>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA, IT'S OF THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE AND A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING BIBLES AND TAMALES AND THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE 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.

JOINING US IS CAMRYN SANCHEZ OF THE CAPITOL TIMES AND HOWIE ROBERTS OF CAPITAL IMMEDIATELY YAMEDIASERVICES AND LAURIE ROBERTS.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL GET TO BIBLES AND TAMALES AND THAT'S THE INTEREST AT THE LEGISLATURE BUT FIRST WE'LL GET TO YOU.

>> HI.

>> Ted: HI.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT YOU ON THE PROGRAM AND OTHERS HAVE, AS WELL.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU CAN SAY AND WHAT YOU CAN TELL US, AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT THE SITUATION BETWEEN THE RESTRAINING ORDER FILED AND APPROVED, FILED BY SENATOR WENDY ROGERS AND THE CITY JUDGE, THAT YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT AND WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT CAN WE STAY?

>> I WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY AWAY FROM HER HOUSES, NOT HER SPECIFICALLY.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO ABOUT MY SENATE WORK, WHICH IS NICE, BECAUSE THAT WAS ANY FIRST CONCERN.

MY FIRST CONCERN.

I THINK MOST OF WHAT WAS IN THE ARTICLE EXPLAINS THE SITUATION AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHERE IN THE LEGAL PROCESS, WHICH IS THE REASON I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COMMENT.

THERE'S A HEARING ON MAY 10th MAY 10th IN FLAGSTAFF IN THE AFTERNOON.

COME ON DOWN.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: YES?

>> I CAN EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

HERE YOU HAVE A YOUNG REPORTER WHO IS DOING HER JOB.

HE'S A PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST AND DOING AN INVESTIGATION, ENTIRELY A LEGITIMATE INVESTIGATION INTO A WHETHER A STATE SENATOR LIVES IN HER LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT.

SHE FOUND HER DOCUMENTATION TO DISCOVER THIS LEGISLATOR, WENDY ROGERS WHO CLAIMS TO LIVE IN A TRAIL IN HER DISTRICT HAS LIVED FOR A LONG TIME, IN A HOUSE IN TEMPE, AND IN JANUARY, BOUGHT A $750,000 IN CHANDLER.

AND SIGN ADD SIGNED A PIECE OF PAPER, CURRENTLY LIVING IN TEMPE.

NOT ONLY AGAINST THE STATE LAW FOR A LEGISLATOR NOT TO LIVE IN THEIR DISTRICT, BUT THIS LEGISLATOR IS COLLECTING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A DAY IN PER DIEM PAYMENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO COME HERE AND LIVE.

THERE ARE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS OF STATE LAW AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF TABLE TABLE MONEY AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INAPPROPRIATE HAD SHE NOT GONE TO SENATOR ROGERS' VARIOUS HOUSES AND SHOULD GIVE HER A CHANCE TO TELL HER SIDE OF THE STORY.

>> Ted: THAT IS WHY YOU DID WHAT YOU DID WAS FOR AN INVESTIGATION, A STORY, RESEARCH, INFORMATION, AS TO WHERE THIS STATE SENATOR LIVED, CORRECT?

>> YEAH.

IT ALL STARTED WITH THE PER DIEM.

I DID A PUBLIC RECORD'S REQUEST FOR MARCH FOR EVERYONE'S PER D IRKPER DIEM.

SHE HAPPENED TO BE ON THE HIGHER END AND I DID SOME DIGGING AND I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO BECAUSE RESIDENCY STUFF IS SO COMPLICATED AND THINGS CERTAINLY TUMBLED ALONG.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL OF THIS, HOWIE?

>> IN GENERAL, I DON'T SHOW UP AT LAWMAKER'S HOMES BECAUSE I'LL CATCH THEM IN THE PARKING LOT AND I FOLLOWED ONE TO LUNCH ONE DAY JUST TRYING TO GET THEM TO ANSWER A QUESTION.

BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE FACT BECAUSE OF THE QUESTION OF WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

NOW, AS MY COLLEAGUES KNOW, THE COURTS HAVE SAID, RESIDENCY IS INTENT AND WHERE DO YOU INTEND TO RESIDE?

PEOPLE HAVE SUMMER HOMES AND MANY LAWMAKERS IN RURAL AREAS HAVE A RESIDENCE IN THE PHOENIX AREA SO THEY DON'T COMMUTE.

THIS IS A CRUCIAL QUESTION, THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES OF LIVING IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT.

THE ISSUE OF PERDIEM AND ARE YOU LYING TO YOUR RESIDENTS?

YOU KNOW, I'VE COVERED LAWMAKERS OVER THE YEARS WHO BOUGHT A HOUSE OUT IN LITCHFIELD PARK AND BOUGHT A MATTRESS TO LIVE IN THAT DISTRICT.

IS THAT THEIR RESIDENCE?

IF VOTERS WANT TO SUPPORT SOMEONE, BUT DO YOU LIVE IF THE AREA YOU CLAIM TO RESPECT?

>> Ted: YOU WOULD THINK LAWMAKERS WOULD BE INTERESTED, ESPECIALLY IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND YOU DON'T GET THAT EXTRA PER DIEM AND SHE IS.

>> THE REPUBLICANS WON'T CARE BECAUSE SHE'S THE 16th VOTE.

THEY HAVE NO VOTES TO SPARE IF THEY WANT TO PASS A REPUBLICAN AGENDA AND THEY CAN'T GET ON WENDY ROGERS' BAD SIDE.

SHE NEVER LIKED THE MEDIA AND WE SHOULD ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS AND SHOULD BE FAIR.

SHE HAS SPUN THIS INTO THIS VIOLENT, POTENTIAL VIOLENT REPORTER STALKING ME.

SHE AND HER FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS FEEL LIKE THEIR LIVES ARE THREATENED AND THE ONLY THING UNDER THREAT IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT BECAUSE YOU HAD A GOOFY JUDGE IN FLAGSTAFF WHO DECIDED TO SLAP THIS INJUNCTION TELLING HER SHE COULDN'T GO TO THESE PLACES WITHOUT HEARING THIS.

I KNOW THAT'S TYPICAL.

>> IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO GRANT THE EXPARTY ORDER, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM, SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND IN GENERAL, THE SUCH WILL SAY, OK, WHAT IS YOUR EVIDENCE?

YOU'RE RIGHT, IT WOULD HAVE NICE IF CAMRYN WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE.

>> Ted: SHE DID ASK.

>> SHE DID ASK.

WENDY SAID NO, I'LL SETTLE FOR WHAT I COULD GET.

HARASSMENT IS DEFINED AS ESSENTIALLY ANNOYING SOMEONE WITH NO LEGITIMATE PURPOSE.

AN ARGUMENT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE THERE WAS A LEGITIMATE PURPOSE FOR CAMRYN.

THE EVIDENCE WAS, SHE RANG MY DOORBELL.

HOLY CRAP!

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO RING MY DOORBELL TO GET AN ORDER OF HARASSMENT.

I WAS SCARED AND THEY TALKED TO MY NEIGHBORS AND OH, MY GOD.

THIS IS A PROTEM JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

THE CASE WILL BE HEARD BY THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND WE MAY GET A DIFFERENT RESULT.

>> Ted: YOU'VE GOT THE NEWSPAPERS BEHIND YOU, CORRECT?

>> THE NUMBER IS, NEWSPAPER, YES.

>> Ted: YOU CAN'T COMMENT A LOT ON ANYTHING HERE, WHICH IS A DRAG.

BUT IS IT AFFECTING YOUR WORK AT THE CAPITOL AND HOW MUCH IS IT AFFECTING YOUR WORK?

>> I THINK SPRING BREAK IS AFFECTING IT MORE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT GOING ON.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: THIS IS THE FIRST SPRING BREAK OR THE SECOND?

>> WE HAD A PUNCTUATED SPRING BREAK.

>> LET ME TALK ABOUT ONE MORE MINUTE ABOUT ABUSE HERE.

TODAY YOU SAW FROM THE SUPPOSEDLY NON-PARTISAN REPORT PUTTING OUT A TAUNTING TWEET, CALLING ATTENTION TO AN INTERVIEW THAT A MAN WHO CONSIDERS HIM AN INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST, BASICALLY GOT ON THE PHONE AND HARASSED HER, ASKED HER ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE ODDBALL AND PUT IT ON TWITTER.

THESE PEOPLE ARE BOARDING ON HARASSMENT.

THERE'S A DIFFERENT BETWEEN A REPORTER IN PURSUIT OF A STORY AND A BUNCH OF ANTISEMIDES IN PURSUIT OF A REPORT.

>> Ted: WHAT IF THE JUDGE SAYS, NO, THIS WILL STAND?

AS FAR AS ACCESS AND JOURNALISM, THE FIRST AMENDMENT, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

>> IT'S MORE THE PRECEDENT IT SETS AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING IF THIS TAKES TO IN THE SUPERIOR COURT.

>> THIS COMES DOWN TO IF I AM GOING TO YOUR HOUSE, IS THERE A LEGITIMATE PURPOSE FOR ME TO GO TO YOUR HOUSE TO STAND OUTSIDE AND STICK OUT MY TONGUE TO BOTHER YOU.

I THINK YOU WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO SHOW ON AN APPELLATE LEVEL A REPORTER GOING TO THE HOME OF A LAWMAKER WHO SAYS, BUT I DON'T LIVE HERE OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF HIS OR HER DUTIES.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD.

AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL ACTING JP, EVEN SHE AGREED -- THERE'S A LEGITIMATE PURPOSE IN YOU APPROACHING WENDY ROGERS ON THE FLOOR AND SHE WOULD NOT EXTEND THAT SO FAR.

THIS WAS BASED ON THE SENATOR'S TESTIMONY THAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO THAT.

YOU'RE RIGHT BEEN THERE'S A BAD PRECEDENT AND THAT'S WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

>> Ted: WEREWORRY YOU?

>> YEAH, BECAUSE THIS IS A LEGISLATOR WHO IS BASICALLY ACCUSING A REPORTER OF STALKING BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

I THINK CAMRYN IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING INTO THAT.

SHE'S OUT THERE FUNDRAISING AND SENT OUT AT LEAST FAVORS FUNDRAISERS OVER THIS, TO RAISE $40,000 TO REPRESENT HER BECAUSE BIG, BAD CAMRYN IS COMING AFTER HER.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THIS STORY, IS THIS ON ICE?

UPDATE US AND WHAT'S GOING ON?I ON?PAIR I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT IT AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON FROM THERE.

I KNOW YOU COULDN'T SAY TOO MUCH AND WE WANT TO GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR A.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

NICE TO HANG OUT.

>> Ted: OK. WE'LL STICK WITH YOU THEN.

YOU CAN'T DODGE THIS ONE.

WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE TAMALES AND WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> THIS IS A HOT TOPIC.

SO WE HAD THIS COTTAGE FOOD FROM REPRESENTATIVEREPRESENTATIVES GRANTHAM AND VETOED BY GOVERNOR HOBBS AND SAID IT WAS A CONCERN ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY THAT PEOPLE PREPARING FOODS AT HOME, WOULDN'T BE PROPERLY LICENSED.

ANYWAY, THEN THERE WAS A VETO OVERRIDE IN THE HOUSE AND THAT FAILED, BUT IT WOULD HAVE GONE UP ON THE SENATE BOARD.

THERE WERE PROTESTS AND VENDORS AND TAMALES.

>> THIS IS A FASCINATING SUBJECT.

UP UNTIL A DECADE AGO, YOU COULDN'T SELL ANYTHING IN YOUR HOME KITCHENS AND PEOPLE ARE MAKING COOKIES AND BREADS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND SOMEHOW, LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANYBODY DYING FROM THAT.

THE FACT IS, ALSO, YOU GO DOWN TO THE FOOD CITY DOWN THE BLOCK AND YOU'LL FIND PEOPLE SELLING TAMALES AND THE WHOLE ROUTINE.

HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANYBODY DYING.

THIS REQUIRED PEOPLE TO GET TRAINING AND TO GET A CERTIFICATE, TO EVADE CERTAIN RULES HOW LONG IT WOULD HAVE TO BE KEPT WARM AND LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TIMES IT WOULD BE TRANSPORTED AND REQUIRED THE NUMBER OF TIMES OF THE MAKER AND BE TRACKED BY THAT AND REQUIRED A DISCLOSURE ON THE ITEM TO SAY THIS WAS PREPARED IN A HOME KITCHEN.

THIS THING PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, BUT THEN THE GOVERNOR DECIDED, OH, WELL, I DON'T KNOW AND IN A VERY SOUNDLY STUPIDLY WORDED VETO, SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT RODENT INVESTED KITCHENS.

INJURY SAYINGYOU'RE SAYING OUR KITCHENS ARE RODENTINFESTED?

THAT WAS NOT A GOOD MOVE.

>> Ted: NOT ALWAYS CLEAN OUT THERE IN KITCHENS AND GOVERNOR'S POINT HERE, HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S POINT, YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF CONTROL OVER -- THERE WERE SAFETY ISSUES HERE AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS INTO THE BILL AND STILL, THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT FOODBORNE ILLNESSES.

>> LET'S JUST RECOGNIZE THAT THIS HAS GONE ON FOR GENERATIONS IN ARIZONA.

I BUY CHRISTMAS TAMALES EVERY YEAR AND NOBODY GETS SICK.

THIS IS HOW WE SAID WOULD HAVE ADDED A MEASURE OF PROTECTION FROM THE PUBLIC SO THAT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T REGISTERED AND MAYBE HAVEN'T HAD THAT FOOD CLASS AND WHO DON'T HAVE TO LIST THE LABELING OF HOW THEY'RE DOING IT WOULD NOW HAVE TO DO IT.

I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF THE STORY IS THE POLITICS AND THE EPIC FAIL OF THE GOVERNOR HERE AND THE WAY DEMOCRATS ED THIS TO, BASICALLY, ABANDON THEIR ABANDON THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT AND BE AGAINST IT.

THEY CHANGED TO TO TALKING TO A NO.

>> IT'S THE HOUSE MINORITY TALKING.

>> NOT A SINGLE ONE OF CONSTITUENTS THAT SHOULDN'T OVERRIDE THE VETO AND I'VE BEEN BULLIED AND THAT'S IT, I'VE HAD ENOUGH AND VOTING YES FOR OVERRIDE, NO MATTER WHAT THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS ARE.

>> Ted: THIS SOUNDS LIKE PARTY OVER TAMALES.

>> THIS IS A POLITIC'S ISSUE.

I DIDN'T FOLLOW THE BILL THAT CLOSELY AND SEEMED POPULAR AND NORMAL AND WHEN DEMOCRATS WERE SWITCHING VOTES, THAT'S WHEN REPUBLICANS WERE, LIKE, WHY ARE YOU LETTING HER DO THAT AND HAVE THE ROLE OF LAWMAKERS WHEN SHE'S NOT A LAWMAKER AND WHEN IT COULD HAVE PASSED AND SOMETHING YOU WANTED AND YOU'RE LETTING HER CHANGE YOUR MIND EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT WHAT YOU LEAVE.

>> LAURIE AND I HAVE BEEN AROUND AWHILE AND WE HAVE SEEN BILLS THAT HAVE GONE UP WITH STRONG REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES, VETOED BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS AND THEN THE GOVERNOR VETOES AND ALL OF THIS TAKE THAT THE GOVERNORS WERE JERKED AROUND BY THE GOVERNOR AND DO YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR, SERIOUSLY?

>> TWO WEEKS AGO, THIS IS A BILL THAT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND ENTIRE ARIZONA COMMUNITY AND MANY FELT PASSIONATELY ABOUT AND SWITCHED THEIR VOTE.

THIS DEMONSTRATES A GOVERNOR WHO SEEMS TO BE -- OR HER STAFF IS DIVORCED FROM THE PROCEEDINGS IF THE GOVERNOR.

IF DOG DOUG DUCEY DIDN'T WANT THIS -- HIS PEOPLE WERE DOWN THERE WORKING THE BILLS, BUT HOW IS IT, SHE HAD A PROBLEM AND LET'S SEE WE COULD WORK IT OUT BEFORE WE HAVE A DISASTER ON OUR HANDS?

>> WE HAVE ASKED THE GOVERNOR, WHAT DO YOU WANT CHANGED?

WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE IN THE BILL AND THE RESPONSE WE GET FROM HER NEW PRESS AID, WE WON'T TELL YOU, WE'RE NEGOTIATING.

WE JUST WANTED TO DO A VETO.

>> Ted: IS THIS A DEFINITE LOSS FOR THE GOVERNOR?

>> I THINK THIS IS A CLEAR CUT ONE.

THIS WAS A POPULAR BILL.

I TALKED TO A LADY AT THE CAPITOL AND SHE WAS HANDING OUT CUPCAKES AND I HAD ONE THAT WAS ILLEGAL BECAUSE IT USED REAL BUTTER AND BUTTER GOES RANCID ANDAND SHE CAN SELL BREADS AND COULDN'T SELL CUPCAKES THAT USED THE REAL BUTTER AND IT WAS LIKE AN EXPERIMENT AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS LIKE A CUTE, BENIGN THING AND SHE HAS A LICENSE AND THIS COMPANY AND ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS MAKE REAL CUPCAKES.

>> AND PEOPLE WANT TO BUY THEM.

>> I DO.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING THESE COTTAGE FOODS, THEY KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM AND IF I SHOES CHOOSE TO DO IT, WHY SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO.

I'VE HAD FOOD POISONING BEFORE.

>> BACK TO YOU CAMRYN.

WE HAVE THE TAMALES AND WE HAVE BIBLES AND TAMALES AND SEAT CUSHIONS.

>> SO APPARENTLY, A LITTLE WHILE AGO, A BIBLE OR TWO WENT MISSING FROM THE HOUSE BE LOUNGEAND AND THERE'S AN ENCLOSED AREA TO INVITE GUESTS AND MORE PRIVATE.

THERE'S BIBLES IN THERE AND SOME OF THEM WENT MISSING AND SO THE SPEAKER PUT IN A NANNY CAM TO MONITOR THE ROOM AND REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT HAMILTON WAS CAUGHT TAKING BIBLES AND MOVING THEM AROUND AND PUT ONE IN THE FRIDGE.

THAT WAS POSTED, THE VIDEO AND WHY DID YOU DO THIS?

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE AND THAT DID NOT GO OVER WELL.

>> GIVE THEY A BREAK.

IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS -- LOOK, AGAIN, LAURIE AND I HAVE BEEN AROUND AWHILE AND BIBLES ON DESKS AND PEOPLE WANT TO CONSULT WITH IT, THAT'S FINE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT THE KING JAMES BIBLE THERE, BRING IN A KORAN OR HINDU HOLY BOOK.

SHE WANTED TO PROVOKE A CONVERSATION.

HOW DO YOU PROVOKE A CONVERSATION BY HEIGHTING HIDING THINGS UNDER A SEAT CUSHION OR REFRIGERATOR.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> Ted: THERE ARE WAYS TO DO THINGS WITHOUT PUTTING THINGS IN A REFRIGERATOR.

>> THAT'S AN ORDAINED MINISTER AND PUTTING A BIBLE ON ICE THERE.

[ Laughter ] >> I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IS NOT A THING IN THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT'S A PHRASE CREATED BY THOMAS JEFFERSON.

BUT WHAT WE DO HAVE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE NOT HAVING A CONSTITUTIONAL RELIGION.

IF THEY PUT BIBLES ONTIES ON DISPLACE, THAT LOOKS SHAKY AND THEY'LL BE ANONEANUNDATED NOW WITHOUT A PRIME STATE.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT A CAMERA IN PRIVATE IN SAFE AND SECURE AND PRIVATE SPACE.

>> THAT WAS A CONVERSATION.

THE WAY I HEARD IT NOT EVERYONE KNEW HE PUT A CAMERA IN THAT ROOM.

THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE FILMED AND RECORDED.

I'M SURE WE MADE A PUBLIC REQUEST FOR THE FOOTAGE.

THE QUESTION OF, SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY'RE FILMED IN A MEMBER'S LOUNGE?

FOR A FEW WEEKS IT WAS THERE AND THAT'S NOT COMFORTABLE EVEN THOUGH IT CAUGHT THE CRIME.

>> THEY ARE IN A PUBLIC BUILDING AND I DON'T THINK THAT WASHES THAT WELL.

THERE'S HARDLY ANY PLACE YOU CAN GO IN PUBLIC ANYMORE.

>> IF YOU HAVE A MEMBER'S ONLY LOUNGE -- >> WHAT ARE THEY DOING THEY'RE SO AFRAID IT WILL BE ON CAMERA?

>> HIDING BIBLES IN THE REFRIGERATOR?

>> LOBBYISTS, DARLING, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> Ted: IT'S THERE AS A RETREAT AND ESCAPE PLACE AND YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT AND HIDE A BIBLE, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE A BIBLE THERE.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

>> CAN'T DO WHAT?

>> Ted: HIDE A BIBLE.

>> YOU CAN BUT SHE GOT CAUGHT.

IT'S STUPID AND NOT A GOOD WEEK FOR DEMOCRATS.

LET'S FACE IT.

>> SHE APOLOGIZED AND SAID NOT THE BEST WAY WAY TO START THE CONVERSATION SHE WANTED TO START.

>> SHE HAS A RECORD ON THIS, TOO, BECAUSE SHE HAS PUT OUT TWEETS SAYING THAT SHE HATES PEOPLE WHO CLAIM, YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE LIKE TRUMP DID IN WASHINGTON SAYING THAT MAKES HE HOLY AND A CERTAIN INTERNAL CONSISTENCY TO WHAT SHE'S SAYING.

AGAIN, WAS IT THE MOST BRILLIANT MOVE?

OH, NO!

>> Ted: TONE DEAF, I WOULD SAY.

HOWIE, BUDGET CONCERNS WITH MEDICAID AND SOME ARE SAYING WE CAN'T BE WAILING UNTIL JUNE, THE END OF JUNE OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> THE LAWMAKERS HAVE KNOWN SINCE FEBRUARY THAT THE BUDGET FOR THE ARIZONA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OR MEDICAID PROGRAM IS AUTHORIZATION TO SPEND FEDERAL MONEY.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMPLE TO DEAL WITH IT THEN BUT THEY PUT IN 1.6 BILLION BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNOR TO NEGOTIATE THE REST OF IT.

SO MEANWHILE, WE'RE NEAR THE END OF APRIL AND AT SOME POINT, THESE HEALTHCARE PLANS WILL PUT IN BILLS AND IF THE STATE DOESN'T PAY THEM, THEY OWE THE BILL PLUS 10%.

EDUCATION IS DIFFERENT AND ABOUT 108 MILLION THAT NEEDS TO BE SPENT ON K12 EDUCATION AND NOT IMMEDIATELY BUT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND THIS INCLUDES 200 MILLION MORE FOR THE VOUCHER PROGRAM BECAUSE SO MANY MORE KIDS ENROLLED THAT ANYBODY SAID, NO, THIS WON'T BE A BIG DEAL.

WHAT BROUGHT THE NUMBER DOWN, FEWER KIDS ENROLLED.

THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE STATE HOSPITAL.

THIS IS PART OF THE GAME AND SHOULD BE DONE IMMEDIATELY AND THERE'S NO REASON TO HOLD OUT ON THAT.

THE QUESTION IS, EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO HOLD EVERYBODY ELSE'S FEET TO THE FIRE WHILE THEY NEGOTIATE THE BUTCH BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> Ted: DOES THIS HAVE TO BE LINKED TOGETHER AND TIED TOGETHER?

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, BUT IT'S THE BLAME GAME.

HOBBS IS SAYING THAT THE REPUBLICANS COULD HAVE HANDLED IT AND EVERYBODY IS BLAMING THE LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATS FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH BECAUSE THE BUDGET ISN'T AS FAR ALONG AS IT COULD BE AND, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS SAY THEY'RE BASICALLY READY BUT DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATS TO FINISH.

I THINK THE ACCESS FINDING WAS IN THE REPUBLICANS PUT UP AND COULD HAVE LINE ITEMED VETOED OR COULD HAVE PASSED THE REAL BUDGET.

THEY COULD HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT ACCESSING THE BUDGET.

>> OR THEY COULD DREAM UP A BILL TO ACCESS A SECOND ONE FOR THE SCHOOLS AND A THIRD ONE FOR WHATEVER THE THIRD THING WAS, THE STATE HOSPITAL.

THEY COULD DO THAT TOMORROW.

IT'S NOT CONTINGENT UPON NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

THEY WANT TO MAKE THE GOVERNOR LOOK BAD AND COME JULY 1st, WE MAY HAVE A SHUTDOWN BUDGET.

>> Ted: THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WE HAVE A SHUTDOWN GOVERNOR, 1-10?

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

THEY SAY STUFF IS GOING GOING ON AND HOW MANY HARD FEELINGS OVER TAMALES AND BIBLES AND I'LL SAY 6.

>> I'LL SAY 3.

>> I'LL SAY CLOSER TO 2.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT AND WE HAVE TO BLINK RIGHT NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE GREAT WEEKEND!