♪.

>> 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 HOW ARIZONA POLITICIANS ARE REACTING TO THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE?

>>> ON CRONKITE NEWS, A LOOK WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ENSURE VOTING ACCESS FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.

>>> AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," WHAT IS BLACK TWITTER AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

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

JOINING US TONIGHT FOR A LOOK AT SOME OF THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES ARE LAURIE ROBERTS OF "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND STACEY BARCHENGER OF "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE FROM THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC."

LAURIE, START WITH YOU.

OBVIOUSLY, THE INVASION OF UKRAINE, A BIG STORY RIGHT NOW.

ON EVERYONE'S MIND, EVERYONE IS WORRIED ABOUT IT, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM ARIZONA POLITICIANS ON THIS, AND HOW IS THE REACTION NATIONALLY FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SHAPING POLITICS HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT REPUBLICANS ARE SEEING THIS AS A BIG BOON FOR THEM WITH RE-ELECTION COMING UP.

THEY'RE PORTRAYING JOE BIDEN AS WEAK.

THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WEREN'T FOR DONALD TRUMP.

THEY HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE LEADER, DONALD TRUMP, PROCLAIMED THIS A GENIUS MOVE TO MOVE INTO UKRAINE, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE TOOK THAT BADLY.

TO ME, WHAT'S THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS ARE THE STRANGE BEDFELLOWS YOU ARE SEE.

PAUL GOSAR AND AOC IN THE SAME BED ON THE ISSUE OF BEFORE ANY TROOPS ANY, AMERICAN TROOPS GO IN THERE, THEY WANTED BIEN TO CONSULT WITH CONGRESS.

YOU SO RARELY SEE PEOPLE ON THE FAR LEFT AND FAR RIGHT AGREEING ON SOMETHING.

THAT IS SOMEPLACE YOU HAVE SEEN AGREEMENT.

>> INTERESTING DUO THERE.

STACEY, I SAW GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE KARI LAKE HAD INSIGHTS ON THIS?

>> KARI MADE A COMPARISON, LAURIE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT IT.

>> GOVERNOR DUCEY PUT OUT A COMMENT HOW OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THE UKRAINIANS, OTHER PEOPLE DID AS WELL, MATT SALMON DID, AND KARI LAKE PUT OUT A STATEMENT WHICH BASICALLY SAID, IT COMPARED THE INVASION IN UKRAINE TO THE INVASION ON OUR BORDER.

THAT'S BEEN THE BIG THING WITH REPUBLICANS LATELY IS TO SAY THAT WE'RE BEING INVADED FROM THE SOUTH, FROM MEXICO, AND SHE ACTUALLY MADE THE COMPARISON SAYING JOE BIDEN ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN, AND NOW UKRAINE HAS BEEN INVADED AND SO HAVE WE, WHICH I THINK IS SUCH HYPERBOLE AND SUCH A CHEAP POLITICAL SHOT AT SUCH A KEY, IMPORTANT MOMENT, SOLEMN MOMENT IN WHERE WE ARE.

I THINK IT GOES TO JUDGMENT THAT SHE WOULD SAY SUCH A THING, BUT, OF COURSE, PLAYS WELL ON THE FAR RIGHT.

>> YOU KNOW ONE THING I WOULD ADD, THE GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT, WHEN HE CONDEMNED THIS MOVE, HE GOT A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE DANGER AND JUST THE SCARY SITUATION HAPPENING IN UKRAINE, AND TOLD ME HE THINKS BIDEN IS RIGHT TO COMMIT THAT AMERICAN TROOPS WILL NOT BE ENGAGED IN CONFLICT IN UKRAINE.

I ASKED HIM ABOUT THAT AFTER AN EVENT THIS WEEK.

HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH BIDEN ON A LOT OF THINGS BUT AGREES ON THIS ONE POINT.

>> MATT SALMON WAS INCREDIBLY DISMAYED BY THE RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.

MARK BRNOVICH, REPREHENSIBLE ATTACK.

MOST FOLKS ARE ON IT BUT NOT ALL FOLKS.

WHEN YOU HAVE DONALD TRUMP, THE HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CALLING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WEAK, STUPID AND INCOMPETENT, HOW DOES THAT PLAY COME ELECTION TIME?

>> I THINK IT WILL PLAY REALLY WELL WITH THE PEOPLE THEY'RE GEARING THE COMMENTS TO.

THERE ARE PEOPLE NATIONALLY, I HAVE NOT HEARD THIS FROM A NATIONAL POLITICIAN BUT ARIZONA POLITICIANS COMPARING TO VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING HE'S CLOSER TO THEM THAN EVEN BIDEN.

IT'S CRAZY AND ANYBODY WHO KNOWS WHO PUTIN HAS DONE, THE MURDERING AND THE SLAUGHTERING OF PEOPLE, IT'S MIND-BOGGLING THEY CAN SAY THAT.

BUT IT'S A WAY TO STICK IT TO THE DEMOCRATS.

ONE OF THE MOST REPREHENSIBLE COMMENTS I THOUGHT WAS BY SENATE CANDIDATE JIM LAMON, WHO SAID THAT MARK KELLY HAS BLOOD ON HIS HANDS.

>> UKRAINIAN BLOOD ON HIS HANDS.

WHAT?

WHAT?

>> YOU CAN LEGITIMATELY ASK THE QUESTION, DID JOE BIDEN DO ENOUGH TO STOP THIS KNOWING WHAT HE KNEW AHEAD OF TIME?

WAS HE HARSH ENOUGH IN THE SANCTIONS THAT HE ISSUED AS WE WATCHED THESE TANKS THAT PUTIN ROLLED RIGHT OVER THEM.

TO PLAY THAT POLITICS AT SUCH A MOMENTOUS TIME IN HISTORY, IT STRIKES A BAD CHORD TO PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE WHO ARE GENUINELY NOT ATTACHED TO THE FAR RIGHT OR FAR LEFT.

>> STACEY, WHEN YOU SPOKE TO THE GOVERNOR, WAS THAT THE SAME EVENT THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKED ABOUT WENDY ROGERS?

>> SAME DAY.

>> SAME DAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

WENDY ROGERS, IS A VOLATILE STATE SENATOR, AND THE GOVERNOR WAS VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN HER WINNING THAT SEAT.

WHAT WAS HE ASKED, AND HOW DID HE RESPOND?

AND AGAIN, WENDY ROGERS HAS SHOWN SYMPATHIES TO WHITE NATIONALISTS AND OTHER FOLKS WHO AREN'T THE NICEST OF FOLKS.

>> RIGHT, SO YESTERDAY WE WERE WITH THE GOVERNOR, HE WAS ANNOUNCING A NEW PROGRAM, OFFERING A PARTIALLY STATE FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP TO FOSTER KIDS TO ATTEND GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY.

SO IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS AFTER THE EVENT, AND JEREMY DUDA OF THE MIRROR ASKED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE WHICH FUNDED MONEY TO WENDY ROGERS TO HELP HER WIN HER SENATE RACE.

THE QUESTION WAS, GIVEN HER TIES TO WHITE NATIONALISTS, SHE IS LITERALLY TODAY SPEAKING AT A CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO THAT HAS TIES TO THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE.

IF HE STILL SUPPORTS HER, AS HIS COMMITTEE DID FINANCIALLY?

AND HIS ANSWER WAS NOT SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT WENDY ROGERS, BUT TO TALK ABOUT HOW HE NEEDS A COALITION THAT WILL HELP HIM PASS POLICY IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND SHE'S BETTER THAN THE DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT IN HER RACE.

>> SO A WHITE NATIONALIST, POSSIBLE SYMPATHIZER.

>> ANY WHITE NATIONALIST IS APPARENTLY BETTER THAN ANY DEMOCRAT.

>> OKAY, WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO SAY, AND STACEY MENTIONED WHAT HE DID SAY IS HE NEED AID REPUBLICAN THERE TO GET HIS POLICIES DONE.

HE DIDN'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH HER POSITIONS ON THINGS, BUT SHE'S A REPUBLICAN, TALK ABOUT DEAD DOG DEMOCRATS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WHITE NATIONALIST REPUBLICANS ARE OKAY.

IS THAT WHAT I'M READING HERE?

>> YEAH, PRETTY MUCH.

AT LEAST HE'S HONEST ABOUT IT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DODGED THAT QUESTION AND COME UP WITH GOBBLEDYGOOK.

YES, IN THIS WORLD, WHERE THERE IS GOOD AND EVIL, A BLACK HAT AND A WHITE HAT.

SHE'S IN A WHITE HAT BECAUSE SHE'S A REPUBLICAN.

ANY REPUBLICAN, NO MATTER HOW VILE HER OPINIONS IS BETTER THAN A DEMOCRAT.

THAT'S WHERE THE STATE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS RIGHT NOW.

THEY DON'T EVEN LIKE THEIR OWN MEMBERS.

THEY CALL RUSTY BOWERS NOW A RHINO.

TO SAY HE WOULD GET IN BED, POLITICALLY SPEAKING WITH WENDY ROGERS, DOESN'T SURPRISE ME AT ALL.

>> IS THAT SOMEWHAT SIMILARS TO DEMOCRATS AND KYRSTEN SINEMA IN THAT THEY ARE VERY UPSET WITH KYRSTEN SINEMA, LOTS OF MARCHING AND SHOUTING AND SCREAMING AND YELLING BUT YOU SAY YOU WOULD RATHER MARTHA McSALLY WIN?

WELL -- >> I THINK THERE ARE SIMILARITIES THERE BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SO FRACTURED RIGHT NOW.

I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T SAY MORE YESTERDAY, IN PART BECAUSE SENATOR RODGERS IS A SUPERSPREADER OF ELECTION CONSPIRACY THEORIES, AND HE PUT HIS FOOT DOWN, SIGNED ELECTION RESULTS, AND WHEN WE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THIS, HE DOESN'T WANT TO INDULGE OR FURTHER THE CONSPIRACIES AT ALL EVER.

>> THIS IS WHERE HIS PARTY IS RIGHT NOW.

I WILL NOTE THAT WHEN THE RECENT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS CAME OUT, WENDY ROGERS RAISED $2.5 MILLION FOR STATE LEGISLATIVE RACE.

MOST OF IT FROM OUT OF STATE.

CANDIDATES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY GOT CANDIDATES WITH GOVERNOR AND SENATOR AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS ARE SEEKING HER ENDORSEMENT.

SHE'S BECOME A ROCK STAR ON THE RIGHT BY PROMOTING THESE LIES, AND DOUG DUCEY KNOWS THAT, AND THESE ARE STILL HIS PEOPLE, EVEN IF HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH THEM.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND, ARE YOU EXPECTING HIM TO WALK THIS BACK IF IT IS ASKED AGAIN.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S MADE NEWS, AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IT'S DISCONCERTING, FOR THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, YEAH, I NEED TO GET DONE WHAT I WANT TO GET ACCOMPLISHED AT THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I DON'T THINK HE'LL WALK IT BACK.

I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING, BUT I THINK THAT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH ATTENTION THIS GETS.

IT DEFINITELY HAS BEEN WIDELY POINTED OUT AND CRITICIZED, HIS RESPONSE.

>> YEAH, YEAH, YOU MENTIONED RUSTY BOWERS, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BOWERS, TERM LIMITED IN THE HOUSE, HE'S RUNNING FOR THE SENATE.

>> IT WAS GIVEN HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE THERE.

EVERYBODY EXPECTED HIM TO RETIRE, HE'S OLDER NOW, BEEN AT THE WARS, AT THE LEGISLATURE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, A WARRIOR.

BUT A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO, THE PATRIOT PARTY OF ARIZONA, WHICH HAS EARLIER TRIED TO RECALL HIM, SHOWED UP IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, RANTING AND RAVING ABOUT SOMETHING, AND HE AND HIS FAMILY DECIDED THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO LEAVE.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE BULLIED OUT OF THE PLACE, AND ONE OF THE FEW REPUBLICANS WHO HAS STOOD FOR SANITY, AND BY SANITY, I MEAN REQUIRING PROOF THAT THE ELECTION WAS FLAWED BEFORE HE WAS WILLING TO THROW OUT THE RESULTS.

SO HE'S NOW DECIDED HE'S GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR THE SENATE IN HIS NEWLY REDISTRICTED DISTRICT, I THINK IT'S DISTRICT 10, AND HE WILL HAVE A PRIMARY.

>> YEAH, YEAH, HE SAID I DIDN'T WANT TO BE BULLIED OUT OF SERVICE, NOT GOING TO LET THEM SILENCE SOME TYPE OF SANITY IN THE SENATE, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A JAB THERE.

A LITTLE BUSINESS THERE.

>> SPEAKER BOWERS CALLED IT AS IT IS.

HE WAS ON THE GAGGLE, "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC"'S POLITICS PODCAST EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SPLIT IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

HE SAID THAT THE OTHER PORTION OF IT WAS THUGGISH, ADVERSARIAL AND AGGRESSIVE.

>> WOW.

THAT'S PRETTY BOLD STUFF THERE, LAURIE.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL SOMETIME WHEN HE AND KAREN FANN, THE SENATE PRESIDENT, GET IN A ROOM.

BECAUSE SHE IS THE PERSONIFICATION OF THAT INSANITY.

SHE IS THE ONE WHO ORDERED THE AUDIT AND HAS ALLOWED CRAZY THINGS TO ENSUE.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE THERE WHEN THE TWO OF THEM ARE IN A ROOM AND HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, SHE HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.

THE MODEL OF STATESMANSHIP AND SUPPOSED TO BE BEHIND THE SCENES AND GOOD WORKER AND GETS ALONG WITH OTHERS.

WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED THERE?

>> I THINK SHE GOT A CALL FROM THE TRUMP CAMPAIGNS, AND THE OTHER THING IS SHE WAS ELECTED SENATE PRESIDENT BY A DIVIDED CAUCUS, AND SHE HAS ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE CAUCUS WHO WERE STAUNCH STOP THE STEALERS, EVEN TODAY AFTER THE AUDIT SHOW THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD FRAUD, AND I THINK THAT HER FEAR, THIS IS JUST ME, I'M SUSPECTING THAT THE NUMBER OF CONSTITUENT CALLS SHE GOT, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CALLS, COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT SHE COULD HAVE WELL LOST HER SPOT, COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT TRUMP IS CALLING, I THINK SHE CAVED.

ONCE SHE GOT INTO, IT SHE COULDN'T GET HERSELF OUT.

>> BACK TO BOWERS, OBVIOUSLY GOING TO RUN FOR THE SENATE SEAT.

AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, HE'S PUT THE KABASH ON A NUMBER OF BILLS THERE, I ASSUME THE GOVERNOR IS GLAD THAT AREN'T GOING TO BE MOVING HIS WAY?

>> YEAH, THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T TALK ABOUT PENDING LEGISLATION, AS HE REMINDS ME ALL THE TIME, WHEN I TRY TO ASK HIM ABOUT IT, BUT APPARENTLY, AFTER THE SPEAKER MADE IT PUBLIC HE WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE BALLOT REVIEW, THE 2020 REVIEW, THE GOVERNOR CALLED HIM AND SAID, I'M PROUD THAT YOU'RE MY SPEAKER.

>> INTERESTING.

>> INDICATES A LITTLE BIT OF THE RELATIONSHIP THERE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S INTERESTING.

AND AGAIN, IT KEEPS HIM FROM HAVING TO MAKE THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS.

>> HE'S THE GO-TO GUY FOR THE GOVERNOR, I'M QUITE SURE.

HE'S THE ONE WHO ASSIGNED 12 BILLS TO JOHN FILLMORE'S BILL TO 12 COMMITTEES WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY UNHEARD OF, AND SENT A VERY STRONG MESSAGE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOOL WITH THIS FOOLISHNESS, AND DID THE SAME THING WITH MARK FINCHEM RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

A SIMILAR BILL TO SAY HE WANTED TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE ACTUAL 2020 ELECTION IN THREE COUNTIES.

MARICOPA, YUMA AND PIMA, AND HE CALLED IT -- I DON'T WANT REMEMBER WHAT THE WORDS WERE, PROFOUNDLY UNWISE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> A FORMER TRUMP TOP AIDE RECENTLY CALLED TO PUSH FINCHEM TO OVERTURN THE BILL.

THEY ARE CALLING THE GUY.

>> HE'S STILL RESISTING.

I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER, LAURIE TALKED ABOUT THE TWO MEASURES HE KILLED IN FAMOUS FASHION BY SENDING THEM TO A DOZEN COMMITTEES.

HE GOT A LOT OF POSITIVE PRESS FROM THAT.

THE "NEW YORK TIMES" DID A STORY AND A WEEK LATER ANNOUNCES HIS SENATE BID.

>> THE QUESTION IS, THOUGH, HE IS IN A -- HE'S A VERY CONSERVATIVE MAN WITH A LONG RECORD OF CONSERVATISM.

A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

REPRESENTS A VERY CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT, AND HE'S GOING TO BE COMING UP AGAINST FORMER STATE SENATOR DAVID FARNSWORTH WHO IS LIKE HIM IN EVERY WAY EXCEPT FOR ONE KEY DIFFERENCE, ONE BELIEVES THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND THE OTHER IS NOT GOING TO GO THERE UNLESS SOMEONE CAN SHOW HIM ACTUAL EVIDENCE.

I THINK THIS RACE IS A MICROCOSM OF THE FUTURE AND TRUMP'S HOLD ON THE PARTY.

WHAT WILL THE VERY CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT DO?

>> VERY, VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH.

STACEY, ALSO VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH WAS THIS EDUCATION SPENDING CAP, AND THE IDEA THAT THIS THING NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED AND EVERY WEEK ON THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, IT FINALLY WAS ADDRESSED.

>> DOWN TO THE WIRE, THE DEADLINE WAS MARCH 1.

THE HOUSE PASSED IT I BELIEVE LAST WEEK, AND THEN EARLIER THIS WEEK, SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN WAS ABLE TO GET ENOUGH REPUBLICANS TO JOIN THE DEMOCRATS TO GET A SUPER MAJORITY TO PASS IT, STAVING OFF WHAT COULD BE DEVASTATING FUNDING CUTS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> AND AGAIN, THIS NEEDED SUPER MAJORITY HERE.

THEY GOT THE VOTE, BUT THERE WAS ACRIMONY, EDUCATIONAL TERRORISTS?

>> 27 REPUBLICAN SENATORS SIDED WITH THE DEMOCRATS TO PASS THIS, WHICH MEANS THAT 20 -- SENATORS AND HOUSE, LEGISLATORS, 20 VOTED TO SABOTAGE THE SCHOOLS.

THE SCHOOLS WERE UP AGAINST A CLIFF.

IF BY NEXT WEEK THIS SPENDING LIMIT WAS NOT WAIVED, THEY WOULD HAVE TO TALK ABOUT MASSIVE LAYOFFS AND CLOSING SCHOOLS IN CASES.

THAT HURTS KIDS.

SAME KIDS THEY'VE BEEN COMPLAINING FOR TWO YEARS WERE TAKEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR COVID, 20 LEGISLATORS READY TO HURT THEM AGAIN, AND MICHELLE UGENTI-RITA, RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, WAS PROBABLY THE MOST ADAMANT IN THAT SHE DIDN'T SAY THEY WERE TEACHERS BUT I ASSUME EDUCATORS, SHE CALLED THEM EDUCATIONAL TERRORISTS.

>> YES.

>> AND THE REASON WAS FROM THE CONTEXT OF THE COMMENTS, THEY CLOSED THE SCHOOLS DURING COVID AND SCARED HER KIDS ABOUT COVID.

SO THEY'RE TERRORISTS.

>> THAT WAS PART AND PARCEL OF STATE REPUBLICANS SAYING THEY DON'T THINK THEY'RE GETTING ENOUGH CREDIT FOR THE MONEY THEY'RE PUTTING IN EDUCATION RIGHT NOW.

THE CRITICS SAY WE'RE RANKED NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THIS THING.

REPUBLICANS SAYING 3.5 BILLION SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION, NOT GETTING ENOUGH CREDIT, DEMOCRATS ESPECIALLY, BUT THE EDUCATION FOLKS, YOU ARE ALL UNGRATEFUL.

THAT WAS PART OF THE DIALOGUE.

>> SENATOR VINCE LEECH, I THINK THE QUOTE WAS MORE, MORE, MORE, ALWAYS ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.

THE GOVERNOR TALKS ABOUT THIS A LOT.

THEY'VE PUT MUCH MORE INTO PUBLIC EDUCATION NOW THAN EIGHT YEARS AGO.

BUT THERE'S ALSO THIS BROADER POLITICAL FOCUS ON SCHOOLS, AND SCHOOL ISSUES RIGHT NOW, AND SO, I THINK GETTING THIS PASSED, WHEN ALL OF THE LAWMAKERS HAVE TO GO OUT AND CAMPAIGN TO GET THEIR SEATS BACK OR CAMPAIGN FOR HIGHER OFFICE MADE THE TIMING REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY GET IT DONE BEFORE MARCH 1.

>> EXCEPT FOR THOSE THAT VOTED NO.

YOU'VE GOT TO EXPLAIN THAT VOTE.

>> YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN SENATOR LEECH WAS TALKING ABOUT MORE, MORE, MORE, THIS WASN'T FOR MORE, MORE, MORE MONEY, THIS WAS MONEY APPROPRIATED THAT GETS FROZEN AND THEY COULD NOT SPEND IT UNLESS THE LEGISLATURE REACHES SPENDING LIMITS AND DID DISINGENUOUSLY SAY WE DIDN'T GIVE UP THE SPENDING LIMIT, THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY TRUE.

THE FORMULA IS COMPLEX BUT A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE WE LOST CHILDREN, ENROLLMENT PER STUDENT DURING THE COVID SITUATION, AND WHEN THEY REUPPED ON PROPOSITION, I THINK IT'S 301, THE TAX FOR EDUCATION, THAT MONEY BEFORE HAD BEEN SEPARATE FROM THE SPENDING CAP.

THEY PUT IT UNDER THE SPENDINGKA.

WE'RE BOUNCING UP AGAINST THE SPENDING CAP.

I WOULD POINT OUT WE'RE FROM 48th IN PER CAPITA STATE FUNDING FOR THE DISTRICT OR 50th.

WHEN HE SAYS MORE, MORE, MORE, WHY DO THEY WANT MORE?

THEY WANT MORE TO GET OURSELVES ALL THE WAY UP TO 45th.

>> BUT AGAIN, REPUBLICANS ARE REPEATEDLY SAYING, WE'RE TRYING, WE'RE DOING THE BEST THEY THINK THEY CAN WITH THE 3.5 BILLION SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION.

SINCE THIS DEBATE, WAS THERE ANY CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT HERE, WELL, WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO SPEND THE MONEY THAT'S ALREADY BUDGETED BUT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS NO?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT, KAREN FANN, TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO FIND A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.

>> YES.

>> AND SOME BILLS FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE, DEMOCRAT SPONSORED BILLS, SO WE'LL SEE IF THEY ADVANCE EVER, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING SHE WAS SAYING WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION.

OF COURSE, THIS IS HER LAST SESSION, SO I GUESS NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

>> SHE'S RIGHT, THE SPENDING LIMIT WAS SET BY VOTERS IN 1980.

IN THOSE DAYS, THE IDEA OF TECHNOLOGY WAS A BLACK BOARD AND A DITTO MACHINE.

TODAY, LOOK AT THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE IN SCHOOLS AND USE THAT AS OUR BASE, AND INCREASE IT BASED ON NUMBERS OF STUDENTS AND INFLATION, BUT IT IS AN ANTIQUATED NUMBER, AND IT WOULD BE NICE FOR A CHANGE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE.

LOOK FARTHER THAN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION AND DO SOMETHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE STATE LONG TERM.

USED TO BE WE HAD LEGISLATURES THAT DID THAT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT IN A LONG TIME.

>> SEEING A BILL THAT WOULD END EARLY VOTING BY MAIL, AND LAURIE, I THINK YOU WROTE ABOUT THIS.

LET ME REPEAT, THAT ENDING EARLY VOTING BY MAIL.

WHICH FOLKS ENJOY AND DON'T WANT TO SEE IT GO AWAY.

NOT ONLY, THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR BALLOTS TO A SMART BOX, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A CAMERA EQUIPPED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE THE PERSON DOING IT?

>> THIS IS THE BRAIN CHILD OF SENATOR KELLY TOWNSEND OF MESA, THE DROP BOXES SHOULD BE LIKE ATM MACHINES.

HER VISION IS YOU GO TO THE DROP BOX, TAKE YOUR BALLOT.

EITHER A STILL CAMERA OR VIDEO ROLLS AS YOU PUT IT IN, THE MACHINE LINKS THE BALLOT TO YOUR PICTURE AND SPITS OUT A RECEIPT.

IT DOES A COUPLE OTHER WHIZ BANG THINGS, TOO.

HER BILL WOULD END EARLY VOTING BY MAIL.

YOU COULD STILL GET A BALLOT, YOU JUST HAVE TO BRING IT TO ONE OF THE SMART BOXES.

THE PROBLEM IS, AS JEN LARSON FOR COUNTY POINTED OUT.

THE SMART BOXES DON'T EXIST.

SHE HAS A BILL WITH APPROPRIATION TO BUY THE BOXES THIS YEAR FOR THE ELECTIONS ONLY THEY DON'T EXIST.

IT'S IRONIC IN THAT YOU HAVE THE SMART DROP BOXES, A FIGMENT OF HER IMAGINATION TO SOLVE VOTER FRAUD, WHICH IS A FIGMENT OF HER IMAGINATION.

IT'S CRAZY TIME AT THE LEGISLATURE.

>> STACEY, THE COUNTY HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THIS STUFF, PROCURING IT, ADMINISTERING IT.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SOMETHING THEY WANT TO DO, THAT COMES UP OUT OF THE BLUE LIKE THIS?

>> THE PRIMARY IS IN AUGUST, THE GENERAL IN NOVEMBER, AND THE TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T EXIST.

>> IT'S A PROBLEM.

I WOULD NOT -- I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THIS BILL AND SOME OF THE OTHER ELECTION BILLS GO VERY FAR.

THERE'S ANOTHER BILL THAT IS TO END EARLY VOTING ALTOGETHER.

>> YES.

>> AND IT PASSED.

THE SENATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE IS TOWNSEND'S COMMITTEE, SONNY BORRELLI AND WENDY ROGERS AND WARREN PETERSON, COMPRISE THE MAJORITY OF THIS COMMITTEE.

THEY ARE ALL CENTRAL FIGURES IN THE WHOLE STOP THE STEAL, LET'S AUDIT THE ELECTION THING, SO THEY'RE PASSING DRACONIAN BILLS, BUT WHETHER YOU GET TO THE ACTUAL SENATE, AND I THINK THAT WILL COME NEXT WEEK, WE'LL SEE.

IT TAKES 16 VOTES, TAKES EVERY REPUBLICAN TO DO IT, AND SENATOR SAID I LIKE MY EARLY VOTING.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID LET'S NIP THIS IN THE BUD BEFORE IT COMES UP TO THE NINTH FLOOR, CORRECT?

>> HE'S INDICATED HE'S RECEPTIVE TO ELECTION REFORM, BUT THE ONLY SPECIFIC POLICY IS CHANGING THE RECOUNT THRESHOLD.

>> REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BOTH THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

IT'S A LITTLE OFF RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH, YOU TELL ME YOU WANT TO GO TO THE POLLS THIS YEAR AS A CANDIDATE AND BRAG ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU ENDED EARLY VOTING WHEN 89% OF THE BALLOTS THAT WERE CAST IN 2020 WERE CAST THIS WAY.

THE REASON THEY WANT TO DO IT OBVIOUSLY IS DEMOCRATS HAVE CAUGHT ONTO IT, A WAY TO BOOST TURNOUT, IN 2020, THE DEMOCRATS CAME OUT IN RECORD NUMBERS TO VOTE THIS WAY, AND THAT'S WHY THIS HAS TO GO.

>> BEFORE WE GO, AND WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS, BUT UTILITY COMPETITION, THAT IDEAS THAT BEEN FLOATED AROUND, ALWAYS A THREAT, NEVER SEEMS TO HAPPEN.

>> WE HAVE A STATE LAW IN THE BOOKS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME THAT SAYS THERE MUST BE OR SHOULD BE COMPETITION IN OUR UTILITIES.

WE HAVE A BUNCH OF MONOPOLIES.

FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LAST YEAR, I THINK IT'S CALLED GREEN MOUNTAIN, A COMPANY APPLIED TO COMPETE WITH APS CLAIMING THEY CAN DO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY AND, OF COURSE, APS PROBABLY FELL INTO A DEAD HEAT OVER THIS IDEA.

NOW COMES THIS BILL TO REPEAL THAT LAW, BLOCKING ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME IN AND COMPETE WITH THE MONOPOLY UTILITIES FROM DOING SO.

SO THE BILL ORIGINALLY FAILED IN THE HOUSE, AND THEN A WEEK OR TWO LATER, CAME BACK AND SUDDENLY HAD 37 VOTES, WHICH IS PLENTY TO PASS IT.

IT'S NOW I THINK ON A FAST TRACK TO PASS.

I FIND IT INTERESTING AND WORTH CONSIDERING THAT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT VOUCHERS AND THE NEED TO TAKE PUBLIC MONEY AND PUT IT INTO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, THE REPUBLICANS SAY COMPETITION, VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MONOPOLY UTILITIES AND APS NOT WANTING COMPETITION, ALL OF A SUDDEN FOR REPUBLICANS AND A FAIR NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS, I MIGHT ADD, COMPETITION, VERY, VERY BAD.

WHICH IS IT?

>> YEAH, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FOR CORPORATION COMMISSION THAT HAS OFTEN BEEN BOUNCING AROUND, JUSTIN OLSON PUSHING THIS FOR A LONG TIME, CONTINUES TO DO SO, BUT DOES SOUND AS IF, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I WOULD IMAGINE THIS IS NOT ANYTHING HE WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM SIGNING.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE, LET ME ASK HIM.

>> I THINK HE'D SIGN IT IN A HEART BEAT.

APS BADLY WANTS THIS BILL, AS DOES SRP, THEY GIVE A LOT OF MONEY TO CAMPAIGNS, POWER IN THE STATE, IT'S GOING TO GET SIGNED.

>> LAURIE ROBERTS AND STACEY BARCHENGER THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NOT HAVING SPRING TRAINING IN THE VALLEY?

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