
Journalists' Roundtable
Season 2024 Episode 35 | 27mVideo has Closed Captions
Lake Endorsed, Hickman Resigns, Presidential Electors, Rental Regulations, Tamale Bill
It's Friday, and that means it's time for another edition of Journalists' Roundtable. To discuss this week's top stories we were joined by Howie Fischer of Capitol Media Services, Laurie Roberts of the Arizona Republic & azcentral.com, and Camryn Sanchez of KJZZ Radio.
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Arizona Horizon is a local public television program presented by Arizona PBS

Journalists' Roundtable
Season 2024 Episode 35 | 27mVideo has Closed Captions
It's Friday, and that means it's time for another edition of Journalists' Roundtable. To discuss this week's top stories we were joined by Howie Fischer of Capitol Media Services, Laurie Roberts of the Arizona Republic & azcentral.com, and Camryn Sanchez of KJZZ Radio.
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>> COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.
WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING ANOTHER MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISOR DECIDING AGAINST RUNG FOR RE-ELECTION.
THE JOURNALISTS' 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 ANOTHER EDITION OF THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND JOINING US TONIGHT, HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES.
LAURIE ROBERTS OF "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.COM.
AND CAMRYN SANCHEZ OF KJZZ RADIO.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
A LOT TO GO OVER.
HOWIE, CLINT HICKMAN SAYS I'VE HAD ENOUGH, NOT GOING AFTER -- I'M OUTTA HERE.
>> WHY DOES ANYONE WANT THAT JOB?
PARTICULARLY AS A REPUBLICAN.
LOOK, STEVE GALLARDO, I'M A DEMOCRAT, YOU WANT TO SHOOT AT ME, FINE.
YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS ACCUSING THESE PEOPLE OF TREASON.
SEX WITH ANIMALS, WHO KNOWS WHAT?
WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THAT JOB?
IT'S A THANKLESS JOB, EVEN FOR THE PAY.
I THINK HICKMAN SAID I HAVE A FAMILY BUSINESS, I COULD BE DOING OTHER THINGS WITH MY LIFE, I DON'T NEED ANY MORE.
>> BILL GATES, TWO SUPERVISORS HAVE HAD ENOUGH?
>> BILL GATES WAS TRASHED AND THREATENED SO OFTEN, HE FINALLY WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD.
CLINT HICKMAN HAS BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF DEATH THREATS.
ONE GUY CALLED UP DECIDED HE NEEDED TO CALL UP AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO HANG YOU.
IT'S A TOUGH, TOUGH THING FOR WHAT, 90,000, $95,000?
THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EGGED ON BY A LOT OF POLITICIANS WHO SEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER MOVE UP ON THE FOOD CHAIN OR GRAB SOME POWER OR GRAB SOME MONEY.
THEY CREATED THIS MYTH ABOUT THE ELECTIONS.
THEY CAN'T PROVE ANY OF IT.
THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF ANY OF IT, AND THEY'RE RUNNING REGULAR GOOD DECENT MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS OUT OF OFFICE.
>> AND THAT'S THE POINT, CAMRYN.
THESE ARE TWO RELATIVELY CONSERVATIVE RETURNS WHO ARE BASICALLY LEAVING WHAT SHOULD BE A STABLE POSITION BECAUSE OF ATTACKS BY OTHER CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS.
>> HICKMAN DIDN'T CITE THAT AS THE MAIN REASON, HE WANTED TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND WORK WITH HIS BUSINESS, HE HAS AN EGG BUSINESS.
WE HAVE FIVE MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISORS, A LARGE COUNTY, THAT'S A BIG RESPONSIBILITY.
AND FOUR OF THE FIVE RIGHT NOW ARE THE SORT OF REPUBLICANS OF KIND OF THE SAME ILK OF REPUBLICAN, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
NOW WE HAVE TWO SORT OF QUESTION MARKS GOING INTO THE NEXT ELECTION, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO SEE MORE MAGA REPUBLICANS JOINING OUR SUPERVISORS.
>> AND SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON, THE PERENNIAL MOVE TO SPLIT MARICOPA COUNTY BECAUSE LORD KNOWS IF WE HAVE FIVE SUPERVISORS WE'D BE MUCH BETTER WITH 20 SUPERVISORS, PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO.
HE'S GOT TO BE WONDERING OKAY, IF I'M IN THIS COUNTY AND ONE OF MY PROSPECTS HERE, WHY DEAL WITH THIS?
AS LAURIE POINTS OUT, VAST CONSPIRACY THEORIES, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE COURTS HAVE SAID.
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WAS FOUND, REMEMBER THE AUDIT OF 2020 WHICH SAID THAT DONALD TRUMP LOST BY A LARGER MARGIN?
THEY ARE CONVINCED THAT EVERYBODY IS CORRUPT, INCLUDING SUPERVISORS.
>> WELL, LOOK, THE MORE CONSERVATIVE ELEMENT WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WERE FURIOUS THAT THE SUPERVISORS TOOK SERIOUSLY THEIR OATH TO SERVE THE PEOPLE AND FOLLOW THE LAW.
THEY WANTED THESE SUPERVISORS TO CAVE AND BUY INTO THE BIG LIE, AND THEY DIDN'T DO IT.
THEY DECIDED TO GO WITH FACTS INSTEAD OF ALL OF THIS CONSPIRACY THEORY STUFF.
THEY CHECKED IT OUT.
IT'S CRAZY TO ME THAT ANYBODY WOULD THINK THAT A COUPLE OF, OR FOUR OF THE FIVE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHO ARE REPUBLICANS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN FIXING THE ELECTION TO BENEFIT DEMOCRATS.
IT MAKES NO SENSE.
CLINT HICKMAN, I WILL REMIND YOU, IS THE GUY WHO REFUSED TO TAKE CALLS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION, WHERE OBVIOUSLY HE WAS GOING TO SAY, FIND THE VOTES JUST AS HE DID IN GEORGIA.
CLINT HICKMAN AND BILL GATES AND ALL OF THE SUPERVISORS, WE OWE THEM SOMETHING FOR STANDING FOR THE RULE OF LAW, RATHER THAN STANDING WITH THE MOB.
>> AND FIGHTING NOT ONLY AGAINST AS YOU SAY THE MOB, FIGHTING AGAINST REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE.
REMEMBER THE LEGISLATURE SUBPOENAED THE BOARD?
YOU WILL BRING IN YOUR VOTING MACHINES, BRING IN YOUR RECORDS BECAUSE WE'RE CONVINCED YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE?
WHO WANTS TO BE WAKING UP EVERY MORNING SAYING WHAT'S THE NEXT FIGHT?
>> WHO WILL BE THE NEXT SUPERVISOR.
WE GOT TWO OPENINGS HERE.
I'M HEARING DEBBIE LESKO, OTHER NAMES.
>> FOR CLINT HICKMAN'S POSITION, THE NAME EVERYBODY IS HEARING ABOUT IS DEBBIE LEFKO.
SHE DECIDED TO GIVE UP HER SEAT IN CONGRESS.
WHO WANTS IT?
IT'S 2500 MILES AWAY.
MUCH EASIER TO GET A JOB WHERE CAN YOU COMMUTE TO DOWNTOWN, PAYS CLOSE TO SIX FIGURES, BASICALLY A PART-TIME JOB.
IF SHE WANTS IT, I'M SURE IT WILL BE HERS.
IF SHE DOESN'T, THERE ARE A DOZEN OF NAMES, STATE REPRESENTATIVE FRANK CARROLL, GINA GODBEE ANNOUNCED SHE IS RUNNING AGAINST RACHEL MITCHELL AND FORMER REPRESENTATIVE JOANNE OSBORNE.
>> INTERESTING.
WHAT DOES IT DO TO THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS?
AND IS THERE A CHANCE THAT A MAGA OR TWO WIND UP ON THE BOARD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ELECTIONS ARE THROWN INTO CHAOS AGAIN?
>> YEP.
THERE'S ALWAYS THAT CHANCE, AND NOT THE ONLY DISTRICT WITH CONSIDERING, OF COURSE.
TOM GALVIN'S SEAT, INCUMBENT NOW, BUT CHALLENGED BY MICHELLE UGENTI-RITA WHO I CONSIDER MORE IN THE CROWD FURTHER TO THE RIGHT.
SO IT COULD BE THAT MORE THAN THOSE TWO SEATS ARE GOING TO GO MAGA REPUBLICANS OR AT LEAST HAVE THOSE CANDIDATES FIELDED.
>> THEY WANT CONTROL OF THAT BOARD FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.
>> IT'S A VERY POWERFUL BOARD.
MARICOPA COUNTY HAS 60 SOMETHING PERCENT OF THE -- >> TALK ABOUT THE ELECTION, EVERYBODY WAS TALKING STEPHEN RICHER, A RECORDER.
RICHER HANDLES THE EARLY VOTING, BUT THE DAY OF VOTING, THE MACHINES, ALL THAT OVER THE LINES AND VOTING CENTERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THAT IS WITHIN CONTROL OF THE BOARD.
YOU GRAB CONTROL OF THE BOARD, YOU CAN GET RID OF VOTING CENTERS.
WHO KNOWS?
BASED ON THE THEORIES ADVANCED BY THE CONSERVATIVES, YOU CAN GET RID OF MACHINES AND GO TO PAPER BALLOTS.
>> WILL THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS LOOK RADICALLY DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT AFTER THE ELECTION?
>> AFTER THAT RADICAL A CHANGE, I DON'T SEE IT LIKE THE COCHISE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, TWO-THIRDS OF THE BOARD BEING ELECTION DENIERS.
I DON'T SEE THREE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD BEING ELECTION DENIERS.
>> YOU AGREE, LAURIE?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S NOT A POSITION PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO.
IT'S FAR DOWN BALLOT.
IT'S ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT RACES ON THE BALLOT, BUT JUST DEPENDS ON WHO TURNS OUT AND HOW THEY VOTE AND IF THEY'RE PAYING ATTENTION.
>> THE TURNOUT IS IMPORTANT.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, TALKING ABOUT A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A NUMBER OF HIGH-PROFILE MEASURES ON THE BALLOT, INCLUDING ABORTION, INCLUDING PERHAPS SPLITTING MARICOPA COUNTY.
WHO KNOWS WHO THAT BRINGS OUT.
THAT BECOMES THE ISSUE.
>> CAMRYN, THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE, ROUGHLY A REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT GROUP, THEY CAME OUT AND SAY KARI LAKE IS OUR GUY.
>> OR GAL?
>> YES, THEY DID.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION.
IT'S DEDICATED TO TAKING BACK THE SENATE MAJORITY FOR REPUBLICANS.
SO YOU WANT THEIR ENDORSEMENT IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE AND KARI LAKE IS SORT OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.
WE CAN SAY THAT, CAN'T WE?
>> YEAH.
>> I THINK THIS ENDORSEMENT IS AN INDICATION THE EXISTING MEMBERS OF THE SENATE ARE BEHIND HER AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO SWING IT.
>> WHAT'S THE POINT?
>> WHERE IS MITCH McCONNELL?
I DON'T SEE HIM MARCHING FOR KARI LAKE.
>> YOU START OFF WITH OKAY WHAT ARE THE OTHER OPTIONS, MARK LAMM SCRAPING BY SAYING PAY ATTENTION TO ME.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ENDORSE KYRSTEN SINEMA AND TOUCH.
McCONNELL IS THE GUY WITH THE MONEY.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE AN ENDORSEMENT IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO PUT 2, $3 MILLION INTO THERE, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
>> THIS IS THE GROUP THAT REPORTEDLY TOLD KARI LAKE KNOCK IT OFF WITH THE ELECTION RIGGING STUFF AND START VEERING TOWARD THE CENTER A LITTLE BIT.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR HER TO NOT TAKE THAT ADVICE?
>> FOUR, FIVE MINUTES.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT TOO BECAUSE THEY TOLD HER TO DO THAT, AND NOW CLAIM SHE'S DONE IT.
YOU LISTEN TO THEM THIS WEEK AND TALK ABOUT KARI LAKE THE UNITER AND DOESN'T TALK ABOUT CONSPIRACIES ANYMORE.
I'M THINKING IS THAT THE SAME KARI LAKE WHO JUST RELEASED OR HAD RELEASED SECRET TAPES ON THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN?
SHE'S THE REPUBLICAN PARTY UNITER WHO PUT OUT A NEW CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT THEY, WHOEVER THEY ARE UNLEASHED COVID TO STOP DONALD TRUMP FROM BEING RE-ELECTED?
THIS IS THE SAME KARI LAKE THE UNITER WHO HASN'T GOTTEN, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ANY ENDORSEMENTS FROM THE MORE ESTABLISHMENT WING OF THE PARTY HERE IN TOWN, ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE SHE SAVAGED, LIKE MATT SALMON, LIKE KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON, SO THEY DESCRIBE A DIFFERENT KARI LAKE.
THEY DESCRIBE THE KARI LAKE THEY WOULD LIKE HER TO BE, NOT THE KARI LAKE WE THUS FAR SEE.
AND I THINK HOWIE MAKES A GREAT POINT.
ONE THING TO GIVE HER THE ENDORSEMENT, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT, IT'S BIG, IT CONFIRMS LEGITIMACY BUT ANOTHER THING TO GET THE MONEY, AND SHE HAS SAID NASTY THINGS ABOUT MITCH McCONNELL AND HE KNOWS IT.
>> CAMRYN, IS THERE POLLING THAT SUGGESTS THAT SHE IS THE GUY.
>> A LOT OF IT IS A MATTER OF NOT THAT MANY OPTIONS, AND WE'VE HEARD ON AND OFF FOR MONTHS SHE'S BEEN COURTING REPUBLICANS WHO ARE MAYBE NOT QUITE IN THE MAGA REALM AND TRYING TO GET THEIR SUPPORT.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S ACCOMPLISHING THAT.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL OR TAPE RECORDER SECRETLY HIDDEN IN THE ROOMS TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING TO WIN THOSE.
>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT, TOO.
THE THINGS SHE'S CAMPAIGNED AGAINST IS THE SWAMP, THE ESTABLISHMENT, THE UNIPARTY.
THESE PEOPLE.
AND NOW SHE'S SEEKING THEIR ENDORSEMENT.
YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHAT MAGA FRIENDS THINK ABOUT THIS?
THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IN OTHER STATES, WENT OUT COURTING CANDIDATES FROM THE MAINSTREAM WING OF THE PARTY TO BOX OUT HARD RIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE SICK OF LOSING, AND YET HERE, THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS.
>> LAST POINT, HOW MUCH DOES THIS HELP HER?
>> WITHOUT THE MONEY, NOT A BIT.
I MEAN, LOOK, IF IT'S HER AND MARK LAMB ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BALLOT, QUEE PREDICT, I TELL YOU WHAT, I'M GOING TO CALL THE ELECTION TODAY ON THAT ONE.
IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION, WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHETHER KIRSTEN GETS INTO IT.
SHE HAS UNTIL APRIL 1, APPROPRIATE DAY TO DECIDE IF SHE'S RUNNING, AND HOW BADLY IS RUBEN GALLEGO DAMAGED BY ALL OF THE REST OF THE STUFF GOING ON.
I DON'T KNOW IN TERMS OF HER ENDORSEMENT ON THAT, WITHOUT MONEY, NOBODY WHO'S NOT A REPUBLICAN CARES.
>> THAT'S WHY I WAS WONDERING IF THERE'S POLLING THAT SHOWS A TWO-WAY RACE OR THREE-WAY AGAINST GALLEGO THAT MAYBE THEY ANTICIPATED A WAY OUT.
>> I THINK SHE'S THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN.
>> EARLY VOTING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS TO DO WITH GAMES.
EARLY VOTING, THERE'S A BILL, HELP ME WITH THIS LAURIE, EARLY VOTING IS VERY SUCCESSFUL, BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS, LOTS OF PEOPLE USE IT.
IT HAS GOT PAST A COMMITTEE TO END EARLY VOTEING?
>> YEAH, WE HAD EARLY VOTING FOR 30 YEARS AND FOR 20 YEARS IT GREATLY BENEFITTED REPUBLICANS, THEY FIGURED OUT A STRATEGY, IF WE CAN GET VOTERS TO PUT VOTE IN THE MAIL, IT'S GOING TO BOOST VOTER TURNOUT, IT'S FEWER PEOPLE WE HAVE TO GET TO THE POLLS AND WORKED SO GOOD THAT THE DEMOCRATS CAUGHT ON.
AND IN 2020, THEY TURNED OUT A RECORD NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS FOR EARLY VOTING.
IN ALL, I THINK IT WAS 88% OF THE 3.4 MILLION PEOPLE WHO CAST BALLOTS VOTED BY EARLY MAIL, AND DONALD TRUMP WON.
SUDDENLY NOW EARLY VOTING IS THE CESSPOOL OF FRAUD AND CORRUPTION AND WE NEED TO GET RID OF IT.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS NOW FOR THREE YEARS TO GET RID OF IT.
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A LEGISLATURE THAT IS HOLDING ONTO CONTROL, THE REPUBLICANS, BY THE FINGERTIPS, BY THE NUBS OF FINGERTIPS, THEY HAVE ONE SEAT IN EACH CHAMBER, KNOW THE DEMOCRATS ARE COMING FOR THEM, THEY COME UP WITH THE IDEA, LET'S GET RID OF INSANELY POPULAR VOTER PROGRAM THAT 88% OF THE VOTERS USE.
>> EARLY BOATING REQUIRES YOU TO SIGN OUTSIDE THE ENVELOPE.
HOW MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION ARE GOING ON WITH KARI LAKE AND ABE HAMADEH SAYING THEY DIDN'T MATCH THE SIGNATURES, IF EVERYONE HAS TO PRESENT ID, NO PROBLEM WITH MATCHING SIGNATURES.
BUT THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS THE REPUBLICANS FIGURED OUT THEY DO BETTER WITH DAY OF VOTERS.
KARI LAKE'S LAWSUIT, TALKING ABOUT THE LINES AT THE VOTE CENTERS, SHE SAID THE PEOPLE TURNED AWAY, DAY OF VOTERS WERE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE FOR HER THAN KATIE HOBBS.
>> CAMRYN, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS VERY POPULAR, AND PEOPLE LIKE THIS, WHY ARE YOU GETTING RID OF SOMETHING PEOPLE LIKE?
THEY CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ARE THAT MANY FOLKS OUT THERE THAT AGREE THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.
>> WELL, SOMETIME YOU LISTEN TO AN ECHO CHAMBER AND PUT UP A BILL THAT IS GOING TO NEVER MAKE IT THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
>> BUT EVEN THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE BECAUSE NOW, THIS COMMITTEE GOT IT THROUGH AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE PAINTED AS PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO SEE EARLY VOTING.
THAT CAN'T -- WHY EVEN BOTHER WITH THIS?
>> I THINK A LOT OF THE ELECTION BILLS THAT AREN'T GOING TO BE SIGNED ARE IN THE NAME OF ELECTION INTEGRITY, AND THE REASON FOR INTRODUCING THEM IS THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING BUT IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE CONFIDENCE OF VOTERS IN OUR ELECTIONS BECAUSE THERE COULD BE FRAUD.
I HEAR THAT A LOT.
>> WHO UNDERMINED THE CONFIDENCE IN ARIZONA'S ELECTIONS?
EVERY SINGLE CHECK REQUIRED BY STATE LAW WAS DONE, AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS.
THERE WERE AUDITS IN THE SENATE, IN THE COUNTY.
AT WHAT POINT DO THEY GIVE UP AND SAY MAYBE OUR GUY JUST LOST?
>> NOT ONLY THAT, REMEMBER WHEN KELLI WARD HEADED THE PARTY AND TOLD PEOPLE DON'T VOTE EARLY, GO TO THE POLLS AND THEY SAY, WE HAVE LINES AT THE POLLS?
AGAIN, WHO UNDERMIND THE CONFIDENCE, I THINK THE GOP.
>> CAMRYN, ANOTHER BILL FROM RACHEL JONES, TUCSON, PUSHING A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION THAT BASICALLY SAYS VOTES?
WHO NEEDS VOTES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS?
>> FABULOUS SOLUTION, NOT TECHNICALLY A BILL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE PEACE AND IT'S FASCINATING BECAUSE IT SAYS WE WOULD GIVE ALL ELECTORAL VOTES TO DONALD TRUMP, REGARDLESS HOW THE PEOPLE IN ARIZONA TURN OUT.
AND THAT'S JUST CRAZY TO SAY OUTLOUD.
AND IN COMMITTEE HEARINGS, HAD ITS FIRST ONE THIS PAST WEEK, BUT WE HAD REPUBLICANS SAYING ARE WE SURE WE WANT TO DO THIS?
ISN'T THIS WHAT WE'RE ACCUSING DEMOCRATS OF, FUELING ELECTIONS?
.
>> THE FACT THAT A BILL LIKE THAT WOULD BE HEARD HAS TO TELL BUT WHERE THEIR MINDS ARE.
THEY HAVE FOR A LONG TIME, THREE YEARS, TRIED TO GRAB BACK THE POWER FROM THE VOTERS BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THE CONSTITUTION GIVES THEM THE POWER AT ANY TIME TO GRAB BACK THE POWER AND NAME THE ELECTORS THEMSELVES.
I'M NOT SO SURE AS YOU, THOUGH, THAT THEY THINK THEY COULD DO IT ON A WHIM.
CERTAINLY, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WOULD HAVE FORCE OF LAW, BUT WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THEM AND READ THIS CLOSELY, THEY DON'T THINK THEY NEED TO HAVE TO PASS A BILL.
SEEM TO THINK THEY HAVE TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE PLENARY KEY.
>> ALEXANDER, A LAWMAKER AND A LAWYER, AND PROBABLY AS FAR RIGHT AS THEY GO, SAID, LOOK, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU COULD READ THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND SAY THERE IS PLENARY POWER, IF YOU CHANGE THE STATE LAW, WHICH MEANS, A, PASSING A BILL AND GETTING THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN IT.
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
OR, B, TAKE IT TO THE VOTERS AND TOO LATE TO DO THAT.
THERE IS A SMALL BASIS FOR THAT.
BUT THIS IDEA YOU CAN SIMPLY DECLARE THAT WE HAVE IT.
REMEMBER THE OTHER HALF IS NOT JUST WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE ELECTORS TO TRUMP BUT USING IT AS BLACKMAIL.
SAYING TO KATIE HOBBS, WE WILL WITHDRAW OUR ELECTORS IF YOU SIGN ALL THE BILLS WE WANT.
DAY OF VOTING, NO EARLY BALLOTS, PAPER BALLOTS, THE WHOLE ROUTINE, AND SO SOMEHOW THEY THINK THEY'VE GOT A WEDGE.
>> BUT IS THIS ALL FOR SHOW HERE?
AGAIN, JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST BILL.
IS THIS ALL FOR SHOW AND MAKING NOISE AND SAYING HERE I AM, I'M STANDING UP FOR WHATEVER THE HECK THEY'RE STANDING UP FOR?
>> IT'S FOR SHOW FOR THAT WING OF THE PARTY.
>> THIS IS WHY THEY'RE NOT WINNING STATEWIDE ELECTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR AND THE CHOIR IS GOING THIS IS GREAT, THIS IS GREAT.
MOST PEOPLE ARE LIKE WHAT?
YOU WANT TO END EARLY VOTING?
TAKE AWAY MY RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE PRESIDENT?
AND WONDER WHY EVERY STATEWIDE OFFICE IS OCCUPIED BY A DEMOCRAT AND BOTH SENATE SEATS ARE DEMOCRATIC AND THEY ARE WITHIN ONE VOTE OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE.
>> AND SAID TO TERESA JONES AND -- RACHEL JONES, I'M SORRY, AND JOSH BARNETT.
LET'S ASSUME WE GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT AND TAKE CONTROL OF THE ELECTORS, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER?
THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO PUT DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE AND THEY WILL BE THE ONES CHOOSING ELECTORS IN THE ELECTION FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO?
THEY'RE NOT THINKING IT OUT.
>> I WANT TO ALSO BRING OUT ONE MORE POINT.
RACHEL JONES IS A LEGISLATOR FROM TUCSON.
SHE AND HER TWO FELLOW HARD RIGHT REPUBLICANS WHO RAN AS A TEAM, WON A REPUBLICAN DISTRICT, PRETTY STRONG REPUBLICAN DISTRICT, AND THEY BARELY WON.
I WOULD HAVE TO GUESS THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE, AS WE SPEAK, DREAMING UP A CANDIDATE TO RUN AGAINST HER ON THIS ISSUE.
>> KEVIN VOLK?
>> WE HAVE PRIMARY CHALLENGES.
>> IN THE SENATE.
>> I THINK EVEN WITHIN THE PARTY, THEY MAY BE SAYING IF WE'RE HANGING ON TO THE LB17 SEAT.
>> THEY HAVE A ONE VOTE MAJORITY AND SHE'S COMING UP WITH THIS STUFF.
IF I WERE THE DEMOCRATS,IDING SINGLE SHOOTING HER ALL DAY.
>> WE SAW FOLKS REGARDING SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS AND THESE ARE FOLKS FROM SEDONA AND COCONINO COUNTY AND THESE AREAS THAT ARE PRETTY CONSERVATIVE.
THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH AirBNB AND PARTY HOUSES AND SUCH, AND THEY'RE SAYING WE'RE REPUBLICANS, WE MIGHT NOT VOTE FOR YOU IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?
>> RIGHT, WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND STRs AND EVERYTHING IN THAT REALM, THERE HASN'T BEEN THAT MUCH RADICAL CHANGE HOMELESSNESS IS RAMPANT AND STRs IS HIGH.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR REGULATION BECAUSE STRs, WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF THEM, IT MEANS THAT FEWER PEOPLE CAN LIKE LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BE PERMANENT RESIDENTS THERE.
IT ALSO MEANS, I MEAN, IN A LOT OF CASES, THERE'S A LOT OF PARTYING, LITTERING, NOISE POLLUTION AND CAUSES CHAOS AND IRRITATES PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR REFORMS BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HAPPENING THIS YEAR AGAIN.
>> WE USED TO HAVE REGULATION UNTIL 2016 WHEN THE REPUBLICANS AND DUCEY -- >> THIS WAS SOLD BY THE AFOREMENTIONED DEBBIE LESKO AND DOUG DUCEY AS SAYING, AirBNB, THIS IS, IF YOUR AUNT WANTS TO RENT OUT HER EXTRA BEDROOM FOR SUPER BOWL, SHE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE HER MORTGAGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> ETHEL AND HER ROWDY FRIENDS.
>> AND ROWDY FRIENDS AND ASKED THE GOVERNOR, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE START BUYING UP PROPERTIES FOR THAT?
>> THAT'S A HYPOTHETICAL, THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
LOOK AT SEDONA IN PARTICULAR, 15% OF THE HOUSING IN SEDONA IS SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
YOU CANNOT MAINTAIN A HEALTHY VIBRANT HOUSING ECONOMY THAT WAY.
>> IT WOULD BE LIKE LIVING NEXT TO THE PHOENIX OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
>> GOOD LORD.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO, LOTS OF YELLING AND SHOUTING THERE AT THE CAPITOL.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN HEAR THIS THING, CAMRYN, CORRECT?
>> THERE WERE SEVERAL STR BILLS INTRODUCED, NO DOESN'T SEEM THEY ARE ADVANCING.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK TO HEAR BILLS IN THEIR COMMITTEE'S ORIGINAL CHAMBER, SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST DEADLINE HAS PASSED.
YOU CAN NEVER SAY NEVER.
BILLS CAN BE REVIVED, TACKED ONTO OTHER THINGS, ET CETERA.
>> SO THE THREATS, WERE THEY EMPTY THREATS?
WENT TO THE WIND?
>> HERE'S THE PROBLEM, TALK ABOUT SEDONA AND PRESCOTT AND THAT WHOLE AREA THERE.
HOW MANY DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO GET ELECTED FROM THAT AREA?
YOU MAY HAVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF SEDONA AND PRESCOTT AND PRESCOTT VALLEY, WHAT ARE THE CHOICES UNTIL YOU GET A CONSERVATIVE, RIGHT-LEANING DEMOCRAT, OTHERWISE THE THREATS ARE EMPY.
>> TAMALE BILL, WHO WANTS IT?
>> HOWIE.
>> YOU GOT SECONDS ON THE TAMALE BILL.
>> I LOVE GREEN CORN TAMALES.
THIS IS THE BILL THAT SAID THERE ARE REGULATIONS THAT ALL THE PEOPLE SELLING TAMALES ON THE STREET ARE ACTING ILLEGALLY.
THE HOUSE VOTED 45-15 TO PASS THIS THING.
SENATE VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO PASS IT, AND THE GOVERNOR, AFTER LETTING HER OWN DEMOCRATS HANG THEMSELVES OUT THERE, SAID, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT VERMIN INFESTED KITCHENS.
LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT PISSED OFF -- EXCUSE THE EXPRESSION -- LATINO LAWMAKERS.
THEY CHANGED ADDITIONAL LICENSES BUT NO HOME INSPECTIONS, THE GOVERNOR IS ON BOARD.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF THE HOUSE, GOING TO THE SENATE, PRESUMABLY, SOMETIME IN JULY AND AUGUST WHEN THEY GO HOME, THIS WILL BECOME LAW.
>> CAMRYN, IT'S NOT JUST TAMALES, IT IS PERISHABLE HOME COOKED GOODS.
THE REASON IS SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HEALTH EFFECTS AND HEALTH CONCERNS, ARE THEY OFF INTO THE WIND?
>> APPARENTLY SHE THINKS SO.
MY COUNTERPART ASKED FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNOR, AND WE GOT A LITERAL EMOJI THUMBS-UP BACK.
THE CONCERNS ARE SATISFIED.
>> NO MATTER WHAT THEY PUT OUT, SHE WOULD HAVE SAID GOOD ENOUGH.
SHE GOT YOU KNOW WHAT BEAT OUT OF HER LAST YEAR AND WAS GOING TO SIGN.
SHE WAS NOT GOING TO RISK ANOTHER ATTEMPT VETO OVERRIDE.
>> THIS WAS THE BILL THAT SYMBOLIZED HER ENTIRE FIRST YEAR OF SORT OF NOT READY FOR PRIMETIME WHEN IT CAME TO THE LEGISLATURE.
SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN READY, STAFF SHOULD HAVE BEEN READY EARLY IN THE SESSION, SPOT THAT BILL.
IF SHE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT, THAT WAS THE TIME TO DEAL WITH IT, IF SHE DIDN'T WANT TO PASS IT, THAT WAS THE TIME TO TELL DEMOCRATS DON'T VOTE FOR IT SO THEY'RE NOT CAUGHT WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN WHEN SHE VETOES IT, AND THEY'RE HAVING TO SAY, STICK WITH THE BILL OR FORCE OVERRIDE ON OUR OWN GOVERNOR OR COME UP WITH A REASON TO OVERRIDE OURSELVES.
THERE WAS NO WAY SHE WASN'T GOING TO SIGN THIS BILL NO MATTER WHAT IT SAID.
>> IT IS DIFFERENT.
THERE ARE CERTIFICATIONS AND RULES AND REGULATIONS, NOT MANY.
>> IT'S WINDOW DRESSING BECAUSE THE FACT IS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES IS NOT ALLOWED TO GO INTO HOMES AND LOOK AROUND, STILL NOT GOING TO REQUIRE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF RESTAURANTS, AND WHAT THEY ALSO DO, THEY MADE CONCESSIONS TO THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY TO SAY THEY WON'T BE COMPETING DIRECTLY WITH YOU.
>> GOT TO BE LABELED HOME COOKED.
>> THAT WAS LAST YEAR'S BILL.
HOME COOKED, THE INGREDIENTS, WHO TO CALL?
ALL THAT WAS IN LAST YEAR'S BILL.
THIS IS WINDOW DRESSING, THIS IS DESIGNED TO GO AHEAD AND TELL FOLKS, OKAY, YEAH, WE REALLY MEAN IT.
>> ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU GOING TO BUY STREET TAMALES?
>> I ALREADY DO.
WELL, ILLEGALLY.
[LAUGHTER] >> YOU'RE A FELON!
>> WE'LL GET TO THAT LATER.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
GOOD CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT'S IT FOR NOW.
I'M TED SIMONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
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