Mike Dwine, who rules the state with an iron grip, and Governor Mike
DeWine, Welcome again to the Bill Cunningham Show. Governor, first of all,
let's deal with state Issue number one with your permission. The Billy Billy.
Good to be back. I don't think I have an iron grip,
but it's always good to be back. And looking for a win for the
Bengals this weekend, that would be good. But Issue one is one that
I thought would go the other way despite the polling. In the constitution,
we now enshrine abortion rights from a moment of conception through delivery. And first
of all, what are your thoughts on that. Secondly, do you support
more efforts to put more amendments on the ballot or should we live with this
for a while? Well, Bill, first of all, you know on
your show, I expressed my opinion about Issue one. Look, we accept
the results. The voters decided to pass Issue one and put that into the
constitution. So I think that, you know, we accept the result of
the voters. That's what we do in this in this country. I think,
uh, you know, some of the things are going to be fought
out frankly in court. I already saw that some of the Democrat members of
the General Assembly want to want to roll back uh you know, the laws
and the laws that have been passed in the past. Uh you know,
rental consent required for an abortion. There's some members in General Assembly want to
get rid of that. I think that would obviously be a mistake. There
are others who uh you know, I suppose would want to get rid of
the ban we have on partial birth abortion. So I think that a lot
of this bill is going to be played out now in the courts as people
try to uh you know, do away with those other protections, and we'll
have to see how the court's rule. I think that I did a press
conference on this this morning, issue won an issue to and you know what
I said to the news media kind of repeat here, and that is that
I think we just see I think we you know, people in a democracy,
in a country like ours, no issue is ever totally done. We
just continue to look at things. So I think people are going to have
to see, how, you know, living with abortion at any point,
whether that is something that people you know, accept or not. I think
one of the things that the pro side did, you know, they spent
about thirty five million dollars. A lot of this money came from out of
state. The governor of Illinois, for example, put in half a million
dollars. We had other out of state money come in, so they outspent
our side the No side about three and a half to one. But the
way they framed the issue, I think is the way it was accepted by
most voters, and that is, did you like the stats quo or did
you like what they were presenting? And you know, while they denied that
this was really abortion on demand, abortion any place in the pregnancy, that
is really what it is. And so it was that versus the status quo.
And what I think it was clear to me over the last year or
so since Roe v. Wade was overturing, is that the majority of Ohioan's,
the vast majority of Olands, believe there should be an exception for rape
and incests. And so I think, you know, we had Peter people
who voted yes because they thought there should be an exception for rape and incests.
So they had choices, they picked one. But the truth is that
most ohio and frankly are somewhere in the middle, and they didn't have that
they didn't have that option. Whether you know, governor whether you like it
or not. I haven't seen your oath of office recently, but I'm sure
somewhere in there says you were support and defend the constitution of the State of
Ohio. And whether you like it or not, the State of Ohio Constitution
says a portion on a man basically forever as far as the eye can see.
And so will you work to overturn that through another constitutional amendment or do
you support it the way it is? Look, Bill, you're you're absolutely
right. Uh. I you know, I will follow the will of the
people of the state, and we all we hope follow the law. Uh.
Is there a time in the in some point in the future, uh,
that people look at this and decide, Hey, that's not really exactly
what we want. Maybe we can get something in the middle. Yeah.
I think there's something that that may come up at some point. But I
think people have to have a chance to see how this works setting. Uh,
Selling, I don't think that, you know, I don't think there's
going to be a ballot issue back on until people have had a chance at
least to you know, see how this works. That's kind of the way
that our system should I hate it, don't like it. Uh, every
fiber of my being says the human life begins at the moment to consay option
through natural death. We can't convince our fellow citizens that that's the way it
ought to be. And whether I like it or not, it's a bitter
pill that I think. Unlike me, I'm a talk show host. All
I do is talk. You actually have to do something. And when Governor
DeWine sends the message let it ride for a while, I think that's a
powerful voice. Is that what you're saying. Well, I don't know if
i'd put it in that in that term bill, but I do think,
you know, we follow the law, and I think that people have to
have a chance to see how how how this works. I don't think this
reflects exactly where people are in the state. I think most people are somewhere
in between that they don't think that you should have an abortion on demand at
any point. But I think the majority clearly now do believe that, uh,
you know, abortion should be available at least for a certain period a
certain period of time during during the pregnancy. I think it's it's again part
of this we've always known is trying to win the hearts and minds of people
as well as the law. And you know, I just want to give
a public shout out to the pregnancy centers around the state. There's well over
one hundred of them. They're manned primarily by volunteers, and their goal is
to reach out to women who are in a pregnancy and have been for whatever
reason, have a difficult time and try to give them the help and support
that they need. So everybody who's out there doing that and who can listen
to us, you and me on the radio, I just want to I
want to thank them. You know they're doing They're doing the lawyer's work,
and I'm very grateful for what they do every day. Better pill for you
to swallow. But it is what it is, Issue too. Whether I
voted yes on Issue too because I thought, Okay, this is a start
in the right direction. Will the governor of Ohio work to implement the people's
wishes on issue too or where you work to circumvent or change it. I
think the people's will clearly bill on this is that we have legal marijuana in
the state of Ohio for adults, and so I accept that part of the
way issue too, And of course the difference is, as you know,
being the great lawyer that you are, as well as a great American issue.
One was a constitutional amendment issue too, is a law, and the
legislature certainly has the opportunity to fine tune that. One of the things that
I talked about today was, you know, how do we carry out the
will of the people in getting marijuana legally out for adults, but at the
same time protect our kids. And so you know, I'm in favor of
the legislature doing everything they can in statute to make sure that while the will
of the peoples carry out and we have legal marijuana, that's done in a
responsible and respectful way, and that we protect our kids by respects protecting our
kids, I mean, let's do what we can do to reduce the number
of kids who end up in the emergency room because they ate a gummy bear
or a cookie that had marijuana. Let's do what we can to reduce the
number of deaths on the highway because we have marijuana impaired drivers. Let's do
what we can do to keep marijuana away from children who teenagers, whose minds
are still developing whose brains are still developing, because we know that the regular
use of marijuana for that sixteen year old or eighteen year old is a very
grave danger to their IQ and can have permanent effect. I think we also,
Bill have to work to make sure that people who don't want to be
walking downtown Cincinnati or downtown Dayton or or Cedarville or wherever. Uh, you
don't don't have to smell marijuana. What's happening already though, Governor Well,
I understand that let's let's talk about the rights of uh of other Ohioans.
So you know, people want to smoke it in their in their house,
that's fine. If they want to go into a shop that that's where that's
what people do. Uh, you know, that's that's fine. Let's let's
defend their right. But also let's don't infringe on other people's rights. So
the implementation of it, I think bill is important, but we we uh
you know, while I vote to know on both of those both issue one
issue too, you know, in regard issue to I think we have to
get implemented and do it correctly and do it in a safe way. Well,
one thing I find objectionable. I find many things objectionable, And so
when you have Senator Huffman or a Speaker of the House Stevens come on media
and start talking about, well, you know, uh, issue one,
we got to get it back on the ballot or issue to we've got to
we can actually repeal the law if we want to, which I guess technically
is allowed. It would be disgusting to have the people go through what we
just went through for months and months and months and months and then come to
a resolution at the ballot box. Then they have politicians seek ways to overcome
what the people said they wanted. So, just philosophically, can you smell
what I'm cooking? Yeah, I can smell what you're cooking. Look,
I think that we have to respect what the people did. We also have
to say this is always subject to continuing public debate and for the people of
the state to look at what they've done, just like we look at laws
bill that are passed by the legislature and people have to decide, you know,
they have to bay them as long as they're laws, but then they
have to also decide, well do I like that law? And if they
don't like it, there's a process, there's a process to change it.
So if people don't like what the voters did, point in the future,
uh, you know, they have the opportunity to to change that. But
I think the most important thing on Issue one particularly, uh is for people,
whether they voted yes or voted no, to follow this see how it
works. Uh see if the people who said that there would be no late
term abortions, uh see if that's actually true. See if partial birth abortion
uh is does not come back. You know, these are all things.
There are promises made during the campaign, and I think, uh, you
know, people voted, We accept that, but uh it's always a question
of, uh, you know, did were the proponents telling the truth?
Did it turn out? Did the end of the story turn out like the
prologue or how they said the you know, the dust jacket said, then
you have to wait for a year or two for that to happen, Right,
you have to wait some time. I don't know how long, but
you certainly have to wait bill to see it. And there's absolutely no doubt
about that. Now. Lastly, I would not disagree. I've done some
inn on the coast in which they said what happened to Ohio? That Ohio
has become California and New York when it comes to marijuana and abortion. And
I said, look, about a year and a half ago, we had
a governor run who was as identified with the pro life movement as any governor
in Ohio history, that won the race by twenty percentage points, and by
the way, still owes me at cherry pie. But nonetheless that we elected
five Republicans to high office. Republicans dominate the US Supreme Court, at the
highest Supreme Court, the Assembly House, in the Senate, and so well,
I said, it's not exactly right, but Mike, you're the governor,
the most popular one of all time by the numbers, during a time
we're partial birth, abortion in marijuana in a sense have both been legalized.
