00:00:01>> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE
00:00:08BROADCAST OF "THE STATE OF OHIO"
COMES FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF
00:00:13PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS ALOPE,
HELPING INDIVIDUALS SOLVE LEGAL
00:00:18PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OHIO, ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE
00:00:22WORLD, ON THE WEB AT POE
RTERWRIGHT.COM.
00:00:27AND THE OHIO EDUCATION
FOUNDATION, WHO ARE WORKING FOR
00:00:32GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR EVERY
CHILD.
00:00:35ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE STATE
OF OHIO IS MADE POSSIBLE BY E-
00:00:40TECH OHIO.
>>ONE PARTY CHAIR STEPS DOWN,
00:00:44AND ANOTHER AWAITS A VOTE ON
HIS LEADERSHIP.
00:00:47FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL MARC
DANN MAKES HISTORY BEFORE THE
00:00:49OHIO SUPREME COURT -- BUT
LIKELY NOT IN THE WAY HE WANTED.
00:00:51AND OHIO'S WELFARE ROLLS ARE
DROPPING -- BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
00:00:54BEING TOSSED OFF BECAUSE THEY'RE
NOT FOLLOWING THE WORK
00:00:56REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE SET BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
00:00:57A PANEL OF EXPERTS ARE HERE TO
TALK ABOUT WELFARE REFORM AND
00:01:04HOW IT IS WORKING OR NOT
WORKING.
00:01:05ALL THIS WEEK IN "THE STATE OF
OHIO".
00:01:08THE EMBATTLED CHIEF OF THE OHIO
REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS ANNOUNCED
00:01:12HE'S STEPPING DOWN -- JUST DAYS
AHEAD OF A CENTRAL COMMITTEE
00:01:16VOTE ON HIS LEADERSHIP. KEVIN
DEWINE, WHO WAS AT THE HELM OF
00:01:20THE OHIO GOP AS REPUBLICANS
TOOK NEARLY EVERY OFFICE IN
00:01:22STATE GOVERNMENT IN 2010, HAS
BEEN LOCKED IN CONFLICT WITH
00:01:25ALLIES OF GOV. JOHN KASICH,
WHO'S WANTED DEWINE TO RESIGN
00:01:28FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. DEWINE
SENT OUT A LETTER TO CENTRAL
00:01:33COMMITTEE MEMBERS THIS WEEK --
IT READS IN PART:
00:01:36>> FACTIONS WITHIN OUR PARTY ARE
ALIGNED TO FIGHT OVER WHO IS
00:01:39BEST TO LEAD US FORWARD. A
MEETING LOOMS WHERE THAT FIGHT
00:01:42COULD ERUPT INTO A PARTY-
SPLITTING DISPUTE THAT NO ONE
00:01:45WILL WIN AND EVERYONE WILL
LAMENT. I'M HONORED BY THE
00:01:48LARGE NUMBER OF STATE CENTRAL
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ARE
00:01:52WILLING, EVEN EAGER, TO FIGHT
TO SUSTAIN MY LEADERSHIP. YET I
00:01:55CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE LET
THAT FIGHT GO FORWARD. IF I
00:01:58DID, IT WOULD BE PUTTING MY
PERSONAL INTERESTS OVER OUR
00:02:01PARTY'S BEST INTERESTS. AND I
CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT OUR WORK TO
00:02:04DO THAT. THAT'S WHY, AT OUR
STATE COMMITTEE MEETING ON APRIL
00:02:0813, I WILL STEP ASIDE AS
CHAIRMAN OF THE OHIO REPUBLICAN
00:02:12PARTY.
>> DEWINE HAD SAID A FEW WEEKS
00:02:15AGO THAT HE WOULD NOT RUN FOR
RE-ELECTION WHEN HIS TERM ENDS
00:02:19LATER THIS YEAR, AND BOTH
DEWINE AND KASICH HAD CLAIMED
00:02:21THEY EACH HAD A MAJORITY OF
VOTES ON THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
00:02:24FORMER OHIO GOP CHAIRMAN BOB
BENNETT HAS CONFIRMED THAT HE'S
00:02:27IN TALKS WITH THE PARTY ABOUT
TAKING OVER FOR DEWINE. BENNETT
00:02:30SERVED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS
AND IS CREDITED WITH KEEPING
00:02:35REPUBLICANS IN CONTROL OF STATE
GOVERNMENT FOR MUCH OF THAT
00:02:37TIME.
MEANWHILE, OHIO DEMOCRATIC
00:02:40PARTY CHAIR CHRIS REDFERN HAS A
CHALLENGER AS HE RUNS FOR
00:02:44ANOTHER TERM AT THE HELM OF HIS
PARTY. LORAIN COUNTY PARTY
00:02:49OFFICIAL TONY GIARDINI SAYS HE
HAS THE BACKING OF SOME UNIONS
00:02:51DISAPPOINTED IN REDFERN'S
LEADERSHIP. BUT OTHER UNIONS
00:02:54ARE STANDING BEHIND HIM, AND
REDFERN SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT
00:02:58HE FEELS HE HAS THE OVERWHELMING
SUPPORT OF THE STATE CENTRAL
00:03:01COMMITTEE AND ORGANIZED LABOR
-- AND THE STATEMENT READS IN
00:03:03PART:>> LIKE WITH ANY LARGE
ORGANIZATION, WE AS DEMOCRATS
00:03:08HAVE DISAGREEMENTS OVER TIME
BUT WILL MOVE FORWARD TO UNITE
00:03:10AND COME TOGETHER DESPITE ANY
DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE FAMILY
00:03:14AS WE TACKLE, TOGETHER, THE
MOST IMPORTANT ELECTIONS OF OUR
00:03:20LIFETIMES.
>> THIS WEEK MARC DANN BECAME
00:03:23THE FIRST FORMER ATTORNEY
GENERAL TO COME BEFORE THE OHIO
00:03:25SUPREME COURT WITH HIS LAW
LICENSE ON THE LINE. THE
00:03:28QUESTION IS WHETHER THE
DISGRACED FORMER AG SHOULD HAVE
00:03:30HIS LICENSE SUSPENDED FOR SIX
MONTHS, OR WHETHER THAT PENALTY
00:03:32WILL BE STAYED, BECAUSE OF TWO
MISDEMEANOR ETHICS VIOLATIONS,
00:03:39AND NOT BECAUSE OF THE SEXUAL
HARASSMENT SCANDAL WHICH CAUSED
00:03:41HIM TO RESIGN IN MAY 2008.
JOSEPH CALIGIURI, REPRESENTING
00:03:46THE COURT'S DISCIPLINARY
COUNSEL, SAID DANN'S POSITION
00:03:47AS AG IS IMPORTANT IN
DETERMINING THE PENALTY.
00:03:49>> THE RESPONDENT, WHEN HE
COMMITTED THIS MISCONDUCT, WAS
00:04:00ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE PRACTICE
OF LAW.
00:04:02HE WAS SERVING AS THE STATE'S
CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, AND THE
00:04:07RESPONDENT HIMSELF AGREES WITH
THE BOARD FINDING IN PARAGRAPH
00:04:1033 OF THE REPORT THAT THE
RESPONDENT'S POSITION AS
00:04:13ATTORNEY GENERAL SET HIM APART
FROM OTHER LAWYERS AND THAT HE
00:04:15SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER
STANDARD.
00:04:18THE SECOND FACTOR THAT THIS
COURT SHOULD CONSIDER IS THE
00:04:21FACT THAT THE RESPONDENT HAS
BEEN PREVIOUSLY DISCIPLINED.
00:04:24IT IS THIS AGGRAVATING FACTOR
THAT DISTINGUISHES THIS CASE
00:04:29FROM THE OTHER CASES IN WHICH
PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN
00:04:33SUBJECTED TO PUBLIC DISCIPLINE.
>> BUT DANN'S LAWYER ALVIN
00:04:43MATHEWS SAID A SUSPENSION OF
DANN'S LAW LICENSE WOULD BE A
00:04:45MUCH STIFFER PENALTY THAN THE
REPRIMAND GIVEN TO REPUBLICAN
00:04:47FORMER GOV. BOB TAFT, WHO ALSO
ADMITTED TO ETHICS VIOLATIONS
00:04:48AND STAYED IN OFFICE.
>> THE CONTACT WITH TAFT WAS
00:04:52REPEATED MORE TIMES.
THE FACT THAT A CHARTER PLANE
00:04:55WAS INVOLVED -- THAT IS
DIFFERENT, AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE
00:04:58THAT.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE WANT TO SAY IS
00:05:02BECAUSE DISCIPLINARY COUNCIL
WOULD STAND UP AND SAY, AND THEY
00:05:05SAID IT IN THEIR BRIEF, THAT
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE CHIEF
00:05:08LAWYER HAS BEEN DISCIPLINED, OR
IS PROPOSED TO BE DISCIPLINED.
00:05:14WELL, WE HAVE HAD OTHER HIGH
OFFICES THAT HAVE BEEN
00:05:17DISCIPLINED -- THAT IS ALL WE
ARE SAYING.
00:05:19YOU DO NOT JUST LOOK AT THE
OFFICE IN AND OF ITSELF, BUT YOU
00:05:22LOOK AT THE CONDUCT.
<NO VIDEO><VIDEO OK>
00:05:29>> DANN DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK TO
REPORTERS AFTER THE ARGUMENTS.
00:05:31MATHEWS ASKED THE COURT TO
CONSIDER DANN'S FREE LEGAL WORK
00:05:33IN THE CLEVELAND AREA FOR PEOPLE
FACING FORECLOSURE, AND THAT
00:05:34THEY WOULD BE DEVASTATED IF DANN
COULDN'T WORK. CALIGUIRI SAID
00:05:37THAT'S ONE FACTOR TO CONSIDER,
BUT THAT IT DOESN'T OUTWEIGH
00:05:39DANN'S ACTIONS.
OHIO'S WELFARE ROLLS HAVE
00:05:44DROPPED 18% OVER THE PAST YEAR
-- THE LATEST NUMBERS SHOW 84-
00:05:48THOUSAND OHIOANS ARE RECEIVING
CASH ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE,
00:05:53DOWN FROM 102-THOUSAND THE YEAR
BEFORE. THE IMPROVING ECONOMY IS
00:05:57ONE REASON FOR THE DROP, BUT THE
STATE HAS ALSO BEEN KICKING
00:05:59PEOPLE OFF THE WELFARE ROLLS.
