[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, BY REPUBLICANS TO PASS A STATE BUDGET THIS WEEK.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, A NEW LAW NOW ALLOWS THE USE OF FENTANYL TEST STRIPS.

WE'LL HEAR FROM PEOPLE HELPING THOSE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AND HEAR HOW THIS COULD SAVE LIVES.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, WE LOOK AT THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN'S DOCTOR TITLE.

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

I'M JOSE CARDENAS.

GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY TODAY DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF TWO FIRES EAST OF PHOENIX THAT HAVE BURNED MORE THAN 126,000 ACRES AND FORCED EVACUATIONS.

THAT DECLARATION MEANS $400,000 IS AVAILABLE TO HELP.

THE BIGGEST IS THE TELEGRAPH FIRE.

WHICH HAS BECOME THE TENTH BIGGEST FIRE IN STATE HISTORY.

FIREFIGHTERS HAVE GAINED A FOOTHOLD WITH 21% CONTAINMENT.

MEANWHILE THE MESCAL FIRE IS 23% CONTAINED AT JUST OVER 70,000 ACRES.

TWO COMMUNITIES WERE TOLD TO EVACUATE YESTERDAY, ALONG WITH ANOTHER COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN UNDER EVACUATION.

>>> NEW INFORMATION SHOWS THAT A DRIVER WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY TEXTING WHEN HE VEERED ACROSS FREEWAY LANES AND KILLED A POLICE OFFICER WAS NOT TEXTING AT THE TIME.

THE CRASH LEAD STATE LAWMAKERS TO PASS A DISTRACTED DRIVER BAN.

HIS ATTORNEY WANTS THE CASE TO BE SENT BACK TO THE GRAND JURY.

THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TOLD MEDIA OUTLETS THAT HE HAD BEEN TEXTING.

HOWEVER, EVIDENCE SHOWS HIS PHONE HAD BEEN IN SLEEP MODE BEFORE THE CRASH.

>>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT THE U.S. WILL BUY 500 MILLION MORE DOSES OF THE PFIZER VACCINE TO SHARE WITH LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES.

A SPOKESPERSON SAID 200 MILLION WOULD BE SHARED THIS YEAR, WITH THE BALANCE TO BE DONATED IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2022.

>>> THE ARIZONA HOUSE FAILED TO PASS A BUDGET MONDAY AFTER REPRESENTATIVE DAVID COOK WAS FORCED TO COME TO THE CAPITOL FOR A VOTE WHILE HOMES IN HIS DIRECT WERE BEING EVACUATED.

HE VOTEDED AGAINST THE BUDGET SAYING HE HADN'T HAD TIME TO READ THE PROPOSAL.

HE JOINED US TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

REPRESENTATIVE DAVID COOK GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE ON THE TELEGRAPH FIRE AND THE THREAT TO GLOBE.

>> WELL, THEY ARE TRYING TO BATTLE IT ON SEVERAL FRONTS.

ONE IS RUSSELL GULCH.

THE FOREST SERVICE AND AGENCIES HAVE PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

THEY ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND THE SMOKE YOU SEE BEHIND ME IS ON TOP OF THE PINAL MOUNTAIN.

THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH PROTECTING THE TOWERS.

>> I KNOW ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE VOTE ON MONDAY WAS THE FACT THAT YOU HAD TO COME FROM GLOBE IN THE MIDST OF THIS TO VOTE, KNOWING THAT -- THAT LEADERSHIP KNOWING THAT YOU HAD GREAT CONCERNS AND WEREN'T GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BUDGET.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

THEY KNEW THAT I WALKED INTO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE WHEN THE ORIGINAL BILL WAS INTRODUCED AND SAID I AM NOT GOING TO VOTE ON THIS BILL.

AND THAT WAS TO LET MY CONSTITUENTS AND THE PEOPLE I TALK TO ON THE GROUND, THAT'S THE WAY THE CAPITOL WORKS.

THEY TRY TO PUT PRESSURE.

AND A LOT OF TIMES LEGISLATURES WILL SAY I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS, AND THEY DON'T GIVE YOU AN ANSWER.

THAT US WAS THE BEST WAY I KNEW TO WALK IN AND SAY I'M A NO.

>> YOU EXPRESSED A NUMBER OF CONCERNS, ONE OF THEM BEING THE LACK OF TIME TO CONSIDER EVERYTHING IN THIS BILL.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT PROPOSED ON MONDAY THAT IF ANYTHING MADE THINGS WORSE FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

>> IN THE HOUSE RULES, ANY MEMBER HAS TO HAVE THE AMENDMENTS -- AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SIMPLE.

WHEN YOU ARE DOING A BUDGET, IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE AMENDMENTS IN IT.

AND THAT IS ONE WAY THAT I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS IS THAT YOU PUT BAD POLICY IN THE BUDGET, BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET WHATEVER BUDGET IS IN THERE, AGAIN YOU GET THE VOTES, THEN YOU CAN PASS THAT POLICY THROUGH THE BUDGET, AND I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THAT.

>> YOU HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME NOW TO LOOK AT THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

ANY GREATER CONCERNS?

>> I HAVE NOT SPENT ONE MOMENT LOOKING AT THE AMENDMENT THAT FAILED IN THAT COMMITTEE.

FIRST OF ALL, THAT WAS NOT A FINAL READ VOTE NVM THAT BILL HAD BEEN SECOND READ.

THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE IS WHERE WE DEBATE THE BILLS, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU MAKE MINOR TWEAKS AND CHANGES.

WHEN A BILL REACHES THAT FAR, IN OUR SYSTEM, YOU CAN MAKE MINE NOR CHANGES TO IT, BUT YOU DON'T JUST MAKE AN AMENDMENT OF THAT MAGNITUDE AT THAT STAGE IN A BILL, AND THEN -- AND THEN WHEN YOU ARE GIVEN THAT INFORMATION, AND YOU ARE GIVEN AS MUCH INFORMATION AS THAT WAS, YOU ARE ONLY GIVEN 15 MINUTES TO REVIEW, THAT'S AGAINST THE RULES.

THAT'S NOT ADEQUATE TIME FOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE TO REVIEW THAT INFORMATION, DIGEST THAT INFORMATION, AND VOTE ON THE BILL.

>> AND I TAKE IT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THE SIZE OF THE PROPOSED TAX CUT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE ASKED FOR, STEP, 1, SHOW ME YOUR WORK.

SHOW ME YOUR WORK ON YOUR MAP, AND I CAN GIVE YOU REAL SIMPLE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE ASKED FOR MONTHS AND NEVER HAD A MEETING TO EXPLAIN IT TO ME.

FOR INSTANCE, THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COUNSEL SHOWS ONGOING REVENUE FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

HOWEVER, IN THIS PACKAGE OF TAX CUTS, THEY SHOW THAT THERE IS $200 MILLION OF NEW REVENUE NEXT YEAR, AND THE YEAR AFTER, $300 MILLION.

IF YOU WERE TO JUST TAKE THAT 200 OR $300 MILLION, AND BACK THAT OUT, THIS TANKS THE ENTIRE TAX PACKAGE OF BEING ABLE TO BE AFFORDABLE FOR ARIZONA.

>> SO WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET YOUR VOTE TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.

SPEAKER BOWERS HAVE SAID THAT IF HE DOES ANYTHING WITH THE TAX CUT, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET IT THROUGH THE HOUSE.

>> WELL, I CAN'T -- AND I WILL NOT SPEAK FOR THE SPEAKER.

I WON'T, AND NOT BEEN PRIVILEGE TO THE MEETINGS HE HAS BEEN IN.

BUT THE BILL BEFORE ME, I WOULD NEVER LIKE TO VOTE ON THAT BILL.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A GROWN-UP CONVERSATION WITH WHOEVER, AND SIT DOWN AND SAY, HERE ARE THE NUMBERS.

IF I WAS TO SAY, WE HAD $800 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY, AND WE WERE GOING TO BACK BILL THE TAX OBLIGATIONS FOR ONE YEAR FOR A GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH THAT $800 MILLION.

WOULD I DO THAT?

OR IF I TOOK THAT SAME ONETIME MONEY AND PUT IT DOWN ON THE STATE'S DEBT, QUESTION IN TURN WOULD SAVE THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS STATE, $175 MILLION A YEAR OF EVERY YEAR GOING FORWARD?

I KNOW WHICH ONE I COULD DO.

AND I THINK IF WE WENT OVER WHAT THE STATE'S DEBT IS, I THINK MANY WOULD KNOWN ME.

>> SO RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE A NO VOTE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TALKING TO US ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> COMING UP THE DEMOCRAT'S VIEW OF THE BUDGET AND ITS DEFEAT IN THE STATE HOUSE.

>>> DEMOCRATS FROM THE ARIZONA HOUSE FEEL THE FLAT TAX PROPOSAL FAVORS THE WEALTHY TOO MUCH.

TO DISCUSS THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE ISSUE, REPRESENTATIVE REGINALD BOLDING JOINS US TODAY.

BEFORE WE GOT STARTED, I NOTICE THE SIGN BEHIND YOU, SAYS QUESTION CAN DISAGREE AND STILL LOVE EACH OTHER.

THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE MUCH AGREEMENT OR LOVE IN THE STATE TODAY.

>> YEAH, WE'RE SEEING A SIGNIFICANTING CAN'T DIFFERENCE.

FOR MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS AROUND THE STATE WE BELIEF WHEN THE STATE HAS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, WE COULD REINVEST THOSE DOLLARS.

BUT MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, THEY WANT TO GIVE THESE DOLLARS BACK TO OUR TOP 20% INCOME EARNERS HERE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA, AND QUITE FRANKLY THEY WANT TO CRIPPLE OUR STATE BY CUTTING $2 BILLION ANNUALLY ESSENTIALLY IN TAX REVENUE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE DAVID COOK, WE JUST TALKED TO HIM.

AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED HIM, WHICH IS WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL?

>> AS LEADER OF OUR DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, WE HAVE SAID FROM DAY 1, THAT WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE WITH AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY.

THERE IS NO ISSUE OR DISCUSSION WE'RE NOT WILLING TO HAVE OR TALK ABOUT.

AND FOR US, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING FORTH THE BEST EFFORT THAT PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA WILL GET A GOOD DEAL.

WHAT WE DON'T BELIEVE IN, IS SETTING UP FOR LONG-TERM FAILURE BY TAKING SHORT-TERM REVENUE PRIMARILY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO LIVE BEYOND OUR MEANS.

SO THERE IS NOT ONE OR TWO SPECIFIC ITEMS, THERE IS NEGOTIATION WE WOULD BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN.

>> ARE THERE ANY TAX CUTS THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU AND YOUR CAUCUS.

>> THERE IS A CONVERSATION HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN HOW MUCH TAXES SHOULD WE CUT.

AND THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WOULD TAKE OUR TEACHER PAY FROM 49TH IN THE COUNTRY TO 25TH IN THE COUNTRY.

WE BELIEVE THAT FOR $12 MILLION, WE CAN ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT AND KID HERE IN ARIZONA HAS FREE HEALTHCARE, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS AFFORDABLE -- NONE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS TAKING PLACE, WHERE PEOPLE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE STATED, SO WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD MAKE INVESTMENTS.

SO WE DON'T BELIEVE THE CONVERSATION SHOULD BE FRAMED AROUND TAX CUTS.

>> RIGHT NOW IT IS FRAMED AROUND ONE VOTE.

ANY CONCERNS THAT THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP MIGHT BE ABLE TO PEEL OFF ONE OR TWO OF YOUR MEMBERS TO GET SUPPORT FOR THE BUDGET BILL?

>> I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT I KNOW HOW A DEMOCRATIC MEMBER WILL VOTE FOR ANY BUDGET THAT HAS THIS SO-CALLED FLAT TAX.

BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S A HIGHLY IN INEQUITABLE TAX THAT WOULD CREATE A SAVINGS FOR THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE TAX BRACKET.

SO THERE -- YOU KNOW, IT'S WISHFUL THINKING BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND REPUBLICANS TO THINK WE WOULD VOTE FOR THIS PLAN.

>> SPEAKER BOWERS SAYS, IF HE DOES ANYTHING TO CHANGE THE TAX CUTS, HE WILL LOSE FIVE VOTES AND HE WON'T HAVE A BILL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> YOU MAY LOSE FIVE OR TEN VOTES FROM YOUR OWN CAUCUS, BUT YOU CAN GAIN 29.

THE LEGISLATURE WORKS IN A WAY WHERE YOU ONLY NEED 39 VOTES.

SO THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH VOTES TO GO AROUND.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT REPUBLICANS WILL CHOOSE TO ACTUALLY ACCEPT THE PLAN THAT IS GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE INVESTMENT IN OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO GET THOSE VOTES.

>> AND ON THAT VOTE, REPRESENTATIVE REGINALD BOLDING, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND ARIZONA WHERE YOU CAN GO BIRD WATCHING.

BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT INCLUDES YOUR HOME.

CATHY WISE MET WITH US TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE WAYS.

YOU ARE THE COMMUNITY SCIENCE MANAGER FOR THE AUTO BAUN CENTER.

TALK ABOUT THE CENTER AND THEN WE WANT TO FOCUS ON OWLS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I WORK FOR THE SOUTHWEST CHAPTER, AND WE HAVE A NATURE CENTER AT RIO SALADO, AND WE'RE JUST OPENING UP NOW.

SO IT'S A GOOD TIME TO GO VISIT IN THE MORNING OF COURSE.

GETTING A LITTLE HOT.

>> WHEN YOU SAY YOU ARE JUST OPENING UP, IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC?

>> YES, SIR.

>> BIRD WATCHING IN ARIZONA, GOOD, BAD?

HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY?

>> OH, IT'S FANTASTIC.

WE HAVE OVER 550 DIFFERENT SPECIES THAT'S EARNEST IN OUR STATE OR MIGRATE THROUGH, SO THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO SEE.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS ARIZONA HAS SUCH A VARIETY OF HABITAT.

AND EACH HABITAT SUPPORTS ITS OWN SPECIES OF BIRDS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST TOOLS TO SEE ALL OF THOSE SPECIES OR AS MANY AS YOU CAN.

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST GETTING STARTED TO KEEP IT VERY SIMPLE.

AND WE CAN ALSO USE OUR EARS.

BECAUSE BIRDS MAKE VERY DISTINGUISHED SOUNDS, SO IF YOU LEARN ABOUT THEIR SOUNDS BEFORE YOU GO OUT TO AN AREA, YOU CAN HAVE A LOT OF FUN.

YOU WANT TO BRING WATER AND A SNACK.

IF YOU BRING BY -- BINOCULARS MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.

AND IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON GOING TO A PARTICULAR VENUE, YOU CAN LOOK UP, GOSH, WHAT HAVE PEOPLE SEEN THERE AND STUDIED?

>> SO SPEAKING ABOUT PARTICULAR VENUES, WHAT ABOUT YOUR BACKYARD.

WHAT IS A SAFE AND HUMANE WAY TO ATTRACT BIRDS TO YOUR BACKYARD?

>> RIGHT NOW IT IS SO DRY, AND BIRDS REALLY NEED WATER.

AND THAT WOULD BE MY BIGGEST RECOMMENDATION IS PROVIDE WATER, LIKE A BIRDBATH OR SOMETHING LIKE TO, THAT IS SHALLOW AND YOU WANT IT TO BE OUT OF THE REACH OF CATS.

>> SO I -- I WANTED TO ASK YOU -- BECAUSE I JUST FOUND IT FASCINATING WHEN I READ ABOUT IT.

THE DOWNTOWN OWLS PROGRAM.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> YEAH, SO THE DOWNTOWN OWL PROGRAM FOCUSES ON A VERY UNUSUAL BIRD, THE BURROWING OWL.

IT IS A SMALL OWL.

AND USED TO BE VERY, VERY COMMON THROUGHOUT CENTRAL ARIZONA, BUT IT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER OWL THAT YOU WOULD THINK OF.

BECAUSE IT IS ACTIVE DURING THE DAY.

THEY LIVE UNDERGROUND IN BURROWS.

AND THEY ALSO LIVE IN GROUPS.

YOU THINK ABOUT THEM BEING OUT AT NIGHT AND IN TREES AND ALONE, AND ALL OF THAT GOES OUT THE WINDOW WITH THE BURROWING OWL.

BUT BECAUSE THEY LIVE UNDERGROUND THEY CAN BE EASILY MISSED WHEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES COME IN TO DO CONSTRUCTION.

AND SO THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.

AND WE HAVE PERFECTED A WAY TO SAFELY TRAP THE OWL, AND WE HAVE VOLUNTEERED THAT WILL GO OUT AND BUILD ARTIFICIAL BURROWS.

>> AND THE PANDEMIC, JUST VERY QUICKLY, ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS STILL IN EFFECT IF YOU WANT TO GO DOWN TO THE CENTER TO DO BIRD WATCHING?

>> NO.

SO THE TRAILS ARE OPEN.

IT'S MORE THE CENTER HAS LIMITED HOURS RIGHT NOW.

>> AND PEOPLE WOULD KNOW ABOUT THAT IF THEY JUST GO ONLINE.

>> GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

>> LET ME END THERE.

CATHY WISE THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AND GOOD LUCK WITH THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU, JOSE.

>>> YOU CAN WATCH THE PBS SPECIAL HERE TONIGHT ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU TO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M JOSE CARDENAS IN FOR TED SIMONS.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF CRONKITE NEWS, SNAKES DURING TIMES OF DROUGHT.

HOW HIGH TEMPERATURES AND LESS WATER CHANGES THE BEHAVIOR OF THESE REPTILES.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN REACTION TO DR. JILL BIDEN'S DEGREE.

>> I HOPE YOU ARE APPRECIATING "ARIZONA HORIZON" TONIGHT.

BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY,