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00:00:00>> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE
BROADCAST OF "THE STATE OF OHIO"
00:00:03COMES FROM THE LAW FIRM OF
PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS & ARTHUR
00:00:05LLP., HELPING BUSINESSES AND
INDIVIDUALS SOLVE COMPLEX LEGAL
00:00:07PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OHIO, ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE
00:00:10WORLD -- ON THE WEB AT
PORTERWRIGHT.COM.
00:00:13AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING
00:00:16120,000 MEMBERS WHO WORK TO
INSPIRE THEIR STUDENTS TO THINK
00:00:20CREATIVELY AND EXPERIENCE THE
JOY OF LEARNING, ONLINE AT
00:00:24OHEA.ORG.
KAREN: POLLS SHOW SUPPORT FOR
00:00:32THE NEW CANDIDATE IN THE U.S.
SENATE RACE, AND MAYBE FOR THE
00:00:35GOVERNOR'S POSSIBLE RACE FOR
PRESIDENT.
00:00:36BUT POLLS ALSO CONTINUE TO SHOW
VOTERS HAVE VERY STRONG FEELINGS
00:00:38ON CHANGING TERM LIMITS.
FOR STATE LAWMAKERS.
00:00:42WE'LL HEAR FROM A SUPPORTER AND
AN OPPONENT OF THAT IDEA.
00:00:44ALL THIS WEEK IN "THE STATE OF
OHIO".
00:00:49[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
00:00:50WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
00:00:51VISIT NCICAP.ORG]
KAREN: A NEW POLL OUT THIS WEEK
00:01:02ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S U.S. SENATE
CAMPAIGN SHOWS A SURPRISE SINCE
00:01:05DEMOCRATIC FORMER GOVERNOR TED
STRICKLAND JUMPED INTO IT.
00:01:07THE QUINNIPIAC POLL ON THE 2016
U.S. SENATE RACE SHOWS
00:01:12STRICKLAND, WHO'S ONLY BEEN IN
THE RACE FOR A LITTLE OVER A
00:01:13MONTH, WOULD BEAT INCUMBENT
REPUBLICAN ROB PORTMAN BY 9
00:01:15POINTS IF THE VOTE WERE HELD
NOW.
00:01:17THE POLL ALSO SHOWS A WHOPPING
89% OF VOTERS DON'T KNOW P.G.
00:01:18SITTENFELD, THE 30-YEAR-OLD
CINCINNATI CITY COUNCILMAN WHO'S
00:01:21BEEN IN THE RACE SINCE JANUARY.
AND THE POLL SHOWS IF SITTENFELD
00:01:27WERE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
NEXT YEAR, PORTMAN EASILY WINS
00:01:30BY 23 POINTS.
THE LEAD FOR STRICKLAND, WHO'S
00:01:32BEEN OFF THE BALLOT SINCE LOSING
HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO JOHN
00:01:35KASICH IN 2010, IS A SURPRISE TO
SOME POLITICAL EXPERTS,
00:01:39INCLUDING UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR JOHN
00:01:41GREEN.
JOHN GREENE: WELL, ACTUALLY,
00:01:50THAT POLL, IT IS SURPRISING THAT
AN INCUMBENT SENATOR WOULD BE
00:01:51THAT FAR BEHIND, ALBEIT IN A
HEAD TO HEAD MATCH UP WITH A
00:01:54FORMER GOVERNOR.
TYPICALLY, INCUMBENTS, EVEN
00:01:55INCUMBENTS THAT MIGHT HAVE AN
ELEMENT OF UNPOPULARITY TEND TO
00:02:00BE CLOSER AT THIS POINT IN THE
CYCLE.
00:02:03KAREN: STRICKLAND SAYS HE DOES
NOT PUT A LOT OF STOCK IN A POLL
00:02:12DONE THIS EARLY.
PORTMAN'S CAMPAIGN SAYS THE POLL
00:02:13ONLY SHOWS THAT OHIOANS HAVE
FORGOTTEN THAT STRICKLAND WAS
00:02:15QUOTING HERE "AN AWFUL
GOVERNOR".
00:02:17AND SITTENFELD'S CAMPAIGN
SPOKESMAN SAYS HE'S CONFIDENT
00:02:18WHEN VOTERS GET TO KNOW
SITTENFELD, THEY'LL -- QUOTING
00:02:20HERE -- "RALLY TO HIS CALL FOR A
NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP".
00:02:23MEANWHILE, STRICKLAND AND
SITTENFELD ARE RUNNING CLOSE IN
00:02:25FUNDRAISING.
SITTENFELD SAYS HE HAS RAISED
00:02:29MORE THAN $757,000 IN THE FIRST
THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
00:02:32STRICKLAND'S CAMPAIGN SAYS HE'S
RAISED $671,000 IN 35 DAYS.
00:02:37BUT THEY HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO
TO CATCH PORTMAN, WHO ANNOUNCED
00:02:46RECENTLY HE HAD RAISED MORE THAN
$2.75 MILLION SO FAR THIS YEAR,
00:02:47AND HAS MORE THAN $8 MILLION IN
CASH ON HAND.
00:02:49THERE WERE MORE HINTS THIS WEEK
THAT GOVERNOR JOHN KASICH IS
00:02:52ALSO THINKING ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S
BALLOT.
00:02:53REPORTERS HAVE BEEN ASKING
KASICH FOR YEARS IF HE WANTS TO
00:02:59RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
AND SO SOME ARE TRYING NEW AND
00:03:01UNIQUE TACTICS TO GET AN ANSWER.
FOR INSTANCE, A GIRL SITTING
00:03:07NEXT TO KASICH AT AN EVENT ON
STATE FUNDING FOR RESEARCH AT
00:03:10CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS WAS ASKED
IF SHE'D LIKE TO SEE HIM RUN FOR
00:03:11PRESIDENT.
WHEN SHE SAID YES, THAT LED TO A
00:03:14FOLLOW UP QUESTION, WHETHER HE'S
MADE A DECISION AND IF NOT, WHAT
00:03:18IS HE WAITING ON?
THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SAID
00:03:23HE'S PLANNING ON TRAVELING TO
MICHIGAN SOON, AND THEN BACK TO
00:03:25THE KEY PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
STATES OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND NEW
00:03:27HAMPSHIRE.
THE EVENT HE SPOKE AT MARKED
00:03:34KASICH'S PLEDGE OF $2 MILLION TO
SUPPORT SHARED MEDICAL RESEARCH
00:03:36AMONG CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS
STUDYING ASTHMA TREATMENT AND
00:03:38PEDIATRIC PNEUMONIA DIAGNOSES,
ON TOP OF THE $2 MILLION HE
00:03:41COMMITTED IN 2011.
AND KASICH'S DOING PRETTY WELL
00:03:44IN A NEW POLL OUT THIS WEEK FROM
OHIOANS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT,
00:03:47WHICH DESCRIBES ITSELF AS AN
OHIO-BASED SOCIAL WELFARE
00:03:51ORGANIZATION THAT INFORMS AND
EDUCATES OHIOANS ABOUT SALIENT
00:03:54PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS AND
PROPOSED AND POTENTIAL BALLOT
00:03:56ISSUES.
THE GROUP IS HEADED BY JON
00:04:00ALLISON, A FORMER TOP AIDE TO
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR BOB TAFT
00:04:03, WHO'S NOW WORKING AGAINST THE
POSSIBLE BALLOT ISSUES TO
00:04:07LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.
THE POLL, DONE IN FEBRUARY,
00:04:09SHOWS KASICH'S APPROVAL RATING
AT 59%, WITH 29% DISAPPROVING OF
00:04:18HIS PERFORMANCE AS GOVERNOR.
IT'S A PRETTY SHORT TURNAROUND
00:04:19FROM HIS RECORD HIGH DISAPPROVAL
RATE OF 56% FROM A POLL THE
00:04:22GROUP DID IN 2011, RIGHT AFTER
VOTERS REJECTED THE COLLECTIVE
00:04:25BARGAINING LAW KNOWN AS SENATE
BILL 5.
00:04:27AND IT'S ONLY SLIGHTLY OFF OF A
RECORD HIGH APPROVAL RATE OF 62%
00:04:31AROUND THREE YEARS LATER, JUST
BEFORE KASICH WAS RE-ELECTED TO
00:04:35HIS SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR LAST
YEAR.
00:04:38THE POLL ALSO HAS GOOD NEWS FOR
STATE LAWMAKERS, SHOWING THAT BY
00:04:4344% TO 35%, MORE VOTERS APPROVE
OF THE JOB THEY'RE DOING THAN
00:04:47DISAPPROVE, AND THAT'S PART OF A
TREND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
00:04:50THE POLL ALSO ASKED ABOUT OTHER
STATE POLICY AND LEGISLATION
00:04:55QUESTIONS, INCLUDING HOW
LAWMAKERS DRAW THE LINES FOR
00:05:00STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.
VOTERS WERE ASKED ABOUT THE PLAN
00:05:01TO CREATE A SEVEN MEMBER
BI-PARTISAN COMMISSION TO DRAW
00:05:03THOSE LINES.
THAT COMMISSION WOULD NEED AT
00:05:05LEAST TWO MINORITY PARTY VOTES
TO APPROVE THE MAP, SO THE
00:05:08PROCESS COULDN'T BE COMPLETELY
CONTROLLED BY THE MAJORITY PARTY
00:05:12DRAWING THE MAP TO ITS BENEFIT.
VOTERS SAID THEY'D BACK THE
00:05:14CHANGE IN THE REDISTRICTING
PROCESS THAT LAWMAKERS PASSED IN
00:05:22DECEMBER AND THAT WILL BE ON THE
BALLOT THIS FALL, BUT BY 52%, OR
00:05:25JUST BARELY.
THE POLL ALSO ASKED ABOUT
00:05:27EXTENDING TERM LIMITS FROM EIGHT
YEARS IN A PARTICULAR OFFICE IN
00:05:29THE HOUSE OR SENATE TO TWELVE
YEARS.
00:05:30IT WASN'T EVEN CLOSE.
77% OF VOTERS REJECTED THAT
00:05:32IDEA.
AND POLLSTERS ASKED A FOLLOW UP
00:05:36QUESTION ABOUT THE ARGUMENTS FOR
AND AGAINST TERM LIMITS, SAYING
00:05:44THAT SUPPORTERS SAY EIGHT YEAR
TERMS KEEP LAWMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE
00:05:46AND PROMOTE CITIZEN LEGISLATORS,
WHILE OPPONENTS SAY EIGHT YEARS
00:05:48IS TOO SHORT AND GIVES TOO MUCH
POWER TO LOBBYISTS AND
00:05:50BUREAUCRATS.
BUT THAT DIDN'T MOVE THE NEEDLE
00:05:56MUCH AT ALL.
THREE QUARTERS OF VOTERS STILL
00:05:58SAY THEY OPPOSE CHANGING TERM
LIMITS FOR STATE LAWMAKERS.
00:06:03THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME IN
RECENT HISTORY THAT VOTERS HAVE
00:06:05TOLD POLLSTERS THEY
OVERWHELMINGLY REJECT THE IDEA
00:06:07OF CHANGING TERM LIMITS.
A POLL FROM THE BLISS INSTITUTE
00:06:08OF APPLIED POLITICS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON FROM MAY OF
00:06:10LAST YEAR SHOWED SEVEN IN TEN
VOTERS WANTED TO KEEP TERM
00:06:14LIMITS AT EIGHT YEARS, WITH THE
REMAINING VOTERS SPLIT BETWEEN
00:06:18MOVING THEM OUT TO 12 YEARS AND
REPEALING THEM ENTIRELY.
00:06:235% HAD NO OPINION.
BUT THESE LESS-THAN-ENCOURAGING
00:06:27POLL RESULTS HAVEN'T STOPPED THE
PANEL LOOKING OVER OHIO'S
00:06:29CONSTITUTION FROM SUGGESTING
CHANGES TO TERM LIMITS.
00:06:34THIS WEEK A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL MODERNIZATION
00:06:36COMMISSION PASSED ON TO THE FULL
COMMISSION TWO PROPOSALS.
00:06:42ONE WOULD EXTEND ALL STATE
LAWMAKERS' TERM LIMITS TO 12
00:06:47YEARS, AND THE OTHER WOULD
PROVIDE THAT EXTENSION FOR ONLY
00:06:48NEWLY ELECTED LAWMAKERS.
THE COMMISSION WILL HAVE THE
00:06:52FINAL SAY NEXT MONTH ON WHICH
PROPOSAL WOULD GO TO VOTERS, BUT
00:06:55THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE
SUBCOMMITTEE IS THAT IT NOT
00:06:58HAPPEN THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE
REDISTRICTING BALLOT ISSUE
00:06:59THAT VOTERS WILL ALREADY SEE.
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE
00:07:02ISSUE OF TERM LIMITS FOR YEARS
HAVE STRONG ARGUMENTS FOR AND
00:07:04AGAINST EXTENDING THEM.
MAKING THE CASE FOR CHANGING
00:07:06TERM LIMITS IS CATHERINE TURCER,
POLICY ANALYST FOR THE
00:07:10GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG GROUP COMMON
CAUSE OHIO.
00:07:16SO, LET ME START WITH THE IDEA
THAT A LOT OF CRITICISM ABOUT
00:07:20CHANGING TERM LIMITS AND
EXTENDING THEM COMES BACK TO THE
00:07:24IDEA OF THE CAREER POLITICIAN,
AND CAREER POLITICIAN IS A TERM
00:07:29NO ONE WANTS TO BE ATTACHED TO.
IS A CAREER POLITICIAN A BAD
00:07:30THING?
CATHERINE: I WOULD ARGUE IT IS
00:07:38NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING.
IN THE EARLY 1990'S, WHAT PEOPLE
00:07:41WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, PEOPLE ARE
IN COLUMBUS AND THEY ONLY HAVE
00:07:49A COLUMBUS MINDSET.
IT IS THE SAME THING WITH D.C.
00:07:52THEY ARE ONLY THINKING ABOUT
COLUMBUS AND THEY ARE NOT
00:07:57THINKING ABOUT THEIR OWN
COMMUNITIES.
00:07:58WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT OF
CITIZEN LEGISLATORS, THEY ARE
00:08:02COMING FROM CLEVELAND OR TOLEDO,
COMING TOGETHER TO DO THE WORK
00:08:05OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE
BACK HOME.
00:08:07IN THE THINK THAT IS REALLY WHAT
CONCERNS PEOPLE, THE SENSE THAT,
00:08:12YOU KNOW, THEY GET IN AND THEY
GET ALL COMFY AND IT'S ALL ABOUT
00:08:18CONTINUING THEIR CAREER AND IT'S
NOT ABOUT THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
00:08:20KAREN: WE HAVE HEARD FOR YEARS
THAT TERM LIMITS ROB THE
00:08:28LEGISLATURE OF EXPERIENCE AND
KNOWLEDGE.
00:08:29BUT THERE ARE LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE
GONE BACK-AND-FORTH FROM ONE
00:08:32CHAMBER TO THE OTHER.
IN THE CURRENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY
00:08:35WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE TO HAVE RETURNED ALONG
00:08:38WITH A FORMER SUPREME COURT JUST
AS, FIVE FAMILIES OF LAWMAKERS,
00:08:41FOR SENATORS, THREE OF THEM ON
ANOTHER TOUR IN COLUMBUS, AND
00:08:46THE QUESTION BECOMES, IF INDEED
THE EXPERIENCE AND INSTITUTIONAL
00:08:53KNOWLEDGE IS VALUABLE, WHY IS
CLIFF ROSENBERGER, WHO IS IN HIS
00:08:57THIRD TERM, WHY IS HE SPEAKER
INSTEAD OF HIS COLLEAGUE WHO HAS
00:09:02BEEN THERE FOR 30 YEARS?
CATHERINE: IT'S INTERESTING TO
00:09:07THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCE OF
THE MUSICAL CHAIRS.
00:09:11THEY ARE IN THE SENATE, THEY GO
BACK IN THE HOUSE.
00:09:13THAT GIVES LONGEVITY THAT OTHER
STATES DO NOT HAVE WITH THE
00:09:18ABILITY TO GO BACK AND FORTH.
THAT ARGUMENT ABOUT, OH, MY
00:09:22GOSH, WE ARE LOSING THIS
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE -- WE
00:09:24ARE LOSING SOME INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE.
00:09:27WE ARE NOT LOSING A LOT OF
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
00:09:29AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SPEAKERS
BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY GOOD
00:09:34FUNDRAISERS, NOT THEY ARE THE
GUY WHO IS MOST VETERAN OR
00:09:36WHATEVER.
KAREN: THE TERM LIMITS HAVE MADE
00:09:41THESE NEW LAWMAKERS COMING IN,
CITIZEN LEGISLATORS --
00:09:44LEGISLATORS DEPENDENT ON
LOBBYISTS'S AND THAT MAKES
00:09:50LEGISLATION WORSE.
BUT WHITNEY ALSO BE GETTING
00:09:54POSSIBLY TERRIBLE LEGISLATION
FROM LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE BEEN
00:09:56HERE FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE
GOTTEN COMFY AND HAVE THIS
00:09:59COLUMBUS MINDSET?
CATHERINE: THE REASON PEOPLE
00:10:02WANT TO EXTEND TERM LIMITS OR
THEY DO NOT FAVOR TERM LIMITS IS
00:10:09IT TAKES AWAY VOTERS DECISIONS.
IF SOMEONE IS A GOOD LEGISLATOR,
00:10:13YOU CANNOT KEEP THEM.
IF THE THEY ARE A BAD
00:10:19LEGISLATOR, YOU CAN VOTE THEM
OUT.
00:10:22SO, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE -- YES,
YOU COULD BE A LONG-TERM
00:10:26LEGISLATOR AND MAKE TERRIBLE
DECISIONS.
00:10:29YOU COULD BE A SHORT-TERM ONE
WHO CANNOT FIND THE BATHROOM.
00:10:31SO, IN THOSE SCENARIOS, THERE IS
A REAL TERM LIMIT AND THAT IS
00:10:38CALLED THE ELECTION.
KAREN: BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN A
00:10:41SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE
GERRYMANDERED DISTRICTS, WHICH
00:10:44YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT
EXTENSIVELY, DO WE EVEN HAVE, IN
00:10:47YOUR VIEW, FAIR ELECTIONS?
CATHERINE: I WOULD SAY IN OUR
00:10:50MANIPULATED -- THERE ARE
MANIPULATED DISTRICTS.
00:10:56ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT
THE DISTRICT AND THEY ARE NEARLY
00:10:59PERFECT PREDICTORS OF THE PARTY
OF THE WINNER.
00:11:00THAT MEANS WE ARE IN MANY WAY
DISENFRANCHISED IN THE CURRENT
00:11:04SYSTEM BECAUSE THE LINES ARE
RIGGED FOR ONE PARTY OR THE
00:11:08OTHER.
KAREN: SO WHY EXTEND TERM LIMITS
00:11:12FOR THESE PEOPLE?
CATHERINE: LET'S THINK ABOUT
00:11:15THIS.
OUR LEGISLATORS IN DECEMBER WENT
00:11:18THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE THEY
ACTUALLY PUT A REDISTRICTING
00:11:20REFORM MEASURE ON THE BALLOT.
IT IS ISSUE ONE OF THE YEAR.
00:11:24THIS IS THE PROCESS OF MAKING
THIS MORE TRANSPARENT, FOCUSES
00:11:29ON KEEPING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
YOU DO NOT FAVOR ONE PARTY OR
00:11:32THE OTHER.
THERE IS ALSO A RULE ABOUT FAIR
00:11:35REPRESENTATION.
SO, THEY HAVE TAKEN THE STEP ON
00:11:42HOW YOU SHOULD MAKE THINGS MORE
COMPETITIVE, MAKE THINGS FAIR
00:11:45FOR VOTERS SO OUR VOTES WILL BE
MEANINGFUL.
00:11:49THAT IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE
DONE.
00:11:50AND THEN, I THINK YOU COULD SAVE
YOURSELF IN THAT CONTEXT, MAYBE
00:11:57IT MAKES SENSE TO EXTEND THE
TERM LIMITS.
00:11:58KAREN: AND I KNOW YOU ARE
LOOKING AT THE IDEA OF HAVING
00:12:03THAT NO ON THIS YEAR'S BALLOT,
WHICH WOULD BE ALONGSIDE THE
00:12:07REDISTRICTING AMENDMENT, BUT
POSSIBLY NEXT YEAR.
00:12:09LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE VOTERS
WHO WILL EVENTUALLY DECIDE THIS
00:12:13ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
THE VOTERS SAID IN 1992,
00:12:17OVERWHELMINGLY THEY WANTED TERM
LIMITS.
00:12:21RECENT POLLS HAVE SHOWN THEY
STILL WANT TERM LIMITS BY SEVEN
00:12:23OUT OF 10.
WHY BRING THIS BEFORE VOTERS
00:12:25WHEN THEY ARE SAYING IN POLLS
AND PREVIOUS VOTES THEY DO NOT
00:12:27WANT IT?
CATHERINE: LET'S FACE IT, THAT
00:12:32NOTION OF LET'S THROW THE BONES
OUT, WE ALL HAVE THAT.
00:12:35CAN WE JUST START WITH A NEW
SLATE?
00:12:37IT JUST IS NOT BEEN THE SILVER
BULLET THAT IT NEEDS TO BE.
00:12:41IT DOES NOT ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE
HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH, WHICH IS
00:12:47CREATING MORE REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY, A MORE FUNCTIONAL
00:12:53GOVERNMENT.
THAT SOLUTION DID NOT GET US
00:12:59WHERE WE NEED TO BE WHERE
ORDINARY FOLKS' VOICES ARE
00:13:05HEARD, WHERE WE HAVE BETTER
GOVERNMENT FOR US ALL, WHERE
00:13:07THERE IS A FOCUS ON JOBS RATHER
THAN ALL SORTS OF DISTRACTIONS.
00:13:13SO, I DO THINK IF WE THINK ABOUT
THIS OPTION, IT MIGHT GIVE VOTED
00:13:18DOWN.
IT MIGHT VERY WELL GET VOTED
00:13:19DOWN, I CERTAINLY THINK IF THE
INCUMBENT LEGISLATORS HAVE
00:13:27SOMETHING TO PUT ON THE VOTERS'
BALLOT THAT ACTUALLY IMPACTS
00:13:32THEM IMMEDIATELY, THAT IS A
PROBLEM.
00:13:34IN 1992 WHEN THE VOTERS PASSED
TO BE TERM LIMITS, THEY WENT
00:13:40INTO EFFECT IN 2000, SO THE
FOLKS IN THAT EIGHT YEARS, THEY
00:13:44WERE NOT THE SAME FOLKS.
IT DID NOT AFFECT THE INCOME IS
00:13:51IN THAT SYSTEM.
AND THE LEGISLATORS THAT LOOK
00:13:55LIKE -- HOW CAN I PUT THIS?
THEY ARE WORRYING ABOUT THEIR
00:13:58OWN JOBS RATHER THAN TRYING TO
CREATE A MORE FUNCTIONAL
00:14:02DEMOCRACY.
IF THEY PUT IT ON THE BALLOT,
00:14:03WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS PUTTING
IT A YEARS OUT.
00:14:06KAREN: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT
BALLOT ISSUES IN GENERAL.
00:14:12THERE HAS BEEN RUSSIANS ABOUT IS
IT EASY TO GET ON THE BALLOT IN
00:14:15OHIO.
DO YOU THINK IT IS TOO EASY TO
00:14:20GET ON THE BALLOT IN OHIO,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WANT TO DO
00:14:24SOMETHING IMPORTANT MIGHT CHANGE
THE CONSTITUTION?
00:14:25CATHERINE: I THINK ANYONE WHO
HAS EVER TRIED TO CHANGE THE
00:14:31CONSTITUTION WOULD TELL YOU IT
IS HEARTBREAKING AND INCREDIBLY
00:14:33DIFFICULT TO DO.
HEARTBREAKING, INCREDIBLY
00:14:39DIFFICULT.
AND CITIZEN INITIATIVES ARE LESS
00:14:41LIKELY TO PASS.
SOMETHING LIKE 40%.
00:14:42SO, JUST IMAGINE, YOU AND I AND
OUR FRIENDS, WE HAVE THIS GREAT
00:14:48IDEA.
WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH FUNDING.
00:14:52WE HAVE TO COLLECT MORE THAN
300,000 SIGNATURES FROM ALL OVER
00:14:58THE STATE.
THERE ARE SPECIFIC RULES.
00:15:02THEY NEED TO BE VALIDATED.
VALIDATED.
00:15:07WE HAVE THOSE THINGS -- OH, WE
VALIDATE, BUT THIS SIGNATURE WAS
00:15:14ILLEGIBLE.
KAREN: THE SIGNATURES ARE
00:15:22ILLEGIBLE.
CATHERINE: IT TAKES A LOT OF
00:15:27MONEY AND EFFORT AND SAYING IT
IS TOO EASY SUGGEST THEY DO NOT
00:15:29UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS.
KAREN: WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OF
00:15:34PUTTING BALLOT ISSUES ONLY FOR
CERTAIN YEARS?
00:15:36ONLY A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
DURING A PRESIDENTIAL OR A
00:15:42GUBERNATORIAL YEAR WHERE THERE
WILL BE A LOT OF VOTERS OUT, OR
00:15:45DURING AN OFF YEAR WHERE THE
ARGUMENT IS MORE EDUCATED VOTERS
00:15:47TURNOUT?
CATHERINE: WHAT IS INTERESTING
00:15:52NOW, AND ORGANIZATIONAL GROUP
CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THAT DECISION,
00:15:57WHETHER THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO
GET ATTENTION IN AN OFF YEAR OR
00:16:00A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE THE BENEFITS OF
00:16:04BOTH.
I ACTUALLY LIKE THAT THAT IS AN
00:16:05OPTION.
KAREN: YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE
00:16:10A CHANGE WHERE BALLOT ISSUES
WERE RESTRICTED TO ONE
00:16:13PARTICULAR YEAR OR NO?
CATHERINE: AND I ENCOURAGE EVERY
00:16:19VOTER TO GET OUT EVERY SINGLE
YEAR, EVEN AUGUST.
00:16:21KAREN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND MAKING THE CASE FOR TERM
00:16:26LIMITS IS ROB WALGATE, VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN POLICY
00:16:30ROUNDTABLE, HEADQUARTERED IN
STRONGSVILLE SOUTH OF CLEVELAND.
00:16:35WE HAVE HEARD FOR YEARS THAT
TERM LIMITS ROB THE LEGISLATURE
00:16:40OF EXPERIENCE IN INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE.
00:16:41ROB: INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
IS ANYONE ELSE SICK OF THAT
00:16:50LINE?
LOOK AT THE LAST SPEAKER, BILL
00:16:51BACHELOR -- THAT SHOULDER --
BATSCHELDER.
00:16:57THIS IS NO NOT AGAINST THE
CURRENT SPEAKER, BUT THE
00:17:03REPUBLICANS CAUCUS AND THEY
BYPASSED THE GUY WITH 30-SOME
00:17:08YEARS OF EXPERIENCES WHO
EVERYONE REFERS TO AS BEING AN
00:17:14EXPERT ON THE STATE BUDGET.
IN A BUDGET YEAR HE WAS
00:17:18BYPASSED.
FOR A SPOKESPERSON IN
00:17:19INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, WHY
ISN'T RON ON STUTZ -- AMSTUTZ
00:17:25SPEAKER?
KAREN: LET ME ASK YOU ANOTHER
00:17:31QUESTION.
MAKE HER'S, THEY RELY ON
00:17:37LOBBYISTS AND THAT MAKES POLICY
WORSE.
00:17:39ROB: I DON'T UNDERSTAND, IF
SO-CALLED NEW LAWMAKERS ARE
00:17:47COMING IN ALL THE TIME -- WOULD
YOU RATHER HAVE A LOBBYIST WITH
00:17:48A 20 YEAR RELATIONSHIP WITH A
SPEAKER, CHAIRMAN OF THE
00:17:52COMMITTEE AND HAVE THEM BE
BUDDY, BODY AND CLOSE QUESTION
00:17:54MARK THIS IS ABOUT BRINGING IN
NEW BLOOD.
00:17:59NOT ALWAYS YOUNGER PEOPLE IN THE
GENERALISTS AND WE, BUT NEW
00:18:02IDEAS AND NEW PEOPLE.
BUT THERE WAS NOT A LIMIT FOR
00:18:06HOW MUCH PEOPLE COULD BOUNCE
BACK AND FORTH.
00:18:08LOOK AT THE OHIO ASSEMBLY.
43 MEMBERS.
00:18:1421 HAVE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE OHIO
00:18:17HOUSE.
THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.
00:18:20THERE'S A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE.
00:18:22ARE WE USING IT TO THE BEST OF
OUR ABILITY?
00:18:23KAREN: I WANT TO GET TO THAT,
BUT WE HAVE TERM LIMITS ALREADY.
00:18:29EVERYTHING WILL TIME.
THEY ARE CALLED ELECTIONS.
00:18:32VOTERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO OUT
TO EVER THEY WANT TO.
00:18:34ROB: I AM HERE TO DEFEND THE
OHIO CONSTITUTION, BECAUSE IN
00:18:401992, THE VOTERS VOTED
OVERWHELMINGLY TO PUT A LIMIT ON
00:18:45THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY PUT A LIMIT ON THEMSELVES.
00:18:49SO, THIS IS ABOUT THE OHIO
CONSTITUTION AND UPHOLDING IT
00:18:51AND LIMITING TO EIGHT YEARS.
KAREN: THERE'S ALSO THE IDEA
00:19:00THAT A CAREER POLITICIAN -- A
GOOD CAREER POLITICIAN IS A GOOD
00:19:04THING.
THIS IS A PERSON WELL-VERSED IN
00:19:06LEGISLATION, WHO CAN WRITE GOOD
LEGISLATION AND IF WE FORCE
00:19:10THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF PUBLIC
OFFICE AND INTO THE PRIVATE
00:19:13SECTOR WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY
DOING THE GOVERNMENT ANY GOOD.
00:19:17WHITE HOUSE GOOD, QUALIFIED
PEOPLE?
00:19:18ROB: WE ARE NOT OUSTING GOOD,
QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
00:19:24WE HAVE MENTIONED TWO EXAMPLES,
PEOPLE WITH 30-YEAR CAREERS AT
00:19:28THE STATEHOUSE.
SOME STATES IN THE EARLY 1990'S
00:19:33DID NOT ALLOW A PROVISION FOR A
PERSON TO SERVE IN MULTIPLE
00:19:36PLACES IN THE GENERALISSIMO, TO
GO FROM THE HOUSE TO THE SENATE.
00:19:40IN OHIO YOU CAN DO THAT.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE
00:19:44OF IT AND SOME GREAT PEOPLE HAVE
SERVED A LONG TIME.
00:19:46KAREN: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF
THOSE PEOPLE.
00:19:49YOU HAVE BOB HAGAN, TALKING
ABOUT LEAVING FOR THE FINAL
00:19:54TIME.
YOU HAVE LEWIS BLESSING, EDNA
00:19:57BROWN, RON ON STUTZ -- RON AMSTU
TZ.
00:20:03THE ARGUMENT CAN BE MADE THAT WE
DO NOT HAVE TERM LIMITS BECAUSE
00:20:10THESE LAWMAKERS A GOING
BACK-AND-FORTH IN THE TWO
00:20:11CHAMBERS.
ROB: WITH THIS LEGISLATION WAS
00:20:17DRAFTED IN THE EARLY 1990'S,
THERE WAS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION,
00:20:20TALKING TO PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
00:20:22THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO GO FROM
THE HOUSE TO THE SENATE WAS
00:20:27DISCUSSED.
IT WAS ALSO DISCUSSED WITH THE
00:20:29CITIZENS OHIO, IN THE INITIAL
POLLING, AND THEY WANTED SIX
00:20:35YEARS.
THERE WAS A CONCESSION MADE TO
00:20:36BALANCE IT WITH THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH AND ALLOW EIGHT.
00:20:39KAREN: THE IDEA OF NEW IDEAS AND
NEW BLOOD, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO
00:20:45SAY THESE ARE NOT COMPETITIVE
ELECTIONS ANYMORE.
00:20:50THE WAY THAT DISTRICT LINES ARE
DRAWN, GERRYMANDERING, THEY ARE
00:20:53NOT COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS.
YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS RUNNING
00:20:56TO REPLACE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO
ARE LEAVING, THAT THERE IS NO
00:20:59OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN NEW
BLOOD.
00:21:00ROB: OHIOANS HAVE A CHANCE TO
TALK ABOUT REDISTRICTING AT THE
00:21:08BALLOT IN 2015.
MY SOLUTION WAS TO GO TO ALL
00:21:11SEVENTH GRADERS IN THE STATE OF
OHIO, GIVE THEM AN IPAD, HAVE
00:21:15THEM DRAW THE DISTRICTS THEY
SOME POPULATION.
00:21:18I THINK WE WOULD END UP WITH
BETTER DISTRICTS AND WE HAVE
00:21:22TODAY AND THEY WOULD BE DRAWN UP
FAIRLY AND NOT RIGGED AND
00:21:26COMPUTER MANIPULATED, IF YOU
WILL.
00:21:27AT THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE ARE
COMING IN WITHOUT EXPERIENCE IS
00:21:33JUST NOT TRUE.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CURTIN HAS A
00:21:39LOT OF KNOWLEDGE OUTSIDE OF THE
STATE HOUSE AND HE IS ABLE TO
00:21:41BRING THAT TO THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
00:21:44WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE
AROUND OHIO DO THAT.
00:21:45KAREN: SO, THE COMMISSION IS
LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF
00:21:53TERM LIMIT PROPOSALS.
ONE WOULD AFFECT NEW LAWMAKERS
00:21:58AND THE OTHER WOULD AFFECT
LAWMAKERS CURRENTLY IN OFFICE.
00:22:02IT WOULD EXTEND THE TERM LIMITS
TO 12 YEARS.
00:22:08ARE YOU IN FAVOR?
ROB: NO.
00:22:09WE ARE IN FAVOR WITH WHAT THE
VOTERS HAVE ALREADY VOTED ON.
00:22:17IN THE EARLY 1990'S, THAT WAS
GRASSROOTS CITIZENS, GOING DOOR
00:22:21TO DOOR PLACES.
WE DID NOT HAVE THE PAID
00:22:24SIGNATURE GATHERERS WE HAVE
TODAY IN AMENDING THE
00:22:30CONSTITUTION.
OHIO WHEN SPOKE AND THEY SPOKE
00:22:31HEAVILY ON THE ISSUE.
KAREN: LET'S SPEAK ABOUT THE
00:22:37BALLOT ISSUES.
HOLD ON A SECOND.
00:22:38I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD NOT BE ON
TV, BUT I AM GOING TO USE THIS.
00:22:45YOU TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA OF
GETTING ONTO THE BALLOT AND
00:22:47THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY IT IS TOO
EASY TO GET ON THE BALLOT.
00:22:50WE HAVE BALLOT ISSUES THAT MADE
IT ONTO THE CONSTITUTION THAT
00:22:53MAYBE SHOULD NOT HAVE.
THE CASINO ISSUE COMES TO MY FOR
00:22:56A LOT OF PEOPLE.
WE HAVE LOCATIONS WHERE CASINOS
00:23:02SHOULD BE, AND NOT NECESSARILY
BROAD LEGALIZATION OF CASINO
00:23:04GAMBLING.
WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF HOW EASY IT
00:23:08IS TO GET ON THE BALLOT IN OHIO?
ROB: ONE GREAT THING ABOUT THE
00:23:14BALLOT IN OHIO IS CITIZENS HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ON THAT.
00:23:16WE NEVER WANT TO CHANGE THAT.
I LOVE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS IN
00:23:21OHIO.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OR WE
00:23:22WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT THE
ROUNDTABLE IS THAT YOU ONLY HAVE
00:23:28THE ABILITY TO AMEND THE
CONSTITUTION IN THE GENERAL
00:23:29ELECTION OF EVEN NUMBER YEARS.
SO, IT MUST BE A PRESIDENTIAL
00:23:32YEAR OR GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION,
THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO AMEND THE
00:23:39CONSTITUTION.
I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THINGS DONE
00:23:42OVER THE YEARS TO SLIDE SOME
THINGS AND GREAT YOU REFERENCED
00:23:44THE CASINO ISSUE.
THAT WAS IN 2009.
00:23:47SPENT A LOT OF MONEY.
GETTING THAT INSIDE THE OHIO
00:23:55CONSTITUTION.
B FRONTIER WAS EXTENDED IN A
00:23:58PRIMARY ELECTION YEAR.
IT WAS IN EVEN NUMBERED YEAR,
00:24:00BUT IT WAS A PRIMARY.
WHY WOULD WE DO THAT AND EXTEND
00:24:02IT?
I JUST BELIEVE THE MORE PEOPLE
00:24:06PARTICIPATING, THE BETTER.
WORDS MATTER AND THE OHIO
00:24:10CONSTITUTION.
I THINK WE HAVE LOST SIGHT OF
00:24:12THAT.
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
00:24:14WORDS MATTER.
IF WE STICK TO THE GENERAL
00:24:15ELECTION OF EVEN NUMBER YEARS,
WE WILL BE SAFE.
00:24:17KAREN: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
ARGUMENT IS VOTERS WHO COME OUT
00:24:23IN OFF YEAR ELECTIONS TEND TO BE
BETTER ENGAGED, BETTER EDUCATED,
00:24:27YOU HAVE A VOTE OR MORE IN TOUCH
WITH WHAT IS GOING ON RATHER
00:24:30THAN THE WIDE GROUP THAT SHOWS
UP IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR OR
00:24:33GUBERNATORIAL YEAR?
ROB: THE WAY TO GET MORE PEOPLE
00:24:38INVESTED IS HAVING THEM MAKE
THOSE DECISIONS.
00:24:41WHEN YOU DO NOT MAKE THE
DECISION IN 2009, YOU FEEL LIKE,
00:24:44THEY ARE DOING STUFF WHEN I AM
NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
00:24:49SURE WE WANT EVERYONE TO VOTE IN
EVERY ELECTION, BUT THAT IS NOT
00:24:52REALISTIC.
THE MORE PEOPLE IN OHIO WHO HAVE
00:24:55A SAY IN IT, THE BETTER.
KAREN: THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES
00:25:01REQUIRED, THE WHOLE PROCESS, YOU
FEEL IT IS TOO DIFFICULT OR EASY
00:25:04TO GET INTO THE BALLOT?
ROB: I FIND WITH THE PROCESS.
00:25:08IT TAKES WORK AND --
KAREN: SOMETIMES PAID SIGNATURE
00:25:13GATHERERS.
ROB: YES.
00:25:16IN 2009, THEY BOUGHT A PIECE OF
THE OHIO CONSTITUTION FAIR AND
00:25:20SQUARE.
THEY DID.
00:25:22THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO
THAT.
00:25:24I WOULD RATHER HAVE ACCESS THAT
WAY THE NO ACCESS AT ALL WHEN
00:25:27YOU LOOK AT STATE TO DO NOT HAVE
THE ABILITY TO AMEND THEIR OWN
00:25:31CONSTITUTION.
KAREN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
00:25:34BEING HERE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
00:25:37THE CONSTITUTIONAL MODERNIZATION
COMMITTEE SHOULD MAKE A
00:25:40RECOMMENDATION AND MONTH ON
EITHER OF THOSE TWO PROPOSALS
00:25:43COMING BEFORE VOTERS.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
00:25:47FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT OHIO PUBLIC
RADIO AND TELEVISION, THANKS FOR
00:25:49WATCHING.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS,
00:25:51MAKE COMMENTS, OR WATCH THIS
WEEK'S SHOW OR EARLIER EPISODES,
00:25:52PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
STATENEWS.ORG, OR WATCH ON THE
00:25:54OHIO CHANNEL'S WEBSITE OR AT
IDEASTREAM.ORG/OHIO.
00:25:57AND YOU CAN FOLLOW JO INGLES,
ANDY CHOW AND ME ON TWITTER.
00:26:00AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT
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00:26:25WORLD -- ON THE WEB AT
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00:26:28AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
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Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions