00:00:37>> AFTER MONTHS OF CAMPAIGNING,
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND
00:00:40MOUNTAINS OF ADS, THE ELECTION
OF 2012 IS OVER.
00:00:42WE'LL RUN DOWN THE KEY RACES IN
OHIO AND HOW THE VOTE BROKE OUT.
00:00:46AND WE'LL PREVIEW WHAT'S AHEAD
NOW THAT WE KNOW WHO WON.
00:00:50ALL THIS WEEK IN "THE STATE OF
OHIO"
00:00:53BY NOW, IT'S OLD NEWS -
PRESIDENT OBAMA DEFEATED GOV.
00:00:59MITT ROMNEY BY 107,241 VOTES,
ACCORDING TO THE UNOFFICIAL
00:01:06TALLY FROM THE SECRETARY OF
STATE'S OFFICE.
00:01:07THAT'S A MARGIN OF EXACTLY TWO
PERCENT AMONG 5,364,324 VOTES
00:01:11CAST IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
THE MAP LOOKED LIKE A TYPICAL
00:01:18DEMOCRATIC WIN - OBAMA WON THE
STATE'S SIX BIGGEST COUNTIES,
00:01:21AND TWO THIRDS OF THE VOTE IN
THE BIGGEST CITIES.
00:01:23ROMNEY WON THE REST OF THE
STATE, WHICH INCLUDED THE
00:01:27SUBURBS AND RURAL AREAS,
INCLUDING SEVERAL TRADITIONAL
00:01:32BELLWETHER COUNTIES SUCH AS
LAKE AND STARK.
00:01:33NONE OF THE MINOR PARTY
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES CRACKED
00:01:37THE 1% MARK - LIBERTARIAN GARY
JOHNSON BROUGHT HIS PARTY
00:01:40CLOSER TO THAT THAN IT'S BEEN IN
A WHILE WITH .88%.
00:01:44BUT ALL TOGETHER, THE
ALTERNATIVE PARTY CANDIDATES
00:01:48ONLY TOOK A LITTLE OVER ONE AND
A HALF PERCENT OF THE VOTE.
00:01:49VOTERS ALSO SENT INCUMBENT
DEMOCRAT SHERROD BROWN BACK TO
00:01:53THE US SENATE BY A WIDER MARGIN
- OF THE 5.2 MILLION VOTES CAST
00:02:00IN THAT RACE, 50% WENT FOR
BROWN, 45% FOR MANDEL.
00:02:04ON ELECTION NIGHT, BROWN WAS
JUBILANT BUT SO HOARSE HIS
00:02:13WIFE, COLUMNIST CONNIE SCHULTZ,
HAD TO HELP HIM WITH HIS SPEECH,
00:02:16WHILE MANDEL WAS APPRECIATIVE
BUT A BIT SOMBER.
00:02:22>> THEY RAN 50,000 ADS AGAINST
MY HUSBAND
00:02:24ALL OF THE SAME TIME, THERE WERE
POISONING OUR AIR WAVES.
00:02:33YOU KNOW WHAT?
THESE GROUPS, THEY DID NOT KNOW
00:02:39OHIO.
[APPLAUSE]
00:02:41HERE IS WHAT THEY DO NOT KNOW.
THEY DID NOT KNOW WE HAVE THE
00:02:51BEST GRASS ROOTS EFFORT IN
AMERICA.
00:02:53THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT WE HAVE
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS.
00:03:02[APPLAUSE]
THEY DID THAT NOW WE HAVE MORE
00:03:07THAN 100,000 CONTRIBUTORS.
AND THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT YOU,
00:03:22OUR FELLOW OHIOANS, COULD NOT BE
BOUGHT.
00:03:23>> I AM PROUD TO STAND UP HERE.
I BELIEVE WE LEFT IT ALL ON THE
00:03:25FIELD.
I CANNOT THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE
00:03:26WE COULD'VE DONE TO WIN THE
CAMPAIGN.
00:03:27I AM PROUD OF THE EFFORT WE PUT
FORTH.
00:03:30I BELIEVE WE PUT FORTH
EVERYTHING WE COULD IN HONOR AND
00:03:35INTEGRITY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TELL
00:03:39EVERYONE HERE THAT THIS IS NOT
THE END OF THE FIGHT.
00:03:41THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A
FIGHT.
00:03:44THE ISSUES WE FIGHT FOR CONTINUE
TONIGHT.
00:03:55THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN, THOSE
LONG NIGHTS, TO IN THE MORNING,
00:04:02COMING TO BED, WAKING UP, WE
WERE PUTTING IN THE SWEAT
00:04:05BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN SOMETHING.
WE BELIEVE IN SOMETHING GREATER
00:04:08THAN OUR OWN SELF INTEREST.
WE BELIEVE IN ISSUES THAT AFFECT
00:04:12REGULAR FAMILIES AROUND THE
STATE AND COUNTRY EVERY DAY AND
00:04:16WE ALSO BELIEVE IN THIS GREAT
COUNTRY.
00:04:18>> THIS RACE GOES DOWN AS THE
MOST EXPENSIVE US SENATE RACE IN
00:04:21OHIO HISTORY, AND THE FOURTH
MOST EXPENSIVE SENATE RACE IN
00:04:23THE COUNTRY.
THE WATCHDOG SITE
00:04:26OPENSECRETS.ORG REPORTS THE
CANDIDATES SPENT NEARLY 32 AND
00:04:28A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, WHILE
OUTSIDE GROUPS SPENT MORE THAN
00:04:3136 MILLION DOLLARS, TOTALING
NEARLY 69 MILLION DOLLARS IN
00:04:35THAT ONE RACE.
BUT OHIO'S SENATE RACE WAS
00:04:39STILL BEHIND THE SENATE RACES
IN WISCONSIN AND MASSACHUSETTS,
00:04:43WITH THE VIRGINIA SENATE RACE
THE COUNTRY'S MOST COSTLY.
00:04:45OHIO ALSO SAW THE 3RD AND 7TH
MOST EXPENSIVE US HOUSE RACES -
00:04:52THE 8TH DISTRICT RACE, WHICH
FEATURED HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN
00:04:55BOEHNER AND NO DEMOCRATIC
OPPONENT.
00:04:56BOEHNER RAISED NEARLY 21
MILLION DOLLARS AND SPENT 20
00:05:01MILLION - CONTRIBUTING 12
MILLION TO OTHER REPUBLICAN
00:05:05CANDIDATES AND COMMITTEES TO
MAKE SURE HIS PARTY KEPT THE
00:05:08MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE, AND THAT
HE KEPT HIS JOB AS SPEAKER.
00:05:10AND THERE WAS THE 16TH
DISTRICT, WHICH WAS ONE OF TWO
00:05:14IN THE NATION PITTING A PAIR OF
INCUMBENTS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
00:05:17IN THAT RACE, REPUBLICAN JIM
RENACCI NARROWLY BEAT DEMOCRAT
00:05:22BETTY SUTTON, WHICH MAKES
OHIO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
00:05:25NOW 12 REPUBLICANS AND FOUR
DEMOCRATS.
00:05:26$9.8 MILLION SPENT BY OUTSIDE
GROUPS.
00:05:35IN THE OHIO SENATE,
REPUBLICANS KEEP THEIR MAJORITY
00:05:42WITH THE SAME NUMBER OF SEATS
NEXT YEAR AFTER A DEMOCRAT
00:05:45FENDED OFF HIS GOP CHALLENGER.
STATE SEN.
00:05:47LOU GENTILE, OF STEUBENVILLE,
BEAT REPUBLICAN SHANE THOMPSON,
00:05:51OF ST.
CLAIRSVILLE, TO KEEP HIS SEAT
00:05:52IN EASTERN OHIO.
REPUBLICANS HOLD A 23-10 EDGE
00:05:56IN THE SENATE, AND THEY WILL
CONTINUE WITH THAT MARGIN NEXT
00:05:59YEAR.
IN THE HOUSE, IT'S STILL
00:06:02UNCLEAR WHAT THE FINAL
BREAKDOWN WOULD BE.
00:06:03THE GOP CAME INTO THE ELECTION
WITH A 59-40 MAJORITY, WITH 14
00:06:07APPOINTEES RUNNING FOR THEIR
SEATS.
00:06:09THOSE 14 WERE ALL RE-ELECTED,
AND THE ONLY APPARENTLY LOSS
00:06:13WAS CASEY KOZLOWSKI, WHO LOST
TO RETIRED TEACHER JOHN
00:06:15PATTERSON.
TWO OTHER RACES ARE TOO CLOSE
00:06:21TO CALL - REPUBLICAN MIKE
DOVILLA OF BEREA IS LEADING
00:06:23CHALLENGER MATT PATTEN BY 305
VOTES, AND AL LANDIS OF DOVER IS
00:06:28AHEAD OF DEMOCRAT JOSHUA
O'FARRELL BY 270 VOTES.
00:06:32BUT DEMOCRATS EXPRESSED
CONFIDENCE WEDNESDAY THAT NOT-
00:06:37YET-COUNTED BALLOTS WOULD GIVE
THEM THE SEATS.
00:06:39IN THE OHIO SUPREME COURT
RACES, THE PARTY BALANCE STAYS
00:06:43THE SAME, AFTER A REPUBLICAN
INCUMBENT AND A DEMOCRATIC
00:06:47JUSTICE WERE KNOCKED OFF.
JUSTICE ROBERT CUPP FELL TO
00:06:51FORMER JUDGE BILL O'NEILL, WHO
WAS ON HIS THIRD TRY TO GET ON
00:06:56THE HIGH COURT.
THE TWO HAD BEEN IN A BATTLE
00:06:59THAT HAD GOTTEN SURPRISINGLY
NASTY FOR A SUPREME COURT RACE.
00:07:01AND JUSTICE YVETTE MCGEE BROWN,
WHO WAS IN HER FIRST RACE FOR
00:07:05HER SEAT ON THE BENCH AFTER
BEING APPOINTED BY FORMER GOV.
00:07:07TED STRICKLAND, WAS OUSTED BY
CHALLENGER SHARON KENNEDY, WHO
00:07:12HAD RECEIVED A "NOT
RECOMMENDED" RATING BY THE OHIO
00:07:14STATE BAR ASSOCIATION.
AND BOTH THE STATEWIDE ISSUES
00:07:18FAILED.
ISSUE 1 WOULD HAVE CONVENED A
00:07:21CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, AND
STATE LAWMAKERS WERE HOPING IT
00:07:25WOULDN'T PASS SO THEY COULD
CONTINUE WITH AN APPOINTED
00:07:28COMMISSION WHICH WILL MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHANGES TO
00:07:30THE CONSTITUTION.
AND THEN THERE WAS ISSUE 2, THE
00:07:34PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO REVISE
OHIO'S REDISTRICTING PROCESS BY
00:07:37TAKING THE AUTHORITY TO DRAW
DISTRICT BOUNDARIES FOR FEDERAL
00:07:40AND STATE LAWMAKERS OUT OF THE
HANDS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND
00:07:45PUT IT WITH A 12 MEMBER CITIZENS
COMMISSION.
00:07:46OPPONENTS OF THE REDISTRICTING
AMENDMENT - THE OHIO REPUBLICAN
00:07:51PARTY, ALONG WITH BUSINESS AND
SOCIALLY CONSERVATIVE GROUPS -
00:07:54RAISED MORE THAN 7 MILLION
DOLLARS TO FIGHT IT.
00:07:55COALITION SPOKESMAN CARLO
LOPARO SAYS EVERYONE AGREES THAT
00:07:58THE MAP DRAWING PROCESS CAN BE
IMPROVED, AND THIS COMPLICATED
00:08:03AND CONVOLUTED ISSUE DIDN'T DO
IT.
00:08:04>> THE VOTERS TOOK A LOOK AT
THE ISSUE AND DECIDED IT'S NOT
00:08:12A BETTER SOLUTION THAN THE
CURRENT PLAN.
00:08:14IF WE IMPROVE THE SYSTEM, WE
SHOULD AT LEAST IMPROVE THE
00:08:17PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT
EVERYBODY HAS A CONCERN WITH.
00:08:19>> ISSUE 2 WAS BACKED BY
DEMOCRATS AND UNION GROUPS AS
00:08:23PART OF A COALITION CALLING
ITSELF VOTERS FIRST.
00:08:24SPOKESMAN BRIAN ROTHENBERG SAYS
THE OTHER SIDE RAN A DECEPTIVE
00:08:33CAMPAIGN, BUT IT WASN'T A WASTE.
>> DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
00:08:45THEY DAY WILL COME WHEN PEOPLE
WILL HAVE A VOICE IN THEIR
00:08:48GOVERNMENT.
RELEASED THIS WEEK
00:09:00BY VOTERS SHOWED>> THEY ADMITTED
THERE IS A PEOPLE WILL HAVE A
00:09:02VOICE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT AGAIN.
SUPPORTERS WILL PRESSURE
00:09:06LAWMAKERS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS
ON HOW TO CHANGE REDISTRICTING
00:09:09MAPS ARE DRAWN.
THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR 97 OF 99
00:09:11OHIO HOUSE DISTRICTS.
THE DEFEAT OF ISSUE 2 HAS A LOT
00:09:12OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT
REDISTRICTING - AND WHETHER IT
00:09:15SHOULD BE PART OF THE AGENDA
FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL
00:09:16MODERNIZATION COMMISSION, OR IF
IT SHOULD COME BEFORE THE
00:09:19LEGISLATURE.
TWO DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION,
00:09:23THE BIG IMPACT OHIO CONFERENCE
CONVENED - IT HAPPENS AFTER
00:09:25EVERY BIG ELECTION, BRINGING
TOGETHER SOME OF THE BEST-KNOWN
00:09:29AND LONGEST-SERVING
POLITICIANS, LOBBYISTS,
00:09:30STRATEGISTS, JOURNALISTS AND
OTHERS INVOLVED IN POLITICS.
00:09:34AT A PANEL ON THURSDAY MORNING,
MIKE CURTIN, RETIRED FROM THE
00:09:39COLUMBUS DISPATCH, CELEBRATED
HIS STATUS AS A NEWLY ELECTED
00:09:43DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE
FROM COLUMBUS BY TAKING A
00:09:46QUESTION ABOUT ISSUE 2.
CURTIN HAD CAMPAIGNED FOR IT,
00:09:50AND TOLD THE CROWD THAT THERE
IS STILL A CHANCE THAT THE
00:09:52CURRENT MAPS MAY BE THROWN OUT
BECAUSE OF A COURT CASE THAT'S
00:09:54STILL PENDING AND IS LIKELY TO
BE RESOLVED SOON.
00:09:56>> I BELIEVE THERE IS A VERY
GOOD CHANCE THAT THIS OHIO
00:10:00SUPREME COURT
BEFORE THE YEAR IS OVER, BECAUSE
00:10:06IT MUST BE BEFORE THE TERM IS
UP, THAT WE HAVE AN
00:10:11UNCONSTITUTIONAL MAP, AND THAT
THE STATE APPORTIONMENT BOARD,
00:10:15AS IT EXISTS, WILL BE SENT BACK
INTO ACTION TO DROP 33 NEW
00:10:19SENATE DISTRICTS AND 99 NEW
HOUSE DISTRICTS, WHICH COMPORT
00:10:24WITH THE CLEAR LANGUAGE OF
ARTICLE 11, SECTION SEVEN.
00:10:29>> REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE
JON HUSTED WAS ALSO RELISHING A
00:10:33FAIRLY SMOOTH ELECTION NIGHT
PERFORMANCE BY THE STATE'S
00:10:35ELECTIONS SYSTEM.
HUSTED SAID EVEN IF THE COURT
00:10:37DID THROW OUT THE MAPS, THEY
WOULD BE REDRAWN BY WHAT HE
00:10:40CALLS THE SAME BROKEN SYSTEM.
>> I THINK THAT THE FAILURE OF
00:10:43ISSUE 2
MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT ON TWO
00:10:51LEVELS TO GET ANYTHING DONE IN
THE SHORT TERM.
00:10:55ONE, BECAUSE BOTH SIDES SAID A
LOT OF TOUGH THINGS ABOUT EACH
00:10:59OTHER, AND ARE NOT GOING TO BE
UNNECESSARILY -- DID NOT
00:11:06NECESSARILY CREATE A CLIMATE TO
GET BACK AT THE TABLE COME AND
00:11:12TWO, A LOT OF FOLKS WENT OUT AND
RALLY A LOT OF SUPPORTERS TO BE
00:11:17IN FAVOR OF DEFEATING OR
ADVOCATING IN FAVOR OF THEIR
00:11:24PARTICULAR POSITION, AND IT WILL
BE HARD TO GET BACK TO THE SAME
00:11:28FOLKS TO SING NOW WE ARE GOING
TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
00:11:30>> BUT HUSTED SAID HE'S A
BELIEVER THAT THIS WILL CHANGE
00:11:33BECAUSE - QUOTING HIM HERE -
IT'S AN OUTDATED PROCESS THAT
00:11:35LEADS TO A TOXIC POLITICAL
ENVIRONMENT.
00:11:37HUSTED ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE
WAY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE
00:11:40PROBLEMS THAT OHIO HAS FACED
WITH ELECTIONS LAWS IS TO CHANGE
00:11:43OHIO'S STATUS AS A KEY
BATTLEGROUND STATE.
00:11:45>> YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO FIX
THE ELECTIONS PROCESS IN OHIO AS
00:11:49LONG AS WE'RE
THE MOST IMPORTANT SWING STATE
00:11:54IN THE COUNTRY.
THE WAY THAT YOU -- IN TERMS OF
00:11:59NOT HAVING CONTROVERSY AROUND
IT, WHETHER IT IS A SECRETARY OF
00:12:04STATE OR WHATEVER -- IT WILL
JUST NOT GO AWAY.
00:12:06THE ONLY PLACES THERE WERE
CONTROVERSIES ARE IN SWING
00:12:10STATES, THE -- BECAUSE PEOPLE
CREATE THEM INTENTIONALLY.
00:12:14THE WAY THAT YOU COULD MINIMIZE
THAT IS YOU COULD FIX
00:12:18REDISTRICTING SO THAT WE HAVE
THEIR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS,
00:12:22AND THEN YOU COULD APPORTION
ALL OF OUR ELECTORAL VOTES
00:12:25ACCORDING TO CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICTS, SO IT WOULD NOT BE A
00:12:28WINNER-TAKE-ALL STATE.
IF YOU DID THAT, YOU WOULD TAKE
00:12:31THE IMPORTANCE OUT OHIO AND ALL
THE ELECTION, WOULD GO AWAY.
00:12:35>> SO WE WANT TO BECOME THE
BREAST AND MAINE?
00:12:39>> IF YOU WANT THE PROBLEMS TO
GO AWAY, FIX REDISTRICTING, A
00:12:45PORTION OHIO POSTULATE WORLD
BOOK ON THE BASIS OF THOSE
00:12:49CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.
IT WOULD NOT BE A WINNER TAKE
00:12:52ALL STATE AND YOU WOULD NOT HAVE
ANOTHER ELECTION CONTROVERSY
00:12:54ABOUT OHIO BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT
MATTER AS MUCH ANYMORE AND WE
00:12:58COULD GO BACK TO OUR NORMAL
LIVES IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
00:13:01>> THE PANELISTS ALSO TALKED
ABOUT OTHER THINGS THEY'D LIKE
00:13:03TO SEE IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
00:13:05CURTIN DIDN'T DIRECTLY MENTION
THE RESULTS OF THE OHIO SUPREME
00:13:07COURT RACE, BUT HINTED AT THEM
WHEN HE SAID HE'D LIKE TO
00:13:09LAWMAKERS RECONSIDER MERIT
SELECTION OF JUDGES - AND HE
00:13:12ALSO BROUGHT UP THE EVER-
POPULAR TOPIC OF TERM LIMITS.
00:13:14>> I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
MAY BE THINKING DIFFERENTLY
00:13:19ABOUT MERIT SELECTION
TODAY THAN THEY WERE A FEW DAYS
00:13:23AGO.
I WAS OPPOSED TO MERIT SELECTION
00:13:2710 YEARS AGO, 15 YEARS AGO, I
IMPORTED TODAY, AND I DO NOT
00:13:32NEED TO EXPLAIN ALL THE REASONS
WHY I THINK MERIT SELECTION IS
00:13:35ON THE MOVE AND WE CAN
EVENTUALLY GET THERE.
00:13:38I WITH A TO SEE THE
MODERNIZATION COMMISSION TACKLE
00:13:41IT.
TERM LIMITS, I AM NOT A
00:13:43PESSIMIST.
I THINK WE CAN APPEAL TERM
00:13:46LIMITS.
IF YOU DID A POLL TODAY TO BE
00:13:50AGAINST.
BUT I THINK THAT IS MISLEADING.
00:13:54YOU CAN HAVE A STRONG BIPARTISAN
CENSUS TO GET RID OF TERM
00:13:57LIMITS.
YOU CAN LIST ALMOST EVERY
00:14:00ORGANIZATION IN THE ROOM THAT
WOULD SUPPORT IT.
00:14:04ALMOST EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT
DEALS WITH THE STATE HOUSE AND
00:14:07IS KNOWLEDGEABLE WOULD SUPPORT
IT.
00:14:09PROPER EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN
WOULD WIN IT.
00:14:11WE SHOULD GIVE IT A SHOCK AND
NOT BE TIMID ABOUT IT.
00:14:14TERM LIMITS ARE AWFUL.
>> SENATE MINORITY LEADER ERIC
00:14:20KEARNEY OF CINCINNATI SAID HE
AGREED WITH CURTIN ON TERM
00:14:22LIMITS.
>> THEY'RE CONSTITUTIONAL - IF
00:14:24PEOPLE WANT THEM
I THINK THEY'RE TERRIBLE, BUT
00:14:28PEOPLE WANT THEM, SO WE JUST
HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THAT
00:14:31ENVIRONMENT.
REDISTRICTING, I THINK, WOULD BE
00:14:36A WONDERFUL THING IF WE COULD
RESTRICT OUR STATE.
00:14:40I THINK, MORE COMPETITIVE
ELECTION WOULD BE BETTER FOR
00:14:44EVERYONE.
WITH RESPECT TO SOMETHING THAT
00:14:49SECRETARY HUSTED SAID, I THINK
THERE ARE THE THINGS TO BE
00:14:56COULD DO TO LIMIT THE
CONTROVERSIES IN OHIO.
00:14:57THE ATTENTION REGARDING OHIO IS
WONDERFUL FOR OUR STATE, IN
00:15:02TERMS OF THE NATIONAL
PRESIDENTIAL AND FEDERAL
00:15:06ELECTIONS, SO THAT MIGHT BE A
GOOD THING FOR US TO HAVE, BUT
00:15:11MAYBE JUST ON THE LEVEL OF
CONTROVERSY AND ANIMOSITY AROUND
00:15:17IT.
>> AND ON MERIT SELECTION OF
00:15:19JUDGES, REPUBLICAN FORMER OHIO
HOUSE SPEAKER JOANN DAVIDSON -
00:15:21WHO'S ALSO ON THE
CONSTITUTIONAL MODERNIZATION
00:15:23COMMISSION - SAID IT MAY BE TIME
FOR A RE-EXAMINATION OF THAT
00:15:26IDEA.
>> I FEEL A LITTLE LIKE MIKE
00:15:28CURTIN
DOES ABOUT PEROT AND EFFICIENT,
00:15:33THAT PERHAPS IT IS TIME TO HAVE
ANOTHER GOOD DISCUSSION.
00:15:37OUR FORMER IT CHIEF JUSTICE IS
DEDICATED TO THAT, MADE SOME
00:15:40STRONG ARGUMENTS.
I HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH OPPOSED
00:15:44TO MERIT SELECTION, THINKING IN
THE TO BE PART OF THE SYSTEM,
00:15:48BUT I THINK IT IS WORTH DUSTING
IT OFF.
00:15:52I HOPE THE MODERNIZATION
COMMISSION TAKES ANOTHER LOOK AT
00:15:54IT.
>> BUT KEARNEY IS SKEPTICAL.
00:15:56>> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M A
LITTLE BIT HESITANT
00:15:58, RELUCTANT ABOUT MERIT
SELECTION BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW
00:16:05HOW, FOR INSTANCE, MINORITIES
MIGHT DO IN TERMS OF SELECTIONS.
00:16:11I SAY THAT WITH THE REALIZATION
THAT JUSTICE BROWN,
00:16:16UNFORTUNATELY, LOST.
