Republican candidate for Ohio governor Vivek Ramaswamy was riffing on a TikTok video about lowering prices and suggested year-round school and a longer school day as a way for parents to save on daycare. That sparked a little social media battle with his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton.
Lawmakers continue to tinker with Ohio’s property tax system, trying to lower taxes while not cutting local services.
Also this week, Columbus has joined the line of Ohio cities looking for public taxpayer money to prop up a pro sports arena. Earlier this year, state lawmakers ponied up $600 million to help build a new Cleveland Browns domed stadium, and now it’s Columbus’ turn to have taxpayers foot much of the bill for fixing up the home of the NHL’s Blue Jackets: Nationwide Arena.
When Nationwide Arena was built in 2000, the private sector paid for the venue after voters said no to helping. The total cost was $175 million. That was 25 years ago. Then the public took ownership of the arena in 2012.
Now the public authority that owns the arena says it needs $400 million—more than double the original cost—to renovate it. And the public authority is looking for taxpayers to pick up much of the tab.
The plan calls for $150 million from the state, city and county. Other money would come from casino taxes and an increase in taxes on tickets for Nationwide Arena events.
The plan also includes money from private sources—including the Blue Jackets, who play at the arena rent-free and get to keep the beer money.
Joining us to discuss the issues is a panel of statehouse insiders: Ohio Public Radio Statehouse reporter Jo Ingles, Republican strategist Terry Casey and former Democratic state lawmaker Lou Gentile.
Snollygoster of the week
For the past 10 years, after Donald Trump made immigration topic number one for his supporters and rode the issue to his win in 2016 and re-election in 2024, he and his supporters have raced to out-tough each other when it comes to immigration law.
U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno—an immigrant himself—has been one of those racing hard to stay with and even ahead of the president when it comes to immigration.
Moreno emigrated from Colombia as a young child, became a U.S. citizen as a teenager and renounced his Colombian citizenship. He wants everyone to do the same. He has introduced a bill that would ban dual citizenship in the United States.
Moreno said, “Being an American citizen is an honor and a privilege, and if you want to be an American, it's all or nothing. It's time to end dual citizenship for good.”
For him, it’s very simple—until it gets complicated.
President Trump’s wife has dual citizenship. Melania is a citizen of the U.S. and her native Slovenia. Their son Barron has dual U.S. and Slovenian citizenship.
They are not alone.
Elon Musk is a citizen of three countries—the U.S., South Africa and Canada. Lots of celebrities are dual citizens. Many Americans of Jewish descent are also citizens of Israel. They took advantage of Israel’s Law of Return, which was passed soon after its modern founding.
Under Moreno’s bill, they all would have one year after enactment to either renounce their foreign citizenship or lose their U.S. citizenship.