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>>> FRACKING IN STATE PARKS AND
MAYOR COLEMAN FLOATS ANOTHER
PASSENGER RAIL PLAN.
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY WOSU-TV,
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
>> Announcer: FROM THE BATTELLE
STUDIO AT WOSU AT COSI, THIS IS
"COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."
JOIN MIKE THOMPSON THIS WEEK,
LAURA BISCHOFF, STATEHOUSE
REPORTER FOR THE DAYTON DAILY
NEWS.
JOSEPH MAS, CHAIR OF THE OHIO
HISPANIC COALITION AND MARK
WEAVER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.
>> THE IDEA OF FRACCING IN STATE
PARKS AND THE TIES BETWEEN
REGULATORS AND NATURAL GAS
DRILLERS MADE HEADLINES THIS
WEEK.
LIBERAL GROUPS UNCOVERED AND
RELEASED A 2012 MEMO THAT
DESCRIBES A PLAN BY THE OHIO
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
TO SELL THE IDEA OF DRILLING FOR
NATURAL GAS IN STATE PARKS.
THE PLAN IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL
SUPPORTERS AND POTENTIAL
OPPONENTS.
IT WAS ALSO SENT TO TOP
OFFICIALS IN THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE.
THE PROBLEM, CRITICS SAY IS THAT
ODNR REGULATES OIL AND NATURAL
GAS DRILLING.
LAURA BISCHOFF, IS THIS THE
SMOKING GUN THAT FRACKING
OPPONENTS HAVE BEEN LOOKING
FORWARD TO AS THIS COZY
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REGULATORS
AND THE DRILLERS?
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF A
SMOKING GUN IT IS, BUT IT
DOESN'T REALLY LOOK VERY GOOD.
IT'S SORT OF LIKE REMEMBER WHEN
THE INSPECTORS WERE SUPPOSED TO
BE INSPECTING THE BP OIL RIG AND
THEY WERE ACTUALLY KIND OF
HANGING OUT WITH THEM, GOLF,
PARTYING OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
THIS, I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD
HAVE MUCH MORE OF A ARM'S LENGTH
WITH THE -- WITH INDUSTRY THAT
THEY REGULATE.
JUST TO KEEP IT CLEANER.
AND ALSO KIND OF THE NARRATIVE
IN THE MEMO.
USED SORT OF INFLAMMATORY
LANGUAGE LIKE THE
ECO PROPAGANDISTS AND THE --
>> EXTREMISTS?
>> EXTREMISTS AND THE REST OF
IT.
SO I THINK IT PROBABLY HAD MORE
POLITICAL OVERTONES THAN IT
REALLY NEEDED TO HAVE.
NOW TO SAY THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
ADVANCE THIS POLICY IS
RIDICULOUS.
I THINK BUT THAT PROBABLY SHOULD
HAVE ORIGINATED IN THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, NOT IN DNR.
>> THE STATE LAW CHANGED.
ALLOWING DRILLING ON PUBLIC
LAND.
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR
SIGNED IT.
LEGISLATURE APPROVED IT.
GOVERNOR SIGNED IT IN 2011.
SO DRILLING ON STATE LAW IS
ALLOWED SO THAT DEBATE IS OVER.
WOULD IT HAVE BEEN BETTER, MARK,
IF IT SAID, HERE'S HOW TO MAKE
IT HAPPEN.
HERE ARE THE PROS, THE CONS AND
THE GROUPS WE NEED TO INVOLVE?
>> IN GOVERNMENT, NEARLY EVERY
AGENCY WORKS ON HOW THEY'LL
MARKET OR COMMUNICATE A
PARTICULAR REGULATION OR POLICY.
THAT'S PRETTY COMMON.
AND I THINK EVERYONE HAS WRITTEN
SOME MEMOS IN THEIR LIFE THAT
THEY WISH THEY WOULD HAVE
PHRASED BETTER.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN A
MUCH MORE BALANCED WAY.
EVEN THE TWO LEGISLATORS WHO
WERE NAMED IN THE MEMO
ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S AN
APPROPRIATE FUNCTION OF
GOVERNMENT FOR THEM TO IF YOU
WILL, GAME OUT HOW THEY ARE
GOING TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING SO
THAT THE PUBLIC ACCEPTS IT SO
THE FACTS ARE OUT THERE.
NOW IT'S INTERESTING.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE POLICY WILL BE
ON HOLD FOR A WHILE.
AND WE'LL SEE IF IT GETS PICKED
UP SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE.
BUT CERTAINLY THIS COULD HAVE
BEEN WRITTEN BETTER.
>> AND IT'S SORT OF THE LAYERED
STORY BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY THE
ISSUE OF THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN ODNR AND THE OIL AND GAS
INDUSTRY, BUT IT'S ALSO THE
ISSUE OF THE MESSAGE AND WHEN
WAS IT REALLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?
ORIGINALLY THERE WAS A DENIAL
THIS HAD TAKEN PLACE.
AND THEN A WEEK LATER, OH, OF
COURSE, WE WERE GOING TO BE
WORKING TOGETHER WITH ADVANCING
THE MESSAGE AND THE WHOLE THING.
AND SO IT WAS AN INEFFICIENT, I
THINK, WAY OF ADDRESSING WHAT
WAS, OBVIOUSLY, GOING TO BE
RELEASED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.
THAT'S HOW IT CAME OUT.
>> IT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES, NATURAL GAS
AND OIL ARE NATURAL RESOURCES.
SO I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION
IS, SHOULD ODNR BE REGULATING
THESE DRILLERS.
IF SO, SHOULD THEY BE OVERSEEING
STATE PARKS WHERE THE DRILLING
MAY HAPPEN?
>> IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT A BALANCE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE GREAT NATURAL
RESOURCES IN OHIO.
AND IF WE CAN HAPPEN THEM
RESPONSIBLY, THEN OUR ECONOMY
WILL GROW.
WE'RE SEEING THAT, OF COURSE IN
THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT FRACKING SOME
MORE TODAY.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE LIFE
BLOOD OF MANY EASTERN
COMMUNITIES.
I SPENT TIME IN A FEW STATE
PARKS.
THERE HAVE TO BE AREAS IN STATE
PARKS LESS TRAVELED WHERE A
SMALL FOOTPRINT CAN BE USED TO
EXTRACT NATURAL RESOURCES IN A
WAY THAT WILL NOT AFFECT THE
PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO ENJOY THE
BEAUTY OF WHAT OHIO HAS TO
OFFER.
>> BUT THE GOVERNOR THEN HAS
DECIDED OR DID DECIDE NOT TO
NAME THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS TO
THE BODY THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO
ADVANCE THE REGULATIONS.
>> PUT THE DRILLING ON STATE
PARKLAND ON HOLD.
>> ESSENTIALLY BY DOING THAT.
THEY'D BE THE ONES TO MONITOR
THE SITUATION.
>> IS IT BECAUSE OF THE FLAP
OVER THIS MEMO?
WAS IT BECAUSE HE IS LOOKING FOR
LEVERAGE IN THE WHOLE FRACKING
TAX THING OR IS IT JUST A GOOD
IDEA NOT TO DRILL ON LAND?
>> HE DIDN'T DO THE APPOINTMENT
IN NOVEMBER OF '11.
SO IT WAS QUITE A WHILE AGO THAT
HE DIDN'T -- THE DEADLINE WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE BACK THEN.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS
BEEN THIS TENSION BACK AND FORTH
OVER THE SEVERANCE TAX, HOW BIG
SHOULD IT BE, HOW LITTLE SHOULD
IT BE?
OIL AND GAS IT PUSHING BACK
AGAINST KASICH.
KASICH IS PUSHING BACK AGAINST
THEM.
IT'S IN THE LEGISLATURE.
THERE'S BEEN AN ONGOING BATTLE
AND THIS IS MAYBE TIED TO IT.
>> DO WE NEED TO FRAC IN STATE
PARKS?
THERE'S A LOT OF LAND IN OHIO?
>> I TALKED TO SOMEONE AT THE
OIL AND GAS ASSOCIATION.
THEY SAID DRILLING IN THE PARKS
WOULD BE NICE.
THERE'S SOME DRILLING GOING ON
IN ESPECIALLY IN THE HAWKING
HILLS AREA.
THERE'S PLENTY OF LAND TO
PURSUE.
THERE'S NOT -- THEIR POINT IS
THAT OHIO IS MISSION OUT ON A
CHANCE TO CAPITALIZE ON HIGH
LEASE RATES DURING THE BOOM.
IT'S A POOR DECISION BY THE
KASICH ADMINISTRATION NOT DO IT.
>> THEN YOU BENEFIT FROM THAT
DIRECT MONEY FROM THE LEASE
ITSELF.
THE ARGUMENT THAT THE PARKS, YOU
KNOW, COULD USE THE MONEY FOR
UPKEEP AND TO IMPROVE THE REST
OF THE PARK THAT PEOPLE MIGHT
USE.
YOU DO SEE THE DRILLING RIGS IN
SOME OF THE STATE PARKS DOWN IN
THE HAWKING HILLS, TUCKED IN OFF
THE TRAILS SOMETIMES.
BUT YOU CAN -- THEY ARE THERE.
SO WE'LL SEE.
ANOTHER SOURCE OF JOBS IN
EASTERN OHIO IS CAUSING
CONTROVERSY.
LAST YEAR ORMET CORPORATION
CLOSED ITS ALUMINUM FACTUALLY
ALONG THE OHIO RIVER.
700 WORKERS LOST THEIR JOBS.
THE COMPANY BLAMES THE SHUTDOWN
ON THE OHIO PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION WHICH REFUSED TO CUT
THE PLANT'S ELECTRIC BILL.
LAID OFF WORKERS BLAME GOVERNOR
KASICH FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH TO
SAVE THE FACTORY.
NOW AD THE 2014 CAMPAIGN RAMPS
UP, DEMOCRATS ARE JUMPING ON THE
BLAME KASICH FOR ORMET
BANDWAGON.
