[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ARIZONA HORIZON, SECRETARY OF STATE KATIE HOBBS REACTS TO THE STATE SENATE'S AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY VOTES.

FINDS A CONCERNING NUMBER OF COVID CASES AT A STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A LOOK AT ARIZONA'S TEACHER SHORTAGE.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE SENATE'S AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY PRESIDENTIAL AND U.S. SENATE VOTES CONTINUING AT VETERANS' MEMORIAL COLISEUM.

OF NOTE TODAY, STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARK FINCHEM TODAY IN AN INTERVIEW WITH DONALD TRUMP CONFIDANT STEVE BANNON THAT THE AUDIT HAS FOUND A PRETTY BIG NUMBER OF DEAD VOTERS.

AND REMEMBER OF CONGRESS SAID, QUOTE, WE GOT WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

THE SENATE'S LIAISON TO THE AUDIT, KEN BENNETT, SAID NO ONE HAD ANY INSIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUDIT.

WASHINGTON STATE REPUBLICAN MEMBER SAID ARIZONA'S AUDIT CONTAMINATED ALL OF THE VOTES.

>>> GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY TODAY SIGNED INTO LAW A BILL THAT ALLOWS ARIZONA COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO OFFER FOUR-YEAR DEGREES.

THE GOVERNOR DESCRIBED THE NEW LAW OF AN IMPORTANT AND TIMELY SHIFT TO RE-SKILL AND UP-SKILL ARIZONA'S WORKFORCE.

>>> THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS AT LEAST ONE COVID SHOT ADMINISTERED TO 70% OF INDIVIDUALS ALL BY JULY 4TH.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT PLANS TO REACH THE NEW GOALS BY MAKING THE VACCINES MORE ACCESSIBLE AND LAUNCHING AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.

>>> AND THE U.S. IS SECONDING AIR SHIPMENTS OF COVID-FIGHTING SUPPLIES TO INDIA.

>> THESE FLIGHTS INCLUDE HEALTH SUPPLIES, OXYGEN, OXYGEN SUPPLIES, N95 RASKS, AND MEDICINE.

MORE FLIGHTS ARE ON THE WAY WITH TOTAL ASSISTANCE EXPECTED TO EXCEED $100 MILLION.

>>> ARIZONA TODAY SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF NEW COVID CASES.

THE NUMBER OF DEATHS HELD STEADY AS WELL.

THE STATE IS SHOWING A SLIGHT INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>>> THE FAA IS REPORTING A BIG INCREASE IN COMPLAINTS OVER DISRUPTIVE AIRLINE PASSENGERS.

1300 SUCH REPORTS SINCE FEBRUARY.

REPORTS INCLUDE NON-MASK COMPLIANCE, ALONG WITH PASSENGERS ASSAULTING FLIGHT CREWS, DISTURBING OTHER CUSTOMERS, AND BRINGING ALCOHOL ON FLIGHTS.

>>> AND GUN SALES WERE UP LAST MONTH.

MORE GUNS WERE SOLD LAST MONTH THAN ANY OTHER APRIL ON RECORD.

THE FBI REPORTS BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE UP 20%.

THE SPIKE IN SALES IS THOUGHT TO BE FUELLED BY RISING CRIME RATES AND FEARS OF LOOMING GUN-CONTROL LEGISLATION.

>>> THE STATE SENATE'S AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY PRESIDENTIAL AND U.S. SENATE VOTES IS MAKING NATIONAL HEADLINES WITH CONCERNS OVER THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS.

EARLIER WE SPOKE WITH ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE KATIE HOBBS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT VETERANS' MEMORIAL COLISEUM.

SECRETARY HOBBS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE OBSERVERS ANOTHER THE COLISEUM.

HOW MANY OBSERVERS AND WHAT ARE THEY OBSERVING?

>> YEAH, THEY DON'T WORK FOR MY OFFICE, BUT THEY ARE NATIONAL ELECTION EXPERTS THAT WILL PROBABLY FORGET MORE ABOUT MOST ELECTIONS THAN MOST OF US WILL EVER KNOW.

SO THREE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE AT VARIOUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE LAST FEW DAYS, AND A LOT OF THEIR OBSERVATIONS CONFIRMED THE CONCERNS WE HAD GOING INTO THIS, THAT THE PROCEDURES WERE PRETTY LOSE; THAT THEY WEREN'T PROCEDURES APPROACH TO THIS TIME OF POST-ELECTION AUDIT, AND THAT PROCEDURES ARE CHANGING MIDSTREAM, WHICH IS DEFINITELY CAUSING CONFUSION FOR SOME OF THE FOLKS COUNTING THE BALLOTS, AND ALSO RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF WHAT RESULTS THEY ARE GOING TO COME UP, IF THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CHANGE PROCEDURES MIDSTREAM.

>> WHAT KIND OF WORKING RELATIONSHIP DO THESE FOLKS HAVE WITH THE LEAD AUDIT TEAM?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ANY WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AUDIT TEAM.

THESE FOLKS WE REACHED OUT TO EARLY ON, AND OFFERED TO CONNECT THE SENATE PRESIDENT PHAM WITH THESE FOLKS TO HELP CRAFT PROCEDURES TO LEGITIMATE THE PROCESS GOING ON NOW, BUT NOW THAT THEY WERE ALLOWED IN -- THROUGH A COURT ORDER, NOT BECAUSE THE FOLKS CONDUCTING THIS AUDIT ARE BEING TRANSPARENT.

BUT THE OTHER OBSERVERS THAT ARE PART OF THE PROCESS ARE BEING TOLD NOT TO TALK TO THE FOLKS FROM OUR TEAM, AND THEY ARE PUT IN A DIFFERENT-COLOR SHIRT, SO THEY ARE LEFT OUT OF ANY CONVERSATIONS OR ANYTHING THAT OTHER FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THERE.

>> ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THESE BALLOTS AT THE COLISEUM ARE SECURE?

>> NO, I'M NOT.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET INTO THE BUILDING AND WALK AROUND UNFETTERED AND GOT INTO AREAS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SECURED, AND THEN WE HAVE ALSO OBSERVED DURING THE PROCESS, THERE IS JUST NO SET PROCEDURE FOR CHAIN OF CUSTODY, SO WHEN BALLOTS ARE REMOVED FROM A BOX OR BATCH, THERE IS NO ASSURANCES THOSE ARE BEING PUT BACK TOGETHER THE RIGHT, SO THERE ARE SERIOUS CHAIN OF CUSTODY CONCERNS, WHICH WE HAD GOING INTO THIS, AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WHO WAS AT THE U.S. CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6TH IS ONE OF THOSE HELPING WITH THE AUDIT?

>> YES, CERTAINLY THE FACT THAT REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE KERN WHO WAS ON THE BALLOT, HE IS IN FACT COUNTING A RACE THAT HE WAS ON THE BALLOT FOR, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, HE HAS CLEARLY EXPRESSED BIAS ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THIS ELECTION, PARTICIPATING IN THIS RIOT AT THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6TH, AND MANY EVENTS HERE LEADING UP TO THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU ARE THE CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER OF THE STATE, AND THESE SOUNDS LIKE BASIC QUESTIONS ANY CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER WOULD KNOW.

BUT DO YOU KNOW WHO IS FUNDING THIS AUDIT, APART FROM THE STATE'S CONTRIBUTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AND THERE REALLY HAS NOT BEEN ANY ATTEMPTS AT TRANSPARENCY AROUND THIS.

THEY SET THIS UP AS A 501 C-4 WHICH IS PROTECTED FROM ANY TYPE OF DISCLOSURE FROM ITS DONORS, SO THERE IS NO LEGAL RECOURSE TO FORCE THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> AND SIDEWAYS QUESTION HERE, DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH THESE CYBER-NINJAS, THIS LEAD AUDIT TEAM -- DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH THEY ARE MAKING?

>> NO.

WHEN WE SAW THE INITIAL SCOPE OF WORK THAT SPECIFIED $150,000, NOBODY THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A REALISTIC NUMBER.

AND THAT THEY COULD PERFORM THIS MAGNITUDE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR THAT COST, AND SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL PRICE TAG IS, BECAUSE ALL OF THE MONEY IS GOING DIRECTLY TOWARDS THIS NON-PROFIT THAT -- AND SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE THE AMOUNT OR THE DONOR SS SS -- DONORS.

AND WE'RE HEARING THAT A NUMBER OF DEAD PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FOUNDED BY THE AUDITORS.

DOES THAT CONCERN YOU?

>> WELL, YES, IT DOES.

BECAUSE WHAT IT IS SAYING IS THAT -- THAT PEOPLE ARE IN THERE -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF THESE FOLKS WERE IN THE ROOM, BUT THERE IS NO INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THE FINDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED, AND WHAT WE CONTINUE TO BE TOLD IS THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE REPORT.

SO I JUST THINK THESE ARE FOLKS MAKING UP STUFF TO FURTHER THEIR AGENDA, TO FURTHER WHAT THEY THINK THE AUDIT IS SUPPOSED TO FIND, BUT NONE OF THAT IS REAL.

BUT I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS IS THAT IT IS JUST PART OF THE HUGE AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION THAT WE HAVE COMING OUT OF THIS ELECTION.

PEOPLE TRYING TO REITERATE THE ELECTION THAT IS OVER AND DONE, AND DONALD TRUMP LOST, AND THIS IS GOING TO FURTHER UNDERMINE PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION.

>> AND REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THIS PROCESS STARTED?

YOU COULD HAVE DONE THIS IN THE BEGINNING.

HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND?

>> I WOULD RESPOND THAT WE WERE NOT THE PARTY THAT HAD THE ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING.

THE SUBPOENA WAS ISSUED TO MARICOPA COUNTY, AND THEY WERE THE LEGAL ENTITY, AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO APPEAL THAT SUBPOENA.

AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENED, WE STARTED REACHING OUT.

WE SENT OUR CONCERNS TO PRESIDENT PHAM.

WE OFFERED EXPERTS TO HELP WITH THE PROCESS, AND NONE OF THAT WAS EVER ACKNOWLEDGED, LET ALONE WERE WE TAKEN UP ON THE OFFER.

>> ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE KATIE HOBBS THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK >>> UP NEXT, A NEW SURVEY THAT SHOWS LOT OF AGREEMENT ON WHAT ARIZONANS WANT FOR THE STATE'S FUTURE.

>>> A NEW STATE-WIDE SURVEY FROM THE CENTER FOR THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA FOUND THAT ARIZONANS AGREE ON MANY ISSUES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO ARIZONA'S FUTURE.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM SYBIL FRANCIS, THE CENTER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF AGREEMENT OUT THERE.

>> THERE WAS TREMENDOUS AGREEMENT.

I THINK THIS HAS COME AS SOMEWHAT OF A SURPRISE, AND A NICE SURPRISE TO MANY OF US, BECAUSE GIVEN THE DIVISION AND THE NARRATIVE, WE HAVE MORE THAT WE AGREE ON THAT DISAGREE ON.

>> AND WE HAD A NUMBER OF SHARED VALUES, OR CATEGORIES HERE, WITH OVER 70% AGREEMENT.

LET'S LOOK THROUGH SOME OF THESE, NOT ONLY TO FIND OUT WHERE THE AGREEMENT WAS, BUT WHERE WE GO WITH THAT AGREEMENT.

WE START WITH HIGHLY SKILLED POPULATION POPULATION.

>> YEAH, ARIZONANS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND A HIGHLY-SKILLED WORKFORCE, SO THEY VERY MUCH SUPPORT STRONG EDUCATION SYSTEMS, THEY -- AND WANT TO REALLY SUCCEED THERE.

>> OKAY.

YOU WANT TO SUCCEED.

YOU WANT THE SUCCESS, HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

ACTIONABLE ITEMS?

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

>> YEAH, WE FOUND 42 SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT ARIZONANS AGREE ON TO DRIVE OUR STATE FORWARD, AND WHEN WE SAY AGREEMENT, WE MEAN 70% OF ARIZONANS.

SO NOT JUST A MAJORITY, A SUPER MAJORITY.

SO WE HAVE 42 SPECIFIC ACTIONS.

AND IN EDUCATION, CERTAINLY ARIZONANS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS IN THE SCHOOLS THAT WILL HELP US SUCCEED.

THEY BELIEVE WE NEED TO LIVE UP TO OUR ACHIEVED 60 GOALS OF 60% OF OUR POPULATION HAVING SOME SORT OF POST-SECOND DEGREE.

AND THEY UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO CLOSE EDUCATION GAPS.

WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ACHIEVING AT THE LEVELS THAT WE NEED TO, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS SUCCEEDING AT THE HIGH LEVELS THAT WE NEED.

>> I ALSO SAW A LOT OF AGREEMENT ON AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE WAS A BIGGY AS WELL.

>> CERTAINLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND THIS CERTAINLY CAME OUT IN OUR SURVEY, AND IT PROBABLY EXISTED BEFORE, BUT ARIZONANS WANT AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE THAT DOESN'T HURT THEM FINANCIALLY, BUT THEY ALSO WANT ACCESSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND IN MANY PARTS OF OUR STATE THERE REALLY ISN'T THAT ACCESS.

40% OF ARIZONANS SAY THEY ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE.

SO THAT IS 2 MILLION PEOPLE OR SO, SO THAT'S QUITE A NUMBER.

>> YEAH, IT IS.

ANOTHER CATEGORY IS GOOD-PAYING JOBS ALONG WITH EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR ALL.

>> YEAH, THIS WAS A FASCINATING AREA.

WE REALLY DUG INTO HOW DIFFERENT GROUPS FELT WE FOUND THAT LOW-INCOME ARIZONANS IN PARTICULAR ARE REALLY HUNGRY FOR OPPORTUNITY, AND WHAT THEY SEE STANDING IN THEIR WAY IS THEY DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO TRAINING THAT THEY WANT.

AND WE HAVE EDUCATED MILLENNIALS WITH BACHELOR'S DEGREES WHO SAY THEY DON'T SEE THE JOBS AVAILABLE.

SO -- AND THEY WERE PROBABLY THE LEAST OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ANY OF THE GROUPS THAT WE TALKED TO.

>> WOW, THAT'S INTERESTING.

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, AIR, LAND, WATER.

I CAN SEE WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT CLEANER AIR, BETTER USE OF LAND, AND CLEANER WATER.

BUT THERE MIGHT BE SOME DISAGREEMENT ON HOW TO GET THERE?

>> IT WAS VERY INTERESTING, BECAUSE TEN YEARS AGO USING THE TERM CLIMATE CHANGE IN ARIZONA WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE REALLY ACCEPTED WAS HAPPENING, AND SO I THINK THIS SURVEY REALLY DEMONSTRATES THAT ARIZONANS UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND IT WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING TO ME THAT ARIZONANS ACROSS THE STATE, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RISING HEAT ALL OVER THE STATE.

THE -- ONE WAY TO GET TO FIXING THOSE ISSUES IS TRANSITIONING TO CLEAN ENERGY, AND WE HAD -- AGAIN, SUPER MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR TRANSITIONING TO CLEAN ENERGY, AND THE FAVORITE, ARIZONANS REALLY DO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER TO OUR FUTURE, AND THEY WENT SO FAR TO SAY THEY AGREED WITH REGULATING GROUNDWATER, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REALLY VULNERABLE ON NOW.

>> THERE ARE MORE HERE, BUT YOU ARE QUOTED AS SAYING, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE WE AGREE, BECAUSE THAT IS THE FOUNDATION FROM ACTION.

WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THIS?

>> I THINK THE FIRST THING WE TAKE IS TAKING A DEEP BREATH AND REALIZING WE REALLY DO HAVE MUCH MORE IN COMMON THAN WE THINK.

AND 75% OF ARIZONANS SAID THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO TALK TO OTHERS WITH WHOM THEY DISAGREE.

SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GREAT FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO START CONVERSATIONS AND LOOK AT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

70% OF ARIZONANS ARE VERY PROUD TO LIVE IN THIS STATE.

THEY ARE NOT SURE WE HAVE THOUGH LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED.

ONLY 37% OF OUR LEADERS HAVE LONG-TERM VISION FOR OUR STATE, THEY SAID.

SO WE NEED TO ADVANCE ON ALL FRONTS, AND WE'RE PLANNING TO FAN OUT ACROSS THE STATE AND BRING THESE FINDINGS TO COMMUNITIES, BUSINESS LEADERS, ELECTED LEADERS, SO FIRST OF ALL SHARE THIS INFORMATION, AND GIVE OTHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIG INTO SOME OF THESE ACTION ITEMS AND SEE WHERE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> GOOD INFORMATION.

SYBIL FRANCIS, THE CENTER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND GO TO OUR WEBSITE, AND TAKE THE SURVEY YOURSELF, AND SEE HOW YOUR RESPONSES COMPARE TO OTHERS.

♪♪ >>> THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IS SET TO SEND PAYMENTS TO PARENTS AS PART OF A REVISED CHILD TAX CREDIT, BUT THE CREDIT COMES WITH SOME CONFUSION, SO TO HELP WE SPOKE TO CPA TOM WHEELWRIGHT, THE CEO OF WEALTHABILITY.

TOM, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THIS REVISED CHILD TAX CREDIT, I MEAN, THIS IS -- I CAN BARELY SAY IT, IT IS SO CONFUSING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT IS REVISED.

WHAT CHANGES.

>> WELL, ONE IS WHEN YOU GET IT.

AND THE SECOND IS THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT, AND THEN QUALIFIES FOR THAT INCREASED AMOUNT.

SO HISTORICALLY THE CREDIT WAS $2,000 A CHILD.

NOW IT'S UP TO $3,600 A CHILD.

AND NOW IF YOU -- YOU CAN HAVE A 17 YEAR OLD, BEFORE YOU COULD ONLY HAVE 16 AND UNDER, AND THEN THEY ARE GOING TO START PAYING IT IN JULY, SO THERE IS REALLY A LOT OF CHANGES, AND IT IS JUST FOR THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT PERMANENT.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE A CHILD IN 2021?

>> IT IS FOR 2021.

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT YOU REALLY DO NEED TO MAKE SURE -- SO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS BASED ON THE MOST RECENT TAX RETURN YOU FILED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE IRS HAS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO IF THE MOST RECENT WAS 2019, THAT'S WHAT THEY WILL BASE IT ON.

BUT IT REALLY APPLIES TO YOUR CHILDREN FOR 2021.

IT'S A 2021 TAX CREDIT.

IT'S NOT A 2020 TAX CREDIT, AND THAT MEANS THAT IF YOU DON'T QUALIFY IN 2021, BUT YOU GET THE CREDIT BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED IN 2020, YOU HAVE TO PAY IT BACK.

SO YOU GET THIS ADVANCED PAYMENT, AND YOU CAN BE IN TROUBLE.

THE IRS IS SETTING UP A PORT ALSO YOU CAN CHANGE THE INFORMATION.

YOU CAN TELL THEM YOU HAVE A CHILD, AND GIVE THEM A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS ONLINE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL -- YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU FILE YOUR TAX RETURN.

>> DO DIFFERENT AGES EQUATE TO DIFFERENT CREDITS?

>> THEY DO.

SO CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX AND 17, BASICALLY, THEY GET $3,000 MAXIMUM, ALL RIGHT?

BECAUSE THERE ARE IS PHASE OUT.

UNDER SIX WILL GET -- AND IT'S UNDER SIX, BY THE WAY, AS OF THE END OF 2021.

SO IT HAS TO BE UNDER SIX BY THE END OF 2021.

SO MY GRANDDAUGHTER WHO JUST TURNED SIX DOESN'T QUALIFY.

UNDER SIX THEY GET UP TO $3,600.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU REFERRED TO PHASE-OUTS HERE.

I LOOKED THIS OVER, AND THE PHASE-OUTS ALMOST HAD MY EYES GLAZED HERE.

GIVE US A SUMMARY OF HOW THESE WORK?

>> THERE IS REALLY TWO DIFFERENT CREDITS.

THE BASE CREDIT OF $2,000, AND ADDITIONAL CREDITS, WHICH IS A $1,000, AND 1600 FOR CHILDREN UNDER SIX.

THE BASE DOESN'T PHASE OUT UNTIL YOU START GETTING OVER $200,000 OF ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.

AND FOR MARRIED FILERS IT DOESN'T START TO PHASE-OUT UNTIL $400,000.

SO A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THAT BASE CREDIT.

THAT THRESHOLD COMES WAY DOWN FOR THAT ADDITIONAL CREDIT.

AND IT COMES DOWN TO $75,000 FOR A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL, AND $150,000 IS WHEN IT STARTS PHASING OUT AS A COUPLE.

SO JUST KNOW THAT YOU WILL GET SOME OF THAT, UNLESS YOU ARE MAKING -- BASICALLY UNLESS YOU ARE MAKING OVER $438,000.

>> AND TOM, I KEEP READING ABOUT DIRECT PAYMENTS TO PARENTS THAT COULD START AROUND JULY, AND YET THIS IS A TAX CREDIT.

MOST PEOPLE SEE TAX CREDITS AND SOMETHING YOU GET OR SEE LATER.

WILL DIRECT PAYMENTS REALLY BE INVOLVED?

>> YEAH, THEY WILL.

LET'S THINK ABOUT THE $1,200 PAYMENT UNDER THE CARES ACT.

THAT WAS A TAX CREDIT AND ADVANCED PAYMENT OF IT.

THE $1,400 FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, RIGHT, THAT WAS A TAX CREDIT.

SO THEY ACTUALLY STARTED DOING THIS ALL THE WAY BACK LAST SUMMER -- ABOUT A YEAR AGO HERE WITH THE CARES ACT.

THEY STARTED MAKING THESE ADVANCED PAYMENTS ON TAX CREDIT.

AND IT'S TRYING TO GET MONEY IN PARENT'S POCKETS FASTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GOOD STUFF, TOM.

THANK YOU FOR SIMPLIFYING THAT, BECAUSE IF YOU GO INTO THIS ALONE, YOU ARE LOST IN THE WOODS FOR QUITE A WHILE.

THANK YOU, SIR, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, INSPECTION FINDS A CONCERNING NUMBER OF COVID CASES AT A STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, A LOOK AT ARIZONA'S TEACHER SHORTAGE.

♪♪