TED: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

WE'LL LOOK AT SOME OF THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR FIGHTING SUBPOENAS FROM THE JANUARY 6 COMMISSION.

>>> ON CRONKITE NEWS, A POWER COMPANY IS RELOCATING TREES NEAR TRANSMISSION LINES TO NEIGHBORHOODS IN NEED OF SHADE.

>>> AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," MAJOR SPORTS STORIES FROM 2021 AND WHAT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THIS YEAR?

ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

ANNOUNCER: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS.

MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

JOINING US TONIGHT FOR A LOOK AT WEEK'S TOP STORIES, JEREMY DUDA OF THE "ARIZONA MIRROR," HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES AND DILLON ROSENBLATT OF KJZZ RADIO.

HOWIE, START WITH YOU, THE SUBPOENAS FILED AGAINST KELLI WARD AND HER HUSBAND FROM THE JANUARY 6 COMMISSION, THERE'S NO FOOLING AROUND HERE?

>> NO, THEY WANT TO KNOW THE PROVERBIAL WHAT DID YOU KNOW AND WHEN DID YOU KNOW IT?

YOU LOOK AT E-MAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

HER ARGUMENT IS, LOOK, THERE'S MORE THAN JUST POLITICAL STUFF IN HERE.

THERE'S MEDICAL STUFF.

WE'VE GOT OTHER ISSUES.

THE PROBLEM WITH ALL THAT IS, A, IT'S CONGRESS, AND IF THEY WANT IT THEY CAN GET IT.

AND B, IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHAT YOU DO IS ASK FOR WHAT THEY CALL AN IN CAMERA REVIEW, YOU HAVE A JUDGE SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH AS THEY'VE DONE WITH THE SENATE SUBPOENAS AND SAY THIS IS RELEVANT AND THIS IS NOT RELEVANT.

IT'S NOT A SIMPLE QUESTION OF WELL, I HAVE A PRIVATE BUSINESS, YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT YOU WANT.

TED: YEAH, AND AGAIN, DILLON, TALKING ABOUT T-MOBILE.

SHE DOESN'T WANT T-MOBILE TURNING OVER RECORDS.

ONE OF HER COMPLAINTS IS I'M A DOCTOR, AND TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF, AND THERE IS VIDEO EVIDENCE OF HER AND SHE AND HER HUSBAND THAT THEY WERE DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE ACCUSED OF DOING WHICH IS SENDING OFF FAKE ELECTORS.

>> YEAH, THEY POSTED VIDEOTAPE ONTO TWITTER WHEN IT HAPPENED.

TOOK A GROUP PHOTO TO CELEBRATE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEND THE ELECTORS OUT TO ELECT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP DID NOT WIN THE 2020 ELECTION, AND IT'S IRONIC THAT KELLI WARD DOESN'T WANT TO AGREE TO A SUBPOENA WHEN ONE IS INVOLVING HER, IF IT'S THE COUNTY, YOU MUST COMPLY.

TED: YEAH, DOES SHE HAVE A POINT THOUGH, SHE'S A DOCTOR, AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE SOME OF HER PATIENTS, THEIR INFORMATION, THAT ISN'T REVEALED.

RING TRUE TO YOU?

>> IF THAT'S WHAT CONGRESS WANTED TO LOOK AT, SURE.

YOU COULD PUT THIS BEFORE A JUDGE, FILTER OUT THE STUFF THAT'S NOT PERTINENT TO WHAT THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE IS LOOKING AT.

THEY DON'T CARE WHO KELLI AND MICHAEL WARD'S PATIENTS ARE.

THEY CARE WHO THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ABOUT THE FAKE ELECTORS, FRAUDULENT ELECTORS THAT PURPORTED TO BE THE ELECTORAL VOTES FROM ARIZONA.

THIS IS ALL PART OF A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FROM D.O.J., THIS IS PART OF WHAT THE J-6 COMMITTEE IS LOOKING INTO NOT JUST THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6 BUT THE THINGS THAT PROMPTED THAT, WHICH PART OF THAT, LOOKING AT WHETHER THIS IS PART OF A COORDINATED NATIONAL EFFORT TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION WHICH INCLUDED FAKE ELECTORS IN SEVEN STATES.

KELLI WARD IS SAYING THIS ISN'T PART OF WHAT THEY'RE INVESTIGATING.

WE WEREN'T THERE ON JANUARY 6.

AT LEAST ONE FAKE ELECTOR SAID THAT IS NOT -- IT'S ALL TIED TOGETHER.

>> OF COURSE, IT'S ALL TIED TOGETHER.

THAT'S THE POINT.

IF THIS WERE PART OF A LARGER CONSPIRACY, THIS STARTED BEFORE ELECTION DAY WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID IF I DON'T WIN, SOMEBODY BROKE THE LAW.

SOMEBODY DID SOMETHING WRONG.

NOW INTERESTING THING IN TERMS OF KELLI'S DEFENSE, SHE SAYS -- THE STORY IS DEVELOPING NOW, WE WEREN'T TRYING TO FOOL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH OUR FAKE ELECTORS, SIMPLY SAYING THAT SHOULD AN INVESTIGATION SHOW THAT JOE BIDEN DID NOT WIN IN ARIZONA, HERE WE ARE AND WE'RE READY, THAT WAS HER CONTENTION.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WASHES BUT THAT'S WHY.

TED: THEY WERE PLAYING AROUND HERE UNLESS WE REALLY NEED THIS?

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PARTLY TRYING TO ARGUE, THIS IS A CONTINGENCY PLAN, THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DO THIS.

TRYING TO LINK IT BACK TO ELECTION YEARS AGO IN HAWAII WHEN THEY HAD ASSIGNED BOTH ELECTORS BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SURE WHO WON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN HAWAII, AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF REPORTING ON IT, NOT THE SAME THING, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND SOME TYPE OF PRECEDENT HERE BUT THERE ISN'T ANY.

>> IS THIS A LARGER CONTINGENCY, IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS WAS PART OF THAT A COORDINATED EFFORT?

AND SUBPOENAED TWO OTHERS, THE CHAIR AND THE SECRETARY OF THE ELECTORAL SLATE.

THEY'VE BEEN SUBPOENAED TO SHOW UP.

THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT TO ANSWER, AND THE QUESTIONS LOCALLY TO US THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING.

WHO TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS?

HOW DID YOU DO THIS?

WAS IT SOMETHING YOU DECIDED ON YOUR OWN?

HAPPENED TO USE THE SAME EXACT LANGUAGE AS THE FAKE ELECTORS IN THE OTHER STATES.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF STATES THAT DID, NEVADA AND ONE OTHER STATE.

ARIZONA WAS NOT ONE OF THE STATES THAT SAID THESE ARE THE OFFICIAL ELECTORAL VOTES FROM ARIZONA.

>> AND FILED IT WITH A FEDERAL AGENCY.

FILING A FAKE DOCUMENT.

TED: YES, THE SEAL, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

>> OF COURSE.

TED: DILLON, TALK ABOUT THE BILL THAT SPEAKER RUSTY BOWERS -- FIRST OF ALL, ONE OF MANY ELECTION REFORM IDEAS FLOATING AROUND.

THIS WAS ROUGH.

IT HAD A BUNCH OF THINGS LISTED HERE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS HAD PROBLEMS WITH, INCLUDING APPARENTLY THE SPEAKER.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS?

>> ONE DOOMED TO FAIL FROM THE MOMENT IT WAS FILED.

WE KNEW SENATOR PAUL BOYER SAID I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS, AND KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THIS IS SPAWNED FROM THE SO-CALLED AUDTHEY THE HAPPENED FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WHO DID NOT SUPPORT WHAT WAS GOING ON, THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.

AND THE BILL WERE GOING TO ALLOW LAWMAKERS TO OVERTURN ELECTION RESULTS AND HAVE THE FINAL SAY, NOT THE VOTERS AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE RUSTY BOWERS WHO IN 2020 AND 2021 THAT I'M NOT GOING TO LET THE PRESIDENT SPOOK ME INTO AGREEING TO PUT OUR ELECTORS IN HIS FAVOR WHEN HE DIDN'T WIN ON THIS WEEK.

CAME OUT AND ASSIGNED THE BILL TO 12 HOUSE COMMITTEES.

>> 12?

HOWIE, 12.

YOU'VE BEEN DOWN THERE A LONG TIME.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN 12?

>> I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE SINCE 1982.

I HAVE SEEN BILLS, WHEN THEY WANT TO KILL A BILL, ASSIGN IT TO THREE, MAYBE FOUR COMMITTEES.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BILL ASSIGNED TO EVERY COMMITTEE, PERHAPS A FEW THAT DON'T EVEN EXIST.

HERE WAS THE ORIGINAL THING, RUSTY WAS NOT GOING TO SIGN THE BILL, WHICH MEANT IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE, AND JOHN FILLMORE SAID I WANT A HEARING.

OKAY.

SIGN IT TO ALL 12 COMMITTEES.

YOU CAN CONVINCE ANYONE TO HEAR YOUR BILL, THAT IS FINE.

KNOWING FULL WELL GIVEN THE LENGTH OF THE PROCESS TO GO THROUGH 12 COMMITTEES AND EVEN ASSUMING IT DID, HERE'S THE OTHER THING, YOU NEED 31 VOTES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TO GET THE FINAL BILL OUT.

GUESS WHO'S THE 31st VOTE?

SPEAKER RUSTY BOWERS.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, JEREMY, THIS BILL, LEGISLATURE CAN REJECT ELECTION RESULTS BUT CALLS FOR HAND COUNTING WITHIN 24 HOURS AND GETS RID OF WHAT IS A WILDLY POPULAR EARLY MAIL-IN VOTING SYSTEM.

>> SURE, THE MAJORITY OF ARIZONANS USED THIS, 92% OF VOTERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY USED IT IN THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION.

PRIOR TO THE BIG PROVISION, SEEM LIKE THE EXTREME ONES, GETTING RID OF MACHINE COUNTING AND EARLY VOTING.

LETTING THE LEGISLATURE OVERTURN THIS WAS EXTREME.

THIS GOT NATIONAL ATTENTION AND GOES TO THE MESSAGE BOWERS IS TRYING TO SEND HERE, TO PEOPLE IN HIS CHAMBER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH STUFF LIKE THIS BUT LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THIS THING IS AS DEAD AS A BILL WITH POSSIBLY BE.

NO NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT, WORRY ABOUT IT.

EVEN IF IT GOES BEFORE COMMITTEE, NO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE COMMITTEE HEARING.

IT IS A NONBILL.

>> WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND GETS LOST IN SOME OF THIS, THERE ARE REPUBLICANS WHO ON THE SURFACE HAD TO SAY YEAH, WHATEVER THE GREAT ORANGE-SKINNED GEEK IN WASHINGTON WANTS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE PRIVATELY TELLING RUSTY, PLEASE, PLEASE, RUSTY IS NOT RUNNING AGAIN, HE'S SAVING THEM FROM HAVING TO GO ON RECORD.

HE'S THE SAME VOICE IN THE ROOM.

HE FIGURES, LOOK, I CANNOT ONLY SAY MY IDEA BUS TELL OTHER PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FORCE TO YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN THIS PARTICULAR RADICAL FRINGE AND THE REST OF THE PARTY.

TED: WILL THIS GET A HEARING HERE, THERE, HITHERING?

>> LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY, I DON'T SEE A CHAIRMAN OR WOMAN FROM DOING THAT.

JOHN KAVANAGH MIGHT SAY, SURE, JOHN PUT OUT A FEW OTHER JOHN FILLMORE BILLS, INCLUDING YOU CAN'T HAVE NONGENDER DESIGNATIONS ON YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, BUT WHY DO IT?

