| 00:00:00 | >> SUPPORT COMES FROM THE LAW
OFFICES -- HELPING BUSINESSES |
| 00:00:09 | AND INDIVIDUALS SOLVE COMPLEX
LEGAL PROBLEMS. |
| 00:00:13 | AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING 131,000 |
| 00:00:21 | TEACHERS, PROFESSIONAL, AND
FACULTY WORKING FOR GREAT PUBLIC |
| 00:00:26 | SCHOOLS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS MADE |
| 00:00:31 | POSSIBLE --
>> FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL MARC |
| 00:00:37 | DANN MAKES HISTORY IN AN OHIO
SUPREME COURT DECISION. |
| 00:00:38 | THE WAY THE OHIO TURNPIKE IS RUN
IS LIKELY TO CHANGE, AND WE |
| 00:00:41 | SHOULD FIND OUT IN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS HOW THE STATE WILL |
| 00:00:45 | CAPITALIZE ON PRIVATIZING IT IN
SOME WAY. |
| 00:00:47 | WE'LL RUN DOWN THE DEBATE OVER
THE FUTURE OF THE TURNPIKE WITH |
| 00:00:51 | A LAWMAKER AND A FORMER
LEGISLATOR WHO HAVE A FEW |
| 00:00:56 | QUESTIONS, AND THE CONSERVATIVE
REPUBLICAN WHO USED TO RUN THE |
| 00:00:58 | TURNPIKE AND IS NOW ONE OF THE
HARSHEST CRITICS OF THE PLAN TO |
| 00:01:01 | PRIVATIZE IT.
ALL THIS WEEK IN "THE STATE OF |
| 00:01:04 | OHIO".
CAPTIONED BY THE |
| 00:01:06 | NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE
--WWW.NCICAP.ORG-- |
| 00:01:07 | >> MARC DANN HAS BECOME THE
FIRST FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL TO |
| 00:01:14 | BE DISCIPLINED BY THE OHIO
SUPREME COURT. |
| 00:01:16 | THE HIGH COURT HAS ORDERED A
SIX-MONTH LAW LICENSE |
| 00:01:18 | SUSPENSION FOR DANN, MEANING THE
FORMER AG CAN'T WORK AS AN |
| 00:01:19 | ATTORNEY FOR HALF A YEAR AS
PUNISHMENT CONNECTED TO HIS |
| 00:01:22 | 2008 RESIGNATION AMID A SEXUAL
HARASSMENT SCANDAL. |
| 00:01:25 | IN APRIL, THE STATE DISCIPLINARY
COUNSEL HAD ASKED FOR A YEAR- |
| 00:01:28 | LONG SUSPENSION, SAYING DANN
TARNISHED THE REPUTATION OF THE |
| 00:01:33 | OFFICE.
DANN HAD ARGUED FOR A SIX-MONTH |
| 00:01:37 | SUSPENSION THAT WOULD HAVE
ALLOWED HIM TO KEEP WORKING AS |
| 00:01:39 | A LAWYER.
THE DEMOCRATIC FORMER AG PLEADED |
| 00:01:42 | GUILTY IN 2010 TO IMPROPERLY
PAYING TWO AIDES FROM POLITICAL |
| 00:01:46 | AND OFFICE ACCOUNTS AND FAILING
TO DISCLOSE CAMPAIGN EXPENSES. |
| 00:01:52 | >> THE FINAL COUNT IS UNDERWAY
AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S |
| 00:01:55 | OFFICE.
AND WHILE THE RESULTS OF |
| 00:01:57 | PROVISIONAL BALLOTS WON'T CHANGE
THE FINAL OUTCOMES IN THE |
| 00:01:59 | PRESIDENTIAL RACE OR THE US
SENATE RACE IN OHIO, THERE ARE |
| 00:02:02 | THREE STATE HOUSE RACES WITH
OUTCOMES THAT REMAIN UNKNOWN. |
| 00:02:04 | AND THEY COULD DETERMINE WHETHER
REPUBLICANS WILL INCREASE THEIR |
| 00:02:08 | MAJORITY.
GOING INTO THE ELECTION, |
| 00:02:12 | REPUBLICANS HAD A 58-38 EDGE IN
THE HOUSE. |
| 00:02:14 | IF THAT GROWS TO 60 OR MORE,
THE GOP COULD AUTOMATICALLY |
| 00:02:17 | PLACE BALLOT ISSUES BEFORE
VOTERS. |
| 00:02:18 | COURT BATTLES OVER PROVISIONAL
BALLOTS PITTED OHIO SECRETARY |
| 00:02:22 | OF STATE JON HUSTED, OVERSEEING
HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL |
| 00:02:26 | ELECTION, AGAINST VOTER
ADVOCATES INCLUDING THOSE |
| 00:02:30 | REPRESENTING HOMELESS VOTERS.
FEDERAL APPEALS COURTS BACKED |
| 00:02:34 | HUSTED TWICE, THOUGH NOT BEFORE
A LOCAL FEDERAL JUDGE HARSHLY |
| 00:02:37 | CRITICIZED HUSTED FOR ACTIONS
HE TOOK LATE IN THE ELECTION |
| 00:02:40 | PROCESS.
ELECTION OFFICIALS MUST CERTIFY |
| 00:02:44 | RESULTS BY NOV. 27.
>> TWO OHIO US SENATORS -- ONE A |
| 00:02:51 | FORMER SENATOR AND THE OTHER THE
MAN WHO REPLACED HIM - ARE |
| 00:02:54 | SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE SO-CALLED
FISCAL CLIFF, THE PACKAGE OF |
| 00:02:56 | TAX INCREASES AND SPENDING CUTS
THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT IF |
| 00:02:59 | CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH WOUB, |
| 00:03:05 | FORMER U.S. SENATOR GEORGE
VOINOVICH SAYS HE'S NOT |
| 00:03:07 | BOTHERED BY TAX INCREASES ON THE
WEALTHY - BUT WITH STRINGS |
| 00:03:11 | ATTACHED.
>> I THINK AMEN AND HALLELUJAH. |
| 00:03:13 | I MEAN, THERE'S NO QUESTION
ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING |
| 00:03:18 | TO HAVE TO HAVE MORE REVENUE,
AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT |
| 00:03:22 | I'VE TALKED TO HAVE SAID I'LL
PAY MORE TAXES IF YOU CAN |
| 00:03:26 | GUARANTEE ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO
FINALLY DO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED |
| 00:03:31 | TO DO IN ORDER TO GET OUR FISCAL
HOUSE IN ORDER. |
| 00:03:34 | >> VOINOVICH SAYS THE SCENARIO
HE'D LIKE TO SEE INVOLVES |
| 00:03:38 | CUTBACKS TO ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICARE AND FOOD |
| 00:03:41 | STAMPS.
HIS REPUBLICAN SUCCESSOR, ROB |
| 00:03:44 | PORTMAN, IS AGREEING WITH THE
IDEA OF TAX INCREASES ON THE |
| 00:03:48 | WEALTHY, AS LONG AS THAT'S PART
OF WHAT HE CALLS A "BROAD |
| 00:03:50 | PACKAGE" THAT ADDRESSES
"UNSUSTAINABLE SPENDING." |
| 00:03:53 | >> I THINK THERE COULD BE
ADDITIONAL REVENUES. |
| 00:03:56 | AND I THINK IT COULD COME FROM
FOLKS WHO ARE AT THE UPPER END |
| 00:04:00 | OF THE INCOME SCALE, BUT IF
IT'S DONE ON TOP OF OUR CURRENT |
| 00:04:04 | ANTIQUATED AND INEFFICIENT TAX
CODE, AND IF THERE IS NO |
| 00:04:08 | SPENDING REDUCTIONS AS PART OF
IT, WHICH IS WHAT IS BEING |
| 00:04:12 | PROPOSED BY SOME ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE, I THINK IT'D |
| 00:04:15 | BE A HUGE MISTAKE, AND NO, I
COULDN'T SUPPORT THAT. |
| 00:04:18 | >> MEANWHILE, ECONOMIC
FORECASTERS SAY WORRIES ABOUT |
| 00:04:22 | THE LOOMING FISCAL CLIFF COULD
DRAG DOWN HOLIDAY SPENDING THIS |
| 00:04:24 | YEAR.
A UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI |
| 00:04:29 | ECONOMICS CENTER FORECAST
PROJECTS A 4.2% STATEWIDE |
| 00:04:32 | INCREASE IN SALES FOR NOVEMBER
AND DECEMBER THIS YEAR OVER |
| 00:04:35 | LAST YEAR, WITH THE BIGGEST
UPTICK OF 7.5% IN THE COLUMBUS |
| 00:04:38 | METRO MARKET.
>> FOR MOST OF THE LAST YEAR, |
| 00:04:45 | THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN |
| 00:04:47 | NAVIGATING THROUGH A BAD
STRETCH OF ROAD. ODOT REVEALED |
| 00:04:49 | IN JANUARY THAT A $1.6 BILLION
HOLE IN ITS CONSTRUCTION BUDGET |
| 00:04:51 | WAS GOING TO FORCE DELAYS OF
YEARS OR EVEN DECADES IN DOZENS |
| 00:04:54 | OF MAJOR PROJECTS THAT
COMMUNITIES WERE COUNTING ON. |
| 00:04:58 | THE AGENCY THEN STARTED MAKING
CHANGES - TRIMMING ITS PAYROLL |
| 00:05:03 | BY 400 POSITIONS, CHANGING
BUDGETING POLICIES, ASKING FOR |
| 00:05:07 | COST-SAVINGS ON PROJECTS AND
TRYING TO FIND NEW REVENUE FROM |
| 00:05:10 | PRIVATIZATION OF REST AREAS AND
NAMING RIGHTS FOR BRIDGES. |
| 00:05:13 | AND ONE THING THAT'S THOUGHT TO
BE A ROADWAY TO SOME FIRM |
| 00:05:18 | FINANCIAL GROUND IS THE OHIO
TURNPIKE, THE 241 MILE TOLL |
| 00:05:22 | ROAD THAT RUNS ACROSS NORTHERN
OHIO. |
| 00:05:24 | GOV. JOHN KASICH HAS LONG
MAINTAINED THAT THE TURNPIKE IS |
| 00:05:28 | AN UNDERUTILIZED ASSET, AND HIS
PLANS FOR THE TURNPIKE ARE |
| 00:05:31 | LIKELY TO COME OUT BY THE END OF
THIS MONTH. |
| 00:05:33 | AND STATE LEGISLATORS HAVE
COMMISSIONED A STUDY TO SEE IF |
| 00:05:37 | LEASING THE ROADWAY TO A PRIVATE
COMPANY COULD GIVE THE STATE A |
| 00:05:39 | MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR LUMP-SUM
PAYMENT IT COULD USE TO PAY FOR |
| 00:05:43 | REPAIRS ON OTHER HIGHWAYS.
>> IN JUNE, I TALKED ABOUT THE |
| 00:05:47 | TURNPIKE WITH TWO VETERANS OF
STATE GOVERNMENT. |
| 00:05:49 | REP. REX DAMSCHRODER IS A
REPUBLICAN FROM FREMONT AND IS |
| 00:05:51 | ON HIS SECOND TOUR OF DUTY IN
THE OHIO HOUSE OF |
| 00:05:55 | REPRESENTATIVES, AND CHAIRS THE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. |
| 00:05:57 | GENE KREBS IS A FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE FROM PREBLE |
| 00:06:02 | COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST OHIO AND IS
THE FORMER SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR |
| 00:06:05 | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND POLICY
AT GREATER OHIO, A THINK TANK |
| 00:06:07 | THAT WORKS ON ISSUES RELATED TO
TRANSPORTATION, GROWTH AND LAND |
| 00:06:11 | USE.
I ASKED DAMSCHRODER AND KREBS |
| 00:06:13 | ABOUT THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
FACING ODOT AND HOW THE |
| 00:06:17 | TURNPIKE MIGHT PLAY A ROLE IN
CHANGING THEM. |
| 00:06:19 | >> IS MY CHOICE IS DRIVING ON A
ROAD FULL OF POTHOLES OR PAYING |
| 00:06:33 | A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE GAS
TAX, I WOULD PAY A LITTLE BIT |
| 00:06:36 | MORE GAS TAX AND HAVE A NICE
HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF ME. |
| 00:06:39 | ON MY WAY DOWN HERE TODAY, GAS
RAISED 20 CENTS OVERNIGHT. |
| 00:06:44 | THE NEXT GAS STATION WAS STILL
AT $4.59. |
| 00:06:50 | IT WENT UP 20 CENTS, THOUGH.
20 CENTS OVERNIGHT, JUST LIKE |
| 00:07:02 | THAT COME UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN.
IF WE CANNOT COME UP WITH ANY |
| 00:07:09 | OTHER SOLUTION, BEFORE I DRIVE
MY NEW CAR, IF I START WRITING |
| 00:07:15 | IT AND I HAVE THE CHOICE OF
PAYING A LITTLE BIT MORE IN GAS |
| 00:07:21 | TAX AND DRIVING IT ON A GOOD
ROAD AS OPPOSED TO POT HOLES, I |
| 00:07:27 | WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF PAYING A
LITTLE BIT MORE FOR BETTER |
| 00:07:30 | HIGHWAY.
IF THEY DO NOT LIKE IT, YOU DO |
| 00:07:32 | NOT HAVE TO DRIVE A CAR.
IF THAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE, YOU |
| 00:07:39 | CAN DRIVE UP TO MICHIGAN.
THE ROADS ARE ABSOLUTELY |
| 00:07:43 | MISERABLE.
OHIO'S ROADS ARE NOT THAT BAD |
| 00:07:46 | RIGHT NOW.
I MADE A MAJOR EXCEPTION, I |
| 00:07:50 | DROVE ALL THE WAY TO NEW ORLEANS
AND BACK LAST YEAR. |
| 00:07:52 | THEY WERE ALL PRETTY GOOD ROADS.
I MIGHT PARK TURNPIKE, I PAID NO |
| 00:08:03 | FEES.
-- UNLIKE OUR TURNPIKE, I PAID |
| 00:08:11 | NO FEES.
I LIKE A GOOD ROADS AND A LOT OF |
| 00:08:16 | OHIOANS LIKE A GOOD ROADS.
>> WE WILL GET TO THE TURNPIKE |
| 00:08:23 | IN JUST A MINUTE.
DO YOU STILL HOLD TO THAT? |
| 00:08:32 | IF THERE IS NO APPETITE FOR
RAISING THE GAS TAX -- |
| 00:08:37 | >> WE ARE ALL OUT OF THE
PLEASANT SOLUTIONS. |
| 00:08:40 | INCREASING THE GAS TAX, YOU ARE
INCREASING THE TAX, THAT IS NOT |
| 00:08:49 | GOING TO WORK LONG TERM.
PORTLAND, ORE., THEY TRIED THE |
| 00:08:54 | VEHICLES MILES TAX.
THEY HAD TO ABANDON IT EARLY. |
| 00:09:00 | EVEN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF
PORTLAND, THEY COULD NOT |
| 00:09:04 | TOLERATE A BIG BROTHER.
>> THEY MOUNT A BOX IN YOUR CAR |
| 00:09:10 | AND MODERATE THE NUMBER OF
MILES? |
| 00:09:11 | >> WOULD I HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR
IS FOR ODPT TO TAKE AN AGNOSTIC |
| 00:09:23 | VIEW.
SOMETIMES THAT MAYBE BY HIGHWAY, |
| 00:09:27 | SOMETIMES IT MAY BE BY BARGE OR
RAIL OR SIDEWALK OR BICYCLE. |
| 00:09:31 | OK?
IN CENTRAL OHIO AT THE I-77 - 1 |
| 00:09:39 | SPLIT, IT IS ALMOST THE ENTIRETY
OF ALL OF OUR GAS TAX IN ONE |
| 00:09:45 | YEAR.
THAT IS ONLY TO MOVE 20,000 CARS |
| 00:09:51 | FOR 20 MINUTES EACH MORNING AND
20 MINUTES EACH AFTERNOON. |
| 00:09:54 | IF YOU COULD HAVE -- SENT --
HAVE THEM DO SOME ALTERNATIVE |
| 00:10:06 | TRANSPORTATION, YOU COULD SAVE
$900 MILLION. |
| 00:10:12 | >> YOU HAVE TO GET PEOPLE TO BUY
INTO THAT. |
| 00:10:14 | >> THAT IS WHY I HAVE TO
COMMEND -- WE'RE HAVING FISCAL |
| 00:10:23 | ISSUES.
EVERYBODY WENT THROUGH THIS 12 |
| 00:10:27 | STAGES OF GRIEF.
NOW WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT |
| 00:10:32 | OF ACCEPTANCE, OK?
IT HAS BEEN TRUE AND I CAN TELL |
| 00:10:39 | YOU SINCE OCTOBER OF 2005, THIS
DAY WAS COMING. |
| 00:10:42 | >> WHAT ABOUT THIS IDEA THIS IS
SOMETHING I CAN CERTAINLY HEAR |
| 00:10:48 | THIS LEGISLATION --
>> IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. |
| 00:10:52 | >> WHAT ABOUT THIS IDEA OF TOLL
ROADS, AT LEAST IN PART, WHERE |
| 00:11:02 | YOU HAVE A SECTION OF THE ROAD
THAT IS HEAVILY USED, THERE IS A |
| 00:11:07 | TOLL ROAD COMPONENT?
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE |
| 00:11:10 | POSSIBLE?
>> WE WILL GET INTO THE |
| 00:11:14 | TURNPIKE ANY TIME.
I LIVE ON THE TURNPIKE AND I |
| 00:11:16 | LIVE WITH IT EVERY DAY.
HOWEVER, THE GOVERNOR IS |
| 00:11:24 | PROPOSING PROBABLY POLICING OF
THE HIGHWAY -- THE TURNPIKE -- |
| 00:11:31 | >> WE WILL FIND OUT LATER THIS
YEAR. |
| 00:11:34 | >> IT IS HARD TO PICK ON THE
GOVERNOR UNTIL WE FIND OUT HIS |
| 00:11:38 | PLAN.
HOWEVER, MR. GOVERNOR, THE |
| 00:11:42 | PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS.
IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE TENDENCY |
| 00:11:47 | IS TO, WE WILL LEASE OFF THIS
TURNPIKE. |
| 00:11:54 | AS THOSE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ALONG
THE TURNPIKE KEEP PAYING EVERY |
| 00:11:59 | WEEK TO DRIVE ON IT, WE WILL
HELP BUILD BRIDGES IN |
| 00:12:03 | CINCINNATI AND HIGHWAYS IN
COLUMBUS. |
| 00:12:06 | >> YOU WORRY ABOUT THE QUALITY
OF THE TURNPIKE. |
| 00:12:09 | >> THE GOVERNOR IS ACCURATE
SAYING THE TURNPIKE IS ONE OF |
| 00:12:16 | OHIO'S GREATEST UNDERUTILIZED
ASSETS. |
| 00:12:19 | I BELIEVE IT IS.
THERE IS MONEY TO BE HAD. |
| 00:12:22 | LAST YEAR, THE AVERAGE TOLLBOOTH
TAKER WAS MAKING $52,000 A YEAR. |
| 00:12:30 | THE GOVERNOR IS QUITE ACCURATE,
WE COULD MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT. |
| 00:12:39 | I HAVE MY IDEAS.
ONE IDEA I HAVE IS IN 1992, THAT |
| 00:12:50 | TURNPIKE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
FREE. |
| 00:12:51 | IN 1992, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO
HAVE A FREE ROAD, THE SAME AS |
| 00:13:00 | ALL THE REST OF OHIO ENJOYS.
COLUMBUS DOES NOT HAVE ANY TOLL |
| 00:13:04 | ROADS.
WE IN NORTHERN OHIO STILL ARE |
| 00:13:09 | PAYING TOLLS.
TO TAKE OUR MONEY THAT WE PAY |
| 00:13:12 | TOLLS EVERY WEEK AND SHIP THAT
OUT TO OTHER PARTS OF THE |
| 00:13:16 | STATE, I WILL PROPOSE THAT WE
AMEND -- MAYBE BUT SOME POLLS IN |
| 00:13:25 | CINCINNATI AND COLUMBUS AND HAVE
HALF OF THOSE FEES SENT TO |
| 00:13:31 | NORTHERN OHIO.
IT HAS TO GET A LITTLE CLEARER |
| 00:13:36 | TO THESE LEGISLATORS.
EVEN IF WE DO HAVE A PROGRAM |
| 00:13:39 | WITH THE TURNPIKE, IF WE CAN
RENT THE TURNPIKE, THE ONLY WAY |
| 00:13:44 | WE CAN MAKE THIS A GOOD PACKAGE
IS IF THOSE DRIVERS IN NORTHERN |
| 00:13:48 | OHIO GET A FREE TOLL ROAD OUT OF
IT. |
| 00:13:52 | THE BIG MONEY DOES NOT COME
FROM INDIVIDUAL CARS. |
| 00:13:56 | IT COMES FROM THE TRUCKS, IT
COMES FROM THE NEW YORK CARS, |
| 00:14:01 | ILL. CARS, A DETROIT CARS.
OHIO DRIVERS OR PROMISED A FREE |
| 00:14:09 | TOLL ROAD.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO THAT |
| 00:14:12 | ORIGINAL PROMISE.
LET THE TRUCKS THAT TO THE |
| 00:14:16 | DAMAGE, LET THEM PAY.
>> I THINK THE BRIDGE WILL |
| 00:14:24 | PROBABLY END UP BEING A TOLL.
ONE WAY TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERN |
| 00:14:28 | IS TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT GO |
| 00:14:34 | TO YOUR PUBLIC COMMITTEES THAT
INCLUDE COUNTIES THAT INTERSECT |
| 00:14:41 | WITH THE TURNPIKE.
BABBITT THE MONEY IS -- MY FARM |
| 00:14:47 | IS 3.8 MILES FROM THE INDIANA
LINE. |
| 00:14:51 | AFTER MITCH DANIELS AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN, THEIR ROADS ARE NICER |
| 00:15:00 | THAN OURS.
THE INDIANA STATE FLOWER IS NOW |
| 00:15:05 | THE ORANGE BARREL.
WE DO NOT HAVE THAT HERE. |
| 00:15:10 | THEY ARE DOING A MASSIVE AMOUNT.
IT IS A 20-YEAR TRUST. |
| 00:15:17 | WE ARE OUT OF PLEASANT
SOLUTIONS. |
| 00:15:22 | WE HAVE ALL THE SOLUTIONS.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING |
| 00:15:26 | AT THE TURNPIKE.
>> THEY WANT TO SPEND HALF OF |
| 00:15:32 | THAT MONEY -- OR DID THEY WANT
TO KEEP THAT MONEY? |
| 00:15:36 | >> I THINK YOU ARE SEEING THE
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. |
| 00:15:42 | WHY DON'T WE TOLL I-70?
I DRIVE THEM FROM COLUMBUS AND |
| 00:15:55 | BACK AND FORTH, I WILL TAKE U.S.
40. |
| 00:15:57 | >> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
COMPLAINED ABOUT IF THE |
| 00:16:01 | TURNPIKE --
>> ESOL THAT A FEW YEARS BACK |
| 00:16:06 | WHEN THE TURNPIKE INCREASED --
USE ALL THAT APPEARS THAT WHEN |
| 00:16:10 | THE TERM HIKE INCREASED THE
TOLLS. |
| 00:16:12 | >>>> BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF
OPPONENTS TO A POSSIBLE LEASE OF |
| 00:16:17 | THE OHIO TURNPIKE, AND THEY ARE
DIVERSE. |
| 00:16:18 | AMONG THEM ARE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, COUNTY |
| 00:16:20 | COMMISSIONERS AND STATE
LAWMAKERS - DEMOCRATS AND |
| 00:16:23 | REPUBLICANS.
IT'S OPPOSED BY THE |
| 00:16:25 | CONSERVATIVE OHIO FARM BUREAU
AND THE LIBERAL-LEANING OHIO |
| 00:16:27 | PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP.
IT'S OPPOSED BY DEMOCRATIC |
| 00:16:31 | CONGRESSMAN TIM RYAN AND BY THE
FORMER HEAD OF THE OHIO |
| 00:16:34 | TURNPIKE COMMISSION, REPUBLICAN
FORMER STATE SEN. GARY |
| 00:16:38 | SUHADOLNIK.
I SPOKE WITH SUHADOLNIK ABOUT |
| 00:16:41 | HIS CONCERNS ABOUT LEASING THE
TURNPIKE LAST YEAR, WITH THE |
| 00:16:44 | HELP OF WVIZ/IDEASTREAM IN
CLEVELAND. |
| 00:16:46 | >> I AM A CONSERVATIVE
REPUBLICAN. |
| 00:16:53 | THE TURNPIKE IS A FEE-FOR-
SERVICE HIGHWAY. |
| 00:16:55 | WHY DO WE WANT TO CHANGE
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN SO |
| 00:17:01 | SUCCESSFUL?
>> YOU ARE OPPOSED BECAUSE |
| 00:17:05 | TURNPIKE DRIVERS ARE ALREADY
SUBSIDIZING THE STATE. |
| 00:17:07 | IF THEY GET TICKETS, THE FINES
THEY DID GO TO THE COMMUNITIES. |
| 00:17:18 | THE TURNPIKE COMMISSION CAN MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS AND REPORT THOSE TO |
| 00:17:22 | ODOT AND THAT MONEY DOES NOT
NECESSARILY GO TO THE TURNPIKE. |
| 00:17:29 | YOU SAY THIS IS ABOUT UNFAIR
BURDEN THAT DRIVERS ON THE |
| 00:17:32 | TURNPIKE ARE DOING IN TERMS OF
SUBSIDIZING THE REST OF THE |
| 00:17:35 | STATE.
>> THE TURNPIKE CUSTOMER IS |
| 00:17:39 | ALREADY IN SUBSIDIZING OTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AROUND |
| 00:17:42 | THE STATE.
IT IS SO UNFAIR. |
| 00:17:45 | WE DO NOT HAVE A TOLL-FREE HIGH
WEIGHT IN THIS AREA. |
| 00:17:48 | IF YOU TRAVEL 71 OR 75 OR 77,
YOU HAVE A HIGHWAY THAT WAS |
| 00:17:55 | PAID FOR TO THE INTERSTATE
SYSTEM. |
| 00:17:57 | THE TURNPIKE ALSO PAYS GAS TAX
IS THAT DO NOT BENEFIT THE |
| 00:18:06 | TURNPIKE.
THEY GO TO COMPETING HIGHWAYS. |
| 00:18:09 | STATE ROUTE 2 IS AN EXAMPLE.
TRUCK STOPPED DOWN TO THAT ROAD. |
| 00:18:16 | IT WAS PAID FOR BY TURNPIKE
DOLLARS. |
| 00:18:20 | FOR SOME REASON, THE TURNPIKE
WAS EXCLUDED. |
| 00:18:28 | TURNPIKE CUSTOMERS ALSO PAID FOR
THE HIGHWAY PATROL SEPARATELY. |
| 00:18:31 | THE BIGGEST ONE IS THE FEDERAL
MATCH. |
| 00:18:35 | THE TURNPIKE SPENCE 30-$50
MILLION A YEAR ON ROADWAYS |
| 00:18:41 | IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
ODOT REPORTS THAT TO THE FEDERAL |
| 00:18:49 | GOVERNMENT AND DRAWS DOWN 80%
FEDERAL MATCH. |
| 00:18:52 | IF THE TURNPIKE MAKES $30
MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS, ODOT IS |
| 00:18:57 | ABLE TO DRAW DOWN $120 MILLION.
HERE IS A TURNPIKE CUSTOMER WHO |
| 00:19:05 | IS ALREADY SUBSIDIZING THE REST
OF THE STATE. |
| 00:19:06 | THEY WILL BE ASKED TO DO MORE.
A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO |
| 00:19:11 | RAISE TOLL RATES.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED IN INDIANA |
| 00:19:15 | AND CHICAGO SKYWAY.
>> THE ODOT DIRECTOR WAS |
| 00:19:21 | REASSURING US THAT TRUMP HAD
POLLS WOULD NOT GO UP. |
| 00:19:24 | -- THAT TURNPIKE TOLLS WOULD NOT
GO UP. |
| 00:19:29 | DO YOU BELIEVE THAT CAN HAPPEN
WITH A CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED |
| 00:19:36 | CONTRACT?
>> NO, I DO NOT. |
| 00:19:38 | I'VE SEEN THE INDIANA CONTRACT.
THEY HAD A NUMBER OF -- WHAT WAS |
| 00:19:47 | THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, THE
CONSTRUCTION INDEX. |
| 00:19:49 | I FORGOT EXACTLY.
OF ALL THE INDEXES, THE CONSUMER |
| 00:19:56 | PRICE INDEX WAS THE LOWEST
INDEX. |
| 00:19:57 | ALL OF THE OTHER INDEXES WERE
MUCH HIGHER. |
| 00:20:00 | THIS IS -- WHATEVER INDEXES THEY
PUT INTO THAT CONTRACT, THE |
| 00:20:05 | CONTRACTOR WILL USE THEM TO
THEIR ADVANTAGE. |
| 00:20:08 | IF THEY REALLY PROHIBITS ANY
INCREASES, THEY WILL NOT GET |
| 00:20:12 | MUCH MONEY FROM THE TURNPIKE.
PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER. |
| 00:20:16 | THEY WILL BE VERY GENEROUS
INDEXES. |
| 00:20:19 | THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY
ABOUT ANY CONTRACT, THE LAST |
| 00:20:27 | STATES THAT TRY TO LEASE A TOLL
ROAD WAS FLORIDA. |
| 00:20:31 | ALL OF THE POTENTIAL BIDDERS
WERE FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES. |
| 00:20:34 | WHOEVER IT THAT THE BUSINESSES,
AFTER THEY GIVE OHIO TWO OR $3 |
| 00:20:49 | BILLION AND WANT TO RAISE TOLLS,
GUESS WHAT. |
| 00:20:54 | THEY WILL BE IN COURT FIGHTING
OVER THE DETAILS OF THAT |
| 00:20:57 | CONTRACT.
OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL BE |
| 00:20:59 | SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
FIGHTING THESE KIND OF DETAILS |
| 00:21:04 | IN COURT.
IT IS NICE TO TALK ABOUT THE |
| 00:21:06 | CONTRACT, BUT IT WILL BE
DIFFICULT. |
| 00:21:08 | >> THE OTHER ARGUMENT IS WE HAVE
A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ODOT AND |
| 00:21:14 | THAT THEY ARE GOING BROKE.
THE PROJECTED $1.5 BILLION |
| 00:21:19 | DEFICIT.
YOU HAVE A GAS TAX REVENUE |
| 00:21:24 | DROPPING BECAUSE FUEL
CONSUMPTION IS BETTER, YOUR |
| 00:21:28 | PEOPLE ARE DRIVING.
WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT? |
| 00:21:31 | WITHOUT HAVING THE MONEY FROM
THE TURNPIKE? |
| 00:21:36 | >> I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE
TURNPIKE IS THE PROBLEM. |
| 00:21:40 | THERE ARE 3 BILLION MILES THAT
HAD BEEN TROUBLED ON THE |
| 00:21:45 | TURNPIKE BY CARS AND TRUCKS.
-- TRAVELED ON THE TURNPIKE BY |
| 00:21:49 | CARS AND TRUCKS.
IT IS CONTRIBUTING A LOT OF |
| 00:21:55 | MONEY ALREADY.
WHY ARE YOU PUTTING MORE OF A |
| 00:21:59 | BURDEN ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE?
THE TURNPIKE IS MORE THAN SELF- |
| 00:22:07 | SUFFICIENT.
IT IS CONTRIBUTING ADDITIONAL |
| 00:22:09 | DOLLARS TO THE STATE.
WHY ARE YOU PICKING ON THE ONE |
| 00:22:12 | THAT IS NOT COSTING YOU ANY
MONEY? |
| 00:22:13 | LET'S PUT A TAX OR LEASE OHIO
STATE UNIVERSITY AND LOWER |
| 00:22:20 | TUITIONS ARE AROUND THE REST OF
THE STATE. |
| 00:22:22 | LET'S DO SOMETHING SIMILAR, WHY
DO WE LI-SAO THE STATE HOUSE? |
| 00:22:27 | THIS IS A RIDICULOUS IDEA,
TERRIBLY UNFAIR TO NORTHERN |
| 00:22:32 | OHIO.
WHEN THESE TOLLS GO UP, THAT |
| 00:22:35 | WILL NOT MAKE NORTHERN OHIO MORE
COMPETITIVE. |
| 00:22:38 | IT WILL NOT HELP PEOPLE DRIVING
TO WORK ON THE TURNPIKE. |
| 00:22:41 | I DO NOT KNOW WHO IT IS GOING TO
HELP. |
| 00:22:44 | IT WILL NOT HELP THE NEIGHBORING
COMMUNITIES. |
| 00:22:47 | I DO NOT KNOW WHO THIS IS GOING
TO HELP. |
| 00:22:50 | THIS IS A BAD IDEA.
I KNOW THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT |
| 00:22:53 | TIMES.
A BAD IDEA, EVEN IN BAD TIMES, |
| 00:23:00 | IT IS STILL A BAD IDEA.
THE WORKERS WILL NOT BENEFIT, |
| 00:23:05 | THE CUSTOMERS WILL NOT BENEFIT,
THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES WILL |
| 00:23:08 | NOT BENEFIT, ODOT WILL NOT
BENEFIT. |
| 00:23:11 | I THINK THIS IS JUST A BAD IDEA.
>> THE DIRECTOR SAID A FEW WEEKS |
| 00:23:20 | AGO, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH
SOME ACTION ON LEVERAGING. |
| 00:23:24 | WE WILL NOT JUST LET IT SIT
THERE. |
| 00:23:26 | DOES THAT MAKE IT SOUND TO YOU
LIKE THIS IS A DONE DEAL? |
| 00:23:30 | SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND
THERE IS NOTHING THAT WILL BE |
| 00:23:34 | DONE TO CHANGE IT?
>> I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE |
| 00:23:38 | GOVERNOR AND DIRECTOR POINT OF
VIEW WILL PREVAIL AND THERE'LL |
| 00:23:42 | BE SOME FORM OF A LEASE.
I THINK THIS IS A TERRIBLE, |
| 00:23:47 | TERRIBLE IDEA.
IN THE CASE OF THE TURNPIKE, THE |
| 00:23:52 | TURNPIKE IS NOT ALLOWED TO HIRE
A LOBBYIST. |
| 00:23:54 | THE TURNPIKE EMPLOYEES, THEY ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND |
| 00:23:59 | THEY ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A ONE-SIDED |
| 00:24:03 | ARGUMENT.
IT IS TIME FOR SOMEONE TO SPEAK |
| 00:24:06 | OUT BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE
DEFENDING THE TURNPIKE. |
| 00:24:09 | I AM SPEAKING OUT, I AM HOPEFUL
THAT I CAN REACH ENOUGH PEOPLE. |
| 00:24:16 | IF I TALK TO NORTHERN OHIOANS,
ONE BY ONE, PEOPLE TELL ME THEY |
| 00:24:26 | THINK IT IS A BAD IDEA.
PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR |
| 00:24:30 | JOBS AND MAKING THEIR MORTGAGES,
SO THEY WILL NOT GO OUT AND |
| 00:24:34 | FIGHT FOR THIS, BUT DID YOU
EXPRESS THAT THEY OPPOSE IT. |
| 00:24:37 | -- BUT THEY DO EXPRESSED THAT
THEY OPPOSE IT. |
| 00:24:42 | THE GOVERNOR OUGHT TO WAKE UP
AND LISTEN TO THOSE PEOPLE. |
| 00:24:46 | WE WILL SEE WHAT THE FUTURE
BRINGS. |
| 00:24:49 | >> LAST MONTH, AN OFFICIAL WITH
THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF |
| 00:24:52 | TRANSPORTATION WAS BROUGHT IN
TO SPEAK IN GLOWING TERMS ABOUT |
| 00:24:53 | THE LEASING OF THE INDIANA TOLL
ROAD TO A STATEWIDE CONFERENCE |
| 00:24:55 | OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS AND
EXPERTS - BUT ODOT DIRECTOR |
| 00:24:59 | JERRY WRAY SAID THAT SHOULDN'T
BE PERCEIVED AS A HINT THAT |
| 00:25:01 | OHIO WILL BE DOING WHAT INDIANA
DID WITH ITS TOLL ROAD. |
| 00:25:02 | WHEN ASKED RECENTLY ABOUT HIS
PLAN FOR THE OHIO TURNPIKE, |
| 00:25:09 | GOV. KASICH SAYS HE'S CLOSE TO
UNVEILING IT - QUOTING HERE -- |
| 00:25:13 | "IT'S LIKE THANKSGIVING - IT'S
ON ITS WAY." |
| 00:25:15 | HE ALSO SAYS HE THINKS WHAT HE
WILL REVEAL WILL BE SOMEWHAT OF |
| 00:25:18 | A SURPRISE.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK. |
| 00:25:20 | FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT OHIO
PUBLIC RADIO AND TELEVISION, |
| 00:25:24 | THANKS FOR WATCHING.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS, |
| 00:25:28 | MAKE COMMENTS, OR WATCH THIS
WEEK'S SHOW OR EARLIER |
| 00:25:29 | EPISODES, PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT STATENEWS.ORG. |
| 00:25:31 | YOU CAN ALSO CHECK US OUT ON
FACEBOOK. |
| 00:25:33 | HAPPY THANKSGIVING, AND PLEASE
JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME FOR "THE |
| 00:25:36 | STATE OF OHIO."
? |
| 00:25:57 | >> SUPPORT FOR THE BROADCAST OF
"THE STATE OF OHIO." |
| 00:26:12 | HELPING BUSINESSES AND
INDIVIDUALS SOLVE COMPLEX LEGAL |
| 00:26:19 | PROBLEMS THE BETTER OHIO, ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND THE |
| 00:26:22 | WORLD.
AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION |
| 00:26:27 | ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING 131,000
TEACHERS, SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, |
| 00:26:33 | A FACULTY WHO ARE WORKING FOR
GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR EVERY |
| 00:26:36 | CHILD. |
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions
