>>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

SOME 6000 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ATTENDED OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY THIS SPRING.

MORE THAN HALF OF THEM --3300 --CAME FROM CHINA.

CHINA EASILY PROVIDES THE MOST INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT OSU.

AND NOW THOSE STUDENTS AND THE UNIVERSITY FACE UNCERTAINTY.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT WILL WORK TO AGGRESSIVELY REVOKE THE VISAS OF CHINESE STUDENTS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WILL TARGET STUDENTS WITH TIES TO THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO SLOWING THE PROCESS FOR NEW FOREIGN STUDENTS FROM MANY COUNTRIES TO ENTER THIS COUNTRY.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS BRING IMPRESSIVE CREDENTIALS AND DIVERSITY TO CAMPUSES IN OHIO AND AROUND THEY COUNTY.

THEY ALSO USUALLY PAY FULL TUITION, WHICH HELPS COLLEGE BUDGETS.

GENE KREBS, THIS MOVE, WHAT IS THE TARGET?

IS IT THE FOREIGN STUDENTS OR IS IT THE UNIVERSITIES?

>> IT IS WHO OWNS HIGHER EDUCATION IN OHIO AND IN AMERICA.

THE REVEALING QUOTE ON THIS WAS WHEN TRUMP SAID MAYBE IF WE GET RID OF THE FOREIGN STUDENTS AT HARVARD THEN FOLKS FROM ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY CAN GO TO HARVARD.

SO YOU THINK ABOUT --SO FOR MY NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES, THEY VIEW MUCH OF LIFE THE SAME WAY AS TRUMP DOES WHICH IS THE ZERO- SUM GAME.

IF THE FOREIGN STUDENTS DON'T GO TO THAT UNIVERSITY, IT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM AND THEIR PEOPLE.

>> ONE THIRD OF HARVARD'S STUDENT POPULATION IS FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW?

YOU HAVE GOT TO LOOK AT, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AND WHAT DOES IT BRING TO THE COUNTRY?

OKAY?

13% OF PEOPLE IN COLUMBUS RIGHT NOW, FOREIGN BORN.

AND THEY CONTRIBUTE A GREAT DEAL TO THIS COUNTRY.

DELHI A REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ACTUALLY RUNNING A GUY FOR A GOVERNOR WHO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN HIS FAMILY CAME OVER HERE, BUT OBVIOUSLY HE BRINGS THAT DIVERSITY, TOO.

DIVERSITY IS NOT A BAD THING AND WE ARE NO LONGER ISOLATED IN THIS WORLD AND I THINK IT IS A VERY SIMPLISTIC THING WE ARE DOING BUT I THINK IT IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO HURT.

IN ADDITION, WE LEARN FROM OTHER PEOPLE AS FAR AS US.

AS FAR AS COMMUNIST COUNTRIES GO, IF YOU GROW UP IN A COUNTRY, YOU ARE NOT A CARD- CARRYING COMMUNIST.

YOU ARE SIGNING UP FOR SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU'RE BORN INTO IT.

>> 99 MILLION MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY.

HAVING TIES TO THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY IS LIKE ONCE REMOVED, PROBABLY.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS UNIVERSITIES RELY ON THE STUDENTS FOR FINANCES.

IT IS ALSO A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> SURE.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT IS NOT JUST THAT THESE STUDENTS ARE PAYING TUITION.

THEY ARE OFTEN PAYING FULL TUITION AND OHIO CHARGES LOWER IN-STATE TUITION THAN OUT-OF- STATE TUITION.

TAKING AWAY VISAS OF THE STUDENTS, TO A POINT IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT DIVERSITY.

IT IS FURTHER WAYS OHIO STATE AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES CAN DIVERSIFY THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS.

>> THE STUDENTS, THERE IS A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT OSU.

NOT JUST GRADUATE BUT UNDERGRAD.

THEY GET A PERMANENT RESIDENT AND THEY BECOME CITIZENS AND ENTREPRENEURS.

>> AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF STARTUPS IN SILICON VALLEY AND THE TECH WORLD THAT CAME FROM FIRST-GENERATION OUR RECENT IMMIGRANT, IT IS LIKE 60%.

BUT HERE IS THE PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE ON THE SHOW.

WHENEVER A COUNTRY'S NON-NATIVE BORN POPULATION GETS ABOVE 11%, THE NATIVE POPULATION JUST GETS TWITCHY.

IT JUST HAPPENS.

YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT 14%.

THE UK IS AT 14%.

GERMANY IS AT 18%, AND THAT IS WHY OVER THERE THEY ARE GETTING TWITCHY.

>> WHERE DOES THE NATIVEBORN'S START?

THE NATIVEBORN'S ARE ACTUALLY NATIVE AMERICANS.

>> I KNOW.

THOSE WERE BORN IN THE PAST TWO OR THREE GENERATIONS.

THEY LOOK AT THE INFLUX OF NON- NATIVE BORN.

IT IS JUST HUMAN NATURE.

AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO FIGURE A WAY OUT TO HAVE THIS --KEEP THE ENERGY BUT DIALED DOWN SOME OF THE ANXIETIES.

>> THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT REALLY IS FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER, AND WHEN YOU FURTHER ISOLATE A SITUATION THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> SORRY.

OSU RELEASED A STATEMENT.

THEY HAVE BEEN MONITORING CLOSELY.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR STUDENTS.

THAT IS ABOUT AS AGGRESSIVE AS THEY ARE GETTING.

HARVARD OF COURSE IS TAKING IT ON FULL STEAM.

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY WON'T DO THAT, PROBABLY.

>> PROBABLY NOT.

THEY KNOW THAT, THEY DON'T HAVE A STATE LEGISLATURE THAT SEES EYE TO EYE WITH HIM.

EFFORTS TO RESTRICT A CERTAIN RESTRICTION ON FOLKS WHO OF OLD GREEN CARDS.

LIKE THIS LAND PROPERTY BILL RESTRICTING FOLKS FROM QUOTE, UNQUOTE ADVERSARIAL COUNTRIES FROM OWNING REAL PROPERTY.

YOU HAVE SEEN THAT.

FOREIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO INITIATIVES.

LAST YEAR THAT INCLUDED GREEN CARD HOLDERS.

THESE FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES GET MONEY FROM THE STATE IN A WAY THAT HARVARD DOESN'T.

>> THE LAND ISSUE, IT CUTS VERY DEEPLY IN OHIO, ESPECIALLY IN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FACTORY FARMS OWNED BY FOREIGN ENTITIES.

WHO DECIDES?

>> JUST CASUALLY HOW MANY ACRES DO YOU OWN?

WELL, I OWN 400 ACRES.

TECHNICALLY, WE DON'T.

IT IS IN A TRUST.

YOU FIND A WHOLE LOT OF FARMLAND IN OHIO OWNED BY A TRUST FOR TAX PURPOSES.

I OWNED A HOUSE IN A GERMAN VILLAGE FOR YEARS.

SURPRISE.

MANY OF THE HOUSES AROUND ME WERE OWNED IN TRUST.

YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS THAT HOUSE OR THAT FARM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, EXCEPT IN OUR CASE IT SAYS KREBS FAMILY.

BUT I COULD HAVE NAMED IT APRIL VIEW FARMS.

>> GETTING BACK, DONALD TRUMP WON BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY.

HE FOCUSED ON INFLATION.

PEOPLE WERE MAD AT THE ECONOMY AND PRICES RISING.

THE DEMOCRATS, THE ACCUSATION WAS THEY WERE TOO FOCUSED ON CULTURE WARS.

IS TRUMP MAKING A MISTAKE BY FOCUSING SO MUCH ENERGY ON THIS RIGHT NOW AND NOT JUST INFLATION?

PRICE OF EGGS?

GASES DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

>> HE IS NOT MAKING A MISTAKE AND THAT IS BECAUSE JAMES CARVILLE WAS WRONG.

PEOPLE HAVE A JOB TO PROVIDE FOR CORE VALUES.

CHILDREN, FAMILY, HEALTH, SECURITY, AND IN SOME OF THE WORLD FAIRNESS.

YOU HAVE A JOB YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY, GIVE YOURSELF HEALTHCARE, AND GIVE YOURSELF A SENSE OF SECURITY.

THE JOB IS A MEANS TO THE END.

REMEMBER?

>> HARVARD?

HOW DOES IT FIT INTO THE EQUATION?

>> BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THE RULING ELITE.

IF YOU TALK TO MY NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES, THEY ARE CONVINCED -- >> HARVARD?

NOT THESE OLIGARCHS?

NOT THE ELON MUSKS OF THE WORLD?

>> A WHOLE LOT OF THEM, INCLUDING LABOR HEAD.

ALL RIGHT.

MICHIGAN.

>> I GET IT.

>> BUT, NO, WHETHER OR NOT HOW THEY FEEL, YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH HOW THEY FEEL BUT THIS IS HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THINGS.

IT IS VALUES REALLY.

REMEMBER THE BOOK?

"WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH KANSAS? "

AND THEY MADE IT A DOCUMENTARY?

IT IS THE SAME THING.

THOSE PEOPLE IN KANSAS BY LOGIC SHOULD HAVE BEEN VOTING DEMOCRAT BERGER THEY COULDN'T BECAUSE DEMOCRATS WERE WAY SQ ON THE VALUES.

>> WE WILL SEE HOW THAT GOES BECAUSE STUDENTS AND THE UNIVERSITY AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS, PRETTY PROFOUND PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY.

WE ARE STARTING TO GET A IDEA OF THE PROPOSED TAX CUTS IN OHIO.

TAX CUT AND SPENDING CUT PLAN INCLUDES A WORK REQUIREMENT FOR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS AND OTHER CHANGES THAT WOULD REDUCE SPENDING ON MEDICAID BY SOME $600 BILLION.

A NEW KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION REPORT INDICATES UP TO A HALF- MILLION OHIOANS COULD LOSE COVERAGE UNDER THIS PLAN.

THE HOUSE BUDGET BILL WHICH PASSED BY JUST ONE VOTE STILL MUST CLEAR THE SENATE.

KREBS, OTHER GROUPS HAVE SAID THAT MEDICAID AFFECTS A LOT OF RURAL PEOPLE.

LOW INCOME FOLKS IN RURAL AREAS AND BY EXTENSION RURAL HOSPITALS.

WHAT ARE FOLKS IN THE RURAL AREA DOING ABOUT THIS?

HOW ARE THEY FEELING ABOUT MEDICAID?

>> ON ONE LEVEL, IF THEY WORK FOR THE LOCAL HOSPITALS THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS, THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT IT.

AT THE NEXT LEVEL, THEY RESPOND VERY EMOTIONALLY TO WELFARE QUEENS.

OKAY?

TO USE A PHRASE GOING BACK TO RONALD REAGAN.

THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF WORK REQUIREMENTS, AND I TELL YOU, I HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH THEM.

I SAY, WELL, ARKANSAS TRIED IT AND IT DIDN'T WORK IN GEORGIA IS TRYING TO DO IT AND THEY CAN'T MAKE IT WORK EITHER.

ONCE AGAIN, LOGIC.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LOGICAL HUMAN.

PEOPLE ARE VERY EMOTIONAL IN HOW THEY THINK AND DEAL WITH THINGS.

>> THE FACTS ARE TWO THIRDS OF FOLKS ON MEDICAID ARE WORKING AND OUR WORKING AGE.

I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, IF YOU'RE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, YOU CAN'T.

IN THOSE INSTANCES, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND WORKAROUNDS OR FIND SOME WAY TO DO IT.

I THINK THE RURAL HOSPITAL ISSUE IS GOING TO CUT DEEP IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

I THINK YOU EVEN HAVE SOME REPUBLICANS WHO ARE FISCAL HAWKS LIKE SENATOR HAWLEY, WHO IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THE MEDICAID CUTS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO SURVIVE THIS BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IN THAT SAMPLE.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYTHING IS GOING TO SURVIVE BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVEN DIFFERENT FACTIONS OF MY PARTY RIGHT NOW AND DON'T EVEN AGREE UPON WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK IT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> STATE LAWMAKERS.

IT IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, FEDERAL AND STATE.

THEY HAVE TO BE WATCHING THIS VERY CLOSELY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE PLAN DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT THE STATE EQUATION PER SE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OF COURSE, IT IS ALL IN THAT WEIRD TIMELINE FOR THE STATE IS WORKING ON ITS OWN BUDGET AND MEDICAID IS A HUGE, HUGE PORTION OF THE STATE BUDGET.

AND OF COURSE FEDERAL FUNDING COMING INTO THE STATE.

IT IS SOMETHING THEY ARE WATCHING CLOSELY AS WELL BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CUTS CONVERSATIONS AND HEARINGS ON MEDICAID.

>> ONE OF THE PROPOSALS WHEN YOU GET INTO THE HOUSE BILL IS TO SHIFT MORE OF THE BREAD INTO THE STATES.

THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE.

>> OHIO'S BRAND-NEW SENATORS, ARE THEY GOING TO BUCK THE TREND HERE?

>> IT APPEARS THAT OUR SENATORS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THIS STATE, BASED ON HOW THEY ENDORSED IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, IT IS NO LONGER ABOUT GOVERNING AND WHAT THE PEOPLE NEED OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

IT IS SIMPLY ABOUT WHAT DONALD TRUMP WANTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT MONEY GOING AGAINST THEM.

THEY DON'T WANT THAT STRONG MAGA BASE AGAINST THEM WHEN THEY GO THROUGH A PRIMARY.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE UNITED STATES ARE MOST ELECTORATE WHO ARE NOT MAGA, THAT MEANS THEY DO NOT GET REPRESENTATION BY OUR UNITED STATES SENATORS.

>> IF WE ARE GOING TO BALANCE THIS PARTY, WHICH IS A NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TASK, DON'T YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT CUTS TO MEDICAID AND ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS?

>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT MANY THINGS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS YOU CAN DEAL WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES AROUND WELFARE.

I AM USING THAT PHRASE BROADLY.

AS YOU KNOW, I AM A GREAT FAN OF THE BRIDGES OUT OF POVERTY STRUCTURE WHICH COST BETWEEN $400 AND $1000 PER PERSON.

BUT GETTING THAT, THE PROBLEM IS THAT --TO PUT IT, I AM A GREAT FAN SO TO SPEAK.

TOO MANY AND MY PARTY THINK PEOPLE ARE IN POVERTY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PUNISHED ENOUGH FOR BEING IN POVERTY AND TOO MANY ON YOUR SIDE OF THE AISLE THINK WE JUST NEED THE PERFECT NUANCE GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, ONE SIZE FITS ALL, AND WE CAN SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS.

NEITHER ONE OF THOSE IS THE SOLUTION.

AND GETTING THEM TO COME THROUGH AND GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PERSONALIZED PROBLEM FOR THESE FOLKS IS THE BIG HOLE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO START A READING LIST OF ALL THE THINGS YOU SAY ON THIS SHOW AND PUT IT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> MANCHURIAN WHAT?

>> MEDICAID AND HERESY.

IT IS THE BASIS BEHIND STAR WARS.

>> WELL, THERE YOU GO.

STAR WARS.

ANYWAY, TWO YEARS AGO, FEARING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO LEGALIZE ABORTION, OPPONENTS TRIED TO MAKE IT HARDER TO CHANGE THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.

IN A LAST-MINUTE AUGUST ELECTION, THEY ASKED VOTERS TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE A 60% VOTE TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION.

IT FAILED BADLY.

AND THE ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT PASSED EASILY A FEW MONTHS LATER.

BUT WITH A PROPERTY TAX BAN AMENDMENT POSSIBLY ON THE BALLOT, THERE IS TALK OF TRYING AGAIN TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR VOTERS TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION.

SARAH DONALDSON, IS THIS A TRIAL BALLOON TO SEE HOW IT FLOATS OR ARE THERE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT BRINGING THIS BACK?

>> I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IT'S A TRIAL BALLOON.

I MEAN, YOU HEARD FROM FOLKS LIKE REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OXMAN, LIKE SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LAROSE.

HE WAS HUGE IN THAT 2023.

THEY STILL THINK IT SHOULD BE HARDER TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.

BOTH OF THEM WOULD TELL YOU THEY ARE NOT SURE THAT THERE IS THE WILLPOWER TO TRY AGAIN BUT YOU DO HAVE CONSISTENT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS COMING FORWARD, NOT JUST ON REAL PROPERTY TAXES.

YOU HAD THE GERRYMANDERING AMENDMENT LAST YEAR.

THERE IS A CONSISTENT EFFORT BY GROUPS.

THEY SAW THE SUCCESS WITH THE ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT TO TRY AND REPLICATE THAT.

>> SHOULD IT BE HARDER, GENE?

>> THEY ARE NOT THINKING STRATEGICALLY.

THEY ARE THINKING TACTICALLY.

IF THEY CALLED ME UP AND ASKED FOR MY ADVICE, IF THEY WERE I WOULD SAY LOOK TO THE INITIATING STATUTE.

YOU WANT TO TEMPT MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE, LIKE WE DID FOR THE MARIJUANA BILL.

GO TO INITIATE STATUTE.

>> WHAT VOTERS CAN CHANGE STATE LAW?

>> YOU CAN PUT ANYTHING IN THERE SAYING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN'T OVERRIDE IT FOR THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS.

IF THEY DO SO THEY HAVE TO BE BY 60% APPROVAL BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GO INTO STATUTE EASIER.

SO INSTEAD OF 44 COUNTIES HAVE TO GET 413,000 SIGNATURES FROM 44 COUNTIES, MAKE IT 20 COUNTIES.

YOU SEE WHAT I AM SAYING?

>> THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THIS IS ABOUT ONE PARTY THAT WANTS TO RUN EVERYTHING WITHOUT ANY INTERFERENCE.

YOU DO NOT WANT VOTERS TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE STATUTE.

THAT IS THE TACTIC.

LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

YOU DON'T LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD?

LET'S TAKE AWAY ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD'S DUTIES.

YOU DON'T LIKE THE STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM?

LET'S PACK SO YOU CAN GET YOUR WAY ON THAT.

I MEAN, WE ARE GETTING TO A POINT IN OHIO GOVERNMENT WHERE IT IS BEYOND CHECKS AND BALANCES.

SUPREME COURT.

YOU KNOW?

WE ARE GOING TO STACK THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO RUN A GUY WHO IS AGED OUT AGAINST THE ONLY DEMOCRAT ON THE COURT.

WHY?

BECAUSE HE WANTS FOUR MORE YEARS AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL.

NOT EVEN ONE DISSENT ON THE COURT.

>> BUT THE PROPERTY TAX BAN IS A HUGE DEAL.

>> IT IS.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN AMONG LAWMAKERS.

YOU KNOW?

THEY HAVEN'T REALLY DONE MUCH WITH PROPERTY TAXES TO THIS POINT AND IT IS SOMETHING THEY SAY CONSTITUENTS ARE CALLING REGULARLY ABOUT.

I THINK ON THE FLIPSIDE, FOLKS WHO ARE SEEKING OUT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS WOULD TELL YOU THE LEGISLATURE CAN HAVE THE FINAL SAY AND WHEN YOU SEE IT PLAYING OUT WITH MARIJUANA.

>> THAT INITIALLY SORT OF A PROBLEM THAT THEY CREATED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH PROPERTY TAX HAS TO DO ESPECIALLY WITH AREAS LIKE COLUMBUS, WHERE PROPERTY HAS GROWN SO QUICKLY.

PROPERTY TAXES.

THAT THE EVALUATIONS ARE HURTING SOME OF THE RESIDENTS HERE.

AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY KIND OF ACTION OR TAKE ANY ACTION TO SOLVE IT.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE PREVIOUS 60% THRESHOLD THING FAILED WAS BECAUSE THAT WAS DEFINITELY AIMED AT STOPPING THE ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

SO THE COALITION THAT PASSED THE ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT JUST MOBILIZED EARLY AND SWAPPED IT.

THE PROPERTY TAX, THAT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING COALITION.

RIGHT?

NOT JUST CONSERVATIVES OR ANTI- TAX, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OR POLICE UNIONS.

>> I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THE ISSUE WON BECAUSE OF A BRILLIANT OP-ED THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE DISPATCH AND THAT DESTROYED AT.

YES.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

SO PART OF THE THING IS WHEN YOU TALK TO BOB AND BETTY BUCKEYE ABOUT THAT, THEY IMMEDIATELY GO, OH, YEAH, I DON'T LIKE MY PROPERTY TAXES.

BUT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT APPRECIATE FIRST OF ALL THAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE VOTED ON BY THOSE VERY SAME PEOPLE.

SO THEY HAVE ALREADY PREAPPROVED IT.

WHAT YOU'RE RELEASING HERE IS A CRY OF ANGUISH FROM FOLKS, AND IT DEALS WITH THE FACT THAT THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS JUST SIMPLY NOT DEALING WITH THE ISSUES.

>> LET'S GET TO THE POINT IF THE 60% GOT ON THE BALLOT, BRIAN, RAISING THE THRESHOLD, HOW MIGHT BRING A COALITION OF FOLKS TOGETHER.

>> WE ARE AT A CRITICAL POINT.

YOU HAVE A REPUBLICAN-ENDORSED CANDIDATE THAT WANTS TO GET RID OF THE INCOME TAX.

YOU HAVE NO INCOME TAX AND NO PROPERTY TAX THEN ALL YOU HAVE ARE USED TAXES.

AND A USE TAX, FIRST OF ALL YOUR TAXES WILL GO UP ANY TIME YOU BUY ANYTHING BUT IT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS PEOPLE WITH A LESSER ECONOMY.

>> WE DON'T HAVE A DISNEY WORLD.

>> WELL, WE HAVE GAMBLING NOW BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LAS VEGAS STRIP.

ANYWAY, OUR LAST TOPIC.

SINCE 1999 RESIDENTS OF COLUMBUS HAVE HAD FIVE PRESIDENTS --SIX IF YOU COUNT TRUMP TWICE --FOUR GOVERNORS, AND FOUR POPES.

BUT ONLY TWO MAYORS.

MICHAEL COLEMAN SERVED 16 YEARS.

AND NOW MAYOR GINTHER WANTS TO DO THE SAME.

HE HOLDS A BIG FUNDAISER NEXT WEEK.

IT'S THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT EVENT OF HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN OF 2027.

HE'S WON EASILY SINCE BEING FIRST ELECTED IN 2015.

BUT IN HIS LAST ELECTION, HIS POORLY FUNDED OPPONENT GOT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE VOTE.

AND THERE IS SPECULATION THAT SOME COLUMBUS DEMOCRATS MAY NOT WANT TO WAIT ANY LONGER TO RUN FOR MAYOR.

CITY ATTORNEY ZACH KLEIN TOPS THAT LIST.

BRIAN ROTHENBERG, WHAT IS THE SCUTTLEBUTT?

IS THE MAYOR GOING TO FACE A CHALLENGE?

>> I DON'T.

TERM LIMITS DOESN'T WORK.

I MEAN, WE SEE THAT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE SEE WHETHER SENATE PRESIDENT BECOMES THE SPEAKER.

THEY DON'T WORK.

THEN WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE ECONOMY?

THIS CITY HAS GONE THROUGH A COLLAPSE OF PART OF ITS ECONOMY IN THE RETAIL ECONOMY AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE IT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH DIVERSITY IN THE ECONOMY.

SO MUCH GROWTH HERE.

I WAS AWAY FOR NINE YEARS.

COME BACK IN THE JOB THAT ANDREW CUTHBERT HAS DONE IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

>> 2 1/2 YEARS.

WHAT IS THE MAYOR TRYING TO DO?

TRYING TO GET A START ON COMPETITION?

>> HE IS TRYING TO CRUSHES COMPETITION.

I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHY BUT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED VERY FEW PEOPLE HERE IN COLUMBUS WHO ACTUALLY LIKE THE CURRENT MAYOR.

>> YOU HAVE GOT ONE HERE THOUGH.

>> SHANNON HARDEN IS VERY WELL CONNECTED WITH --HE HAS FAMILY --MAJOR POWERBROKERS DOWN IN CINCINNATI.

AND I HAVE MET ZACH LINE AND I HAVE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT AS A YOUNG MAN WITH A FUTURE INSIDE THE DEMOCRAT CIRCLES.

I WOULD NOT WANT TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST ZACH LINE.

I THINK HE IS VERY SHARP.

I THINK IT MAY BE AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE.

YOU MAY VIEW THE CURRENT MAYOR IS BEING COMPETENT AND EVERYTHING.

PEOPLE GET TIRED OF THEIR CURRENT LEADERSHIP FOR NO GOOD REASON.

THEY JUST WANT TO SEE SOMEBODY NEW IN THEIR.

>> YOU KNOW, HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE.

AND MAYOR COLEMAN BEFORE HIM, MAYOR COLBERT HAS RUN FOR OFFICE.

BUT MAYORS DON'T MOVE ON TO BIGGER OFFICE.

>> WELL, WHY WOULD HE?

HE IS DOWN THE STREET FROM THE SUPERMAJORITY-CONTROLLED OHIO STATEHOUSE.

REPUBLICANS ARE WINNING STATEWIDE.

I AM SURE HE DOESN'T IMPACT TO WINNING.

I MEAN, NO ONE IS JUMPING UP.

EVERYONE IS WAITING TO SEE WHAT SHERROD BROWN DOES.

NO OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO RUN.

OBVIOUSLY, COLUMBUS, LIKE OTHER CITIES NEARBY, IS RUN BY CITY MACHINE POLITICS.

THERE IS NEXT IN LINE TO BE MAYOR.

I THINK IT WOULD BE FASCINATING TO SEE SOMEONE LIKE ZACH KLEIN CORE PART OF THE MACHINE ACTUALLY STEP OUT AND RUN IN THOSE PRIMARIES.

BUT IF GINTHER SAYS HE IS RUNNING, THEN I DON'T KNOW.

>> I DON'T THINK PRIMARIES ARE EVER BAD.

I THINK PEOPLE TEND TO UNDERESTIMATE THE POPULARITY OF ANDREW GINTHER IN GENERAL.

I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME BACK, I HEARD ALL KINDS OF STUFF WHILE I WAS UP IN DETROIT.

I REMEMBER WALKING IN A PARADE WITH ANDY RIGHT NEXT TO HIM.

VERY POPULAR.

PEOPLE YELLING OUT HIS NAME.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS UNDERESTIMATED HIM AND UNDERESTIMATE WHERE THINGS ARE.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT MIGHT BE MORE ABOUT WHO RUNS AFTER HIM.

I WOULD NOT TAKE KEVIN BOYD'S SIDE OF THAT.

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

AND, GENE, WE WILL START WITH YOU.

I MEAN, BRIAN, WE WILL START WITH YOU.

>> SHERROD BROWN WAS AT A FUNDRAISER IN OHIO THIS WEEK.

PHOTOS IN OHIO.

HE HAPPENED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE SO WE WILL SEE WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> THEY WILL HAVE TO REALLY DRAFT HIM THOUGH.

>> GENE?

>> FOR SOME TIME ON THE SHOW I HAVE BEEN SAYING IT.

PEOPLE LOOKING TO RUN FOR ELECTED OFFICE, VERY FIRST ADVICE I GIVE IS AS YOU MOVE UP THE POLITICAL FOOD CHAIN YOU LOSE MORE AND MORE OF YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS AND YOUR RIGHTS OF PRIVACY.

ONE OF MY SUCCESSOR'S SUCCESSOR'S SUCCESSORS RODNEY CREEK FOUND THAT OUT AND THE LAST MONTH WITH SOME REVELATIONS ABOUT FAMILY SITUATIONS.

AND I HAVE GOT TO SAY, THERE IT GOES, FOLKS.

AS YOU MOVE UP THE FOOD CHAIN EVERYTHING BECOMES PUBLIC RECORD.

>> SARAH LEXI >> JUST EXCITED TO SEE WHAT STATE SENATORS DO WITH THE BUDGET.

EXCITED TO BE BACK IN THIS THING.

AND THE LAST FINAL FEW VERY FUN WEEKS.

>> YOU ARE NOT WATCHING THE NBA PLAYOFFS, I TAKE IT.

>> THAT IS EXCITING TO ME, MIKE.

>> THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING BUT ONE THING REMAINS CONSTANT.

IT ALWAYS RAINS ON THE WEEKEND OF THE MEMORIAL GOLF.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE DEALT WITH ROUND TO WEATHER ON FRIDAY, YOU CAN TAKE SOLACE IN THAT IS A CONSTANT IN OUR CURRENT CLIMATE.

ANYWAY,THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK.

AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME ON OUR WEBSITE --WOSU.

ORG/COTR --YOUTUBE, AND ALSO ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

FOR THE CREW AND FOR THE PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.