♪♪ >> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE LOOK AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AVOIDING AN EDUCATION FUNDING CLIP BY WAIVING AN EDUCATION FUNDING CAP.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> Announcer: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

IT'S FRIDAY AND TIME FOR THE ROUNDTABLE.

JOINING US IS HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES AND LAURIE ROBERTS OF THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC AND AZCENTRAL.COM AND BOB CHRISTIE OF CAPTIOL MEDIA SERVIES.

YOU COME AS A PAIR.

>> WE'RE TAKING OVER.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: LET'S START WITH YOU, HOWIEW AND THE EDUCATION FUND AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT A LONG TIME AND THEY FINALLY DID SOMETHING.

>> THEY FINALLY DID SOMETHING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT CAME DOWN TO THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY LOOKED AT THE CALENDAR AND SAID, OH AND I CAN'T USE THAT WORD ON PUBLIC TELEVISION.

IF THEY HAD NOT ACTED BY MARCH 1st, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO CUT SOMETHING LIKE CLOSE TO $1.4 BILLION OF FUNDING, 17% OF SCHOOL DISTRICT SPENDING AND ONLY IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR RATHER THAN 17% BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO CUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

THEY WERE PROMISED LAST YEAR.

THE DEMOCRATS HELPED DOUG DUCEY GET HIS BUDGET THROUGH AND HE SAID I WILL MAKE SURE WE SPEND THIS MONEY COMING IN.

WELL THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER THING AND IT ISN'T RIPE YET.

HE LEFT OFFICE AND WE HAVE A NEW CROP OF LAWMAKERS.

MANY OF WHOM SAID, I NEVER APPROVED THAT EXTRA MONEY AND THEY LINED UP THE VOTES AND SAID, WE CAN'T LET SCHOOLS CLOSE.

IT WILL LOOK BAD.

>> Ted: HOUSE OF SENATE, SUPER MAJORITY AND NOT UNANIMOUS.

>> ARIZONA FREEDOM CAUCUS, THEY STOOD AS A BLOCK AND SAID NO AND HAD TIRE TRACKS RUNNING RIGHT UP THEIR BACKS AS I THINK THERE WERE 21 AS THE 26 OTHER REPUBLICANS JOINED WITH DEMOCRATS TO GET THIS PASSED AND DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING SO THAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE CERTAINTY AS TO HOW THIS YEAR WILL PLAY OUT.

>> Ted: WHY DID THEY SAY NO AND WHAT WERE THE REASONS?

>> THE REAL REASON, THEY DON'T LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE STATED REASON, WE NEED MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE TRANSPARENCY AND WE WANT TO GET MORE MONEY INTO THE CLASSROOMS.

I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T WANT MORE MONEY INTO THE CLASSROOMS.

I LOOKED UP THE STATISTICS.

IF YOU CONSIDER INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT, WHICH IS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CLASS ROM,CLASSROOM, IT'S 61.5% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.

THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS AND IT'S RIGHT AT OR BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

IT'S NOT OUT OF WHACK.

>> Ted: YEAH, AND BOB, AGAIN, THIS IS A SUPER MAJORITY LEGISLATURE AND DOESN'T NEED THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE AND A DONE DEAL.

FOR NOW, THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT LIFT?

>> IT'S NOT A PERMANENT LIFT.

AS LONG WE'RE OVER THE CONSTITUTIONAL SPENDING CAP SET BY VOTERS IN 1980 BEFORE THERE WERE COMPUTERS TO BUY AND SOFTWARE LICENSES TO BUY AND ALL SORTS OF AMERICAN CLASSROOM EXPENSES, EVERY YEAR THIS WILL HAPPEN AND WE'RE $1.4 BILLION OVER THIS YEAR AND THAT INCLUDES SALES TAX MONEY NOT OVER THE CAP AND THEY REUPED THIS, THEY DIDN'T MAKE THIS UNDER THE CAP.

HALF OF THAT 1.4 BILLION WAS EXCLUDED.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 5 500, 600 MILLION THAT, THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIVE THE YEAR AFTER AND THE YEAR AFTER.

KATIE HOBBS, WHEN SHE DID HER STATE ADDRESS ROAD SHOW OUT OF THE AVONDALE ASKED BY A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, THEY WERE FREAKED OUT.

IT'S UP TO THE LEGISLATURE AND WE HOPE THEY'LL DO IT, BUT THIS CAN'T GO ON AND ON AND ON.

WE'VE GOT TO WAIVE IT.

>> THAT'S THE KEY, WHETHER IT'S THE LEGISLATURE PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT OR VOTERS AND THIS REQUIRES A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

THIS WOULDN'T OCCUR, OF COURSE, UNTIL NOVEMBER 24th.

THE ONLY WAY TO PERMANENTLY RESOLVE THIS TO SAY, A, THE CAP MAKES NO SENSE.

IT'S LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON.

WE HAVE A DEBT CEILING.

YOU DIDN'T THINK WHEN YOU AUTHORIZED THAT.

SAME ISSUE HERE.

>> Ted: DIDN'T SENATE PRESIDENT FANN SAID LET DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

IS THAT THE NEXT CROWD?

>> SHE'S GONE.

>> Ted: , YES, IYES, I KNOW.

>> WHETHER THEY GET RID OF IT ENTIRELY, WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL SPENDING CAP AND THEY NEED TO SAY WHAT IS INSIDE?

BOB POINTS OUT THE SALES TAX THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2000 WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE CAP.

WHEN THE LEGISLATURE RENEWED IT, THEY DIDN'T EXCLUDE IT.

WHAT SHOULDN'T BE INCLUDED AND WE CAN TAKE IT TO THE BALLOT.

>> THIS CAP DOESN'T APPLY TO CHATTERCHARTER SCHOOLS OR ESA'S AND THOSE ARE THE PET PROGRAMS.

IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT AS THE FREEDOM CAUCUS TALKS ABOUT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE MONEY INTO THE CLASSROOM, WE HAVE VIRTUALLY NO ACCOUNTABILITY OF ESA FUNDS OR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT STICKIN' IT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT MOST OF OUR CHILDREN ATTEND.

>> OF COURSE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS AND ALL BUDGETS ARE PUBLIC AND IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN RUN DOWN LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND READ BUDGETS AND GO TO MEETINGS AND LISTEN TO THEM ADOPT BUDGETS AND YOU CAN SEE, OH, YEAH, 61% IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE REST ON SCHOOL LUNCHES AND BUILDINGS AND BUSES AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE SCHOOLS NEED.

>> Ted: THE ARGUMENT SEEMS ON SCHOOL SALARIES.

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> Ted: BUT THAT IS THE ARGUMENT.

>> THAT IS THE ARGUMENT.

THAT, PLUS, THE SCHOOLS ARE DOING A LOUSY JOB AND SCHOOLS ARE FAILING STUDENTS.

WE CAME OUT OF INDIVIDUAL AND THE HANGOVER FROM THAT WITH BAD TEST SCORES AND TOM HORN SAYS THOSE ARE GOING DOWN REGARDLESS.

WE HAVE ISSUES IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS I DON'T THINK -- IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE WE'VE UNDERFUNDED THEM FOR A DECADE.

>> Ted: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAME OUT RELATIVELY HARD AND SAID, GET THIS DONE.

DID THAT SPEED THINGS UP A BIT?

>> THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED AGAINST IT WERE NEVER THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TYPES.

THE BUSINESS REPUBLICANS, THESE ARE THE FOLKS -- THIS IS LIKE THE TEA PARTY USED TO BE.

THE BUSINESS REPUBLICANS WOULD VOTE FOR THIS AND THE TJ SHOPES OF THE WORLD AND THEY KNEW THIS HAD TO BE DONE.

>> Ted: BUT DID IT SPEED UP THE PROCESS?

>> MAYBE BY A WEEK OR SO.

MARCH 1st DEADLINE, THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING.

>> Ted: HOW DID THIS GO?

>> IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ARE.

>> Ted: IF YOU'RE THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC, IT WENT WELL.

NO ONE PREPARED THIS WOMAN.

DR. CULLEN HAS A GREAT REPUTATION AND THE PIMA COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR DURING THE COVID THINGS AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED UNDER HER WATCH, THEY HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, BUT BOILED DOWN TO ITS ESSENCE, PIMA COUNTY HAD THE SECOND LEAST DEATH RATE AND SHE MUST HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHING RATE AND IT DIDN'T COME OUT IN THE HOUR-LONG HEARING AND SHE WAS GRILLED AND UNPREPARED TO ANSWER.

I THINK SHE IS A DOCTOR, NOT A BRAWLER AND THAT WAS A PROBLEM FOR HER.

>> IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE THINGS SHE DID DOWN THERE, PIMA COUNTY HAD AN OVERNIGHT CURFEW FOR WHEN THE VIRUS FIRST BROKE BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A VACCINE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

MASK MAN DATES MANDATES OR REQUESTS.

A WEBSITE WITH A WALL OF SHAME OR BUSINESSES LIKE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THIS JUST DROVE THE CONSERVATIVES ON THE COMMITTEE CRAZY.

THEY SAID, HOW DO WE KNOW YOU WON'T DO THAT TO US?

IGNORING THE FACT THAT THE PRIOR GOVERNOR -- REMEMBER DOUG DUECY, MASK MANDATES, CHOSING SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES?

OH, THAT WAS DIFFERENT.

>> Ted: PIMA COUNTY, HEALTH DIRECTOR, WE KNOW THERE WAS FRICTION FROM GOVERNOR DUCEY'S OFFICE AND A BUNCH OF REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES.

SHOULDN'T SHE HAVE EXPECTED SOME SORT OF CONFRONTATION?

IT SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS CAUGHT BLIND-SIDED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS LAURIE AND HOWIE SAID, SHE WAS UNPREPARE INTERESTED UNPREPARED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

THE LEGISLATURE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS PASSING LAWS AND TO PREVENT BUSINESS CLOSURES AND YOU CAN'T SAY THE LEGISLATURE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE THAT AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF COVID WHEN EVERYBODY STUMBLED AROUND AND DOUG DUCEY DID ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN AND YOU KNOW THEY'RE MAD AND FIRED UP AND YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED FORETHOSE QUESTIONS.

>> JAKE HOFFMAN HAS AN IN-YOUR-FACE STYLE AND CALLED HER TO YOUR FACE INGENUOUS AND DO YOU FIRE BACK AND SAY, NO, Mr. HOFFMAN, YOU'RE THE JERK.

SHE SAT THERE AND TOOK IT.

>> ANYONE WHO WATCHED HIM, HE'S THE MOST INPARTISAN LEGISLATURE AND HE WAS PUT IN CHARGE OF THIS FOR ONE REASON, TO TORPEDO CERTAIN CANDIDATES AND THAT WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICE BECAUSE OF THE COVID TREATMENT.

THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IN MASKS.

THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN IMMUNIZATIONS AND DON'T MUCH BELIEVE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, THERE, THIS IS THE PROBLEM.

THIS WAS A GO BACK THIS TIME TO REMEMBER, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS VIRUS WAS OR WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND THEY DID ERROR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND SHE WAS NOT READY.

>> THIS THAT FIRST SIX MONTHS OF COVID AND I SPENT MY -- I THINK HOWIE DID, TOO, OUR DAYS WRITING DID COVID AND THE FEAR THE HOSPITALS WOULD BE OVERRUN WITH DEAD GRANDMOTHERS AND DEAD BABIES AND DEAD CHILDREN AND THE DISABLED PEOPLE DROPPING DEAD BECAUSE OF COVID HITTING THEM AND IT WASN'T JUST ARIZONA AND IT WAS NOT JUST PIMA COUNTY BUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND WE REACTED AS A COUNTRY.

I LOOK BACK AT THAT SIX MONTHS OF MY CAREER AND SAY HOLY TOLEDO.

THE LAST TWO YEARS SINCE THEN, THERE'S BEEN THIS PUSHBACK FROM IT.

NOBODY REMEMBERS.

>> Ted: AS IF IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> YES.

>> Ted: HOWIE, THIS WAS CREATED AS A WHOLE CLOTH WITH AGAIN A RELATIVELY HIGHLY PARTISAN CHAIR AND AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO EXPECT SOME OF THIS STUFF.

THEY DIDN'T CREATE THIS COMMITTEE, RUBBER STAMP EVERYTHING GOVERNOR HOBBS DID.

>> IT WOULD GO TO THE HEALTH COMMITTEE AND SOMEBODY FOR COMMISSION TO A JUDICIARY COMMITTEE OR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR DPS DIRECTOR.

THIS WAS TO DO PRODUCT TOE LOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.

THIS DIDN'T OCCUR UNTIL THEY WOKE UP AND SAID, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH A DEMOCRAT.

WE HAVE TO APPROVE HER NOMINEES.

WHEN MUCH OF THIS HAD.

ROUTINE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

THE IDEA WAS, THIS IS HER PICK.

THIS IS HER PICK TO CARRY OUT THINGS.

WHAT A DIRECTOR CAN DO IS CIRCUMSCRIBE BY WHAT THE LAW SAYS AND THEY WANT TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KILL ANYTHING THAT KATIE HOBBS DOES.

>> YOU HAVE TO PUT SOME OF THE BLAME ON KATIE HOBBS AND HER KEY STAFFERS.

IF THIS WAS THEIR PICK AND THE PERSON THAT THEY THINK IS PERFECT FOR THE JOB, WHY DIDN'T THEY GET HER READY TO GO AND WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE AN ARMY OF PEOPLE TO SUPPORT HER?

WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE THE DEMOCRATS BEING MORE VOCAL AND TRYING TO DEFEND HER?

IT WAS AS IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THEY'RE IN A WAR BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND IT.

WHY IS KATIE HOBBS?

HOW IS SHE GOVERNING?

>> Ted: BOB, WILL WE SEE MORE OF THIS OR MORE OF WHAT WE SAW WITH ANGIE ROGERS OR HALF THE TIME OF GRILLED?

>> IT WILL BE 50/50.

THE FOLKS WILL HEAR TWO OR THREE A WEEK, AS SOON AS THEY GET THE NOMINATIONS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WHICH IS ANOTHER STORY AND THEY WILL PICK A GROWING CANDIDATE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUANTITY, DQ IS UP.

THE DEVELOPERS WILL BE VERY WORRIED ABOUT.

THEY DON'T WANT A LOT OF REGULATION ON TOXINS.

THAT'S BAD FOR BUSINESS, RIGHT.

YOU CAN TRUST ME, THEY'LL LOOK AT A DAQ AND THEY'LL LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE HOBBS WANTS TO LIBERAL NATE THE BOARD OF STRIKE FORCE OR THE NAME AND ONLY BOARD OF STRIKE FORCE WHICH WHO KNOWS WHERE THEY'RE DRIVING.

>> THERE'S ONE MORE.

SHE'S BRINGING IN THE HEAD OF BOARD OF CORRECTIONS WHICH HAS, LIKE, THREE THOUSAND INMATES.

YOU CAN BET A LOT OF GRILLING IN TERMS OF, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WE ARE NOT MAIN.

>> Ted: LAST POINT, HOWIE, THIS IS A COMMITTEE AND CAN'T LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT IT'S A RECOMMENDATION.

THIS IS NOT A VOTE.

THIS IS NOT A FULL VOTE HERE AND HOW MUCH WEIGHT WILL THAT CARRY.

>> I THINK THAT CERTAINLY IN THE CASE OF TERESA CULLEN, PUT A FORK IN HER.

TJ SHOPE AND I HATE TO USE THE WORD "MODERATE" HE PUT OUT A TWEET SAYING I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN HER SAYING I DON'T THINK SHE'S UP TO THE TASK.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ONLY 14 PEOPLE AND YOU NEED 16 TO GET THEM THROUGH.

IF HE LOSE SHOPE, WHAT'S LEFT?

>> SHE COULD HAVE, BUT MAYBE MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS WITH DEMOCRATS WHO MIGHT HAVE COME THROUGH FOR HER, BUT SHE HAD TO SHOW SHE'S UP TO THE JOB.

EVEN THOUGH SHE MAY BE UP TO THE JOB SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP.

>> Ted: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET?

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND THINKING ABOUT IT.

>> IT WAS SUCH A GREAT IDEA ON PAPER, WASN'T IT, THAT THEY WOULD PUSH THROUGH THIS SKINNY BUDGET, WHICH IS A CONTINUATION OF LAST YEAR'S SPENDING, THAT YOU GET THEIR 16 RECENTLIES 16 REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE AND 31 IN THE HOUSE AND PASS AN ALL REPUBLICAN BALLOT UP TO KATIE HOBBS AND ONLY IF YOU PASS THIS WILL WE NEGOTIABLE ANY FURTHER SPENDING AND HOPE TO PUT HER IN A CORNER AND INSTEAD, ONE OF THEIR OWN MEMBERS, LIZ HARRIS, AGAIN AN ELECTION DENIER AND PART OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS.

THEY'VE NEVER PUT OUT A ROSTER AND SHE CERTAINLY SOUNDS LIKE SHE SHOULD BE ONE EVER THOSE MEMBERS.

SHE BALKED AND VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET AND SO THEY CAME ONE SHORT AND SHE BECAME KATIE HOBBS' BEST FRIEND BECAUSE WITHOUT HER VOTE, SINCE THEY HAVE NO MARGIN, WITHOUT HER VOTE, THEY CAN'T SEND A BUDGET UP.

>> TWO THINGS WITH MISS HARRIS.

AFTER THE ELECTION, SHE SAID, I AM NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR ANY BILL UNTIL WE RUN A NEW ELECTION.

THERE'S NO AUTHORITY FOR A NEW ELECTION AND WE'LL LEAVE THAT ASIDE.

LOOK AT THE INFLATION RATE AND WE SHOULD HAVE A BUDGET THAT IS FOUR TO FIVE BILLION DOLLARS LESS THAN IT IS EVEN WITH THE SKINNY BUDGET.

HERE IS WHAT I DON'T THINK MISS HARRIS UNDERSTANDS ON THE REST OF THAT.

DID YOU WATCH WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WHEN THE CONSERVATIVES BALKED AT THE BUDGET, WHEN THE CONSERVATIVES SAID EVEN THE SKINNY BUDGET WAS TOO MUCH?

GUESS WHAT?

THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO DO ONE THING, PUT OUT A BUDGET.

THE LEADERSHIP GOES TO DEMOCRATS AND WHAT WILL IT TAKE?

WHAT DO WE NEED TO ADD TO THE BUDGET TO GET US OUT OF HERE?

>> Ted: LEADERLEADERSHIP NEEDS ONE THING AND THAT'S COUNT THE VOTES.

THIS WOMAN WOULDN'T VOTE FOR ANYTHING.

>> IT'S THE FIRST VOTE OF THE YEAR AND THE WAY THIS WORKS, ARMS ARE TWISTED, SHOULDERS ARE SORE THE NEXT DAY AND THEY CALL YOU UP AND YOU PUSH THE GREEN BUTTON AND GO WITH THE TEAM.

SHE DIDN'T GO WITH THE TEAM.

THERE WAS SOME SIGN THAT TWO DAYS LATER, THEY MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN HER TO GO WITH THE TEAM BECAUSE THEY PUT IT UP ON A VOTE SCHEDULE AGAIN.

I CALLED AND SAID, LOOK, IT'S BACK.

NO, IT'S NOT.

IT'S JUST FAKE.

[ Laughter ] >> THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THEY WILL PROBABLY GET HER TO GO ALONG, BUT IT MIGHT TAKE SOME BUYING OFF, PROBABLY.

>> THAT BECOMES THE PROBLEM, ONCE YOU GIVE HER SOMETHING, THE OTHER 30 REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WILL SAY, WHAT ABOUT ME?

WELL, I NEED THIS AND THAT AND WHATEVER.

>> Ted: SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT THE TRUE BELIEVERS, LAURIE, THEY ARE TRUE BELIEVERS AND SHE SAID SHE WON'T VOTE FOR ANYTHING UNTIL THAT ELECTION IS REDONE.

>> IN SHE WANTS TO GO BACK ON HER WORD AND PUT OUT A BAD STATEMENT ABOUT THE BUDGET AND SHE THINKS EVEN THE SKINNY BUDGET NEEDS TO GO ON A MAJOR DIET.

I DON'T SEE HOW SHE COMES BACK WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE A TOTAL DOOFUS.

>> MISS HARRIS, I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANYTHING HERE, IF THEY PASS A BUNCH OF THE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, ELECTION REFORM BILLS.

NO MACHINE COUNTING, DAY OF VOTING, MORE OBSERVERS AND THEY'LL GET VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR AND LEAVING THAT ASIDE, OK, YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH THERE AND RECOGNIZING THERE'S NO PATH TO A NEW ELECTION.

YOU'VE LIVED UP TO AT LEAST PART OF YOUR PROMISE.

>> Ted: MAYBE BIPARTISAN COULD REAR ITS HEAD AND GET SOMETHING DONE DOWN THERE.

>> LOOK BACK TO THE RULE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED AND SO THAT THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE RULE CHANGES IS ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO WITH MEDICAID EXPANSION, THE HOUSE SPEAKER WERE THREATENED WITH A REVOLT AND YOU PUT THIS UP FOR A BIPARTISAN VOTE OR YOU'RE OUT.

THEY CAN'T RULE THE SPEAKER.

THEY WOULD NEED A FULL VOTE AND TALEGET RID OF THE SPEAKER.

>> I'M ASSUMING THE SPEAK HAS TO BE ON BOARD AND THE SPEAKER KNOWS.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT, I DON'T KNOW.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

THIS IS JUST ONE.

IF WE START SEEING THREE OR MORE.

>> YOU WILL SEE A BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE AND THE FREEDOM CAUCUS BE ROLLED OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER WAY AROUND IT.

YOU HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND SHE'LL INSIST -- THEY SPEND TIME ON THIS SKINNY BUDGET AND IT WILL GET VETOED.

THE ONLY ANSWER UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO SHUT DOWN STATE GOVERNMENT FOREVER IS COME, WHAT, JUNE 30th AND YOU'LL HAVE A DEAL.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHO BLINKS FIRST.

>> OR WHO ARE THEY BLAMING?

THE COMPARISONS TO WASHINGTON.

THE DEBT CEILING, SHUTTING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT AND WON'T DO A CONTINUING RESOLUTION OR DEFAULT ON DEBTS AND EVERYBODY IS PLAYING CHICKEN ON THIS AND MAYBE SOME REPUBLICANS IF THE GOVERNORVETOS, IT'S HER FAULT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO WITH THE PRISON ESERS AND THE STATE PARKS CLOSE AND EVERYONE IS FIGURING OUT HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT.

>> Ted: REMEMBER THOSE GRANTS THAT GOVERNOR DUCEY DID FOR SCHOOLS?

BUT YOU COULD ONLY GET THE GRANT IF YOU REJECTED COVID PROTOCOLS AND THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T LIKE THAT AND KNOCK IT OFF AND A LAWSUIT AND GOVERNOR HOBBS SAYS THAT'S HISTORY AND THAT'S OVER, HUH?

IT WAS HISTORY AS SOON AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUED OVER IT.

IN FACT, IT WAS HISTORY AS SOON AS DOUG DUCEY PUT OUT THE PRESS RELEASE THAT SAID, I'M GOING TO SPEND MONEY AND IGNORE THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION AND NOT OWN THAT,ONLY THAT, BUT IGNORE THE MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE BY GIVING IT TO CERTAIN PEOPLE.

THAT WAS NEVER GOING TO FLY.

POLITICALLY, DOUG DUCEY DID A LOT OF THINGS IN THE LAST YEAR THAT WERE UNCHARACTERISTIC.

>> Ted: ABOUT WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY THAT WAS DOLED OUT?

>> THERE WAS MONEY DOLED OUT AND THAT MONEY WILL STAY WITH THE SCHOOLS AND NOT CLAWED BACK.

IT WILL BE REDIRECT REDISTRIBUTED.

>> THE REAL INTERESTING QUESTION, WHAT WILL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO?

AS YOU RECALL, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PREVAILED IN COURT SAYING YOU CAN'T USE THESE FUNDS TO UNDERMINE -- FEDERAL FUNDS TO UNDERMINE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND CAN'T USE THE FUNDS TO REWARD A SCHOOL THAT WON'T LET YOU IMPOSE A MASK MAN MANDATE.

THEY WERE SET TO CLAW THAT MONEY BACK AND DUCEY APPEAL ED THIS DECISION AND RIGHT BEFORE HE LEFT OFFICE, WITHDREW THE APPEAL.

THAT RULING STANDS WE COULD LOSE THAT MONEY AND COULD DO COULD GO BACK TO WASHINGTON.

>> Ted: THAT'S WHAT GOVERNOR HOBBS IS SAYING, TRYING TO NOT RECOUPE THE MONEY.

>> THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WORKED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION AND I THINK THEY'LL SAY, WELL, OK, YOU DID IT THIS WAY THIS TIME AND NEVER MIND.

ALL IS FAIR AND IT WAS SPENT IN GOOD FAINT BY THE SCHOOL, NOT BY THE FORMER GOVERNOR.

BUT IN GOOD FAINT BY THE FAITH BY THE GOVERNOR.

WE WON'T SEE JANET YELLEN SAYING GIVE US OUR CASH.

>> Ted: THAT WOULD BE A GOOD VISUAL.

A BILL THAT REQUIRES BUSINESSES TO TAKE CASH AND YOU MUST TAKE CASH.

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT.

>> DURING COVID, NOBODY WANTED TO USE CASH AND SOME BUSINESSES WOULDN'T ACCEPT CASH AND THIS WERE MOVES -- AMAZON IS EXPERIMENTING WITH CASHLESS MARKETS AND THE SENSORS KNOW WHAT YOU PICK UP AND YOU WALK OUT.

THE ARGUMENT SAYS ON THE CASH THIS IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DEBTS AND WE SHOULD OBEY IT.

THE PROBLEM BECOMES, WHERE IS THE LIMIT IN THERE?

I MEAN, ARE YOU GOING TO BUY THIS TESLA FOR SMALL UNMARKED BILLS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

THIS IS THE PRO-BUSINESS LEGISLATURE.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TELL BUSINESSES HOW THEY DO BUSINESS, BUT -- >> Ted: A SMALL BUSINESS LEGISLATURE, AS WELL.

>> EXACTLY.

THEY WON'T TELL BUSINESSES WHAT TO DO, BUT NOW WE TELL BUSINESSES WHAT TO DO.

THIS IS A BIPARTISAN BILL, THOUGH.

IT WILL HELP THE POOR WHO DON'T HAVE BANK ACCOUNTS AND IT WILL HELP IMMIGRANTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ILLEGALLY BECAUSE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO USE CASH FOR THINGS.

IT'S INTERESTING ONE OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURES WE HAVE IS ADVOCATING WHAT THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO DOES.

BOTH HAVE POLICIES IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL LOCATION, YOU MUST.

>> BUSINESSES ARE GOING THIS WAY AND EVERYBODY SHOPPING IN THE LAST DECADE KNOWS THAT 90% OF THE TRANSACTIONS, IF NOT MORE, ARE DONE ON CREDIT CARD AND NOW ALL OF THESE APPS ON YOUR PHONE, THIS WILL NEVER FLY.

IF IT GETS TO THE GOVERNOR -- YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BE INTERESTING.

IF IT GETS TO THE GOVERNOR, WHAT ARE THE GOVERNOR'S THOUGHTS?

YOU HAVE TO THINK.

>> THIS GOES ALONG WITH ANOTHER BILL WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT IF YOU WANT TO RUN FOR THE LEGISLATURE, YOUR BUSINESS HAS TO SAVE YOUR JOB FOR YOU.

AGAIN, THIS IS AGAIN, REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE TELLING BUSINESSES HERE IS WHAT YOU'LL DO.

>> Ted: HERE IS WHAT WE'LL DO, WRAP IT PUP.

UP.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

♪♪