>>> THE TRANSGENDER RIGHTS BILL GOES TO GOVERNOR DeWINE.
♪♪ >>> WELCOME TO “COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.”
A BILL TO PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSGENDER KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS SITS ON THE DESK OF GOVERNOR DeWINE.
LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK GAVE FINAL APPROVAL TO A BILL THAT RESTRICTS GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR TRANSGENDER MINORS AND BANS TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM PARTICIPATING ON FEMALE SPORTS TEAMS.
SUPPORTERS SAY THE MEASURE PROTECTS CHILDREN AND MAINTAINS A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR FEMALE ATHLETICS.
LGBTQ ADVOCATES ARGUE THE MEASURE STIGMATIZES KIDS AND COULD HURT MINORS WHO NEED THE TREATMENT.
AND IN ALL OF OHIO, SEVEN TRANS GIRLS PLAY ON FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TEAMS AFTER COMPLETING THE REQUIRED ONE YEAR OF HORMONE THERAPY.
JO INGLES, GOVERNOR DeWINE HAS OPPOSED PARTICULARLY THE SPORTS BANS IN THE PAST WHEN IT COMES TO GENDER ATHLETES.
WHERE DOES HE STAND ON THIS, WILL HE SIGN IT OR VETO IT?
>> THAT IS THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION, MIKE.
I DON’T KNOW.
WE’VE ASKED HIM — I ASKED HIM, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE HOURS AGO, REPORTERS WERE TALKING TO HIM ABOUT THIS VERY THING.
HE SAID HE HADN’T RECEIVED THE BILL AS OF FRIDAY MORNING YET, BUT HE PROBABLY HAS RECEIVED IT BY THE TIME THIS SHOW AIRS.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, HE HAS TEN DAYS FROM THAT TIME TO DETERMINE WHETHER HE WANTS TO SIGN IT OR NOT.
HE SAYS HE’S GOING TO SPEND THE WEEKEND LOOKING AT IT AND LISTENING TO THE TESTIMONY OF EXPERTS WHO TESTIFIED ON IT AND THEN HE’LL MAKE A DECISION.
>> THERE WERE CHANGES MADE BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL HOUSE BILL AND THE SENATE VERSION AND THEN WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE BILL, IT WAS A CLAUSE IN THERE — >> THERE’S BEEN A DECENT AMOUNT OF CHANGES TO THIS BILL, AND PARTICULARLY THE SPORTS BILL HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FITS AND STARTS TO THAT ONE, AS WELL.
I THINK — REALLY ALL EYES ARE GOING TO BE ON MIKE DeWINE AT THIS POINT.
WHEN HE WAS TALKING WITH REPORTERS, HE SAID THAT HE THINKS THAT BOTH SIDES CARE ABOUT CHILDREN, BUT WHERE WILL HE ULTIMATELY LAND ON THIS ISSUE.
>> THIS COMES DOWN TO PARENTAL RIGHTS, LOT OF CONSERVATIVES ARGUE THAT PARENTS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO PICK THE BOOKS IN THE LIBRARIES, THE CURRICULUM IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
IN THIS CASE, THEY’RE TELLING PARENTS IF THEY WANT TO GET GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR THEIR KIDS, THE HORMONE THERAPY, PUBERTY BLOCKERS, THEY CAN’T.
IS THAT FAIR?
>> THERE’S COUNTLESS TESTIMONY FROM OB-GYNs, DOCTORS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO TALK ABOUT THE HARM IT WOULD DO SO TO BALANCE IT AND SAY THERE’S PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, AND THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, TOO.
I THINK WHAT THE LEGISLATURE SAID IS, LOOK, WE’RE GOING TO BAN IT FOR MINORS AS IT RELATES TO THE SURGERIES AND STUFF.
AND THAT’S PROBABLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT’S FOR THE SCHOOL SPORTS ISSUE.
MY DAUGHTER PLACE VARSITY SPORTS.
IF A BOY PLAYED IN HER SPORT SHE’D GET CREAMED.
I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT OUR DAUGHTERS IN SPORTS, OUR GIRLS.
IF WE PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT, IT WOULD PASS 60%, 70% OF THE VOTE, GIRLS SHOULD PLAY GIRLS SPORTS, BOYS SHOULD PLAY BOYS SPORTS.
>> THE BAN ON TREATMENT TALKS ABOUT HORMONES AND PUBERTY BLOCKERS, AS WELL.