FEDERAL WELFARE REFORM REQUIRES
00:06:03HALF OF THE STATE'S WELFARE
RECIPIENTS TO BE WORKING OR IN
00:06:06JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR 30
HOURS A WEEK FOR SINGLE-PARENT
00:06:10FAMILIES, AND 55 HOURS A WEEK
FOR TWO-PARENT FAMILIES, THOUGH
00:06:18THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS. AND
FOR SEVERAL YEARS, ONLY AROUND
00:06:20ONE IN FOUR OHIOANS RECEIVING
ASSISTANCE WERE COMPLETING
00:06:22THEIR WORK REQUIREMENTS, SO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STARTED
00:06:26FINING THE STATE. OHIO WAS
SLAPPED WITH THE HIGHEST FINES
00:06:29IN THE NATION, AND COULD $130
MILLION IN FUNDING BY THE END
00:06:31OF SEPTEMBER UNLESS THAT
PERCENTAGE GOES UP TO 50
00:06:39PERCENT. SO THE STATE'S JOB AND
FAMILY SERVICES AGENCIES HAVE
00:06:43PUT TOGETHER A PSA, AND ARE
CRACKING DOWN ON THOSE WHO
00:06:45AREN'T MEETING THEIR WORK
REQUIREMENTS -- THAT MEANS SOME
00:06:47PEOPLE ARE NOW OFF THE WELFARE
ROLLS. BUT SOME OF THOSE WHO
00:06:50WORK WITH RECIPIENTS WHO ARE IN
DANGER OF LOSING THAT ASSISTANCE
00:06:53ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WILL
HAPPEN TO THEM IF THEY DO.
00:06:56HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEW
EFFORT AND THE WORK REQUIREMENT
00:06:59IDEA IN GENERAL ARE FOUR PEOPLE
ON THE FRONT LINES. MICHAEL
00:07:02COLBERT IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND
00:07:07FAMILY SERVICES. JOEL POTTS IS
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
00:07:11JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES
DIRECTORS' ASSOCIATION, WORKING
00:07:13WITH COUNTY OFFICES AROUND THE
STATE. PHIL COLE IS WITH THE
00:07:16OHIO ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY
ACTION AGENCIES, AND REPRESENTS
00:07:1950 OFFICES WORKING WITH LOW
INCOME OHIOANS. AND JACK FRECH
00:07:24IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE ATHENS
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND
00:07:26FAMILY SERVICES.
HE JOINS US THROUGH THE
00:07:31FACILITIES AT WOUB IN ATHENS.
I WANT TO START WITH YOU,
00:07:37DIRECTOR, AND THE SUBJECT OF THE
PSA YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS PUT
00:07:40TOGETHER.
IS IT TO REMIND RECIPIENTS OF
00:07:43THEIR OBLIGATIONS, OR IS IT TO
TELL TAXPAYERS THAT PEOPLE
00:07:47RECEIVING CASH ASSISTANCE DO
HAVE TO WORK?
00:07:48>> IT IS TO REMIND RECIPIENTS
THAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE
00:07:52ADVANTAGE OF THESE BENEFITS,
THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A WORK
00:07:55ACTIVITY, AND A WORK ACTIVITY IS
NOT NECESSARILY JUST WORK.
00:08:00IT COULD BE COMMUNITY SERVICE.
IT COULD BE JOB READINESS
00:08:04TRAINING.
IT COULD BE EDUCATION THAT IS
00:08:06DIRECTLY JOB-RELATED.
>> DID THIS TAXPAYERS KNOW THAT
00:08:12BEFORE GOING IN -- DID THOSE
TAXPAYERS KNOW THAT?
00:08:15>> I DO NOT THINK THE EDUCATION
WAS THAT RIGHT, SO WE DECIDED TO
00:08:18DO THE PSA TO HELP THE GENERAL
PUBLIC, BUT IT IS REALLY
00:08:21TARGETED AT THE INDIVIDUAL.
WE NEEDED A CULTURE SHIFT IN
00:08:25OHIO TO MAKE THE WORK
PARTICIPATION PROCESS AND
00:08:28UPFRONT PROCESS.
WE HAD TO GET THE INDIVIDUAL
00:08:31INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHO IS
00:08:34ACTUALLY BEING REMOVED.
ARE THESE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED
00:08:38PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
GET WORK?
00:08:40ARE THESE PEOPLE WHO YOU FEEL
ARE NOT REALLY USING THE SYSTEM
00:08:45AND ARE NOT DOING MORE AND
TRYING HARDER?
00:08:47WHO ARE THESE FOLKS?
>> KEEP IN MIND THAT THE BULK OF
00:08:51THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEAVING CASH
ASSISTANCE ARE NOT DUE TO
00:08:55SANCTIONS.
SANCTIONS ONLY REPRESENTS ABOUT
00:08:5836% OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT
LEAVE.
00:09:01ABOUT 64% OF THE INDIVIDUALS
THAT LEAVE CASH ASSISTANCE ARE
00:09:04DUE TO INCOME VERIFICATION
CHANGE.
00:09:06THAT MEANS MAYBE THEY GOT A
PART-TIME JOB OR MAYBE THERE WAS
00:09:09SOME LEVEL OF LIFESTYLE CHANGE,
OR SOME OTHER REASON OTHER THAN
00:09:14SANCTIONING.
THAT IS KEY TO UNDERSTAND
00:09:17BECAUSE WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD
SANCTIONS.
00:09:20>> BUT YOU ARE CERTAINLY DOING
THIS?
00:09:22PEOPLE ARE BEING REMOVED FROM
THE WELFARE ROLLS BECAUSE THEY
00:09:26ARE NOT MEETING WORK
REQUIREMENTS?
00:09:28>> THEY ARE BEING REMOVED FOR
NOT COMPLYING WITH MEETING THE
00:09:31WORK REQUIREMENTS.
MY MESSAGE WOULD STRONGLY BE
00:09:34PLEASE COMPLY.
WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT.
00:09:36THEY HAVE A REQUIREMENT.
WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT TO ENFORCE
00:09:40WORK ASSIGNMENTS, AND THEY HAVE
A REQUIREMENT AS A CONDITION OF
00:09:43RECEIVING ASSISTANCE OF
COMPLYING WITH THOSE.
00:09:45IF THERE IS A MESSAGE OUT THERE,
IT REALLY IS, "COMPLY, WORK WITH
00:09:50US" SO WE CAN HELP THEM.
>> IS THAT EASY TO SAY AND HARD
00:09:58TO ACTUALLY DO IN SOME PARTS OF
THE STATE WHERE YOU STILL HAVE
00:10:01DOUBLE-DIGIT UNEMPLOYMENT?
>> OF COURSE IT DEPENDS ON WHERE
00:10:05ARE THE JOBS.
BEFORE THE RECESSION, THE
00:10:07MAJORITY OF CLIENTS THAT CAME TO
COMMUNITY ACTION ACTUALLY HAD A
00:10:11JOB.
WE KNEW THE ECONOMY WAS IN
00:10:15TROUBLE FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE
THE JOBS WERE NOT PAYING WELL OR
00:10:18DID NOT HAVE GREAT BENEFITS.
NOW, MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR
00:10:21A JOB, TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING,
BUT THERE IS NOTHING OUT THERE
00:10:24RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT IS CERTAINLY THE CASE
00:10:27DOWN IN ATHENS WHERE YOU ARE.
>> ONE OF THE MAJOR POINTS
00:10:31MISSING FROM THIS WHOLE
DISCUSSION IS WHAT LIFE IS LIKE
00:10:34FOR THESE PEOPLE LIVING ON
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
00:10:36WE TALK ABOUT THIS BENEFIT THAT
THEY HAVE, AND I DO NOT THINK
00:10:41THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDS THAT WHAT WE ARE
00:10:45TALKING ABOUT FOR A TYPICAL
FAMILY WITH A COUPLE OF KIDS IS
00:10:48$450 A MONTH, AND ANOTHER $500
IN FOOD STAMPS.
00:10:55WE ARE SUPPORTING THESE FOLKS AT
LESS THAN HALF THE POVERTY
00:10:58LEVEL.
WE ARE ASKING THEM THEN TO DO 30
00:11:02HOURS A WORK OF WEEK -- 30 HOURS
OF WORK A WEEK.
00:11:07TO THAT THE MATTER IS THESE
FOLKS CANNOT AFFORD RENT AND
00:11:10UTILITIES.
THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP A CAR
00:11:14ON THE ROAD.
THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO MEET THEIR
00:11:16BASIC NEEDS.
WE ARE LEANING SO HEAVILY ON
00:11:19THIS RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY
HAVE, BUT WE MAKE NO MENTION
00:11:22WHATSOEVER ABOUT THE
RESPONSIBILITY WE ALL HAVE TO
00:11:25MAKE SURE THAT THESE FOLKS AT
LEAST HAVE THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET
00:11:27IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND
SECONDLY, THEY HAVE THE MEANS TO
00:11:31BE ABLE TO GET TO A WORK
ASSIGNMENT OR GET TO WORK.
00:11:34THAT IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER
THESE FOLKS ARE FACING RIGHT
00:11:37NOW.
WE DO NOT REALLY WANT TO TALK
00:11:42ABOUT THE FAILURE OF WELFARE
REFORM IN THAT REGARD TO DEAL
00:11:45WITH THE BASIC ISSUE OF KEEPING
FAMILIES TOGETHER AND PROVIDING
00:11:51A BASIC LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE THAT
MEETS THEIR NEEDS.
00:11:54>> BUT IS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE
HAVING -- THEIR INCOME IS SO LOW
00:11:58-- IS THAT NOT A MOTIVATOR TO
GET THEM TO GO WORK?
00:12:00BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE MORE
INCOME.
00:12:03>> STILL, WHERE IS THE JOB GOING
TO BE?
00:12:05PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE
REAL COST OF LIVING IN VARIOUS
00:12:10COUNTIES OF OHIO.
WHEN THEY GET A $450 CASH
00:12:13ASSISTANCE, THAT PAYS THE COST
OF TRANSPORTATION IN ATTICS --
00:12:18ATHENS COUNTY, BUT IT DOES NOT
COVER ANYTHING ELSE.
00:12:21THEY GIVE THEM $450 AND SAY, "GO
LIVE ON THIS," BUT IT DOES NOT
00:12:28PAY ENOUGH TO LIVE.
YOU HAVE THIS LEVEL OF MONEY
00:12:31THAT DOES NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING.
>> CASH ASSISTANCE ALONE IS NOT
00:12:36ENOUGH.
AN INDIVIDUAL GETS CASH
00:12:38ASSISTANCE.
THEY GET MEDICAID.
00:12:41THEY GET FOOD STAMPS.
THEY ARE PROBABLY ON SOME LEVEL
00:12:43OF SUBSIDIZED RENT.
NOT SAYING IT IS A PERFECT WORLD
00:12:47AT ALL, BUT WE ARE NOT SAYING
THAT THERE ARE JOBS OUT THERE.
00:12:51WE ARE SAYING YOU HAVE TO DO A
WORK ACTIVITY, WHICH INVOLVES
00:12:55YOU LEAVING YOUR HOME.
IN MOST CASES, WE HAVE
00:12:59SUBSIDIZED TRANSPORTATION EITHER
THROUGH GAS CARDS, BUS TOKENS,
00:13:03OR SOME LEVEL OF COUNTY
SUBSIDIZE TRANSPORTATION, AND
00:13:08YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND LEARN A
SKILL.
00:13:11IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL GET A
PAID JOB, BUT YOU WILL GET A
00:13:15CASH BENEFIT.
YOU MIGHT BE DOING COMMUNITY
00:13:22SERVICE OR DOING SOME LEVEL OF
JOB PLACEMENT EDUCATION.
00:13:25>> BUT IS IT YOUR OBLIGATION
WORKING IN THE COUNTY OFFICES TO
00:13:28HELP PEOPLE GET THE TRAINING FOR
THE JOBS THAT ARE OUT THERE?
00:13:31AND ARE YOU DOING ENOUGH OF
THAT?
00:13:34>> YOU NEVER DO ENOUGH.
POVERTY IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE
00:13:36WITH US.
POVERTY IS A HUGE PROBLEM.
00:13:39AS A GOVERNMENT, THE WORST THING
WE COULD POSSIBLY DO IS NOT SET
00:13:43REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT
IT WILL TAKE FOR PEOPLE TO GET
00:13:46OUT OF POVERTY.
THE TRUTH IS 30 HOURS IS
00:13:48PROBABLY FEWER HOURS THAN THEY
WILL HAVE TO WORK, ESPECIALLY AT
00:13:52MINIMUM WAGE.
YOU MAY HAVE TO WORK TWICE THAT.
00:13:54SO WE NEED TO HELP IN A LOT OF
WAYS, AND WE ARE HELPING IN A
00:13:59LOT OF WAYS, BUT WE COULD ALWAYS
DO MORE.
00:14:01I THINK THAT IS IMPERATIVE TO
THE COMPOSITION AS WELL, BUT THE
00:14:04MOST IMPORTANT THING WE NEED TO
DO FIRST, AND THAT IS WHAT THE
00:14:08PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE
DOING AND THAT IS WHAT THE
00:14:10FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES, AND THAT
IS SETTING A REALISTIC
00:14:13EXPECTATION.
ASKED WHETHER OR NOT THESE ARE
00:14:15THE LONG TERM FOLKS THAT ARE ON
HERE.
00:14:18IN OHIO, WE HAVE A THREE-YEAR
TIME LIMIT.
00:14:20THEY HAVE BEEN THERE THREE YEARS
OR LESS.
00:14:22THREE YEARS IS A LONG TIME DID
NOT HAVE A JOB AND TO BE RAISING
00:14:26YOUR KIDS IN POVERTY, BUT THE
CLOCK IS TICKING ON THESE
00:14:28INDIVIDUALS.
WE NEED TO SET A REALISTIC
00:14:31EXPECTATION THAT FAMILIES NEED
TO DO SOMETHING TO BE IN A
00:14:33BETTER POSITION TO CARE FOR
THEIR KIDS.
00:14:35WHETHER WE SANG TO THEM OR NOT,
WHETHER WE ASSIGNED TO WORK OR
00:14:39NOT, MOST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS
WILL LOSE THEIR CASH ASSISTANCE.
00:14:42I APPRECIATE WHAT JACK IS
SAYING.
00:14:47$450 IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY.
I DO NOT KNOW THE PUBLIC
00:14:50REALIZES THAT BEING ON WELFARE
IS NOT -- YOU DO NOT GET THIS
00:14:53HUGE WINDFALL OF AVAILABLE CASH,
BUT THEY WILL LOSE ACCESS TO THE
00:14:58$450 AS WELL, SO WE NEED TO DO
WHATEVER WE CAN WITHIN OUR
00:15:02MEANS, WITHIN OUR ABILITY TO
GIVE THEM TRAINING, TO GIVE THE
00:15:07ASSIGNMENTS, TO SET THOSE
REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS, AND THE
00:15:10NUMBER ONE THING EMPLOYERS TELL
US THAT THEY WANT FOR ENTRY-
00:15:13LEVEL JOBS IS NOT A TRAINED
EMPLOYEE, BUT AN EMPLOYEE
00:15:15BECOMES IN WITH A WORK ETHIC WHO
UNDERSTANDS THAT IT WORKS OUT AT
00:15:198:00, THE NEED TO BE THERE AT
8:00.
00:15:21THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE
RELATIVELY EASY TO DO AS FAR AS
00:15:24ASSIGNMENTS, BUT I HATE TO SAY
THIS -- FRANKLY, IN SOME OF OUR
00:15:27CASES, THAT IS A NEW EXPERIENCE
FOR FOLKS.
00:15:30WE DO A LOT OF THOSE THINGS.
>> LET ME ASK JACK TO WEIGH IN.
00:15:35I THINK YOU WANTED TO SAY
SOMETHING.
00:15:36>> A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT
STRIKE ME AS ODD -- WE TALK
00:15:39ABOUT WHAT IS REALISTIC.
REALISTICALLY, ONLY ABOUT 15% OF
00:15:43THE PEOPLE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
GET SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
00:15:47THE VAST MAJORITY DO NOT.
ALL THE MONEY WE SPEND IN
00:15:50MEDICATE GOES INTO THE POCKETS
OF DOCTORS AND HOSPITAL
00:15:53ADMINISTRATORS AND FOLKS LIKE
THAT.
00:15:55NOT A DIME AND IN THE POCKETS OF
POOR FAMILIES.
00:15:58AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE
STILL SITTING THERE WITH THAT
00:16:01$450 A MONTH THAT THEY HAVE TO
USE TO MEET ALL THEIR CASH NEEDS
00:16:04FOR HOUSING, UTILITIES, PERSONAL
HYGIENE ITEMS, ALL THOSE KINDS
00:16:10OF THINGS, PLUS KEEP A CAR ON
THE ROAD WITH CAR INSURANCE.
00:16:14IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR
THEM TO DO THAT.
00:16:17YET, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOLKS
TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE
00:16:22REALISM FOR THESE FOLKS, AND YOU
KNOW, HOW THEY REALISTICALLY
00:16:27NEED TO GO OUT AND FIND A JOB.
THESE FOLKS LOVE THEIR CHILDREN.
00:16:32THEY WANT TO PROVIDE A BETTER
LIVING FOR THEM.
00:16:35IT IS AS THOUGH WE ACCEPT NO
RESPONSIBILITY THAT IF THESE
00:16:42VOTES HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP A
ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, TO PAY
00:16:44THEIR UTILITIES, TO HAVE
TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO
00:16:46THEM -- TRANSPORTATION, BY THE
WAY, MAY BE AVAILABLE IN THE
00:16:52METROPOLITAN AREAS, BUT IN RURAL
AREAS, THERE IS ALMOST NO PUBLIC
00:16:55TRANSPORTATION THAT THESE FOLKS
CAN COUNT ON, SO WE ARE PUTTING
00:16:59THEM IN AN UNTENABLE SITUATION
WHERE IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO
00:17:02MEET THIS GOAL, AND THEN WE ARE
BLAMING THEM WHEN THEY CANNOT DO
00:17:06IT.
WE ARE OVERLOOKING THE FACT THAT
00:17:08THE STATE OF OHIO SETS THESE
BENEFIT LEVELS, AND THEY ONLY
00:17:11SPEND ABOUT 1/3 OF THE MONEY
THEY GET IN THE WELFARE BLOCK
00:17:14GRANT ON CASH ASSISTANCE.
THE OTHER 2/3 ENDS UP IN COUNTY
00:17:20WELFARE ADMINISTRATION, DAY
CARE, SOMEBODY ELSE'S POCKET.
00:17:21>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, YOU
KNOW, WE KEEP HEARING THAT THEY
00:17:30CANNOT AFFORD AT A LOT -- THE
STATE CANNOT AFFORD A LOT OF
00:17:33THESE THINGS.
THE STATE CANNOT AFFORD THE
00:17:35SPENDING THAT HAD BEEN DONE
BEFORE.
00:17:37LET ME ASK YOU, IS THERE NOT THE
GOAL OF GETTING THESE FOLKS TO
00:17:43WORK -- MAYBE THERE IS SOME
OTHER SOLUTION BESIDES JUST
00:17:46PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THE
PROGRAM WHEN THERE IS NOT THE
00:17:51MONEY AVAILABLE.
>> OF COURSE, WE DO NOT GET
00:17:55STATE MONEY.
WE HAVE FEDERAL MONEY.
00:17:56WE WORK WITH PEOPLE IN THESE
SITUATIONS, AND THERE ARE SOME
00:18:00OTHER SOLUTIONS.
DOLE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE CLOCK
00:18:07IS TICKING.
IT MIGHT BE TIME.
00:18:14YOU CANNOT DEVELOP GOOD JOBS
OVERNIGHT.
00:18:15ONE OF OUR AGENCIES -- WE DO A
LOT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
00:18:23ONE OF OUR AGENCIES -- THE
COUNTY HAD NO HOSPITAL.
00:18:27IT TOOK 8.5 YEARS FROM THE TIME
YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS UNTIL THE
00:18:30TIME WE DID THE INITIAL DIGGING
OF THE GROUND.
00:18:36WHY DO WE BUILD A HOSPITAL?
IS THAT WE NEEDED A HOSPITAL IN
00:18:42THE COUNTY.
NO, YOU NEED GOOD JOBS.
00:18:44THAT IS WHAT COMES WITH A
HOSPITAL.
00:18:47WE SAW IT FIRST AS A JOB
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
00:18:49IT TOOK A LONG TIME.
IN THE INTERIM, WHAT DO YOU DO?
00:18:53YOU TRY TO FIND THE JOBS.
WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THIS
00:18:56GOVERNOR AND TRIED TO DEVELOP
THOSE THINGS.
00:18:58>> LET ME ASK THE DIRECTOR --
THE IDEA OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING
00:19:03REMOVED FROM THE ROLLS -- ARE
THESE OTHER FACTORS BEING TAKEN
00:19:06INTO CONSIDERATION?
THE FACT THAT THEY MIGHT NOT
00:19:08HAVE A CAR BECAUSE THEY CANNOT
AFFORD THE INSURANCE AND GAS TO
00:19:11PUT IN IT?
>> WE ARE TAKING ALL OF THIS
00:19:14INTO CONSIDERATION.
AGAIN, I AM NOT SURE WHERE JACK
00:19:17IS GOING ON THIS.
HE KNOWS WE HAVE GAS CARDS IN
00:19:22OUR PLAN.
WE HAVE BUS TOKENS.
00:19:23IF YOU CONTACT YOUR COUNTY CASE
WORKER AND SAY YOU CANNOT GET TO
00:19:29YOUR WORK PARTICIPATION SITE,
THEY WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET
00:19:32THERE.
WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT
00:19:33JOBS.
JOEL MENTIONED THE FACT THAT
00:19:37WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT IS A
POPULATION THAT WILL BE ON
00:19:40PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR A YEAR,
SIX MONTHS, THREE MONTHS, AND
00:19:44NOT DO ANYTHING.
YOU WANT TO PICK UP A SKILL, DO
00:19:47JOB READINESS, OR SOFT SKILLS.
SOME TYPE OF RESERVE-BUILDING.
00:19:51IF WE SANCTION YOU NOW, IT IS A
PERSONAL DECISION.
00:19:55YOU HAVE MADE A PERSONAL
DECISION THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO
00:20:01DO 32 HOURS OF WORK
PARTICIPATION.
00:20:03AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, THAT IS
NOT JUST A JOB.
00:20:06IT CAN BE COMMUNITY SERVICE.
>> LET ME ASK JACK TO WEIGH IN
00:20:09ON THAT.
>> FOR ONE THING, IT IS NOT TRUE
00:20:13THAT IF YOU CALL ANY COUNTY IN
THE STATE AND ASK FOR TRAVEL
00:20:15MONDAY TO GET YOUR WORK
ASSIGNMENT, YOU WILL GET WHAT
00:20:18YOU NEED.
THE MAJORITY OF COUNTIES ARE
00:20:20PAYING BETWEEN $25 OR $50 A
MONTH IN THE WAY OF GAS CARDS OR
00:20:24TRAVEL ALLOWANCE, WHICH IS NOT
EVEN A FULL GAS TANK.
00:20:28IT WILL NOT GET YOU TO WORK 30
HOURS A WEEK FOR WEEKS IN A
00:20:32MONTH.
THAT IS SIMPLY NOT THE CASE.
00:20:35WE ARE ALSO OVERLOOKING THE FACT
THAT THE STATE OF OHIO CUT AT
00:20:42LEAST $170 MILLION OUT OF THE
BUDGETS THAT THE COUNTIES HAD
00:20:45THAT THEY USED TO PAY FOR CAR
REPAIRS.
00:20:47THEY USED TO PAY FOR TRAVEL
EXPENSES, SHORT-TERM TRAINING
00:20:50PROGRAMS.
THE STATE OF OHIO HAS MADE -- HE
00:20:53SAYS THIS IS A CHOICE OF THE
CLIENTS.
00:20:55THIS IS NOT A CHOICE OF THE
CLIENTS TO ONLY GET $450 A
00:20:59MONTH.
THAT IS A CHOICE OF THE STATE OF
00:21:01OHIO.
CUTTING $170 MILLION OF FUNDS
00:21:06OUT OF THE COUNTY COFFERS TO BE
ABLE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE FIND
00:21:08JOBS -- THAT WAS A CHOICE OF THE
STATE OF OHIO, NOT THESE CLIENTS
00:21:13--
>> CAN I SPEAK TO THAT?
00:21:14IT SPEAKS TO THE BUDGET.
WE DID NOT TEST -- CUT THE CASH
00:21:18ASSISTANCE ROLLS AT ALL.
JACK KNOWS THAT THAT IS NOT
00:21:21CORRECT.
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET MAINTAIN
00:21:24THE ENTIRE SAFETY NET.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS PROGRAM,
00:21:27THE PROGRAM IS MUCH BIGGER THAN
CASH ASSISTANCE.
00:21:28YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT EATING THE
FOOD BANKS, CHILD WELFARE,
00:21:33ASSISTANCE FOR COUNTIES, FOR
CASEWORKERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE
00:21:38COSTS, AND TALKING ABOUT CASH
ASSISTANCE.
00:21:39>> WHERE IS JACK GETTING THIS,
THAT THE STATE HAS CUT THESE
00:21:43BENEFITS?
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE
00:21:45NOW FOR CAR REPAIRS AND THAT
SORT OF THING, RIGHT?
00:21:47>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
MICHAEL KNOWS THAT THE CUTS IN
00:21:52FUNDING TO THE COUNTY RESULTED
IN THEM CUTTING SERVICES.
00:21:58I DID NOT SAY YOU CUT CASH
ASSISTANCE.
00:22:01I MEAN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY,
THAT IS ALREADY SO LOW THAT EVEN
00:22:06YOU GUYS --
>> WE MADE UP FOR IT IN OTHER
00:22:10LINES.
WE CREATED THE 533 LINE.
00:22:12>> YOU ARE GETTING INTO AREAS
THAT PEOPLE DO NOT --
00:22:16THAT WE GAVE COUNTY'S $100
MILLION WORTH OF FLEXIBILITY TO
00:22:20MOVE MONEY BETWEEN DIFFERENT
LINES SO THAT THEY WOULD RESTORE
00:22:22THESE CUTS.
>> BUT YOU DID NOT RESTORE THE
00:22:27CUTS BY GIVING US FLEXIBILITY
WITH $170 MILLION LESS.
00:22:31IT IS NOT RESTORING THE CUTS.
WE HAVE REAL CUTS NOT JUST IN
00:22:35THAT.
WE HAD CUT ACROSS THE BOARD.
00:22:40OUR AGENCY ALONE LAID OFF 50
PEOPLE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
00:22:44THOSE WERE REAL CUTS.
WE CUT REAL SERVICES.
00:22:47NOT JUST US.
COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
00:22:51HAD TO DO THAT.
THOSE WERE DECISIONS THAT WERE
00:22:53MADE STATE LEVEL, AND NONE OF
THOSE THINGS HELPED THESE PEOPLE
00:22:56LIVING ON $450 A MONTH OUT THERE
GET TO A WORK SITE OR GET THE
00:23:01JOB TRAINING THAT THEY NEED.
>> WE HAVE THE SAME $1.2 BILLION
00:23:06PROGRAM THAT WE HAD IN THE
PREVIOUS YEAR.
00:23:08WE HAVE THE SAME --
THAT OF THE COSTS HAVE INCREASED
00:23:14IN THAT TIME, HAD THEY NOT?
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY LESS MONEY.
00:23:17>> THEY HAVE, BUT UNDERSTAND,
THIS IS A MATCH PROGRAM GEARED
00:23:21WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH $400
MILLION, AND WE HAVE TO LIVE
00:23:28WITHIN THE COSTS.
EVERYTHING IS FEEDING OFF OF ONE
00:23:30FUNDING STREAM.
CHILD CARE, FOSTER CARE, ALL
00:23:32THESE OTHER DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.
>> I WANTED IT TO THE ISSUE OF
00:23:36PERSONAL CHOICE.
THE DIRECTOR SAID THIS WAS A
00:23:38PERSONAL CHOICE OF WHAT THE
FOLKS HAVE MADE.
00:23:41IS THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE?
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING?
00:23:45>> THAT IS THE WAY THE PROGRAM
IS SET UP.
00:23:48THE LAW IS VERY CLEAR.
IT IS NOT JUST THE PERSON SAID.
00:23:51ONE VENDOR PERCENT OF PEOPLE
ELIGIBLE FOR CASH ASSISTANCE AS
00:23:54A CONDITION OF ELIGIBILITY ARE
REQUIRED TO WORK.
00:23:57WE ARE MEASURED ON AT LEAST 50%
MUST BE WORKING 30 HOURS, BUT
00:24:01THEY ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
DOING SOMETHING.
00:24:02>> DO YOU FEEL IT IS A PERSONAL
CHOICE FOR THESE FOLKS THAT HAVE
00:24:06BEEN KICKED OFF?
>> IT IS NOT NECESSARILY EVEN A
00:24:10PERSONAL CHOICE.
IT IS A COMPLIANCE ISSUE.
00:24:12IF YOU WANT CASH ASSISTANCE IN
THIS OR ANY OTHER STATE, YOU
00:24:16MUST WORK AS A CONDITION OF
THAT.
00:24:18WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
FIND ASSIGNMENTS.
00:24:21IT GOES OVER A WIDE GAMUT.
WHEN IT COMES INTO A PERSONAL
00:24:25CHOICE IS WHEN IT COMES TO THE
SANCTION.
00:24:27IF THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO WORK,
THEY HAVE THREE CHOICES -- THEY
00:24:32CAN DO THE ASSIGNMENT -- THEY
CAN ASK TO HAVE THAT HIS
00:24:37CLOTHES, OR WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH SANCTIONS.
00:24:39THERE IS NO FOURTH OPTION, AND
IN THAT, IT IS A CHOICE.
00:24:42>> IS IT A CHOICE?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
00:24:47IF IT IS A CHOICE, IT IS BECAUSE
PEOPLE HAVE FELT THEMSELVES
00:24:51BEING PERSONALLY DEFEATED.
THEY HAVE GIVEN UP.
00:24:53THAT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE
DIRECTOR OR THE FAULT OF THE
00:24:56STATE OF OHIO.
IT IS JUST THE WAY THE RULES ARE
00:24:59SET UP, AND THE RULES ARE WRONG.
WE NEED TO REDO THEM.
00:25:02>> THIS IS A BIG ENOUGH ISSUE WE
CANNOT SOLVE IT YEAR, BUT I
00:25:06APPRECIATE ALL YOUR PERSPECTIVES
HERE.
00:25:08THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THIS WEEK
00:25:13BY TAKING A MOMENT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE MY PARENTS ON A VERY
00:25:16SPECIAL WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
WEEKEND.
00:25:18I WILL NOT SAY WHICH ONE OTHER
THAN TO NOTE THAT ALL MARRIED
00:25:21COUPLES AIM FOR THIS MILESTONE
AND MOST NEVER REACH IT.
00:25:24I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY PARENTS
FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO EACH
00:25:27OTHER AND TO OUR FAMILY AND FOR
THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR US
00:25:30AND FOR THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR
COMMUNITY.
00:25:33CONGRATULATIONS TO MY MOM AND
DADDY.
00:25:35THAT IS IT FOR THIS WEEK.
FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT OHIO PUBLIC
00:25:39TELEVISION AND RADIO, THANKS FOR
WATCHING.
00:25:42IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
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00:25:44OR LAST WEEK'S SHOW, PLEASE
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00:25:50NEXT TIME FOR "THE STATE OF
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Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions