, THEY CAN SAY, OKAY, WE
HAD A BIG PRESS CONFERENCE, I
CREATED ALL THESE JOBS, THEN
FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WE
FORGET THERE WAS GOING TO BE
500, ENDED UP BEING 100.
>> I'M NOT SURE EVEN AS A
CYNICAL JOURNALIST.
I THINK IT'S VERY COMPLICATED.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PLEDGE OF
WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND
WHETHER IT'S A RETAINED JOB OR A
NEW JOB IS DIFFICULT TO MEASURE,
WHETHER IT'S A PART-TIME OR
FULL-TIME JOB.
WHAT'S A JOB?
WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S A --
[ EVERYONE TALKING AT ONCE ]
>> ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.
YOU SELL TEN, YOU'VE GOT FIVE TO
GO.
>> I THINK IN THEORY, THERE ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE CALLBACK
PROVISIONS OF STATE LAW WHERE
YOU GET THAT MONEY BACK IF THE
COMPANY DOESN'T FULFILL THEIR
PROMISE.
SOME GONE BANKRUPT, IT COULD BE
THE PROVERBIAL BLOOD FROM A
TURNIP, BUT HOW FAR DO YOU GO TO
PREVAIL THE COMPANY'S PROMISE
NOT JUST TO GOVERNMENT LEADERS,
BUT THAT TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE?
>> AND AMERICAN GREETINGS,
DEBOLT UP IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO,
WHEN I SAW THE ANNOUNCEMENT, IT
SAID WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO
HAPPEN, AND THEN SOME OF THE
COMPANIES LIKE AMERICAN
GREETINGS WENT THROUGH SOME
COMPANY CHANGES, DID A BUYBACK,
SO THEY'VE SLOWED DOWN ON WHAT
THEY'RE GOING TO DO, BUT IN MOST
CASES, IT WASN'T A BLANK CHECK
MONEY AHEAD.
IT WAS ALL CONTINGENT UPON
MEETING CERTAIN SPECIFIC
DETAILED THINGS THEY HAD TO
ACCOMPLISH.
>> LET ME BE AN IDEALIST.
HOW ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT GET OUT
OF THIS BUSINESS AND LET THE
PRIVATE SECTOR TAKE IT OFF?
>> IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE
PRIVATE SECTOR AFTER ALL.
I THINK THIS IS JUST A WAY TO
GET THE PRIVATE SECTOR INTO THE
STATE OF OHIO OR INTO DUBLIN,
OHIO, OR INTO COLUMBUS, OHIO,
WHEREVER THEY HAPPEN TO BE.
IT'S A GAME THAT EVERYBODY IS
PLAYING.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE
CAN'T BE CAREFUL.
>> WELL, AND THE RIVALRIES CAME
UP IN THIS ON THAT ISSUE, WHERE
ORMET HAS LAID OFF A THOUSAND
PEOPLE NEAR THE VIRGINIA BORDER
AND BOTH STATES ARE LIKE, IT'S
YOURS, NO, IT'S YOURS.
WE'RE LOSING THE JOBS BECAUSE
THE RIVALRIES DON'T ALWAYS WORK
TO OUR FAVOR.
>> ALL RIGHT, A $50 MILLION
INVESTMENT MADE BY OHIO STATE IS
RAISING QUESTIONS AS WELL, AS
FIRST REPORTED BY "THE PLAIN
DEALER," OSU INVESTED $50
MILLION IN A VENTURE CAPITAL
FUND RAN BY MARK KWAME, FORMER
HEAD OF JOBS OHIO AND ALLY OF
KASICH AND GORDON GEE, BUT
THAT'S ALL WE KNOW ABOUT THIS
INVESTMENT.
OSU WILL ONLY SAY THE DEAL WAS
PROPERLY RESEARCHED.
OSU'S VP OF FINANCE TOLD THE
"DISPATCH" THAT INVESTMENTS LIKE
THIS ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP
TUITION LOW.
THIS CAME AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME
THAT THERE WAS A MOVE TO ALLOW
ADMINISTRATORS TO INVEST UP TO
$100 MILLION WITHOUT BOARD
APPROVAL.
WHAT ARE THE REASONS GIVEN FOR
THAT APPROVAL?
>> WELL, FOR THAT REASON, THEY
JUST WANTED -- IN SOME WAYS,
IT'S RAISING THIS PARALLEL TO
THE JOBS OHIO.
THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
QUICKLY, ANYMORABLY WITHOUT A
LOT OF BUREAUCRACY, SO THEY
AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENT, THE
PROVOST AND ESSENTIALLY THE CFO
OF OHIO STATE TO UNILATERALLY
INVEST UP TO $100 MILLION IN
OHIO START-UPS, MIDWESTERN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND
WHAT HAVE YOU.
NOW, OF COURSE, WHAT WE'RE BEING
TOLD NOW IS THE KWAME DEAL WITH
DRURY CAPITAL WAS REALLY JUST
THE TIME WAS COINCIDENTAL WITH
THAT RESOLUTION, WOULD HAVE GONE
AHEAD ANYWAY.
AGAIN, BELIEVE THAT OR NOT.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S GOING ON
PROBABLY AS WE SPEAK HERE LATE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON IS OHIO STATE
HAS DONE A PRETTY LARGE RECORDS
DUMP.
AND AS WE SPEAK, REPORTERS ARE
GOING THROUGH AND THAT
INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, WILL BE
IN YOUR PAPER TOMORROW OR
WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR NEWS.
>> AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER, I MEAN, OHIO STATE HAS
A POT OF $3 BILLION.
AND IF YOU JUST INVESTED ALL OF
THAT $3 BILLION IN BLAND
MUNICIPAL BONDS, THE RETURN
WOULD NOT BE VERY GOOD.
SO, WHETHER OHIO STATE DOES IT
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, YOU'VE
GOT TO TAKE MORE RISKS, YOU'RE
GOING TO GET MORE GAINS.
AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW
THE LSU TRUSTEE WHO WAS
SUPERVISING AND WATCHING ON THIS
IS THE FORMER CEO OF NATIONWIDE,
WHO'S APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR
STRICKLAND.
SO, WE'LL SEE HOW THEY DO, BUT
CLEARLY, SOME INVESTMENTS WORK
OUT, SOME DON'T.
>> WELL, OKAY, SO A $100 MILLION
INVESTMENT DOESN'T WORK OUT.
SHOULDN'T THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
BEEN INVOLVED?
>> WELL, THEY WERE, COMMITTEE OF
THE BOARD WAS.
>> WELL, NOT -- OKAY, THE
COMMITTEE SAYING YOU SPENT $100
MILLION IN TAX MONEY.
THAT WASN'T FLY.
[ EVERYONE TALKING AT ONCE ]
>> NON BOARD INVOLVEMENT TO BE
UNCOMMON IN THIS CASE.
AND AGAIN, I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF
THE QUESTION WHY NOT?
WHAT KIND OF MOVEMENT HAS TO BE
SO NIMBLE AS TO THE BOARD NOT
BEING THERE.
BOY, I'VE SAT ON A LOT OF
BOARDS, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT
LONG TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF
SOMETHING THAT COMES BEFORE IT.
THAT'S THE PART I FIND SOMEWHAT
PUZZLING.
THE MONEY --
>> OHIO STATE HAS A 15-MEMBER
BOARD, WHICH IS KIND OF BIG AND
CUMBERSOME.
CAN EACH BOARD MEMBER REALLY BE
KNOWLEDGEABLE ON EVERY PART OF
THAT $3 BILLION PORTFOLIO?
>> DEPENDS ON HOW INVOLVED THEY
ARE.
I SIT ON A BOARD WITH 37 MEMBERS
AND I'M NOT SURE THAT
EVERYBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION ALL
THE TIME.
BUT YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE TIME,
DO A GOOD JOB AT IT.
>> I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT
WE'VE SEEN THE ANSWER TO THE
QUESTION OF WHY A FLEDGLING
VENTURE CAPITAL FUND, BRAND NEW,
UNTESTED, AND WE SAW THAT THE
PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEM WAS
APPROACHED BY THIS FUND AS WELL
AND DECLINED FOR THAT REASON.
THE STATE TREASURY TELLS ME THEY
ARE NOT INVESTED IN IT FOR -- IT
WOULDN'T FIT INTO THEIR
PARAMETERS BECAUSE OF THEIR
RISK.
AND SO, I THINK IT'S A QUESTION
THAT THE UNIVERSITY NEEDS TO
ANSWER.
>> AS TO THE TIES BETWEEN KWAME,
KASICH AND GEE AND QUESTIONS,
WHETHER, NOW, KWAME IS A
SUCCESSFUL GUY, HAS A GOOD
RESUME, HE'S A SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSMAN, SO IF THAT'S THE
REASON WHY THEY SAY THEY'RE
DOING THIS IS TO KEEP TUITION
LOW, THEY HAVE GET MONEY FROM
OTHER SOURCES, TO YOUR POINT,
TERRY, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE
DOING IT.
>> AND KWAME'S A GUY THAT WHEN
HE WAS IN CALIFORNIA THERE WAS A
COUPLE MINOR COMPANIES HE WAS
INVOLVED IN, I THINK CALLED
GOOGLE AND APPLE, THAT SEEMED TO
WORK OUT WELL.
SO, HE HAS SOME SUCCESS IN WHAT
HE'S DOING.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH TERRY
INSOFAR AS THIS GUY IS A SERIOUS
GUY AND I'M TO KNOW WHAT HE'S
DOING.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE BECAUSE OF
THAT, BECAUSE OF THE DIPLOMATIC
AND PERSONAL TIES, THE
INVOLVEMENT OF THE BOARD SHOULD
HAVE BEEN THERE.
>> OKAY LET'S GET TO THE NEXT
TOPIC.
STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO MAKE SEEMINGLY SMALL CHANGES
IN ELECTION LAW THAT COULD HAVE
A EXTREME IMPACT ON NEXT YEAR'S
GOVERNOR'S RACE AND FUTURE
ELECTIONS.
IT GETS COMPLICATED, SO WE'LL
KEEP IT SIMPLE.
LAWMAKERS WANTED TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF SIGNATURES MINOR PARTY
CANDIDATES NEEDED TO GET ON THE
BALLOT, BUT THE LIBERTARIAN
PARTY AND OTHERS COMPLAINED, SO
LAWMAKERS WILL STILL INCREASE
THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES NEEDED,
BUT BY A LITTLE LESS.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR, CHARLIE EARL, SUGGESTS
IT WITH A CONSPIRACY TO KEEP HIM
OFF THE BALLOT SO HE COULD NOT
TAKE VOTES AWAY FROM JOHN
KASICH.
JULIE, WHY THE MOVE TO INCREASE
THE BAR, RAISE THE BAR?
>> WELL, THE RULES THAT OHIO HAD
IN PLACE ABOUT GETTING ON THE
BALLOT FOR THESE PARTIES WAS IN
A COURT BATTLE, AND AS A RESULT
OF THE DECISION IN THAT CASE,
THERE WAS SORT OF A FUZZY AREA
THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED,
ACCORDING TO THE SPONSORED BILL
WHO SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION.
SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN HUSTON
SAYS THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
SO, THAT'S REALLY WHAT HAPPENED.
BUT I MEAN, BECAUSE OF THE
TIMING OF IT, BECAUSE THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY THIS YEAR HAS
JUST GONE THROUGH A BIG FIGHT
OVER EVEN ITS OWN LEADERSHIP
WITH THE TEA PARTY AND
NATIONALLY WITH THE TEA PARTY,
IT LOOKED AS IF THEY'RE TRYING
TO UP THE BAR ON GETTING THESE
CANDIDATES ON TO THE BALLOT.
>> AND I'LL DO AN EARLY
PREDICTION.
REALLY, THIS PAST WEEK WAS THE
DEADLINE.
THE TRAIN KIND OF LEFT THE
STATION.
AND WHEN THE SENATE DIDN'T AGREE
WITH THE HOUSE CHANGES, I DON'T
KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET IT DONE
EVEN NEXT WEEK IN TIME TO HAVE
IT IN EFFECT, BECAUSE IT WASN'T
GOING TO BE PASSED AS EMERGENCY.
SO, THIS MIGHT BE A MOOT POINT
BECAUSE YOU HAD TO HAVE IT IN
EFFECT BECAUSE OF THE EARLY
FEBRUARY FILING DEADLINE.
>> HOW STRONG IS THE FEAR THAT A
LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE COULD
AFFECT THE ELECTION?
>> I THINK THE FEAR IS THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOME
BACKGROUND.
LET'S NOT FORGET, THESE MINOR
PARTIES HAVE HAD AN EFFECT IN
THE PAST.
RIGHT NOW IF I WERE A
REPUBLICAN, I'D BE WORRIED ABOUT
THE LIBERTARIANS AND THE EFFECT
THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE AT THE
STATE LEVEL AND AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL.
BUT REMEMBER, THEY TOOK ELECTION
WITH RESPECT TO THE GREEN PARTY
AND THE DEMOCRATS.
SO, THIS CAN CUT BOTH WAYS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TERRY AND
I MAY BE ON THE SAME PAGE HERE.
>> IN FLORIDA, THERE WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN THE BALLOT PROBLEMS IN
SOME OF THOSE COUNTIES FOR AL
GORE IF HE DIDN'T HAVE 13
DIFFERENT CANDIDATES RUN FOR
PRESIDENT SPREAD OVER TWO
DIFFERENT PAGES.
>> 3,000 VOTES.
>> AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT YOU
GET TOO MANY CANDIDATES ON
THERE, IT CREATES BALLOT
CONFUSION.
>> THE THING IS, THE FEDERAL
COURTS, THOUGH, HAVE LOOKED AT
VARIOUS SCANS AT RESTRICTING
PEOPLE, PARTIES FROM THE BALLOT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE KIND OF IN
THE VACUUM THAT WE'RE IN NOW,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE MINOR
PARTIES ARE TAKING OHIO TO
COURT.
THEY'VE WON!
SO SECRETARIES OF STATE, I THINK
STARTING WITH JENNIFER BRUENER
AND PRETTY MUCH THROUGH HUSTED
HAVE SAID THE REQUIREMENTS ARE
MINIMAL BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN
STOPPED OUT BEFORE AND I THINK
IF SOME OF THE VERSIONS OF THE
BILL GET THROUGH, THEY ARE HAPPY
TO GET IN.
>> IF YOU'VE BEEN TO NEW
ORLEANS, ONE OF THE MOST
STARTLING THINGS YOU'LL SEE --
YOU SEE A LOT OF STARTING THINGS
DOWN THERE -- ONE OF THE MOST
STARTLING THINGS YOU'LL SEE IS
PEOPLE OPENLY DRINKING BEERS AND
*** ON THE STREETS AND
SIDEWALKS, VENDORS SET UP ON THE
SIDEWALK AND THEY'LL SELL ***
LIKE CANDY OR ICE CREAM.
WELL, THREE OF THOSE SO-CALLED
OPEN CONTAINER DISTRICTS COULD
COME TO COLUMBUS.
A BILL AT THE STATE HOUSE WOULD
ALLOW CITIES, MAJOR CITIES TO
SET UP ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS
THAT ALLOW THE OPEN CONSUMPTION
OF ALCOHOL.
SO, TERRY, DO YOU REDISTRICT
BOURBON STREET?
>> IT'S AN INTERESTING THEORY,
BUT I WOULDN'T BET THE RANCH ON
IT.
IN FACT, AS AN EARLY
PREPREDICTION PREDICTION, I
DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GO
ANYWHERE, BECAUSE LAW
ENFORCEMENT, MOTHERS AGAINST
DRUNK DRIVING, EVEN MANY IN THE
ALCOHOL INDUSTRY REALIZE THAT IF
THINGS GET TOO OUT OF CONTROL,
IT'S BAD FOR BUSINESS IN
GENERAL.
SO, IT'S A PROPOSAL.
IT'S INTERESTING TO HAVE THAT
EXCITEMENT, BUT AS SOMETIMES
HAPPENS AT OSU GAMES, PEOPLE
PARTICULARLY WITH PENN STATE AND
A NIGHT GAME, PEOPLE GET CARRIED
AWAY.
>> IT'S NOT APPLE JUICE IN THE
PLASTIC CUPS?
>> NO, AND BY THE WAY, WHERE'S
OUR PLASTIC CUPS ON THE SHOW?
>> IT'S WATER.
>> MIKE AND I JUST GOT BACK FROM
SAVANNAH.
WE WERE AT A RESTAURANT, MY WIFE
AND I, AND THE WAITRESS SAID, BY
THE WAY, IF YOU WANT TO GO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE REMAINING
SATELLITE, HERE'S A CUP AND YOU
CAN PUT YOUR DRINK IN AND WALK
AROUND.
SO, SAVANNAH HAS DONE THAT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, TERRY, THE IDEA
HERE IS TO MAKE IT A
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, ESSENTIALLY A
NIGHTCLUB, SO THAT, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE CAN WALK AROUND.
BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT IT WOULD
ADD TO THAT FOR THE SIMPLE
REASON THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT
LOADING UP LIKE ALCOHOL AT THEIR
FAVORITE BAR AND THEN GOING OUT
INTO THE STREET MIGHT HELP.
IT MIGHT HELP.
>> IT'S USED TO SPRUCE UP A
DEPRESSED AREA.
THE DISTRICT IS DOING FINE,
SHORT NORTH IS DOING FINE,
BREWERY DISTRICT OKAY, I GUESS.
HOW ABOUT FRANKLINTON?
OPEN IT UP DOWN THERE.
>> HOW DO I DO THAT, WITH WINE
OR WHAT?
>> WELL, WE EFFECTIVELY HAVE IT
NOW IN THE SENSE THAT A FESTIVAL
IN THE SUMMER CAN BECOME AN OPEN
AREA FOR ALCOHOL, AND IT'S A
TRAVELING THING, OR YOU KNOW,
SINGLE WEEKEND THING.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS A BOOST IF
YOU WANT TO WALK AROUND AND JUST
SORT OF ENJOY SOMETHING OUTDOORS
AND NOT HAVE TO BE RESTRICTED.
WITH THE SMOKING BAN FORCING SO
MANY PEOPLE OUTDOORS ANYWAY, YOU
KNOW?
>> OKAY, LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL
"OFF THE RECORD" PARTING SHOTS.
JOE.
>> ELECTION WEEK, I'M GOING TO
DUST OFF MY ADMONITION.
I AM A REFUGEE FROM COMMUNIST
CUBA.
I SAID WHY WOULD WE LOSE OUR
HOME IN CUBA?
HE SAID BECAUSE WE DIDN'T VOTE.
GET OUT, VOTE ON TUESDAY.
>> GREAT.
I WANT TO OFFER A PUBLIC THANK
YOU TO THE PRESIDENT AND
OHIO-BORN KATHLEEN SEBELIUS,
BECAUSE SUDDENLY, ANY ANGERED
REPUBLICANS OVER SOME OTHER
THINGS HAVE BEEN SUPPLANTED BY
THE PRESIDENT AND THE PROBLEMS
WITH THE SIGN-UP ON THE FREE
OBAMA CARE.
SO, WE THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
REPUBLICANS ARE VERY HAPPY NOW.
SADLY FOR AMERICA.
>> JULIE?
>> I THINK THEY WILL TRY TO PASS
THIS MINORITY PARTY BILL NEXT
WEEK.
MAYBE THEY'LL ADD THE EMERGENCY
CLAUSE AND GET THAT FIXED, BUT
MY RISKY PREDICTION IS CHARLIE
EARL IS NOT GOING TO BEAT JOHN
KASICH IN THE ELECTION.
>> WELL, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE
PERCENT.
I GUESS THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATS
ARE HOPING FOR.
DARRYL.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE
COMMUNITIES WHO CHANGED
TRICK-OR-TREAT TO THE WEEKEND
NIGHT SO I CAN GO GET EXTRA
CANDY NOW.
>> AND SCARE KIDS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND ONE OF MY YEARLY RANTS, I
ALWAYS THINK -- THIS IS MY
LIBERTARIAN HAT NOW, CYNICAL AND
IDEALIST, LIBERTARIAN.
IS GOVERNMENT INTRUSION IN
SOCIETY WHEN YOU HAVE SEPARATE
BEGGAR'S NIGHT.
SO, HALLOWEEN AND THEN THE RAINS
CAME AND THEY MOVED IT ANYWAY,
SO, WE TRIED.
BEGGAR'S NIGHT ON HALLOWEEN ONLY
NEXT YEAR.
THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD"
FOR THIS WEEK.
CHECK US OUT ONLINE OR FACEBOOK.
WE'RE ON TWITTER.
VIDEOS OF EVERY SHOW ON OUR
WEBSITE, WOSU.ORG/COTR.
FOR OUR CREW AND OUR PANEL, I'M
MIKE THOMPSON.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK.