>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, I AM MIKE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, A GHOST.

THE NOMINATION HAS BECOME A VERTICAL CLIFF.

NOW WAS NOT THE TIME FOR FAMILY SQUABBLE.

>> DAVE YOST'S QUEST FOR GOVENROR ENDS >> >> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

FOR NOW VIVEK RAMASWAMY'S PATH TO REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR IS CLEAR.

ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE YOST HAS SUSPENDED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR .

IN A FRIDAY AFTERNOON STATEMENT YOST SAID HIS STEEP CLIMB TO THE NOMINATION HAS BECOME A VERTICAL CLIFF.

AND NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR A FAMILY SQUABBLE YOST HAS TRAILED RAMASWAMY BADLY IN THE FEW PUBLIC POLLS RELEASED THIS SPRING.

LAST WEEK STATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS OVERWHELMINGLY ENDORSED RAMASWAMY OVER YOST.

THAT LEAVE'S ONLY LONG SHOT CANDIDATE HEATHER HILL AND THE PERHAP POSSIBLITY OF LT GOVERNOR JIM TRESSEL RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR STANDING IN RAMASWAMY'S WAY.

LAURA, THIS IS A SIGN FROM THE PARTY THAT IF YOU WAIT YOUR TURN , IT DOESN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY.

>> HIS CAREER HAS BEEN A TRADITIONAL PATH, 11 YEARS IN A STATE PATH P OR USED ALL OF THOSE BUILDING BLOCKS TO MOVE TOWARD RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

RAMASWAMY COMES IN AND HE IS RUNNING A NEW TRADITIONAL PATH WHICH IS NEVER HOLD A PUBLIC OFFICE OUT OF NOWHERE AND HAVE A BIG PILE OF MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

>> J, IT IS STILL EARLY.

WE ARE YEAR AND A HALF FROM THE GENERAL ELECTION, WHY NOT WAIT A LITTLE LONGER?

>> THE WRITING MUST BE ON THE WALL.

HE MUST HAVE INFORMATION AND EVERY TIME YOU CALL A DONOR, AND GIVE ME MONEY.

THEY SAY, YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO IN THIS CAMPAIGN AND THE MORE THEY STACK UP.

>> WOULD THIS HURT THEM IN A GENERAL ELECTION OR WOULD A FAMILY SQUABBLE BE GOOD?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE PARTICULARLY BAD, EITHER.

I AM A LITTLE SURPRISED AT YOST DOING IT THIS EARLY WHO HAD A YEAR AND A HALF IS A LONG TIME AND AS VOLATILE AS HE CAN BE, WHO KNOWS WHETHER TRUMP IS GOING TO HAVE THE SUPPORT IN OHIO A YEAR FROM NOW AS HE DOES NOW?

AT THE ELECTION , I WOULD AGREE BUT , I WOULD'VE WAITED A LITTLE LONGER .

>> HE WAS PRETTY HONEST IN HIS STATEMENT SAYING BASICALLY, I CANNOT WIN RIGHT NOW.

SO, TO KEEP FIGHTING IS POINTLESS .

>> I AGREE WITH MIKE.

IT IS A LIFETIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

I WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN OUT, EITHER.

AND I KNOW THAT WAS A HARD DECISION FOR HIM.

HE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE GOVERNOR.

EVER SINCE I HAVE KNOWN HIM, SINCE THE MOODY ADMINISTRATION, TOM MOODY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS SO I KNOW THAT WAS A HARD DECISION FOR HIM BUT I THINK YOU MAY HAVE MADE A MISTAKE.

RAMASWAMY , BETWEEN NOW AND THEN COULD TRIP OVER THE WORLD AND DESTROY HIMSELF BECAUSE HE IS THAT TYPE OF CANDIDATE.

>> HE IS ALSO VERY DYNAMIC, HE IS TERRIFIC ON THE STUMP, A NEW GENERATION .

HE SEEMS TO BE EXCITING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THIS STATE.

>> HE IS VERY COMPETENT AND HE IS EVERYWHERE.

HE IS THE ROY KANT OF OHIO GOP POLITICS.

HE IS GOING EVERYWHERE.

HE IS GOING TO ALL OF THESE COUNTY CHICKEN DINNERS AND THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER HERE AND THERE BUT I THINK SAM IS RIGHT, I THINK HE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A WILD CARD AND HE COULD STUMBLE AND IF HE DOES SO, I THINK JIM TRESSEL MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE TO KIND OF POUNCE IN THEIR.

>> IF YOU DO THE MATH, AND THE LAST POLE, 14% AND JIM TRESSEL WAS AT 13% .

THAT IS CLOSE TO 40 .

THAT GAP SHRINKS A LITTLE BIT IF ALL OF YOST GOES TO TRESTLE .

>> 30% IS STILL 70% SHORT OF 100.

I MEAN, ASSUMING THAT THE OTHER CANDIDATE GOT 70%, THAT DOESN'T MAKE A HECK OF A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN RUMORS THAT YOST WAS UP FOR OTHER APPOINTMENTS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OR A REPORT THAT HE WAS OFFERED AN AMBASSADORSHIP IN CYPRUS.

WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WITH RAMASWAMY OR IS IT BEYOND THAT?

REALLY STUCK OUT ABOUT HIS STATEMENT, AT THE END, HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT I AM JUST NOT THAT IMPORTANT.

I READ THAT IS A PRETTY RESIGNED STATEMENT.

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE PINNACLE OF HIS CAREER.

WHENEVER HAVE YOU HEARD A POLITICIAN SAY I'M NOT THAT IMPORTANT?

>> I THINK HE WAS SAYING HIS EGO IS NOT THAT IMPORTANT CONSIDERED TO THE SERVICE OF GOVERNOR AND HE MENTIONED AT THE RISK OF HAVING SHERROD BROWN BACK IN OFFICE, THAT IS WHAT YOST TALKED ABOUT .

>> HE WANTS PARTY UNITY SO THAT THE REPUBLICANS CAN CONTINUE THEIR CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT AND POLICIES ET CETERA.

>> TIM RYAN TOLD OHIO PUBLIC TELEVISION THIS WEEK THAT HE WILL MAKE A DECISION BY THE SUMMER OR SOMETIME THIS SUMMER WHETHER OR NOT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

TIM GRESHAM, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

AT FIRST, HE SAID HE WAS INTERESTED AND IS CONSIDERING IT AND NOW HE IS GOING TO MAKE A DECISION .

BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

RAMASWAMY, I LIKE HIM AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT THE WRONG END OF THE SPECTRUM.

WE CONSTANTLY LOOK AT CANDIDATES.

I THINK WE SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME LOOKING AT THE VOTERS AND WHAT THE VOTERS ARE CONCERNED WITH.

DEMOCRATS ALWAYS COME UP WITH THE EXCUSE , MESSAGING, MESSAGING, MESSAGING.

NO, YOU GOT THE WRONG MESSAGE.

YOU ARE SAYING THIS THE WRONG WAY.

THIS ELECTORATE AND AS THE GENERATIONS COME ON IS VASTLY DISTANT , DIFFERENT THAN MY FATHER'S AND VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN MINE.

>> SHE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND IS THE ONLY DECLARED DEMOCRAT.

WILL SHE RUN AGAINST HIM OR WILL THEY RUN AGAINST EACH OTHER?

>> IT IS HARD TO PREDICT THE FUTURE .

I CAN SAY THAT TIM RYAN SEEMS LIKE MORE OF THE PAST, HE IS AND INSIDER AND HAS HE IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THE DEMOCRATIC WINNING THE REDS TO DATE AND IT FEELS LIKE AN ERROR THAT HAS PASSED AND THEY KEEP LOSING SO IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME WHY THE DEMOCRATS THINK NEXT TIME WILL BE BETTER WITH THE SAME PEOPLE.

>> MIKE WILL BE IN CONTRAST TO RAMASWAMY.

A VERY WEALTHY MAN .

TIM RYAN RUNNING GRASSROOTS, YOUNGSTOWN AREA .

>> OF COURSE, HE HAS RUN STATEWIDE BEFORE AND HE IS RELATIVELY YOUNG, 51 SO HE HAS BEEN IN POLITICS HIS WHOLE LIFE.

HE IS OBVIOUSLY BRIGHT.

I THOUGHT HE RAN A GOOD CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE VICE PRESIDENT.

I THOUGHT HE RAN A VERY GOOD CAMPAIGN .

I THINK HE IS PROBABLY LOOKING TO TAKE HIS TIME TO SEE WHAT SHERROD BROWN IS GOING TO DO.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHERROD BROWN WILL RUN FOR SENATE OR GOVERNOR OR ANYTHING BUT I THINK THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD THAT RYAN WOULD WANT TO DO IS GET IN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.

>> YOU THINK THIS IS KIND OF A , SHERROD BROWN WILL SIGNAL, I AM GOING TO TRY TO MAKE A DECISION THIS SUMMER.

CAN YOU MAKE IT FOR HIM, PLEASE?

>> I THINK THERE IS A BREAK IN THE OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECAUSE TIM RYAN IS BACKING THE CHAIR AND SHERROD BROWN IS BACKING KATHLEEN CLYDE AND I THINK THERE ARE TWO CAMPS AND THEY ARE KIND OF FIGHTING OVER REALLY WHAT IS CRUMBS.

OHIO DEMOCRATS DON'T -- JENNIFER BRUNNER IS THE ONLY STATEWIDE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE OR OFFICE HOLDER ENTIRELY.

SO, ANYWAY, THEY ARE FIGHTING OVER THE LITTLE BIT THAT THEY DO HAVE AND I THINK THERE IS A DIVIDE, THERE .

>> OUR NEXT TOPIC, IF WE OWN A HOME, WE LOVE WHEN WE SEE ITS MARKET VALUE ARISE EXCEPT WHEN THE COUNTY RE-APPRAISES IT AND INCREASES OUR PROPERTY TAXES.

TAXES HAVE LED TO A BACKLASH.

LAWMAKERS HAVE PROPOSED MODEST THINGS TO TRY TO LIMIT INCREASES OR THE FUND PORTIONS.

HE HAS SUGGESTED BRINGING PROPERTY TAXES DOWN TO ZERO AND NOW VOTERS COULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO ELIMINATE THEM.

A GROUP SUPPORTING ENDING PROPERTY TAXES IS TRYING TO GET THE MEASURE ON THE BALLOT FOR NEXT YEAR..

IT CAN BEGIN COLLECTING SIGNATURES JAKE ZUCKERMAN, THIS GROUP, DO THEY HAVE MONEY?

DO THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES?

IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY AND RESOURCES TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

DO THEY HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL?

>> IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY BUT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE SO GALVANIZED AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, EVERY HOMEOWNER IS FILLING THIS PROPERTY TAX INCREASE SO I DON'T WANT TO GET STUCK IN THE TRADITIONAL ROLE OF ABOUT $10 MILLION TO GET A CAMPAIGN ON THE BALLOT.

BUT, TO ME, THE MOST INTERESTING THING POLITICALLY IS IF THEY DO MANAGE, YOU WILL HAVE A MOSTLY REPUBLICAN POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT COMING FORWARD AND SAYING, "PLEASE DON'T DO THIS. "

THIS STATE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE .

THEY WOULD BE ADVOCATING AGAINST A TAX DECREASE AND THAT IS JUST A VERY UNUSUAL KIND OF POLITICS.

>> IF YOU ELIMINATE TAXES ON THE BALLOT , WHO WINDS?

>> THE DOG HAS CAUGHT THE CAR .

NOW, WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO?

>> OBJECTIONS ARE VERY UNPOPULAR, LOOK AT ALL OF THE POLITICIANS WHO LOVE A TAX CUT.

IF THIS THING MAKES THE BALLOT, THERE IS A GOOD THING CHANCE THIS WILL PASS AND THEN THERE WILL BE A GIANT MESS BUT I THINK THERE IS A CHANCE OF ISSUES WHERE IT GOES TO THE BALLOT AND PASSES LIKE MINIMUM WAGE, CASINO GAMBLING, INDOOR SMOKING BAN AND ALL OF THESE BIG POLICY QUESTIONS THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE RESISTANT TO TO GET ON THE BALLOT TO PASS AND I THINK THIS PUTS PRESSURE ON THE LAWMAKERS TO COME UP WITH A HAVE A FIX FOR PROPERTY TAXES, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WHICH IS ASKING A LOT BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE FOCUSED ON CULTURE WARS THAN ON THE GUTS OF GOVERNING.

>> I THINK AGAIN GOING BACK TO THE INITIAL PIECES, WE BETTER START LOOKING AT THE VOTER .

I DON'T THINK THE VOTER IS KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY AND THEY SURE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT'S STRUCTURE AND HOW IT WORKS.

WE UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING IT BUT WE ALSO LIKE IT.

THE PEOPLE I ASKED, WHO IS THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OHIO ?

THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW!

>> OHIO DOES LIMIT POVERTY TAXES TO 1% OF THE PROPERTY'S VALUE BUT IT CAN BE OVERRIDDEN AND VOTERS ARE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE LEVIES.

THE LIMIT IS 1% UNLESS VOTERS APPROVE IT SO SHOULD WE BLAME VOTERS FOR PART OF THIS?

BECAUSE THEY LIVE PASS LEVIES FOR SCHOOLS AND FIRE -- >> TO ME, WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE PROPERTY TAXES DUE SO FAR AS SCHOOL, LIBRARIES, POLICE AND SO FORTH.

I THINK EVERYONE WOULD AGREE, THOSE ARE ALL ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

IF YOU THROW OUT THE PROPERTY TAX, THEY HAVE TO GET THAT MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE SO TO ME, IT IS ALMOST LIKE A SHELL GAME.

YOU WIN THIS ONE AND YOU PUT IT OVER HERE BECAUSE THE STATE HAS TO HAVE THAT MONEY FOR THOSE SERVICES .

>> ARE PROPERTY TAXES THE BEST WAY TO FUND THOSE SERVICES?

>> NO AND MIKE IS RIGHT, IT IS A SHELL GAME .

IT STARTS WITH THE STATE WHEN IT REDUCES ITS ALLOCATION TO LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM .

BY REDUCING THAT MONEY, WE HAD THE DOMINO THAT REQUIRES A LEVY .

AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY POLITICIAN THAT GOES TO COLUMBUS THE BIGGEST TAX THAT WE HAVE TO RUN GOVERNMENT IS SALES TAX.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCOME TAX BUT WE DON'T ASKED EVERYBODY PROPORTIONATELY TO PAY THEIR INCOME TAX.

>> IS THERE ANY SCENARIO WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE UP THESE PROPERTY INCOME TAXES, COUNTY INCOME TAXES?

>> GOING OFF OF SOME DATA FROM LSC OHIO COLLECTS ABOUT $19 BILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

FOR COMPARISON, WE GET $15 BILLION IN SALES TAX AND $13 BILLION .

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO FIND IT?

ARE YOU GOING TO DOUBLE THE INCOME TAX?

PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK IN THE STREET .

>> THE TAX FOUNDATION, THEY SAY THAT THE TAX FOUNDATION SAYS OHIO RANKS SIXTH HIGHEST .

IT IS PRETTY GOOD WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY TAX.

WE DON'T DO WELL IN OTHER AREAS BUT ACCORDING TO THIS , OHIO IS NOT THAT BAD ON PROPERTY TAXES BUT IT IS THE SUDDEN INCREASE IN VALUE THAT HAS BEEN RUSHER ON LAWMAKERS.

>> I MEAN I DON'T REALLY LIKE MY TAX BILL.

>> BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

I HAVE A BIAS, I USED TO WORK AS A TREASURER OF FRANKLIN COUNTY'S LIKE KNOWLEDGE GOING IN THAT TAXES ARE AN INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE AND ALTHOUGH PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT LIKE THAT, IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THAT MONEY AND YOU WANT ME TO FIX THAT POTHOLE, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

HOW DO I GET A NEW LIBRARY?

HOW DO I GET ALL OF THE STUFF YOU WANT?

IT IS ACTUALLY AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE PROBLEM IS, IT STARTED OUT WITH YOU ARE TAKING MY MONEY AND NOT AS AN INVESTMENT.

>> SOME PREDICTIONS ON THE BALLOT?

WE DON'T KNOW, YET.

THEY HAVE 400 SOME ODD THOUSAND SIGNATURES AND THEY HAVE TO GET DOUBLE THAT TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT .

>> IT IS HARD TO GET 400,000 SIGNATURES, YOU NEED COUNTIES, IT IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THAT THIS DOES MAKE THE BALLOT BUT I THINK IF IT DOES, IT IS VERY LIKELY TO PASS .

>> THE DEBATE CONTINUES OVER HOW MUCH CONTROL FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD HAVE OVER EDUCATION.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING TO DISMANTLE THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

HERE IN OHIO, GOVERNOR DEWINE ASSUMED GREATER CONTROL WHEN THE LEGISLATURE FORMED THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE.

NOW A PROVISION IN THE PROPOSED STATE BUDGET WOULD ELIMINATE ALL OF THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE OHIO SCHOOL BOARD.

THE MEASURE WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STATE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FROM 19 TO FIVE.

ALL OF THEM WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

SAM GRESHAM, DO WE NEED A STATE SCHOOL BOARD?

>> OBVIOUSLY, THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T THINK SO.

I THINK WE DO AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE AN INDEPENDENT BOARD THAT ONLY GETS A BUDGET AND NOT DIRECTION FROM STATE THIS WHOLE QUESTION OF EDUCATION IS DRIVEN WITH SEVERAL THINGS.

YOU GOT THE CULTURAL ISSUES, THE LIFTERS, WRITERS, THE RACIST, THE FUTURE .

YOU GOT SO MANY THINGS INVOLVED IN IT, YOU NEED AN INDEPENDENT GROUP SEPARATE FROM POLITICS AND OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND IT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ABOUT OUR COUNTRY.

>> SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE MUCH OF A SAY IN EDUCATION, IT SHOULD BE TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD AND THE LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS .

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW POPULAR THAT HAS BEEN IN RECENT YEARS.

THE STUDIES I HAVE SEEN ARE NOT GOOD BUT I DON'T SEE WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

IT SHOULD BE STATE-BY-STATE AND IF YOU WANT TO BREAK THAT UP AND MAKE IT CITY OR COUNTY, THAT'S FINE BUT I DON'T THINK THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS ANY BUSINESS .

>> STATE PROVIDES FUNDING FOR CARDS AND GIVES US SORT OF A BENCHMARK FOR HOW DISTRICTS ARE DOING.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

>> I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT DOES REALLY WELL, GIVING PARENTS THE ABILITY TO SEE HOW THE SCHOOL IS DOING COMPARED TO OTHER STATE AVERAGES.

LOSING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, I DON'T THINK THAT IS CONTROVERSIAL .

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS SAVED MY COMMUNITIES WITH REGARDS TO SEGREGATION.

WITHOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER INTEGRATED SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THAT.

>> THE ELECTED BOARD OF EDUCATION, I HAD TO LOOK UP THE BOARD OF EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY HAD TO FIND OUT WHAT DISTRICT I WAS IN.

YOU SEE THEM ON THE BALLOT AND NOBODY KNOWS WHO THEY ARE.

HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT TO THEY HAVE?

>> IT IS KIND OF A WEIRD PEOPLE DON'T FOLLOW IT.

IT HAS AT TIMES BEEN CONTROVERSIAL BASED ON WHAT KIND OF POLICIES IT PURSUES BUT THIS IS A LONG-STANDING CONFLICT.

LIKE THE GOVERNOR OF OHIO, GOING BACK DECADES HAS WANTED MORE CONTROL OVER K-12 POLICY IN STATE.

SO DIMINISHING THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS A BIG POLICY GOAL OF GOVERNORS .

>> WE HAVE MORE THAN 600 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OHIO AND THAT IS A LOT OF SUPERINTENDENTS.

HOW ABOUT THE CONSOLIDATION THERE?

>> I THINK THAT IS VERY POSSIBLE.

MAYBE CONSOLIDATE COUNTIES.

WE ONLY HAVE 88 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO BE A LITTLE MORE MANAGEABLE BUT 600 IS A LOT.

>> I THINK IT IS DOWN , 600 OR 700.

>> 611 .

>> STILL MISSING THE CULTURAL ASPECT OF EDUCATION, FOOTBALL!

>> SPEAKING OF SPORTS, GAMBLING, 15 YEARS AGO THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD PLACE A BET IN OHIO WAS THROUGH AN ILLEGAL BOOKIE.

THEN VOTERS APPROVED FOUR CASINOS AROUND THE STATE.. AND THE STATE ALLOWED VIDEO SLOT MACHINES AT HORSE RACE TRACKS.. THEN OHIO LAWMAKERS LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING IN OHIO.. LAST YEAR OHIOANS BET NEARLY 9 BILLION DOLLARS ON SPORTS..

MOST OF THAT ON PHONES.

NOW A NEW PROPOSAL AT THE STATEHOUSE WOULD ALLOW OHIOANS TO GAMBLE ON CASINO GAMES ON THEIR PHONES AND COMPUTERS.

SUPPORTERS SAY IT WILL GENERATE A LOT OF MONEY..

THE FOUR CASINOS WORRY ABOUT A LOSS OF REVENUE.. AND HEALTH AND PERSONAL FINANCE ADVOCATES WORRY ABOUT INCREASED PROBLEM GAMBLING MIKE MILLER, WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE, IS THERE ANY OTHER GAMBLING MONEY OUT THERE?

IS THERE ANY ROOM ON YOUR PHONE?

>> I THINK THERE MUST BE BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BE DOING IT AND I KNOW A LOT OF STATES .

I THINK IT IS BAD FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

PEOPLE JUST WASTE THEIR MONEY AND USUALLY THEY ARE THE ONES WHO NEED IT AND IT JUST GOES DOWN BUT ALL OF THESE THINGS PASS, MONEY DOES EVERYTHING BUT ON THE GOOD SIDE OF THIS, MAYBE WE WILL GET ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY TAX?

>> DID YOU EVER PROSECUTE GAMBLING HALLS BACK IN THE DAY?

>> VERY LITTLE.

WE WOULD HAVE GUYS WITH THE NUMBERS THING AND POLICE DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THEM AND WHEN I WAS AN ASSISTANT, WE GOT THIS MAN AND I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME AND THIS GUY WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED, HE HAD BEEN CHARGED LIKE 45 TIMES.

HE VOLUNTEERED, HE GETS A CONVICTION AND THE PAPERS QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT IT.

BUT IN REALITY, NO.

>> THE NUMBERS GUYS ARE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS BY THE LOTTERY.

>> EXACTLY.

>> GO AHEAD, SAM .

>> I WAS AT A PARTY RECENTLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND PEOPLE SITTING AROUND THE TABLE WITH THEIR PHONES ON BETTING ON THE GAME WE ARE WATCHING AND I AM GOING, AND I AM BETTING ON THE SCORE, WHO WINS.

THEY ARE GOING TO HIT THE SHOT OR SOMEBODY IS GOING TO SCORE THE MOST POINTS AND I AM SAYING, WE HAVE TAKEN THIS THING TO AN ABSURD LEVEL!

>> THEY WILL BET ON ANYTHING .

>> IT IS ENTERTAINMENT FOR THEM.

NO ONE IS FORCING THEM TO BED, THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT SO WHY NOT GET SOME MONEY?

>> THE EASIER YOU MAKE IT, THE MORE LIKELY PEOPLE GET HOOKED, THE ONES WHO HAVE PROBLEMS AND I THINK AS MIKE SAID, IT IS OFTEN THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT ARE GAMBLING THE MOST.

>> LAWMAKERS, THEY HAVE RESISTED THESE CASINOS FOREVER UNTIL VOTERS APPROVED THE AMENDMENT TO GET THEM HERE.

THEY REALLY DRAGGED THEIR FEET AND THEY COULD HAVE HAD MORE THE SPORTS BETTING THEY DID BUT NOW THEY ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER THE TAX RATE IS TOO LOW.

ARE THEY GOING TO ALLOW THESE GAMES?

THE HORSE IS ALREADY LONG GONE TO THE BARN.

>> IF YOU JUSTIFY GAMBLING ON SPORTS, I THINK IT IS HARD TO MAKE A PHILOSOPHICAL DISTINCTION TO , WE THINK IT IS ACCEPTABLE THAT YOU BET ON SPORTS.

LOGICALLY, IT IS A TOUGH CASE.

IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING WHETHER THERE IS A STATE BUDGET IN PLAY OR THE BROWNS WANT A $100 MILLION STADIUM.

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE .

THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, ONCE OHIO STARTS BUDGETING AROUND THIS MONEY AND GETTING VERY DEPENDENT ON THIS REVENUE STREAM LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LOTTERY.

NOW THE LOTTERY FUNDS ABOUT $1.5 BILLION EACH YEAR FOR SCHOOLS .

IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT WE GET RID OF THE LOTTERY.

>> THERE WAS A DAY WHEN CIGARETTES WERE UBIQUITOUS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SMOKED.

WHENEVER BANNED CIGARETTES AND SEVERAL PUBLIC PLACES BUT WE TEXTED.

NOW, SMOKING IS OUT OF FAVORITE.

DO YOU SEE A POINT WHERE GAMBLING FALLS OUT OF FAVOR?

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS A BAD.

YOU HAVE BEEN GAMBLING SINCE YOU HAD CIVILIZATION.

SOME ARE MORE CHANCY THAN OTHERS BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL EVER PASS .

CERTAINLY, NOT IN MY LIFETIME OR ANYONE AT THIS TABLE'S LIFETIME.

>> THERE IS A 10% TAX ON SPORTS BETTING.

IT IS ONCE AGAIN REDUCING THE GROSS TAX RATE.

>> IT DOUBLES THE TAX ON SPORTS TO PAY FOR THE BROWNS, RIGHT?

>> NOT ALL OF THEM.

>> REDUCING TAXES ON SPORTS BETTING.

WHAT IS IT NOW?

>> 20%.

>> WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL TAX RATE BEFORE WE DOUBLED IT.

>> WHAT ARE THE ODDS ON >> WHAT ARE THE ODDS ON THEM INCREASING?

ANYWAY, WE WILL GET TO THE FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTY SHOTS.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE JUSTICE FISCHER IS GOING TO RUN IN 2026 FOR CHIEF JUSTICE AGAINST BRUNER.

PEOPLE SAY IT IS THE REPUBLICANS TRYING TO GET RID OF THE DEMOCRATS.

IT ISN'T AT ALL.

HE WANTS TO BE A JUDGE .

HE IS PROBABLY 69, NOW.

BY THE TIME HIS TERM IS DONE, HE IS 72 AND HE CANNOT RUN AGAIN.

I HAVE SEEN A DOMINATING NUMBER OF TIMES .

>> CHIEF JUSTICE.

>> I THINK WE FINALLY LOOK AT THE PERSON I STARTED WITH THIS DISCUSSION .

I DON'T THINK WE UNDERSTAND OUR VOTERS AND I THINK OHIO IS THE PERFECT CASE TO GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT OUR VOTERS AND THEIR RATIONALE AND THE PRODUCTIONS FOR THE FUTURE.

>> SPEAKING OF DAVE YOST, CHRIS BROWN ACCUSED HIM OF TURNING IMMIGRANT.

THE HAVES LIVED HERE FOR 20 YEARS.

HE SAID THE TIMING OF THE CASE WAS "FISHY."

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COLLEAGUE AT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

SHE AND HER TEAM WERE NAMED FINALISTS FOR COVERING THE DROP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT.

IT WAS A CHAOTIC TIME AND SHE WAS THERE TO PROVIDE A TRUTHFUL AND TIMELY ACCOUNT OF THE EVENT.

>> THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO FORCE NETWORKS TO NOT HAVE NEW GAMES FOR THE BUCKEYES.

IT REMINDS ME OF WHEN I WAS A KID AND THE THEN SCHAEFER STADIUM HOME OF THE PATRIOTS BANNED THE FRONT ROW FROM PLAYING ON MONDAY NIGHT FOR YEARS BECAUSE THE FANS WERE TOO ROWDY .

APPARENTLY, THEY WANT TO BAN NOON GAMES AT THE OHIO STADIUM BECAUSE THE FANS ARE TOO MELLOW.

WE WILL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK.

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

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.