COUNSELING IS OKAY, BUT THEN THEY SAY THAT IF YOU’RE GOING TO COUNSEL A MINOR ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, YOU HAVE TO COUNSEL THEM ON OTHER THINGS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, ADHD EVEN.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, THERE — THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT GETTING INTO THE PRIVATE BUSINESS OF HEALTH CARE.
AND TRYING TO MANAGE HOW PEOPLE WANT TO TREAT THEIR BODIES.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS A SITUATION, A TOUGH SITUATION FOR THE GOVERNOR.
I’M SURE THAT HE’S THINKING LONG AND HARD ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT KIDS ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF OHIO.
AND SO HE’S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A REALLY TOUGH DECISION.
AND YOU KNOW, BECAUSE HE’S IN A SECOND TERM, HE MAY — HE MAY VETO IT.
WE NEVER KNOW.
BUT WE’LL SEE THIS WEEKEND.
>> AS MIKE MENTIONED, THE POLLS ARE 60% OR SO, EVEN A PLURALITY OF DEMOCRATS SUPPORT RESTRICTIONS ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR MINORS AND MORE THAN THAT SUPPORT RESTRICTING TRANS GIRLS FROM PARTICIPATING ON FEMALE SPORTS TEAMS.
SO THE 60% OF THE PUBLIC IS WITH THE REPUBLICANS ON THIS ONE.
>> YEAH.
THE POLLS DON’T LIE ON THAT.
I MEAN, THAT’S BEEN CONSISTENT.
AGAIN, THE — THE GOVERNOR’S GOING TO HAVE TOUGH CHOICES TO MAKE.
AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO JUST LIKE WE SAW ON ISSUE ONE, PEOPLE DON’T WANT GOVERNMENT IN THEIR PERSONAL BUSINESS.
AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.
>> I THINK IT’S DIFFERENT THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT CHILDREN ON THE POINT DERRICK MADE.
JESSIE SAID ALL EYES ON THE GOVERNOR, AND THEY WILL BE FOR A COUPLE DAYS.
I BELIEVE THERE’S ENOUGH VOTES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO OVERRIDE A VETO.
I THINK IT’S THERE, AND I THINK THEY WILL DO IT IF HE VETOES IT.
>> HOW MUCH OF THAT IS A CALCULATION WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES, JESSIE?
>> YEAH, I’M SURE HE HAS LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS AND KNOWS THE MATH, AND THAT MIGHT BE A CONSIDERATION.
I THINK THE OHIO LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN OVERRIDING OTHER THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS VIEWED AS A STRONG PRIORITY SUCH AS THIS FLAVORED TOBACCO BAN.
AND SO IT WILL BE IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD I’M SURE.
>> JO, THERE IS CONFLICTING OPINIONS ABOUT PUBERTY BLOCKERS IN PARTICULAR, LONG-TERM HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE.
SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, HAVE PUT RESTRICTIONS ON THE PUBERTY BLOCKERS.
SO THERE IS — IT’S NOT — NOT AS CUT AND DRY AS SOME MEDICAL ISSUES THAT ARE LEGISLATED.
>> RIGHT.
I THINK THAT’S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HEARD TESTIMONY ON THAT ACTUALLY.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DOCTORS WERE BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.
WE DIDN’T HEAR ALL THE DOCTORS ON ONE SIDE.
BUT WE DID HAVE THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS EXPRESSING SOME CONCERN.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES MADE TO THE BILL TO TRY TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE PALATABLE TO THEM.
BUT YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT GOVERNOR DeWINE’S GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.
THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT HE WANTS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS WEEKEND.
>> MIKE, FOR FOLKS WHO SUPPORT GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE POINT TO THE HIGH RATE OF SUICIDE AMONG TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.
AND THEM BEING STIGMATIZED.
THEY SAY THIS THERAPY CAN BE LIFESAVING FOR THESE KIDS.
SO WHY PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON IT IF THE PHYSICIAN DEEMS IT NECESSARY FOR THE HEALTH OF THAT CHILD?
>> I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT’S ACCURATE.
THAT WAS WEIGHED AT THE STATE HOUSE.
JESSIE MENTIONED THERE WERE MANY AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES MADE TO THE BILL TO HARMONIZE WITH THAT.
YOU ALSO HEARD FROM DOCTORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OF THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF A 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-YEAR-OLD HAVING GENDER SURGERIES AND THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES WHEN THEY GET OLDER IN LIFE.
WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID WAS TRY TO FIND A BUSINESS HERE IN WHAT THEY PROPOSED.
>> IS THIS 1% OF THE POPULATION IDENTIFIES AS TRANSGENDER.
IS THIS — IS THIS MORE OF A CULTURE WAR THING, JESSIE?
HOW ARE FOLKS VIEWING THIS AT THE STATE HOUSE?
>> IT’S CERTAINLY NOT TAXES.
I THINK WE FALL INTO THE SOCIAL ISSUES CATEGORY HERE, AND THIS IS WHERE OHIO LAWMAKERS SHOULD BE SPENDING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME.
YOU MENTION THERE’S ABOUT SEVEN TRANSGENDER GIRLS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN FEMALE SPORTS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HAS RULES AND POLICIES AROUND.
SO OBVIOUSLY THE LEGISLATURE THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING WORTH TAKING UP.
BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OHIOANS WANT THEM TO SPEND THEIR TIME IN THIS WAY, THAT’S SOMETHING THEY CAN DECIDE AT THE BALLOT.
>> LET’S GET TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.
IT LOOKS LIKE OHIO’S NEWLY APPROVED ABORTION AMENDMENT WILL GET ITS FIRST LEGAL TEST.
ABORTION CLINIC OPERATORS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS HAVE ASKED THE CINCINNATI JUDGE TO RULE OHIO’S SIX-WEEK ABORTION BAN UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
THAT SAME JUDGE PUT THE SO-CALLED HEARTBEAT LAW ON HOLD LAST YEAR SAYING IT VIOLATED OHIO’S CONSTITUTION AS IT STOOD BEFORE ISSUE ONE PASSED LAST MONTH AND VOTERS ENSHRINED ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE CONSTITUTION.
JESSIE BALMERT, DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA HOW AND WHEN THIS JUDGE MIGHT RULE ON THIS CASE?
>> WELL, AS YOU POINTED OUT, JUDGE JENKINS THOUGHT THERE WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION EVEN BEFORE ISSUE ONE TOOK EFFECT, WHICH IS A MUCH MORE EXPLICIT RIGHT TO ABORTION AND OTHER KIND OF REPRODUCTIVE DECISIONS.
AND SO I THINK EVEN OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE YOST, A REPUBLICAN WHO OPPOSED ISSUE ONE, HAS SAID THAT THIS PARTICULAR LAW WOULD NOT SURVIVE UNDER THE NEW CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARD THAT VOTERS APPROVED BY A — ABOUT 57% OF THE VOTE.
SO HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?
IT’S HARD TO SAY.
>> DO WE KNOW WHAT THE STATE’S POSITION IS — IT HASN’T HAPPENED YET, BUT THE JUDGE RULED IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, WOULD THE STATE APPEAL THAT RULING LIKE IT DID THE EARLIER ONE?
>> OH, I DON’T KNOW.
I MEAN, I — IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU THINK DAVE YOST IS THE AG, AND HE’S ALREADY BEEN ON RECORD MULTIPLE TIMES ACTUALLY SAYING THAT HE THINKS THAT THE SIX-WEEK LAW IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL NOW THAT ISSUE ONE HAS PASSED.
SO HE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE HIS NARRATIVE THERE.
I THINK THE REASON THAT THE — THEY WENT TO COURT, THAT THE DOCTORS WHO WANTED THIS LAW OUT OF THE WAY, THE REASON THEY WRNT TO COURT — THEY WENT TO COURT, THAT GROUP REPRESENTED BY THE ACLU AND OTHERS IS THAT THERE’S ANOTHER PART OF THIS.
THE SUPREME COURT IS REALLY CONSIDERING TECHNICALITIES RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK THERE’S A WILL AMONG PEOPLE AT THE SUPREME COURT TO SAY, HEY, IS THIS — DOES IT STAND, MERITS, LOOK AT THE MERITS.
>> MIKE GONIDAKIS, OHIO RIGHT TO LIFE.
SHOULD THE STATE APPEAL THIS JUDGE’S RULING, SHOULD HE SAY THAT THE SIX-WEEK BAN IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL?
>> IT’S NOT UP TO DAVE.
HE’S A LAWYER.
CLIENT IS THE STATE OF OHIO, THE GOVERNOR, THE IT WILL BE THEIR ULTIMATE DECISION WHETHER THEY APPEAL OR NOT.
LOOK, DAVE YOST IS RIGHT, THE HEARTBEAT LAW DOES NOT HARMONIZE WITH THE NEW CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARD WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF OHIO.
I SAY THAT REGRETFULLY OF COURSE.
THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE, MIKE, IS WHAT DAVE YOST HAS ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE.
CAN A LOCAL JUDGE PUT A PERMANENT TEMPORARY RESTRAINING — OR TEMPERATURE RANGER RESTRAINING ORDER ON A LAW AND STALL IT IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM WHEN AFTER THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR SIGNED IT?
THAT’S BEFORE THE COURT.
THAT’S WHAT I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE OHIO SUPREME COURT TAKES UP QUICKLY BESIDES.
>> OTHERS ARGUE THAT DAVE YOST PLAYED A ROLE IN SLOW ROLLING WITH HIS APPEALS.
ALSO, DERRICK, THE STANDING CASE, CAN CLINICS SUE ON BEHALF OF THEIR PATIENTS, WHICH, YOU KNOW — WE SAW THIS CASE DOWN IN TEXAS WHERE THIS WOMAN WAS — TRIED TO GO THROUGH THE COURTS, AND SHE SAID SHE DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO GET HER ABORTION FOR THE FETUS THAT — IT WAS PREDICTED TO BE NO LONGER VIABLE, AND WENT OUT OF STATE.
THAT’S ANOTHER ISSUE BEFORE THE COURT, AS WELL.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE CLINICS CAN SUE ON BEHALF OF THEIR CLIENTS.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN WITH ISSUE ONE.
SO YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE NEW LAW OF OUR LAND.
IT CHANGED THE CONSTITUTION.
THERE’S ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE OHIO CONSTITUTION NOW.
SO I DON’T KNOW WHY — A LOT OF TIMES THE PEOPLE’S VOICE GETS LOST IN ALL OF THIS WHEN WE START DOING ALL THESE LAWSUITS TO TRY TO COUNTER WHAT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS — HAS BEEN.
AND CLEARLY THE PEOPLE WANTED ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND WON IT.
>> JESSIE, THIS SEEMS LIKE A CLEAR CONFLICT WITH THE HEARTBEATS BILL, CLEARLY IN CONFLICT WITH THE ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT.
OTHER THINGS, 24-HOUR WAITING PERIOD, THE TRANSFER AGREEMENT REQUIREMENT THAT CLINICS MUST HAVE WITH HOSPITALS.
EVEN THE PARENTAL CONSENT LAWS.
DO WE HAVE ANY MOVEMENT ON THOSE ISSUES YET?
>> NO, REALLY NOT YET.
AND WE TALKED WITH DOCTORS WHO PERFORM ABORTIONS, REALLY THE DAY THAT ISSUE ONE TOOK EFFECT, AND WAS ASKING ARE YOU STILL ABIDING BY THESE RULES AND THESE LAWS, AND THEY SAID YES.
UNTIL WE GET A CLEAR LEGAL RULING BEING WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO, WE’RE NOT GOING TO RISK OUR MEDICAL LICENSE, WE’RE NOT GOING TO RISK POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES TO POTENTIALLY GO AGAINST SOME OF THESE POLICIES.
>> EVERY LAW IS ON THE BOOKS UNTIL IT’S NOT.
THE HEARTBEAT LAW MIGHT BE THE FIRST TO GO, IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO THAT COULD BE THE CASE IF NOT SOONER.
UNTIL OTHERWISE, THOSE — THESE ARE THE LAWS.
WHAT’S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN IS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
WE HAD ROE, THEN CASEY, SET WHAT THE STANDARD WAS FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW.
THE OHIO SUPREME COURT WILL SET THAT STANDARD WHAT THE JUDICIAL REVIEW SHOULD BE FOR THE LOWER COURTS AND APPELLATE COURTS IN THE FUTURE.
>> WHERE DOES OHIO RIGHT TO LIFE GO FROM HERE?
IS THAT WHERE YOU FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION, ON THESE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE?
LIKE THE 24-HOUR WAITING PERIOD, THE TRANSFER AGREEMENT, PARENTAL CONSENT LAWS?
>> WE HAVE A LEGISLATE BUCKET, LEGAL BUCKET, AND A CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS BUCKET.
THOSE ARE THE THREE BUCKETS WE’RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON MOVING FORWARD UNDER THE NEW — WE RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION, WE RESPECT THE VOTE OF THE PUBLIC, AND WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO.
WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE INTRODUCING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CLEARLY VIOLATE THERE.
THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO, DIAPERS, FORMULA, CAR SEATS, CRIBS, MAKING SURE WOMEN HAVE HEALTH CARE, PRE- NATAL CARE.
THAT’S WHAT WE’RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON AND PROTECTING IT THE LAWS ON THE BOOKS.
>> CAN DEMOCRATS GO TOO FAR WITH THIS AMENDMENT, DERRICK, IF THEY WENT — SAY AFTER THE PARENTAL CONSENT LAW?
>> THERE’S ALWAYS THAT POSSIBILITY.
I MEAN, THE — I THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS FEEL SOMEWHAT VICTORIOUS IN ISSUE ONE.
SO I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW THE DEMOCRATS, PARTICULARLY THE DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE, ARE TRYING TO SEE WHAT TYPES OF LEGISLATION IS GOING TO BE INTRODUCED TO TRY TO UNDERMINE THE NEW LAW.
AND QUITE HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE COURTS AROUND THE STATE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE SAME THING.
>> THE SUPREME COURT, JO, THERE ARE RACES COMING UP NEXT YEAR, ’24.
THREE RACES.
YOU KNOW, ONE COULD BE AN OPEN SEAT DEPENDING ON WHAT JOE DEEDERS DOES.
>> RIGHT.
>> THAT WILL — ABORTION WILL BE ISSUE NUMBER ONE, I WOULD ASSUME IN THOSE RACES.
>> YES, IT’S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE WHO SHOWS UP AT THE POLLS NEXT YEAR AND HOW THAT SENATE RACE TURNS OUT BECAUSE THAT’S GOING TO BE A BIG TELLER OF HOW THE SUPREME COURT RACE IS.
>> SOMETHING TO WATCH.
>>> LAWMAKERS HAVE GONE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITHOUT MAKING ANY CHANGES TO OHIO’S NEW LAW THAT LEGALIZES RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
THEY CONSIDERED INCREASING THE TAXES ON MARIJUANA, CHANGING WHERE THE TAX PROCEEDS WOULD GO.
THEY LOOKED AT DECREASING THE POTENCY SOME MARIJUANA PRODUCTS AND BANNING OR RESTRICTING HOME-GROWN MARIJUANA.
BUT IN THE END, AT LEAST FOR NOW, THE LAW VOTERS PASSED IN NOVEMBER THAT WENT INTO EFFECT EARLIER THIS MONTH REMAINS UNCHANGED.
DERRICK CLAY, WHY DO YOU THINK LAWMAKERS DID NOT DO ANYTHING?
IT’S A REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED LEGISLATURE THAT DID NOTHING ON MARIJUANA, BUT NOW THE VOTERS DID.
THEY HAD A CHANCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IT, BUT THEY DIDN’T.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS?
>> ISSUE TWO PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY JUST LIKE ISSUE ONE DID.
AND I THINK THAT LAWMAKERS ARE BEING VERY CAREFUL AS TO HOW FAR THEY GO AGAINST THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, CLEARLY THIS PAST — BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED IT.
AND SO WHEN YOU START TINKERING WITH, YOU KNOW, THE — THE ISSUES THAT WERE ON THE BALLOT, THEN YOU’RE GOING TO DEFINITELY HAVE A PROBLEM.
IT MIGHT LEAK OVER INTO SOME OTHER ELECTIONS DOWN THE ROAD.
>> JESSIE, ARE THERE LEGITIMATE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THIS LEGISLATION?
I KNOW HOME-GROWN MICHIGAN, THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT PEOPLE ABUSING THAT FOR CO-OPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.
I THINK IF YOU ASK AT THE GOVERNOR OR THE SENATE RIGHT NOW, THEY WOULD SAY YES, THERE ARE THINGS WE WANT TO DO TO ADDRESS THINGS LIKE MAYBE EDIBLES SHOULD NOT BE IN THE SHAPE OF CARTOON CHARACTERS OR GUMMY BEARS OR SOMETHING.
MAYBE ADVERTISING SHOULD BE MORE LIKE ALCOHOL VERSUS EVERYWHERE HOW MANY PLANTS SHOULD YOU GROW.
I’M SURE A POINT OF CONVENTION BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
BUT THE HOUSE IS MORE IN THE POSITION OF SAYING LET’S LET THESE REGULATIONS PLAY OUT.
LET’S LET, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THIS BE HANDLED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND OTHER KIND OF RULE-SETTING AGENCIES.
SO I MEAN, WE WILL SEE.
>> MIKE, SHOULD THEY LET THE LAW GO INTO EFFECT?
THE VOTERS VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY.
YOU HAVE TO SAY THEY KNEW AT LEAST MOST OF WHAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR — IT WAS A LONG BILL.
YOU KNOW, RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SOLD FIRST IN THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PLACES AND MORE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS COME ON, YOU CAN HAVE 6 TO 12 PLANTS IN YOUR BACK YARD, PRETTY SIMPLE.
>> THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO BE CAREFUL, THEY’VE GOT TO RESPECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
I VOTED NO, BUT THE MAJORITY VOTED YES.
HERE’S THE THING, THEY MISSED THE BOAT.
THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE ONE THING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON, BAN IT IN PUBLIC USE.
I SHOULDN’T TAKE MY 11-YEAR-OLD SON TO A PARK OR EASTON TO HAVE SOMEONE WALKING DOWN THE STREET SMOKING A JOINT.
THAT’S WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE.
THAT WOULD HAVE GOT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
COME BACK NEXT YEAR, IF YOU NEED TO TINKER WITH THE TAXES WITHOUT MAKING OVERWHELMING CHANGES, THAT’S WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE.
AND THEY DIDN’T DO THAT.
NOW, IF I COULD TAKE MY 11-YEAR-OLD SON TO EASTON THIS WEEKEND, SOMEONE CAN LEGALLY WALK DOWN THE SHOPPING MALLS SMOKING A JOINT OUTSIDE.
>> THERE’S PRIVATE PROPERTY IN SOME WAYS.
THE STREETS AREN’T I GUESS.
>> PARKS.
RECREATIONAL AREAS.
IT’S FAIR GAME.
AND THEY COULD HAVE ADDRESSED THAT, AND THEY DIDN’T.
>> JO, THE DeWINE ADMINISTRATION NAMED ITS FIRST SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DIVISION OF CANNABIS CONTROL.
AND HIS LAST JOB WAS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DIVISION OF LIQUOR CONTROL.
IT’S ALMOST LIKE THEY WANT TO REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL.
>> LIKE ALCOHOL.
YES.
YEAH.
JIM KANEPA IS WELL KNOWN.
HE HAS HANDLED THE DIVISION OVER THERE FOR A WHILE, DONE A LOT OF GROUNDBREAKING KIND OF STUFF.
AND PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH HIM.
SO THAT MAKES HIM KIND OF A TRUSTED PERSON TO PUT IN THERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING.
HE WILL BE THE ONE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE YOU WERE ALLUDING TO THE NAME, BUT THAT’S HOW THEY SOLD THIS IS TO REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL.
AND SO 21 AND UP CAN USE AND BUY AND ALL THAT.
THE THING IS THEY’VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT ALL THESE DETAILS ABOUT HOW DO YOU PUT IT IN USE AND WHERE DO YOU PUT IT — HOW DO YOU STRUCTURE IT SO THAT YOU CAN SELL IT BUT SELL IT IN A WAY THAT IT DOESN’T GET AROUND KIDS.
AND MAKE IT SO IT DOESN’T GET USED AROUND KIDS.
I MEAN, THERE’S — YOU KNOW, IF IT’S ALCOHOL IT SHOULDN’T BE USED AROUND KIDS EITHER.
>> ONE THING I WAS GOING TO ADD IS THAT EVEN WITH THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA, THERE’S A BUNCH OF FOLKS THAT ARE SITTING IN JAIL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY WERE SELLING MARIJUANA.
THERE’S A WHOLE BUNCH OF FOLKS THAT INVESTED IN THIS EARLY, AND THEY’RE MAKING A TON OF CASH OFF OF MARIJUANA.
SO WHATEVER COMES OUT OF THIS HOUSE BILL, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO TALK ABOUT EXPUNGEMENT OF THOSE FOLKS SITTING IN JAIL NOW FOR SELLING THE SAME PRODUCT THAT THESE OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE LICENSES THROUGH THE STATE ARE SELLING.
>> THAT WAS A — A POINT OF POSSIBLE COMPROMISE WITH DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE, IF YOU COULD HAVE AN EXPUNGEMENT WITH PERHAPS DIFFERENT USE OF TAX MONEY OR THINGS LIKE THAT, MIGHT BE ROOM TO COMPROMISE.
>> YEAH.
IT’S JUST HARD TO PASS THESE LIKE REALLY SWEEPING PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS HOME GROW AND TAXES AND WHERE THE TAXES GO AND EVERYTHING.
YOU JUST GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU’RE BREAKING DOWN FRACTIONS OF WHO’S GOING TO SUPPORT WHAT.
SO CAN YOU PEEL OFF SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT WOULD BE BIPARTISANLY SUPPORTED AND SUPPORTED ACROSS CHAMBERS?
>> AND AS LONG AS THE LAW IS IN EFFECT, THE HARDER IT IS TO REPEAL AND MAKE CHANGES UNLESS SOMETHING GOES WRONG.
>>> OHIO’S SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LAROSE MADE IT OFFICIAL PILING PAPERS AND PETITIONS TO RUN FOR U.S. SENATE.
LAROSE JOINS STATE SENATOR MATT DOLAN AND CLEVELAND BUSINESSMAN BERNIE MORENO IN THE PRIMARY.
THE WINNER WOULD FACE DEMOCRAT SHERROD BROWN IN NOVEMBER.
HE FILED HIS PAPERS THIS WEEK TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL CANDIDATE.
OHIO’S PRIMARY IS JUST THREE MONTHS AWAY.
MIKE GONIDAKIS, FRANK LAROSE HAS THE NAME I.D., BUT HE DOESN’T HAVE THE MONEY THE OTHER TWO HAVE.
WHICH WINS?
>> I THINK THEY’RE ALL GOING TO HAVE MONEY.
OVER 501C4s AND DIFFERENT ENTITIES, THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY WHETHER IT SHOWS UP IN THEIR LEDGER OR SOMEONE ELSE’S LEDGER.
FRANK IS A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE.
HE’S RAN TWICE STATEWIDE.
GOT MORE VOTES THAN SHERROD BROWN DID LAST TIME.
HE’S FORMIDABLE BUT SO IS BERNIE MORENO.
I WOULD PUT THEM NECK AND NECK TO SEE WHO TAKES ON SHERROD BROWN.
HE DOES GREAT IN OHIO, TIP YOUR CAP TO HIM.
HE’S NEVER RUN IN A YEAR WHEN TRUMP WAS ON THE BALLOT.
TRUMP WON OHIO NOT ONCE BUT TWICE BY EIGHT POINTS BOTH TIMES.
TRUMP’S GOING TO CARRY THAT REPUBLICAN NOMINEE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
>> DERRICK, WHO IS THE CANDIDATE THAT SHERROD BROWN WANTS TO FACE?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT HE WOULD WANT TO FACE MATT DOLAN.
THEY’RE BOTH LIVING IN THE CLEVELAND AREA.
THEY’RE BOTH THE LESS OF THE — OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES OUT THERE, MATT DOLAN IS THE CANDIDATE THAT IS MOST SENSIBLE IN MY OPINION.
>> THE LEAST TRUMP-Y — >> THE LEAST TRUMP-Y.
EVERYBODY TRIES TO OUT-TRUMP TRUMP.
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE THING NOW.
>> WOULDN’T THAT BE A TOUGHER OPPONENT FOR SHERROD BROWN BECAUSE — >> LISTEN, I THINK SHERROD BROWN BEATS ANY ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES.
HE IS THE PEOPLE’S SENATOR IN THE STATE.
HE’S PROVEN IT, AND EVEN THOUGH HE HAS NOT BEEN ON THE BALLOT WHEN TRUMP HAS RUN, HE STILL IS — HAS BEEN A VERY SOLID LEADER FOR NOT ONLY DEMOCRATS BUT REPUBLICANS IN THIS STATE, AS WELL.
>> JESSIE, FRANK LAROSE — WENT TO THE DEADLINE TO FILE.
THERE SMFS QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS GOING TO PULL THE TRIGGER AND RUN BECAUSE OF HIS DEFEATS AND THE TWO ISSUES WON.
BUT HE DID.
HE PULLED THE TRIGGER, HE’S IN THE RACE.
>> YEAH.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING HOW MUCH THAT IS BROUGHT UP BY HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS, WHETHER THAT BECOME AN ISSUE IN THE PRIMARY OR PROBABLY MORE LIKELY IN THE GENERAL IF HE WINS THE PRIMARY.
I THINK THE MOST SURPRISING THING ABOUT THIS RACE SO FAR IS HOW LITTLE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IT.
SO MUCH OF THE OXYGEN WAS BROUGHT, WAS TAKEN UP BY ISSUE ONE AND ISSUE TWO, WITH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
WE’RE HEADING INTO THE HOLIDAYS.
SO REALLY THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE A FEW MONTHS TO INTRODUCE AND CONVINCE VOTERS THAT THEY’RE THE PERSON THAT SHOULD TAKE ON SHERROD BROWN.
>> JO, THAT’S WHERE THE MONEY COMES IN.
BERNIE MORENO HAS BEEN ON TV QUITE A WHILE.
MATT DOLAN MORE SO.
CERTAINLY FRANK LAROSE, THEY HAVE A BIT OF A HEAD START BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE PERSONAL WEALTH AND FRANK LAROSE HASN’T RAISED THE MONEY SO FAR.
>> HIS CAMPAIGN SAYS HE’S A THOUSAND-AIRE INSTEAD OF A MILLIONAIRE.
DEFINITELY MORENO AND DOLAN HAVE MORE MONEY.
BUT THE MONEY ONLY GOES SO FAR IN THIS EQUATION.
YOU THINK ABOUT IT, MORENO HAD TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY UP FRONT BECAUSE STATEWIDE HE’S NOT WELL-KNOWN.
AND MATT DOLAN, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, HE WAS THE — DID VERY WELL WHEN HE RAN FOR SENATE LAST TIME AROUND WITH REPUBLICANS.
BUT THIS IS A DIFFERENT TIME.
SO YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PANS OUT IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS BECAUSE MONEY MAY NOT BE THE FINAL INDICATOR OF WHERE IT ENDS UP.
>> HOW DOES — HOW DO REPUBLICANS VIEW FRANK LAROSE’S STRONG ADVOCACY FOR THE 60% THRESHOLD AND STRONG ADVOCACY AGAINST THE ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT?
DID HE WIN A LONG DISTANCE OF GOODWILL AMONG REPUBLICAN VOTERS?
>> HE SURE DID, IN ALL 88 COUNTIES.
I TRAVELED A LOT FOR BOTH ISSUE ONES AND EVERY TOWN HALL I WAS AT IT WAS FRANK LAROSE OR BERNIE MORENO.
SOMETIMES I’D BE FRANK TWO, THREE, FOUR TIMES A DAY AND BERNIE THE SAME.
REPUBLICAN VOTERS HAVE A LONG MEMORY, AND THEY SAW THE WORK THAT BOTH PUT IN.
BUT ESPECIALLY FRANK.
HE LED WITH HIS CHIN, AND IT’S GOING TO PLAY WELL WITH THE BASE.
IN THE PRIMARY.
>> WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS COME THE GENERAL.
>>> TO OUR OFF-THE-RECORD PARTING SHOTS, MIKE GONIDAKIS, YOU’RE FIRST.
>> SURPRISINGLY, THE MENTION OF TERM LIMITS AND TINKERING WITH THEM CAME UP GO.
IT GOES TO THE VOTERS IT WILL GO OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON.
WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON OTHER THINGS.
VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN.
TERM LIMITS ARE HERE TO STAY.
LET’S LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY ARE.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A DYNASTY ON OUR HANDS WITH THE COLUMBUS CREW, 2008 — 2020 AND 2023, I THINK WE’RE IN A DYNASTY HERE FOR OUR BELOVED CREW.
>> THE SEASON TICKETS FOR ALL THIS YEAR SOLD OUT.
AMAZING.
JO INGLES?
>> THE REPORTERS ARE EXHAUSTED GOING INTO THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND WE KNOW A LOT OF VOTERS ARE EXHAUSTED FROM ALL THE VOTING THIS YEAR.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT HAPPENED THIS YEAR.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AS FAR AS LEGISLATION BEING PASSED, WE ONLY HAD ABOUT 14 BILLS BY MY COUNT THAT PASSED.
AND A COUPLE OF THESE WERE KIND OF MINOR BILLS.
SO WE SAW A LEGISLATURE THAT DIDN’T DO AS MUCH AS NORMAL LEGISLATURES DO.
>> AND JESSIE?
>> OHIO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VIVEK RAMASWAMY HAD A BIT OF AN OOPS MOMENT THIS WEEK WHEN HE DIDN’T TURN OFF THE SOUND OF HIS FEED WHILE TAKING A BATHROOM BREAK WITH ELON MUSK.
SO THERE YOU GO.
>> VERY OWN “NAKED GUN” MOVIE, FANS OF THAT MOVIE.
SPEAKING OF TERM LIMITS, WASN’T TERM LIMITS BROUGHT UP BY FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER, NOW CONVICTED FELON LARRY HOUSEHOLDER?
THAT WAS HIS NEXT MOVE HAD HOUSE BILL 6 GONE OFF WITHOUT ANY HITCHES.
SO THAT’S MIKE’S POINT, I’M NOT SURE THAT WOULD GO OVER TOO WELL WITH VOTERS, AND THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT UP BY OPPONENTS OF GETTING RID OF TERM LIMITS.
TLANCHLTS IS “COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD” FOR THIS WEEK.
WE URGE YOU TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANY TIME ON YOUR TIME AT OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.ORG/COTR.
WE’RE ALSO ON YOUTUBE AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.
FOR OUR CREW AND PANEL, I’M MIKE THOMPSON.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
♪♪