WHY WASTE THE TIME ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

TED: WHY WASTE THE TIME?

BUT FOLKS WANT TO BE HEARD, FOLKS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

DO YOU THINK OUT OF 12, DO YOU THINK SOMEONE IS GOING TO SAY ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD?

>> KEEPING MY EYE ON KAVANAUGH'S COMMITTEE, GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS, I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING WITH JAKE HOFFMAN, IF HE WAS VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.

IF THIS IS THE SENATE, I THINK THIS IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION GOING ON HERE.

TED: A GOOD POINT.

BOWER IS SENDING A MESSAGE ACROSS THE COURTYARD TO WE'RE NOT FOOLING AROUND OVER HERE, SO LET'S GET SERIOUS.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT SENATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR BY KELLY TOWNSEND, ONE OF THE MOST VOCAL ELECTION DENIERS.

IF YOU LOOK AT AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK, IT IS CHOCKFUL OF THE ELECTIONAL STUFF THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO GET OUT OF THE SENATE OR PASS THE HOUSE OR GET THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE.

SO CERTAINLY THAT'S SENDING A MESSAGE BUT ONE I THINK EVERYONE KNEW.

PEOPLE RUNNING BILLS TO BAN EARLY VOTING OR TO BAN MACHINE COUNTS, THEY KNOW THE BILLS DO NOT HAVE 16 AND 31 AND PROBABLY THE IMPORTANT ONE ON THE NINTH FLOOR.

THEY'RE RUNNING IT BECAUSE THE BASE WANTS IT, THEY'VE BEEN PROMOTING THE IDEAS OF FAKE ELECTION READING AND THE LIES PRESIDENT TRUMP SPREAD ABOUT THIS AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

TED: AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THEM STUFFED INTO A BUDGET BILL THIS YEAR.

>> NO, NO, NO.

I THINK THE SUPREME COURT SLAPPED THEM BACK INTO PLACE AND SAID YOU HAVE SOMETHING RELATED TO A BUDGET?

FINE.

YOU CAN'T TAKE THE GREAT CHRISTMAS TREE AND SHOVE IT OUT ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SESSION.

TED: JEREMY, A BILL CALLS FOR REGULAR COUNTY AUDITS.

MARICOPA AND PIMA COUNTY, EVERY TWO YEARS AND EVERYBODY ELSE SCATTER SHOT WHEN YOU CAN.

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?

>> THE MILDER, FRIENDLIER ELECTION BILL.

INSPIRED BY THE BIG LIE AND THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES, BUT MUCH TAMER.

THE BIG THING THAT OTHER FOLKS HAVE IS THE AUDITOR GENERAL OFFICIAL STATE AGENCY, NOT CYBER NINJAS OR WHATEVER CLOWNISH FIGURES MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN LAST YEAR'S AUDIT, THE PROPER GOVERNMENT AGENCY WITH PROPER INVESTIGATORS THAT EVERY TWO YEARS WILL INVESTIGATE MARICOPA COUNTY AND PIMA COUNTY'S ELECTIONS AND EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, THE SMALLER 13 COUNTIES, HAS A BUNCH OF OTHER PROVISIONS LIKE PUTTING DIGITAL IMAGES OF BALLOTS ONLINE SO DEMOCRATS ARE SUPPORTING RULES ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES.

THIS STUFF WHERE THEY CONSULTED WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS ON, THERE'S A HUGE RED FLAG WHEN YOU SEE THE ELECTION OFFICIALS AND NO ONE TALKED TO ANY OF US ABOUT THIS.

YOU HAD STEVEN RICHER, ONE OF THE MOST VOCAL REPUBLICANS FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE CONSPIRACY THEORY.

THIS IS LIKELY TO GET TRACTION AND PROBABLY MUCH MORE LIKELY TO PASS.

TED: DILLON, ADRIAN FONTES THINKS THIS SAY REASONABLE IDEA DOES, HE NOT?

>> CERTAINLY.

TED: THE PART OF THE BILL THAT SAYS TAKE DIGITAL IMAGES OF BALLOTS, CERTAINLY THINKS THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

>> THAT HAS GAINED TRACTION FROM THE MOMENT LIKE THE BILL WAS FILED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THAT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WERE SAYING THIS COULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

MAYBE JUST PUT AN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE SOME OF THE LANGUAGE.

AS JEREMY NOTED, RICHER, FONTES, ELECTION OFFICIALS WERE NOT COMPLETELY AGAINST AUDITS, JUST THE ONE WE ENDED UP GETTING WAS NOT CONSIDERED AN AUDIT.

>> AND TWO IMPORTANT POINTS.

AS FAR AS THE IMAGING GOES, I THINK THE CONCERN AMONG COUNTY OFFICIALS IS WHILE PEOPLE AREN'T SUPPOSED TO MARK THE BALLOTS OTHER THAN THE LITTLE CIRCLES, PEOPLE PUT THEIR NAMES ON IT, DO OTHER THINGS THAT COULD IDENTIFY THEM.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

THE BIGGER IMPORTANT THING IS THIS IS, AS JEREMY POINTS OUT, THIS ISN'T CYBER NINJAS.

THESE ARE AUDITS TO LOOK AT THE PROCESS.

YOU COULDN'T USE THE AUDITS TO TRY TO OVERTURN ELECTION.

HOW DID YOU DO?

WHAT DID YOU DO?

DID YOU FOLLOW THE LAW?

CAN THE PROCESS BE IMPROVED?

FAR DIFFERENT THAN SAYING SOMEBODY ELSE RUN.

TED: POST-ELECTION AUDITS.

>> CAN'T INTERFERE WITH THE COUNTY, POST ELECTION TO SEE WHAT WENT RIGHT, WHAT WENT WRONG, ARE THERE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE OR CAN BE MADE BETTER.

THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS THAT CAN BE BETTER.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN ELECTIONS, 2020 WAS VERY SECURE.

THERE'S ALWAYS IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE.

TED: HOWIE, THERE'S AN ABORTION BILL.

>> OF COURSE, THERE'S AN ABORTION BILL, IT'S THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE.

TED: THIS RINGS THE BELL, IT SOUNDS SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENING IN THE MISSISSIPPI AND SOMETHING SIMILAR TO, YOU KNOW, IF THE SUPREME COURT DOES X, WE'RE GOING TO GO Y AND ALL THE LETTERS SEEM TO BE IN PLACE.

>> EXACTLY.

ARIZONA'S HAD AN ABORTION BAN ON THE BOOKS PROBABLY GOING TO TERRITORIAL WAYS.

IF IT OVERTAKES ROE, THAT WOULD TAKE EFFECT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO BACK AND REMOVE THE PRECEDENT, BUT SIMPLY GOING TO LOOK AT THE MISSISSIPPI LAW AND SAY, YES, A 15-WEEK BAN IS NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THIS IS DESIGNED TO SAY IF THE SUPREME COURT RULES THAT, AND THEY'LL RULE THE LAST DAY IN JUNE, THAT WE WILL HAVE A LAW IN THE BOOKS THAT TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY AND CREATE A CLASSIC FELONY, ONE-YEAR PRISON TERM FOR DOCTORS WHO PERFORM ABORTIONS EXCEPT IN QUOTE, UNQUOTE MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.

TED: MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, NO GENETIC CONCERNS WHICH PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT.

WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES OF THE LEGISLATION?

>> CHALLENGES ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS VIOLATES THE SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT.

BY THE END OF THE SUMMER, THAT MAY BE A DIFFERENCE.

A FEW YEARS AGO, WE PASSED A 20-WEEK ABORTION BAN, THE NINTH CIRCUIT SLAPPED IT DOWN, VIOLATES PRECEDENT FROM ROE AND OTHER CASES BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, BUT WE HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT SUPREME COURT THAN THEN.

WE'VE HAD THREE JUSTICES APPOINTED BY DONALD TRUMP.

A MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE COURT, 6-3 REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE, AND PEOPLE EXPECT THINGS TO CHANGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS THEY ARE GOING TO UPHOLD THE MISSISSIPPI LAW.

IF THEY DO, IF THIS PASSES, WHICH IT VERY WELL MAY, WE'LL HAVE IT RIGHT ON THE BOOKS THERE.

TED: DILLON, WILL THIS PASS AND IF PASSED, WILL THE GOVERNOR SIGN IT?

>> YES TO BOTH.

GOVERNOR DUCEY IS PRO-LIFE, HE SIGNED A MEASURE LAST SESSION THAT WAS UP FOR COURT CHALLENGE REGARDING ABORTIONS AND HE -- EVEN SIGNED OFF ON AMICUS BRIEF FOR THE MISSISSIPPI RULING AND THEIR ABORTION CASE.

HE THOUGHT ROE v. WADE MADE A MISTAKE AND THINKS SHOULD BE THE LAW THAT GOES THROUGH.

>> AND WORTH NOTING WE'VE SEEN OTHER BILLS INTRODUCED THIS YEAR TO COPY WHAT TEXAS HAS DONE, A FIVE OR SIX-WEEK BAN, THE HEARTBEAT LAW, ANYONE WHO KNOWS OF SOMEBODY OR HELPS SOMEBODY, UBER DRIVER DRIVES TO ABORTION CLINIC GETS SUED LIKE ANYONE ELSE.

THOSE BILLS ARE INTRODUCED.

NEITHER ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE LAST I CHECKED.

I THINK LEADERSHIP IS LOOKING AT THAT AS MAY BE TOO EXTREME, A LOT OF POLITICAL BLOWBACK, BUT THE 15-WEEK BAN, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SETTING THEIR SIGHTS ON.

NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH THE TEXAS THING, TEN KINDS OF CONTROVERSIAL AMONG PEOPLE THAT ARE STRONGLY PRO-LIFE.

>> CATHY HERROD SAID, LOOK, HOWIE, I WILL SUPPORT ANY ABORTION RESTRICTION, BUT I'M BACKING THIS BILL, THIS NANCY BARTO BILL FOR THE 15 WEEKS.

>> HOWIE, STICKING WITH YOU REGARDING THE CORPORATION COMMISSION, A HOUSE BILL THAT OKAYED NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE SITTING ON THE COMMISSION.

THIS IS INTERESTING STUFF.

>> FASCINATING.

THE LEGISLATURE, THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE FIGHTING WITH THE COMMISSION FOR YEARS OVER THINGS LIKE RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARDS AND OTHER REGULATIONS AND THEY SAY WE'RE THE REGULATORY BODY, WE SET THE POLICY, AND THE COMMISSION SAID, WHAT PART OF THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?

GAIL GRIFFIN HAS TRIED TO GET AROUND THAT, SAYING IN THE FUTURE, STARTING IN THE 2024 ELECTION, YOU CAN ONLY BE ELECTED IF HAVE YOU PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING DEGREE, ACCOUNTING BACKGROUND, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND TELLING VOTERS, NOPE, I DON'T CARE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET PEOPLE WHO ARE PURE CONSUMER ADVOCATES OR PURE ATTORNEYS, WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE WHAT'S APPROPRIATE THERE.

CLEARLY THIS IS A -- HE SAYS IT'S A TECHNICAL JOB.

FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE LEGISLATORS, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE STAFF AND B TALK ABOUT LEGISLATORS.

PASSING HIGHLY TECHNICAL ISSUES, PERHAPS HAVE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THOSE FOLKS.

TED: DILLON, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

A WAY TO KEEP CONSUMER FOLKS, REGULAR JOES OFF THE COMMISSION?

>> IN PART, YEAH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE LEGISLATURE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE CONTROL THE ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION HAS.

IT WAS RULED AS FOURTH AND EQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT WITH THE COURTS, WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF AND THE LEGISLATURE HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR THEY DON'T THINK THE CORPORATION COMMISSION IS A CO EQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT AND MANY ATTEMPTS FOR THEM TO TAKE AWAY POWER AND THIS IS THE LATEST ONE.

TED: AND HOWIE YOU MENTIONED, ACCOUNTING ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW OR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING, NOT WATER POLICY AND NOT CLIMATE SCIENCE, HOW COME?

[LAUGHTER] >> I IMAGINE MANY OF THE FOLKS ARE NOT AMENABLE TO THE POLICIES THAT THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY AT THE CAPITOL WANTS TO SEE.

HARD TO VIEW THIS AS ANYTHING.

THE IRONIC PART IS THIS WOULD WEED OUT FOLKS, REPUBLICANS ELECTED TO THE COMMISSION IN THE PAST AND MAY BE SERVING ON NOW THAT SUPPORT POLICIES THAT THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY AT THE CAPITOL WANT TO SEE.

I THINK I SAW BOB STUMP, FORMER REPUBLICAN COMMISSIONER TWEETING SOMETHING TODAY OR YESTERDAY HOW THIS WOULD HAVE KEPT HIM OFF THE COMMISSION.

HE WAS VERY MUCH A CONSERVATIVE IN THE MOLD OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE, FORMER MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S A FORMER COMMISSIONER LATER APPOINTED TO THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, A FEDERAL JOB REGULATING ENERGY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, HE WOULD NOT HAVE QUALIFIED UNDER THESE NEW RULES.

>> HOWIE, YOU MENTION REGULAR JOES, REGULAR JOES CAN GO ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM?

>> THAT'S THE POINT, THE PRESUMPTION IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE COMMISSION'S ROLE AS STRICTLY BEING, OKAY, HERE'S THE COSTS INVOLVED, WE'LL HAVE THE LEGISLATURE SET THE POLICY ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AND YOU DO THE MATH ON THIS THING AND SAY YOU GET 9.2% RATE OF RETURN OR WHATEVER IT IS, THAT'S WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING.

PART OF WHAT THE COMMISSION DECIDES, LET ASSUME APS GREASE TO 9.2% RATE OF RETURN, HOW MUCH IT GOES TO INDUSTRIAL OR BUSINESS CUSTOMERS?

WHAT ABOUT SOLAR AND NET METERING?

ALL OF THE INTERESTING THINGS WHERE YOU NEED PEOPLE WHO CAN DO MORE THAN OPERATE A CALCULATOR.

YOU NEED PEOPLE WHO SAY WHAT ARE THE RELATIVE MERITS.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE ELECTED COMMISSION IN ARIZONA VERSUS STATES THAT HAVE APPOINTED COMMISSION.

TED: AS YOU MENTIONED, A STAFF.

ANYONE SUGGESTING THE STATE TREASURER SHOULD HAVE A BACKGROUND.

SHOULD A MINING INSPECTOR?

>> THEY DO.

>> AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS TO BE A LAWYER.

TED: SO THERE IS SOME PRECEDENT IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

>> TO GET ELECTED POSITION, ONLY STATE THAT ELECTS A MINE INSPECTOR WHICH I FIND HUMOROUS IN THE SITUATION.

TED: I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE STILL HAD ELECTED POSITIONS ON MINERS.

WE'VE DONE DEBATES AND THAT'S FASCINATING.

BEFORE WE GO, ONE STORY REGARDING HOUSING AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HB2674, BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE BILL AND BASICALLY SAYS CITIES, YOU CAN'T DO CERTAIN THINGS, CORRECT?

>> YEAH, BASICALLY BARS CITIES FROM PROHIBITING RESIDENTIAL HOUSING ON DIFFERENT LAND.

AGRICULTURAL LAND AND OTHER LAND THAT'S NOT ALLOWED AND THIS IS TO ALLEVIATE HOUSING SHORTAGE, HOUSING PRICES BOTH THE COST OF BUYING A HOUSE AND RENTING A PLACE TO LIVE ARE ASTRONOMICAL AND KEEP GOING UP.

THIS WOULD BAR CITIES FROM REGULATING WHERE ANY OF THESE HOMES CAN GO, AND A BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, I IMAGINE WE'LL SEE BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO THIS AS WELL.

>> HERE'S THE BIG PROBLEM WITH IT.

ZONING IS A LOCAL MATTER.

THE REASON IT'S A LOCAL MATTER.

PEOPLE COME, IN ARGUE IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, BUT THINGS IN THERE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'VE GOT, AGAIN, AGRICULTURAL LAND AND EVEN IF IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ONE HOME PER ACRE, YOU HAVE TO GRANT EIGHT HOMES PER ACRE OR 12 MULTIFAMILY HOMES PER ACRE, NO MATTER WHAT THE AREA IS ZONED FOR.

THESE ARE QUINTESSENTIAL LOCAL DECISIONS.

I RECOGNIZE THAT SOME CITIES HAVE EFFECTIVELY TRYING TO KEEP OUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THE ZONING POLICIES, BUT THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN THAT AND SAYING, I'M SORRY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS MANY HOMES PER ACRE, NO MATTER WHAT ELSE IS THERE.

TED: DILLON, ARE DEMOCRATS GOING TO GO FOR MORE STATE CONTROL?

>> SOME WILL, THERE'S A DEMOCRAT COSPONSOR ON THE EFFORT IN CESAR CHAVEZ, HE HAS SOME OF THE MORE CENTRIST AND MODERATE DEMOCRATS THAT WILL VOTE WITH HIM ON A LOT OF THINGS.

LOOK AT SUPPORT, MAYBE NOT FROM THE PROGRESSIVES BUT SEE HOW THINGS GO.

>> I THINK BECAUSE OF REPUBLICANS, WHILE THE HOME BUILDERS LOVE THIS, I THINK THERE ARE OTHER REPUBLICANS SAYING AT WHAT POINT ARE WE INTERFERING WITH LOCAL CONTROL HERE?

THEY LOVE THE LOCAL CONTROL, BUT YOU HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT INTERESTS HERE, AND WHEN YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF HOME OWNERS SAY, WAIT, YOU'RE GOING TO PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEXT DOOR TO ME BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE SAYS SO?

NO, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE YOUR YOU KNOW WHATS OUT OF OFFICE.

>> HIGH-DENSITY HOUSING, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY WE DON'T WANT THAT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND DON'T WANT THE LEGISLATURE OVERRULING THE SAY SAYING I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT NEXT TO MY HOUSE.

TED: ARE THEY GOING TO GO FOR A PLAN THAT COULD POSSIBLY GIVE MONEY TO TENANTS, GIVE OUT MONEY FOR THESE HOMES?

>> THAT I WOULD NOT EXPECT TO SEE.

I'M SURPRISED TO NOT SEE MORE PROPOSALS BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE COST OF HOUSING LATELY, WHICH KEEPS SHOOTING UP.

TED: BEFORE WE GO, LAST POINT, DILLON, A COUPLE OF THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY SEEM TO HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

SEEING A LITTLE MORE OF THAT THIS SESSION?

>> LOOKS LIKE WE'RE STARTING TO.

IT'S STARTING TO CRACK THROUGH WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED ON AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE EVERY YEAR THERE IS A LOT OF BASELINE, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THINGS, THE THINGS THAT ARE GETTING ATTENTION ARE CONTROVERSIAL ONES.

SEE HOW THINGS PROGRESS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

TED: GENTLEMEN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, A TRIP TO L.A. TO CHECK OUT PREPARATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING SUPER BOWL.

>>> AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," MAJOR SPORTS STORIES FROM 2021 AND WHAT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THIS YEAR?

SoFi SoFi SoFi STADIUM.

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>>>.

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