>> Ted: NEXT, IT'S THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE WITH THE TOP STORIES INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF A BUDGET PASSED BY REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS.

THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE IS NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON" " GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE AND LOOKING AT THE TOP STORIES, JEREMY DUDA OF AXIOS PHOENIX AND MARK BRODIE OF STATION AND CAMRYN SANCHEZ AND WE'LL START WITH THE BUDGET AND THIS CAME DOWN LATE TODAY AND WHO GOT SUBPOENAED AND FOR WHAT?

>> THIS IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COUNCIL'S INVESTIGATION OF OVERTHROWING THE ELECTION RESULTS IN 2020 AND WENT TO SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BARELLI AND THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE ELECTION'S COMMITTEE AND THIS IS FOR DOCUMENTS RELATED TO, YOU KNOW, THE INVESTIGATION.

THEY WANT THEM TO GO TO D.C. TO TESTIFY.

THESE ARE THE LATEST IN A LOT OF SUBPOENAS WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE 2020 ELECTION FOR POLITICAL FIGURES IN MARICOPA COUNTY OFFICIALS AND FORMER LEADERSHIP IN THE LEGISLATURE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER FOLKS.

>> Ted: AND GO THERE, PRODUCE DOCUMENTS AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

>> A LOT OF THE DOCUMENTS THEY WANT HAVE BEEN PRODUCED FOR OTHER INVESTIGATIONS, THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE.

IT'S UNCLEAR THAT WHAT THEY WANT OR IF IT'S JUST A MATTER OF MAKING SURE THESE LAWMAKERS AND THE FORMER LAWMAKER KEEPS THE RECORDS AND MAKE SURE THEY PRODUCE THEM FOR THE NEW INVESTIGATION NOW.

>> Ted: CAMRYN, DID WE GET A RESPONSE AND TALKING ABOUT SPEAKER OF HOUSE AND DID ANYONE SAY ANYTHING?

>> WE'VE BEEN PROBING.

LITTLE BACK SO FAR.

THEY WANTED COMMUNICATIONS WITH RUDY GIULIANI AND OTHERS, SO, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT A LOT OF DETAILS YET AND WE'LL FIND OUT IF AND WHEN THEY'RE TESTIFYING IN D.C. >> Ted: RUDY GIULIANI IS ONE OF THE NAMES MENTIONED AND A GALLERY OF PEOPLE MENTIONED IN ALL OF THIS.

IMPACT AT ALL AT WORK AT THE LEGISLATURE?

THEY'LL BE IN D.C. FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND DOES THAT MEAN ANYTHING?

>> IT DIDN'T HAVE AN IMPACT LAST YEAR DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE, BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO STOP THE SESSION TO TESTIFY.

IF THAT HAPPENS, IT WILL BE A MUCH BIGGER THING AND NOT CLEAR WHEN THEY WOULD BE GOING.

>> Ted: THIS IS A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION HERE.

THIS IS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF INVESTIGATION.

>> THIS IS A SERIOUS INVESTIGATION ON THE BIGGEST OF INVESTIGATIONS WE'VE SEEN RELATED TO THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> Ted: LET'S MOVE ON THEN AND BIG STORY THIS WEEK, A BUDGET PASSED, THE GOVERNOR SAYS GIVE ME MY VETO STAMP, HUH?

>> IT TOOK LONGER TO VETO THAN OBSERVERS HAD OPENED, BUT SHE SAID FROM THE MINUTE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SAID THIS IS WHAT WE'LL DO, SHE SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO SIGN THAT.

WE'LL VETO THAT AND THE QUESTION NOW REALLY SEEMS TO BE FROM FOLKS THAT I'VE TALKED TO, IS THIS A GET IT OUT THEIR SYSTEM KIND OF THING?

SHE VETOED IT AND THEY CAN START NEGOTIATIONS ON A BUDGET, OR OTHER BILLS TO START MAKING PROGRESS TOGETHER?

OR IS THIS JUST A SIGN OF WHAT'S TO COME FOR THE REST OF THE SESSION IN TERMS OF GOVERNOR HOBBS MAYBE VETOING -- I MEAN, IT'S A GOOD START TO ANYONE WHO THINKS SHE'LL BREAK THE REPORT BY FORMER GOVERNOR THAT NAPOLITANO.

>> Ted: THIS WAS A CONTINUATION OF THE PREVIOUS BUDGET, SO TO SPEAK.

>> WELL, ALL OF THE ONGOING FUNDING, BUT NOT THE ONE-TIME FUNDING AND LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WOULD HAVE BEEN BIGGER AND THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OR THE SKINNY BUDGET THAT WAS VETOED AND BREAKING NEWS BUT NOT BREAKING NEWS BECAUSE LIKE WE SAID, THIS HAS BEEN THE PLAN FROM DAY ONE AND THE RESPONSE IS WHAT WE EXPECTED THE REPUBLICANS SAID, WELL, KATIE HOBBS DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SHUTTING DOWN AND WE'LL GO BACK TO BUSINESS.

SHE DID SAY SHE WOULD NEGOTIATE WITH THE LEADERSHIP, THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT PETERSON TOLD ME THEY HAVEN'T SET UP MEETINGS SO FAR AND HAVEN'T BEEN REACHED OUT TO SO FAR.

>> Ted: SHE SAYS THIS IS BASICALLY KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD SO FAR.

YEAR ME, WE HEARDWHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT, JEREMY?

>> THE TERM I KEEP HEARING DOWN AT THE CAPITOL IS POLITICAL THEATER.

EVERYBODY KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

I DON'T THINK LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP HAD ANY THOUGHT EXCEPT THEY WOULD MAKE KATIE HOBBS VETO THIS.

TO WHAT PURPOSE, I'M NOT SURE.

THEY SAID THIS IS TO ENSURE THE GOVERNMENT WOULDN'T SHUT DOWN.

THIS WOULD BE A LONG SESSION, WITH DIVIDED GOVERNMENT AND NARROW AUTHORITIES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT THIS IS SUCH A DRAMATIC DEPARTURE.

YOU DON'T JUST START WITH A DEPARTURE WITHOUT ANY NEGOTIATIONS AND AND THE HER TO PASS IT.

THAT'S ABSURD TO THINK THAT WOULD EVER HAPPEN.

SO THEY'VE GOT A LONG TIME TO GO BEFORE NEGOTIATIONS.

BUT FOR THEM TO SAY KATIE HOBBS NOT TRYING TO HEAD OFF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

>> Ted: GOVERNOR SAYING THIS IS AN INSULT TO THOSE IN ARIZONA AND LET'S GET TO WORK AND WILL THAT INVITATION BE TAKEN UP?

>> IF THEY PASS A BUDGET, THEY'LL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE SHE'S NOT GOING TO SIGN SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T MEET AT LEAST SOME OF WHAT SHE WANTS.

THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE WON'T JUST GIVE HER EVERYTHING SHE WANTS.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING, I KEEP HEARING, ALSO, THAT THIS IS PRE-POSTURING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEPOSIT SHUTDOWN.

EVERYONE TRYING TO IN JANUARY STARTING TO LAY THE BLAME FOR THE OTHER SIDE IF THERE'S NOT A BUDGET BY JUNE 30th.

>> Ted: EXPLAIN THIS TO ME, IF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS NOTHING GETS DONE AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE STILL PASSED THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET AND NOTHING GETS DONE AFTERWARDS, HOW IS IT THAT THE GOVERNOR IS THE ONE SHUTTING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT?

IT WOULD SEEM TO BE BOTH SIDES WOULD BE SHUTTING DOWN?

IT THINK EVERYBODY WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO FINGER POINTING.

IF IT GOES WRONG, THE REPUBLICANS WILL SAY THIS IS YOUR FAULT AND THE DEMOCRATS WILL SAY, THIS IS YOUR FAULT.

WILL ANYONE APPRECIATE THAT?

NO.

BUT LET'S SEE WHETHER PEOPLE CARE.

>> Ted: WE HEARD ON THE SHOW, AS WELL, FROM A REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP THAT THIS IS A BIPARTISAN BUDGET AND THE DEMOCRATS AGREED TO THIS.

>> NOT THESE DEMOCRATS.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: I KNOW, BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND MISSING THE FACT, IT'S NOT THE SAME LEGISLATURE AND NOT THE SAME GOVERNOR.

>> AND ALSO TECHNICALLY TECHNICALLY, THIS IS NOT THE SAME BUDGET ANYONE IS.

DIFFERENT GOVERNOR AND A LITTLE BIT OF A STRETCH.

>> Ted: DOES THE GOVERNOR WIN BY SAYING THIS IS EMBARRASSING AND NOT MOVING THIS STATE FORWARD?

WHO IS WINNING THIS THING RIGHT NOW?

>> I'M NOT SURE ANYONE IS WINNING RIGHT NOW.

TO SOME DEGREE, KATIE HOBBS CAN CLAIM NOBODY TRIED TO NEGOTIATE THIS WITH ME.

I MEAN, IT WAS A BIPARTISAN BUDGET LAST YEAR.

IT'S A DIFFERENT YEAR, DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, DIFFERENT SURPLUSES DIFFERENT GOVERNOR OF A DIFFERENT PARTY WITH DIFFERENT PRIORITIES AND IF SHE WERE TO SIGN THIS -- FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, THIS IS A BACK-STOP AND WE DON'T HAVE A SHUTDOWN, SHE LOSES ALL OF HER LEVERAGE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND THE ENTIRE POINT IS BOTH SIDES HAVE TO GIVE A LITTLE AND TO TAKE A LITTLE, BUT MOST OF THE REPUBLICANS WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ADJOURN WITH THIS BUDGET AND NOT SPEND ANYMORE MORE MONEY.

>> Ted: AND BY THE WAY, THIS BUDGET DID NOT PASS THE FIRST TIME THROUGH AND HAD TO HOLD IT BACK BECAUSE ONE LAWMAKER SAID SHE WOULDN'T VOTE ON ANYTHING UNTIL, I DON'T KNOW, THE ELECTION AS CHANGED WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

>> SOUNDS LIKE LEADERSHIP PROBABLY TWISTED HER ARM.

SHE WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT SAID SPENDING HAD GONE UP AND MADE A STATEMENT AFTER SHE WON HER ELECTION SAYING SHE WOULDN'T VOTE FOR ANYTHING UNTIL THEY HOLD A NEW ELECTION WHICH WON'T HAPPEN EVER, NOT UNTIL NOVEMBER OF 2022.

SHE MET WITH SPEAKER TOMER FOR AWHILE AND SOUNDS LIKE COOLER HEADING PREVAILED AND CONVINCED HER TO STAND WITH FELLOW REPUBLICANS.

>> Ted: THE HARD RIGHT PROBABLY NOT AS HARD WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT?

>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WITH THE SCHOOL SPENDING LIMIT, THE SPENDING LIMIT WITH THE FREEDOM CAUCUS WOULD NEVER SUPPORT IT AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE INTERESTING STORYLINES INTO THIS AND IN TERMS OF HOW THIS WOULD PLAY OUT.

>> Ted: CAMRYN, WE HAD THE NOMINEE FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

>> HEALTH SERVICES?

>> Ted: YES, THIS NEWLY FORMED COMMITTEE TO VET NOMINEES AND KIND OF GIVE HER THE ONCE OVER TWICE AND THE SENATE SAYS NO AND WHAT'S GOING OVER HERE?

>> SO WE HAVE THE DINO COMMITTEE, AND SOMEONE HAD FUN NAMING IT AND GRILLED DR. CULLEN FOR MOSTLY HER RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.

AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT THE SENATE REJECT HER.

THE VOTE WAS PARTY LINE, AND OBVIOUSLY THE REPUBLICANS REJECTED AND THE DEMOCRATS WANTED HER TO GO FORWARD.

THERE WAS A BIT OF A KERFUFFLE BECAUSE DEMOCRATS WERE SAYING, WAIT, SHE'S BEEN WITHDRAWN.

SO APPARENTLY, HOBBS HAD CULLEN WITHDRAWN AT 12:59 AND THE FLOOR STARTED AT 1:00.

I MEAN, IN MY MIND, IT WAS A NO, I'M NOT FIRED, I QUIT, SITUATION.

>> Ted: IS THERE A TACTILE SITUATION TO BE RENOMINATED AND WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> I THINK HOBBS HAS TO PICK A NEW PERSON AND HOBBS WAS NOT HAPPY AND MADE THAT CLEAR AND COMPLAINING AND SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULDN'T FIND ANYONE BETTER QUALIFIED.

>> Ted: JEREMY, REPUBLICANS CALLED HER A "MEDICAL TYRANT" AND SAID SHE LIED IN HER TESTIMONY AND THIS WAS ROUGH FROM THE GET-GO, WASN'T IT?

>> I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR COULD HAVE PICKED SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE MORE PERFECTLY DESIGNED TO ANGER THE REPUBLICANS, WHOSE VOTE SHE NEEDS TO CONFIRM THIS.

THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OVERSAW PIMA COUNTY'S RESPONSE FOR MOST OF THE PANDEMIC AND PIMA COUNTY, IF YOU RECALL, BUTTED HEADS UNDER GOVERNOR DUCEY AND WANTED TO GO FURTHER THAN THE STATE GOVERNOR DID AND OVERSAW THAT RESPONSE AND IMPLEMENTED AND GAVE A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

HAD A LOT OF CHOICE WORDS ABOUT FOLKS WHO OPPOSED IT.

OF COURSE, THE REPUBLICANS WILL OPPOSE IT AND GROW ALL OF KATIE HOBBS' NOMINEE AND I DON'T THINK THEY'LL GIVE EVERYONE ONE OF THESE FOLKS THE SAME TREATMENT.

DR. CULLEN WAS A SPECIAL CASE FOR A LOT OF THEM.

>> Ted: AGAIN, HER CREDENTIALS, I MEAN, THE ASSISTANT SURGEON GENERAL, INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES AND PIMA COUNTY.

IF YOU WANT A HEALTH EXPERT, YOU'VE GOT A HEALTH EXPERT AND SHE WAS SHAMING BUSINESSES IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A MASK, FOLLOW THE MASK ORTHOPEDIC ORDINANCECY.

FROM THE GET-GO, IT SEEMED LIKE A DONE DEAL.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS A HUGE SURPRISE THAT IF ANY OF GOVERNOR HOBBS' NOMINEES WOULD NOT GET THROUGH, CULLEN WOULD BE THE ONE.

THERE'S SOME INTERESTING DYNAMICS WITH PINA COUNTY WITH THE LAYERS OF GOVERNMENT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THERE'S A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND A HEALTH DIRECTOR AND THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.

SO YOU KNOW, SHE SEEMINGLY TOOK THE FALL FOR SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT OTHERS MADE.

SHE MAY BE ENDORSED THEM AND IN SOME CASES, I'M SURE, DID APPROVE OF SOME OF THE DECISIONS.

THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY HER DECISIONS.

YEAH, MINE, THIS WAS NOT MUCH OF A SHOCK THAT SHE GOT REJECTED AND ULTIMATELY WITHDREW.

THE REAL QUESTION FOR GOVERNOR HOBBS, TO CAMRCN'S POINT, NOMINATED SOMEBODY ELSE.

DOES SHE HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY THAT HAS NO RECORD WITH THE PANDEMIC?

>> Ted: IS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO FARCE FAR AS COVID, WE WENT TOO FAR WITH THIS AND THAT?

>> I THINK JEREMY IS RIGHT, PEOPLE THAT ARE LESS FRUSTRATING FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

[ Laughter ] >> WHO ARE MAYBE A LITTLE LESS OF A TARGET, SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IT WON'T BE THIS BRUTAL EVERY TIME WE HAVE A DHS NOMINEE.

OBVIOUSLY COVID WILL BE AN ISSUE AND THERE'S NO WAY WE WON'T KEEP TALKING ABOUT COVID WITH THIS PARTICULAR APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WHOLE POLITICAL ANGLE.

>> Ted: REPUBLICANS MENTION ED THIS AND SOME DEMOCRATS, AS WELL, THAT SHE DIDN'T SEEM ALL THAT PREPARED FOR THE ON ONSLAUGHT.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO GROW ALL THE NOMINEES AND WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO GRILL HER HARD.

SHE DIDN'T SEEM TO EXPECT ABOUT PEOPLE OPPOSING VACCINES AND MADE A COMMENT ABOUT NOT TENDING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, WHICH SEEMS MINOR.

THESE FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING TO HANG HER UP ON.

THEY'RE GIVING HER MORE AMMUNITION AT THAT POINT.

>> Ted: AMMUNITION AGAINST THE GOVERNOR SAYING DIDN'T PREPARE HER.

>> I UNDERSTAND WHY PETERSON SAID SHE WAS A LIAR.

OH, YEAH, I WAS THERE.

AND THAT WAS AWKWARD.

SHE DIDN'T STAND BY HER OWN DECISIONS.

HOFFMAN ASKED HER IF IT WAS WORTH IT AND SHE WOULDN'T SAY YES.

I EXPECTED HER TO SAY YES, I THINK I SAVED LIVES AND DIDN'T SAY THAT.

SHE LET THEM ACCUSE HER OF ALL OF THIS STUFF.

>> Ted: WE'LL SEE WHAT THE NEXT CANDIDATE RUNS INTO.

UNTIL THEN, WE HAD THE GOVERNOR VALIDATING CONTRACTS FROM THE PREVIOUS GOVERNOR.

THESE ARE FROM THE AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT, COVID FUNDS THAT IS AN INTERESTING PLAY BY GOVERNOR DUCEY, WASN'T IT?

>> WELL, SO THE BACK-STORY AND THE TWITTER VERSION IS THAT HE HAD EXTENDED SOME CONTRACTS AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET A COMPETITIVE BID ON IT.

BUT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DATE AND THE HOBBS' TEAM FOUND THIS WERE A NUMBER OF CONTRACTS FELL WITHIN A THREE-DAY PERIOD AND RIGHT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, RIGHT BEFORE GOVERNOR DUECY LEFT OFFICE THAT DIDN'T FALL WITHIN THIS PROVISION THEY WERE POTENTIALLY ABLE TO INVALIDATE.

SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ONES THAT, I WOULD IMAGINE, GOVERNOR HOBBS DOESN'T OBJECT TO GETTING MONEY.

BUT IT'S JUST AN INTERESTING SITUATION ALL AROUND.

>> Ted: A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WE'RE TALKING?

>> 219 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF A GOTCHA THIS IS OR IF THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT THINGS IN ORDER.

SURE, COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD ONE AND DIDN'T, OK. >> Ted: SHE'S SAYING BY GIVING OUT THE MONEY TO THESE PARTICULAR AGENCIES AND IN A WAY THAT IT WAS DONE, NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STATE AND THAT PHRASE WAS USED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.

>> WE CAN MOVE ON FROM THIS AND ARPA WAS WAS USED, TOO.

>> Ted: AS SHE SEES FIT.

>> SHE WASN'T THRILLED THAT THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION, IN GOVERNOR HOBBS EYES, TIED HER HANDS TO ALLOCATE THIS FEDERAL MONEY.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME ASPECT OF, WELL, THIS GIVES HER AN IDEA TO DO FROM THE START.

>> Ted: AND MONEY TO PEOPLE THAT GOT THE MONEY.

DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THE MONEY HAS TO GO AWAY.

JEREMY, DON BOWLS, THE INCIDENT, AND WHY THERE'S A MEMORIAL TO HIM.

>> HE WAS A LONG TIME INVESTIGATIVE REPORT AT THE ARIZONA REPORTER IN THE 1960'S AND '70'S AND UNCOVERED MAFIA INFLUENCE, LAND FRAUD, A LOT OF BAD STUFF.

IN 1976, HE WAS LURED TO A HOTEL WHO HAD INFORMATION ABOUT CORRUPTION AND THE SOURCE DIDN'T SHOW, THERE WAS A BOMB AND BLEW UP AS HE WAS LEAVED, HE DIED.

A COUPLE DAYS LATER, A COUPLE FORMER COLLEAGUES OF ME FROM THE ARIZONA AGENDA, THEY WERE PUSHING A BILL TO CREATE A MONUMENT TO HIM AT THE WESLEY PLAZA.

THERE'S A HOUSE VERSION AND SENATE VERSION.

THE HOUSE VERSION MOVES IT ALONG FINE AND THEY WOULD NOT GIVE THAT A HEARING AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAPITOL MALL, THE HOUSE, YOU HEARD A LOT OF SKEPTICISM ABOUT WHY SHOULD WE CREATE A MONUMENT TO CONSCIENCE -- I THINK HE WAS JUST A REPORTER.

I THINK HE DID A LOT AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE DID, THERE SHOULD BE A MONUMENT.

>> Ted: FROM JACQUELINE PARKER, THE ONLY THING THIS GUY ACCOMPLISHED, HE WAS JUST A REPORTER AND NOT LOOKING INTO WHO THIS REPORTER WAS.

I THINK IT GOT OUT OF COMMITTEE, UNANIMOUSLY, DID IT NOT IN.

>> IN THE HOUSE.

SO IT'S NOT DEAD YET BECAUSE THE SECOND VERSION, BUT IT HAS TO GO TO THE SENATE NOW.

SO IF IT GETS ASSIGNED TO GOV, IT'S THE SAME THING.

SO MANY WAYS FOR BILLS TO BE REVIVED, THAT IT'S NOT REALLY DEAD, DEAD, UNTIL IT'S DEAD A FEW TIMES.

SO STILL POSSIBLE.

>> Ted: AND I BELIEVE, WAS IT BARBARA PARKER, HER MOTHER ACTUALLY SUGGESTED RUSSELL PIERCE GET A MONUMENT?

>> THAT WAS A COMMENT IN CAUCUS AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS BILL, ALL IT DOES IS SAY THAT THERE CAN BE A MEMORIAL.

IT DOESN'T ALLOCATE ANY MONEY.

IF IT PASSING, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DESIGN IT AND SUPPORTERS WOULD HAVE TO MAKE EVERYTHING HAPPEN.

THIS JUST AUTHORIZES IT TO BE IN THE MALL.

IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE IT WOULD HAPPEN, EVEN IF THE BILL PASSES.

>> Ted: WHAT DO YOU THINK, JEREMY?

WILL THEY BASICALLY SAY NO, WE DON'T NEED TO RECOGNIZE DON BOWLS, FOR GOODNESS SAKES?

>> I THINK IT'S ASHAME WHY HE WAS KILLED.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THIS ISN'T JUST -- IT'S BAD ENOUGH A RECORDER WAS ASSASSINATED AND WHAT THAT REPRESENTS IN THIS COUNTRY AND NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN AMERICA.

THAT'S AN ATTACK ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE PILLARS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY AND A LOT OF FOLK, NOT HUGE FANS OF THE PRESS THESE DAYS AS WE HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'VE HEARD THAT, I THINK.

BUT THE CONCEPT OF A FREE PRESS AND EVEN FROM SOME REPUBLICANS NOT FANS OF A LOT OF OUR WORK.

WE HEARD THAT, A FREE PRESS IS IMPORTANT AND THE FREE SPEECH, FIRST AMENDMENT AND STAND BY THAT.

>> Ted: THIS GUY, INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION, PRESIDENT FORD MENTIONED IT AND A GANG OF REPORTERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORD CAMEWORLD CAME INTO THE ARIZONA TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT THERE'S PUSHBACK AND I THINK THERE'S FOLKS AT THE CAPITOL THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHO DON IS.

PROP 400 AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS EITHER AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> THE HALF CENT MARICOPA COUNTY EXTENSION THAT HAS TO BE APPROVED END OF 20 YEARS, STARTED IN THE '80'S AND THE ONLY COUNTY THAT HAS TO HAVE THIS APPROVED IN THE WAY THAT IT.

IT GOES TO THE LEGISLATURE FIRST, AND GOES TO THE MARICOPA COUNTY VOTERS AND THE TASK CONTINUES HAS IT HAS BEEN.

SO IT EXPIRES, I THINK, IN THIS 2026.

THEY TRIED TO GET IT DOWN NOW AND LAST YEAR AND SENATOR PACE WAS THE UNFORTUNATE PERSON WHO TAKE THAT ON AND SPENT A LONG TIME TRYING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY AND THE TRUCKS WANT MORE PARKING AND THIS TOWN WANTS THIS ROAD TO DO THAT THING, WHATEVER.

IT WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE FINE, BUT THEN IT WAS SURPRISINGLY VEERED BY GOVERNOR DEUCECY WHICH WAS UNEXPECTED AND WE'RE NOT SURE WHY.

THIS YEAR,, REPRESENTATIVE COOK IS WORKING ON IT AND COOK HELD HIS IN THE HOUSE.

AND FARNSWORTH WASN'T POPULAR WITH DEMOCRATS AND MAG IS MARICOPA COUNTY OF GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATURE IS TRYING TO TELL THEM TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> Ted: MAGAZINE WANTS AND CITY WANTS 40 FOR TRANSIT.

>> 40.4.

>> Ted: AND SOME ARE SAYING 5 OR 10%.

>> THE BILL THAT DIED IN COMMITTEE WAS 5 FOR LIGHTRAIL.

IF YOU AUTHORIZE THIS, IT'S NOT WORKABLE.

WE HAD GILES ON AIR SAYING LOOK, YOU CAN'T HAVE 10, 20, 30 LANES OF FREEWAYS, IT'S NOT WORKABLE AND NO TRANSIT AND EVEN IN COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BUS SERVICE.

THEY ALL AGREED TO THIS PLAN THAT MAG THINKS WE SHOULD DO.

SO JUST LET US CALL THE ELECTION AND LET THE VOTERS DECIDE IF THEY STILL LIKE THIS.

>> Ted: WE HAVE TO GET THIS DONE BY 2024 BECAUSE IT HAS TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

>> IT WILL EXPIRE IN 2025 AND NO ROADS, NO LIGHTRAILS AND THAT GOES AWAY IF THIS DOESN'T GET EXTENDED AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THIS IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, GET THE THINGS THEY WANT AND THEY PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO CRAFTING THIS PROPOSAL FOR WHATEVER EVERYONE WANTS AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, LIKE, ROADS AND FRIDAYS FREEWAYS AND IF YOU LIVE IN PHOENIX, YOU'RE STILL PAYING THAT TAX AND NOT GETTING THE MAINTENANCE FOR BUS LINES AND LIGHTRAIL EXTENSION THAT MIGHT MATTERS TO YOU IF IT HAS THAT.

>> Ted: HASN'T IT BEEN 40% FOR LIGHTRAIL AND MASS TRANSIT?

>> THE SIDE EFFECT IS THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDING TIED TO THAT, IF THIS PASSES, THAT MONEY GOES AWAY.

>> Ted: YEAH, YEAH.

>> I JUST THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING TOPIC BECAUSE I NAIVELY WALKED IN THINKING THIS WOULDN'T BE A BIG DEAL AND THEY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I DIDN'T THINK WOULD BE SO PARTISAN AND THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF TRANSIT BECAME SUCH A BIG THING.

THE FREEDOM CAUCUS SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO EXCEPT MONEY BECAUSE THE WOKE LIBERALS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD ATTACH TRANSGENDERS TO THE MONEY AND I WAS LIKE, WHOA!

I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD HEAR THAT IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

IT'S USUALLY SO CALM, BUT NO, THIS WHOLE TRANSIT ISSUE IS A BIG DEAL.

THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, TRANSIT VERSUS ROE AND DEMOCRATS VERSUS REPUBLICANS.

>> Ted: THAT'S THE LAST TIME THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THIS.

BEFORE WE GO, THE HOUSE COMMITTEE BLOCKED THE LEASE OF LANDS TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND COMPANIES.

AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE SAUDI ARABIA AND THAT WASN'T ON THE LIST.

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

THERE'S THIS NATIONAL TREND OF STATES TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT PARTICULAR FOREIGN COUNTRIES CAN'T BUY LAND OR HAVE A CERTAIN PRESENCE IN THEIR STATES AND TO AN EXTENT THIS SEES LIKE A CONTINUATION OF THAT.

>> Ted: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ATTEMPT.

THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON WITH CHINA, AS WELL.

YOU HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS HERE.

>> IN THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT, WE HAD A BILL FROM ROGERS FROM HOFFMAN AND AN AMENDMENT SAYING PEOPLE FROM CHINA, IRAN, VENEZUELA, CUBA, SAUDI ARABIA, SYRIA AND A FEW OTHER COUNTRIES, I THINK, WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BUY PROPERTY IN ARIZONA REGARDLESS THEIR COMMUNIST OR GOVERNMENT.

SO JUST A RANDOM CUBAN GUY CAN'T ANYMORE AND THAT'S NOT CONSTITUTIONAL EVEN THOUGH IT HASN'T GONE TO THE FLOOR.

>> Ted: IT'S NOT CONSTITUTIONAL.

>> IT'S NOT.

>> Ted: WE'LL SEE HOW EVERYONE IN THE STATE FEELS HOW IT LOOKS ARIZONA LOOKS WELCOMING.

WE'LL STOP IT RIGHT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

♪♪