♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪♪ >> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, INCLUDING INCREASING CONCERNS OVER THE COST OF THE STATE'S UNIVERSAL SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM.

THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE IS NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS OF PBS.

>> 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 THE WEEK'S.

MARY JO PITZL OF THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC AND AZCENTRAL.COM.

HOWIE FISCHER OF SERVICES, AND MARK BRODIE OF KJZZ RADIO.

>> MARY JO YOU WROTE ABOUT THIS.

THE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM, IT SEEMS LIKE THE PRICE TAG KEEPS GOING UP.

>> IT GOES UP BECAUSE THE ENROLLMENT GOES UP.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S POPULAR.

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY THEY CREATED THE SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS CALLED ESA OR VOUCHERS.

ENROLLMENT HAS BLOSSOMED.

40,000 NEW PEOPLE INCLUDING THE NEW PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM.

>> A LOT OF THE NEW PEOPLE THAT WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE ALREADY GOING TO THE SCHOOLS, CORRECT.

>> AS BEST WE CAN TELL.

WE DON'T HAVE DATA ON THAT BUT THEY BELIEVE, YEAH, ONCE THE PROGRAM WENT INTO PLACE YOU COULD GET A $7,000 VOUCHER FROM THE STATE.

PEOPLE WHO HAD KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL OR PEOPLE WHO SAID I'D TRY HOME SCHOOLING JURY JUMPED IN.

IT PUT A LOT OF STRAIN, NOT STRAIN BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND LOOK FOR EXTRA MONEY JUST AS THEY DID IN THE BUDGET SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TOM HORN SAID IN LATE MAY.

IT WILL BE $900 MILLION THIS YEAR.

THIS IS NOT NEW NEWS.

TAKING A LOOK AT HOW THE MONEY IS ALLOCATED AND HOW YOU FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH A VOUCHER IS WORTH IS BASED ON HOW MUCH IS PAID FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENT.

THAT'S MORE THAN WHAT'S PAID FOR A STUDENT IN A DISTRICT SCHOOL.

BECAUSE OF THAT, AND BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL TAKE MORE MONEY.

>> EVEN TOM HORN AND MARY JO AND I SAID WERE AT THE SAME CONFERENCE.

THEY SAID IT'S SAVING MONEY.

CHARTER SCHOOLS GET MORE STATE AID.

OF COURSE IT'S MORE.

MOST OF THE KIDS WERE IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS ALREADY BECAUSE IT'S PURE COST OR B THEY WERE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IT WILL GO UP.

WHEN WE COME BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND SAY, WAIT, I THAT YOU GET THIS WOULD SAVE MONEY.

WELL, IT WASN'T ABOUT SAVING MONEY BUT CHOSE.

JUSTIN PUT OUT A TWEET SAYING IT'S ABOUT BREAKING THE MONOPOLY OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> IT WAS ABOUT SAVING MONEY.

WE HEARD IT WAS 90% OF KEEPING THE KID IN PUBLIC SCHOOL.

WHERE IS THE 10% GOING.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE STUDENTS COSTING THE STATE NOTHING ALL OF A SUDDEN COST THEM $7,000 TO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT'S PURE COST.

THERE ARE NO TWO WAYS ABOUT THAT.

>> IT'S ABOUT EXPANDING CHOICE.

GIVING KIDS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BEING TRAPPED IN A FAILING PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

HE STATED THIS WHEN HE SIGNED THE BILL.

HE WASN'T TALKING ABOUT COST SAVINGS.

IT WAS IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE REASONS FOR DOING THIS.

ALSO TO CALM FEARS, THE POINT IS WE'LL SAVE MONEY ALSO.

THAT'S BETTER.

>> OKAY, IF THE FEARS ARE NOT NECESSARILY CALMED AND THE REPORTING SHOWS IT.

DOES THIS CHANGE THE DYNAMIC OF THE DEBATE?

>> NOT REALLY, PEOPLE ARE STUCK THERE.

PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I'M PROBABLY OVERSTATING IT THEY ARE EVIL.

TEACHING OUR KIDS CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND SEX.

THEY ARE SHOWING THEM DIRTY PICTURES AND TELLING THEM ABOUT RACE RELATIONS.

THESE FOLKS WANT THE ALTERNATIVE.

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IS SOMETHING LIKE A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.

WHETHER IT'S A SCHOOLS THAT ARE RUN BY THE EVANGELICALS.

THEY WANT THAT CHOSE AND THE STATE TO PAY FOR IT.

IT WOULDN'T MATTER IF THEY COST $3,000 MORE.

THEY WOULDN'T CARE.

>> I THINK THE OTHER REASON FOR CONCERN AT THIS MOMENT IS BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE BUDGET COMMITTEE PUT OUT A REPORT A FEW WEEKS AGO.

INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS ARE WAY DOWN.

WAY, WAY BELOW WHAT WE THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE.

WE KNEW THE FLAT INCOME TAX, A LOWER RATE WAS COMING AND REDUCING TAX COLLECTIONS IN THE SHORT RUN.

IT'S FALLEN WELL BELOW THAT AND THEY ARE NERVOUS.

WE WILL SEE.

>> ONE OTHER PIECE OF THAT.

WE LOOK AT SALES TAX REVENUES.

>> YEAH.

>> AS INTEREST RATES GO UP PEOPLE ARE BUYING LESS.

THIS STATE, WE DON'T HAVE A PROPERTY TAX IN THE STATE.

THE INCOME TAX AS MARY JO POINTS OUT IS LOWER IN THE NATION.

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN PEOPLE STOP BUYING OBJECTS.

IT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMY.

>> WE HEARD EVEN BEFORE THIS JOBC REPORT CAME OUT, DEMOCRATS SAID THIS WILL BANKRUPT THE STATE.

INCOME TAX GOING DOWN.

THE CRITICS OFF OF THAT.

>> WHEN THEY CAME OUT AND SAID 100,000 BY NEXT JUNE, WAIT A MINUTE NEWT, .

IT WILL BE OKAY.

IT'S CHEAPER FOR THEM TO STAY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> THE NUMBERS DON'T SHOW IT WILL BE CHEAPER, AGAIN, CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION IS PROVIDING EDUCATION.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WILL FUND EDUCATION NO MATTER WHAT.

THEY ARE SITTING ON A RAINY DAY FUND.

ONCE IT'S SPENT IT'S GONE.

IT WILL HAVE RAINED AS MUCH AS IT COULD.

MAYBE JUST A YEAR OR TWO OUT ON HOW MUCH CAN THE PROGRAM BE SUSTAINED.

WE WILL LEARN MORE AS THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR STARTS.

WE HAVE SCHOOL STARTING NEXT MONTH.

THE INDICATIONS I RECEIVED SO FAR SCHOOLS HAVEN'T SEEN REQUESTS THAT KIDS TRY TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR LOCAL DISTRICT SCHOOL AND LEAVE AND GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

RECORDS GET REQUESTED.

THAT'S NOT HAPPENING YET.

YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE GOING ON WITH SCHOOL GOING ON AROUND THE CORNER.

>> GREAT REPORTING ON THAT.

WE HAD A DOZEN ATTORNEYS WRITE A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR SAYING KNOCK IT OFF WITH THIS BUSINESS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAVING THIS MUCH POWER OVER US.

>> THIS IS DOWN TO THE QUESTION, THERE IS A STATE LAW THAT THEY MIGHT DIRECT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO TAKE-OVER THE CASE INVOLVED.

THIS WAS THE BOWLS CASE.

DON HARRIS WAS THE ATTORNEY AND HE SCREWED THINGS UP SO BADLY THERE WAS A MISTRIAL.

THEY TOLD BRUCE BABCOCK BABBOTT YOU TAKE THE CASE AND PROSECUTE IT.

WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE WE'LL TAKE AWAY CASES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FILED YET.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SAID TO THE GOVERNOR, ASSUMING WE BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR HAS THE POWER TO TAKE -- EXCUSE ME TO TAKE THE CASES.

WE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS ALSO.

THEY ASKEDLER ASKED HER TO RESPOND BY THIS AFTERNOON.

>> WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE?

>> THE FIRST ONE WAS YOU AND THE SECOND NOT THANK.

I'M RIGHT, YOU ARE WRONG.

THERE IS NO PROBLEM.

NO CASES.

DON'T DARKEN MY DOOR AGAIN.

>> SEE YOU IN COURT.

>> THIS SOUNDS LIKE, OKAY, YOU GOT WHAT YOU GOT BECAUSE YOU GOT WHAT YOU GOT.

IN THE FUTURE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WILL GET.

>> THAT'S HOW WE POINT IT OUT.

THE GOVERNOR WROTE THERE ARE NO CASES.

I SPOKE WITH KEN THIS WEEK AND HE SAID, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY COUNTY PROSECUTORS SEEKING ABORTION CASES.

A JUDGE COULD SAY IF THERE ARE NO CASES WHAT IS THE LAWSUIT ABOUT.

THERE IS NO THERE THERE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE.

HE SAID LITIGATION IS ON THE TABLE IF THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T RESEND HER ORDER.

>> IF A COUNTY ATTORNEY DECIDES TO PROSECUTE STATE ABORTION LAWS THAT WOULD OPEN THE HORNETS NEST.

>> SEEMS LIKE THAT'S THE CASE.

>> THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID WE DON'T WANT EXTREME COUNTY PROSECUTING THINGS BEFORE PROCESS CA PROSECUTOR DISCRETION.

>> CHRIS RAN SAYING I WOULDN'T PROSECUTE DOCTORS OR WOMEN FOR ABORTIONS.

THEY ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON A CAMPAIGN PROMISE.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP CONTROL OF IT THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THEY ARE FIRMLY IN THE PRO CHOSE CAMP AND DON'T WANT THESE RESTRICTIONS.

>> THAT'S THE KEY.

NOT JUST THE OLD LAW BUT THE TERRITORY LAW.

WE HAVE LAWS BASED ON DEFECTS.

ARTICLE TOOL IN THE CONSTITUTION AND PROTECTS WOMEN.

WE COULD GET INTO THAT SOME OTHER TIME.

IF YOU TAKE IT AWAY FROM THE COUNTY YOU DE FACTOD THE LAW.

THAT'S A REAL STRETCH.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABORTION HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO PROSECUTE THAT.

>> WHAT IF WE HAVE A GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WE WON'T PROSECUTE DUI LAWS OR RAPE LAWS OR ANYTHING.

IT'S THE PRECEDENT YOU POINT OUT CORRECTLY.

THAT'S WHAT IS SET HERE HERE ARE CASES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FILED.

I HAVE DETERMINED I'M THE VETO QUEEN.

ONLY WE WILL PROSECUTE.

>> YOU KNOW, IF THE DISPUTE GOES ON PLAY OUT AGAINST WHAT WILL BE A BALLOT MEASURE THAT WILL START CIRCULATING TO PUT ABORTION RIGHTS.

WILL THOSE THINGS THIS IS ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THEY ARE USING.

THEY WANT IT TO PASS AND BROAD APPEAL.

IF YOU HAVE A SIDE FEUD GOING ON ABOUT WHO COULD PROCESS CUTE.

THAT'S SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR.

>> WE HAVE RACHEL MITCHELL ON THE SHOW ON MONDAY.

DEFINITELY ASK HER MORE ABOUT THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

LET'S GO TO THE SECRETARY STATE'S OFFICE SUBPOENAED BY THE COUNCIL.

>> IT SEEMED LIKE ONCE THEY TOOK OFFICE.

THERE ARE SO MANY ARIZONA CONNECTIONS TO JANUARY 6th AND ALL OF THE STUFF SPECIAL COUNCIL SMITH IS INVESTIGATING.

IT'S NOT SUCH A SURPRISE THIS AGENCY IS APART OF THIS.

>> WHAT THE SUBPOENA WASRY QUESTING.

>> THE ONE THAT CAME TO THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE INVOLVED TWO LAWSUITS.

THIS IS FROM THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

BOTH OF WHICH THE CASES HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

ONE WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT.

WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

WE KNOW THAT'S IN THERE.

WE ARE WAITING TO GET THE RECORDS OF THE ACTUAL SUBPOENA.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING THAT KNOWING THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR THE FBI WAS SUBPOENAED SET TO KEY LAWMAKERS.

SET DAWN FOR INTERVIEWS AND JACK SMITH WORKING THE CIRCLE FROM THOIDS THE AND COMING IN.

HE NEVER SPOKE TO THE FORMER GOVERNOR AS FAR AS WE KNOW.

THE WASHINGTON POST REPORTED LAST WEEK WEAPONDERRED FOR A DON NOR TO A FRIEND.

I'M SURPRISED I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM TRUMP -- NOT TRUMP BUT SMITH.

>> IT'S A GOOD OBSERVATION.

WE ARE KNEE-DEEP IN THIS THING.

>> IT'S NOT JUST THE ISSUE OF THE LAWSUIT ON THE SURFACE BUT THE THREATS.

THE CA NAÏÏVING.

THE EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION AND THREATEN POLITICAL OFFICIALS TO GET THEM TO DO THINGS OR NOT TO DO THINGS.

SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN JANUARY 6th.

WE HAVE SEVERAL LAWMAKERS THERE.

EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO PAINT THE PICTURE.

THEY TRIED TO DO IT WITH THE IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS.

DOES IT LEAD ANYWHERE?

THE THREE OF US WILL FIND IT INTERESTING.

I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WILL FIND CRIMINAL CHARGES.

>> ANY IDEA IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE COMPLIED?

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THEY DID, YEAH, THAT'S THE INDICATION.

>> WHAT WAS REQUESTED WERE LIKE CORRESPONDENTS WITH OPPOSING COUNCIL AND DISCOVERY.

THEY SAY, THEY FULLY COMPLIED.

WIDE OPEN PUBLIC AND CAN'T REALLY FACT CHECK THAT.

WE KNOW WHAT THEY SAID.

>> MARK, WE GOT A REPORT FROM THE DAILY BEAST.

SOURING ON KERRY LAKE.

>> SHE HAD A BOOK RELEASE PARTY AT THE PLACE IN NEW JERSEY NOT FLORIDA.

BY ALL INDICATIONS SHE HASN'T SAID THIS.

BY ALL INDICATIONS SHE'S HIGH UP IN TRUMP'S ORBIT AND MAYBE THINKING ABOUT BEING HIS RUNNING MATE.

BASED ON THE REPORTING SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S TOO MUCH LIKE THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

>> A REPORT SAID SHE'S A SPOTLIGHT HOUND AND DEMAGOGUE.

>> I'M SHOCKED TO HEAR DONALD TRUMP SAY THAT.

>> IT'S HARD TO KNOW.

THE DAILY BEAST SOURCES SAID THESE ARE NOT TRUMP ALLIES OR INSIDER.

DONALD TRUMP LOVES TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.

SHE'S GOING TO HIM AND ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS SHE SAID.

HE LOVES THAT.

YOU CAN'T PREDICT WHAT THIS PRESIDENT WILL THINK.

DOES HE WANT A RUNNING MATE AT SOME POINT?

IS SHE AUDITIONING FOR IT?

I'D SAY PROBABLY.

IS SHE WHAT HE WANTS.

I WONDER HOW SHE FEELS.

YOUNGER THAN, I FORGOT HOW OLD HARRIS IS.

A YOUNGER FEMALE RUNNING MATE.

THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE WON ELECTIONS AND SEVERING IN PUBLIC OFFICE NOW LIKE SOUTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR KRISTIE.

MARJORY TAYLOR GREEN.

>> ARE YOU TELLING ME LAKE DIDN'T WIN THE 2022 ELECTION, I'M SHOCKED.

>> HOWIE, HANG ON SHE'S THAT'S BEEN AFFIRMED BY COURTS OVERAND OVER.

>> THEY USUALLY FIND SOMEONE DIFFERENT FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE COUNTRY ATTRACTING A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE.

I MEAN, SHE SOUNDS LIKE A MINI ME.

>> A LITTLE BIT BUT DRAWS BIG CROWDS TO RALLIES.

WE KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING DONALD TRUMP APPRECIATES AND VALUES.

SOMEONE THAT GOES ON THE ATTACK.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY ATTRIBUTES HE WOULD ADMIRE.

>> DON'T TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT.

>> SHE PICKS UP TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WHAT PENS PENCE DID.

CHRISTIAN RIGHTS NEVER TRUSTED TRUMP.

SHE HAS QUOTED THE CHRISTIAN RIGHTS.

THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

>> WE HAVE A PRIMARY AGAINST WENDY ROGERS, WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

>> WELL, REPRESENTATIVE COOK REPRESENTS THE SAME DISTRICT IN THE HOUSE.

COOK IS TERM LIMITED IN THE HOUSE.

WHERE WILL YOU GO?

HE'S LOOKING AT ROGERS.

HE SEES PLENTY OF STUFF THERE TO BASE THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE ON.

HE POINTED TO A STORY I THINK CHANNEL 3 HAD ABOUT HOW ROGERS MIGHT HAVE VIOLATED -- >> THE REVENGE PORN LAW BY TWEETING OUT EXPLICIT PICTURES OF HUNTER BIDEN.

COOK HAD ISSUES WITH ROGERS INCLUDING WHERE DOES SHE LIVE?

DISTRICT 7 IS A LARGE DISTRICT.

WENDY ROGERS LIVES JUST OVER THE BORDER AT THE FARTHER NORTHERNMOST PART OF THE DISTRICT.

HE'S IN THE HEART OF THE DISTRICT IN GLOBE.

>> I THINK THIS BUSINESS OF RE-TWEETING OR SHOWING THE VIDEO OF HUNTER BIDEN AND THE IDEA THAT THEY SAID THAT'S COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND THERE WILL BE A PRIMARY.

>> HE DIDN'T SAID I'LL DO IT.

IF YOU HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

HE BELIEVES HE HAS THINGS TO SAY AT THE CAPITOL.

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE LACK OF A 31st VOTE IN THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE TO SAY, WE WON'T GO DOWN THIS PATH IN TERMS OF, FOR EXAMPLE, CUTTING BENEFITS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

HE'S KILLED A NUMBER OF BILLS.

NOW, HOW DOES THAT PLAY IN THE REST OF HIS DISTRICT THAT ELECTED PEOPLE LIKE WENDY ROGERS, THAT'S HARD TO SAY.

HE HAS TO APPEAL TO A CONSERVATIVE GROUP.

HE CAN DO WELL IN THE GENERAL BUT THE PRIMARY, I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT WORKS.

>> AND HAS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> HOW DO YOU HANDICAP THAT RACE.

>> THE ONLY WAY TO LOOK AT IT LIKE LAST YEAR.

WENDY WENT UP AGAINST TOWNSEND AND THAT WASN'T CLOSE.

KELLY TOWNSEND IS PLENTY CONSERVATIVE AND IN LINE WITH THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.

WHO KNOWS.

IT'S A LONG WAY AWAY.

IT'S TOUGH TO BET AGAINST WENDY ROGERS.

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE I EVER HEARD THAT STATEMENT MADE ON THIS.

IT'S TOUGH TO BET AGAINST WENDY ROGERS.

>> IN A PRIMARY.

>> SO MANY TIMES SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT.

>> NORTHERN ARIZONA HAS BEEN HER SALVATION.

HAVING THAT TAILOR IN FLAGSTAFF HELPED OUT.

>> AS OPPOSED TO TEMPE OR WHEREVER SHE PARKS HER HEAD.

>> A PROJECT FOR SUN CITY IT WAS $850,000.

BEFORE WE GO BACK THERE.

THE IDEA WAS THERE WILL BE AN ELEVATED TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR THE FOLKS IN SUN CITY AND THE DEVELOPER GOES GOOD, I NEED THE MONEY.

>> I KNOW.

SOMETIMES ONE OF THE THINGS YOU LEARN.

IT'S BETTER TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT AND LET PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE A FOOL.

THE DEVELOPER SAID I HAVE DEBTS TO PAYOFF.

IT'S NOT AIR MARKED FOR HIM.

IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE BID OUT FOR SOMEBODY.

NO ONE WAS INTERESTED IN BUILDING THE PROJECT.

FOR HIM TO SAY THAT, THIS WAS A PIPE DREAM FROM THE BEGINNING.

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO GET PEOPLE AROUND SUN CITY SO MUCH CHEAPER.

YOU COULD BUY A FLEET OF SHUTTLE BUSES AND DO THAT.

I KNOW, EVERYBODY LOVES THE BIG IDEA TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

OUR LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM IS A BIT OF THE SAME.

WE DON'T NEED THIS DID THERE.

YES, ELEVATORS TO TAKE THE OLD FOLKS UP.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE THEIR WALKERS UP.

>> DIDN'T DEBBY GET A BILL PASSED THAT MADE GOLF CARTS LEGAL ON THE STREETS IN SUN CITY?

>> OH, YES.

>> TAKE A GOLF CART TO THE SKY TRAM.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH -- AGAIN, THIS IS A PIE IN THE SKY, LITERALLY, OPERATION.

IT'S THE BUDGET PROCESS.

LAWMAKERS WERE GIVEN YOU GET TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY.

WE HAD $15 MILLION FOR RODEO DAYS.

>> YOU GET A PROJECT.

YOU GET A PROJECT.

YOU GET A PROJECT.

SOME OF THE IDEAS WEREN'T FULLY BAKED YET, I GUESS.

I'LL DATE MYSELF WITH THE REFERENCE.

I HAD THE MONORAIL SONG FOR THE SIMPSONS STUCK IN MY HEAD.

>> IT WAS AN INTERESTING IDEA AND UNIQUE IN IT'S WAY.

YOU GET ALL SORTS OF STUFF OUT OF THAT.

>> EVERYBODY GOTTA GOT A SLICE OF THE PIE.

I CAN'T VOTE FOR THIS UNLESS I GET, YOU KNOW.

SOME OF THE SPECIAL INTEREST REPRESENTATIVES.

>> HERE IS YOUR MONEY GO HAVE FUN.

THEY HATE TO USE THE WORD SURPLUS.

STRUCTURAL BALANCE OR WHATEVER.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE IT ON THE TABLE.

THEY WERE AFRAID SOMEONE WOULD FIND A WAY TO SPEND IT.

YOU CAN'T MAKE REDUCTIONS BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NEED THEM.

WE HAVE TRAFFIC CIRCLES FUNDED WE HAVE SMALL SECTIONS OF THE ROADS BEING FUNDED.

EVERYBODY HAS SOMETHING.

OUR GOOD FRIEND GOT THE STUDY.

THE 15 MILLION FOR THE RODEO.

IT WAS A WAY OF MAKING SURE THERE WAS NO MONEY FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SPEND.

>> IF THERE IS A SURPLUS LIKE THAT LIKELY TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> DEPENDS ON THE PLAYERS INVOLVED.

YOU HAD A BUDGET DONE BEFORE THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE DONE.

THEY HAD ENOUGH TO GET THE VOTES.

HATED IT HERE AND LOVED IT THERE.

IT WAS A COME MERRIZE.

>> YOU THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT AGAIN?

>> IT WILL BE A SURPLUS.

THE DEMOCRATS GOT MONEY.

EXTRA MONEY FOR KATE.

EVERYBODY WALKED AWAY WITH SOMETHING AND COMPLAINED ABOUT IT.

>> SO, NO SKY TRAM WHATEVER IT IS.

WHAT A FASCINATING IDEA.

>> YEAH, FUN TO WATCH.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.