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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS ANNOUNCING HER RE-ELECTION BID.

THE 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 THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

AND JOINING US TONIGHT, JESSICA BAIN FROM AXIOS PHOENIX, WAYNE SCHUTSKY FROM KJZZ RADIO AND HOWIE FISCHER FROM CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JESSICA, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU.

AND WE GOT THE GOVERNOR, ANNOUNCES HER RE-ELECTION.

NOT REALLY A SURPRISE, IS IT?

>> I WASN'T SURPRISED, NO, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WAS SURPRISED.

EVERYONE KNEW IT WAS COMING, THIS IS HER CHANCE TO FRAME THE CONVERSATION AND TRYING TO PAINT HERSELF AS THIS KIND OF PRAGMATIC, NOT IDEOLOGICAL PERSON, ESSENTIALLY SETTING HERSELF UP TO HAVE A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM WHOEVER HER REPUBLICAN OPPONENT WILL BE.

TED: I THINK SHE SAID IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICS.

>> IT'S NEVER ABOUT POLITICS.

>> I THINK IT IS ABOUT POLITICS, ISN'T IT?

>> THE WOMAN HAS OVER 200 VETOES, I COULD WORK WELL ACROSS THE AISLE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICS, AND THEN HER COMMERCIALS THAT SHE'S GOT OUT.

SHE'S TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE REACTING BECAUSE THERE ARE TARIFFS TO HIGH FOOD COSTS.

WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?

TED: AND APPARENTLY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND BORDER SECURITY, SHE BROUGHT THOSE THINGS UP.

THOSE THINGS OBVIOUSLY, THEY TEST -- THEY TEST THESE THINGS, AND THAT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING SHE THINKS SHE CAN RUN ON.

>> YEAH, SHE'S DONE SOME STUFF ON BORDER SECURITY, TALKING ABOUT PUTTING MONEY ON ASSISTING WITH THE DRUG INTERDICTION, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THAT THING NEAR THE BORDER.

NOT AS AGGRESSIVE AS REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE.

WHOEVER HER OPPONENT IS, IS GOING TO IMPORTANT OUT SHE VETOED A BILL PASSED BY VOTERS ON IMMIGRATION AND SECURITY, BUT HITTING ALL THE HITS.

ANYONE WHO LIVES IN ARIZONA, KNOWS THAT HOUSING PRICES ARE GOING OUT OF CONTROL.

SHE WANTS TO PAINT HERSELF AS A CHAMPION OF THE WORKING CLASS VOTER.

THE MIDDLE INCOME, MIDDLE AMERICA VOTER.

>> SOME OF THE TRICKY STUFF DONE AS A BIPARTISAN FASHION, WATER CERTIFICATES WHICH HAPPENED WITH EPCOR, NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT.

CERTAINLY THE FOLKS IN BUCKEYE AND FOLKS IN QUEEN CREEK, BUT THAT DOES NOT GET VOTES.

TED: SHE DID CRITICIZE IN A GENERAL WAY, I THINK, REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL FOR SUPPORTING THE BUDGET BILL, FOR SUPPORTING THE BIG -- WHATEVER IT IS, BUDGET BILL.

THAT, I THINK, WILL PROBABLY SEE MORE OF OR WILL WE SEE MORE?

YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF CONGRESSMEN ON THE OTHER SIDE?

>> WELL, THE PROBLEM -- AGAIN, THIS IS THE SAME THING TALKING ABOUT TARIFFS.

HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ARIZONA.

IT'S NICE SHE CAN REACH OUT AND SLAP REPUBLICANS AROUND.

WHAT SHE NEEDS TO BE TALKING ABOUT IS DID SHE GET LEFT WITH A SURPLUS OR DEFICIT?

DOUG DUCEY SAYING I LEFT WITH A $2.4 MILLION SURPLUS, AND SHE TURNED IT INTO 1.4 -- BILLION, EXCUSE ME, DEFICIT.

SHE'S SAYING, WELL, YES, YOU ENACTED THE TAX CUTS WHICH LEFT ME IN THE DEFICIT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

YOU NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER HERE.

HR1 ALL VERY NICE.

TED: SHE CAN MAKE THE POINT, IF YOU ARE MANAGING THE STATE BUDGET, YOU GOT TO PROVE YOU ARE MANAGING THE BUDGET PERIOD, AND MANAGING THE BUDGET IN WASHINGTON, SHE THINKS YOU DIDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB.

I SHOULD MENTION, REPUBLICANS ON THE OTHER SIDE, SCHWEIKERT, BIGGS, KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON BLASTED HER FOR HER INABILITY TO MANAGE A BUDGET.

>> RIGHT, AND THE OTHER THING THAT IS DIFFICULT IS LIKE AS A GOVERNOR, AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO RUN ON A SLATE OF MAJOR LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

OUR LEGISLATURE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE SHE DIDN'T GET TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT OF HER PRIORITIES, AND SO I, AGAIN, THINK THAT'S WHY SHE'S TRYING TO FRAME IT AS THE STYLISTIC DIFFERENCE, LIKE I'M WILLING TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE PEOPLE I'M RUNNING AGAINST, THEY'RE JUST SUPER IDEOLOGICAL.

>> AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE FRAMEWORK WHICH SHE WON LAST TIME, WHICH WAS VERY MUCH AGAINST TRUMP, SHE WAS THE SECRETARY OF STATE, FRAMED AS DEFENDING ARIZONA'S ELECTIONS IN ATTEMPTS TO UNDERCUT THE RESULTS, SO NOW THEY'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR.

SHE'S GOT TRUMP BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

WHETHER OR NOT THE ISSUES SHE'S RUNNING ON AS HOWIE MENTIONED, ARE ARIZONA SPECIFIC, SHE'S TRYING TO LOOK AT THINGES TWO OF HER OPPONENTS HAVE DONE IN CONGRESS AND BEING SYCOPHANTIC TO TRUMP, AND WE MAY NOT SEE DIRECT RESULTS OF HR1 NOW.

A LOT OF PROJECTIONS PEOPLE LOSE MEDICAID, HEALTH INSURANCE, HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE RATES GO THROUGH THE ROOF BECAUSE OF CHANGES MADE FEDERALLY.

>> THAT'S THE POINT.

IF SHE DOESN'T FIND A WAY TO BACKFILL SOME OF THAT, REPUBLICANS SAY LOOK, THAT WAS A STATE FUNCTION, WE DID ADDITIONAL MONEY DURING COVID.

NOW THAT WE'VE TAKEN AWAY THE MONEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING AS GOVERNOR THERE.

THE OTHER BIG DIFFERENCE IS, THIS AIN'T 2022.

SHE'S NOT RUNNING AGAINST SOMEBODY WHO WAS SORT OF UNIVERSALLY DESPISED, IF YOU WILL, WHO TENDED TO ANNOY REPUBLICANS.

REPUBLICANS HAVE PICKED UP A LOT MORE VOTES LATELY.

THE STATE IS MOVING TO THE RIGHT, WHETHER THAT'S CHARLIE KIRK OR ANYTHING ELSE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT RACE THAN 2022.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, JESSICA.

KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON FIGHTING AGAINST TRUMP'S AMERICA FIRST AGENDA.

THAT WAS HER RESPONSE.

BIGGS, NOTED THE VETO OVER COMMONSENSE BILLS, AND SCHWEIKERT SAYS SHE CAN'T MANAGE A STATE BUDGET.

DO ALL THESE HAVE TRACTION ON THE GOP SIDE, AND COULD THAT TRACTION JUMP OVER TO A GENERAL?

>> I THINK ON THE PRIMARY SIDE, I THINK WE'RE STILL IN A PLACE WHERE THE MAGA MENTALITY IS GOING TO CARRY THE DAY, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY KATIE HOBBS' BIGGEST ASSET IS SHE'S GOING TO FRAME IT AS THE SUPER IDEOLOGICAL OPPONENT.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE ARGUMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO WORK WELL WITH THE REPUBLICAN BASE, THAT'S HOW SCHWEIKERT, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO GO TO WIN OVER THAT REPUBLICAN BASE.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT TO A GENERAL PUBLIC.

TED: LET'S GO TO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1.

WAYNE, IS THERE A CLEAR FRONT-RUNNER ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE FOR REPLACING DAVID SCHWEIKERT?

>> OF THE 40 OR SO NAMES BANDIED ABOUT?

I WOULDN'T SAY THERE'S A CLEAR ONE.

YOU'VE GOT THE PEOPLE WITH SOME SORT OF FAMOUS PROFILE, NASCAR DRIVER DANICA PATRICK, ASU FOOTBALL COACH TODD GRAHAM.

YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND.

REPRESENTATIVE MATT GRESS, JUSTIN WILLMOUTH, LAWMAKERS, COMPETITIVE PARTS OF THE DISTRICT AND PEOPLE IN BETWEEN.

IT'S FAR TOO EARLY BECAUSE HALF THE PEOPLE HAVEN'T OFFICIAL LEADS THEY'RE IN THE RACE YET.

TED: CAN WE SAY GINA SVOBODA IS GETTING THE MOST NOISE, MOST REACTION?

>> GINA IS DOING THIS TO SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE.

IS THERE A PATH FOR HER?

SHE IS RIGHT IN THE BUSINESS MODERATE REPUBLICAN AREA, AND THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT DAVID SCHWEIKERT WON IT FOR YEARS IS GOING TO BE A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT.

SHE CAN SAY I HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF HOLDING THE REPUBLICANS FROM ALL PARTS, AND B, GETTING THE DEMOCRATS TO VOTE FOR ME.

SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN -- GOD HELP US -- A MODERATE, WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE IT A DIRTY WORD, CERTAINLY FROM THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, BUT I THINK SHE'S WEIGHING OPTIONS AND SAYING AM I NEEDED HERE?

I DON'T KNOW.

IN TERMS OF A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, THIS IS A WOMAN WHO HAD AT ONE POINT A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TOO, SO SHE CAN'T SAY, LOOK, IT'S NOT LIKE I'M RUNNING AGAINST MAGA.

TED: YOU HAVE LAURA LOOMER SAY SHE BAD-MOUTHED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

BAD FOR AZ, IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE NEEDS TO MAKE MORE FRIENDS FROM THAT PART OF THE PARTY.

>> AND THAT'S THE INTERESTING THING, AGAIN, IS THAT YOU RUN INTO THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION WHERE PRIMARY VOTERS ARE A MUCH DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAN WHEN YOU RUN AGAINST IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK SOMEONE LIKE GINA SVOBODA, SHOULD PROBABLY DO WELL IN A GENERAL ELECTION.

PEOPLE LIKE JIM WARING, PHOENIX COUNCILMAN, A CONSERVATIVE PERSON BUT NOT MAKING LOTS OF HEADLINES IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

TED: THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT, THAT'S AN INTERESTING DISTRICTS IS IT'S VERY WELL OFF, NORTHEAST VALLEY, SCOTTSDALE, FOUNTAIN HILLS, PARADISE VALLEY.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A MAGA STRONG HOLD.

>> IT'S NOT.

IT'S A DIFFICULT PRIMARY AND INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

TO BE ABLE TO WIN THAT, YOU HAVE TO APPEAL TO SOME LEVEL OF THE MAGA FRACTION OF THE PARTY, AND THEY'RE CLEARLY NOT SUPER THRILLED WITH HER AT THE MOMENT.

>> THE TRICKY PART AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN OTHER RACES, YOU END WITH SIX REPUBLICANS IN THE PRIMARY, SOMEBODY WITH 17% BECOMES A NOMINEE.

TED: COULD THAT SOMEBODY BE -- I DON'T KNOW -- KARI LAKE?

>> SOMEONE COULD BE ANYONE, I HAVEN'T COVERED A LOT OF LOCAL RACES, CITY COUNCIL RACES OR MAYOR'S RACES WHERE YOU HAVE FIVE PEOPLE.

AS HOWIE SAID, ONCE YOU GET TO 17%, KARI LAKE, I WOULD NEVER COUNT HER OUT OF JUMPING INTO A HIGH-PROFILE RACE IN ARIZONA.

I WOULD SAY CONGRESSIONAL RACES ARE EASIER TO WIN THAN STATEWIDE RACES, HOWEVER, CD1 MIRRORS THE STATEWIDE ELECTORATE MORE THAN THE SAFE RACES LIKE THE RACE ABE HAMADEH WON WHICH IS A FAR RIGHT REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

I WOULDN'T GIVE HER MUCH BETTER OF A SHOT IN GENERAL ELECTION IN CD1.

TED: WHAT ABOUT A MARK BRNOVICH?

>> BASED ON COMMENTS TO OVERSEAS MEDIA, WANTS SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT HE WANTS TO STAY IN THE FIGHT POLITICALLY, YOU CAN'T COUNT HIM OUT.

I LIVE IN CD1.

I'VE SEEN HIM IN MY COSTCO, I ASSUME HE LIVES IN THE DISTRICT, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

TED: SPEAKING OF MARK BRNOVICH, HOWIE, I GUESS THE WHITE HOUSE WITHDREW HIS NOMINATION TO BE AMBASSADOR.

THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING TO FOREIGN MEDIA ABOUT.

HE WAS GOING TO BE THE AMBASSADOR TO SERBIA, WHAT HAPPENED?

>> IT WAS A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

HIS FAMILY CAME FROM SERBIA.

WIFE CAME FROM -- BEFORE THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND YUGOSLAVIA BROKE UP, THE SAME AREA THERE.

PERFECT PICK.

HE HAD HAD AN ON-AGAIN/OFF-AGAIN RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUMP.

THE FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE SAID, BUT YOU SAT ON THE FINDINGS THAT YOU HAD, IT WAS PERFECT ESCAPE FOR HIM, AND FIGURED I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

I CHECKED WITH THE WHITE HOUSE.

RADIO SILENCE THERE.

HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT SOMEHOW THAT THE DEEP STATE, I DON'T KNOW THAT HE MEANS THE BUREAUCRATS IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT DID NOT WANT SOMEONE LIKE HIM -- TED: HERE IS THE QUOTE, HOWIE.

THE BUREAUCRACY OF THE DEEP STATE DOESN'T WANT TO SERVE ANYONE WITH MY POLITICAL, ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND IN SERBIA.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

YOU WANT SOMEONE WITH A SERBIAN BACKGROUND THERE.

IT MAKES NO SENSE.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IS HE SPOKE TO THE SERBIAN TIMES.

I TRIED TO CALL HIM, HE WASN'T INTERESTED IN EXPLAINING IT.

HE FELT THE NEED TO SPEAK TO SERBIAN TIMES AND SAY, LOOK, I'M A VICTIM HERE.

HOW WELL DOES THAT PLAY IF YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR CD1?

YOU COME OUT AND YOU ARE A VICTIM?

I DON'T THINK SO.

TED: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS, JESSICA?

>> I THINK IT'S ODD THE WHITE HOUSE HASN'T SAID ANYTHING, WE'VE MOVED IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.

WEIRDLY QUIET.

I AGREE, IT PUTS YOU IN A WEIRD POSITION IF YOU ALL OF A CERTAIN RUNNING FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

PEOPLE ARE ASKING THIS QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE SERBIA THING.

I FIND THE WHOLE THING A LITTLE BIZARRE.

TED: THERE'S A REPORT REGARDING TRUMP'S SON-IN-LAW PLANS TO BUILD A HOTEL IN A CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AREA OF BELGRADE.

THAT COULD BE A FACTOR HERE.

>> ENTIRELY POSSIBLE, THEY'RE BUILDING HOTELS ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE BEEN RUMORED TO BE BUILDING SOMETHING OR SIGNING THEIR NAME ONTO SOMETHING IN AN AREA OF THE WORLD WHERE POLITICS GET INVOLVED.

TED: THEY WANT SOMEONE REALLY ON BOARD WITH IT.

>> AS HOWIE AND JESSICA SAID, WE HAVE HONESTLY NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS BRNOVICH HAD A REPUTATION FOR IS A NO-NONSENSE GUY.

HE TALKED ABOUT A GOAT ROPE, DEALING WITH THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE, AND USED A FEW COLORFUL WORDS WE CAN'T SAY ON FAMILY TELEVISION TO DESCRIBE SOME OF THE THINGS GOING ON.

HE IS SORT OF NO-NONSENSE, AND MAY HAVE TAKEN A LOOK WHAT THE TRUMP FAMILY WAS DOING, WHICH AS WAYNE REPORTS, THEY LOVE DOING THIS, THEY HAVE A TRUMP HOTEL IN GAZA AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

NO, I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE TO SMOOTH THE WAY FOR THIS.

TED: OR WORRIED HE WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, JESSICA, ADELITA GRIJALVA, WE HAD HER ON THIS WEEK, SHE'S STILL THE CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT.

WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO SWEAR HER IN?

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION EVERYONE IS ASKING, INCLUDING OUR TWO SENATORS VERY DRAMATICALLY OUTSIDE OF THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE THIS WEEK.

IT'S AN INTERESTING SITUATION, I WAS ON TWO WEEKS AGO AND WE HAD THE SAME CONVERSATION.

THERE IS A BELIEF THAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE RELEASE OF THE EPSTEIN FILES.

THE INVESTIGATIVE FILES.

SHE WOULD BE THAT MAGIC NUMBER VOTE THAT WOULD GET THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO WANT THEM RELEASED TO BE ABLE TO DO SO, AND SO THERE'S A BELIEF THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THEY ARE SLOW WALKING THIS.

NOW THERE'S CONVERSATION ABOUT, LIKE, WELL, IF YOU REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT, WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND SWEAR HER IN.

IT'S AN UNPRECEDENTED THING.

>> HERE'S THE PIECE IN TERMS OF THE EPSTEIN FILES.

I THINK MIKE JOHNSON, THE HOUSE SPEAKER, WANTS TO LEAN ON A COUPLE OF HIS OWN REPUBLICANS, KNOWING THAT THAT 218th VOTE IS OUT THERE, TO GET SOMEBODY TO SAY, LOOK, I NEED YOU TO BE A LOYAL SOLDIER, FALL ON YOUR SWORD, DESPITE ALL THE THINGS YOU SAID SO WE ARE 217 WHEN SHE IS SWORN IN.

>> AND JUSTIFY NOT HAVING TO SWEAR HER IN.

HE DID IT PREVIOUSLY WITH TWO FLORIDA REPUBLICANS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE, THEY WEREN'T IN A FULL SESSION, BUT DID IT AND GAVE EXPLANATION, THEY FLEW THEIR FAMILIES OUT.

AND I BELIEVE IT WAS NEWS NATION THAT ASKED HIM, IF SHE FLIES HER FAMILY OUT, WILL YOU SWEAR HER IN?

HE SAYS IT'S DISTRACTION AND POLITICAL NONSENSE.

HE'S COMING UP WITH DIFFERENT ANSWERS DEPENDING ON THE DAY, AND NONE MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

TED: A VIRGINIA DEMOCRAT, CAN DO A PRO FORMA SESSION, YOU GAVEL HER IN, SHE REPRESENTS A PART OF THE UNITED STATES, AND YOU GAVEL OUT AND YOU GO LIKE THIS.

THE RESPONSE, AS JESSICA MENTIONED, OUR U.S.

SENATORS, CORNERED THE SPEAKER.

LATER SENATOR GALLEGO CALLED THE SPEAKER A, QUOTE, PEDO PROTECTOR.

>> THE RHETORIC HAS GOTTEN HEATED, NOT HELPED BY THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN SHUTDOWN AND EVERYBODY'S NERVES ARE RUNNING RAW.

THAT'S OVER THE TOP.

EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THE EPSTEIN FILES ARE ALL ABOUT.

I DON'T THINK THEY NEED TO START THROWING NAMES.

>> REALLY?

YOU DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD DO THAT?

>> I KNOW.

TED: KNOCK ME OVER ON THAT ONE.

LET'S MOVE TO SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS INTERESTING AND CONFUSING, THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DID AN AUDIT ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND FOUND WHAT?

>> SO, DATING BACK TO, LET'S SAY 2007, 2008, THERE WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT FILED BY LATINO DRIVERS WHO BELIEVED AND WERE FOUND TO BE CORRECT THAT THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS RACIALLY PROFILING DRIVERS AND PULLING THEM OVER FOR THAT REASON, AND SO THEY HAVE SINCE ABOUT 2013 BEEN UNDER COURT MONITORING AND HAD TO MAKE A SERIES OF REFORMS ORDERED BY THE COURT TO VERY LENGTHY BURDENSOME PROCESS THAT THE COUNTY CLAIMED HAS COST THEM UPWARDS OF $200 MILLION TO FOLLOW THESE COURT ORDERS.

ACCORDING TO THE AUDIT, 72% OF THAT LARGE NUMBER WEREN'T ACTUALLY RELATED TO THE REFORMS, AND SO THIS HAS CAUSED A BIG HOOPLA WITHIN THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY IS DEFENDING IT.

WE'LL SEE THEY'RE GOING TO COME OUT WITH THEIR OWN VERSION, BUT IT'S A WEIRD SITUATION.

TED: EVEN IF IT'S NOT 72.

LET'S MAKE IT 62, LET'S MAKE IT 52.

THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KEEP HEARING HOW MUCH OF A BURDEN THIS IS TO THE COUNTY.

>> A LOT OF HEY HAS BEEN MADE BY OUR REPUBLICAN COUNTY SUPERVISORS WHO ARE NOT BIG FANS OF THE MONITORING AND USED THAT NUMBER SPECIFICALLY TO SAY LOOK, 200, GOING TO BE 300 MILLION BY NEXT YEAR OR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND WE'RE WASTING ALL THIS MONEY AND THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING BETTER, END THE MONITORING NONSENSE.

TURNS OUT, AS YOU SAID, A HUGE CHUNK OF THAT MONEY, MORE THAN HALF WAS UNRELATED TO THE MONITORING OR PARTIALLY RELATED.

JUST A LOT OF OVERCALCULATING.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO LED THE CHARGE, COUNTY SUPERVISORS, WILL REACT NOW THAT UNDERCUT THEIR ARGUMENT.

>> I AM ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT HOW AN $11,000 GOLF CART FITS INTO MONITORING WHETHER THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS PULLING OVER PEOPLE FOR THE CRIME OF DRIVING WHILE BROWN.

>> YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE $30,000 OF CAR WASHES, I BELIEVE IT WAS.

>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE CLEAN SHERIFFS CARS, PEOPLE WON'T PULL OVER FOR YOU, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

TED: WE'VE GOT OFFICE RENOVATIONS, CABLE TV BILLS, NEW VEHICLES, FULL-TIME SALARIES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD BARELY ANYTHING TO DO AT ALL WITH THE COURT MONITORING SITUATION.

>> THIS IS VERY TYPICAL.

YOU TRY TO PUT EVERYTHING INTO A BIN.

WHEN YOU GET A FEDERAL GRANT, ALL OF A SUDDEN A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE STATE OR WORKING FOR THE CITY, THEY NEED TO BE FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GRANT AND FREE UP THE MONEY THERE.

THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD FREE MONEY.

IT'S NOT FREE MONEY, IT'S COMING OUT OF A DIFFERENT POCKET BUT I GET TO USE IT AS AMMUNITION AS WAYNE SAID.

TED: TALK ABOUT THE STATE LAW IS IMPACTED HERE, IS IT NOT?

>> YEAH, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT USING MONEY HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE USED THAN DIFFERENT FUNDS, THAT'S A BIG NO-NO.

IS IT NEGLIGENCE OR PURPOSEFUL?

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOLKS INVOLVED WHO HAVE NOT BEEN FANS OF THE MONITORING SINCE IT BEGAN, SO WAS THE INTENT TO INFLATE THE NUMBERS TO SAY THIS IS A BIG WASTE OF MONEY FOR TAXPAYERS OR NEGLIGENT BOOKKEEPING?

THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION MOVING FORWARD.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE IS A -- THERE ARE CAPS ON HOW MUCH THE COUNTY CAN SPEND, AND IF THIS -- SO THINGS THAT ARE BY WAY OF COURT MONITOR, THAT ARE LIKE A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT, DON'T COUNT AGAINST THAT CAP.

SO IF THESE EXPENSES WERE ACTUALLY JUST NORMAL EXPENSES, THE COUNTY DID EXCEED CAP AND VIOLATED THE STATE CONSTITUTION, IF ALL OF THIS IS TRUE.

TED: YEAH, AND WHO GOES AFTER THAT, HOWIE?

WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP IN THAT PARTICULAR INVESTMENT?

>> THAT BECOMES THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO IS A DEMOCRAT, WHO MIGHT BE MORE THAN WILLING TO GO AHEAD AND KICK AROUND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE SHERIFF AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S ALSO A VISION GENERALLY IN A LOT OF THESE THINGS FOR CITIZEN LAWSUITS, THAT ANY PERSON WHO IS AGREED BY THIS, I PAID MY TAXES, CAN GO TO COURT AND SAY I WANT SOME SORT OF FINDING AND I WANT A REFUND OF THE TAXES.

I DON'T KNOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I'M WAITING FOR THE COUNTY TO DO ITS OWN RESPONSE, AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.

ARE WE TALKING 32%?

62%?

72%?

ONCE WE GET TO SEE IT, I WANT TO HEAR THE COUNTY'S JUSTIFICATION, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY SAY, THIS IS ONE THAT DOESN'T SHY AWAY FROM FIGHTS.

SHE MAY SAY -- [SPEAKING SPANISH] .

TED: SHE MAY SAY THE RESPONSE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THEY ARE DIGGING IN A BIT?

>> WE HAVE TO SEE IF THEY COME UP WITH THEIR OWN AUDIT OR ONCE THEY DIG THROUGH THE EXISTING AUDIT WHICH CAME THROUGH PEOPLE BY THE COURT MONITOR, THEY ARE GOING TO POINT OUT AREAS WHERE THEY THINK THE AUDIT IS INCORRECT, THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR.

>> AND ONE OTHER PIECE, THE COUNTY IS SAYING WE DIDN'T INCLUDE A LOT OF OUR LEGAL FEES, EVEN IF THESE FEES WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, WE HAVE OTHER STUFF.

WE'LL SHOW YOU.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE JUSTINE WADSACK WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY PENALTY FEES.

>> AS WE ALL KNOW, JUSTINE WADSACK WAS A STATE SENATOR FROM TUCSON WHO DECIDED THAT DRIVING 71 MILES AN HOUR ON SPEEDWAY BOULEVARD IN A 35-MILE-AN-HOUR ZONE WAS NOT A BIG PROBLEM.

HER TESLA WAS RUNNING OUT OF BATTERY AND THE OFFICER WAS PULLING HER OVER BECAUSE SHE WAS A LAWMAKER AND SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.

OFFICER DIDN'T GIVE A TICKET BECAUSE THEY WERE IN SESSION, GAVE HER A TICKET LATER.

SHE WENT TO TRAFFIC SCHOOL, SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE END OF IT.

SHE FILES A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY AND SAY THEY WERE ALL OUT TO GET ME AS PART OF VAST CONSPIRACY AND DOESN'T PURSUE THE LAWSUIT.

LOST HER ATTORNEY ALONG THE WAY IN THERE, AND FINALLY DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR A COURT HEARING TO FIND OUT WHY YOU'RE LOSING YOUR ATTORNEY AND DROPPED THE CASE AND SAID NO HARM, NO FOUL.

THE CITY SAID WAIT A SECOND, WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY DEFENDING THIS THING, SPENT A LOT OF MONEY PREPARING FOR THE HEARING THAT SHE WAS AT A TURNING POINT EVENT IN PHOENIX WHEN SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT FEDERAL COURT IN TUCSON AND ASKED FOR OVER $7,000.

JUDGE SAID, WELL, YEAH, BUT IT'S -- IT WASN'T BAD FAITH, SO I'M GOING TO LET HER OFF.

TED: IT WASN'T BAD FAITH BECAUSE THE JUDGE AGREED SHE CONFUSED THE DATES AND TIMES DUE TO STRESS.

THAT'S WHY SHE SAID SHE WAS AT THE TURNING POINT THING INSTEAD OF A COURT HEARING.

>> SHE POINTED OUT SHE HAD FAMILY ISSUES, A FAMILY MEMBER INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT OF SOME SORT, AND THE JUDGE LOOKED AT THAT AND SAID OKAY.

WE'VE SEEN IN CASES TIME AND TIME AGAIN, MAYBE TO THE LAYMAN OR MYSELF, THEY MAY LOOK FRIVOLOUS, JUDGES ARE HESITANT TO ISSUE THE SANCTIONS UNLESS THEY THINK THIS IS BLATANTLY OBVIOUS, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO STOP FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT BUT NOT STOP PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LEGITIMATE LAWSUIT WHEN BRINGING THE CASE.

IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE.

TED: JESSICA, DOES SHE HAVE A FUTURE IN ARIZONA POLITICS?

>> I NEVER RULE ANYONE OUT HERE, BUT I BELIEVE SHE'S WORKING WITH TURNING POINT NOW, SO THAT WOULD DEFINITELY GIVE HER A LEG-UP IN SOME AREAS OF THE STATE.

WHO KNOWS?

TED: YOU NEVER KNOW.

ANOTHER FORMER LAWMAKER, WAYNE, WAS IN THE NEWS, REGARDING COURT HEARINGS AND COURT PENALTIES.

LISA SUN?

>> YES, SHE RECEIVED 24 MONTHS PROBATION FOR BREAKING A RESTRAINING ORDER FILED AGAINST HER FROM FOLKS FROM TOLLESON, CITY EMPLOYEES FROM WAY BACK WHEN SHE WAS A LAWMAKER ACCUSED HER OF HARASSING THEM DURING A MEETING, SCREAMING AND CURSING AT THEM AND MAKING OFFHAND COMMENTS THAT SHE WANTED TO THROW ONE OF THEM OFF OF A BALCONY.

SHE GOT A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST HER.

APPARENTLY DURING A HEARING ABOUT THE RESTRAINING ORDER, CONFRONTED THEM AT A COFFEE SHOP NEARBY.

SHE SAYS SHE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THEM.

A JUDGE DIDN'T BUY THAT.

FOUND HER GUILTY OF VIOLATING IT AND NOW ON PROBATION.

>> LISA HAS THE SAME POLITICAL FUTURE AS OUR GOOD FRIEND JUSTINE.

THEY MAY GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING INTERNALLY LIKE JUSTINE IS DOING.

IN TERMS OF ELECTION, THEY BECOME THE BUTT OF A JOKE.

>> SHE'S ON A SCHOOL BOARD, THOUGH.

TED: DOES PROBATION MAKE SENSE AS FAR AS A PENALTY HERE?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK JAILING LAWMAKERS, HARD.

TO THE EXTEND YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, I HAVE THIS OVER YOUR HEAD FOR THE NEXT 24 MONTHS, IF YOU JAYWALK, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.

IT GOES BACK TO WHAT JUDGES WANT TO DO IN TERMS OF BAD FAITH OR ANYTHING ELSE.

I DON'T THINK JUDGES ARE INTERESTED IN PUNISHING PEOPLE IN THESE CASES.

I THINK THE AIM IS TO DETER FUTURE BAD ACTION, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

TED: OKAY, IT SEEMS LIKE SHE ALREADY PROVED ONCE THAT SHE WASN'T QUITE UP TO THAT.

>> THAT'S WHAT THE JUDGE SAID IN THE HEARING.

SHE SAID I'M PUNISHING YOU FOR BREAKING THIS RESTRAINING ORDER.

NONE OF THE PRIOR ALLEGATIONS FOR THIS EXACT ACT AND SHE WAS EXPLICIT WITH HER.

THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 24 MONTHS.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

SHE SAID AFFIRMATIVELY, THAT INCLUDES ESSENTIALLY EXTENDING THE RESTRAINING ORDER FOR THE 24 MONTHS, SHE CAN'T CONTACT THE PEOPLE.

>> WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF LAWMAKERS WIND UP IN LEGAL TROUBLE.

SHE'S THE LATEST.

TED: PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.