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The State of Ohio

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The Democratic frontrunner - Hillary Clinton - was back in Ohio for her second visit in two weeks. A group of business, health, community and environmental groups is calling on Ohio lawmakers to thaw the green energy standards that were frozen last year. The battle over Issue 3 continues in federal court, as Secretary of State Jon Husted and ResponsibleOhio fight over subpoenas issued in Husted's effort to investigate what he says was possible voter fraud in getting the issue to the ballot. Meanwhile, an issue to stop state lawmakers from serving more than 12 years in the Statehouse is just starting out.

Criminal justice reform has been a difficult and controversial issue over the years in Ohio and across the country. But now, an effort to change the system has brought together a unique coalition, including a nationally known conservative tax crusader, the American Civil Liberties Union, state lawmakers, and the author of a book about prison that became a hit TV show. Among those speaking out: Republican Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina), Alison Holcomb with the ACLU, Grover Norquist from Americans for Tax Reform, former police officer and current Sen. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati), and Piper Kerman, author of "Orange is the New Black".

A national study shows Ohio among the worst states when it comes to families on the brink of hunger with limited access to food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Ohio has the highest food insecurity rate in the Midwest and sixth highest nationally. And the study showed Ohio's food insecurity rate is rising, and it's higher than the national average. Lisa Hamler-Fugitt with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks talks about the study.

Labor Day was for years the traditional start of the push to the fall ballot. This is a so-called off year, and while we do have three ballot issues, there are no marquee statewide candidate contests. But in 29 counties, there are judicial races. However, there's usually little information about the candidates in these races. A new website called JudicialVotesCount.org launched this week, which brings together a variety of non-partisan groups sharing information from judicial candidates. It's part of a three point reform plan from Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, who talks about it.

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00:00:00	>> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE BROADCAST OF "THE STATE OF OHIO"
00:00:06	COMES FROM THE LAW FIRM OF PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS & ARTHUR
00:00:09	LLP., HELPING BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS SOLVE COMPLEX LEGAL
00:00:13	PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OHIO, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE
00:00:15	WORLD -- ON THE WEB AT PORTERWRIGHT.COM.
00:00:18	AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING
00:00:21	120,000 MEMBERS WHO WORK TO INSPIRE THEIR STUDENTS TO THINK
00:00:26	CREATIVELY AND EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF LEARNING, ONLINE AT
00:00:28	OHEA.ORG. KAREN: AN UNUSUAL COLLECTION OF
00:00:32	ACTIVISTS LEADS THE CHARGE TO CHANGE HOW, WHY AND FOR HOW LONG
00:00:36	PEOPLE GO TO PRISON. OHIO IS ONE OF THE TOP STATES IN
00:00:40	THE NATION IN A CATEGORY NO ONE WANTS TO LEAD - HUNGER.
00:00:43	AND THE STATE'S CHIEF JUSTICE TALKS ABOUT HOW TO GET MORE
00:00:47	VOTERS INTERESTED IN WHO'S ON THE BENCH.
00:00:49	ALL THIS WEEK IN "THE STATE OF OHIO."
00:00:55	[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
00:00:58	WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
00:00:59	VISIT NCICAP.ORG] KAREN: THE DEMOCRATIC
00:01:04	FRONTRUNNER WAS BACK IN OHIO FOR HER SECOND VISIT IN TWO WEEKS.
00:01:07	HILLARY CLINTON CRITICIZED REPUBLICAN LEADER DONALD TRUMP
00:01:11	AND HIS REMARKS ON WOMEN AFTER HE INSULTED GOP RIVAL CARLY
00:01:15	FIORINA FOR HER LOOKS. AND CLINTON SAID SHE "WOULD LOVE
00:01:19	TO DEBATE HIM." CLINTON MADE THE CASE THAT HER
00:01:25	POLICIES WOULD BE BETTER FOR WOMEN AND THE ECONOMY DURING AN
00:01:29	EVENT DESCRIBED AS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING MEETING, AND THEN DID
00:01:30	SOME FUNDRAISING. THE OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS
00:01:34	READY FOR HILLARY. THE NIGHT BEFORE HER SPEECH ON
00:01:35	THURSDAY, THE OHIO GOP PUT OUT A STATEMENT, SAYING SHE "FAILED TO
00:01:39	CONNECT WITH VOTERS" WHEN SHE WAS IN CLEVELAND THE WEEK
00:01:42	BEFORE, AND REFERENCED WHAT IT CALLED A "LACKLUSTER APOLOGY"
00:01:45	FOR HER E-MAIL SCANDAL, SAYING: "HILLARY CLINTON'S UTTER
00:01:49	DISREGARD FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS
00:01:51	TROUBLING." A QUINNIPIAC POLL LAST MONTH
00:01:54	SHOWED CLINTON LEADING TRUMP BY 5 POINTS IN OHIO, BUT BOTH
00:01:58	CLINTON AND TRUMP HAVE THE HIGHEST UNFAVORABILITY RATINGS
00:02:02	AMONG OHIO VOTERS OF ANY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE,
00:02:04	REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT. A GROUP OF BUSINESS, HEALTH,
00:02:09	COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS IS CALLING ON OHIO
00:02:13	LAWMAKERS TO THAW THE GREEN ENERGY STANDARDS THAT WERE
00:02:15	FROZEN LAST YEAR. THE MEMBERS OF OHIO'S ENERGY
00:02:21	FUTURE TOUR HAVE ISSUED A REPORT THAT INCLUDES INPUT FROM 70
00:02:23	EXPERTS AND 10,000 OHIOANS WHO PROVIDED FEEDBACK ONLINE AND AT
00:02:25	FORUMS AROUND THE STATE. THE CLEAN-ENERGY ADVOCATES SAY
00:02:30	THEY WANT THE STATE TO REINSTATE THE 2008 MANDATORY TARGETS FOR
00:02:35	THE USE OF RENEWABLE AND ADVANCED ENERGY SOURCES SUCH AS
00:02:37	WIND, SOLAR AND CLEAN COAL. THOSE TARGETS WERE TEMPORARILY
00:02:41	HALTED FOR TWO YEARS WHILE LAWMAKERS STUDIED COSTS AND
00:02:42	OTHER ISSUES. LEGISLATORS ARE EXPECTED TO
00:02:47	RELEASE A REPORT AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
00:02:49	THE BATTLE OVER ISSUE 3 CONTINUES, WITH LESS THAN TWO
00:02:52	MONTHS TILL ELECTION DAY. AND THE FRONT LINES HAVE MOVED
00:02:56	FROM SECRETARY OF STATE JON HUSTED'S OFFICE TO FEDERAL
00:02:59	COURT. IN JULY, HUSTED ISSUED SUBPOENAS
00:03:01	TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT RESPONSIBLEOHIO'S EFFORTS TO GET
00:03:05	SIGNATURES AND REGISTER VOTERS TO GET THE MARIJUANA
00:03:07	LEGALIZATION ISSUE ONTO THE BALLOT.
00:03:10	BUT LAST WEEK, AN ANONYMOUS RESPONSIBLEOHIO SUPPORTER SUED
00:03:13	IN FEDERAL COURT BOTH HUSTED AND THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR HE
00:03:17	APPOINTED, SAYING RELEASING PERSONAL INFORMATION REQUESTED
00:03:21	IN THOSE SUBPOENAS WOULD VIOLATE THE SUPPORTER'S CONSTITUTIONAL
00:03:24	RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH AND TO BE FREE FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCH
00:03:26	AND SEIZURE. AFTER SOME LEGAL MANEUVERING,
00:03:29	THOSE SUBPOENAS WERE WITHDRAWN AND RESPONSIBLEOHIO DECLARED
00:03:31	VICTORY. BUT HUSTED ISN'T LETTING IT GO.
00:03:33	HE SAYS IN A STATEMENT THIS WEEK, "THERE IS REASON TO
00:03:38	BELIEVE ELECTIONS FRAUD WAS COMMITTED BY PROPONENTS OF STATE
00:03:41	ISSUE 3 IN THE PROCESS OF QUALIFYING THEIR ISSUE FOR THE
00:03:43	BALLOT. I HAVE BOTH A STATUTORY DUTY AND
00:03:46	A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF OHIO TO INVESTIGATE THESE
00:03:49	ALLEGATIONS IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OHIO
00:03:52	ELECTIONS. BY REISSUING THE SUBPOENAS, WE
00:03:55	CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR INVESTIGATION IMMEDIATELY
00:03:58	WITHOUT LOSING TIME THROUGH PROCEDURAL DELAY."
00:04:00	RESPONSIBLEOHIO FIRED BACK WITH A STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART:
00:04:04	"IF HUSTED THE BULLY IS GOING TO RUN A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE YES
00:04:08	ON ISSUE 3 INITIATIVE, INSTEAD OF DOING THE JOB HE WAS ELECTED
00:04:11	TO DO AS AN IMPARTIAL ELECTIONS REFEREE, THEN HE SHOULD HAVE HIS
00:04:14	POLITICAL CAMPAIGN PICK UP THE TAB FOR THE LEGAL FEES AND SPARE
00:04:18	TAXPAYERS THE TIME AND EXPENSE." MEANWHILE, AN ISSUE THAT COULD
00:04:23	BE HEADED TO NEXT YEAR'S BALLOT IS JUST STARTING OUT.
00:04:26	THIS WEEK ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE DEWINE HAS APPROVED LANGUAGE
00:04:29	THAT THE GROUP "EIGHT IS ENOUGH" WOULD USE ON ITS PETITIONS, BUT
00:04:32	THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE BALLOT BOARD NEED TO APPROVE IT
00:04:35	TOO BEFORE A SIGNATURE DRIVE CAN BEGIN.
00:04:37	THE PROPOSAL WOULD STOP A LAWMAKER FROM SERVING ANY LONGER
00:04:39	THAN 12 YEARS TOTAL. AND THAT LAWMAKER CAN ONLY SPEND
00:04:44	8 YEARS IN A CERTAIN CHAMBER. THAT'S A CHANGE FROM CURRENT
00:04:47	TERM LIMITS, WHICH ALLOW A TWO -- A LAWMAKER CAN SERVE IN
00:04:59	ONE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER FOR 8 CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
00:05:01	THAT LAWMAKER COULD THEN RETURN TO THE SAME CHAMBER AFTER A
00:05:03	TWO-YEAR BREAK OR RUN FOR OFFICE IN THE OTHER CHAMBER.
00:05:05	OPPONENTS SAY LONGER TERM LIMITS AND OFFICE SWAPPING PLAYS TO THE
00:05:07	ADVANTAGE OF ENTRENCHED POLITICIANS.
00:05:09	THERE'S ANOTHER EFFORT THAT WOULD INCREASE TERM LIMITS.
00:05:12	SUPPORTERS OF THAT FIGHT SAY IT HELPS BUILD MORE INSTITUTIONAL
00:05:14	KNOWLEDGE AND BETTER RELATIONSHIPS.
00:05:15	AN ISSUE THAT MOST AGREE IS DIFFICULT, CONTROVERSIAL AND YET
00:05:19	NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED BROUGHT A VERY UNUSUAL GROUP OF SUPPORTERS
00:05:22	TOGETHER AT THE STATEHOUSE THIS WEEK.
00:05:24	THE ISSUE IS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM - A BIG CONCERN IN OHIO,
00:05:27	WHERE THE PRISON POPULATION IS AT 139% CAPACITY.
00:05:31	THE ISSUE BROUGHT TOGETHER A NATIONALLY KNOWN CONSERVATIVE
00:05:35	TAX CRUSADER, THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, STATE
00:05:39	LAWMAKERS, AND THE AUTHOR OF A BOOK ABOUT PRISON THAT BECAME A
00:05:41	HIT TV SHOW. REPUBLICAN SENATE PRESIDENT
00:05:44	KEITH FABER INTRODUCED THE PROPOSAL ON REDUCING THE PRISON
00:05:47	POPULATION AND HELPING INMATES FIND JOBS ONCE THEY'RE RELEASED.
00:05:51	>> LET ME BE CLEAR, WE WILL PROSECUTE AND PUNISH
00:05:57	SIRIUS, VIOLENT OFFENDERS TO THE FOLKS EXTENT OF THE LAW.
00:05:59	OHIOANS EXPECT NO LESS. NO ONE IS HERE TO SEE THE
00:06:05	CRIMINAL SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SAY THAT
00:06:09	ALL -- NOT ALL CRIMES OR CRIMINALS ARE CREATED -- TREATED
00:06:13	EQUAL. WE HAVE TO PROVIDE A
00:06:16	PROSECUTORIAL, JUDICIAL, AND LEGAL FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE OUR
00:06:19	SYSTEM WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY. UNDOUBTEDLY, THERE ARE OFFENDERS
00:06:23	THAT THE GREATER SANCTIONS, AND SOME THEN THE LESS.
00:06:25	THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING SOFT OR HARD ON CRIME, BUT RATHER, ABOUT
00:06:30	BEING SMART ON CRIME. KAREN: THE REFORMS WILL GO
00:06:33	THROUGH THE 24 MEMBER OHIO CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECODIFICATION
00:06:35	COMMITTEE. AND ALISON HOLCOMB, THE DIRECTOR
00:06:38	OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION'S SMART JUSTICE CAMPAIGN,
00:06:41	SAYS THE GROUP HAS ITS WORK CUT OUT FOR IT.
00:06:44	>> OHIO HAS THE SEVENTH LARGEST POPULATION OF PEOPLE BEHIND
00:06:51	PRISON AND JAIL BARS IN THE NATION.
00:06:52	ITS INCARCERATION RATE BEATS CUBA, ROLL ON DEATH THE RUSSIAN
00:06:59	FEDERATION. THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP IS HARD
00:07:01	TO CELEBRATE, BUT THERE IS OPPORTUNITY IN THOSE NUMBERS.
00:07:04	ONE IN FOUR OF NEW OHIO PRISON COMMITMENTS EACH YEAR IS FOR A
00:07:10	DRUG OFFENSE. HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN PRISON ARE
00:07:20	THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME. KAREN: CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST
00:07:22	GROVER NORQUIST FOUNDED AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM, BEST
00:07:23	KNOWN FOR GETTING CANDIDATES - MOSTLY REPUBLICANS - TO SIGN
00:07:24	PLEDGES THAT THEY WON'T RAISE TAXES.HALF OF THE PEOPLE
00:07:26	NORQUIST SAYS REFORMING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A
00:07:27	FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO, AND SAYS IT'S CATCHING ON -
00:07:29	AS EVIDENCED BY THE CHANGE IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING.
00:07:33	>> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REWARDED RATHER THAN PUNISHED
00:07:39	FOR TAKING THE LEAD AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DAYS WHEN PEOPLE
00:07:43	COULD BE DEFEATED FOR BEING SOFT ON CRIME.
00:07:44	I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF BEING SOFT ON CRIME.
00:07:47	THIS IS ABOUT BEING SMART ON CRIME.
00:07:49	PUNISHING CRIME IN REDUCING CRIME WITHOUT BEING SILLY OR
00:07:54	WASTING MONEY. KAREN: SEN. CECIL THOMAS, A
00:07:55	DEMOCRAT OF CINCINNATI, COMES AT THE ISSUE FROM A DIFFERENT
00:07:58	PERSPECTIVE - FOR 27 YEARS, HE WAS A POLICE OFFICER.
00:08:00	AND HE SAYS WHAT HE SAW ON THE STREETS AND IN THE PRISONS MAKES
00:08:03	HIM WANT TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM, SUCH AS COMING UP WITH
00:08:06	ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION. >> SO MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING
00:08:16	, THEY ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS, THEY ARE PLACED IN SITUATIONS
00:08:22	WHERE THERE ARE MANDATORY SENTENCING, THEY FIND THEMSELVES
00:08:25	ON A LOW LEVEL OFFENSE DOING 10, 15 YEARS.
00:08:27	THAT IS A TREMENDOUSLY COSTLY THING, FOLKS.
00:08:33	NOT ONLY TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE OF OHIO, BUT TO THE
00:08:36	FAMILIES THAT ARE DEVASTATED AS A RESULT OF AN INDIVIDUAL
00:08:40	SITTING IN THE PENITENTIARY. KAREN: THEN THERE'S PIPER KERMAN
00:08:42	- THE AUTHOR OF A MEMOIR OF HER YEAR SERVING TIME IN A WOMEN'S
00:08:43	PRISON, A BOOK THAT BECAME THE HIT NETFLIX SHOW "ORANGE IS THE
00:08:45	NEW BLACK". KERMAN NOTED SHE WAS LIKELY THE
00:08:47	ONLY ONE IN THE GROUP WITH A FELONY CONVICTION, AND SAID THIS
00:08:50	YEAR SHE MOVED TO COLUMBUS TO TEACH WRITING AT TWO OHIO PRISON
00:08:54	FACILITIES. SHE SAYS OTHER STATES HAVE
00:08:56	PROVEN IT'S POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION WHILE
00:09:01	KEEPING THE STATE'S POPULATION SAFE.
00:09:04	>> NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, CONNECTICUT
00:09:08	HAVE ALREADY IS THEIR PRISON POPULATION BY AT LEAST 23%, AND
00:09:15	THOSE STATES THAT HAVE REDUCED THEIR POPULATIONS THE MOST HAVE
00:09:18	ALSO ENJOYED THE GREATEST DECLINES IN VIOLENT CRIME AND IN
00:09:23	PROPERTY CRIME. SO WE KNOW REDUCING THE NUMBER
00:09:25	OF PEOPLE WE PUT IN PRISON IS, IN FACT, A CRITICAL PART OF A
00:09:29	PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE. YOU WOULD BE PRAISING NOT TO
00:09:34	WANT THE SAME RESULTS, AND OHIOANS DESERVE THOSE SAME
00:09:35	RESULTS. KAREN: THE US JUSTICE ACTION
00:09:39	NETWORK IS WORKING ON THIS ISSUE WITH BOTH THE ACLU AND AMERICANS
00:09:40	FOR TAX REFORM. THE GROUP DID A POLL OF LIKELY
00:09:43	OHIO VOTERS THAT SHOWED 65% SAID TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING PUT IN
00:09:47	PRISON AND THE STATE IS SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY TO KEEP THEM
00:09:51	THERE; 85% SAID IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LONG AN OFFENDER IS
00:09:54	IN PRISON, WHAT MATTERS IS WHETHER THE OFFENDER RE-OFFENDS;
00:09:58	64% SAID THERE ARE TOO MANY CRIMINAL LAWS ON THE BOOKS; AND
00:10:02	87% WOULD REPLACE MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES WITH
00:10:07	SENTENCING RANGES SO JUDGES HAVE MORE DISCRETION.
00:10:11	A NATIONAL STUDY SHOWS OHIO AMONG THE WORST STATES WHEN IT
00:10:14	COMES TO FAMILIES ON THE BRINK OF HUNGER WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO
00:10:17	FOOD. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
00:10:21	AGRICULTURE SAYS OHIO HAS THE HIGHEST FOOD INSECURITY RATE IN
00:10:23	THE MIDWEST AND SIXTH HIGHEST NATIONALLY.
00:10:25	FOOD INSECURITY IS DEFINED BY THE AMOUNT OF FAMILIES
00:10:28	STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT FROM ONE MEAL TO THE NEXT.
00:10:31	AND THE STUDY SHOWED OHIO'S FOOD INSECURITY RATE IS RISING, AND
00:10:34	IT'S HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
00:10:37	I TALKED THIS WEEK WITH LISA HAMLER-FUGITT WITH THE OHIO
00:10:39	ASSOCIATION OF FOODBANKS ABOUT THE STUDY.
00:10:43	LISA: IT CERTAINLY APPEARS SOMETHING IS STRUCTURALLY WRONG
00:10:49	IN OHIO, AND WE CAN POINT TO A CONTINUING WAGE STAGNATION, THE
00:10:54	JOBS THAT HAVE COME BACK OR LOW-WAGE, PART-TIME, TEMPORARY,
00:10:57	CONTINGENT, NOT FAMILY SUPPORTING JOBS.
00:11:00	THE BIG ISSUE REALLY IS THE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES THAT HAVE
00:11:04	TAKEN PLACE TO THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST HUNGER AND THAT
00:11:09	IS THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM. THE FEDERAL CUT THAT HAVE TAKEN
00:11:13	PLACE AS WELL AS POLICY DECISIONS HERE AT THE STATE
00:11:15	LEVEL, WE HAVE LOST $492 MILLION IN FOOD STAMP BENEFITS AVAILABLE
00:11:20	TO THE POOREST OF THE FOUR AS A RESULT OF THESE FEDERAL AND
00:11:24	STATE POLICY CHANGES. KAREN: SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
00:11:27	YOU TALK ABOUT FOOD STANDS AND BETTER PAYING JOBS.
00:11:31	LISA: IT HAS TO BE A COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING, BUT MORE
00:11:37	IMPORTANTLY, A CONCERTED AND FOCUSED EXPERT ON HOW WE TURNED
00:11:40	THE TREND ON POVERTY. HUNGER IS MERELY A SYMPTOM OF
00:11:45	POVERTY. FOR TOO MANY OHIOANS WHO WORK
00:11:47	EVERY DAY, THEY STILL LIVE IN POVERTY.
00:11:49	IF WE CANNOT GET WAGES UP, ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO IS
00:11:53	IMPLEMENT A REFUNDABLE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.
00:11:56	THE FEDERAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE
00:12:02	MOST EFFECTIVE ANTI-POVERTY TOOL WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
00:12:04	FOR MORE EDUCATION AND TRAINING. INDIVIDUALS CAN COMPETE FOR JOBS
00:12:11	OF THE FUTURE. WE NEED EMPLOYERS -- AND I WANT
00:12:15	TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO NATIONWIDE INSURANCE.
00:12:17	WE NEED MORE LEADERS IN OUR CORPORATE WORLD WHO SAID WE DO
00:12:20	NOT WANT A WORKFORCE THAT HAS TO BE FORCED TO STAND IN SOUP
00:12:23	KITCHEN LINES. WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF
00:12:25	NATIONWIDE, THE NEW STARTING WAGE WILL BE $15 AN HOUR.
00:12:30	WE NEED MORE CORPORATE LEADERS TO TAKE THAT KIND OF A
00:12:33	LEADERSHIP ROLE. KAREN: AND HAMLER-FUGITT NOTES
00:12:35	THAT 140,000 OHIOANS HAVE LOST FOOD STAMP BENEFITS SINCE 2013,
00:12:37	MOST OF THEM BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO MEET WORK REQUIREMENTS.
00:12:40	BUT THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF JOB SAID THE KASICH ADMINISTRATION
00:12:44	HAS PUT MORE MONEY TOWARD FOOD PANTRIES, WHILE ALSO EXPANDING
00:12:48	ACCESS TO JOB TRAINING AND CHILD CARE PROGRAMS.
00:12:52	LABOR DAY WAS FOR YEARS THE TRADITIONAL START OF THE PUSH TO
00:12:55	THE FALL BALLOT. OF COURSE, THAT'S ALL BEEN
00:12:58	THROWN OUT THE WINDOW WITH THE NEW WAY OF CAMPAIGNING -
00:13:01	ESSENTIALLY STARTING A RUN FOR OFFICE ON THE DAWN OF THE DAY
00:13:03	AFTER ELECTION DAY. THIS IS A SO-CALLED OFF YEAR,
00:13:06	AND WHILE WE DO HAVE THREE BALLOT ISSUES, THERE ARE NO
00:13:09	MARQUEE STATEWIDE CANDIDATE CONTESTS SUCH AS GOVERNOR, US
00:13:12	SENATOR OR PRESIDENT. BUT IN 29 COUNTIES, THERE ARE
00:13:17	JUDICIAL RACES, AND SOME COUNTIES FILLING MULTIPLE SEATS
00:13:21	ON THE BENCH. HOWEVER, THERE'S USUALLY LITTLE
00:13:24	INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANDIDATES IN THESE RACES.
00:13:27	THAT'S WHERE A NEW WEBSITE CALLED JUDICIALVOTESCOUNT.ORG
00:13:29	COMES IN. IT'S A PARTNERSHIP OF THE OHIO
00:13:31	STATE BAR ASSOCIATION, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF OHIO, OHIO
00:13:33	NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND OHIO ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS, AND
00:13:37	IT'S HOUSED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON'S BLISS INSTITUTE FOR
00:13:39	APPLIED POLITICS. THE WEBSITE IS PART OF A THREE
00:13:42	POINT PLAN TO REFORM JUDICIAL ELECTIONS IN OHIO.
00:13:51	IT WAS CREATED BY OHIO SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE MAUREEN
00:13:54	O'CONNOR AND I'M PLEASED TO WELCOME HER HERE TO TALK ABOUT
00:13:57	THAT. YOU HAVE A WEBSITE, JUDICIAL
00:14:00	VOTES COUNT, WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO BE PART OF THIS
00:14:04	PLAN, WHAT ARE THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN?
00:14:05	MAUREEN: THE WEBSITE IS A RESULT OF A SURVEY TAKEN, AND THE
00:14:12	NUMBER ONE RESPONSE OF FOLKS SAID WE DON'T VOTE FOR JUDGES.
00:14:15	THE RESPONSE TO WHY IS WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT JUDGES.
00:14:19	WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF
00:14:24	JUDGESHIP THEY ARE RUNNING FOR. THE CONFUSION ON WHAT JUDGES DO
00:14:28	AND THE MULTIPLE LEVELS OF JUDGESHIP REALLY CAME THROUGH IN
00:14:31	THE SURVEY. IT DID NOT TELL ME ANYTHING I
00:14:36	DID NOT ALREADY KNOW. YOU LOOK AT THE VOTER DROP OFF,
00:14:39	YOU LOOK AT THE ROLLOFF -- KAREN: YOU HAVE CALLED IT BALLOT
00:14:45	FATIGUE. MAUREEN: IN THE COUNTIES WHERE
00:14:50	THERE IS AN EXTENSIVELY LONG BALLOT, THEY CALL IT BALLOT
00:14:54	FATIGUE. PROBABLY 25 PERCENT, AS HIGH AS
00:14:56	45%. IN 2012 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, ON
00:15:02	THE BALLOT WAS SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE COURT, AND OTHER.
00:15:05	THERE WAS A VOTER DROP OFF IN THE VOTERS THAT WENT TO THE
00:15:12	POLLS. WE KNEW THE PROBLEM WAS REAL,
00:15:15	THAT PEOPLE DON'T VOTE FOR JUDGES.
00:15:16	WE ALSO KNOW THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT, AND THAT IS BECAUSE
00:15:21	THEY DO NOT KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT JUDGES, THE CANDIDATES.
00:15:23	THE SOLUTION IS PRETTY SIMPLE. LET US SET UP A CENTRAL
00:15:30	REPOSITORY FOR ALL OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
00:15:32	CANDIDATES. UNIFORM INFORMATION ABOUT EACH
00:15:34	CANDIDATE, WHETHER THEY ARE IN OFFICE FOLDER, CURRENT
00:15:39	OFFICEHOLDER, OR THE CHALLENGER, AND PEOPLE CAN DO ONE-STOP
00:15:42	SHOPPING. THEY CAN LOOK AT THE PEOPLE
00:15:45	RUNNING FOR OFFICE, COMPARE THE ANSWERS THEY GIVE TO THE
00:15:48	IDENTICAL QUESTIONS, AND THOSE WEBSITES CAN BE SUPPLEMENTED BY
00:15:53	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS A CANDIDATE PROVIDES FOR THE BLISS
00:15:57	INSTITUTE. SUCH AS AN ENDORSEMENT THEY MAY
00:16:02	HAVE RECEIVED OR SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT THAT HAPPENED DURING
00:16:05	THE CAMPAIGN THAT WOULD BE INFLUENTIAL ON THEIR
00:16:08	ELECTABILITY. THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT IT IS ALL
00:16:14	ABOUT. PEOPLE USE SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY
00:16:15	USE THE WEBSITE. I JOKE PEOPLE SPEND MORE TIME
00:16:20	FIGURING OUT WHAT PAIR OF SHOES TO BUY ONLINE THAN THEY DO
00:16:25	FAMILIARIZING THEMSELVES FOR THE CANDIDATES OF POLITICAL OFFICE.
00:16:27	THIS WILL MAKE IT EASY. WE HAVE HAD IT UP AND RUNNING IN
00:16:32	ABOUT ONE WEEK. MAYBE A LITTLE LESS.
00:16:34	WE HAVE ALREADY HAD ABOUT 5000 HITS.
00:16:40	KAREN: THAT IS PRETTY GOOD. BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE OTHER
00:16:45	PARTS OF THE PLAN, SEVERAL CANDIDATES ON THE WEBSITE THAT
00:16:49	MARKED AS DECLINE TO PARTICIPATE.
00:16:50	MY WOULD THAT BE? MAUREEN: BECAUSE THEY DO NOT
00:16:54	HAVE AN APPELLANT. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF
00:16:57	JUDGESHIPS IN THIS STATE -- WHEN THE INCUMBENT IS UP FOR
00:17:05	REELECTION, THEY DO NOT HAVE OPPOSITION.
00:17:07	I'M NOT SAYING EVERY JUDGESHIP SHOULD HAVE OPPOSITION, THAT IS
00:17:13	NOT MY GOAL HERE WHATSOEVER. THE ONES THAT DID NOT
00:17:18	PARTICIPATE, I THINK, ARE THE ONES THAT DO NOT HAVE
00:17:21	OPPOSITION. I WAS AT THE JUDICIAL CONFERENCE
00:17:23	LAST WEEK AND I SAID TO THE JUDGES THAT WERE THERE, JUST
00:17:28	BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE OPPOSITION, PLEASE FILL OUT THE
00:17:32	QUESTIONNAIRE, SUBMIT THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS SO
00:17:34	THE PUBLIC CAN GET TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
00:17:36	THAT IS PART OF A SERVICE, EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT.
00:17:42	NOT ONLY DO WE TALK ABOUT THE JUDGES AND THE CANDIDATES AND
00:17:45	THEIR INFORMATION, BUT THERE IS AN INFORMATION PART, THE
00:17:51	BEGINNING, THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT THE DIFFERENT JUDGESHIPS WE HAVE
00:17:53	IN OHIO. WHAT JUDGES DO.
00:17:54	IT IS A SHORT VIDEO FOR EACH ONE OF THE JUDGESHIPS AND THE
00:18:00	SPEAKERS ARE FORMER JUDGES, AND THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY DID AS
00:18:06	A PARTICULAR JUDGE. WHETHER JUVENILE JUDGE, PROBATE
00:18:09	JUDGE, COMMON PLEAS, APPELLATE, AND SUPREME COURT, AND THE
00:18:14	MUNICIPAL. IT IS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL.
00:18:18	PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE OVAL OFFICE OTHERS.
00:18:20	I THINK, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE OPPOSITION, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON
00:18:25	YOU TO DO THAT. I SPOKE TO THE JUDICIAL
00:18:26	CONFERENCE AUDIENCE, AND SINCE I ASKED THEM TO DO SO, SOME OF OUR
00:18:30	JUDGES THAT WERE UNOPPOSED SOFFIT TO RESPOND AND PUT THEIR
00:18:35	INFORMATION OUT THERE. KAREN: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT
00:18:41	BALLOT FATIGUE. YOU MENTIONED THE DROP OFF.
00:18:42	2012, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE GOT 12 MILLION VOTES.
00:18:47	SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS LACKLUSTER, BUT THERE WAS EVEN A
00:18:51	DROP OFF FROM THAT, TWO POINT 5 MILLION, IN THE SUPREME COURT
00:18:55	RACES. OUR PEOPLE NOT VOTING BECAUSE
00:18:58	THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE CANDIDATES, OR ARE THERE TOO
00:19:01	MANY CANDIDATES IN THESE BIG ELECTIONS WHERE YOU HAVE
00:19:05	PRESIDENT, U.S. SENATOR, OR GOVERNOR?
00:19:06	DO PEOPLE GET END BY THE END OF THE BALLOT?
00:19:10	MAUREEN: I THINK THEY DO. ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS I THOUGHT
00:19:15	OF WAS TO MOVE THESE ELECTIONS FOR JUDGES TO ODD YEARS.
00:19:23	NOW THEY ARE IN EVEN YEARS, EXCEPT FOR MUNICIPAL COURTS.
00:19:26	LET'S MOVE ALL OF THE JUDGE RACES, ELECTIONS TO THE ODD
00:19:32	YEAR. LET'S RELABEL THEM THE JUDICIAL
00:19:34	YEARS. WE WILL GET A BIGGER
00:19:39	CONCENTRATION OF ATTENTION ON THE JUDICIAL RACES IF WE ARE
00:19:43	ABLE TO DO THIS. YOU ARE RIGHT.
00:19:43	THE COMPETITION, IF IT IS A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR -- AND I HAVE
00:19:48	WRITTEN -- RUN IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, THE AIRWAYS ARE INUNDATED
00:19:57	WITH ALL SORTS OF COMMERCIALS. I JOKED IN 2010, WHEN I RAN FOR
00:20:00	CHIEF JUSTICE, I PUT A HALF MILLION DOLLARS ON TELEVISION, A
00:20:06	TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY, NOT AS MUCH AS OTHER CANDIDATES, BUT
00:20:11	FOR A SUPREME COURT RACE IT WAS ENOUGH MONEY.
00:20:13	MY COMMERCIALS WERE SO INFREQUENT I DID NOT EVEN SEE
00:20:15	ONE. WE NEED TO CUT THROUGH THAT AND
00:20:17	GIVE A FORUM FOR JUDGES TO GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT.
00:20:22	WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEIR RECORD IS, GET IT BEFORE THE PUBLIC.
00:20:26	LET'S DO IT IN A LESS CROWDED FIELD.
00:20:29	IT WOULD TAKE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO DO THIS, BUT WE
00:20:33	COULD MOVE THOSE ELECTIONS TO THE ODD YEARS.
00:20:36	PEOPLE THEN COULD CONCENTRATE ON JUDICIAL ELECTIONS AND MAKE AN
00:20:41	INFORMED CHOICE. KAREN: THE OTHER POINT OF YOUR
00:20:47	THREE-POINT PLAN IS TO INCREASE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME A
00:20:49	JUDGE. DO YOU WORRY THAT WILL HAVE A
00:20:53	DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO RUN FOR JUDGE?
00:20:54	IN MANY OF THESE RACES, THEY ARE RUNNING UNOPPOSED.
00:20:58	MAUREEN: THEY ARE RUNNING UNOPPOSED IN MANY CASES, BUT I
00:21:05	DON'T THINK IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE ATTORNEYS THAT WOULD BE
00:21:11	RUNNING EXCEPT FOR THE SIX YEARS RULE.
00:21:12	WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ENHANCING THE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN OUR
00:21:16	JUDICIARY. TEACH THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT
00:21:20	JUDGES DO, TEACH THEM ABOUT WHO THE JUDGES ARE, AND LET SEE IF
00:21:24	WE CAN CHANGE THE COULTER AND ENHANCE THE AWARENESS OF THE
00:21:27	PUBLIC. PART OF THAT IS IN UPGRADING THE
00:21:32	QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE JUDICIARY.
00:21:33	RIGHT NOW, IT TAKES SIX YEARS AS A PARTITIONING ATTORNEY, AND YOU
00:21:39	CAN BE CHIEF JUSTICE. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY THINKS
00:21:42	THAT IS NEAR ENOUGH TIME IN ORDER TO DO THIS JOB.
00:21:44	OR YOU CAN BE AN APPELLATE JUDGE OR COMMON PLEAS.
00:21:48	I JUST THINK THE QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD BE INCREASED, AND THAT
00:21:57	WOULD BE UP TO THE LEGISLATURE ON HOW THEY WOULD DO IT.
00:22:00	THE NUMBER OF YEARS. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED 10 YEARS
00:22:05	FOR COMMON PLEAS, 12 YEARS FOR THE APPELLATE, 15 FOR THE
00:22:09	SUPREME COURT. THAT IS NOT REASONABLE.
00:22:10	I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM INCREASED.
00:22:11	KAREN: ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS BROUGHT UP FIVE MORE PEOPLE
00:22:17	DON'T RUN IS THAT THE PAY IS NOT WHAT MAY BE IN THE PRIVATE
00:22:23	SECTOR. THE LEGISLATURE DID INCREASE PAY
00:22:24	FOR JUDGES, BUT IT IS A TWO-YEAR BUDGET.
00:22:27	THE FINAL TWO YEARS, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE.
00:22:31	MAUREEN: THEY PUT THE LEGISLATION IN FOR FOUR YEARS.
00:22:36	WHAT IT WILL TAKE IS ANOTHER BUDGET CYCLE TO FUND THE LAST
00:22:42	TWO YEARS OF THOSE PAY INCREASES.
00:22:43	I HAVE TO SAY, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE, SENATORS
00:22:48	FABER AND SPEAKER ROSENBERGER, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR -- IT
00:22:56	WAS SO APPRECIATED BY THE JUDICIARY.
00:22:57	WE WORKED WITH THEM FOR SIX MONTHS ON THE BUDGET.
00:23:02	I PUT IT IN MY BUDGET. THOSE IN GENTLEMAN SAW FIT TO
00:23:07	PASS THAT IN THE BUDGET AND ALSO SIGN IT INTO LEGISLATION.
00:23:12	AS A WHOLE, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO THEM.
00:23:14	KAREN: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, A BIG
00:23:19	TOPIC THIS WEEK. WHAT DO YOU THINK, FROM THE
00:23:24	JUDICIAL SIDE OF THINGS, IS REALLY IMPORTANT, WHEN YOU TRY
00:23:27	TO LOWER THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN PRISON BUT STILL KEEP THE
00:23:29	POPULATION SAFE? MAUREEN: ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE
00:23:33	KEY. THE COMMISSION IS PUT TOGETHER
00:23:38	TO LOOK AT ME RECODIFICATION, AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
00:23:44	WHATEVER IS DONE IN ORDER TO SHIFT A CERTAIN LEVEL OF
00:23:48	POPULATION OF DEFENDANTS, INSTEAD OF SENDING THEM TO STATE
00:23:54	PRISONS, STATE INSTITUTIONS, IF THEY ARE GOING TO GET LOCALLY,
00:23:58	THE KEY IS FUNDING FOR THE LOCALS TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE
00:24:01	THOSE POPULATIONS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
00:24:03	WITH THE PROBATION AND TREATMENT AND MONITORING, AND
00:24:09	ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT ENCOMPASSES A BROAD RANGE
00:24:15	OF AGENCIES AND ENTITIES THAT HAVE TO BE INVOLVED.
00:24:17	SOCIAL SERVICE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE PSYCHIATRIC AND MENTAL HEALTH
00:24:22	FACILITIES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT, AND
00:24:27	YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR COURTS AND THE PROBATION SYSTEM ALL
00:24:29	ADEQUATELY FUNDED. IT IS GREAT TO TAKE THOSE
00:24:37	DEFENDANTS AND TREAT THEM IN THE COMMUNITY AND BELIEVE THE COST
00:24:40	AND BURDEN ON THE STATE SYSTEM, BUT YOU CANNOT SHIFT THE BURDEN
00:24:42	TO THE LOCALS WITHOUT SHIFTING DOLLARS THERE AS WELL.
00:24:46	KAREN: WHAT ABOUT JUDICIAL DISCRETION WHERE JUDGES DO NOT
00:24:50	HAVE TO FOLLOW MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING GUIDELINES, THEY
00:24:55	WOULD HAVE MORE DISCRETION TO GO CASE-BY-CASE.
00:24:57	IS THAT A GOOD IDEA? MAUREEN: TRIAL JUDGES WOULD SAY
00:25:04	YES. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A CAP THAT
00:25:05	WOULD SAY NO, IT IS OK THE WAY IT IS.
00:25:07	WHATEVER THEY COME UP WITH IN THE RECODIFICATION -- BECAUSE
00:25:14	THERE ARE JUDGES ON THE COMMITTEE -- THAT IS WHAT IS
00:25:16	IMPORTANT. IT IS MADE UP NOT ONLY OF LAW
00:25:18	ENFORCEMENT AND LEGISLATORS AND OTHER INTEREST GROUPS, BUT THERE
00:25:22	ARE A NUMBER OF JUDGES THAT ARE PART OF THAT RECODIFICATION
00:25:26	PROGRAM. SO THEY WILL BE ADDRESSING THOSE
00:25:28	ISSUES HEAD ON. KAREN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
00:25:33	CHIEF JUSTICE MAUREEN O'CONNOR. AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
00:25:37	FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT OHIO PUBLIC RADIO AND TELEVISION, THANKS FOR
00:25:38	WATCHING. IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS,
00:25:40	MAKE COMMENTS, OR WATCH THIS WEEK'S SHOW OR EARLIER EPISODES,
00:25:42	PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT STATENEWS.ORG, OR WATCH ON THE
00:25:45	OHIO CHANNEL'S WEBSITE OR AT IDEASTREAM.ORG/OHIO.
00:25:48	AND YOU CAN FOLLOW JO INGLES, ANDY CHOW AND ME ON TWITTER.
00:25:51	AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME FOR "THE STATE OF OHIO."
00:25:56	WE CLOSE THIS WEEK WITH IMAGES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 11
00:26:05	COMMEMORATION AT THE STATEHOUSE. >> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE
00:26:21	BROADCAST OF "THE STATE OF OHIO" COMES FROM THE LAW FIRM OF
00:26:24	PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS & ARTHUR LLP., HELPING BUSINESSES AND
00:26:27	INDIVIDUALS SOLVE COMPLEX LEGAL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OHIO, ACROSS
00:26:31	THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE WORLD -- ON THE WEB AT
00:26:34	PORTERWRIGHT.COM. AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
00:26:37	ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING 120,000 MEMBERS WHO WORK TO
00:26:40	INSPIRE THEIR STUDENTS TO THINK CREATIVELY AND EXPERIENCE THE
00:26:44	JOY OF LEARNING, ONLINE AT

Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions