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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, INCLUDING STATE LEGISLATURE WRESTLING WITH LAST WEEK'S ABORTION RULING WITH THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT.

JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE IS NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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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.

AND JOINING US TONIGHT, RAY STERN OF "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.COM.

JEREMY DUDA OF AXIOS PHOENIX AND JIM SMALL OF THE "ARIZONA MIRROR."

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

RAY, START WITH YOU, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK.

START WITH THE HOUSE, BLOCKED -- I'LL GET OUT OF THE WAY.

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

>> I THINK THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE OFF IN THE HOUSE WITH THIS REPEAL.

THEY HAD MATT GRESS, ONE REPUBLICAN DOWN, DAVID COOK WAS EXPECTED TO VOTE YES ON THE REPEAL, BUT HE SUDDENLY FELT HE NEEDED TO PAY HOMAGE TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THIS RULE 31, WHICH SAYS THAT YOU CAN'T CHANGE A RULE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE BRING UP THE LATE REPEAL UNLESS THE SPEAKER APPROVES.

SO THE FACT IS THAT WITH 31 MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE, YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH CHANGE THAT RULE BUT DAVID COOK DECIDED HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT, ONLY ENDED UP WITH 30 VOTES, THAT WASN'T ENOUGH TO GET THE REPEAL MOVING.

TED: REPEALING THE 1864 BAN THAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID IS THE LAW OF THE LAND FOR NOW.

WHO KNOWS?

MAYBE DEAL WITH THE TIME FRAME LATER, BUT AGAIN AS RAY MENTIONED, NEEDED TWO REPUBLICANS TO JOIN FOR THE BLOCK, ONLY GOT ONE.

>> YEAH, TWO SEEM TO BE SUBJECT TO INTENSE LOBBYING OVER THERE.

COOK, HAS A HABIT OF BUCKING LEADERSHIP AND BEING THE NAIL THAT STANDS OUT OVER THERE.

AND THE OTHER IS TIM DUNN FROM YUMA, WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE HABIT, BUT HE TOLD ME AFTERWARDS, HE WANTS TO SEE THE 1864 BAN REPEALED TO COMMITTED TO MORE TALKS WITH THE CAUCUS.

HE'S NOT ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT ROLLING SPEAKER TOMA.

THAT IS WHERE THEY'RE AT OVER THERE.

ONE REPUBLICAN, MATT GRESS, WHO IS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT DOING THAT, BUT CANNOT GET ANOTHER.

THERE'S A GENERAL SENSE OVER THERE, IF THIS WENT UP FOR A VOTE, THE BILL TO REPEAL THE BAN, YOU WOULD GET 32, 33, 34 REPUBLICANS -- VOTES WITH TWO OR THREE REPUBLICANS, MAYBE, BUT NO ONE WANTS TO CROSS THE SPEAKER, THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE THE STALEMATE.

ONE REPUBLICAN WILLING TO DO THAT, WILLING TO CROSS THAT LINE, AND SO FAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BRING ANYONE ELSE WITH HIM.

>> IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO DAVID COOK?

>> SEEMS THAT WAY.

THE DAY BEFORE, HE SPOKE WITH JOURNALISTS OVER THE ARIZONA AGENDA AND TOLD THEM FLAT-OUT, I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE SPEAKER, NOT GOING TO VOTE TO ESSENTIALLY ROLL LEADERSHIP TO FORCE THIS TO A VOTE.

THE THING THAT THE FOLKS SUPPORT AND OTHER FOLKS SUPPORT IT, THEIR CONVICTION IS THIS 1864 LAW IS WRONG, BUT WON'T DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO ACTUALLY TAKE THE VOTE, BUT SAY THEY OSTENSIBLY WANT TO TAKE.

SO YOU'RE IN THE SITUATION WHERE I GUESS FOR THEM, VOTING TO REINSTATE ABORTION IN ARIZONA, AS PEOPLE WHO RAN ON PRO-LIFE CAMPAIGNS IS AN EASIER THING FOR THEM TO DO THAN TO VOTE AGAINST REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WHO IS SAYING THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF LETTING THIS BILL COME TO THE FLOOR.

TED: INTERESTING, RAY, IN THE SENATE, LITTLE DIFFERENT STORY, OFFICIALLY IT'S THERE, THE REPEAL.

>> RIGHT, THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE A NEW BILL, ESSENTIALLY IN THE SENATE, BECAUSE THERE WERE TWO REPUBLICANS TO SIDE WITH DEMOCRATS, AND VOTE TO CREATE THIS BILL, AND THERE ISN'T A RULE 31 IN THE SENATE, SO THERE WAS NO WORRY THEY WERE GOING TO ROLL THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSON, I SUPPOSE, AND SO THERE WASN'T THAT PROBLEM.

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FACT THAT THIS BILL -- IF IT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD, IS GOING TO HAVE TO GET TO THE HOUSE EVENTUALLY.

TOMA HAS TO APPROVE IT, HE SAYS HE WON'T, SO SOMEBODY HAS TO ROLL THE SPEAKER, I GUESS?

TED: SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE, JEREMY.

IF IT HAPPENS IN THE SENATE, SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE AS WELL.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> THE SENATE GETS YOU HALFWAY THERE.

DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY REPUBLICANS ARE WILLING TO BREAK RANKS AND GO WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

BEN TOMA, VERY PROABORTION AND DRAWING THE LINE IN THE SAND, HE'S GOING TO WAIT AND SEE IF MORE THAN ONE OF HIS MEMBERS ARE, AND FROM THERE, IT WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GET OVER THERE FOR PROCEDURAL REASONS BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY MEETING ONCE A WEEK IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

IT IS EXPECTED A WEEK FROM NEXT WEDNESDAY IS WHEN THE SENATE WOULD PASS THAT, PRESUMING THEY HAVE THE VOTES, WHICH THEY DO.

THEN IT GOES TO THE HOUSE.

IN THE MEANTIME, EVERY WEEK UNTIL THEN, WE WILL SEE THE SAME MANEUVERINGS IN THE HOUSE.

PEOPLE TRYING TO FORCE THE VOTE.

29 DEMOCRATS AND 1 REPUBLICAN WAITING TO SEE IF ONE MORE GOP MEMBER IS GOING TO COME ALONG.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO A LATE INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL LIKE THEY DID IN THE SENATE.

TRIPLE ASSIGNED TO THREE COMMITTEES BY BEN TOMA AND NEVER GOT HEARD.

EITHER WAY, THEY CAN USE THE BILL THEY HAVE THERE, TAKE THE BILL FROM THE SENATE.

EITHER WAY, THEY NEED 31 AND ONLY GOT SENATE.

TED: OVER IN THE SENATE, SHAWNNA BOLICK AND TJ SHOPE WERE SIDING WITH DEMOCRATS.

>> THEY WERE.

EVEN WITH THE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT THE 1864 LAW TRUMPS THE 2022 DECISION, THEY CAME OUT AND SAID THAT WAS THE WRONG DECISION AND THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO ACT TO BASICALLY, IF YOU REPEAL THE 1864 LAW, YOU GO BACK TO THE 2022 LAW AND HAVE ABORTIONS UP TO 15 WEEKS.

TED: SAY SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THE SENATE AND IT IS SENT OVER TO THE HOUSE DOES, THAT INCREASE PRESSURE IN THE HOUSE?

>> IT PROBABLY DOES TO SOME DEGREE.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S GOING TO -- WHETHER IT'S GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

I THINK THE LONGER THIS GOES ON, THE MORE PRESSURE THAT IS APPLIED REGARDLESS.

THE SENATE ACTING AND SHOWING THEY'RE WILLING TO REPEAL THIS LAW WILL INCREASE PRESSURE.

I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT HAPPENS, I THINK, REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO SCRAMBLE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT DO THEY DO ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION?

HOW DO THEY TRY TO MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE BAD CAMPAIGN PR THAT THE SUPREME COURT RULING BRINGS ONTO THEM.

ARE THEY GOING TO BRING FORWARD THEIR OWN OPTIONS?

WHAT ARE THOSE GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

ARE THEY GETTING SUPPORT TO PASS?

IT MAY TAKE THOSE THINGS TO COME FORWARD AND POSSIBLY FAILING TO MAKE PEOPLE DECIDE, OKAY, MAYBE WE HAVE TO ACT AND MOVE FORWARD.

TED: AS FAR AS WHO HAS HELPED AND WHO'S HURT.

MATT GRESS AND BOLICK AND SHOPE, WHERE ARE THEY?

>> IN THE SWING DISTRICTS WHERE THIS WOULD GO EITHER WAY FOR THEM.

THIS IS BAD NEWS FOR THEM.

THE FACT YOU HAVE THE 1864 LYING THERE THAT COULD BE ENFORCED AND ABORTION IN ARIZONA IS A REALLY PROBLEM IN TERMS OF IT WILL DRIVE MORE DEMOCRATS TO THE POLLS TO VOTE FOR THE BALLOT MEASURE THAT ACTUALLY WOULD ENSHRINE A RIGHT TO ABORTION IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION, SO THAT COULD BE JUST ENOUGH TO TIP OVER SOME OF THESE REPUBLICANS IN THE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS AND NOT COINCIDENTALLY, THAT INCLUDES MATT GRESS AND SHAWNNA BOLICK AND TJ SHOPE, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING THE REPEAL DONE.

IT'S A TWO-STEP PROCESS FOR THE REPUBLICANS, THEY NEED TO GET THE REPEAL DONE IN ORDER TO HEAL THE POLITICAL PROBLEM AND THE BALLOT, WHICH IS WHAT THE LEAKED MEMO EXPLAINS IN GREAT DETAIL THAT WE GOT THIS WEEK WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING WE NEED TO PUT SOMETHING ELSE ON THE BALLOT TO DRAW VOTES AWAY FROM THE OTHER BALLOT MEASURE.

TED: TALK ABOUT THE LEAKED MEMO, JEREMY.

THEY'LL SAY IT'S COMPLEMENTARY, IT'S NOT.

IT'S 15 WEEKS BUT REALLY NOT.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO?

HOW MANY THINGS ARE THEY GOING TO SHOVE ON THE BALLOT HERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

THREE POSSIBLE BALLOTS WITH ALTERNATE FOR ONE OF THEM, SO MAYBE FOUR.

SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO TO THE CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD NOT CREATE A RIGHT TO ABORTION.

WOULDN'T BAN IT, LEAVE IT UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO DECIDE AND ENSHRINE THE RESTRICTIONS WE SEE NOW ON MINORS, ON ABORTIONS FOR BASED ON RACE AND SEX, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEN YOU WOULD HAVE, THEY CALL THAT COMPLEMENTARY.

AND YOU HAVE TWO THAT WOULD BE DIRECTLY COMPETING.

ONE WOULD BE IF THEY PUT IT A 15-WEEK BAN OR 14-WEEK BAN, DISGUISED AS 15-WEEK BAN, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR INTENTION TO USE THE DECEPTIVE LANGUAGE THERE, AND THEN A 6-WEEK BAN, WHICH WOULD BE A 5-WEEK BAN DISGUISED AS A 6-WEEK BAN WHICH IS PROBABLY A NEAR-TOTAL BAN BECAUSE MOST WOMEN DON'T KNOW THEY ARE PREGNANT BY THAT POINT.

HAVE YOU 15 WEEKS ON THE BOOKS AND REPUBLICANS WHO OPPOSE THE BALLOT MEASURE SAY YOU DON'T NEED THIS, YOU HAVE A LAW THAT SAYS 15 WEEKS THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ABORTIONS HAPPEN WITHIN 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY, A LOT OF THIS IS TO MUDDY THE WATERS TO DILUTE VOTES AND WE'VE SEEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN BEFORE WITH THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE LOOK AT THE CITIZEN INITIATIVE IT DOESN'T LIKE AND SAY WE'LL REFER SOMETHING OVER THE BALLOT TO COMPETE WITH IT.

IT BLOWS UP IN THEIR FACES IF I RECALL CORRECTLY.

WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THE ABORTION INITIATIVE FOR AGES, IF THEY WANTED ALTERNATIVE, THEY COULD HAVE WORKED ON THIS A LONG TIME AGO, AND NOBODY THOUGHT TO DO IT UNTIL THE GRENADE BLEW UP IN OUR LAPS LAST WEEK.

TED: WAS THIS LEAKED ON PURPOSE?

SLOPPILY HANDLED?

HOW DID IT GET OUT?

>> MAYBE LEAKED ON PURPOSE AS A TRIAL BALLOON.

THERE WERE A COUPLE THINGS IN THE LEAKED PLAN THAT MADE YOU THINK THIS WASN'T OR THIS WASN'T ACCIDENT, AS JEREMY JUST MENTIONED.

THE PLAN SAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CREATE SOMETHING AND CALL IT THE 15-WEEK LAW, THAT WILL BE DECEPTIVE BECAUSE IT WILL BE A 14-WEEK LAW, AND THE CUTOFF WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF THE 15 WEEKS SO YOU DON'T GET 15 WEEKS.

THAT SEEMED WEIRD.

THERE'S ANOTHER MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE REPUBLICANS' PLAN.

THEY DO NEED ANOTHER BALLOT MEASURE TO COMPETE WITH BECAUSE THE 15 WEEK LAW DOES NOT INCLUDE EXCEPTION FOR RAPE OR INCEST CASES.

IT'S A MAJOR CONCERN, EVEN FOR A LOT OF REPUBLICANS.

IF THEY TRY TO DO A BALLOT MEASURE THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO -- GOVERNOR HOBBS ISN'T GOING TO APPROVE WHAT THEY DO, THEY HAVE TO GET ALL TOGETHER TO MAKE THE BALLOT MEASURE HAPPEN.

THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR THEM, TOO.

DEMOCRATS AREN'T GOING TO VOTE FOR THAT AND THEY'VE GOT TO SPLIT CAUCUS.

TED: JIM, HOW MANY REFERRALS COULD HAPPEN?

ONE FOR SURE, YOU THINK?

>> IT'S A MATTER OF HOW MANY ARE THEY GOING TO PROPOSE AND COME OUT WITH AND TRY TO GET THROUGH THE CAUCUS.

I THINK RAY IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THE VOTES EXIST IN THE WAY -- FOR WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND THE WAY WE'VE SEEN THE CAUCUS REACT TO THE SUPREME COURT RULING, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE VOTE EXISTS.

YOU HAVE A LARGE CONTINGENT OF REPUBLICANS AT THE LEGISLATURE PERFECTLY FINE WITH WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID AND DON'T WANT TO -- BASICALLY THEY GOT THE HOLY GRAIL, THEY GOT THE SUPREME COURT TO GIVE THE HOLY GRAIL OF WHAT THE SUPREME COURT MOVEMENT HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR, FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS AND THE DECISION IS TO WALK BACK FROM THAT AND SAY, OH, BOY, WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED BUT DOESN'T WANT THAT, NOW WE GIVE VOTERS A CHANCE TO, I GUESS, REINSTITUTE ABORTION IN ARIZONA.

I DON'T SEE THAT GETTING THE 31-16 VOTE IT NEEDS AMONG REPUBLICANS.

TED: I DON'T SEE CATHI HERROD GETTING IT EITHER.

THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> BEFORE THEY MET ON WEDNESDAY, AIMED AT THE IDEA OF THE REPEAL.

YOU CAN READ INTO THAT A LOT ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF THE BALLOT MEASURES.

I KNOW WE AND OTHERS TRIED TO GET COMMENTS FROM HER WHEN THE DOCUMENT GOT LEAKED AND SHE AND CENTER FOR ARIZONA POLICY SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS, KEEP OUR POWDER DRY, AND I DO THINK THEY WOULD BE LIKELY TO BE OPPOSED TO IT FOR THE SAME REASONS THEY'RE OPPOSED TO REPEALING THE 1864 LAW.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.

THE VICTORY THAT THEY WANT.

TED: CENTER FOR ARIZONA POLICY SUPPORTING A 15-WEEK BAN ON ABORTION DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, DOES IT?

>> NO, DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR THE STAUNCH ALLIES OF HERS, HEAR A LOT OF THEM TALKING ON THE FLOOR TALKING ABOUT HOLDING THE LINE.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE ONE-VOTE MAJORITY IN EACH CHAMBER.

UNLESS THEY GOT DEMOCRATIC VOTES, WHICH THEY WON'T FOR ANY OF THESE.

THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ANY SINGLE MEMBER.

TAKES ONE MEMBER OF EITHER CHAMBER, ABORTION IS BANNED NOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE TO DO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY CHANGE THAT AND I'M WILLING TO BET THERE'S A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN EACH CHAMBER NOT WILLING TO DO THAT.

TED: LAST POINT ON THIS.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> WELL, ON WEDNESDAY, WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF THE SENATE CAN ADVANCE THE BILL THEY STARTED.

THAT'S NOT A SURE THING.

IT COULD HAPPEN.

IF IT DOES, IT WILL NEED ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE IT GOES OVER TO THE HOUSE, BUT NEXT WEDNESDAY, AS JEREMY MENTIONED, THE HOUSE COULD MOVE THE OTHER BILL THEY HAVE THERE.

SEE IF THEY CAN GET ANOTHER REPUBLICAN VOTE, SHAME REPUBLICANS IF THEY DON'T DO IT, SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT WEEK.

TED: WHAT'S ON THE CALENDAR, JEREMY?

>> THE SENATE BILL WILL KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

A PROCEDURAL MOVE ON WEDNESDAY.

JUST HAVE THE SECOND READ BEFORE IT GOES UP TO FIEM VOTE THE SECOND WEEK.

THE HOUSE, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER DOZEN PROCEDURAL VOTES LIKE THIS PAST WEEK, AND MY GUESS IS A LOT OF 30-30 VOTES.

DAVID COOK TOLD ME HE'S NOT GOING TO ROLL THE SPEAKER AND EVEN VOTE FOR THE BAN UNLESS HE GETS -- HE WANTS EXCEPTION ON THE 15-WEEK LAW FOR RAPE AND INCEST.

WANTS THAT ATTACHED TO IT.

IF YOU START ATTACHING THINGS, IT GETS COMPLICATED.

PROBABLY COMES DOWN IT TIM DUNN, SEEMED CONFLICTED.

GETTING ARMS TWISTED BY BOTH SIDES STRONGLY AND MAY COME DOWN WHETHER HE'S WILLING TO BE THE ONE IN THE VERY, VERY RED DISTRICT TO BE THE ONE WHO ROLLS THE SPEAKER.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GROUNDHOG DAY.

DUELING PARLIAMENTARY VOTES AND THE MOTIONS ABOUT SUBSTITUTE MOTIONS AND SUSPEND THE RULE, TEMPORARY RULE, I EXPECT IT'S ALL GOING TO COME OUT.

30-30 VOTES.

DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO, THEN, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO COMPLAIN THAT REPUBLICANS AREN'T STEPPING UP, EVEN TO SUPPORT SOMETHING THEY DON'T SUPPORT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

TED: IT USUALLY TAKES THREE DAYS TO MOVE AHEAD.

THREE DAYS NOW MEANS THREE WEEKS, DOES IT NOT?

WORKING ON DINOSAUR TIME.

>> IT DOES.

THE LEGISLATURE IS MEETING ONE DAY A WEEK, MEETING JUST ON WEDNESDAYS, OSTENSIBLY SO REPUBLICAN LEADERS CAN WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO HAMMER OUT A BUDGET DEAL.

WHEN YOU ARE COMING IN ONCE A WEEK, YOU'RE RIGHT.

ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES THREE DAYS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES THREE WEEKS.

>> ON THE PLUS SIDE FOR THE EXTRA WEEK, THEY'RE GETTING CONSTITUENT CALLS.

FINDING OUT WHAT POLLS ARE SAYING AND THE PRESSURE WILL KEEP INCREASING.

MAYBE WE'LL HAVE A SURPRISE IN THE HOUSE AND SOMEONE WILL COME FORWARD AND IT WILL MOVE.

TED: STICKING WITH YOU, RAY, WHO IS AUSTIN SMITH AND WHY IS HE NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION?

>> AUSTIN SMITH IS A FIRST-TIME LAWMAKER FROM SURPRISE AND A TURNING POINT EXECUTIVE.

A PRO-TRUMP AND PRO-REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT BASED IN PHOENIX AND WORKING AS AN EXECUTIVE UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN HE RESIGNED.

HE'S ACCUSED OF FORGING SIGNATURES FOR HIS SORT OF RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN PETITION SAID THAT HE NEEDS TO TURN IN.

TED: JEREMY, 100 SIGNATURES FILED LOOKED LIKE HIS VERY OWN SIGNATURE.

TWO OTHER SIGNATURES FROM PEOPLE SAID THEY NEVER SIGNED THIS THING.

HE'S AN ELECTION DENIER.

HE SAID THESE THINGS HAPPENED.

APPARENTLY HE'S RIGHT?

>> A LOT OF STRONG OPINIONS ON THE LACK OF SIGNATURE VERIFICATION ON BALLOTS AT THE MARICOPA COUNTY, AND TURNS OUT FOLKS WENT OUT TO VERIFY THE SIGNATURES ON HIS OWN PETITIONS AND COULDN'T DO IT.

YOU HAVE PAGE AFTER PAGE OF SIGNATURES AND TWO OF THEM WERE PART OF THE COURT FILING AND THEY SAY THERE'S A LOT MORE.

TEN SIGNATURES PER PAGE, OBVIOUSLY WRITTEN BY THE SAME PERSON AND INCLUDED A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF AUSTIN SMITH'S OWN HANDWRITING AND LOOKS SUSPICIOUSLY SIMILAR.

SMITH SAID I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, THIS IS A DEMOCRAT PLOT TO GET ME.

HE SAID HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO FIGHT IT.

IF A JUDGE FINDS HE DID FORGE A SIGNATURE.

NOT ONLY BOOTED FROM THE BALLOT BUT CAN'T RUN FOR OFFICE FOR FIVE YEARS.

THE STAKES ARE PRETTY HIGH.

THIS IS NOT LOOKING PARTICULARLY GOOD FOR HIM.

TED: JIM, I IMAGINE, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A BIGTIME INVESTIGATION.

WE FINALLY GOT THE ELECTION PROBLEM AND THE GUY, AND THE ACCUSATION SAID ARE THERE, ALLEGATIONS ARE THERE, WHEN DOES THE INVESTIGATION START?

>> DROPPING OUT DOES NOT END THE INVESTIGATIONS AND IT DOESN'T GET HIM OUT OF JEOPARDY FOR BOTH THE FIVE-YEAR BAN OR POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES AND THE ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE SENT THIS MATTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AS A DOZEN OR 12 OR 13 DIFFERENT CANDIDATE, DIFFERENT NOMINATING PETITIONS, SUSPICIOUS SIGNATURES THEY SENT TO THE AG'S OFFICE.

AG'S OFFICE, AS TYPICALLY WON'T DO, WON'T COMMENT, ARE RELUCTANT TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING THEY GET OR INVESTIGATIONS THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE.

THEY'RE NOT SAYING WHAT IT IS THEY'RE DOING ABOUT IT BUT IT STANDS TO REASON THAT GIVEN THE FACT THIS IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND JUST HOW HEINOUS THE ALLEGATIONS ARE AND HOW OBVIOUS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SIGNATURES, VERY OBVIOUS THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE SIGNATURES AND THE VOTER NAMES.

I IMAGINE THEY'RE GOING TO GO AFTER IT INTENSELY.

TED: YEAH, ISN'T HE LIKE THE VICE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE LOOKING AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR WHAT, MALFEASANCE AND THINGS?

>> SO IRONIC HE'S LOOKING INTO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUT SHE'S LOOKING BACK AT HIM.

TED: HOLY SMOKES.

>> SHOULD BE NOTED, SMITH WAS ONE OF TWO INCUMBENTS TO END THEIR CAMPAIGN, MELODY HERNANDEZ, A DEMOCRAT IN TEMPE, A HOUSE REP RUNNING FOR THE SENATE IN THE DISTRICT DROPPED OUT BECAUSE SHE WAS CHALLENGED FOR ALLEGEDLY NOT HAVING ENOUGH VALID SIGNATURES AND TWO MAIN OUTSTANDING CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATION FEES TO RUN.

BOTH ARE IN UNLOSABLE DISTRICTS FOR PARTIES, THERE IS NO OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR SENATE.

ONLY ONE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR THE TWO HOUSE SEATS IN SMITH'S DISTRICT.

BOTH PARTIES WHO ARE SCRAMBLING FOR CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE COMPLETELY UP FOR GRABS THIS YEAR, HAVE TO RELY ON WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN TO GET ENOUGH CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THIS IS ADDED COMPLICATION FOR BOTH PARTIES THAT CANNOT AFFORD LOT OF DISTRACTIONS RIGHT NOW.

TED: JIM, WHO IS JUSTIN HEAP, HE'S GOT SOMETHING GOING ON HERE?

>> JUSTIN HEAP IS A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATOR WHO IS RUNNING FOR MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER AGAINST STEPHEN RICHER, AND ANNOUNCED HIS CAMPAIGN SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND ESSENTIALLY RUNNING ON THE GROUNDS THAT ELECTIONS NEED TO BE HANDLED BETTER AND THAT STEPHEN RICHER HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN AT CENTER OF A LOT OF ELECTION DISCUSSIONS AND LOT OF ELECTION CONSPIRACIES AND ALLEGATIONS AND EVERYTHING THAT HE'S DONE A BAD JOB, AND SO HE'S LEAVING LEGISLATURE TO RUN FOR THIS.

WHAT'S AT ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS THAT, AGAIN, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE GOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT A CANDIDATE AND SENT IT OFF TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION.

THIS IS ABOUT HIS CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS AND WHETHER HE WAS ACCURATELY REPORTING THE MONEY HIS CAMPAIGN RECEIVED BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY THERE WAS A SERIES OF PACs, FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES THAT GAVE MONEY TO HIM AND THEIR DONATIONS OR CONTRIBUTIONS WERE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND ON HIS REPORT WHICH SAID HE RAISED NO MONEY FROM POLITICAL COMMITTEES.

OBVIOUS DISCREPANCY.

SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE SAID THERE IS SOMETHING HANKY HERE, WE NEED TO SEND THIS TO THE AG'S OFFICE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

TED: LATE DEADLINE, FILED PAST THE DEADLINE, DID HE NOT?

>> PAST THE DEADLINE.

THIS IS PARTIALLY A PROBLEM WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE AND THE NEXUS TO THE AG'S OFFICE NOT LOOKING AT CAMPAIGN FINANCE FILINGS AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD BE.

THERE ARE OTHER LEGISLATORS THAT HAVE FILED CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS THAT LOOK WEIRD, AND I WOULD MENTION ONE, REPRESENTATIVE LYDIA HERNANDEZ, FILED HER REPORTS ON TIME FOR THE LAST FEW FILINGS, BUT THEY'RE ALL ZEROS, AND SO SHE SAID BASICALLY IN THESE FORMS THAT SHE HASN'T GOTTEN ANY DONATED MONEY OR SPENT MONEY THOUGH SHE'S TOLD ME SHE HAS.

SO THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE THAT THEY NEED TO BE GOING AFTER.

>> YEAH, REALLY THESE THINGS ONLY GET LOOKED AT BY POLITICAL OPPONENTS AND JOURNALISTS AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS, HE POPPED UP TO RUN AGAINST STEPHEN RICHER ON AN ELECTION DENIER ADJACENT PLATFORM AND BLOCKED BY MANY ELECTORS INCLUDING AUSTIN SMITH, PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AT THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE WEBSITE, APS REPORTED GIVING HIM MONEY, IT'S NOT IN HIS REPORT.

THIS LOOKS PARTICULARLY BAD BECAUSE HE'S RUNNING TO BE THE TOP ELECTIONS OFFICIAL IN MARICOPA COUNTY, AND HE'S ACCUSED OF NOT PROPERLY REPORTING CONTRIBUTIONS.

VERY CLEARLY DID NOT FILE REPORTS ON TIME.

WEEKS LATE.

HE'S DONE OTHER ISSUES.

BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

NONE OF THIS IS A GOOD LOOK FOR SOMEONE RUNNING ON THE PLATFORM OF CLEANING UP ELECTIONS IN MARICOPA.

>> HIS EXCUSE IS HE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE CHECKS SO HE WAS LETTING THEM PILE UP AND NOT DEPOSIT THEM INTO THE BANK AND GOING TO GIVE THEM BACK, HE HASN'T DONE THAT YET, HE'S IN THE PROCESS.

TED: WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THAT.

>>> BEFORE WE GO, A COUPLE OF VETOES, JIM, REAL QUICKLY, SCHOOL BOARD PARTISANSHIP AND TEN COMMANDMENTS CAUGHT MY ATTENTION HERE.

GOVERNOR SAYS NO.

>> SCHOOL BOARDS IN ARIZONA, THOSE RACES ARE NONPARTISAN, LIKE MOST OTHER RACES, AN EFFORT FROM JUSTINE WADSACK FROM THE TUCSON AREA SAID THIS WILL GIVE VOTERS MORE CLARITY AS TO WHO THEY'RE ELECTING FOR SCHOOL BOARDS.

COMMITTED TO SAYING THE LEGISLATURE WAS ACTIVE IN THE SCHOOL BOARD ARENA IN REACTION TO THE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AND THINGS THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED IN SCHOOLS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

THE GOVERNOR SAID, YEAH, WE DON'T NEED THIS, THIS IS UNNECESSARY.

TEN COMMANDMENTS IN SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE MADE IT PERMISSIBLE FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS TO DISPLAY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND TEACH THEM IN CLASS, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF DOING THIS, AND THE GOVERNOR CITED THOSE WHEN SHE REJECTED IT.

TED: POSTED AND READ ALOUD, IS THAT PART OF THIS?

>> UNTIL IT WENT TO COURT AND THE JUDGE SHOT IT DOWN.

SHOULD BE NOTED THAT HOBBS VETOED 13 BILLS, 185 CAREER VETOES, THE PREVIOUS RECORD BY JANET NAPOLITANO, 181 VETOES.

HOBBS IS NOT DONE WITH THE SECOND SESSION, SHE COMPLETELY BLEW THE DOOR OFF THE SINGLE SESSION DOOR.

SHE IS NOW THE CAREER VETO LEADER IN ARIZONA AFTER 1 1/2 SESSIONS.

TED: STRONG ROOKIE SEASON BUT SOPHOMORE SLUMP, GOING TO REACH THOSE LEVELS IN HER SECOND YEAR?

>> I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE LEARNED A LITTLE BIT.

NOT SENDING HER QUITE AS MUCH OF THE BILLS SHE WILL REJECT.

TED: GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

A LOT GOING ON THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND OFFERING YOUR ANALYSIS.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.