MARK WEAVER, DOES THE GOVERNOR
REGRET AT LEAST A LITTLE THAT HE
DIDN'T DO MORE TO PREVENT THIS
PLANT FROM SHUTTING DOWN?
>> MOST ANALYSTS KNOW THE REASON
THIS PLANT HAD TO SHUT DOWN HAS
MORE TO DO WITH THE WORLD
ALUMINUM MARKET THAN ANY
DECISION THAT COULD BE MADE IN
OHIO.
THE CONGRESSMAN THERE, BILL
JOHNSON, HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH
GOVERNOR KASICH TO TRY TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF 700
NEWLY DISPLACED WORKERS.
AND I KNOW THERE'S AT LEAST ONE
OPTION WHERE ORMET COULD GO TO
THE POCU AND ASK FOR INFORMATION
TO BUY ELECTRICITY FROM THE FREE
MARKET WHICH MIGHT BRING THEIR
COSTS DOWN AND MIGHT ALLOW THEM
TO RE-EMPLOY OTHER PEOPLE.
SO THERE ARE APPARENTLY ARE
STILL OTHER OPTIONS.
BUT IT'S KREERL A SAD THING FOR
THIS COUNTY WHICH WAS ALREADY
ONE OF THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT
COUNTIES IN OHIO AND THEN TO
LOSE 700 JOBS ON TOP OF THAT HAS
BEEN A GREAT STRATEGY.
I DO KNOW THE CONGRESSMAN THERE
HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE
TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
>> I CAN'T REALLY DISAGREE WITH
MARK TOO MUCH.
I THINK THE ONLY QUESTION IS IS
THERE SOMETHING MORE THE STATE
CAN DO, MAYBE SORT OF THE LAST
DITCH EFFORT TO BRING DOWN THE
PROCESSING CAUSE.
THE ELECTRICITY COSTS FOR THIS
INDUSTRY ARE JUST TREMENDOUS.
BUT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN
THAT THE WORLD MARKET FOR
ALUMINUM IS DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT DEPRESSED,
BUT IT'S CERTAINLY DOWN AND IT
DOESN'T -- AND THE STUDIES SEEM
TO INDICATE THAT IT CANNOT
SUSTAIN THIS PARTICULAR PLANT.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU GOT
DIRT CHEAP ELECTRICITY COSTS
WHEN IT WAS --
>> THE GOVERNOR HAS TAKEN A LOT
OF HEAT BECAUSE HE PUT THE HEAT
ON TED STRICKLAND WHEN DHL AND
NCR ALL LEFT.
YOU COULD ARGUE THEY LEFT
BECAUSE OF MARKET FORCES BUT
STILL IT WAS UNDER STRICKLAND'S
WATCH.
HE TOOK THE HIT AND THIS IS
PAYBACK.
>> DHL WAS 7,000 OR 8,000 JOBS
COMPARED TO 700 HERE.
SO A MUCH BIGGER IMPACT IN THAT
COMMUNITY THAN THIS WAS,
ALTHOUGH THEY ARE BOTH TRAGIC.
AND SECONDLY, IF THERE'S ONE
THING YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
GOVERNOR KASICH, HE'S SPENT HIS
NEARLY HIS ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA TRYING TO BRING MORE JOBS
TO OHIO.
TRYING TO MAKE THIS A PLACE
WHERE COMPANIES WANT TO LOCATE.
AND SO NOBODY CAN SAY THAT HE
HAS NOT WORKED HARD AT THAT
PARTICULAR OBJECTIVE.
>> WHY IS IT IRONIC?
ON THE OTHER SIDE IT'S THE
DEMOCRAT ED FITZGERALD SAYING
THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WANTS TO GIVE
THE GOVERNOR MORE POWER OVER THE
POCU, IN ORDER TO WORK THIS
DEAL.
>> THE GOVERNOR POINTS THE
MEMBERS OF THE PUCO AND DOES
HAVE SOME AUTHORITY OVER THEM IN
THAT RECORD BUT THEY SERVE
FIVE-YEAR TERMS SO THEY ARE
REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE AN
AUTONOMOUS BOARD.
I DON'T KNOW THAT GHIFG GOVERNOR
MORE POWER IS NECESSARILY A GOOD
IDEA.
BUT IT DOES -- YOU ARE RIGHT.
IT DOES SOUND LIKE THE NCR
RHETORIC WE HEARD ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL FOUR YEARS AGO
WHEN JOHN KASICH PUT IT ALL AT
TED STRICKLAND'S FEET SAYING HE
DIDN'T REMEMBER THE
CHAIRMAN'S -- THE CEO'S NAME.
YOU DIDN'T DO THIS.
DIDN'T DO THAT.
IT'S EASY TO KIND OF THROW THIS
UP IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS IN A
QUICK HIT LINE ON A CAMPAIGN
STUMP SPEECH OR IN AN AD.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCES OF
WHY THESE COMPANIES MAKE THESE
DECISIONS AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS
THE GOVERNOR'S FAULT.
CERTAINLY MAYBE MORE THINGS
COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN ALL OF
THESE CASES.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE
ABOUT ORMET.
THE DEMOCRATS WILL MAKE SURE OF
THAT.
>> I'M SURE THERE MAY BE SOME
BAIN-STYLE ADS FEATURING ORMET
WORKERS.
AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT THESE
CAMPAIGNS ARE RUN.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOOD, BAD
OR INDIFFERENT.
IT'S GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE TO KNOW
WHAT THE REAL FACTS ARE, BUT,
LOOK, WITH RESPECT TO JOBS, WITH
RESPECT TO INDUSTRY, THERE ARE A
LOT OF FACTORS OTHER THAN
POLITICS AND OTHER THAN STATE
GOVERNMENT THAT --
>> BUT SD THE LOCATION OF THIS
PLANT WEIGH IN?
THIS IS IN SOUTHEAST OHIO.
WHICH IS SOLID REPUBLICAN AREA.
IF IT WAS IN NORTHEAST OHIO OR
THE DAYTON AREA OR NEAR CENTRAL
OHIO, THEN IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE
DIFFERENT STORY.
>> SOUTHEAST OHIO TRADITIONALLY
HAS BEEN A CONSERVATIVE AREA.
NOT NECESSARILY REPUBLICAN AREA.
BUT CERTAINLY REPUBLICAN OFFICE
HOLDERS HAVE DONE WELL THERE
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS IS AN ECONOMICALLY
DEPRESSED AREA.
AND AS A RESULT, WE TALKED ABOUT
FRACKING EARLIER.
THE ABILITY TO ALLOW THESE LAND
OWNERS TO SELL THE RIGHTS TO THE
NATURAL GAS AND SOMETIMES OIL ON
TO THEIR PROPERTY COULD BE --
COULD DO FOR SOUTHEASTERN OHIO
WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR NORTHERN
NORTH DAKOTA WHERE WE NOW HAVE
THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN
AMERICA AND PEOPLE CAN ARRIVE
THERE AND GET JOBS AT $80,000,
90,000, $100,000 AS SOON AS THEY
ARRIVE.
>> LET'S GET TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.
WE STILL HAVE NINE MONTHS TO GO
BUT THERE'S A NEW POLL IN THE
GOVERNOR'S RACE AND THE GOOD
NEWS FOR GOVERNOR KASICH IS HIS
APPROVAL RATING IS HIGH.
THE GOOD NEWS FOR ED FITZGERALD
IS HE'S STILL IN THE RACE.
SO TO GET AN IDEA OF WHERE THIS
STATE LIES, WE LOOK AT WHERE WE
WERE EXACTLY FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN
KASICH WAS THE CHALLENGER.
FIRST IN THE OVERALL RACE, THE
INCUMBENT JOHN KASICH LEADS THE
CHALLENGER ED FITZGERALD BY 7
PERCENTAGE POINTS.
FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS THE
CHALLENGER, JOHN KASICH TRAILED
TED STRICKLAND BY FIVE POINTS.
NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE
THERE WITH NINE MONTHS TO GO.
LET'S LOOK AT THE APPROVAL
RATINGS IN FEBRUARY OF THE TWO
YEARS.
KASICH STANDS AT 51%.
THAT'S ABOVE THE ALL-IMPORTANT
50% MARK.
TED STRICKLAND IN 2010, A LITTLE
BELOW 50% AT 48%.
SO STILL KIND OF SIMILAR THERE.
NOW NAME RECOGNITION IS ALWAYS
THE FIRST CHALLENGE FOR THE
CHALLENGER.
FITZGERALD RIGHT NOW IS STILL
UNKNOWN BY 70% OF OHIOANS.
FOUR YEARS AGO, JOHN KASICH WAS
UNKNOWN BY 62%.
SO HE WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER
BUT STILL NOT GREAT AS FAR AS
KNOWN/UNKNOWN.
AND THE NUMBER THAT WORRIES
DEMOCRATS NOW AND WORRIED
DEMOCRATS THEN IS THE
SATISFACTION NUMBER.
56% OF OHIOANS SAY THEY ARE NOW
SATISFIED WITH HOW THINGS ARE
GOING.
IN 2010, LESS THAN ONE-THIRD OF
OHIOANS WERE SATISFIED WITH
WHERE THINGS STOOD.
MARK WEAVER, I ASSUME THAT'S
THE NUMBER REPUBLICANS ARE
LOOKING AT.
>> THAT'S A KEY BAROMETER PEOPLE
WANT TO CHANGE IN THEIR
GOVERNMENT.
YOU ASK THAT SAME QUESTION IN
AMERICA YOU'D GET A MUCH
DIFFERENT RESULT FOR OHIOANS HOW
THEY FEEL ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE
GOING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
PEOPLE AREN'T THRILLED IN OHIO
HOW THINGS ARE GOING BUT THEY
KNOW IT'S GETTING BETTER.
WHAT WE HAVE IS A RACE THAT'S
GOING TO TIGHTEN, MEANING JOHN
KASICH IS NOT GOING TO WIN THIS
RACE BY 20 POINTS.
THIS WILL BE PROBABLY A
SINGLE-DIGIT VICTORY ON HIS
BEHALF.
7, 8, 9 POINTS.
IT WON'T BE BIG.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING FROM
SEVERAL DIFFERENT FOLKS, BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE, REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS, HOW ANGRY AND
DISAPPOINTED SOME DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS ARE AT THE BAD ROLL-OUT
OF THE FITZGERALD EFFORT FROM
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PROBLEM
TO OTHER PROBLEMS HE'S HAD AND
NOW IN CLEVELAND, EVEN HIS OWN
BACKYARD, HE'S HAVING TO FIGHT
OFF FIRES.
>> HE'S STILL ONLY DOWN BY SIX
POINTS.
>> FIVE POINTS.
>> SO --
>> THAT'S OHIO.
IT'S A COMPETITIVE STATE.
OUR STATE OFFICE HOLDERS TEND
NOT TO WIN BY LARGE NUMBERS.
I LIKE TO THINK OF THESE
GUBERNATORIAL RACES AS TWO
TYPES.
ONE IS ISSUE SPACE.
AND THE OTHER PERSONALITY SPACE.
A BIG PERSONALITY, JOHN GLENN,
FOR EXAMPLE, OR IN THE NATIONAL
AREIN ABILL CLINTON IS ONE TYPE
OF RACE.
WHEN YOU HAVE AN ISSUES-BASED
RACE WHICH THIS COULD BECOME AND
LIKELY COULD BECOME, YOU HAVE --
SOME ISSUES I'M GOING TO FOCUS
ON LATER IN MY CLOSING COMMENTS
BUT CERTAINLY THE WOMEN'S RIGHT
TO CHOOSE.
CERTAINLY THIS ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUE ON THE FRACKING AND SO
COULD BECOME THE DRIVING FORCE.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THERE'S
ANOTHER THING WE HAVE FORGOTTEN
FOUR YEARS AGO.
WE HAD A CRISIS IN CUYAHOGA
COUNTY THAT KEPT 55,000 VOTERS
AT HOME.
WE MAY NOT HAVE THAT THIS TIME.
>> THE UNKNOWN.
70%.
IS THAT TOO HIGH OF AN UNKNOWN
PERCENTAGE?
WE ARE IN 2014.
WE'RE NOT A YEAR OUT.
WE'RE LESS THAN A YEAR OUT.
>> WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT
IS THAT JOHN KASICH WAS AT 62%
UNKNOWN.
AND HE HAD SERVED IN CONGRESS
FOR 18 YEARS.
I THINK ED FITZGERALD IS A
LITTLE NEWER ON THE BIG STAGE.
AND I ALSO THINK THAT THIS, YOU
KNOW, HE'S GOT TO START DEFINING
HIMSELF BEFORE THE KASICH SIDE
DEFINES HIM.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT
NUMBER IS NOT GOING TO GO DOWN
UNTIL WE SEE SOME TV ADS AND
SOME DEBATES AND SOME OTHER
STUFF WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY TUNE
IN.
>> THAT'S A KEY POINT BECAUSE --
>> REMEMBER, YOU GET KNOWN IN
OHIO BY BUYING DIVISION ADS.
THERE'S OTHER WAYS, OF COURSE,
BUT THAT'S THE BIGGEST VOICE IN
THE CAMPAIGN.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY
TO RUN THOSE ADS YOU'LL NEVER
GET WELL KNOWN ENOUGH.
AND IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,
PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH
SIDE, WHETHER IT'S FITZGERALD OR
KASICH.
REMEMBER, FITZGERALD HAS A
PRIMARY.
AS AN --
>> HIS NAME ON THE BALLOT, I
WOULDN'T SAY HE HAS A PRIMARY.
>> HE HAS TO HIGHLIGHT HIS
WEAKNESS WITH THE MOST LOYAL
CONSTITUENCY TO THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY WHICH IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN
VOTES AND SO HE'S GOING TO WIN,
OF COURSE, BUT HE HAS TO GET
THROUGH THAT.
AND SO THE BIG MONEY DONORS ARE
STILL NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT
FITZGERALD CAN GET OUT OF THE
GATES.
>> I THINK WHEN -- I THINK THAT
WHEN THE POLL AT THIS POINT
SHOWING HIM FIVE POINTS OUT,
MAKES IT LOOK LIKE HE DOES HAVE
A SHOT.
AND SO IT'S MUCH MORE LIKELY THE
FUNDING IS GOING TO COME IN.
AND HE WILL GET SOME MONEY TO
GET HIS MESSAGE OUT.
NOW IF THE POLL STARTS GOING THE
OTHER DIRECTION IF THERE'S MORE
GAPS IN HOW HE CONTINUES HIS
CAMPAIGN AND IT LOOKS SHAKY,
THEN THAT ALSO SCARES OFF THE
FUND-RAISERS.
IT'S A CRITICAL TIME, I THINK,
FOR THE FITZGERALD CAMPAIGN TO
REALLY COALESCE AND --
>> HE HAS TO KEEP IT CLOSE FOR
THE NATIONAL.
>> THE NATIONAL MAKES THE
DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THE
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S
ASSOCIATION HAS SEVERAL RACES
THEY HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
HOW MUCH THEY PUT IN OHIO.
>> OKAY.
GOVERNOR KASICH GIVES HIS STATE
OF THE STATE ADDRESS NEXT WEEK
FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR,
MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF
LAWMAKERS, THEIR STAFF AND
MEDIA.
THE GOVERNOR TAKES HIS SPEECH ON
THE ROAD.
LAURA BISCHOFF, IT'S A
RE-ELECTION YEAR.
DO WE EXPECT ANY BOLD
INITIATIVES IN THIS SPEECH?
>> USUALLY A GOVERNOR GOING INTO
A RE-ELECTION WILL SORT OF
REVIEW THE THINGS HE'S DONE AND
THE PROJECTS HE'S GOT UNDER WAY
AND THE POLICIES AND I THINK
WE'LL HEAR SOME OF THAT.
THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD FROM TED
STRICKLAND FOUR YEARS AGO WAS A
LOT OF -- A NOD TO THE TOUGH
ECONOMY BUT THEN A LOT ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE IN OHIO.
SORT OF A CHEERLEADING RA-RA
KIND OF MESSAGE.
NOW KASICH IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL
POLITICIAN.
SO MAYBE HE WILL KIND OF ROLL
OUT SOME STUFF THAT HE WANTS TO
PUT INTO WHAT HE CALLS HIS
MIDBIENNIAL RENEW PACKAGE.
A WHOLE BUNCH OF POLICY CHANGES
HAVING TO DO WITH TAXES, JOB
TRAINING, HIGHER EDUCATION,
K-12.
SO I THINK IT WILL BE A LITTLE
BIT MEATIER.
AND ALSO, I THINK THAT I THINK
THAT HE'S -- WHAT I'M INTERESTED
TO SEE ALSO IS HOW HE DELIVERS
THE MECHANICS OF IT.
HIS FIRST TWO SPEECHES WERE VERY
UNSCRIPTED.
I THINK HE HAD ABOUT A ONE INDEX
CARD WORTH OF NOTES.
THEY RAN LONG AND HE CAUGHT A
LOT OF CRITICISM FOR THAT.
I THOUGHT HIS LIMA ONE WAS HIS
BEST ONE SO FAR BECAUSE HE USED
MORE COMPLETE NOTES AND HE
STAYED MORE ON TRACK AND WAS
MUCH MORE FOCUSED.
AND I THINK GOING INTO HIS
RE-ELECTION, AND ALSO POSSIBLY
SETTING THE TABLE FOR 2016 IF HE
WANTS TO BE -- CONTINUE TO BE
CONSIDERED A PRESIDENTIAL
CONTENDER, HE NEEDS TO HAVE A
VERY FOCUSED BALANCED AND
DYNAMITE SPEECH.
>> SO, MARK, IF HE HAS A
TELEPROMPTER, DOES THAT MEAN
HE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN
2016?
>> I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO
HAVE A TELEPROMPTER.
I DO AGREE WITH LAURA THE SPEECH
WAS THE BEST OF THE STATE OF THE
STATES.
I THINK YOU'LL SEE A GOVERNOR
THIS YEAR WHO IS ON MESSAGE.
WHO IS DISCIPLINED AND WHO IS
LEARNING HOW TO TAKE HIS MANY
IDEAS AND EXPLAIN THEM IN A WAY
THAT CAN BE SAID SHORT AND
SWEET.
>> AND TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY,
AND I AGREE WITH BOTH MARK AND
LAURA.
I THINK THAT HE HAS BEEN MOVING
TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OVER THE PAST
YEAR.
I THINK IT WILL STAY THERE.
BUT HE WILL MAKE THAT MESSAGE A
LITTLE MORE CLEAR.
>> DROPPING HINTS AT VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION.
TRYING TO HELP STUDENTS WHO
NECESSARILY AREN'T GOING TO
COLLEGE OR WANT A JOB, A GOOD
JOB THAT'S NOT INVOLVING A
COLLEGE EDUCATION.
THAT MIGHT BE THE NATIONAL
DIALOGUE GOING ON.
>> IT WAS RECENTLY REPORTED THAT
VOTEC EDUCATIONAL HAD BEEN ONLY
FOR 9 THROUGH 12 GRADERS AND THE
STATE QUIETLY CANCELED OUT THAT
RULE IN SEPTEMBER AND NOW THEY
ARE MOVING IT DOWN TO AS EARLY
AS SEVENTH GRADE.
JOHN KASICH HAS NOT MADE ANY
SECRET THE FACT HE THINKS KIDS
SHOULD BE STARTING TO THINK
ABOUT JOBS AND CAREERS LIKE FROM
KINDERGARTEN ON.
>> IT'S SORT OF --
>> SHOULD IT BE OUT OF TOWN
EVERY YEAR?
DOES IT LOSE -- YOU WATCH C SPAN
AND YOU SEE ALL THESE STATE OF
THE STATE ADDRESSES AND THEY ARE
IN THE REGAL STATEHOUSES AROUND
THE COUNTRY AND OURS IS IN AN
AUDITORIUM IN MEDINA, OHIO.
NICE TO BE ON THE ROAD BUT LOSES
SOME STATURE, NO?
>> LET THE GOVERNOR PICK WHERE
HE WANTS TO HAVE THE STATE OF
THE STATE.
MOST OHIOANS DON'T WATCH THE
STATE OF THE STATE.
IT'S NOT TELEVISED ON MAJOR
NETWORKS IN ITS ENTIRETY.
YOU CAN FIND IT ONLINE AND ON
THE OHIO CHANNEL, BUT WHAT'S THE
BIG DEAL?
HAVE IT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE IT.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S MEDINA.
MAYBE IT'S A LOVELY PARTING GIFT
TO THE SPEAKER.
>> HIS HOMETOWN.
>> THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T GET TO
DECIDE WHERE TO HAVE IT.
THE LEGISLATURE DECIDES IT.
THE LEGISLATURE, IT'S A
LEGISLATIVE EVENT.
>> SO LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.
IF IT WAS A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR
AND HE WANTED TO HAVE HIS SPEECH
IN YOUNGSTOWN, WOULD THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE LET HIM?
OR HER?
>> I THINK THEY'D LET HIM HAVE
IT AT CEDAR POINT.
THAT'S WHERE AMUSEMENT HAPPENS.
>> KING'S ISLAND.
>> HAVE TO DO IT IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING WHAT
THE NEXT GOVERNOR DOES.
IF HE TAKES IT ON THE ROAD.
>> MAYOR MIKE COLEMAN HAS LONG
DREAMED OF PASSENGER RAIL
SERVICE IN COLUMBUS.
FIRST IT WAS THE LINE FROM
WORTHINGTON.
THEN THE DOWNTOWN STREET CAR
IDEA.
THE 3C RAIL PROJECT PROPOSAL
LINKING COLUMBUS TO CLEVELAND
AND CINCINNATI.
IN ITS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
THIS WEEK, COLEMAN PROPOSED
ANOTHER IDEA.
PASSENGER RAIL LINKING DOWNTOWN
WITH PORT COLUMBUS.
JOE MAS, THE TRAIN TO THE
PLANES.
IS THAT GOING TO WORK?
>> IT SURPRISED ME A LITTLE BIT
TO HEAR THAT.
I DIDN'T EXPECT TO HEAR IT IN
THAT PARTICULAR MESSAGE.
I LOVE THE IDEA.
I LOVE THE IDEA NOT BECAUSE I'D
LIKE RAIL NECESSARILY.
I AM NOT SURE I WAS ALL THAT
EXCITED ABOUT THE TROLLEY THING
BETWEEN OHIO STATE AND THE SHORT
NORTH, BUT YOU HAVE TO ADMIT,
GOING INTO AND OUT OF PORT
COLUMBUS IS CLUNKY.
AND I KNOW THAT WHEN I TRAVEL TO
SAN FRANCISCO, PHILADELPHIA,
CHICAGO, THE FIRST THING TO LOOK
FOR IS THERE A WAY FOR ME TO GET
TO ALL THREE OF THOSE CERTAINLY
HAVE RAIL SERVICE.
AND ONE OF THE DETAILS THAT I
DON'T REMEMBER HEARING IN THE
SPEECH, BUT I THINK I READ IN
THE DISPATCH STORY IS THAT
APPARENTLY THERE IS A RAIL LINE
EXISTING CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT
AND CLOSE TO -- OR COMES THROUGH
DOWNTOWN.
SO MAYBE THAT WOULD BE AN
OPENING THERE.
>> COTA HAD A BUS TO THE
AIRPORT.
DIDN'T GO WELL.
THEY SHUT IT DOWN AFTER A FEW
YEARS.
37 PASSENGERS A DAY.
>> WE ALSO SHOULD LOOK TO
CINCINNATI, OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE
SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE
HAVE AN ONGOING BATTLE ABOUT
WHAT THEY CALL THE STREET CAR.
THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
BUT WHAT IT DOES IS IT PITS CITY
INTERESTS VERSUS COUNTY
INTERESTS.
SO WHEN YOU POLL THE COUNTY,
PEOPLE IN THE CITY LOVE THE IDEA
BECAUSE IT SERVES THEIR NEEDS.
PEOPLE IN THE OUTER COUNTIES
DON'T.
SO IF YOU LIVE DOWNTOWN AND GO
TO THE AIRPORT A LOT, PERHAPS
YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT DONE.
BUT IF THERE'S NOT A MARKET TO
DO IT THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHO
PAYS?
>> LAURA, IS THIS JUFT IN MOST
CITIES WHERE THEY HAVE LIGHT
RAIL, PASSENGER RAIL, STREET
CARS, THERE'S OPPOSITION AT THE
START.
ONCE IT GETS IN, PEOPLE TEND TO
WARM UP TO IT AND LIKE IT AND
SOMETIMES EVEN EXPAND IT.
IS THIS JUST THE MAYOR'S IDEA TO
GET A TOE HOLD?
DIDN'T WORK IN WORTHINGTON OR
OSU.
MAYBE THIS IS OUR WAY IN.
>> PERHAPS.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO JUSTIFY THE
COST AND IF THERE'S ONLY 37
PASSENGERS ON THE BUS, YOU KNOW,
IS IT GOING TO BECOME MORE
WILDLY POPULAR?
AND ONCE IT COMES IN, IT COMES
INTO DOWNTOWN.
AND THEN WHAT?
SO MOST OF THE RESIDENTS REALLY
WOULD SERVE, I GUESS,
CONVENTIONEERS, PEOPLE COMING TO
BE TOURISTS.
>> WHAT I WAS DYING TO ADD IS
THE FACT WE HAVE THE OSU MARKET.
AND THAT'S -- THAT IS NOT BEING
SERVED BY THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
I THINK THAT IF WE DID HAVE A
RAIL TO THE DOWNTOWN AND THEN
THERE ARE PLENTY OF BUSES GOING
UP AND DOWN HIGH STREET, THAT
WOULD GIVE YOU THAT PARTICULAR
MARKET.
I THINK THE DEMOGRAPHICS WOULD
SUPPORT IT.
>> THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS ARE
SO HIGH AND THE ONGOING
OPERATION COSTS ARE SO HIGH.
I'VE NOT RUN THE NUMBERS BUT I
BET IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO HAVE
HELICOPTER SERVICE.
>> AND COOLER.
>> AND COOLER.
>> I THINK CHARLOTTE HAD A TRAIN
THAT RUNS BETWEEN THE RAILPORT
AND DOWNTOWN AND HE'S TRYING TO
GET THE CONVENTION.
>> WHEN I TRAVEL TO A PLACE AND
THEY HAVE LIGHT RAIL FROM THE
AIRPORT TO A DOWNTOWN AREA, I
USE IT ALL THE TIME.
IT'S GREAT.
>> I THINK THE MAYOR IS OUT OF
IDEAS.
>> HOW MANY BOLD IDEAS CAN YOU
HAVE?
DOWNTOWN HOUSING.
BRIDGES DOWNTOWN.
THE MILE.
SKY BUS.
REMEMBER SKY BUS?
>> YOU'LL GET PARKING TICKETS ON
YOUR CAR.
>> IT'S TERRIBLE, MIKE.
I THINK HE'S USED IT ALL.
>> COME ON.
MAYOR FOR LIFE COLEMAN.
>> HE DIDN'T MENTION THE ZOO
PROJECT IF YOU NOTICED OR SNOW
PLOWING.
>>> TIME FOR OUR "OFF THE
RECORD" COMMENTS.
WE'LL START WITH MARK WEAVER.
>> EVERY TWO YEARS WE HAVE
NATIONAL ELECTIONS.
IN OHIO WE HAVE ONE STATEWIDE.
AND THE KEY VOTING DEMOGRAPHIC
THAT MOVES IS THE INDEPENDENT
VOTER.
IN '06 THEY WENT BIG FOR
DEMOCRATS.
IN '08, BIG FOR DEMOCRATS.
10 AND 12, MUCH MORE FOR
REPUBLICANS.
WHERE THEY'RE GOING THIS YEAR?
EARLY POLLS SAY REPUBLICANS.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THAT.
>> JOE?
>> A LITTLE MORE FLESH TO AN
EARLIER COMMENT.
I HAVE A PREDICTION THAT IN THE
COMING MONTH THE ED FITZGERALD
CAMPAIGN WILL SETTLE ON AN
ISSUES-BASED MEASURE CITING THE
NEED TO PROVIDE A POTENTIAL VETO
TO MORE EXTREME THINGS COMING
OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
PARTICULARLY THE AREAS OF
WOMEN'S HEALTH, INCLUDING RIGHT
TO CHOOSE, BALLOT ACCESS.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTE.
AND THE ENVIRONMENT WHICH MEANS
FRACCING IN THE STATE OF OHIO.
>> HE DID TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE.
HE URGED THE GOVERNOR TO VETO
SOME OF THOSE BILLS.
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY IS COMING
OUT WITH ANOTHER POLL ON MONDAY
MORNING.
AND THEY ARE HITTING A LOT OF
SOCIAL HOT BUTTONS.
DEATH PENALTY, GAY MARRIAGE,
ABORTION, LEGAL POT.
I AM INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE
GAY MARRIAGE NUMBERS SHOW
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF
UNSETTLED TERRITORY.
THERE'S KIND OF A BATTLE GOING
ON ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY
SHOULD GO TO BALLOT THIS YEAR OR
IN '16 AND MAYBE THE POLL WILL
ANSWER SOME OF THAT.
>> JOHN KASICH THIS WEEK
SUGGESTED CAREER PLANNING SHOULD
REBE GIN AS EARLY AS FIRST
GRADE.
EVERY TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT
YOUR CAREER.
IF THAT HAPPENS, A PREDICT A
GLUT OF FIREFIGHTERS IN 20
YEARS.
>> FOOTBALL STARS.
>> THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE
RECORD."
THIS WEEK.
CHECK US OUT ON TWITTER,
FACEBOOK.
FOR OUR CREW AND FOR OUR PANEL,
I'M MIKE THOMPSON.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY WOSU-TV,
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY