>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE IMPACT OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ON MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY.

ALSO TONIGHT: DETAILS ON THE STATE SUPREME COURT ALLOWING A CHALLENGE TO ARIZONA'S VOTER- APPROVED DARK MONEY LAW.

AND, A NEW STUDY ADDRESSES THE GROWING RISK OF FALLS AMONG SENIORS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> ARIZONA MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC STATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALLY SHUT DOWN OVERNIGHT, WITH DEMOCRATS HOLDING FIRM TO THEIR DEMANDS TO SALVAGE HEALTH CARE SUBSIDIES THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS HAVE REFUSED TO NEGOTIATE.

INDEED, THE WHITE HOUSE CONTINUES TO THREATEN A MASS LAYOFF OF FEDERAL WORKERS IN A MATTER OF DAYS SHOULD THE SHUTDOWN DRAG ON.

ALL OF THIS IMPACTS A VARIETY OF GOVERNMENT FUND AGENCIES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE?JOINING US NOW IS DANA MARIE KENNEDY.

SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF AARP ARIZONA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S START WITH SOCIAL SECURITY.

HOW MUCH IS THIS EFFECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AS WE SPEAK?

>> IT SHOULDN'T EFFECT IT AT ALL.

>> WOW.

>> YOU SHOULD STILL GET YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS.

INLESS IT GOES ON FOR OVER THREE MONTHS.

>> CORRECT.

>> BECAUSE, THE SOCIAL SECURITY, I BELIEVE IT WAS APPROVED BY CONGRESS.

IS THERE AN EXPIRATION.

>> THERE IS CONTINUED FUNDING.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO GET THE CONNED FUNDING FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICES.

ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE WHO ANSWER THE PHONES AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS.

>> LOOKING INTO THIS, I READ SOME SOCIAL SECURITY AGENCIES OR SERVICES, I SHOULD SAY, SHOULD BE SHUTDOWN AND PROVIDING CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> WE ARE CONCERNED.

>> EACH AGENCY WILL HAVE A PLAN.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT PLAN, PER SE.

AS FAR AS PEOPLE RECEIVING THEIR CHECKS THEY WILL STILL GET THAT CHECKS.

>> EARNING RECORDS AND ALL OF THAT THAT.

>> THERE COULD BE DELAYS.

>> WE PLACING MEDICARE CARDS, BY WAY OF SOCIAL SECURITY, I'LL GET TO MEDICARE IN A MINUTE.

COULD THAT BE EFFECTED?

>> THAT COULD BE DELAYED.

>> WE KNOW FOR FOR SURE, WHAT PEOPLE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.

MAKING SURE THEY GET DIRECT DEPOSITS.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANS.

>> PEOPLE STILL GET THEIR CHECKS.

>> COST OF LIVING AGESTMENTS.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WILL BE DELAYED.

IT COULD BE.

THERE IS STILL A LOT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT JUST SHUTDOWN.

WE STILL DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING.

>> THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS HAPPEN THIS TIME OF YEAR?

>> IT DOES.

>> THEY MAY NOT ROLL THAT OUT BECAUSE THAT WILL TAKE WORKERS TO DO THAT.

>> REGARDING SOCIAL SECURITY.

I'LL GET TO MEDICARE IN A SECOND.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING.

OBVIOUSLY THE CHECKS ARE THE BIG THING.

IS THAT PRETTY MUCH THE MAJORITY.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME THEY WERE STOPPING RECEIVING CHECKS.

PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED A PAPER CHECK, THAT ACTUALLY STOPPED ON THE 30th.

MOST PEOPLE ALL READY HAVE DIRECT DEPOSITS.

PEOPLE WHO NEED TO TRANSFER TO GET A DIRECT DEPOSIT ACCOUNT, THEY NEED TO DO THAT.

PAPER CHECKS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED UP TO 90 AND OVER.

THEY HAVE MENTAL IMPAIRMENT.

SO, PEOPLE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT NA AND HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THROUGH THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THEY NO LONGER SENT OUT CHECK.

>> PEOPLE IN ARIZONA STILL RECEIVING CHECKS.

IF YOU THINK RURAL ARIZONA.

SO, BASED OFF OF THAT ON THE 30th.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THINGS ARE IN PLACE.

>> MEDICARE WILL BE OKAY.

IF YOU ARE JUST APPLYING THERE MIGHT BE A DELAY AND IN GETTING YOUR CARD.

THAT MEANS YOU ARE STILL ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS UNDER MEDICARE.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENROLLMENT.

THIS ALWAYS CONFUSES ME.

WHEN IS THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD, FOR HOW LONG?

WHO QUALIFIES?

IS THAT EFFECTED BY THIS?

>> MEDICARE ENROLLMENT PERIOD IS OCTOBER 15th.

SO, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPEN ENROLLMENT.

MANY TIMES PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS AND THEY'D LIKE TO CONTACT MEDICARE.

CASEWORKERS, THAT MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY THIS.

THEY MIGHT BE FURLOUGHED.

IF THEY HAD A MEDICARE CASEWORKER, THEY MIGHT HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THAT PERSON.

MEDICARE, ITSELF, AS FAR AS THE BENEFITS, THAT SHOULD BE FINE.

PAYMENTS COULD BE DELAYED.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT PAYMENTS.

>> PAYMENTS TO YOUR DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS COULD BE DELAYED.

>> THAT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH BY THE DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS.

>> AND INSURANCE, MEDICARE IS YOUR INSURANCE.

>> YOU DO YOUR PART, THE PROVIDERS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> THERE COULD BE DELAYS, THE LONGER THE DELAY THE LONGER THE DISRUPTION.

>> I HOPE FOR A FEW WEEKS.

>> THE SHUTDOWN, WE WILL SEE, THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE IN A HURRY TO GET THIS DONE.

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SNAP BENEFITS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

>> ONCE THE MONEY RUNS OUT THERE WILL BE DELAYS WITH SNAP BENEFITS AS WELL.

PEOPLE IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE, THAT COULD BE IMPACTED AS WELL.

>> HOW MANY ARIZONANS ARE ON FOOD STAMPS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> DO PEOPLE REALIZE THIS IS HAPPENING?

IF THE SNAP AND FOOD STAMPS, BY ANY OTHER NAME, THAT WILL EFFECT A LOT OF FOLKS.

>> PEOPLE WITH FOOD INSECURITY, ABSOLUTELY.

PEOPLE RUNNING THE FOOD PANTRIES AS WELL.

>> THAT ALSO EFFECTS MONEY IN THE ECONOMY.

>> HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU.

>> TODAY, YOU KNOW, MY PHONE HAS BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK AND GETTING E-MAILS REGARDING QUESTIONS.

THEY'D LIKE TO KNOW, MOSTLY, ANY TYPE OF PAYMENTS.

>> THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPEN ENROLLMENT.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY ON AGING.

THEY ARE SHORT OF FUNDING AS IT IS.

THEY HAVE LARGE CASE LOADS.

>> BENEFITS ARE GOOD FOR NOW.

SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS INCLUDING SSI IS GOOD FOR NOW.

VA MEDICAL CARE.

>> SOME OFFICES ARE CLOSING.

>> SNAP IS GOOD FOR NOW.

THE LONGER THE SHUTDOWN THE LONGER DISRUPTIONS.

>> YOU WILL HAVE A LOT A LOATH OF CALLS.

AARP, DANA KENNEDY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT RECENTLY RULED THAT STATE LAWMAKERS CAN GO AHEAD WITH THEIR LAWSUIT AGAINST PROPOSITION 211, KNOWN AS THE "VOTER'S RIGHT TO KNOW ACT," WHICH TARGETED DARK MONEY IN ELECTIONS AND WAS PASSED BY AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN 2022.

THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS THAT THE LAW IMPROPERTLY DELEGATES LEGISLATIVE POWER "AWAY" FROM LAWMAKERS.ATTORNEY ROBERT MCWHIRTER JOINS US NOW TO HELP EXPLAIN THE COURT'S RULING.

ROBERT, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WHAT EXACTLY DID THE COURT DO HERE.

THIS IS DEALING WITHSTANDING MOSTLY?

>> WE ARE IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL WEEDS.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT STANDING.

WHAT STANDING IS A DOCTRINE FROM THE FEDERAL SUPREME COURT THAT SAYS ARE YOU THE RIGHT PERSON TO BRING THIS?

DO YOU HAVE INJURY, YOU DON'T HAVE STANDING TO COMPLAIN, IN THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION YOU DON'T HAVE PROHIBITIONS AGAINST STANDING BUT THEY HAVE AN EQUIVALENT.

IT'S THE COURTS PRUDENCE.

THE U.S.

CONSTITUTION HAS THINGS ABOUT THAT AND THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION DOESN'T.

THEY HAVE AN EASIER HURTLE TO GET OVER TO SAY THEY HAVE STANDING.

>> LAWMAKERS SAY WE HAVE STANDING BECAUSE THE VOTER APPROVED LAW, I ASK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS LAW TAKES AWAY LEGISLATURE POWER.

THEY ARE SAYING THIS VOTER APPROVED LAW TAKES AWAY OUR POWER AS LAWMAKERS.

>> THE COURT SAID, WE WON'T GET TO THAT ISSUE BUT COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WILL HEAR A COMPLAINT LATER.

THEY SAID SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.

>> WHAT DO THE VOTERS HAVE AND IN ARIZONA, LIKE NATIONALLY, VOTERS ARE LEGISLATURES.

NOW YOU DON'T HAVE THAT IN THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION AND ARIZONA IS ONE OF THEM.

>> RIGHT, THE LEGISLATURE HATE THAT.

>> IF THIS CASE YES, YOU HAVE ASKED AND ANSWERING HERE.

IT TAKES A WAY IT'S POSSIBLE HARMED.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY WOULD BE HARMED AND DON UNDERSTAND THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT.

IF THAT'S THE CASE WITH THIS VOTER APPROVED BALLOT MEASURE, WHAT'S WITH THE OTHER ONES?

>> YOU HAVE TO PUT THEM IN TWO CAMPS.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW ACT.

THIS IS LIKE A STATUTE.

NOW, WHAT ACTS DO IS THEY OFTEN GIVE EXECUTIVE AGENCIES THE POWER TO CREATE RULES AND REGULATIONS.

IS IT A RULE AND JUST LEGISLATING.

>> THIS IS AT PLAY HERE.

WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IS, LOOK, THIS POWER TO THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION IS GIVING LEGISLATURE POWER NOT JUST RULE MAKING.

>> THEY ARE BASICALLY SAYING.

NOW THE INTERESTING THING IN ARIZONA YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF DIVISION OF POWER.

REMEMBER, WE HAVE A CORPORATION COMMISSION, THAT'S A FOURTH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

WHEN ON THAT LEVEL YOU COULD HAVE AN ARGUMENT THERE THE FIFTH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

IT'S STILL AN ACT AND NO, YOU CAN'T GET THEM AS POWER TO CREATE LEGISLATION.

>> ROBERT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THIS REVERSES A TRIAL COURT RULING?

>> YES.

>> WHAT IS SO DIFFERENT FROM THE SUPREME COURT.

>> SORRY TO SPEAK OF THE HOUSE AND PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, YOU DON'T HAVE STANDING.

THERE WAS MOHAMMED.

AN ANALOGY.

YOU WANT TO USE THOSE.

YOU USE THE CREDIT CARD.

THIS IS FOR REGULATIONS.

THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF THE POWER.

>> YOU HAVE THIS ISSUE ABOUT WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE VOTER LEGISLATION.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IT.

THE SUPREME COURT BY ANOTHER COURT CASE.

>> THE REGULATIONS AND REGULATIONS.

>> THEY BECOME LEGISLATION.

THEY CAN PASS.

IN ARIZONA.

DELEGATED TO THE EXECUTIVE.

SO, OKAY, WE CAN'T MAKE EVERY LITTLE REGULATION ABOUT THE INSPECTOR.

SO, WE DELEGATE THAT.

THAT'S OKAY.

THE ISSUE WHEN DOES THE AGENCY GO SO FAR.

LEGISLATING SOMETHING.

THIS IS THE TENSION.

>> DOES THIS, THE FACT THEY SAY YOU HAVE STANDING.

IT'S A TRIAL COURT DECISION.

YOU HAVE STANDING.

THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF LAWMAKERS?

>> WITH EVERYONE CHALLENGING.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT POLITICS HERE.

IT'S THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURES.

THEY DON'T LIKE THIS INITIATIVE.

SO, THEY ARE FIGHTING THE STANDING BATTLE.

IT'S THE RIGHT TO KNOW APP.

>> I GUESS THEY DON'T WANT THEM TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM.

>> IT'S DOWN TO THAT.

>> IT'S SPEECH AND MANY PROGRAMS ON THIS.

THOSE ARE SAYING YOU ARE LIMITING PEOPLE'S FEE SPEECH RIGHTS.

ON THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT.

OVER TURNING CITIZEN HE NEVER HAD A CASE IN HIS LIFETIME.

SHOULDN'T PUT LIMITS ON FREE LIMITS.

I THINK THAT'S WRONG.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT OF ANONYMITY.

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SAY WHAT HE WANT.

YOU CAN'T BE ALLOWED FOR PEOPLE OF FREE SPEECH.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME RIGHT NOW.

GOOD EXPLANATION, ROBERT, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THE US CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION SAYS OLDER AMERICANS ARE EXPERIENCING ABOUT 12-MILLION FALLS PER YEAR.

ONE A-S-U PROFESSOR HAS PARTNERED WITH THE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS SAFETY COMMISSION TO FIND WAYS TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER.

WE WELCOME THURMON LOCKHART FROM A-S-U'S SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL AND HEALTH SYSTEMS ENGINEERING.ALSO JOINING US IS STEVE FILMER, MEDIA RELATIONS MANAGER AT A-S-U.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

>> WE'LL STARTED WITH A FEW THINGS FALLING FROM SENIORS.

IS THAT RISK INCREASING?

>> IT INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE TYPE OF INJURIES THAT CAUSES TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

>> THERE ARE MORE SENIORS THEY DATED.

>> A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

>> THEY ARE INCREASING.

IT'S STANDARD FOR THE STANDARD.

THIS WAS SINCE 1979.

>> THE FRICTION, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION IS SLIPPERIANCE.

IT'S DEFINED BY HORIZONTAL DIVIDED BY THE VERTICAL FORCE.

WHAT IT MEANS IS, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, AS WE WALK OF FRICTION.

IF THE FRICTION IT'S NOT MET.

>> SO, BASICALLY, FRICTION WE ARE TAKING A SHOWER.

>> THAT TAKES YOU TO THE STUDY AND TEST.

>> BASICALLY, WE WERE ACTUALLY DOING A SLIP AND FALL STUDY.

THIS IS WITH THE OLDER ADULTS, A HARNESS.

THEY WERE WALKING UP OVER A BATHTUB.

SOMETIMES IT'S WET.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THEIR RESPONSE.

SO, YOU KNOW,.

>> JUST SEEING HER TAKE THE STEPS.

HOLY SMOKES.

>> THAT MIGHT NOT BE SLIPPERY.

>> IT'S A SOLUTION BASICALLY SALT AND WATER.

>> WE MEASURE HOW LONG IT TAKES.

>> WE WERE MEASURING THE TIME OF THE CONTACTS.

IT'S SLIPPING.

>> JUST RIGHT THERE.

>> AND THEN, IF YOU GO OVER A CERTAIN SLIP DISTANCE WE CALL THAT A FALL.

YOU CAN NO LONGER REGAIN YOUR POSTURE.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT STEVE.

YOU TOOK PART IN THE TEST, DIDN'T YOU.

>> WE ARE TELLING STORIES FOR ASU.

IT'S SAFER PEOPLE LIKE THE WOMAN YOU SAW SET UP TO BE HERE FOR THIS.

THEY GAVE IT A TRY.

WE HAVE THEM.

YEAH.

>> WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE IN AN ACTUAL HALL AND THAT'S ME LOSING IT RIGHT THERE.

>> YOU ARE FALLING PRETTY QUICK HERE.

>> THE STUDY NEEDS MORE PEOPLE LIKE ME AND THE WOMAN SLOWs YOU SAW FOR ME.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS.

NOT JUST OLDER FOLKS BUT REALLY 18 TO AGE 100 TO GET THE RIGHT STATISTICAL DATA TO GET WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN TO MAKE THESE BATHROOM SURFACES SAFER.

>> WHEN YOU DID THIS, YOU WERE FALLING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WHAT DID YOU EXPERIENCE.

>> WITHOUT ANY OF THE PAIN OR WHAT DID I JUST BREAK.

THIS IS KIND OF A FUN EXPERIENCE.

YOU DEFINITELY FEEL THAT'S SCARY.

IT BEGAN AT 55 OR 65.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, YOU CAN SEE THE 70s, 80s, AND 90s, THEY HAVE ISSUES RELATING TO THE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

>> WHEN THEY DO THIS AND THE OTHERS DO THIS.

WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR HERE.

>> THE ACTUAL BATHTUB.

WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT BATHTUBS FROM LOWES AND OTHER PLACES.

WE CUT THEM OFF AND PUT THEM ON THIS PLATFORM.

THEY WHEN AND WALK-ON IT.

>> I JUST SAW.

>> IT'S A SLIPPERY SURFACE.

YOU PUT A HAIKU EFFICIENT IF IT'S NOT SLIPPERY.

IT HARD TO CLEAN.

YOU HAVE A LOT SHOWING UP.

THERE.

IT'S VERY EASY TO CLEAN.

YOU CREATE THE BATHTUBS WITHOUT THE STANDARDS.

EVERYBODY IS BUYING THINGS WITHOUT KNOWING THE DANGER.

>> WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THE STORY.

>> THIS IS IMPORTANT RESEARCH THAT MAKES LIVES BETTER.

ARIZONA PBS IS OFFERING IT ELF IS UP TO BE A PORTAL SO PEOPLE CAN VOLUNTEER, SEE THE RESEARCH AND STEP INTO THE RESEARCH IF YOU ARE GAME TO DO IT AGES 18 TO 100.

>> YEP.

>> WHERE DO WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS?

>> GO TO YOUR WEBSITE.

>> THE LABORATORY AT ASU.

>> WE WILL RUN TO OUR COMPUTERS.

GOOD STORY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

HAVE A GREAT