BUT I DO NOT KNOW THAT THINGS
00:16:20WOULD BE BETTER NECESSARILY WITH
A MERIT SELECTION COMMITTEE.
00:16:22>> AFTER THE LAWSUITS, THE LONG
LINES AT VOTING SITES, THE FEARS
00:16:25OF TROUBLE ON ELECTION NIGHT,
AND ALL THE REPORTS ABOUT
00:16:27ACCESS TO VOTING IN OHIO, THE
TOPIC OF ELECTION LAW CHANGES
00:16:30TURNED OUT TO BE A HOT ONE.
CURTIN SUGGESTED THE
00:16:34LEGISLATURE MAKE NO BIG CHANGES
FOR A FEW YEARS.
00:16:36>> MY PROPOSAL, UNLESS WE CAN
GET STRONG, STRONG BIPARTISAN
00:16:42AGREEMENT ON SOME TWEAKS, THAT
WE AGREE TO NOT DO ANY
00:16:50SUBSTANTIVE REFORM OF ELECTION
LAW VOTING PROCEDURES THAT WOULD
00:16:53TAKE EFFECT BEFORE 2016.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A TIMEOUT,
00:16:59WE ARE OR TO BE METHODICAL.
IF WE HAVE AN EASY SLAM DUNKS TO
00:17:02AGREE UPON, LET'S DO THEM.
BUT IF IT IS A SUBSTANTIVE THING
00:17:06LED FRIDAY, IF IT IS A
SUBSTANTIVE THING LIKE HOW MANY
00:17:11DAYS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EARLY
VOTING, BUT THE SUITORS WILL BE
00:17:16FOR UNIFORMITY AND ALL THE
COUNTIES, LET'S SAY WE WILL MAKE
00:17:19AN EARLY AGREEMENT NOT TO DECIDE
THIS QUICKLY.
00:17:21WE WILL DECIDE THIS SLOWLY.
WHATEVER DECISION WE COME TO
00:17:25WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR 2016 AND
NOT 2014.
00:17:28>> BUT KEARNEY FELT OTHERWISE,
SAYING THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT
00:17:31CONSISTENCY AND CLEAR DIRECTION
FOR VOTERS AND FOR POLL WORKERS.
00:17:33>> IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE GOING
TO DO GOING FORWARD
00:17:40, I THINK, WE NEED CLEAR RULES
THAT ARE COMMUNICATED AT THE
00:17:53LOWEST LEVEL FROM POLL WORKERS
ON UP.
00:17:54WORK ON THE TRUST ISSUES THAT, I
THINK, WE HAVE IN THE
00:17:56LEGISLATURE AND BETWEEN THE
PARTIES.
00:17:57>> BUT HUSTED SAID THERE'S BLAME
ON BOTH SIDES.
00:17:58>> REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE
JUST AS GUILTY ON THESE ISSUES
00:18:00.
ON THE ISSUE OF SUPPRESSION, ONE
00:18:06SIDE, FRAUD, THE OTHER.
THEY EXAGGERATE THE
00:18:11CIRCUMSTANCES AS A CAUSE TO GET
THE POLICIES THEY WANT TO
00:18:13BENEFIT THE OUTCOME THAT THEY
WANT.
00:18:16NEED CLEAR RULES
THAT ARE COMMUNICATED AT THE
00:18:19LOWEST LEVEL FROM POLL WORKERS
ON UP.
00:18:20WORK ON THE TRUST ISSUESAND THAE
IN DEMOCRACY IN THE MOST
00:18:23IMPORTANT STATE IN THE COUNTRY,
AND IT HAS TO STOP, AND OUR
00:18:29LEADERS -- LEADERS NEED TO LEAD.
THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THIS
00:18:34LAME DUCK, BOTH MAJORITY AND
MINORITY, TO BE LEADERS, AND I
00:18:38HOPE THEY WILL.
>> THE SUBJECT OF THE OHIO
00:18:39SUPREME COURT RACES WAS A TOPIC
OF INTEREST THE DAY AFTER THE
00:18:40ELECTION WITH OHIO DEMOCRATIC
PARTY CHAIR CHRIS REDFERN.
00:18:42REDFERN, WHO WAS ELECTED TO HIS
OLD SEAT IN THE OHIO HOUSE ON
00:18:45TUESDAY, SAID ONE OF HIS FIRST
ACTS AS A LEGISLATOR IN JANUARY
00:18:47WILL BE TO INTRODUCE
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE
00:18:51PARTY LABELS ON THE CANDIDATES
ON THE BALLOT FOR JUDICIAL
00:18:55POSITIONS.
JUDICIAL CANDIDATES RUN IN
00:18:59PARTISAN PRIMARIES, BUT DO NOT
HAVE PARTY LABELS ON THE BALLOT
00:19:02IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
BACK AT THE IMPACT OHIO
00:19:05CONFERENCE, THE ATTENDEES HEARD
FROM ONE OF THE TOP LEADERS IN
00:19:08THE OHIO SENATE, WHO HINTED AT
WHAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ON THE
00:19:12AGENDA FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION.
PRESIDENT PRO TEM KEITH FABER
00:19:15OF CELINA, WHO IS PRESUMED TO
BE THE NEXT SENATE PRESIDENT,
00:19:17SAID LAWMAKERS MIGHT - IN HIS
WORDS - TAKE A STAB AT
00:19:22REDISTRICTING REFORM, OR AT
LEAST ASK THE CONSTITUTIONAL
00:19:25MODERNIZATION COMMISSION TO
CONSIDER IT.
00:19:26BUT HE DID SAY SENATORS WOULD
NOT BE RAISING TAXES AND WOULD
00:19:29CONTINUE WITH REGULATORY REFORM
AND STREAMLINING GOVERNMENT.
00:19:32AND HE SAID THEY'D BE LOOKING
AT BILLS THAT FALL INTO THREE
00:19:36CATEGORIES: JOB CREATION,
GROWING THE ECONOMY, OR MAKING
00:19:40STATE GOVERNMENT RUN MORE
EFFICIENTLY.
00:19:43>> WE ARE LOOKING AT TAX REFORM
.
00:19:47I BELIEVE WE WILL DO AN
AGGRESSIVE LOOK AT THE OHIO TAX
00:19:53CODE AND FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO
STREAMLINE AND SIMPLIFY OUR TAX
00:19:58CODE.
NOW, WHEN I SAY TAX REFORM, I
00:20:01WILL GIVE YOU A BIT PART AS TO
WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME.
00:20:04WHAT I BELIEVE IT MEANS TO THE
GOVERNOR AND THE HOUSE AS WELL.
00:20:07I BELIEVE TAX REFORM MEANS, AT
MINIMUM, REVENUE NEUTRAL AND
00:20:12POSSIBLY REVENUE ACCRUED TO THE
TAXPAYER.
00:20:16SIMPLY PUT, YOU CANNOT DO TAX
INCREASES, CLOSE TAX REFORM, AND
00:20:20EXPECT THAT TO BE SOMETHING THE
LEGISLATURE WILL SUPPORT.
00:20:30SECOND, I BELIEVE WE ARE LOOKING
AT BOTH HIGHER ED AND K-12
00:20:39SCHOOL FUNDING REFORM PROPOSALS.
IN THAT GUISE, I WILL TELL YOU
00:20:40THAT EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED,
WHAT EVER WE DO WITH SCHOOL
00:20:42FUNDING REFORM DOES NOT SIMPLY
MEAN MORE.
00:20:43IT NEEDS TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT,
NOT JUST PUTTING MORE ON TOP OF
00:20:44A PROGRAM AND A SYSTEM THAT
PEOPLE HAVE CAUSED, FRANKLY
00:20:50CONCERNED, ABOUT ITS
EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFECTIVENESS
00:20:56IN OHIO.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN
00:20:59EDUCATION.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES AND HIGHER
00:21:01EDUCATION REALM, COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, AND K-12, BUT THOSE
00:21:04OPPORTUNITIES NEED TO BE MET
WITH BENCHMARKS AND EQUITY IN
00:21:10OUR FUNDING PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE FUNDING IT NEEDS TO BE
00:21:13FUNDED, NOT FUNDING THINGS THAT
ARE NOT ADDING TO THE IMPROVED
00:21:16QUALITY NECESSARY IN OUR SCHOOL
SYSTEMS.
00:21:17>> HOUSE SPEAKER BILL BATCHELDER
DIDN'T ADDRESS THE CROWD EARLY
00:21:21IN THE DAY, INSTEAD SENDING HIS
SPOKESMAN MIKE DITTOE, WHO TOLD
00:21:23THE AUDIENCE THAT THE HOUSE
WILL BE FACING A BUSY AGENDA.
00:21:25>> IT'LL BE ANOTHER AGGRESSIVE
SESSION, NO DOUBT
00:21:28.
WE DO HAVE A CHANGE IN
00:21:34LEADERSHIP IN OUR CAUCUS.
WE WILL HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL
00:21:39MEMBER OF -- NEW MEMBER TO
LEADERSHIP.
00:21:42WE WILL BE DISCUSSING ELECTION
THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IN OUR
00:21:46CAUCUS.
IT BE AN EXCITING YEAR.
00:21:48WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE
COMING IN.
00:21:51I KNOW OUR ENTIRE CAUCUS IS
EXCITED ABOUT IT.
00:21:54DESPITE WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL
ANOTHER WAVE ELECTION FOR
00:21:59DEMOCRATS NATIONWIDE, AND IN
SOME AREAS OF OHIO, WE ARE
00:22:02EXCITED TO SAY THE LEGISLATURE
HAS STAYED RELATIVELY CLOSE TO
00:22:06THE SAME, MAYBE EVEN EXPAND UPON
THAT FOR OUR CAUCUS.
00:22:08>> WE HOPE TO BRING YOU MORE
ABOUT WHAT'S AHEAD ON THE
00:22:13AGENDAS OF BOTH THE HOUSE AND
THE SENATE IN OUR YEAR END
00:22:14INTERVIEWS COMING UP IN A FEW
WEEKS.
00:22:15BEFORE THE POLLS CLOSED AND THE
RETURNS STARTED ROLLING IN, I
00:22:19SAT DOWN WITH TWO VETERAN
STRATEGISTS TO LOOK BACK ON
00:22:23ELECTION 2012 AND TO TALK ABOUT
THEIR IMPRESSIONS.
00:22:25MIKE DAWSON WAS A TOP AIDE AND
SPOKESMAN FOR GOV.
00:22:28AND THEN SEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH.
HE'S NOW A REPUBLICAN
00:22:31CONSULTANT.
GREG HAAS WAS THE OHIO
00:22:35COORDINATED CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR
FOR THE CLINTON/GORE CAMPAIGN
00:22:38IN 1992 AND HAS WORKED FOR GOV.
RICHARD CELESTE AND US TREASURER
00:22:41MARY ELLEN WITHROW.
HE'S NOW THE CHAIR OF THE
00:22:44FRANKLIN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
00:22:45HERE'S PART OF OUR CONVERSATION,
DURING WHICH I ASKED THEM TO
00:22:48RATE THE STRENGTHS THEY SAW IN
THE OPPOSING CAMPAIGN - AND THE
00:22:53WEAKNESSES OF THE CAMPAIGN OF
THE CANDIDATE THEY SUPPORTED.
00:22:55>> WELL, I THINK THE OBAMA
CAMPAIGN HAS SOME OF THE BEST
00:22:59OPERATIVES
FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE OF
00:23:05OHIO, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE
FOR A LONG TIME, THOUGH THE
00:23:08STATE WELL.
HOT KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO WIN IN
00:23:11ALL 88 COUNTIES -- TRIED TO WIN
IN ALL 88 COUNTIES.
00:23:13I THINK THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD
JOB.
00:23:16>> GREG, WHAT WERE THE STRENGTH
OF THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN BROUGHT
00:23:21TO OHIO?
>> THEY DEFINITELY HAD A GOOD
00:23:23MESSAGE CAMPAIGN, IN TERMS OF --
KIND OF -- BLURRING SOME OF THE
00:23:32IMPACT OF THE AUTO BAILOUT, SOME
OTHER THINGS.
00:23:35I THINK THEY DID A GOOD JOB --
OBVIOUSLY, NOT JUST AN OHIO
00:23:41THING -- BUT THE GOVERNOR DID A
GOOD JOB IN THE FIRST DEBATE,
00:23:44REDEFINING HIMSELF.
I WOULD PUT MOST OF THE FOCUS ON
00:23:52THE MESSAGE.
>> PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD BEEN
00:23:57LEADING IN OHIO FOR QUITE
AWHILE.
00:23:58THEN GOVERNOR ROMNEY CAUGHT UP.
RIGHT NOW, THE RACE IS PRETTY
00:24:02MUCH NECK-AND-NECK.
WHAT COULD PRESIDENT OBAMA HAVE
00:24:06DONE DIFFERENTLY, DO YOU FEEL?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MORE
00:24:12DELIBERATE MESSAGE ON THE IMPACT
OF THE AUTO BAILOUT AS IT
00:24:15RELATED TO COMPANIES OTHER THAN
GM AND CHRYSLER.
00:24:21I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW THAT
IMPACTED ON THE, FORD, NON-UNION
00:24:29AND MANUFACTURERS AROUND THE
STATE.
00:24:30EVERYBODY PLEADED WITH FORMER
PRESIDENT BUSH, AND THEN
00:24:35PRESIDENT OBAMA -- FOR THE
BAILOUT.
00:24:38THEY MADE IT CLEAR IF CHRYSLER
AND GM GO, THE DEMAND FOR AUTO
00:24:43PARTS WOULD COLLAPSE, AND WE
WOULD BE GONE, TOO.
00:24:45>> GOVERNOR ROMNEY HAD A BIG
PUSH TOWARDS THE END, STARTED TO
00:24:50RIDE A WAVE IN OHIO.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HIM
00:24:54DO DIFFERENTLY?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE, THE
00:24:58DEBATE WAS A KEY TURNING POINT
IN THE CAMPAIGN.
00:25:00MOST EXPERTS ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE IN OHIO BELIEVE OBAMA
00:25:04WAS SIGNIFICANTLY AHEAD BEFORE
THE FIRST DEBATE.
00:25:08THE FIRST DEBATE WAS A GAME
CHANGER.
00:25:10YOU ALWAYS WONDER WHAT YOU COULD
HAVE DONE, BUT I THINK BOTH
00:25:18CAMPAIGNS ARE HAPPY.
>> FRANKLIN COUNTY WILL BE A
00:25:23PLACE TO WATCH.
PERHAPS WE ARE NOT PAYING ENOUGH
00:25:25ATTENTION TO HAMILTON COUNTY.
<NO VIDEO><VIDEO OK>:;
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Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions