00:00:37>> TWO WEEKS AND COUNTING AND
NEITHER OF THE MAJOR PARTY
00:00:40CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT ARE
COUNTING OUT OHIO.
00:00:42AND WHILE THE CANDIDATES FOR
PRESIDENT, US SENATE, CONGRESS
00:00:44AND FOR THE OHIO HOUSE AND
SENATE CRUISE THROUGH THE
00:00:46STATE, THEIR MESSAGES ARE BEING
HEARD AND READ OVER AND OVER.
00:00:48BUT THAT'S LEAVING LITTLE ROOM
FOR DEBATE ABOUT THE
00:00:51CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD CHANGE THE WAY THE
00:00:54DISTRICT MAPS FOR MANY OF THOSE
LAWMAKERS ARE DRAWN.
00:00:55AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ABOUT
ISSUE 2 - THIS WEEK IN "THE
00:00:59STATE OF OHIO."
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT TILL
00:01:06ELECTION DAY, AND THE CANDIDATES
ONCE AGAIN ARE SWINGING THROUGH
00:01:08OHIO.
PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS IN OHIO
00:01:11LATE ON THURSDAY, AND WILL BE
BACK NEXT WEEK, AND ALONGSIDE
00:01:13HIM WILL BE FORMER PRESIDENT
BILL CLINTON, FRESH OFF HIS
00:01:18WELL-RECEIVED RALLY WITH ROCK
STAR BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN TWO WEEKS
00:01:22AGO.
OBAMA AND VICE PRESIDENT JOE
00:01:25BIDEN MADE A RARE JOINT
APPEARANCE IN DAYTON THIS WEEK,
00:01:28AND THEN BIDEN CAMPAIGNED IN
CANTON AND IN MARION.
00:01:31REPUBLICAN NOMINEE MITT ROMNEY
WAS ALSO IN OHIO STARTING IN
00:01:34CINCINNATI AND THEN HEADING TO
COLUMBUS AND THEN DEFIANCE.
00:01:36AND HIS RUNNING MATE PAUL RYAN
WILL BE IN OHIO THIS WEEKEND,
00:01:41BUSING HIS WAY THROUGH NEW
PHILADELPHIA AND ZANESVILLE,
00:01:45THEN ON CIRCLEVILLE, YELLOW
SPRINGS AND DAYTON, AND THEN TO
00:01:48CELINA, FINDLAY AND ALSO IN
MARION.
00:01:50THE STATE'S ELECTIONS CHIEF
SAYS 1.6 MILLION RESIDENTS ARE
00:01:55USING THE EARLY VOTING OPTIONS
IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
00:01:58BATTLEGROUND, AND MORE THAN
800,000 PEOPLE ALREADY CAST
00:02:01BALLOTS WITH TWO WEEKS TO GO
UNTIL ELECTION DAY.
00:02:03SECRETARY OF STATE JON HUSTED
SAID THIS WEEK THAT MORE THAN
00:02:051.4 MILLION VOTERS HAVE
REQUESTED ABSENTEE BALLOTS, AND
00:02:08NEARLY 619,000 HAVE MAILED
THOSE BALLOTS.
00:02:10MORE THAN 189,000 PEOPLE HAVE
VOTED EARLY IN PERSON.
00:02:14MEANWHILE, A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS
GRANTED A REQUEST BY A GROUP OF
00:02:18VOTER ADVOCATES TO EXPAND THE
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH
00:02:22PROVISIONAL BALLOTS ARE COUNTED
IN OHIO.
00:02:24U.S.
DISTRICT JUDGE ALGENON MARBLEY
00:02:28SAID PROVISIONAL BALLOTS CAST
NOT JUST IN THE WRONG PRECINCT
00:02:30BUT IN THE WRONG POLLING
LOCATION ALTOGETHER MUST STILL
00:02:33BE COUNTED.
THE STATE HAD OPPOSED THE
00:02:36EXPANSION, SAYING IT COULD
CREATE ELECTION DAY CHAOS
00:02:39BECAUSE OF NEW TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS FOR POLL WORKERS.
00:02:41AN OUTDOOR ADVERTISING COMPANY
SAYS IT IS PULLING DOWN VOTER-
00:02:45FRAUD BILLBOARDS IN OHIO AND IN
WISCONSIN AFTER COMPLAINTS THAT
00:02:48THEY WERE MEANT TO INTIMIDATE
VOTERS, AND HAS REPLACED THEM
00:02:52WITH BILLBOARDS WITH A
DIFFERENT MESSAGE.
00:02:54CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR SAYS SOME
145 BILLBOARDS IN CLEVELAND,
00:02:58COLUMBUS AND MILWAUKEE ARE
BEING TAKEN DOWN.
00:03:00A GROUP OF CIVIL RIGHTS
ATTORNEYS AND A CLEVELAND CITY
00:03:04COUNCILWOMAN HAD COMPLAINED
THAT THE BILLBOARDS WERE MEANT
00:03:07TO DISCOURAGE LAWFUL VOTING,
ESPECIALLY BY BLACKS.
00:03:11POLLS HAVE SHOWN THAT BLACK
VOTERS HEAVILY SUPPORT
00:03:14DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA.
00:03:16CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HAS
REFUSED TO IDENTIFY WHO IS
00:03:20BEHIND THE BILLBOARDS.
HOWEVER, THE COMPANY SAYS IT
00:03:22DECIDED THE BILLBOARDS VIOLATE
ITS POLICY AGAINST ANONYMOUS
00:03:25POLITICAL ADS.
THE STATE AUDITOR SAYS HE'S
00:03:29FINISHED A SECOND ROUND OF AN
INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER MORE
00:03:33OHIO SCHOOLS ARE ALTERING
ATTENDANCE DATA, POSSIBLY TO
00:03:36IMPROVE THEIR APPEARANCE ON
STATE REPORT CARDS.
00:03:39AUDITOR DAVID YOST SAYS HE
PICKED 81 BUILDINGS IN 47 OF
00:03:42THE 184 DISTRICTS THAT HAVE
MONEY QUESTIONS ON NEXT MONTH'S
00:03:46BALLOT, TO FIND OUT IF MORE
OHIO SCHOOLS ARE MANIPULATING
00:03:51ATTENDANCE DATA BY REMOVING
STUDENTS FROM ENROLLMENT LISTS.
00:03:54REPORT TO THAT OF THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND BUILDINGS WE HAVE
00:04:07LOOKED AT IN THIS SECOND PHASE,
WE FOUND NO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NO
00:04:12SCHOOL BUILDINGS, I SHOULD SAY,
WITH ANY EVIDENCE OF
00:04:17DISCREPANCY.
>> ATTENDANCE DATA IS AMONG THE
00:04:21STATS USED TO EVALUATE A
DISTRICT'S PERFORMANCE FOR
00:04:23STATE REPORT CARDS.
THE FIRST PRELIMINARY AUDIT OF
00:04:25ATTENDANCE DATA FOUND WHAT YOST
CALLED ATTENDANCE REPORT
00:04:28RIGGING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
IN CAMPBELL NEAR YOUNGSTOWN,
00:04:31CLEVELAND, COLUMBUS, MARION AND
TOLEDO.
00:04:33A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF STATE
LAWMAKERS WANT OHIO TO BECOME
00:04:36THE 33TH STATE TO REQUIRE
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR AUTISM.
00:04:38REPS.
CHERYL GROSSMAN OF GROVE CITY
00:04:41AND LOUIS TERHAR OF HAMILTON
COUNTY, AND SEN.
00:04:43BILL SEITZ OF CINCINNATI, ALL
REPUBLICANS, WERE JOINED BY
00:04:46DEMOCRATIC REPS.
TED CELESTE OF COLUMBUS AND
00:04:49NANCY GARLAND OF NEW ALBANY TO
ANNOUNCE THE PROPOSAL THAT
00:04:51WOULD REQUIRE AUTISM SPECTRUM
DISORDERS BE COVERED UNDER THE
00:04:56MENTAL HEALTH PARITY ACT OF
2007.
00:04:58THEY'RE AMONG 30 LAWMAKERS WHO
SUPPORT THE PLAN, AND SAY OHIO
00:05:01IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE
MIDWEST WHERE COVERAGE FOR
00:05:05AUTISM ISN'T MANDATED.
WHO ARE TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTED,
00:05:19CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO, BY
VIRTUE OF AN INABILITY TO HAVE
00:05:22AN INSURANCE COMPANY PAY FOR
THIS SERVICE, THEY GO THROUGH
00:05:25THEIR LIFE SAVINGS, THEY GO
THROUGH THE MORTGAGE OF THEIR
00:05:28HOMES, THEY ARE IN DIRE STRAITS.
THIS WILL MAKE A DRAMATIC
00:05:33DIFFERENCE.
>> BUT BUSINESS LEADERS ARE
00:05:36OPPOSED TWO YEARS AGO, GROUPS
INCLUDING THE OHIO CHAMBER OF
00:05:39COMMERCE WERE ABLE TO HALT THE
LAST ATTEMPT TO ADD AUTISM TO
00:05:42THE STATE'S LIST OF MANDATED
CONDITIONS.
00:05:45THEY SAY REQUIRING THIS
COVERAGE WILL DRIVE UP HEALTH
00:05:47INSURANCE COSTS.
>> WE HAVE HEARD OVER THE YEARS,
00:05:56EVERY TIME A NEW MANDATE IS
PROPOSED, THAT THIS ONE WILL
00:05:59ONLY COST A LITTLE BIT.
SINCE 2002, THE AVERAGE
00:06:03EMPLOYER HEALTH CARE COST HAS
GONE UP 97%.
00:06:06SOME OF THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO
HEALTH CARE MANDATES.
00:06:10WE DO NOT NEED ANYTHING RIGHT
NOW THAT WILL ADD ADDITIONAL
00:06:14COSTS TO EMPLOYERS TRYING TO
PROVIDE THAT COVERAGE.
00:06:16>> BUT THE ORGANIZATION AUTISM
SPEAKS SAYS A STUDY OF FIVE
00:06:19STATES WHERE AUTISM IS COVERED
SHOWS THE AVERAGE COST WENT UP
00:06:2215 CENTS PER EMPLOYEE IN THE
FIRST YEAR AND 31 CENTS IN THE
00:06:25SECOND.
AND AUTISM SPEAKS SAYS THE STATE
00:06:27SPENDS OVER $250 MILLION
DOLLARS A YEAR IN SPECIAL
00:06:29EDUCATION FOR KIDS WITH AUTISTIC
DISORDERS, AND SOME OF THAT COST
00:06:32THAT COULD BE AVOIDED IF THEY
WERE DIAGNOSED AND GOT
00:06:34TREATMENT BEFORE THEY START
SCHOOL.
00:06:36AND THIS WEEK BROUGHT THE FINAL
US SENATE DEBATE BETWEEN
00:06:41INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT SHERROD
BROWN AND REPUBLICAN TREASURER
00:06:44JOSH MANDEL.
THE TWO MET FOR A SESSION THAT
00:06:47WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON NBC
AFFILIATES STATEWIDE.
00:06:49THERE WASN'T A LOT OF NEW
INFORMATION IN THIS DEBATE, BUT
00:06:54THE CANDIDATES DID VERBALLY
SPAR DURING A QUESTION ABOUT
00:06:57RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE FOR
SOCIAL SECURITY MANDEL SAID HE
00:07:00WOULDN'T FOR BABY BOOMERS, BUT
IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR
00:07:05PEOPLE FOR HIS AGE 35 AND A
LITTLE OLDER.
00:07:08BROWN SAID HE WOULDN'T RAISE
THE RETIREMENT AGE ON PEOPLE IN
00:07:11PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOBS SUCH
AS CONSTRUCTION AND FOOD
00:07:16SERVICE.
>> I WOULD NOT RAISE THE
00:07:22RETIREMENT AGE, BUT I WOULD
THINK ABOUT RAISING THE CAP.
00:07:25THAT IS THE WAY TO SOLVE -- IF
WE CAN FIND A WAY, MAYBE A
00:07:30$300,000-FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
00:07:33WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN
DETAIL, BUT I AM GIVING YOU
00:07:37SPECIFICS, AND I WILL ALWAYS DO
THAT.
00:07:39>> I GUESS I HAVE NOT HEARD AN
ANSWER AND ANYONE WATCHING AT
00:07:43HOME HAS NOT HEARD AN ANSWER.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME BACK
00:07:47TO SENATOR BROWN.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH ALL THE
00:07:50MONEY IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY
TRUST FUND THAT IS SUPPOSED TO
00:07:53BE FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS?
>> I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT
00:07:58ISSUES, NOT TO MAKE ACCUSATIONS.
>> PLEASE, TELL EVERYONE IN
00:08:04HOME.
>> SINCE 1940 WHEN THE FIRST
00:08:07SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK WHEN NOW,
WHEN FDR SIGNED IT, THERE HAS
00:08:10NEVER BEEN ONE LATE PAYMENT,
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ONE FAILURE
00:08:14TO PAY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.
THE FACT IS IT HAS WORKED FOR 75
00:08:18YEARS.
THERE ARE ACCOUNTING ISSUES THAT
00:08:20I DISAGREE WITH THAT I WISH WE
WOULD CHANGE IN SOCIAL SECURITY,
00:08:25BUT THE FACT IS IT IS RELIABLE.
IT WILL BE RELIABLE FOR THIS
00:08:29GENERATION, THE NEXT GENERATION.
>> WHERE DID THAT MONEY GO FOR
00:08:33SOCIAL SECURITY?
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH IT?
00:08:35>> LET ME MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
QUESTION.
00:08:37>> THE US SENATE RACE CONTINUES
TO BE THE SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE
00:08:43RACE IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF
CANDIDATE FUNDRAISING AND
00:08:45SPENDING, AND AN ESTIMATED 38
MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN SPENT
00:08:48BY OUTSIDE GROUPS AS WELL MORE
THAN TWICE AS MUCH AGAINST
00:08:50BROWN THAN MANDEL.
WITH ALL THE ADS, CALLS AND
00:08:53FLIERS FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL AND
US SENATE RACES IN OHIO,
00:08:55THERE'S LITTLE ROOM FOR THE TWO
STATEWIDE ISSUES THAT ARE ALSO
00:08:58BEFORE VOTERS.
ISSUE 1 ASKS WHETHER THE STATE
00:09:02SHOULD HOLD A CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION.
00:09:04WE'LL GET TO THAT QUESTION NEXT
WEEK.
00:09:06ISSUE 2 IS THE SO-CALLED
REDISTRICTING AMENDMENT, A
00:09:10COMPLICATED ISSUE THAT WOULD
TAKE THE AUTHORITY TO DRAW MAPS
00:09:13FOR CONGRESSIONAL AND
STATEHOUSE DISTRICTS OUT OF THE
00:09:15HANDS OF LAWMAKERS AND THE
STATE APPORTIONMENT BOARD AND
00:09:18GIVES IT TO A 12 MEMBER
COMMISSION OF CITIZENS WHO
00:09:22AREN'T POLITICIANS OR LOBBYISTS.
LAST WEEK I MODERATED A DEBATE
00:09:25BEFORE THE COLUMBUS
METROPOLITAN CLUB TO SORT
00:09:27THROUGH THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND
AGAINST ISSUE 2.
00:09:31DEMOCRATS, LABOR UNIONS AND
PROGRESSIVE GROUPS HAVE SAID
00:09:35THE COMMISSION WOULD BE
ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT AND
00:09:38BALANCED.
FORMER CONGRESSMAN ZACK SPACE
00:09:41FROM DOVER IN EASTERN OHIO MADE
THE ARGUMENT FOR THE AMENDMENT,
00:09:45WHICH HE SAYS CHANGES A BROKEN
SYSTEM.
00:09:47>> IS HARD TO ARGUE THAT WE HAVE
NOT BECOME OVER-POLARIZED,
00:09:55PARTICULARLY IN WASHINGTON,
D.C., AND THAT THIS POLARIZATION
00:09:59HAS CREATED STAGNATION AND THIS
FUNCTIONALITY.
00:10:02THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS THAT
WE USE IN OHIO, AND THAT NO
00:10:06STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY USE,
IS A PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR -- AND
00:10:12THAT MOST STATES AROUND A
COUNTRY IS, IS A PRIMARY
00:10:15CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS STAGNATION
AND THIS FUNCTIONALITY.
00:10:18THIS IS A TIME WE HAVE SOME
PRETTY COMPELLING ISSUES WE NEED
00:10:22TO DEAL WITH IN THIS NATION.
THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF THE
00:10:26POLARIZATION THAT EXISTS RIGHT
NOW AND THE REDISTRICTING
00:10:29PROCESS WE HAVE IS THAT MOST
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE NON-
00:10:34COMPETITIVE.
THAT MEANS YOU CAN PREDICT THE
00:10:38OUTCOME OF WHICH PARTY IS GOING
TO WIN LONG BEFORE THE NUMBER
00:10:42COMES AROUND.
THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF THAT IS
00:10:45THAT IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN IN
A REPUBLICAN-LEANING DISTRICT OR
00:10:50A DEMOCRAT IN A DEMOCRAT-LEANING
DISTRICT, THE ONLY POLITICAL
00:10:54JEOPARDY YOU HAVE AS A
POLITICIAN IS IF SOMEONE GETS
00:10:58YOU FROM YOUR RIGHT IF YOU ARE A
REPUBLICAN OR YOUR LEFT IF YOU
00:11:01ARE A DEMOCRAT IN A PRIMARY.
THAT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM
00:11:05BECAUSE IT FORCES MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS IN MOST CONGRESSIONAL
00:11:10DISTRICTS TO GRAVITATE TOWARD
THE EXTREMES.
00:11:12ISSUE TO IS NOT PERFECT.
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO COME UP
00:11:15WITH LANGUAGE THAT SATISFIES
EVERYONE.
00:11:19BUT THE IMPERFECTIONS OF THIS
AMENDMENT, I THINK ARE GROSSLY
00:11:24OUTWEIGHED BY IT IN NEED THIS
COUNTRY HAS TO CREATE A WALL
00:11:27BETWEEN PARTISAN SOME --
PARTISANISM AND REDISTRICTING.
00:11:36>> REPUBLICANS, BUSINESS
ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIALLY
00:11:42CONSERVATIVE GROUPS HAVE
CAMPAIGNED AGAINST THE ISSUE,
00:11:45SAYING THE COMMISSION WOULD BE
UNLIMITED, UNACCOUNTABLE AND
00:11:47UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND THAT
LAWMAKERS ARE MOTIVATED NOW TO
00:11:50LOOK INTO THE ISSUE.
REPUBLICAN FORMER STATE SENATOR
00:11:52JEFF JACOBSON SAID ISSUE 2 IS
THE WRONG WAY TO CHANGE THE
00:11:54SYSTEM IF THE GOAL IS TO
ELIMINATE POLITICS FROM IT.
00:11:56>> THE ISSUE WITH OHIO'S
REAPPORTIONMENT PROCESS IS THAT
00:12:02COMPLETE CONTROL RESTS WITH ONE
SIDE.
00:12:03EVERY 10 YEARS, STARTING IN
1970, NO MATTER WHO IS IN
00:12:08CHARGE, DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN, THE
OTHER SIDE GET STEAMROLLED.
00:12:12THERE IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION.
MAKE BOTH PARTIES AFTER -- HAVE
00:12:19TO AGREE ON THE MAP.
TWO YEARS AGO, THE SENATE PASSED
00:12:23SUCH A PROPOSAL, BUT THE HOUSE
LEADERSHIP BALKED BECAUSE THEY
00:12:28WRONGLY BELIEVED THAT THEIR
PARTY WOULD CONTROL THE PROCESS
00:12:31AFTER THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL
ELECTION.
00:12:33HERE WE ARE TWO YEARS LATER AND
ISSUE TWO IRONICALLY MAKES THE
00:12:38SAME GAMBLE.
WHEN THEY COPIED THE CALIFORNIA
00:12:41AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS ALSO CALLED
VOTERS FIRST, THEY ACTUALLY
00:12:46REMOVED CALIFORNIA'S REQUIREMENT
THAT A MAJORITY OF BOTH PARTIES
00:12:49COMMISSIONERS AS WELL AS THE
MAJORITY OF INDEPENDENCE WOULD
00:12:51HAVE TO APPROVE THE PLAN.
THAT LEAVES THE OHIO PLANT OPEN
00:12:56TO ONE-PARTY DOMINATION AND BOTH
PARTIES WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY
00:13:00CAN TO GAIN IT.
THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH.
00:13:02ONE EXAMPLE, PARTY CHAIRMAN WILL
GIVE A LESS TO THEIR JUDGES OF
00:13:06WHO SHOULD BE PICKED AND WHO
SHOULD NOT BE PICKED FOR THE
00:13:11COMMISSION.
CALIFORNIA'S COMMISSION REQUIRED
00:13:14A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
DISCLOSURE.
00:13:19THIS DOES NOT.
REFORM IS NEEDED, BUT WE SHOULD
00:13:26NOT GAMBLE OHIO'S FUTURE ON A
PLAN THAT PRETENDS IT IS ABOVE
00:13:30PARTISANSHIP WHILE STILL
ALLOWING ONE SIDE TO STEAMROLL
00:13:33THE OTHER.
>> I ASKED THE BACKERS OF ISSUE
00:13:36TWO ABOUT THEIR TAGLINE, PEOPLE,
NOT POLITICIANS AND HOW THEY
00:13:44PROPOSE TO KEEP POLITICIANS OFF
THE COMMISSION WHEN THEY ARE
00:13:46SOME OF THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE
PEOPLE IN THE STATE WHEN IT
00:13:50COMES<NO VIDEO><VIDEO OK>:;
LAWMAKERS.
00:14:02>> HOW CAN THEY DRAW THOSE LINES
AND NOT THINK ABOUT THEIR
00:14:07POLITICAL FUTURE?
HOW CAN THEY DRAW THOSE LINES
00:14:10AND NOT THINK ABOUT THEIR PARTY?
IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO
00:14:14ASK EITHER PARTY AS INDIVIDUALS
TO ACTUALLY DO THIS.
00:14:17WE DO NOT EXPECT ANGELS, BUT WE
DO SAY, WHEN YOU HAVE A CONFLICT
00:14:23OF INTEREST, YOU SHOULD RECUSE
YOURSELF.
00:14:25THAT MEANS THAT THESE DISTRICT
LINES SHOULD BE DRAWN BY AN
00:14:29INDEPENDENT COMMISSION.
WE SAID TO OURSELVES, OK, WE
00:14:33WANT TO KEEP OUT THE FOLKS THAT
HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND
00:14:37THAT IS WHY WE SAY OK, WE DO NOT
WANT FEDERAL CANDIDATES, FEDERAL
00:14:42OFFICIALS, STATE ELECTED FOLKS.
THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A DIRECT
00:14:47CONFLICT OF INTERESTCATHERINE
TURCER SAID IT'S.
00:14:48THAT IS WHY WE -- THOSE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE A DIRECT CONFLICT OF
00:14:54INTEREST.
IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A SCHOOL
00:14:58BOARD, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO
ISOLATE EVERYBODY.
00:15:00POLITICIANS COULD SERVE ON THE
STATEWIDE COMMISSION, AND THEY
00:15:11CAN BE STRONG PARTISANS WITH
LOTS OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE.
00:15:12>> IF YOU ARE A LOCAL OFFICIAL
YOU CAN BE PART OF THIS
00:15:17COMMISSION.
IMAGINE IF THE MAYOR GETS
00:15:19PICKED.
HE WOULD HAVE A LOT OF
00:15:21DIFFERENCE FROM OTHERS BECAUSE
HE IS SEEN AS A LEADER.
00:15:23ON THE OTHER HAND, HE IS A VERY
PARTISAN DEMOCRAT.
00:15:26THIS DOES NOT ISOLATE POLITICS,
IT EXCLUDES A GROUP OF
00:15:31POLITICIANS WHILE ALLOWING
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS.
00:15:33IF I AM RELATED TO SOMEBODY WHO
IS INVOLVED IN POLITICS IN A
00:15:37SMALL WAY, I AM PROHIBITED FROM
BEING ON, NOT BECAUSE OF
00:15:41ANYTHING I DID.
WHAT ABOUT EX-SPOUSES?
00:15:50WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN CAMPAIGNS BUT NEVER
00:15:54GIVEN MONEY?
THIS DRAWS A LINE IN A WAY THAT
00:15:58IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BE FAIR
ABOUT.
00:15:59IT LEAVES US IN A SITUATION
WHERE LOTS OF PEOPLE GET IN WHO
00:16:04SHOULDN'T AND LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO
SHOULD BE THERE ARE NOT.
00:16:08IN FACT, IT PUTS JUDGES IN THE
POSITION OF HAVING TO DECIDE HOW
00:16:13PARTISAN YOU ARE.
THE JUDGES ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE
00:16:16TO DECIDE IF YOU ARE ALLOWED TO
BE ON THE COMMISSION OR NOT.
00:16:18WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO?
INVESTIGATE YOUR BACKGROUND?
00:16:22WELL, THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
LEADERSHIP EFFORTS FOR
00:16:25CANDIDATES.
ARE WE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN
00:16:28BACKGROUND CHECKS?
JUDGES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
00:16:31OUTSIDE OF POLITICS.
WE ARE ASKING THEM TO GET INTO
00:16:34THE NITTY GRITTY OF POLITICS.
>> I ASKED THE VOTE NO SIDE
00:16:39ABOUT THEIR TAG LINE "YOUR
RIGHT TO VOTE IS BEING
00:16:41THREATENED", AND WHETHER THAT
WAS A BIT EXTREME, GIVEN THAT
00:16:44OHIOANS DON'T ACTUALLY VOTE ON
THE MAP ITSELF.
00:16:46JACOBSON SAID IT ISN'T.
>> THE LEGISLATURE DECIDES WHAT
00:16:53CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS LOOK
LIKE.
00:16:54YOU VOTE FOR YOUR LEGISLATURE.
SECONDLY, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT
00:16:58LAST FEW YEARS.
IF YOU DO NOT LIKE AN ACT OF THE
00:17:01LEGISLATURE, YOU CAN REFERENDUM
IT.
00:17:03THAT IS THE CITIZEN'S RIGHT TO
CHALLENGE ANY VOTE OR BILL
00:17:07PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
THAT DID NOT HAPPEN HERE, BUT IF
00:17:11CITIZENS FEEL THE REDISTRICTING
LAW IS UNFAIR, THEY CAN TAKE IT
00:17:14TO THE VALID.
>> BUT SPACE SAID IT'S ABOUT
00:17:18TIME PEOPLE WHO AREN'T
POLITICIANS HAD A ROLE IN THE
00:17:20PROCESS THAT DETERMINES WHO WILL
REPRESENT THEM.
00:17:22>> THE NOTION THAT CITIZENS ARE
SOMEHOW INVOLVED IN THE
00:17:27REDISTRICTING PROCESS AS IT NOW
EXISTS IS UTTERLY LAUGHABLE.
00:17:30I'M NOT FOCUSING ON THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
00:17:36IF THE DEMOCRATS HAD CONTROL,
THEY WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME
00:17:39THING.
BUT THIS IS A BACKROOM PROCESS
00:17:43WITH NO TRANSPARENCY AND NO
ACCOUNTABILITY.
00:17:46>> THE CURRENT MAPS HAVE BEEN
PILLORIED BY MANY EXPERTS AND
00:17:50EDITORIAL WRITERS THE
CONGRESSIONAL MAP ESPECIALLY,
00:17:53WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TIP 12-4
IN FAVOR OF REPUBLICANS.
00:17:54IT'S BEEN NOTED THAT FOUR YEARS
AGO, THERE WERE 10 DEMOCRATS
00:17:58AND 8 REPUBLICANS IN THE US
HOUSE, AND PRESIDENT OBAMA WON
00:17:59OHIO BY 4 POINTS, AND GOVERNOR
KASICH WON TWO YEARS LATER BY
00:18:02TWO POINTS.
JENNY CAMPER, WHO SPEAKS FOR
00:18:06ISSUE 2'S OPPONENTS, SAID THIS
AMENDMENT COULD BE FRAUGHT WITH
00:18:08PROBLEMS AND DOGGED BY LAWSUITS
OVER ITS CONSTITUTIONALITY.
00:18:10QUAKE CERTAINLY, THE MAP HAS
RAISED QUESTIONS AND IS
00:18:19CERTAINLY THAT CAN BE DEBATED.
BUT ISSUE TWO IS OFFERED OUT AS
00:18:23A SOLUTION FOR HOW WE IMPROVE
THE MAP MAKING PROCESS.
00:18:25IT IS OFFERED UP NOT JUST AS A
SOLUTION, BUT AS A PERMANENT
00:18:29SOLUTION, THE LAST SOLUTION.
IT WOULD GET LOCKED INTO OUR
00:18:34OHIO CONSTITUTION.
BUT LET'S REMEMBER, ALL THE
00:18:38ORGANIZATIONS AND NEWSPAPERS
THAT HAVE SEEN THE FLAWS
00:18:41CONTAINED IN THIS SAY THERE IS A
BETTER WAY.
00:18:43A COUPLE OF OUR NEWSPAPERS AND
OTHER FOLKS HAVE POINTED TO THE
00:18:47CONSTITUTIONAL MODERNIZATION
COMMITTEE COMMISSION AS THE
00:18:49PLACE TO ADDRESS A BETTER MAN
MAKING PROCESS.
00:18:54>> SPACE SAID ISSUE 2'S BACKERS
HAVE HEARD THAT CLAIM THAT
00:18:58LAWMAKERS ARE MOTIVATED NOW TO
FIX THE SYSTEM OVER AND OVER.
00:19:00>> THE LEGISLATURES HAVE TIME
AND TIME AGAIN HAD AN
00:19:04OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A BETTER
WAY AND HAVE FAILED.
00:19:07THEY HAVE FAILED FOR THE PRIMARY
REASON THAT THE PARTISANISM AND
00:19:11THE POLARIZATION THAT EXISTS
THAT ISSUE TO IS DESIGNED TO
00:19:16REMEDY PREVENTS THEM FROM DOING
THAT.
00:19:21IT IS A SELF PROPAGATING SYSTEM.
>> JACOBSON ADDED ON, SAYING A
00:19:28BAD MAP IS NOT ENOUGH OF A
REASON TO VOTE FOR THIS
00:19:30AMENDMENT.
>> TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A
00:19:35RIGHT.
JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A MAP THAT
00:19:37SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE NEEDS TO BE
FIXED -- AND WE AGREE THERE ARE
00:19:41ISSUES THAT NEEDS TO IMPROVE --
THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT,
00:19:45ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GOES INTO
THE CONSTITUTION AND IS VERY
00:19:49DIFFICULT TO CHANGE AFTER THAT.
YOU CAN FIX THE PROBLEM BY
00:19:51MAKING IT WORSE.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN WASHINGTON
00:19:54MORE TIMES THAN I CARE TO
MENTION.
00:19:56THE FACT IS THAT THE ISSUE HERE
IS THAT WE HAVE A PARTISAN
00:20:03ELECTORATE IN THIS NATION.
DEMOCRATS ARE MORE LIBERAL.
00:20:07REPUBLICANS ARE MORE
CONSERVATIVE.
00:20:10NO MATTER WHETHER THE DISTRICTS
ARE CLOSE OR FAR APART, THE FACT
00:20:12IS YOU'RE GOING TO NOMINATE
PARTISANS.
00:20:16>> SPACE COUNTERED BY SAYING
MODERATE VOICES IN THE
00:20:20IDEOLOGICAL MIDDLE ARE BEING
IGNORED IN THE CURRENT MAP-
00:20:22DRAWING SYSTEM.
QUITE THE IDEOLOGICAL CENTER IS
00:20:27CHRONICALLY UNDER UP -- UNDER-
REPRESENTED AS A RESULT OF THE
00:20:32MAP WE HAVE IN PLACE.
AS A RESULT, THE VOICES NEAR
00:20:36THE METAL ARE BEING IGNORED AS
WE FIND OURSELVES DEBATING SOME
00:20:39OF THE MOST PROFOUND ISSUES IN
GENERATIONS.
00:20:42THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES
THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
00:20:45WE ARE SEEING A SHIFTING BALANCE
OF POWER TO THE EAST.
00:20:50WE HAVE THE SPECTER OF CLIMATE
CHANGE.
00:20:53WE HAVE THE SPECTER OF
TERRORISM.
00:20:55WE HAVE AN ECONOMY WE NEED TO
FIX AND WE CANNOT EVEN AGREE ON
00:20:58THE SIMPLEST OF THINGS BECAUSE
OF THE RAMPANT PARTISANISM THAT
00:21:02EXISTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND
IT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE WAY
00:21:07WE DRAW THESE DISTRICTS UP.
>> AND ISSUE 2 BACKER CATHERINE
00:21:13TURCER SAID JACOBSON KNOWS THE
PROBLEM WITH REDISTRICTING
00:21:15INSIDE AND OUT.
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A
00:21:20WINNER-TAKE-ALL SYSTEM.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT THE
00:21:23WINNERS REALLY LIKE THE SYSTEM.
THEY LIKE IT THE WAY IT IS.
00:21:26WE DID OUR REACH TO ALL SORTS OF
FOLKS.
00:21:28I WANTED TO THROW THIS THAT YOU
BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS
00:21:33IMPORTANT.
THIS WAS DECEMBER 17TH, 2008, I
00:21:38BET YOU REMEMBER THIS.
BASICALLY, WHAT WAS GOING ON IS
00:21:42MY FRIEND OVER THERE, SENATOR
JACOBSEN, WAS ON HIS WAY OUT.
00:21:46HE WAS DOING HIS FAREWELL THING.
THIS IS WHAT HE SAID.
00:21:49HE SAID REDISTRICTING IS THE
MOST FUN ANYONE COULD EVER HAVE
00:21:53IN POLITICS WITHOUT GOING TO
PRISON.
00:21:56>> AFTER THAT SLIGHTLY
UNCOMFORTABLE MOMENT, JACOBSON
00:22:09RESPONDED.
>> YOU ARE RIGHT.
00:22:11IT IS WINNER-TAKE-ALL.
THE THING I CANNOT UNDERSTAND IS
00:22:16YOU TOOK THE CALIFORNIA PLAN AND
YOU TOOK OUT THE PARTS THAT
00:22:23REQUIRED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
IN CALIFORNIA, YOU HAVE TO GET A
00:22:27MAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICANS, A
MAJORITY OF THE DEMOCRATS, AND A
00:22:30MAJORITY OF THE INDEPENDENCE TO
PASS A NEW PLANT.
00:22:33NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, YOU
CANNOT HAVE A PLANT WHERE IS
00:22:41WINNER TAKE ALL FOR ONE SIDE.
IT WAS THERE IN THEIR PLAN AND
00:22:44YOU TOOK IT OUT.
THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
00:22:46IT IS VERY HARD FOR THOSE OF US
ON THE OTHER SIDE TO SAY THIS
00:22:51WAS AN ATTEMPT TO BE BIPARTISAN
OR MAKE SURE WE DID NOT HAVE
00:22:55WINNER-TAKE-ALL WHEN YOU MADE
SURE WHEN YOU DRAFTED IT THAT
00:22:58THAT WAS STILL THERE.
>> TURCER SAID THE ISSUE 2
00:23:07AMENDMENT WASN'T BASED SOLELY
ON THE CALIFORNIA PROPOSAL OR
00:23:09ANY SPECIFIC PLAN, BUT WAS IN
THE WORKS FOR YEARS.
00:23:11ISSUE 2'S OPPONENTS SAY THEY'D
RATHER VOTERS REJECT ISSUE 2
00:23:14AND LET THE LAWMAKERS ON THE
BIPARTISAN CONSTITUTIONAL
00:23:17MODERNIZATION COMMISSION COME UP
WITH A PROPOSAL.
00:23:19>> THE LEAD OF WOMEN VOTERS AND
SUPPORTERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT
00:23:24MORE ENERGY INTO THOSE AREAS
THAT ADDRESS REDISTRICTING.
00:23:29>> I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT THE
LEGISLATORS WHO DID THIS IN A
00:23:33BIPARTISAN WAY HAVE NOT BEEN
DISCOURAGED.
00:23:35THEY ARE REDOUBLING THEIR
EFFORTS.
00:23:37IN ADDITION, IT WAS VERY CLEAR
FROM THE EDITORIALS THAT THE
00:23:41PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY WERE
AGAINST IT, THE CLEVELAND PLAIN
00:23:45DEALER, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH,
THE AKRON JOURNAL AND OTHERS
00:23:50SAID YOU HAD BETTER NOT LOSE
THIS OPPORTUNITY.
00:23:53WE AGREE THIS IS THE WRONG WAY
BUT THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT TO
00:23:56MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THAT MESSAGE HAS BEEN HEARD.
00:23:59THERE IS A LOT OF AGREEMENT ON
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
00:24:03I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
EFFORTS TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT
00:24:07GENERAL ASSEMBLY AFTER THIS IS
DEFEATED.
00:24:10>> BUT ITS BACKERS ONCE AGAIN
SAY THEY CAN'T LEAVE THAT TO
00:24:14CHANCE.
>> EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN
00:24:20OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM
-- WE WANT REFORM, WE WANT
00:24:24CHANGE, BUT WE JUST DO NOT LIKE
THIS REFORM.
00:24:27THAT WAS THE CRITICISM IN THE
1980'S.
00:24:30HERE WE HAVE THE FLIP AND THE
SAME ARGUMENT.
00:24:32I THINK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL
MODERNIZATION COMMISSION THAT
00:24:38WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE GOTTEN OFF
THE GROUND IN FEBRUARY, THE GOT
00:24:41APPOINTED IN SEPTEMBER, THIS IS
THE KIND OF THING WHERE I HOPE
00:24:45THAT THEY WILL GET SOMETHING
DONE, BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
00:24:49THIS, IT IS VERY HARD TO STUDY
AWAY A PROBLEM.
00:24:54THIS IS A TRUE OPPORTUNITY TO
ACTUALLY CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
00:24:58>> I'M AFRAID I'M VERY SKEPTICAL
OF THE ABILITY OF THE
00:25:05LEGISLATURE AND THIS SYSTEM TO
RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM ON ITS OWN
00:25:08IF WE DO NOT GET THIS PASSED.
>> AND SPEAKING OF THE
00:25:13CONSTITUTIONAL MODERNIZATION
COMMISSION, THAT RELATES BACK TO
00:25:15ISSUE
ONE,AND WE'LL PICK THAT UP NEXT
00:25:20WEEK.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
00:25:22FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT OHIO PUBLIC
RADIO AND TELEVISION, THANKS
00:25:24FOR WATCHING.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS,
00:25:26MAKE COMMENTS, OR WATCH THIS
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00:25:28PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
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00:25:31YOU CAN ALSO CHECK US OUT ON
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00:25:33AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT
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00:25:35CAPTIONED BY THE
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Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions