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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

A LOOK AT WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING POLITICAL RUMBLINGS FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION TWO WEEKS AFTER THIS YEAR'S VOTE.

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, THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

JOINING US MARK BRODIE OF KJZZ RADIO, WAYNE SCHUTSKY OF KJZZ RADIO AND MARY JO PITZL OF "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.COM.

THE OFFICE OF TOURISM, HOLY SMOKES, WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE?

>> LOOKING FOR A NEW DIRECTOR IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THERE WAS REPORTING BY THE ARIZONA AGENDA THIS WEEK THAT SHOWED THAT THERE WAS WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE PERSPECTIVE OF IMPROPRIETORS OF THE CONTRACT THAT GOES TO THE FORMER DIRECTOR'S FIRM THAT SHE'S NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS ANYMORE.

THE AMOUNT, THE OVERALL NUMBER OF A CONTRACT WAS PRETTY HIGH.

THE AMOUNT THAT THE FIRM GOT WAS LESS HIGH THAN THAT, SO IT REALLY TOOK OFF, AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, IT'S NOT GOOD, AND JUST SAID THIS MORNING, THE NOW FORMER DIRECTOR SAID SHE IS LEAVING.

TED: AND THE GOVERNOR SAID IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD AND IT'S NOT GOOD.

BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE BROTHER OF THE DIRECTOR -- THE BROTHER OF THE CEO OF THE DIRECTOR'S COMPANY GOT A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE FOR TOURISM, CORRECT?

>> SO BASICALLY, I BELIEVE HEART AND SOUL MEDIA, WHICH IS UNRELATED TO HER, GOT THE CONTRACT.

$700,000 FOR THE BIG REBRAND OF THE STATE.

ABOUT $27,000 OF THAT WAS SUBCONTRACTED TO THE ARTIST, THIS ARTIST IS THE BROTHER OF THE CEO OF YURIAS COMMUNICATIONS WHICH IS THE COMPANY THAT THE DIRECTOR FOUNDED AND NO LONGER INVOLVED DAY TO DAY BUT I BELIEVE IS STILL THE OWNER AS FAR AS THE CORPORATION RECORDS TO THAT.

>> SHE SAID SHE HAS NO OFFICIAL TIES.

SHE'S THE FOUNDER, CARRIES HER NAME.

TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE I KNOW A GUY, WHO MIGHT BE GOOD, A NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIST AND WANTED TO INCORPORATE NATIVE AMERICAN RT INDUSTRY INTO THE LOGO.

>> AND ALL YOU KNOW WHAT FLARES UP?

.

>> PRETTY MUCH.

THIS REPORTING COMES OUT, ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE HOUSE IS CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION, A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY AS ONE MIGHT EXPECT TOOK PLACE, AND YOU KNOW, SHE, OF COURSE, YURIAS WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS BECAUSE MOST OF THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN CONFIRMED, AND SEEMS LIKE IT BECAME CLEAR TO MOST INVOLVED THAT, BASED ON THIS, AND MAYBE OTHER STUFF TOO, BUT ESPECIALLY THIS, SHE WAS NOT GOING TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE STATE SENATE AND DECIDED THIS WAS NOT A GREAT PLACE TO BE ANYMORE.

TED: ESPECIALLY AFTER WARREN PETERSEN SAID THERE IS ZERO CHANCE.

>> I GOT A COPY OF HER RESIGNATION LETTER, AND SHE DENIES ALL OF THIS, WHEN I ENTERED OFFICE, THE BIG THING I WANTED TO DO IS THIS REBRAND.

IT CAME FROM FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF MONEY, AND SAID SHE I, AND MY COMPANY, DID NOT BENEFIT FINANCIALLY ANY WAY FROM THIS CONTRACT.

TED: SO BASICALLY, THIS IS A HINT THAT THE NOMINATION PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO GO THROUGH NORMAL CHANNELS THE NEXT TIME AROUND BE THE ELBOWS WON'T BE QUITE AS SHARP.

>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS UNLIKE ANY PREVIOUS DECADE, SO THERE IS WHOLE COURT BATTLE FOUGHT OVER IT, HOBBS CHAFFED HOW NOMINEES WERE TREATED.

SHE SUED.

THE COURT SAID WHAT YOU PUT IN PLACE, GOVERNOR, TO REPLACE THIS PROCESS ISN'T LEGAL, SO THE COMMITTEE WILL BE BACK TO WORK, THEY'LL GET A FULL LIST OF HER NOMINEES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, AND WE'LL SEE HEARINGS HAPPENING QUICKLY.

TED: IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, NOT GOOD, IS THAT AS FAR AS SHE CAN GO ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, SHE CLEARLY ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION, SHE SAW THE WRITING ON THE LAW AS MUCH AS ANYBODY ELSE DID.

AS WAYNE AND MARY JO POINTED OUT, HOW IT LOOKS IS LESS GOOD THAN WHAT IT ACTUALLY WAS.

IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

WHEN THE PAST THE SENATE SAYS THEY DON'T GET CONFIRMED, THAT'S A DEAD GIVEAWAY.

TED: BASICALLY FOR THOSE, AND HEARING REPUBLICANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIKE THE WAY THE NEW NORMAL RUNS, DOES THIS SHOW THAT SERIOUS VETTING IS REQUIRED AND MORE SO THAN PERHAPS SOME THINK HAS GONE ON IN THE PAST?

>> AND NOT NECESSARILY VETTING FOR THIS OTHER JOB BUT CAN THEY GET THROUGH THE COMMITTEE?

SO THEORETICALLY, YOU COULD SEE MODERATE TYPE OF CANDIDATES.

IN THE PAST, WE SAW, WHEN WE LOOK AT HOUSING, PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES ALIGNED WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO DO, WHICH MAKES SENSE, BUT MIGHT SEE MORE MODERATE CANDIDATES, MAYBE EVEN MODERATE REPUBLICANS NOMINATED FOR THE POSITIONS THAT HAVE A BETTER SHOT OF GETTING IN THE COMMITTEES.

TED: YOU THINK YOU MIGHT SEE A MODERATE REPUBLICAN?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S GOING TO FIND THEM.

IT'S BEEN ROUGH, LUCY ARIAS SAID THIS HAS BEEN A PAIN POINT THE NOMINATION PROCESS.

I DON'T KNOW, IF YOU'RE IN ALABAMA AND HIGHLY QUALIFIED FOR SOME LEVEL OF STATE GOVERNMENT, ARE YOU GOING TO RISK MOVING HERE, WHERE YOU MIGHT NOT GET CONFIRMED AND MIGHT BE OUT?

THAT SAID, THERE IS A LOT TO -- YOU NEED TO DO A GOOD VETTING OF THE CANDIDATES.

THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE WOULD PICK UP WITH AUDIT COMMITTEES, THAT KIND OF LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT BECAUSE IT'S SO FINE GRAIN, DEEP INTO HOW CONTRACTS ARE AWARDED.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN PULL THAT OUT OF SOMEBODY BRAND NEW TO AN AGENCY.

THERE IS A STRONG CASE FOR VETTING, BUT SOMETHING THE COMMITTEE OBJECTED TO HAVE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CANDIDATES' ABILITY TO DO THE JOB AT HAND.

TED: LET'S MOVE ON.

MARK, SOUNDS LIKE ADRIAN FONTES IS BEING WOOED, BUT HE'S ALLOWING THE WOO TO BE PITCHED WITHOUT BEING WOOED TOO FAR.

>> I CAN'T POSSIBLY FOLLOW THAT.

CAN WE HAVE TEN MINUTES BETWEEN ELECTIONS HERE, FROM THE TIME WE CANVASS ONE TO THE TIME WE TALK ABOUT THE NEXT.

THE STORY THAT POLITICO AND THE REPUBLIC HAD AS WELL AS THERE ARE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE CONCERNED THAT GOVERNOR HOBBS IS NOT THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE GOING INTO 2026, AND ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO STEP FORWARD IN A PRIMARY AND FONTES DIDN'T SAY YES BUT CERTAINLY DIDN'T SAY NO.

TED: YEAH, DIDN'T RULE IT OUT, DIDN'T RULE IT IN, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING IS HE'S BEING WOOED, LISTENING TO THE FOLKS THAT THE GOVERNOR PUT A LOT OF EGGS IN THE BASKET WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE AND ULTIMATELY LOST GROUND.

IF SHE WON THE SEATS WE WOULDN'T BE HEARING THE CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW.

HE'S SEEKING RE-ELECTION, ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES AS I POTENTIAL CHALLENGER ALSO SAID ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN RECENT DAYS, SHE'S ALSO PLANNING TO SEEK RE-ELECTION TO CURRENT OFFICE.

TED: INTRAPARTY PRIMARIES WITH AN INCUMBENT.

RARE?

>> YES.

I'M TRY TO THINK OF THE LAST TIME WE HAD ONE.

KEN BENNETT.

>> GOVERNOR DUCEY?

>> THAT'S TRUE.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN THAT PRIMARY IN 2014, SO THERE'S ONE.

BUT THEY'RE NOT REAL COMMON, AND DEMOCRATS ESPECIALLY DON'T.

OSTENSIBLY, THERE WAS A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN 2022 BUT MARCO LOPEZ SORT OF WAS OVERLOOKED A LOT IN THAT.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, AND JAKE HOFFMAN IS THINKING OF MAKING NOISES?

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?

>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT HE WOULD RUN FOR, WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF HE IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

WE'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, WARREN PETERSEN SAID HE IS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR AG, RODNEY GLASSMAN SAID HE IS RUNNING FOR AG.

TO MARY JO'S POINT ABOUT A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, THE POINT HAS BEEN MADE A FEW TIMES THIS WEEK THAT DEMOCRATS IN THIS STATE TRADITIONALLY AVOIDED MESSY PRIMARIES.

REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT TO THE SAME EXTENT BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN CAREFUL, THEY HAVE PRIMARIES BUT USUALLY ONE CANDIDATE THAT'S WELL-KNOWN LIKE A GOVERNOR HOBBS, AND OTHERS OR THEN CANDIDATE HOBBS AND OTHERS WHO ARE NOT AS COMPETITIVE.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, DEMOCRATS HAVE TRIED TO AVOID THE MESSY PRIMARIES, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THAT CONTINUES IN TWO YEARS.

TED: WANT TO GET BACK TO JAKE HOFFMAN, SOUNDS LIKE HE COULD MAKE NOISES TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR?

>> WE HAVE A PLATFORM WITH DINO COMMITTEE, HE'S BEEN GIVEN A PLATFORM TO SCRUTINIZE EVERY DECISION THE GOVERNOR MAKES WHICH WOULD GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A REEL FOR UPCOMING CAMPAIGN VIDEO, AND I BELIEVE EVEN SENATOR PETERSEN, WHO HAD FLOATED HE MIGHT RUN FOR AG, HE TOOK TO TWITTER, MAYBE A GOVERNOR RUN IN THERE AS WELL.

>> LET'S THROW IN CHARLIE KIRK FROM TURNING POINT.

TED: THAT'S RIGHT, PETERSEN FOR AG, PRETTY MUCH SAYS HE'S INTERESTED IN THAT, HASN'T HE?

>> OH, YEAH.

AS WAYNE SAID, YOU COULD THROW GOVERNOR IN THERE AS WELL.

WE'LL KNOW MORE WHEN WE SEE COMMITTEES FORMED, PAPERWORK FILED, WHO WILL FALL AWAY AND GIVE US LESS RUMORS TO TALK ABOUT AND FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO INTEND TO BE CANDIDATES.

TED: REAL QUICKLY WITH PETERSEN AND ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE'S BEEN IN THE BAR FOR A YEAR, USED TO BE FIVE YEARS, NOT THAT WAY ANYMORE?

>> CORRECT, THE SUPREME COURT GOT RID OF THAT REQUIREMENT.

HE'S BEEN A LICENSED ATTORNEY FOR A YEAR, AND HE ASSURES PEOPLE IF HE RUNS FOR AG, HE WILL MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS.

TED: MARK, BASICALLY, PETERSEN HAS GOT HIS EYES LOOKING UP, DOESN'T HE?

>> HE'S IN A GOOD SPOT, PETERSEN IS PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THAT COMES WITH GOOD BULLY PULPIT.

A LOT OF POWER IN TERMS OF PUSHING LEGISLATION, CRAFTING THE BUDGET, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WOULDN'T BE SURPRISING TO SEE HIM SEEK SOMETHING HIGHER THAN WHERE HE'S AT NOW.

>> WAYNE, THE DEFAMATION SUIT, THE LAKE RICHER DEFAMATION SUIT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TERMS WERE, IT SEEMS TO BE OVER AND EVERYONE IS EXPRESSING SATISFACTION.

>> EVERYONE IS MUM THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT INCLUDE KEEPING YOUR MOUTH SHUT.

WE CAN SAFELY ASSUME STEPHEN RICHER RECEIVED COMPENSATION, INDICATION HE WAS DEFAMED AND REACHING THAT DISCOVERY PHASE TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT HAS AFFECTED HIS LIFE IN MONETARY TERMS AND WHAT LAKE KNEW IN TERMS OF THOUGHT HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH, AND THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE DISCOVERY FACE WHICH WAS COMING UP.

TED: CAME AFTER LAKE LOST THE SENATE RACE.

>> A WEEK AFTER THE RACE WAS CALLED.

LET'S CLEAN ALL THIS UP.

TED: WASN'T THERE A HEARING FOR DAMAGES COMING UP CLOSELY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR.

THIS WAS GOING TO BE ON THE CALENDARS FOR 2025.

A LOT OF US IN THE MEDIA AND OTHERS WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW.

>> OF COURSE!

[LAUGHTER].

TED: THOSE TWO, AND TO THAT END, WHAT DOES THIS DO AS FAR AS THE NEXT ROUND OF WHATEVER CONSPIRACY COMES AROUND AND ALL SORTS OF CLAIMS, FALSE CLAIMS, APPARENTLY, AS FAR AS SUIT IS CONCERNED, FALSE CLAIMS, ARE MADE AND DEFAMATION SUITS ARE THREATENED?

>> I'M NOT A LAWYER BUT I WOULD ASSUME THAT ANYBODY WHO IS GOING TO MAKE CLAIMS LIKE THAT, SPECIFIC CLAIMS AS LAKE MADE ABOUT A SPECIFIC PERSON, MIGHT LOOK AT THIS CASE, AND POTENTIALLY THINK TWICE OR THINK MAYBE I SHOULD TAMP IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING THAT SHE CHOSE NOT TO BASICALLY SAID, I FORGET THE EXACT LEGAL PHRASE, SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS SOMETHING SHE HAD DONE WHICH LED TO THE ULTIMATE SETTLEMENT.

SO YEAH, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES AFTER THIS ELECTION.

IT'S TOUGH, I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE TOUGH FOR KARI LAKE TO SAY THE ELECTION IS RIGGED WHEN REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP DID SO WELL HERE AND ELSEWHERE, BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

TED: CHILLING EFFECT, PERHAPS?

>> POTENTIALLY, WE SAW A DOMINION SUIT WHICH WAS MASSIVE AND MANY CONSPIRACY THEORIES AFTER, THE SUCCESSFUL ELECTION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP IS GOING TO HAVE THE BIGGEST DAMPENING EFFECT ABOUT CONSPIRACY THEORIES OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

IT DID PROVIDE A DECENT TEST ON THE ANTI-SLAP LAW IN ARIZONA, STRENGTHENED THE LAW TO STOP PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO CRITICIZE THEM WITHOUT JUST CAUSE.

THE RICHER CAUSE SURVIVED THAT TEST.

THERE IS A LIMIT, PEOPLE CAN'T JUST LIE AND SLANDER PUBLIC OFFICIALS WITHOUT IMPUGNITY OF THE LAW.

TED: SHOWS THERE IS A LIMIT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHY HE WAS ABLE TO FILE HIS CLAIM.

THE MID TERMS, BETWEEN THE HAVE THAT MANY DEFAMATION CLAIMS, DOMINION AND THE KARI LAKE CASE AND CAN'T THINK OF ANY OTHERS.

TED: THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE HAVEN'T HAD IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I WONDER IF THE PLAYING FIELD CHANGED A LITTLE BIT JUST WITH THE FACT THAT SHE FORFEITED HERSELF AND -- >> I WOULD THINK AND I FEEL LIKE I MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CASE, TALK TO A GOOD ATTORNEY, MAKE SURE THE CASE SOUNDS SOLID AND THE ANTI-SLAP, AND FOR -- OR TO GET OVER THE HUMP WITH SOME KIND OF SETTLEMENT, BUT I THINK IT WILL -- TED: YEAH, MARK, WE HAD REPORTS AND THE REPUBLIC HAD REPORTS ABOUT THE DELAYS AND THE VOUCHER REIMBURSEMENTS, BIGTIME DELAYS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WONDERING WHAT'S THE HECK'S GOING ON?

>> FAMILIES FRONTING MONEY TO PAY FOR THINGS FOR THEIR STUDENTS, AND IT SEEMS, THIS IS AS YOU SAY, A REPUBLIC STORE THESE, IS CASE OF LOTS OF PEOPLE PUTTING IN CLAIMS, AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NOT ABLE TO PROCESS THEM QUICKLY ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO NOT HAVE TO PUT LOTS OF MONEY ON CREDIT CARDS AND WAIT WEEKS OR MONTHS TO GET REBURSED FOR IT.

TED: 90,000 OUTSTANDING REQUESTS?

>> ONCE YOU LOOK AT NUMBERS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROVIDED, NOT DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

ENROLLMENT WENT FROM 8,000 KIDS TO APPROACHING 100,000 ONCE IT EXPANDED TO APPROACHING EVERYONE, IT'S NOT HARD TO SEE WHY THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING PACE WITH PROCESSING APPROVALS.

>> THE BUDGET REQUESTS FOR THE COMING YEAR, THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR THAT PORTION OF DEPARTMENT OF ED OPERATIONS.

THEY'RE ENTITLED WHEN WE WENT TO UNIVERSAL VOUCHERS, THE LEGISLATURE PUT IN MONEY TO PAY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THAT, AND THEY HAVEN'T SPENT ALL THAT MONEY AND APPARENTLY NOT ASKING FOR MORE MONEY, THOUGH THERE'S ALL THIS BACKLOG OF REIMBURSEMENTS AND THE PARENTS GETTING ANGRY AND IMPATIENT.

TED: THAT WILL CHANGE, WON'T IT?

SOMEONE'S GOING TO SAY WE NEED TO FIX THIS, WE NEED MORE MONEY.

>> THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF HASN'T ASKED FOR IT.

THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR MIND.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY.

>> THIS IS A VOUCHER PROGRAM PLAGUED BY MISMANAGEMENT OR LEARNING PAINS, LEARNING CURVE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, SINCE THIS PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED EXPONENTIALLY AND COINCIDED WITH NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING INTO RUN IT AND GONE THROUGH THE SECOND DIRECTOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH EITHER PROCESSING GOING AWRY OR OTHER ISSUES, I GUESS, WITH THE SPENDING.

TED: HAVE WE HEARD FROM TOM HORNE ON THIS?

>> I FEEL LIKE -- DID YOUR COLLEAGUE SPEAK WITH HIM?

I'VE NOT.

I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT FROM THE DEPARTMENT, NOT A TON FROM HIM DIRECTLY.

>> MORE FROM THE DEPARTMENT.

HORNE IS ON TV PROMOTING ENROLLMENT, MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> THE BIG THING THEY'RE POINTING TO, THE NUMBERS ABOUT STAFFING VERSUS ENROLLMENT, THAT DOESN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT MARY JO BROUGHT UP, WHY AREN'T YOU SEEKING MORE PEOPLE?

ARE YOU TRYING AND NOT HIRING?

TED: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ONCE THE LAWMAKERS ARE IN SESSION, WE WILL GIVE YOU MORE MONEY WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT?

>> I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE ANSWERS YET, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME THERE ARE OBVIOUS FIXES GOING INTO A SESSION AND DIDN'T GET THEM.

ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE COMING OFF A BIG BUDGET DEFICIT SOLVED BY SLASHING BUDGETS ACROSS AGENCIES AND OTHER SPENDING.

HOW MUCH MONEY IS THERE TO ADDRESS THIS BEYOND WHAT AS MARY JO POINTED OUT IS ALLOCATED TO THEM IS UNCLEAR AT THIS POINT?

TED: WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FEDS RELEASING OUTLINE FOR THE COLORADO RIVER PLAN.

WE GOT TO GET THE LOWER BASIN STATES AND THE NORTHERN BASIN STATES TO LET'S FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, AND WE'VE DONE SHOW AFTER SHOW ON THIS, MARK, AS HAVE YOU, NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY BALL.

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?

>> THE FEDS, AS YOU SAY, RELEASED FIVE OPTIONS, FOUR REAL OPTIONS.

ONE IS THE DO NOTHING OPTION WHICH IS REQUIRED UNDER LAW.

WE COULD DO NOTHING, THAT'S THE ONE THING EVERYBODY CAN AGREE ON IS DOING NOTHING IS NOT REALLY AN OPTION, BUT WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES DESCRIBED THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION IN LOWER BASIN STATES AND UPPER BASIN STATES AS A CHASM.

SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS A DELIBERATE WORD.

I TALKED TO HIM AND HE REPEATED THAT WORD, A GIANT CHASM AND SAID IF WE CAN'T GET THIS DONE, WE'LL GO TO COURT AND LET THE COURTS FIGURE IT OUT, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY OF THE STATES WANT, INCLUDING ARIZONA.

THEY DON'T WANT THE FEDS TO IMPOSE SOMETHING.

HAVE THE FEDS SIGN OFF ON IT AND LIVE UNDER THE RULES.

THEY DON'T THE FEDS TO IMPOSE, IT CERTAINLY DON'T WANT THE COURTS TO IMPOSE IT.

TED: WOULD HE RATHER HAVE THE COURTS IMPOSE AS OPPOSED TO THE FEDS?

I KNOW THEY DON'T WANT ANY PART OF THE FED'S MANDATING?

>> HE SAID THIS IS A WAY TO TELL THE UPPER BASIN STATES, LOOK, WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT TRYING TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

WE THINK YOU NEED TO GIVE MORE, WE HAVE OFFERED TO MAKE A LOT OF SACRIFICES.

IN HIS OPINION, THE UPPER BASIN STATES HAVE NOT MADE ENOUGH SACRIFICES, AND IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO HAVE RISK, IF THE COURTS IMPOSE SOME, IT'S BAD FOR EVERYBODY, IN HIS OPINION, AND I THINK IN THE OPINIONS OF A LOT OF THE STATEMENT SO INSTEAD OF THAT, LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER, AND LET'S WORK TOGETHER A LITTLE MORE QUICKLY THAN WORKING TOGETHER SO FAR.

TED: PEOPLE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, THIS ISN'T LET'S DO SOMETHING HERE?

>> AN OUTLINE RELEASED A MONTH BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION IS GONE, I DON'T KNOW HOW SERIOUS PEOPLE ARE TAKING IT, HAVEN'T COME UP TO AN AGREEMENT, HOW DO THEY COME UP BEFORE JANUARY 20?

BUT IT STRUCK ME AS A HAIL MARY PLAY BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, HERE, PUTTING OUR CARDS ON THE TABLE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, TAKE IT IF YOU LIKE IT, YOU GOT ANOTHER ADMINISTRATION IN AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON THE TABLE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT PLAN WILL BE.

>> THE ONE THING HE SAID AND I'VE HEARD OTHER WATER PEOPLE SAY THIS AS WELL IS THEY DON'T EXPECT A LOT OF DISRUPTIONS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY POINTED IN THE PAST BETWEEN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THINGS GREED ON DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WERE SIGNED OFF ON DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

A LOT OF AREAS OF GOVERNMENT COULD SEE CHANGES, LET'S SAY, THEY'RE NOT EXPECT COLORADO RIVER TALKS TO BE HIGH ON THE LIST OF THINGS DISRUPTED OR CHANGED WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THE BIGGER POINT IS GETTING THE SEVEN STATES TO AGREE WITH SOMETHING THEY CAN LIVE WITH, AND ARIZONA SIGNALING THERE'S THIS TERM UNDER THE CURRENT DEAL THAT THE UPPER BASIN STATES SHOULD GIVE 7.5 MILLION ACRE FEET OF WATER TO THE LOWER STATES OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD AND ARIZONA SAYING WE MIGHT NEED THE WATER AS SOON AS 2027.

THERE'S A LITTLE MORE OF A PUSH.

I'M A BIG BELIEVER OF DEADLINES BRINGING ABOUT A SOLUTION MAY NOT BE PERFECT, BUT THESE GUYS ARE FACING DEADLINES AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY DO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

TED: HOW IS THIS PLAYING OUT AT THE CAPITOL, IN PREVIOUS SESSIONS, HOW IS THIS THING PLAYING OUT?

>> ALMOST LIKE THERE'S PARALLEL CONVERSATIONS GOING OWATER IS A HUGE ISSUE IN ARIZONA, BUT THIS IS KIND OF THE STATE NEGOTIATING WITH OTHER STATES ON THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL WITH FOLKS LIKE ADWR, AND THE CAPITOL, THEY'RE STARTING TO HASH OUT WHAT THEY CAN DO AT THE STATE LEVEL TO CONSERVE WATER, AUGMENT WATER, MY COLLEAGUE CAMRYN SANCHEZ WAS WATCHING A MEETING TODAY WHERE A RULE WAS APPROVED UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT HAS TO DO WITH HOW WATER CAN BE REGULATED IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY, SHE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST WEEK ON THE SHOW.

SHE GOT VERY ANIMATED.

THAT RULE WAS APPROVED THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE.

IT'S THE STATE RULES ON HOW WATER IS REGULATED IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IS WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CAPITOL.

TED: DEADLINES GET EVERYONE'S ATTENTION, IT'S INTERESTING, ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA HAVE BEEN AT LOGGERHEADS CONSTANTLY FOR DECADES.

WE'RE STARTING TO DO KUMBAYA WITH CALIFORNIA.

>> SEEMS LIKE CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

THE LOWER BASIN STATES ARGUING WITH THE UPPER BASIN STATES, ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

TED: BEFORE WE GO, QUICKLY, WHERE IS IT -- THERE IT IS.

MARICOPA COUNTY CANVASS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE LOTS OF FOLKS VOTED, BUT LOTS OF FOLKS CAME IN WITH THE EARLY BALLOTS, DROPPED THEM OFF.

WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM ALL OF THIS?

HAS ANYONE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THEM OVER HERE?

>> YOU MEAN THE PROPOSALS FOR NEXT YEAR?

TED: TALK ABOUT THAT, IF YOU CAN, PLEASE.

>> BECAUSE THE CANVASS AND THE OFFICIAL STATEWIDE CANVASS WILL HAPPEN ON MONDAY, AND THAT WILL CLOSE THE BOOK ON THIS ELECTION OR AT LEAST NOW THE LITIGATION CAN START, OR THE RECOUNTS CAN START.

THE BIG THING THAT EMERGED FROM THE ELECTION YEAR, WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHY IT TAKES SO LONG TO GET ALL THESE BALLOTS COUNTED?

REPRESENTATIVE COLIN HAD AN IDEA.

SENATOR PETERSEN HAD ONE.

TO SPEED IT UP, WE WANT TO BE LIKE FLORIDA WHERE YOU GET EVERYTHING COUNTED ON ELECTION NIGHT, WHICH I SUSPECT IS NOT QUITE TRUE.

YOU'VE HAD THE GOVERNOR, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE BOTH SAY WE DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE IT ANY LESS CONVENIENT FOR VOTERS, WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.

WE'LL SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE MIX MASTER AT THE LEGISLATURE.

SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE.

IF YOU WANT QUICK RESULTS, MAY HAVE TO GIVE UP THE CONVENIENCE OF THROWING YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT IN THE BIN ON ELECTION DAY AND RACING OUT OF THERE AS OPPOSED TO STANDING IN LINE AND MAILING IT IN EARLY.

TED: YEAH, GOT TO STOP IT RIGHT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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