>>> JIM JORDAN GOES UNDEROATH IN THE CHILD SEX ABUSE CASE.

>>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS THIS WEEK IN THE ONGOING LAWSUIT AGAINST OHIO STATE BY SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS OF FORMER OSU TEAM DOCTOR, RICHARD STRAUSS.

STRAUSS, WHO DIED 20 YEARS AGO, IS ACCUSED OF ABUSING HUNDREDS OF OSU ATHLETES IN THE 80s AND 90s.

NBC 4 WAS FIRST TO REPORT THAT ATTORNEYS DEPOSED FORMER OSU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, ANDY GIEGER, FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON WEDNESDAY, AND THEY WERE SCHEDULED TO DEPOSE CONGRESSMAN JIM JORDAN ON FRIDAY.

JORDAN WAS AN ASSISTANT WRESTLING COACH AT THE TIME OF THE ASSAULTS, AND THE ATHLETES SAY JORDAN KNEW ABOUT THE ABUSE JORDAN'S OFFICE ISSUED A STATEMENT REPEATING HIS DENIAL SAYING, "AS EVERYONE KNOWS, CHAIRMAN JORDAN NEVER SAW OR HEARD OF ANY ABUSE, AND IF HE HAD, HE WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH IT."

OSU DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE LAWSUIT, BUT CONTINUES TO SAY IT HAS REACHED SETTLEMENTS WITH SOME 300 VICTIMS.

THE SETTLEMENTS TOTAL $60 MILLION.

JULIE CARR SMYTH, CONGRESSMAN JORDAN HAS BEEN AFFIRMED IN HIS DENIALS.

BEING DEPOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS IS A DIFFERENT BALL GAME.

>> YES.

AND I THINK WHAT SORT OF SPARKED THIS IS THERE HAD BEEN A DOCUMENTARY ON THE SCANDAL OF DR. STRAUSS NOT LONG AGO, AND THEY SEEM TO BE TAKING SOME OF THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN THAT AND HIT THE LAWYERS FOR THESE VICTIMS ARE ROLLING WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE WON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO SAY.

LIKE YOU SAID, HIS OFFICE IS SAYING, I'M GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SAYING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE POINTING TO, HE WAS QUESTIONED WHEN THEY DID THEIR REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

>> THIS IS THE LAW FIRM THAT INVESTIGATED IT?

>> RIGHT, INDEPENDENTLY, YOU KNOW, FOR OSU, IF YOU WILL.

HE WAS COMPLETELY EXONERATED THEN, AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME CASE NOW.

>> THIS IS THE LAWSUIT THAT OSU TRIED TO GET THROWN OUT?

THEY WENT TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID NO, IT HAS TO GO FORWARD, RIGHT?

THIS IS WHY.

THEY DIDN'T WANT THESE FOLKS DEPOSED.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S A TOUGH THING FOR JIM JORDAN BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

HE WAS THE ASSISTANT TO THE COACH WHO HAS SAID IN THE DOCUMENTARY, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF MESSED UP.

WE SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE.

AND I THINK HAVING COVERED IT AND NOW WATCHED THAT DOCUMENTARY, YOU KNOW, A LOT HAS CHANGED.

I THINK FOR A LOT OF THOSE THEY EVEN SAID SO IN THE DOCUMENTARY.

I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS RIGHT, WHAT WAS WRONG, WHAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED.

YOU KNOW, IS IT POSSIBLE SOMEBODY WAS SEEING ABUSIVE MEN BY MEN AND NOT REALLY PICKING UP ON THE EXTENT OF IT BECAUSE THEY WERE TURNING, YOU KNOW, TURNING A HEAD?

>> HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS A DEPOSITION IN A CIVIL CASE?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY SAY OBVIOUSLY, MIKE.

IT CAN BE A REALLY BIG DEAL.

I'M NOT A CIVIL ATTORNEY, I NEVER HAVE BEEN.

BUT I DO KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT DEPOSITIONS THAT SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY BLOODY.

I MEAN, PEOPLE FIGHT TO KEEP ANSWERS IN THERE BECAUSE THEY AIN'T THE ANSWERS OF THE WITNESSES THAT ARE GOING TO BE HARMFUL TO THEIR SIDE.

IT CAN BE VERY IMPORTANT.

>> WILL WE EVER SEE THESE --IF THIS CASE DOES NOT GO TO TRIAL, WILL WE EVER SEE THESE DEPOSITIONS?

>> I WOULD THINK IT'S UP TO THE ATTORNEYS AND THE CLIENTS.

THERE'S NO --TO MY KNOWLEDGE, GRAND JURY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SO I WOULD THINK ULTIMATELY SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET THEM.

>> DOES JIM JORDAN, IS HE A BIG STORY?

DOES THE AVERAGE ASSISTANT COACH FOR OSU WRESTLING, NOBODY WOULD REALLY BAT AN EYE.

I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU WHO THE HEAD COACH IS.

WE ALL KNOW WHO JIM JORDAN IS.

IS THIS POLITICAL?

>> HERE IS THE THING.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE HAVING A BIG THING WITH MAGA OVER THE EPSTEIN FILES.

ARE THEY GOING TO BE RELEASED?

WHY WEREN'T THEY RELEASED?

JIM JORDAN'S BEEN ACTIVE ON THAT.

AND YEAH, HE DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING THEY WANT TO PUSH BACK ON THE LEAK.

THEY DON'T WANT ANY OF THIS OUT THERE.

THE QUESTION, I'M SURE THAT'S GOING TO COME UP, WHY DIDN'T YOU KNOW?

YOU WERE IN THE LOCKER ROOM EVERY DAY.

THIS IS LIKE NOT SOMETHING ATHLETES WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT.

SO YOU EITHER WERE TURNING A BLIND EYE AND NOT KNOWING OR YOU'RE NOT BEING COMPLETELY TRUTHFUL ABOUT IT, AND WE DON'T KNOW YET.

WASHINGTON CONGRESS, THEY WILL PROBABLY DO A HEARING AND PROBABLY DO A HEARING.

JIM JORDAN WILL DEPOSE THE PROSECUTORS OR THE OTHER LEAGUE WILL AT SOME POINT.

>> UNDER THIS ATMOSPHERE.

>> HE'S THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE.

AGAIN, THE IRONY IS THERE.

MICHIGAN STATE PAID $500 MILLION TO SETTLE THEIR CASE WITH LARRY NASSAR, THE TEAM DOCTOR OF MICHIGAN.

$490 MILLION TO SETTLE THEIR CASE.

OSU, $60 MILLION, BUT IT IS STILL A LOT OF MONEY.

NOT WHAT THESE OTHER SCHOOLS ARE PAYING.

>> THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARATIVELY.

TO YOUR QUESTION, BRIAN, I DO ALSO THINK IT IS JUST BEYOND IT BEING POLITICS.

IT'S A MATTER OF BEING IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

I MEAN, JORDAN IS A WIDELY RECOGNIZABLE CONGRESSMAN OUTSIDE OF OHIO, SO I THINK THAT'S WHY THERE'S A BIGGER MAGNIFYING GLASS ON HIM.

>> WHAT IS THE FALLOUT, JULIE?

DO YOU KNOW?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS OF RIGHT NOW THE WAY OUR MAPS ARE DRAWN, JIM JORDAN IS NOT AT RISK IN ANY WAY OF LOSING HIS SEAT EVEN IF SOMETHING WERE TO COME OUT.

IF ALL REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE HOT SEAT NEXT TIME, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GETS MORE PUBLICITY THAN IT HAS GOTTEN IN A NUMBER OF YEARS OR IF SOME ADMISSION IS MADE.

LIKE MIKE SAYS THAT BECOMES PUBLIC, THEN THAT COULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY.

I MEAN, IN THE DOCUMENTARY, THERE IS AN ATHLETE WHO SAYS HE DOESN'T BUY WHAT JORDAN HAS BEEN SAYING ALL THESE YEARS BECAUSE HE KNOWS, HE TOLD HIM THAT.

I'M SURE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ASKING HIM ABOUT.

>> WE SHALL SEE.

THE QUIET PHASE OF THE 2026 CAMPAIGN CONTINUES.

POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR AND U.S. SENATE ARE DECIDING WHETHER TO RUN AND FOR WHICH OFFICE.

DECLARED CANDIDATES ARE TRAVELING THE STATE.

THEY'RE SPEAKING, SHAKING HANDS, AND RAISING MONEY.

SENATOR JON HUSTED IS OUT WITH HIS FIRST FUNDRAISING REPORT AS A FEDERAL CANDIDATE.

HE REPORTS HIS CAMPAIGN AND AFFILIATED GROUPS RAISED MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

HE HAS ABOUT $2.5 MILLION ON TO BE NAMED LATER.

COULD BE SHERROD BROWN, COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE.

WE DON'T KNOW YET.

SARAH DONALDSON, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, $2.5 MILLION ON HAND.

BUT YOU COMPARE TO WHAT RAMASWAMY HAS RAISED, $10 MILLION.

SEEMS LIKE IT'S A DISAPPOINTING AMOUNT?

>> WELL, I POSED THIS QUESTION TO HIS CAMPAIGN SPOKESPERSON, WHO I TALKED TO EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THE NUMBER.

IT'S PRETTY HIGH ON THE SCALE WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER INCUMBENT REPUBLICANS WHO ARE LOOKING TO DEFEND THEIR SEATS IN 2026.

BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYONE HE'S RUNNING AGAINST, SO THEY'RE NOT SPENDING MUCH, OF COURSE.

BUT IT'S ALSO PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO RAISE MONEY WHEN YOU'RE NOT FIGHTING OFF, THERE'S NOT A FACE YOU'RE FIGHTING OFF QUITE YET, SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IT PLAY OUT OVER THE NEXT QUARTER AND THE NEXT QUARTER IF DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT DECLARED THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A CANDIDATE.

AND OF COURSE, HE'S LIKELY NOT GOING TO HAVE A PRIMARY CHALLENGER.

HE MAY, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO TRUMP ENDORSED HIM MONTHS AGO.

>> JON HUSTED HAS $2 MILLION IN HIS FEDERAL CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT.

HE'S GOT $5 MILLION IN HIS STATE ACCOUNT.

HE'S GOT TWICE AS MUCH IN HIS STATE ACCOUNT THAN FEDERAL ACCOUNT.

HE CANNOT TRANSFER THAT MONEY OVER?

>> NO, NO.

I MEAN, HE CLEARLY WAS REARING TO GO TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

THAT WAS A HARD-FOUGHT FUNDRAISING THERE.

FOR ME, THE NOTABLE THING, AND IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER AMONG ALL THE DEFENDING SENATORS IN HIS FUNDRAISING.

I KEEP FORGETTING WHAT YEAR IT IS BECAUSE THIS IS SO EARLY.

I MEAN, I KEPT GOING WAIT A MINUTE, IS IT '26 YET?

WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT FUNDRAISING NUMBERS?

>> WELL, THE PRIMARIES ARE UNDERWAY.

HE HAD A PRIMARY OPPONENT, IT WOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT.

>> RIGHT.

JON HUSTED IS PRETTY SECURE.

HE'S NOT GOING TO BE CHALLENGED.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

DOES IT MATTER WHO HE RUNS AGAINST, IN THE GENERAL?

HE WOULD LIKE TO HAND PICK SOMEBODY.

SO OBVIOUSLY, YEAH, I THINK HE'S GOT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.

MY PERSONAL OPINION, IT WILL BE SENATOR BROWN IS GOING TO RUN AGAINST HIM, IS WHAT I THINK.

I'M WRONG ALL THE TIME, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'LL DO.

I DON'T THINK HE'LL RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

MAYBE HE WON'T RUN FOR ANYTHING.

BUT IF HE DOES, OBVIOUSLY HE WOULD BE VERY, VERY FORMABLE OPPONENT.

I'M SURE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE AROUND THEY'LL COME UP WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO BE PRETTY TOUGH.

WHETHER IT IS RYAN OR SOMEONE ELSE.

AND REMEMBER, HUSTED, WHEN ELECTIONS COME, HE'S ONLY GOING TO BE A SENATOR FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, A LITTLE UNDER TWO YEARS.

>> ANY WORD FROM BROWN, WILL HE DECIDE SOON?

>> WHAT I'M HEARING HE'S GOING TO DECIDE IN THE FALL.

BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU SEE SOMEBODY ONLY RAISING $2 MILLION IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT THINKING, OKAY, THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN COMPETE AGAINST.

NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK SINCE CITIZENS UNITED, ALL THESE OUTSIDE GROUPS ARE GOING TO POUR MONEY IN, THIS RACE IS GOING TO BE A $30, $40 MILLION RACE, EVEN IF IT'S NOT COMPETITIVE.

IT'S JUST THE WAY THE SENATE RACES WORK.

BUT IT'S EASIER TO RAISE IT AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH THOSE LIMITS.

AND I WOULD NOTE WHILE THE REPUBLICANS ARE PRAISING JON HUSTED FOR RAISING $2 MILLION, THEY'RE DUMPING ON AMY WHO HAS RAISED MORE MONEY THAN ANYBODY SINCE TED STRICKLAND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AND IS PROBABLY GOING TO GET CLOSE TO THAT $2 MILLION MARK BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> AND I WILL ADD ONE CAVEAT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IF HUSTED WINS IN 2026, HE'S GOT TO RUN AGAIN IN 2028, SO HE'S GOT SENATE RACE AFTER SENATE RACE AFTER SENATE RACE.

WELL, TWO AHEAD OF HIM.

>> THAT'S WHY I --MY THEORY IS THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO RUN SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO ELEVATE THEIR --THEIR PROFILE AND RUN THAT FULL SIX-YEAR TERM BECAUSE I JUST DON'T THINK --I DON'T THINK JON HUSTED CAN BE BEAT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

HE'S VERY POPULAR IN STATE.

YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT A HIGH NAME I.D.

THERE'S NOT ANOTHER DEMOCRAT WHO WOULD DO IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHERROD WOULD RISK IT FOR JUST THAT SHORT TERM, THE TWO YEARS.

>> THAT TENDS TO GO AGAINST THE PRESIDENT IN POWER, SO THAT GIVES DEMOCRATS HOPE IN 26.

>> I THINK ALL THIS CHAOS IN WASHINGTON.

IT'S EARLY YET.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT NEXT YEAR.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THOSE NUMBERS ARE FOR ANYBODY IN WASHINGTON ARE HORRIBLE.

FRESH FACE MIGHT NOT BE A BAD THING IF THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU SEE IN THE EARLY POLLS WITH RAMASWAMY AND BOTH OF THE PARTIES THEY DO WELL.

>> BECAUSE THEY HAVE FRESHER FACES?

>> YES.

>> WE'LL SEE.

STATE HOUSE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO PLOT WHEN TO TRY TO OVERRIDE GOVERNOR DEWINE'S VETOES OF PROPERTY TAX LIMITING PROVISIONS IN THE STATE BUDGET.

THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO GO FIRST.

TARGETING THREE SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS.

DEWINE SAYS THE ITEMS WILL HURT LOCAL SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENTS.

HOUSE LEADERS SAY OHIO PROPERTY OWNERS NEED RELIEF FROM THE RISING PROPERTY TAX LEVIES.

SARAH DONALDSON, IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS WEEK?

I HEAR THEY MIGHT NOT.

THE HOUSE IS STILL ON VACATION?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A CONVENIENT EXCUSE IF YOU'RE A MODERATE REPUBLICAN WHO IS NOT SO SURE IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON IT, RIGHT?

I'VE HEARD FROM SOURCES WHO SAY THAT MATT HUFFMAN DOESN'T HAVE THE VOTES, BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK MATT HUFFMAN WOULD HAVE CALLED THE VETO OVERRIDE VOTE, IF HE DIDN'T FEEL HE HAD THE VOTES WHEN HE CALLED IT.

SO I MEAN IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE SPEAKER.

I DON'T THINK THE VOTES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN IF THEY'RE NOT THERE.

HUFFMAN IS NOT GOING TO BRING IT TO THE FLOOR IF THE VOTES ARE NOT THERE.

OF COURSE, I WOULD SAY THIS FLAGSHIP PROPOSAL THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET TO CAP CARRYOVER CASH ON SCHOOLS, THEY'RE NOT VOTING TO OVERRIDE THAT.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE LOOKED AT THROUGHOUT THE BUT AT THIS POINT, IT'S HARD TO SAY.

>> THIS IS THE PROVISION INSTEAD OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT TOO MUCH MONEY IN THEIR SAVINGS ACCOUNT, BUT THE COUNTY COULD REFUND TAXES?

>> RIGHT.

>> SO WHAT'S THE HOLD UP?

ARE THEY GOING TO VOTE TO KEEP TAXES HIGH?

REPUBLICANS AND THE OHIO STATE HOUSE?

>> WELL, I MEAN I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT I FEEL THAT THERE WAS A CONTINGENT OF FOLKS THAT JUST SIMPLY THOUGHT THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT TOO SLAP DASH, TOO FAST, TOO INSTANTANEOUS OF AN IMPACT ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WHEREAS NOW THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED A WORKING GROUP THAT HE'S PULLING TOGETHER TO WORK ON THIS WITH A LITTLE MORE DELIBERATION.

HE'S ORDERED THEM TO HAVE A REPORT ON IT BY SEPTEMBER.

THERE'S A WHOLE COALITION THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND HAS TWO BILLS THAT WERE MOVING THROUGH THAT THEN GOT KIND OF FOLDED IN.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN THING.

SORT OF HOW QUICKLY OR HITTING SCHOOLS, AND THEN WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO TO YOU REALLY AT THE BALLOT BOX WHEN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SUFFERING.

>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IMMEDIATELY, IF THINGS GET OVERWRITTEN?

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION HERE?

I MEAN, IS IT TO DO A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM, AND WILL THAT EVER FLY?

>> WE ARE SUCH A DIVIDED COUNTRY AS EVERYBODY KNOWS.

I THINK THIS ISSUE OF PROPERTY TAXES WERE LESS DIVIDED ON THAT THAN ANYONE.

I THINK REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENCE, ALL FEEL THAT IT'S TOO HIGH.

SO POLITICALLY IT IS MORE IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO REDUCE IT, BUT IT IS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THAT MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, AS WE ALL KNOW, SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, SO FORTH.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.

BUT I THINK WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IS LOOKING AT IS EXACTLY THAT.

I TEND TO AGREE WITH SARAH THAT MAYBE THESE PEOPLE WOULD JUST STAY HOME AND NOT GO BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE PUT IN THIS SITUATION.

BUT I THINK DEWINE PROBABLY USED HIS VETO ON THAT, AND IT IS JUST VERY DIFFICULT.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING I TRULY BELIEVE BOTH SIDES WANT TO LOWER THE TAXES, BUT IT'S TOUGH TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT.

>> CAN WE FIND A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION?

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TEACHERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS.

>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY GOVERNOR DEWINE IS GOING TO GO DOWN IN OHIO HISTORY AS THE MOST PROLIFIC TASK FORCE CREATOR EVER.

[ LAUGHTER ] LET'S ALL GET THAT OFF, WHOEVER IS WRITING THAT CHAPTER.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THIS.

LOOK, THIS LEGISLATURE HAS REPUBLICANS, CUTTING INCOME TAXES, AND CUTTING SERVICES CONSISTENTLY.

NOW, THE BUDGET KEEPS GOING UP, BUT THEY KEEP CUTTING THESE THINGS AND YOU GET LESS SERVICES.

SO THEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, PEOPLE HAVE TO VOTE, AND THEY MAKE THESE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND THEY VOTE FOR LEVIES.

NOW ONCE AGAIN THIS LEGISLATURE MARIJUANA LAW THAT PASSED AND THE ISSUE ONE VOTE ON WOMEN'S CHOICE THAT PASSED.

NOW THEY WANT TO GIVE POWER TO THE BUREAUCRAT AND COUNTY THAT ULTIMATELY LOWERED THOSE NUMBERS THAT YOU VOTED ON THAT THE PEOPLE VOTED ON.

THEY KNOW BETTER THAN THE LOCAL PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY VOTED ON THIS.

THE ANSWER HERE IS WHAT HERSCHEL CRAIG DID IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, IN THE SENATE, WHICH IS TO ADDRESS THE FACT THE GUY THAT'S IN, YOU KNOW, OLD TOWN ORCHARD, AND THEY LIVED THERE, HE'S RETIRED.

THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR IS SELLING FOR $300,000, SO HIS PROPERTY VALUE WENT UP UNEXPECTEDLY.

AT THE SAME TIME, TAXES WERE GOING UP.

THERE ARE WAYS TO GIVE RELIEF TO THOSE PEOPLE IN THESE TRANSITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

THERE WERE PROPOSALS TO DO THAT.

INSTEAD, THEY'VE DECIDED TO GET RID OF PROPERTY TAX.

>> WELL, THAT COULD BE ON THE BALLOT IN 26.

THAT COULD BE A FIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND ACROSS THE STATE.

ANY WAY, THE BOOMING INDUSTRY IN OHIO THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW IS PROCESSING COMPUTER DATA.

VERY EXCITING.

DATA FARMS CONTINUE TO SPRING UP ALL AROUND THE STATE.

THE INDUSTRY CLAIMS OHIO CENTERS GENERATE AT LEAST $11 BILLION IN ECONOMIC INPUT, AND DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY SUPPORT 85,000 JOBS.

CRITICS SAY THE CENTERS USE A LOT OF ELECTRICITY AND CREATE VERY FEW DIRECT JOBS.

DATA CENTERS CAN EMPLOYEE AS FEW AS TEN WORKERS IN ONE FACILITY.

OHIO UTILITY REGULATORS RECENTLY ALLOWED AEP TO REQUIRE DATA CENTERS TO PAY A GUARANTEED AMOUNT OF THEIR EXPECTED ENERGY BILLS.

CONTRACTS WILL ALLOW AEP TO BUILD OUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE GRID, THE LINES, THE TRANSFORMERS THAT ARE NEEDED TO SERVE THESE CENTERS.

BRIAN ROTHENBERG, ARE DATA CENTERS --I MEAN ALL THE CONSTRUCTION, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

NEW BUSINESS IN OHIO, GOOGLE, FACEBOOK, META, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

IS IT A GOOD DEAL FOR OHIO?

>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT.

THE UPFRONT JOBS ARE IN THE BUILDING OF IT.

THAT'S WHERE THE BULK OF THE JOBS COME FROM IT.

THE OPERATIONS ARE LIKE TEN PEOPLE.

SO IT'S REALLY ALL THE SPIN-OFF JOBS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME.

HAVING WORKED IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, 25 YEARS AGO, I CAN TELL YOU YOU ALWAYS WONDER WHERE DID THESE PROJECTIONS COME FROM THAT THESE ARE CREATING JOBS?

HOWEVER, THAT'S THE TRADITIONAL WAY.

YOU TAKE THE MONEY YOU'RE GIVING THESE COMPANIES SOME INCENTIVES, FIGURING OUT THE PER JOB COST, WHICH IS WHAT THE CONTROLLING BOARD DOES.

MAYBE WE NEED TO RELOOK AT HOW WE DO THAT AND HOW THIS MONEY IS GENERATED.

BUT IF YOU'RE GIVING TAX BREAKS TO THESE SAME COMPANIES, THEN IS IT GENERATING ANYTHING?

>> IS IT MORE THAN JUST THE JOBS, JULIE?

THESE DATA CENTERS, WILL THEY ATTRACT OTHER TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES THAT DO PROVIDE JOBS?

DO WE EVEN KNOW THAT YET?

>> I MEAN, I HAVE THAT SENSE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO BE THE SILICON VALLEY OF THE MIDWEST HERE, AND WE'VE GOT -- IT'S GOING A LITTLE ROCKY, I GUESS, BUT YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THESE WOULD COME IN CAN BE GOOD.

WE'VE HAD, ISN'T IT OCLC AND CAM ABSTRACT, WHICH IS NOW CALLED CAS OR SOMETHING.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR DECADES.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.

THEY CRUNCH DATA, AND THEY DO EMPLOYEE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

NEXT TO THEIR FUNCTIONING DATA CENTERS ARE A LOT OF SCIENTISTS AND OTHER PEOPLE.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A FEATHER IN THE CAP OF THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIGITAL WORK FORCE AND WORK AND JOBS, AND NOW WE'RE EVEN STARTING UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS TO TRAIN WORKERS FOR IT HAD KIND OF INDUSTRY.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK HAVING SOME PIECE OF THAT.

>> ANY CONCERN AT THE STATE HOUSE ABOUT TAX BREAKS, INCENTIVES FOR THESE CENTERS THAT CREATE A LOT OF JOBS.

FRANKLY THEY COULD BE OBSOLETE IN TEN YEARS.

>> WELL SURE.

THE OHIO LEGISLATURE TRIED TO GET RID OF THE SALES TAX EXEMPTION THAT'S IN THE REVISED CODE FOR DATA CENTERS, AND DEWINE VETOED THAT.

DEWINE HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE DATA CENTERS COMING IN, BUT YOU DO HEAR FROM BOTH GROUPS ON THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT THAT THESE DATA CENTERS, SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT EVEN MAKING THE DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE TO GO BASED ON THE INCENTIVES THEY'RE GETTING.

IT'S PLANNED AND THE RESOURCES.

SO I MEAN THERE IS GROWING, I THINK, SUPPORT TO HAVE THE DATA CENTERS HAVE MORE SKIN IN THE GAME.

YOU SEE THAT LIKE SOMETHING THAT JUST CAME OUT.

>> YOU SEE ALL THE OPPOSITION FOR THE SOLAR FARMS, BUT THEY'RE PUTTING THESE HUGE DATA CENTERS.

MARK ZUCKERBERG WANTS TO BUILD ONE THAT IS GOING TO BE THE SIZE OF MANHATTAN.

I MEAN, THAT'S TAKING UP FARMLAND AS WELL.

THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF OPPOSITION WE'VE HEARD.

>> WELL, IT IS, MIKE.

I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT DATA CENTERS, BUT IN READING SOME OF THE POWER THAT'S NEEDED.

THE WATER THAT'S USED IN ORDER TO COOL THE MACHINES OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

IT CAN AFFECT THE NORMAL GUY IN THE WATER.

THEY'RE SAYING IT COULD TAKE 10%, 20% OF THE NORMAL DRINKING WATER FOR THE CITIZENS IN A PARTICULAR AREA.

I NEVER EVEN REALIZED OR THOUGHT ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE THIS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE STRUGGLE TO BRING PASSENGER RAIL TO COLUMBUS CONTINUES DESPITE A RECENT SETBACK.

STATE LAWMAKERS REJECTED A PLAN TO HAVE OHIO REJOIN A MIDWEST COMMISSION WORKING TO EXPAND PASSENGER RAIL.

IT WOULD ONLY HAVE COST $50,000 OUT OF THE $90 BILLION BUDGET.

OHIO RAIL ADVOCATES SAY THAT COULD LEAVE OHIO OUT OF PASSENGER RAIL DISCUSSIONS, BUT STATE AND REGIONAL PLANNERS CONTINUE TO TALK TO AMTRAK TO DEVELOP NEW RAIL LINES.

CLEVELAND AND CINCINNATI.

ANOTHER WOULD LINK COLUMBUS TO PITTSBURGH AND CHICAGO.

MIKE MILLER, I ALWAYS START THE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE AT THE TABLE WHO TOOK A TRAIN OUT OF DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS MANY TIMES.

I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THIS ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY KEEP SAYING FIVE, TEN YEARS.

>> I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAPPEN, BUT OF COURSE HE KILLED IT AND PULLED OUT.

I USED TO TAKE THE TRAIN.

A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO, TEN, ELEVEN, WE GOT ON THE TRAIN, HOPING TO SEE AN INDIANS' GAME.

MY PARENTS WOULD PACK US LUNCH.

THE TRAIN STOPPED RIGHT AT THE STADIUM.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

AND THEN I WENT TO A ROSE BOWL GAME IN '58, WHICH I THINK TOOK TWO DAYS.

FUNNY LITTLE STORY THERE, AS I TOLD YOU EARLIER, MIKE.

WE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, I DON'T KNOW, OKLAHOMA OR SOMEWHERE, TO GET COAL, WOOD, WHATEVER IT WAS THAT MADE THIS TRAIN GO.

AND I GO OUTSIDE TO HAVE A CIGARETTE OR SOMETHING.

I WAS SMOKING BACK THEN.

AND I LOOKED.

THERE'S NOTHING THERE EXCEPT THIS LITTLE SHACK.

IT WAS A BAR.

WELL, WHEN THEY SAW IT WAS A BAR, BACK THEN THEY TOLD US TO DO, WE DIDN'T DRINK.

EVERYBODY WENT THAT WAY.

AND THE OWNER, THEY LOOK UP, THERE IS IT THIS HOARD OF PEOPLE, AND IT THIS GUY, HE'S HANDING PEOPLE BEERS.

HE'S NOT TAKING ANY MONEY.

PEOPLE WERE THROWING MONEY.

EVERYBODY RUNS BACK.

[ LAUGHTER ] [ INAUDIBLE ] >> FINALLY I RECALL TRAINS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE THEM CERTAINLY IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT I HOPE WE DO.

>> YOUR TRIP TOOK TWO DAYS?

>> I THINK WE SPENT TWO NIGHTS ON THE TRAIN.

>> I TRIED TO BOOK A TRIP FROM CHICAGO TO BOSTON.

28 HOURS.

>> WOW.

>> AND IT WOULD COST THE SAME AMOUNT AS A ROUND TRIP FLIGHT THAT WOULD TAKE TWO HOURS EACH WAY.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE PERPLEXING THINGS TO SAY.

IT'S NOT CHEAPER.

IT USED TO BE A LOT CHEAPER.

THING.

YOU CAN'T GET A GOOD SYSTEM.

>> WELL, YOU CAN.

BUT WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT, THE MAGA MOVEMENT HAS DECIDED THEY'RE THE AUSTIN POWERS OF THE 70s.

WHATEVER WAS GOING IN THE 70s, LET'S GET RID OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RAGS.

TRANSPORTATION IS ONE OF THEM.

WELL, THEY WERE PHASED OUT, SO YOU KNOW, BUT VILLAGE PEOPLE.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S MAGA.

I MEAN, I COULD REMEMBER THE DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED THINGS.

THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE IMPORTANT EITHER.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

BRIAN, YOU'RE FIRST.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, THIS DEBATE OVER PBS FUNDING.

YOU HAVE ALWAYS ASKED ME TOUGH QUESTIONS.

YOU'VE ALWAYS ASKED THE REPUBLICANS AND THE PANEL TOUGH QUESTIONS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DEBATE THAT PBS IS SOMEHOW BIAS OR THEIR REPORTERS IN GENERAL ARE.

BOTH OF YOU HAVE ASKED ME VERY TOUGH QUESTIONS IN THE PAST.

SO I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

MIKE?

>> WELL, THE FIRST DISCUSSION ON THE JIM JORDAN.

MAYBE BACK THEN PEOPLE LOOKED AT MEN ABUSING MEN DIFFERENTLY.

I'M OLD ENOUGH TO BE BACK A LONG TIME, WELL BEFORE THIS INCIDENT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY THAT COULD BE TRUE.

YOU KNOW, 70 YEARS AGO, 65 YEARS AGO, YOU LOOKED AT THAT.

THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PROBLEM WITH THE WOMEN WHO THOUGHT THEY COULD DO THIS.

THAT'S ALL CHANGED FOR THE GOOD.

BUT MEN, I DON'T THINK SO.

SO ANYBODY THAT THINKS THAT MIGHT BE A REASON FOR IT.

I WOULD DISAGREE.

>> JULIE?

>> MONDAY WILL BE THE FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOUSEHOLD ARREST, WHICH IS SORT OF AMAZING.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I LOOKED IT UP, AND TWICE AS MUCH DART MONEY IS NOW FLOWING INTO AMERICAN ELECTIONS AS THERE WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

ABOUT $1.9 BILLION IN 2024 VERSES $1 BILLION BACK THEN, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW FAR WE'VE COME ON THAT ISSUE.

>> AND SARAH?

>> EVERYONE'S GOT HEAVY NOTES.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE, I GOT TO DO A FUN STORY THIS WEEK.

I WENT UP TO LAKE ERIE FOR FISH OHIO DAY.

I WENT OUT ON A BUNCH OF CHARTER BOATS WITH THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND I CAUGHT A WALLEYE.

>> OH REALLY?

>> YES.

THERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS.

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH WEEK FOR THOSE OF US WITH THE PBS WORLD.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THE KIND WORDS OF SUPPORT, BRIAN AMONG THEM.

FROM OUR VIEWERS AND OUR LISTENERS.

JUST BE SURE TO KNOW, WE WILL CONTINUE.

WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS.

IT WILL BE DIFFICULT, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE, US REPORTERS, JOURNALISTS, CONTINUE TO ASK ANNOYING QUESTIONS TO BRIAN AND TO MIKE AND CONTINUE STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE RECORDING AND PROGRAMMING.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND STAY TUNED.

THAT'S COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK.

AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANY TIME ON OUR WEBSITE WOSU.ORG/COTR, YOUTUBE, AND ALSO ON PBS VIDEO APP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.