How does that make you feel? Well, it's not good and it's not
something that I signed up for. But look, I'm the governor and you
know, we voted and we had a vault, and at least for the
time being, that's what the result is. In fact. So no,
it's not what I thought I was going to do, and you know,
it was not a happy election for me, but hey, you know what
my obligation is is, you know, let's take marijuana. My obligation is
okay, the people said, yes, we want it. My obligation,
Bill is to make sure we do it the right way, and we do
it in a way that protects innocent children. Do it in a way that
you know, the advertising is not out there there's aim directly at our young
people. So you know, these are things that I'm in this place at
this time in history. And while I may not like the big result,
I have I think an obligation to try to make this thing work so that
Ohioan's it works as smoothly as possible, and it works in a way that
does not damage children. Governor. Lastly, it goes into effect December the
seventh, by the dictates of what we voted for December seventh, it's in
effect. How do you do all this with marijuana in the next twenty four
days. Well, we're gonna see what the legislatures can do. We have
you know, as you know, Bill, I can propose things, and
I have proposed to the legislature. I'm going to meet with the Senate President
in the Speaker on Monday. We've already talked by phone. I think the
goal should be to get this done because I think it's not particularly helpful to
start down a pathway and the law going to effect and then the law change.
You know, ideally, we would get these things done prior to it
going into effect, and then it would be smooth. It would be a
smooth transition and we would move. That'd be great, you know. That's
look, you can That's what our ideal is, and I think we should
strive to do that, because it's not particularly helpful to people, you know,
for them to see the law go into effect and it'd be one thing
and then uh, you know, we see changes uh in the future.
So if we can do this and wrap this up in a short period of
time, we'll at least try. Will you lead and tell them, look,
this was voted on, it's a done deal. The people want marijuana.
I have a text here from a listener that says, Governor, could
we tolerate a little bit of slavery? Hell no, do not tell people
to tolerate a little bit of partial birth abortion. That well, you know
that's where I am, that's where you are. Look, you're not tolerate.
No, no, no, but look here, here, here,
here, let's let's cut cut to the quick. Uh, partial birth abortion.
The other side, the proponents of one said we won't see that in
Ohio, miked Wine. They said, Mike to Wine, you're wrong,
We're not going to see that. We had other people who said, Mike
to Wine, we're not going to see parental consent go away just because this
has passed. That I hear today that they're Democrats and the legislature who want
to pass a bill that take that takes away parental rights. Now that's isn't
that a little disingenuous? Yes? Yes, these are the same people that
were were three days ago we're telling us, oh no, no, it
won't happen that. No, no to why you're crazy. Now now I'm
watching members of the General Assembly Democrat party who three days before we're telling us,
oh no, no, it's okay, we won't general rights will be
respected. Now they're introducing bills to take away pray all rights. What hypocrisy
couldn't agree more? And I I'm just this is a bitter pill for right
to lifers to swallow and it is not going down very well at all.
Well, look, we we have a you know, if if if you're
a believer, you believe that we have an obligation to do what we think
is right. And it doesn't mean we always win, and it doesn't mean
we all succeed. We have an obligation to do what we what we think
is is right. And you know we'll continue to do that again. You
know, bless those who are out there and you know, pregnancy centers and
people who are quietly doing volunteer work to help moms and to help babies.
Yep, Governor, thank you, and thanks for setting the record straight.
And I think the will of the people need to implement it. And it
seemed like the will of the people said partial birth abortion doesn't happen. And
secondly, parenta rights are not effected. Let's see what happens that pat part
of me thrown inside. But on marijuana, I think the people have spoken.
Hopefully you convinced fellow Republicans to enact their will. Yeah, well,
let's let's let's let's end en us sports note. Thank Joliboto for almost two
decades of forty great fun. My dad loved watching him, my late mother
in law love watching him. I love watching him best my kids do.
And uh, what a what a great guy. And we're very very sorry.
To see him leave. But he gave us, you know, almost
two decades, and uh, we'll see him. My plan on being there
when he's inducted into the Hall of Fame seventeen years, he'll be, he'll
be in Cooperstown. He'll be he'll be in Cooperstown as soon as as he
is eligible. And uh that's a great thing. And yep, let's go
Bengals this weekend, all right, Mike Governor, thank you very much for
coming this afternoon. Billy, good to be with you always. God,
thank you. Let's continue with more. Bill Cunningham News Radio seven hundreds WLW
enter to win the ultimate escape