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00:00:00>> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE
BROADCAST OF "THE STATE OF OHIO"
00:00:02COMES FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF
PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS & ARTHUR
00:00:05LLP., HELPING BUSINESSES AND
INDIVIDUALS SOLVE COMPLEX LEGAL
00:00:08PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OHIO, ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD
00:00:12-- ON THE WEB AT
PORTERWRIGHT.COM.
00:00:14AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING
00:00:18121,000 TEACHERS, SUPPORT
PROFESSIONALS, AND HIGHER
00:00:21EDUCATION FACULTY COMMITTED TO
THE SUCCESS OF EVERY CHILD,
00:00:24ONLINE AT OHEA.ORG.
CAPTIONED BY THE
00:00:27NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE
--WWW.NCICAP.ORG--
00:00:30>> DEMOCRATS COME TO COLUMBUS TO
DISCOVER WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR
00:00:32THEIR 2016 CONVENTION.
TWO POLITICAL VETERANS WEIGH IN
00:00:35ON THE CONTROVERSY INVOLVING THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR
00:00:37GOVERNOR, NOW CAMPAIGNING IN A
CRISIS.
00:00:41AND THE STATE SETTLES A NEARLY
BILLION-DOLLAR LAWSUIT WITH
00:00:43HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
BUSINESSES, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS
00:00:46PLEASED ABOUT IT.
ALL THIS WEEK "THE STATE OF
00:00:53OHIO."
A DEMOCRATIC ADVISORY TEAM SPENT
00:01:01TWO DAYS IN COLUMBUS THIS WEEK
AS PART OF ITS PROCESS IN MAKING
00:01:03A DECISION ON WHERE IT WILL HOLD
ITS NATIONAL CONVENTION IN 2016.
00:01:08THE TEAM VISITED SEVERAL VENUES,
INCLUDING NATIONWIDE ARENA, AND
00:01:12GOT A DRIVING TOUR OF THE AREA.
FORMER DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
00:01:18COMMITTEE HEAD DAVID WILHELM, AN
ATHENS COUNTY NATIVE WHO NOW
00:01:20LIVES IN COLUMBUS, SAYS HE IS
CONFIDENT IN THE CITY'S
00:01:22PRESENTATION AND ITS STANDING
RIGHT NOW AMONG THE FIVE CITIES
00:01:24THAT WANT TO HOST THE
CONVENTION.
00:01:27>> I THINK WE HAVE GROUPS OVER
THE LAST TWO DAYS THAT WE ARE
00:01:33READY, THAT WE HAVE THE
FINANCIAL CAPACITY, THAT WE HAVE
00:01:36THE LOGISTICAL CAPACITY, THAT WE
HAVE A CITY THAT WANTS IT, THAT
00:01:43WE HAVE A UNIFIED CITY LED BY A
STRONG MAYOR.
00:01:44ALL OF THE ATTRIBUTES THAT I
THINK THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
00:01:49LEADERSHIP IS GOING TO LOOK FOR
IN A CONVENTION CITY ARE HERE
00:01:55AND ARE IN PLAY IN COLUMBUS.
>> CLEVELAND DROPPED OUT OF THE
00:02:00RUNNING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION AFTER IT WAS PICKED
00:02:02FOR 2016 BY FOR THE REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL CONVENTION.
00:02:04THE DEMOCRATS WILL ANNOUNCE
THEIR CITY IN NOVEMBER.
00:02:06PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ISSUE SHOWED
00:02:09LOTS OF EMOTION THIS WEEK IN
CINCINNATI, AS AN APPEALS COURT
00:02:12HEARD SIX CASES FROM OHIO AND
THREE OTHER STATES.
00:02:18THESE ARE SCENES FROM OUTSIDE OF
THE COURTROOM, WHILE INSIDE IN
00:02:21, ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE SIXTH
CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, STATE
00:02:24SOLICITOR ERIC MURPHY SAID THAT
OHIO HAS TRADITIONALLY DEFINED
00:02:27MARRIAGE AS BETWEEN A MAN AND
WOMAN, AND THAT SAME-SEX
00:02:30MARRIAGE IS TOO NEW TO BE
CONSIDERED A DEEPLY ROOTED,
00:02:32FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT, BUT ATTORNEY
AL GERHARDSTEIN COUNTERED THAT
00:02:36OHIO'S REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE
OUT-OF-STATE GAY MARRIAGES
00:02:38VIOLATES THE DIGNITY OF SAME-SEX
COUPLES.
00:02:41HE SAID IT ALSO AMOUNTS TO
UNIQUE DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE
00:02:44OHIO HAS HISTORICALLY RECOGNIZED
MARRIAGES IN OTHER STATES THAT
00:02:49WOULD NOT BE LEGAL IN OHIO, SUCH
AS BETWEEN COUSINS OR INVOLVING
00:02:54MINORS.
THERE IS NO WORD ON WHEN THE
00:02:58COURT MIGHT RULE.
THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH MONTH
00:03:00ALREADY FOR ED FITZGERALD.
THE DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER FOR
00:03:03GOVERNOR COMES INTO AUGUST 12
POINTS DOWN TO INCUMBENT
00:03:06REPUBLICAN JOHN KASICH IN THE
LATEST QUINNIPIAC POLL, AND WITH
00:03:0865% OF RESPONDENTS SAYING THEY
DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM.
00:03:14THEN THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE
REPORTS FOR JUNE AND JULY CAME
00:03:16OUT, SHOWING KASICH HAS A NEARLY
5-TO-1 LEAD ON FITZGERALD IN
00:03:19TERMS OF MONEY RAISED.
KASICH HAS $11.4 MILLION ON
00:03:23HAND, COMPARED TO JUST SHY OF
$2.5 MILLION HELD BY FITZGERALD.
00:03:26AND THEN THERE WAS THE STORY
FROM LAST FRIDAY.
00:03:30FITZGERALD CANCELLED CAMPAIGN
APPEARANCES AND MET WITH
00:03:32REPORTERS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
ABOUT A SITUATION FROM OCTOBER,
00:03:352012, IN WHICH POLICE IN
WESTLAKE WEST OF CLEVELAND
00:03:39CHECKED OUT A CAR IN A DARK
PARKING LOT AT 4:30 A.M., AND
00:03:42FOUND FITZGERALD AND A WOMAN
FROM A DELEGATION FROM IRELAND.
00:03:46FITZGERALD AND THE WOMAN BOTH
SAY NOTHING WAS GOING ON, AND HE
00:03:51WAS NOT CITED FOR ANY ILLEGAL
ACTIVITY.
00:03:54FITZGERALD SAT ALONGSIDE
FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE
00:03:56PRESIDENT JAY MACDONALD, WHO HAD
BEEN TRAVELING WITH HIM THAT DAY
00:03:59FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE
FOP HAS ENDORSED FITZGERALD.
00:04:04TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT MR.
00:04:07KASICH AND HIS TEAM HAVE CHOSEN
THIS MOMENT, WHERE WE ARE
00:04:17STARTING TO COALESCE SUPPORT
AROUND MY RECORD ON LAW
00:04:21ENFORCEMENT AND SUPPORT FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT, BOTH IN MY EIGHT
00:04:25YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALSO
AS A MAYOR AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
00:04:28THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN THIS
MOMENT IN THE CAMPAIGN TO TRY TO
00:04:36INJECT A PERSONAL ATTACK, WHICH
IS AS LOW AS IT GETS.
00:04:38>> THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS'
ASSOCIATION FILED PUBLIC RECORDS
00:04:46REQUESTS IN MAY WITH THE
WESTLAKE POLICE, WHICH WAS
00:04:53REVEALED BY FITZGERALD'S
CAMPAIGN AFTER ITS OWN PUBLIC
00:04:56RECORDS REQUEST.
BUT SINCE THEN, A RECORDS CHECK
00:04:57HAS SHOWN THAT THE CUYAHOGA
COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAD ONLY A
00:05:02TEMPORARY DRIVER'S PERMIT THEN,
AND THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE A
00:05:04PERMANENT DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR A
DECADE BEFORE THAT.
00:05:06AND THAT WAS DURING A PERIOD
WHEN HE HAD KEYS TO A GOVERNMENT
00:05:08CAR, AND WITNESSES HAVE SAID
THEY SAW HIM DRIVING ALONE,
00:05:10WHICH WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF
THE LAW.
00:05:12IT WAS ALMOST INEVITABLE THAT
SOMETHING CONTROVERSIAL WOULD
00:05:16DEVELOP IN THIS HIGH-PROFILE
RACE, BUT IS THIS CONTROVERSIAL
00:05:22ENOUGH TO SINK FITZGERALD'S
CAMPAIGN, OR IS THIS SOMETHING
00:05:25THAT WILL BLOW OVER SINCE VOTERS
SIMPLY ARE NOT PAYING ENOUGH
00:05:27ATTENTION TO THE CAMPAIGN THIS
FAR AWAY FROM THE ELECTION?
00:05:30I'M PLEASED TO HAVE TWO CAMPAIGN
VETERANS HERE TO TALK ABOUT
00:05:32THOSE QUESTIONS AND THE OVERALL
CHALLENGE OF CAMPAIGNING DURING
00:05:33A CRISIS.
GREG HAAS WAS THE OHIO
00:05:38COORDINATED CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR
FOR THE CLINTON/GORE CAMPAIGN IN
00:05:401992, AND HAS RUN LOCAL AND
STATE-WIDE CAMPAIGNS, AS WELL AS
00:05:44THAT OF FORMER GOVERNOR RICHARD
CELESTE, AND UNTIL LAST MONTH HE
00:05:47WAS THE CHAIR OF THE FRANKLIN
COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
00:05:52HE IS ALSO A PUBLISHED AUTHOR
WORKING ON HIS SECOND BOOK.
00:05:54MARK WEAVER HAS BEEN AN ADVISOR
OR CONSULTANT TO SEVERAL
00:05:59REPUBLICAN OFFICEHOLDERS,
INCLUDING FORMER PRESIDENT
00:06:01RONALD REAGAN, FORMER SENATOR
MIKE DEWINE, AND ATTORNEY
00:06:06GENERAL BETTY MONTGOMERY.
HE ALSO TEACHES LAW AT OHIO
00:06:08STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON, AND IS THE
00:06:10PRESIDENT OF THE MEDIA RELATIONS
AND ADVERTISING FIRM
00:06:12COMMUNICATIONS COUNSEL.
YOU ARE BOTH SO BUSY.
00:06:17I AM THRILLED TO HAVE YOU BOTH
HERE.
00:06:18THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S START WITH THIS WHOLE
00:06:21QUESTION -- IS THE CAMPAIGN
OVER.
00:06:24WE HAVE TWO MONTHS UNTIL EARLY
VOTING.
00:06:26IS THE ELECTION DECIDED?
GREG HAAS?
00:06:29>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE ARE STILL A LONG WAY AWAY,
00:06:34AND POLITICAL LIFELINES, TWO OR
THREE AWAY.
00:06:41THE POLLS CONTINUE TO TREND
SLIGHTLY, NOT FAST ENOUGH AT
00:06:45THIS POINT, IN FITZGERALD'S
FAVOR.
00:06:48THE FOP ENDORSEMENT, WHICH IS
CRITICAL -- I CANNOT IMAGINE
00:06:56THAT THESE ISSUES THAT HAVE
POPPED UP OUR GOING TO MATTER TO
00:07:00PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING TO MAKE
ENDS MEET, AND, YOU KNOW,
00:07:05FIGHTING TO PROTECT THEIR
FAMILIES.
00:07:06>> MARK, LET ME PUT IT TO YOU --
IS THIS CAMPAIGN OVER?
00:07:10>> THERE IS CERTAINLY 90-SOME
DAYS LEFT, AND IT IS A BAD TURN
00:07:18OF EVENTS FOR ED FITZGERALD.
ALL OF OUR MOTHERS TOLD US FIRST
00:07:22IMPRESSIONS MATTER, AND THIS WAS
HIS FIRST IMPRESSION, A MAN
00:07:27FOUND IN A CAR AT 4:00 30 --
4:30 A.M. IN THE MORNING, WITH A
00:07:37WOMAN WHO IS NOT HIS WIFE, AND
HE KEPT A DRIVERS PERMIT THAT
00:07:42TEENAGERS USE AND OTHER TIMES
DID NOT HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE
00:07:47AT ALL.
IT IS NOT THE CRIME OF THE
00:07:49SENSORY, LIKE WATER GREAT, OR
CHAPPAQUIDDICK, BUT IT IS
00:07:56SOMETHING THAT SCRATCHES YOUR
HEAD AND SAYS WHAT IS HIS DEAL?
00:07:59>> THIS IS THE SECOND, AS YOU
SAID, BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND WE
00:08:05HAD THE SITUATION WHERE HE HAD
CHOSEN AN ATTORNEY, AND THERE
00:08:11WERE SOME TAX PROBLEMS REVEALED,
AND AT THAT TIME PEOPLE WERE
00:08:16SAYING THE ED FITZGERALD
CAMPAIGN WAS OVER.
00:08:18>> ONE SURE TEST THAT IT IS NOT
OVER IS THAT THE KASICH CAMPAIGN
00:08:23HAS LAUNCHED A VERY NEGATIVE
ATTACK AD, AND CERTAINLY THEY
00:08:27ARE TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON SOME
OF THIS STUFF, AND WHEN YOUR
00:08:33OPPONENT IS UNKNOWN -- 65% OF
THE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THEM --
00:08:40CERTAINLY PART OF IT, THEY ARE
TRYING TO ESTABLISH, AS MARK
00:08:43SAID, THE FIRST IMPRESSION, AND
MAKE IT A NEGATIVE ONE, BUT WHEN
00:08:47YOU HAVE A RACE IN THE BAG, AND
YOUR OPPONENT IS VIRTUALLY
00:08:51UNKNOWN AND YOU HAVE A HUGE
FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE, YOU KNOW
00:08:54INSTINCTIVELY IF THE RACE IS NOT
OVER IF YOU ARE GOING ON THE AIR
00:09:00NEGATIVE THIS EARLY IN THE
CAMPAIGN, IN AUGUST, SPENDING
00:09:02MONEY TO ATTACK YOUR OPPONENT.
>> LET ME ASK ABOUT THAT, MARK
00:09:07PENN THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS
ASSOCIATION, WHICH HAS BEEN
00:09:09DOING THE NEGATIVE ADS, THE RGA
KNEW ABOUT THE SITUATION IN
00:09:19WESTLAKE IN MAY.
IF IT IS IN THE BACK, WHY WOULD
00:09:23THEY BE FINDING THIS OPPOSITION
RESEARCH?
00:09:27>> I HAVE NOT TALKED TO ANYONE
AT RGA, BUT I KNOW THIS, IF THEY
00:09:32WERE TRYING TO HURT PAT
FITZGERALD, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE
00:09:35THE TIMING DIFFERENT.
THERE WAS STILL A FEW DAYS LEFT
00:09:40WHEN IT CAME OUT AND THEY
COULD'VE REPLACED THEIR
00:09:42GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.
IF THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY TO
00:09:45HURT PAT FITZGERALD, THEY WOULD
HAVE -- ED FITZGERALD, THEY
00:09:54WOULD HAVE DONE IT EARLIER.
I THINK HE WILL GIVE UP.
00:09:56HE WILL NOT SUSPEND NECESSARILY,
STOP MOVING AROUND THE STATE
00:10:00COMBAT OF YOUR HE GOES IT WILL
BE WHY YOU NOT RAISING MONEY,
00:10:02WHY ARE YOUR POLL NUMBERS
BETTER, HOW COME YOU DID NOT
00:10:07HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE FOR 10
YEARS.
00:10:10EVEN IF HE IS NOT ASKED ABOUT
THE WOMAN, HE WILL GET THOSE
00:10:12QUESTIONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN
AND IN HIS HEART HE WILL SAY I
00:10:17CANNOT WENT.
>> MARK, IN THE FIRST PART,
00:10:21BRINGING UP CHAPPAQUIDDICK --
>> WATERGATE IN PASSING -- AND
00:10:27WATERGATE.
>> WATERGATE IN PASSING, AND
00:10:33TALKING ABOUT THE WOMAN IN THE
DARK AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING, YOU
00:10:36HAVE THE DELEGATION TESTIFIED
THAT THEY WERE HEADED TO A
00:10:40HOTEL, MULTIPLE PEOPLE WERE
HEADED TO A HOTEL AND THEY
00:10:44SIMPLY GOT OFF TRACK.
THE HEAD OF THE IRISH DELEGATION
00:10:47SAID WE KNEW ED WAS TAKING HER,
BUT WE GET THIS IN A DARK CAR
00:10:53AND 4:30 IN THE MORNING AND THIS
CONSTANT POUNDING AWAY.
00:10:57YOU DO NOT CONTINUE TO HAVE THE
KNIVES OUT LIKE THAT WHEN YOU
00:11:04KNOW YOU HAVE IT IN THE BAG.
THE FACT IS THAT THIS WHOLE
00:11:07THING ABOUT FITZGERALD BEING
DROPPED OFF OF THE TICKET, IT IS
00:11:14SMART POLITICS ON THE
REPUBLICANS PART, AND THEY HAVE
00:11:16DONE A GREAT JOB.
THEY HAVE A CLEARLY DEFINED
00:11:19STRATEGY TO DISCREDIT
FITZGERALD, KEEP HIS MONEY FROM
00:11:24COMING IN, AND KEEP HIM OFF OF
THE RADAR IN TERMS OF GIVERS, IN
00:11:30ESSENCE SHUTTING DOWN HIS
CAMPAIGN.
00:11:31IT IS A SMART THING TO DO, AND
THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF IT.
00:11:34THE FACT IS, WE HAVE A GOVERNOR
INCUMBENT RUNNING AGAINST A
00:11:40VIRTUAL UNKNOWN, AND HE IS NOT
OVER 50%.
00:11:41THIS RACE IS NOT OVER.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT
00:11:45SOMETHING FITZGERALD DID
THURSDAY MORNING, THE DAY WE ARE
00:11:51TAPING THIS -- HE PUT OUT AN
E-MAIL WHERE HE BRIEFLY
00:11:54REFERENCED THIS FLAP, BUT HE
TALKED ABOUT IN MOST OF HIS
00:11:57E-MAIL HIS OLDEST SON WHO IS IN
REMISSION AFTER LONG -- NOT
00:12:05HOPKINS.
-- LYMPHOMA.
00:12:09HE WRITES THIS HAS ALLOWED OUR
FAMILIES TO PUT THE POLITICAL
00:12:12GAMES IN PERSPECTIVE.
WHILE THE REST OF THE PRESS WAS
00:12:16TALKING ABOUT DRIVERS LICENSE,
THE FOCUS WAS ON OUR FAMILY.
00:12:21>> WASN'T THAT FROM HIS WIFE?
>> IT WAS A JOINT STATEMENT.
00:12:26>> HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE, THEY
WERE MAKING CLEAR WHERE THEIR
00:12:32PRIORITIES WERE AT, WHERE THE
FOCUS WAS AT.
00:12:35THEY ARE NOT TRYING FOR SYMPATHY
ANYMORE THAN JOHN KASICH TALKING
00:12:40ABOUT HIS PARENTS BEING KILLED
IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT.
00:12:43IS IT TRYING FOR SYMPATHY WHEN
YOU DO THINGS LIKE THAT?
00:12:45WITH KASICH, I GIVE HIM CREDIT,
HE HAS A GOOD SPOT WHERE HE IS
00:12:52TALKING REAL AND FROM THE HEART,
BUT IT INVOLVES SOMETHING THAT
00:12:54WAS VERY PAINFUL FOR HIM.
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THEIR
00:12:56PERSPECTIVE IN THE SAME WAY.
>> LET ME ASK YOU, MARK, IS THIS
00:13:06LOOKING FOR SYMPATHY OR A WAY TO
TURN THE SPOTLIGHT AWAY FROM THE
00:13:08FLAT.
>> I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT HIS SON,
00:13:11IT IS THE FIRST I HAVE HEARD AND
IF HE IS CANCER-FREE, THAT IS A
00:13:15BLESSING.
IT SOUNDS LIKE FOR WHATEVER
00:13:16REASON ED FITZGERALD WANTS TO
SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIS FAMILY
00:13:20AND HE HAS HAD A HARD WEEK.
WHEN YOU HAVE A TOUGH WEEK, I
00:13:24WOULD WANT TO BE WITH MY FAMILY.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT
00:13:28HAPPENED WITH E-MAIL.
SEVERAL REPORTERS HAVE SAID THEY
00:13:29DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT MEANS, AT A
MUCH IS MEAN HE WANTS TO BE WITH
00:13:33HIS FAMILY AFTER A HARD WEEK OF
POLITICAL PROBLEMS.
00:13:34>> I THINK THE ENTIRE LETTER WAS
ABOUT PERSPECTIVE, IN THE SAME
00:13:40WAY THAT JOHN KASICH'S
TELEVISION AD IS ABOUT
00:13:44PERSPECTIVE IN LIFE.
>> LET ME STEP BACK AND ASK YOU
00:13:49BOTH ABOUT CAMPAIGNING DURING A
CRISIS IN GENERAL.
00:13:52A LOT OF CANDIDATES FACE
PERSONAL CRISES, HEALTH CRISES,
00:13:55FINANCIAL CRISES, WHEN THEY ARE
CAMPAIGNING.
00:13:56WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE SOMEONE TO
DO IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS?
00:14:00MARK, LET ME START WITH YOU, A
CANDIDATE FACING A MORAL, LEGAL,
00:14:06SOMETHING OTHER CRISIS -- WHAT
WOULD YOU SUGGEST?
00:14:11>> I ADVISE THE GOVERNOR OF
SOUTH DAKOTA WHEN HIS SON HOSTED
00:14:15A PARTY WHERE AN ALLEGED RAPE TO
FACE, AND THIS GOVERNOR SINCE
00:14:18DIED, BUT HE SAID TO ME I DO NOT
CARE ABOUT REELECTION, MY JOB, I
00:14:24AM A FATHER, AND THAT IS WHAT I
HAVE TO DO FIRST.
00:14:25THAT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST
EXPERIENCES IN MY POLITICAL
00:14:27CAREER AND I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN
IT.
00:14:29YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF HIS
FAMILY.
00:14:32ACCORDING TO ED FITZGERALD'S
AWARDS FOR HIS SON IS CANCER
00:14:37FREE, AND THAT IS A BLESSING,
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A FAMILY
00:14:39PROBLEM, YOU TAKE CARE OF THAT
FIRST.
00:14:42>> WHAT ABOUT THE DRIVERS
LICENSE ISSUED QUESTION MARK >>
00:14:45HE WILL BE ASKED TO THAT
EVERYWHERE HE GOES.
00:14:48IT IS NOT A HUGE SCANDAL, IT IS
JUST ODD AND WHEN IT IS A FIRST
00:14:52IMPRESSION, LIKE MOM SAID, FIRST
IMPRESSIONS MATTER.
00:14:55>> GREG HAAS, LET ME ASK YOU.
>> IT IS A CONCERN.
00:15:07THEY ARE DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING
NOW.
00:15:08A CAMPAIGN SPENDING ON -- IT IS
A BIG STEP FOR A CAMPAIGN THAT
00:15:12IS IN TROUBLE AND IT IS AND WILL
-- IMPORTANT AND THEY SEEM TO BE
00:15:15ABLE TO FUND IT THROUGHOUT.
WITH ANY TO DO IS GIVE PEOPLE A
00:15:20ROADMAP FOR HOW THEY WIN, THEY
NEED TO EXPLAIN IT.
00:15:23BUT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THE
KASICH HAS A CLEAR STRATEGY --
00:15:28YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS RIGHT
AWAY -- DISCREDIT OUR OPPONENT
00:15:31AND TALK ABOUT WHATEVER WE CAN
TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF PROGRESS.
00:15:34ON FITZGERALD'S PART, THAT
STRATEGY HAS NEVER BEEN
00:15:39REFLECTED OR ARTICULATED.
I HAVE NOT HEARD, NOR BEEN ABLE
00:15:42TO SORT OUT FROM THE CAMPAIGN
WHAT IS THE ROADMAP TO VICTORY,
00:15:46AND YOU NEED TO PUT THAT IN A
PACKAGE SO THAT PEOPLE
00:15:49UNDERSTAND IT, AND CAN SEE IT,
AND IF YOU DO NOT DO THAT,
00:15:52PEOPLE ARE LEFT TO FOCUS ON ALL
OF THESE KIND OF TACTICS, OR
00:15:56DISTRACTIONS, AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
00:15:59YOU NEED TO REALLY SHOW THE
PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY THE OPINION
00:16:02MAKERS.
>> HOW DO YOU AVOID QUESTIONS
00:16:05FROM PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHY DIDN'T
YOU HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE?
00:16:09>> YOU CANNOT AVOID THOSE, AND I
THINK MARK IS RIGHT.
00:16:15IT IS A NAGGING QUESTION THAT
WILL NOT GO AWAY, BUT THOSE
00:16:18NAGGING QUESTIONS REALLY DO NOT
DO A LOT OF DAMAGE.
00:16:20YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC JUST USE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS -- I
00:16:25THINK MARK'S ASSESSMENT IS
RIGHT.
00:16:28IT IS STRANGE.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD WHY THAT WAS
00:16:32THE CASE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE
END, IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL.
00:16:36>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE
EFFECT ON DOWN TICKET RACES --
00:16:44FOUR OTHER RACES ARE STATEWIDE.
THREE OF THE FOUR DEMOCRATS
00:16:49OUT-RAISED THE REPUBLICAN
INCUMBENTS IN THE LAST CYCLE.
00:16:52I AM WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK
THE EFFECT WILL BE?
00:16:54>> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE
TOP OF THE TICKET BE COMPETITIVE
00:17:01GOING INTO THE FINAL RACES FOR
ANY TICKET, BUT THIS IS NOT LIKE
00:17:05A LOT OF OTHER YEARS.
THERE IS LIFE IN SOME OF THESE
00:17:09STATEWIDE CAMPAIGNS.
I THINK WITH THE COMBINATION OF
00:17:15LOCAL CAMPAIGNS, THINGS THAT ARE
GOING ON, WE WILL HAVE OK
00:17:20TURNOUT.
IT IS NOT GOING TO BE WHAT THE
00:17:2212 WAS.
IT WILL BE BETTER THAN 2010.
00:17:25>> MARK, COULD THERE BE
OVERCONFIDENCE HERE, PERHAPS, IN
00:17:33THE DOWN TICKET RACES, EVEN THE
GOVERNOR'S RACE?
00:17:34>> IN 2006, REPUBLICANS LEARNED
WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HAVE A WEEK
00:17:39CANDIDATE AT THE TOP OF THE
TICKET, AND THERE WAS A NEAR
00:17:42SWEEP.
IN 1994, DEMOCRATS LEARNED WHAT
00:17:45IT WAS LIKE TO HAVE A WEEK
CANDIDATE AT THE TOP OF THE
00:17:48TICKET.
IT HAS BEEN SAID FITZGERALD HAS
00:17:53ONLY DAMAGED HIMSELF, BUT THE
ENTIRE -- HAS NOT ONLY DAMAGED
00:17:57HIMSELF, BUT FROM THE ENTIRE
DOWN TICKET.
00:17:59>> COULDN'T THERE BE
OVERCONFIDENCE -- DID WE NOT SEE
00:18:03THAT IN LATE-2012 WITH MITT
ROMNEY?
00:18:05>> I TELL EVERY CANDIDATE THAT
YOU RUN UNTIL ELECTION NIGHT.
00:18:12THAT IS SMART POLITICS.
ED FITZGERALD FITZGERALD HAS
00:18:16BEEN SO AMATEUR, IT IS ALMOST AS
IF HE HAS A LEARNER'S PERMIT FOR
00:18:21HOW TO RUN STATEWIDE.
>> WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE.
00:18:26GREG HAAS AND MARK WEAVER, THANK
YOU. THE STATE HAS SETTLED A
00:18:31CONTROVERSIAL LAWSUIT WITH
270,000 OHIO SMALL BUSINESSES
00:18:33WHO HAD WON NEARLY $1 BILLION
DOLLARS IN TWO PREVIOUS RULINGS
00:18:35AGAINST THE BUREAU OF WORKERS'
COMPENSATION.
00:18:38THE LAST RULING AGAINST THE BWC
WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING.
00:18:41THE RULING IN MAY FROM THE
EIGHTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
00:18:43CALLED THE BWC SYSTEM, QUOTING
HERE, "A CABAL OF BUREAUCRATS
00:18:47AND LOBBYISTS FOR GROUP SPONSORS
WHO RIGGED WORKERS' COMPENSATION
00:18:49INSURANCE PREMIUM RATES, SO THAT
FOR EMPLOYERS WHO PARTICIPATED
00:18:54IN THE BWC'S GROUP RATING PLAN
IT WAS 'HEADS YOU WIN,' AND FOR
00:18:59EMPLOYERS WHO DID NOT
PARTICIPATE IN THE GROUP RATING
00:19:01PLAN IT WAS 'TAILS YOU LOSE.'"
BUT THAT SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT NOW
00:19:05WITH THIS LAWSUIT AND THE
SETTLEMENT, WHICH BRINGS ONLY
00:19:08HALF OF WHAT THE BUSINESSES HAD
WON IN PREVIOUS RULINGS BUT ALSO
00:19:10BRINGS SOME CHANGES.
LAST WEEK I TALKED ABOUT THE
00:19:16SETTLEMENT WITH CLEVELAND
ATTORNEY JAMES DEROCHE WHO
00:19:17, REPRESENTED THE BUSINESSES IN
THIS CASE.
00:19:20HE JOINS US THROUGH THE
FACILITIES OF WVIZ/IDEASTREAM IN
00:19:22CLEVELAND.
SO, WHY DID YOU GO TO THE
00:19:26SETTLEMENT WHEN IT WAS ONLY HALF
OF WHAT YOU HAD WON IN THE TWO
00:19:32PREVIOUS RULINGS?
LIKE THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
00:19:34IN A SITUATION WHERE YOUR RESULT
IN A LAWSUIT, -- >> THAT IS A
00:19:40GOOD QUESTION, IN ANY SITUATION
WHERE YOU ARE RESOLVING A
00:19:42LAWSUIT, YOU NEGOTIATE BECAUSE
THERE ARE RISKS ON BOTH SIDES.
00:19:45FRANKLY, THERE WAS A
MODIFICATION OF THE AWARD IN THE
00:19:50COURT OF APPEALS ALREADY THAT
ACTUALLY LOWERED THE AMOUNT TO
00:19:55APPROXIMATELY $650,000.
SO WE ACTUALLY GOT SUBSTANTIALLY
00:19:59MORE THAN HALF IN THE SETTLEMENT
FROM WHAT THE ULTIMATE AWARD
00:20:02WOULD HAVE BEEN IN LIGHT OF THE
COURT OF APPEALS DECISION.
00:20:03BUT THERE ARE A HUGE NUMBER OF
BUSINESSES INVOLVED, 270,000
00:20:08BUSINESSES, SOME OF THE MEDIAN
-- MEDIUM-SIZED, SOME OF THEM
00:20:14SMALL BUSINESSES.
WHAT IS THE CASE MEAN TO THE
00:20:17BUSINESSES QUESTIONED WHETHER
THEY WANT TO GO THROUGH THE
00:20:21SEVEN-YEAR PROCESS TO GET TO
THIS POINT?
00:20:23LIKE THE SEVEN-YEAR PROCESS
INVOLVED MORE THAN -- >> THE
00:20:28SEVEN HAVING YOUR PROCESS
INVOLVES MORE THAN THIS MONETARY
00:20:30FUND AT THE END.
EARLY IN THE CASE WE DID MOVE
00:20:32FOR AN INJUNCTION, AND WE HAVE
SEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED INJUNCTION
00:20:36FROM THE COMMON PLEAS COURT HERE
IN CLEVELAND THAT FORCED THE
00:20:39BUREAU TO TAKE STEPS TO FIX THE
PROBLEM AND STOP OVERCHARGING
00:20:43THESE BUSINESSES.
AS A RESULT OF THAT INJUNCTION,
00:20:46THE BUREAU, IN FACT, AFTER THE
POLICY YEAR, 2008, DID IN FACT
00:20:53FIX THE PROBLEM.
THE OVERCHARGES STOPPED.
00:20:56THAT WAS A HUGE BENEFIT TO THIS
CLASS BE ON THE MONETARY BENEFIT
00:21:01THEY WILL SEE THROUGH THE
SETTLEMENT.
00:21:02IT SAVES THEM AS MUCH AS 20% ON
THEIR WORKERS COMPENSATION
00:21:06POLICIES GOING FORWARD.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK WHY
00:21:12THIS CASE WAS SO IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO HAVE GO
00:21:14UNDER THE RADAR FOR A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
00:21:17IT WENT ON FOR SEVEN YEARS, HAD
TO EDIT 75,000 BUSINESSES
00:21:20INVOLVED, AND UP UNTIL RECENTLY
-- AND HAD 275,000 BUSINESSES
00:21:28INVOLVED AND UP UNTIL RECENTLY
IT WENT ON WITHOUT A LOT OF
00:21:31ATTENTION.
>> IT DID, AND THAT IS NOT
00:21:34UNUSUAL THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
RUNNING THEIR BUSINESSES.
00:21:38CANNOT WAIT ABOUT A LAWSUIT THAT
IS PENDING IN A COURT IN
00:21:40CLEVELAND -- THEY ARE NOT
WORRIED ABOUT A LAWSUIT PENDING
00:21:45IN A COURT IN CLEVELAND.
THEY ARE BUSY TO BE THEIR HEADS
00:21:47ABOVE WATER TO PAY THEIR WORKERS
AND COMPENSATION.
00:21:53IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT HE
CANNOT RECEIVE A LOT OF
00:21:58ATTENTION AS A MOVE TO THE
COURTS.
00:21:59AS YOU KNOW, IT IS A LONG
PROCESS.
00:22:01IT WAS A LONG, HARD FIGHT TO GET
TO THIS POINT.
00:22:05THERE WERE CONFISCATED LEGAL AND
FACTUAL ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE
00:22:08ADDRESSED IN THIS LAWSUIT --
THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLICATED
00:22:14LEGAL AND FACTUAL ISSUES THAT
NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THIS
00:22:16LAWSUIT AND IT TOOK TIME TO WORK
THROUGH THOSE ISSUES.
00:22:18AGAIN, IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT
A CASE LIKE THIS DOES NOT GARNER
00:22:24A LOT OF ATTENTION AS IT IS
MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE
00:22:25COURTS.
>> IN THE SEVEN-YEAR PERIOD, DID
00:22:28A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES INVOLVED
ACTUALLY GO OUT OF BUSINESS?
00:22:34>> WE CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT IS
THE CASE.
00:22:36IN ANY BUSINESS CYCLE, YOU WILL
HAVE A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT
00:22:39WILL NOT SURVIVE FOR ONE REASON
OR ANOTHER.
00:22:42SO, I AM SURE SOME OF THEM HAVE
GONE OUT OF BUSINESS.
00:22:45IN THE MEANTIME, SOME OF THEM
FRANKLY COULD HAVE GONE OUT OF
00:22:47BUSINESS BEFORE THIS LAWSUIT WAS
EVEN FILED BECAUSE THE CLAIM
00:22:50DATES BACK TO 2001, AND THE
LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN 2007, SO
00:22:58THAT MIGHT'VE BEEN DONE BEFORE
WE STARTED THE PROCESS.
00:22:59I WANT TO MENTION, THAT IS ONE
OF THE REASONS WHY A SETTLEMENT
00:23:02IS USUALLY BETTER THAN
PROCEEDING WITH A PROTRACTED
00:23:04LITIGATION FURTHER.
THE LONGER WE WAITED, FRANKLY,
00:23:09THERE IS MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR SOME OF THESE FOLKS TO GO
00:23:12OUT OF BUSINESS AND NOT BE
THERE, NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A
00:23:15RECOVERY OF THE MONEY THAT THEY
ARE OWED.
00:23:17SO, THAT IS A BENEFIT AS WELL,
GETTING MONEY SOONER RATHER THAN
00:23:22LATER SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A
DISTRIBUTION TO THIS PEOPLE --
00:23:23THESE PEOPLE.
>> THE SETTLEMENT PROCESS
00:23:28STARTED, AND THE SEVEN HAVING
YOUR CASE IS NOW AT AN END.
00:23:30IS THERE HE'S -- SEVEN-YEAR
CASES NOW AT AN END.
00:23:35IS THERE PEACE?
>> I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT.
00:23:41PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE A CONCERN
WITH THE BUREAU OF WORKER'S
00:23:45COMPENSATION.
IT IS A BIG SYSTEM.
00:23:46THE BUREAU ALWAYS HAS TO DEAL
WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE UNHAPPY FOR
00:23:50ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.
I THINK IT RINGS PEACE ON THIS
00:23:53ISSUE.
THE RATES IN OHIO ARE AS LOW AS
00:23:58THEY HAVE EVER BEEN, IN LARGE
PART BECAUSE OF THIS DYSFUNCTION
00:24:01THAT WAS CORRECTED AS A RESULT
OF THIS LAWSUIT NO LONGER
00:24:06EXISTING.
FROM THAT RESPECT, WE ARE AT
00:24:08PEACE IN TERMS OF OUR RATES
BEING LOWER, BUT IN MY EXPENSE,
00:24:15EMPLOYERS WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOME
KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THE BUREAU
00:24:16OF WORKER'S COMPENSATION.
THEY ARE A COST OF BUSINESS AND
00:24:20NO ONE LIKES COSTS.
>> BUREAU OF WORKERS'
00:24:25COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATOR AND
CEO STEVEN BUEHRER OFFERED THIS
00:24:30RESPONSE TO THE SETTLEMENT.
>> TODAY'S AGREEMENT ALLOWS US
00:24:34TO CONTINUE THE CLEAR PRINCIPLE
THAT BWC HAS THE AUTHORITY TO
00:24:36SET RATES, AND AT THE SAME TIME
PROTECTS THE ASSETS OF THE STATE
00:24:40INSURANCE FUND.
>> AND THIS STATEMENT WAS
00:24:43PROVIDED ON THE BWC'S WEBSITE --
"OHIO HAS MADE MAJOR CHANGES TO
00:24:45ITS WORKERS' COMPENSATION SYSTEM
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
00:24:47THE POLICIES THAT WERE AT ISSUE
IN THIS LITIGATION IN 2007 ARE
00:24:49NOT THE SAME ONES IN PLACE
TODAY, AND WE'RE PLEASED THAT WE
00:24:52HAVE REACHED A SETTLEMENT SO WE
CAN MOVE FORWARD.
00:24:56IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO
HOW PREMIUMS AND DISCOUNTS ARE
00:24:59CALCULATED, AS WELL AS TO
BILLING PRACTICES, AND PREMIUMS
00:25:02ARE CONTINUING TO GO DOWN AS A
RESULT.
00:25:04SOUND MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST
FUND MADE IT POSSIBLE TO RETURN
00:25:07$1 BILLION IN REBATES TO
CUSTOMERS LAST YEAR, AND MAJOR
00:25:11INVESTMENTS IN WORKPLACE SAFETY
ARE HELPING EMPLOYERS DO A
00:25:14BETTER JOB OF PREVENTING
INJURIES BY KEEPING THEIR
00:25:17WORKERS SAFE.
ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE
00:25:20PAYING OFF FOR WORKERS AND
BUSINESSES, AND WE'RE GOING TO
00:25:22KEEP BUILDING ON THEM."
THERE ARE REPORTS OF SOME MIXED
00:25:24REACTIONS FROM BUSINESS OWNERS,
SOME SAYING THEY'RE PLEASED THE
00:25:27LAWSUIT IS FINALLY SETTLED AFTER
SEVEN YEARS, WITH OTHERS SAYING
00:25:32THEY'RE BOTHERED THAT THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT IS HALF OF WHAT THE TWO
00:25:34EARLIER RULINGS HAD ORDERED THE
BWC TO PAY.
00:25:38THE BWC SAYS ANY ENTITY OR
ORGANIZATION OWED MONEY MUST
00:25:42FILE A CLAIM WITH THE CUYAHOGA
COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT BY
00:25:44SEPTEMBER 22.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
00:25:46FOR 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,
00:25:54PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
STATENEWS.ORG, OR WATCH ON THE
00:25:59OHIO CHANNEL'S WEBSITE, OR AT
IDEASTREAM.ORG/OHIO.
00:26:01AND YOU CAN FOLLOW JO INGLES,
ANDY CHOW AND ME ON TWITTER.
00:26:05AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT
TIME FOR "THE STATE OF OHIO."
00:26:09?
>> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE
00:26:20BROADCAST OF "THE STATE OF OHIO"
COMES FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF
00:26:22PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS & ARTHUR
LLP., HELPING BUSINESSES AND
00:26:26INDIVIDUALS SOLVE COMPLEX LEGAL
PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OHIO, ACROSS
00:26:29THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD
-- ON THE WEB AT
00:26:31PORTERWRIGHT.COM.
AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
00:26:35ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING
121,000 TEACHERS, SUPPORT
00:26:38PROFESSIONALS, AND HIGHER
EDUCATION FACULTY COMMITTED TO
00:26:41THE SUCCESS OF EVERY CHILD,
ONLINE AT OHEA.ORG.
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions