♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL LOOK AT WHY CHILDHOOD VACCINATION RATES IN ARIZONA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FALLING?

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE LATEST ON EFFORTS TO SELL OFF MILLIONS OF ACRES OF FEDERAL LANDS.

>>> AND CONCERNS OVER CHANGES THAT LIMIT THE EPA'S ABILITY TO REGULATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ACT.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY ASSESSOR PAUL PETERSEN IS BACK IN ARIZONA SERVING A PRISON SENTENCE FOR FELONIES INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION OF ILLEGAL ADOPTION RING, ACCORDING TO THE "ARIZONA REPUBLIC," REPORTS THAT PETERSEN COMPLETED FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE AND WILL FINISH OUT ARIZONA CONVICTIONS RELATED TO SMUGGLING AND MEDICARE FRAUD.

HE WAS ELECTED TWICE AS MARICOPA COUNTY ASSESSOR.

>>> CANDIDATES OF NOTE.

DR. ZUHDI JASSER RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN ARIZONA'S 4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

LOST THE PRIMARY TO KELLY COOPER IN 2024.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN GREG STANTON IS THE INCUMBENT IN THE DISTRICT.

AND THE FORMER DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE ERIC DESCHEENIE IS RUNNING FOR THE DISTRICT, DESCHEENIE WILL FACE FORMER NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT JONATHAN NEZ.

NEZ LOST TO CRANE IN THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION.

>>> NATIONAL NEWS, ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER TARIFF HEADLINE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL, QUOTE, SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE TARIFFS ON INDIA WHICH ALREADY FACES TARIFFS OF 25%.

THE PRESIDENT'S CLAIM IS THAT INDIA IS RESELLING CHEAP RUSSIAN OIL ON THE OPEN MARKET.

INDIAN OFFICIALS CALLED THE THREAT UNJUSTIFIED AND UNREASONABLE AND WILL CONTINUE BUYING RUSSIAN CRUDE.

>>> NO WORD WHO PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL NAME AS THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR STATISTICS, THE PRESIDENT FIRED THE HEAD AFTER CLAIMING WITHOUT EVIDENCE THAT THE TOP OFFICIAL, QUOTE, RIGGED A JOBS REPORT THAT SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT SLOWDOWN IN HIRING.

>>> ONE MORE HEADLINE, A GIANT PANDA AT WASHINGTON SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOO ENJOYED BIRTHDAY CAKE.

BAO LI TURNED FOUR YEARS OLD.

ARRIVED IN CHINA ALONG WITH A FUTURE MATE WHO ANSWERS TO QING BAO.

THE CAKE IS FULL OF PANDA FRIENDLY FRUITS AND OTHER PANDA FRIENDLY INGREDIENTS MUCH TO BAO LI'S SATISFACTION.

>>> THE CDC RECENTLY RELEASED A REPORT SHOWING VACCINE RATES FOR KINDERGARTNERS CONTINUE TO FALL AS THE PURPORTED NUMBER OF CHILDREN EXEMPT IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

JOINING US IS WILL HUMBLE OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

TED: ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT THE RATES ARE FALLING?

>> NO, THIS IS THE TREND HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.

IN ARIZONA, WE'VE LOST ABOUT A HALF A PERCENT EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS, AND THE NEW REPORT THAT CAME OUT, SAME THING, WE LOST HALF A PERCENT, DOWN TO 88.6% FOR THE MMR VACCINE, THE ONE WE LOOK AT FIRST BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST CONTAGIOUS CHILDHOOD ILLNESS AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE REALLY HIGH VACCINATION RATES TO KEEP IT FROM SPREADING.

>> WHY IS IT HAPPENING AND CONTINUE TO HAPPEN?

>> THIS IS IN THE CATEGORY OF A LONG-TERM PROBLEM, THIS DIDN'T JUST START HAPPENING IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS OR AFTER -- IT'S GOTTEN WORSE AFTER THE PANDEMIC, BUT MY -- IT STARTED WITH PARENT GROUPS QUESTIONING VACCINES AND SHARON THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND STARTED GATHERING MORE AND MORE MOMENTUM AND I THINK THAT TREND CONTINUES AND HAS BEEN JUST PRETTY INSIDIOUS, AND THERE'S ANOTHER THING, WHICH IS THE GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THESE DISEASES REALTIME ARE FADING AWAY, AND THE PARENTS OF TODAY WERE BORN IN 1990 WHEN MEASLES, WHAT'S THAT?

SO THAT SCARED FACTOR THAT MY MOM'S GENERATION HAD IS NOT PRESENT WITH THIS NEW GENERATION, AND THEY SEE THERE'S NO ILLNESSES AROUND, WHY SHOULD I GET THE VACCINE?

BUT THE REASON THERE'S NO ILLNESSES IS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN VACCINATING FOR DECADES.

>> DID COVID MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

THIS STARTED BEFORE COVID, RIDE?

>> THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE WORSE.

THIS STARTED HAPPENING WHEN I WAS THE STATE DIRECTOR TEN YEARS AGO, WE WERE LOSING HALF A PERCENT A YEAR.

IT'S NOT JUST THE PANDEMIC, THERE'S A LONGER TERM ISSUE THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND BY THE WAY, AND IT'S NOT PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

TED: THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ASK HERE.

EXEMPTIONS ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

THEY PLAY A FACTOR AROUND THE COUNTRY.

HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR AROUND ARIZONA?

>> THAT'S A BIG FACTOR, THAT'S WHY WE'RE 40th OUT OF 50.

WE'RE NEAR THE BOTTOM, AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS IN ARIZONA WE HAVE A PERSONAL EXEMPTION, WHEN YOUR KID SHOWS UP IN KINDERGARTEN AND THEY ARE UNVACCINATED, SOMEONE SAYS SIGN THE EXEMPTION FORM AND WE'LL GET YOUR KID ENROLLED.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN EVERY STATE.

IN MISSISSIPPI -- MISSISSIPPI SELDOM HAS BETTER HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES THAN OTHER STATES, THEY'RE WITH CONNECTICUT TIED FOR THE BEST VACCINATION RATES.

WHY?

BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LAW IN PLACE, THEY ONLY HAVE MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS.

YOU CAN'T JUST SIGN A FORM AND SAY I WANT MY KID TO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, THE STATES AT THE TOP ARE THE STATES THAT ARE THE BEST, AND THE STATES AT THE BOTTOM, WE'RE ONE OF THOSE.

TED: MISSISSIPPI AND CONNECTICUT?

>> HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE MISSISSIPPI AND CONNECTICUT.

TED: FOR PUBLIC HEALTH?

AND MINNESOTA, RIGHT?

>> THEY INVEST A LOT IN PUBLIC HEALTH THAN WE DO HERE IN ARIZONA, AND YET THEY'RE WORSE THAN US, AND IT'S NOT ACCESS TO VACCINES, IT'S BECAUSE, IN PART, THEY DON'T HAVE A SCHOOL REQUIREMENT.

TED: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AS FAR AS THE PERCENTAGE NEEDED FOR HERD IMMUNITY?

WHERE ARE WE?

STICK TO ARIZONA ABOUT THIS.

>> DEPENDS WHAT PART OF ARIZONA.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOGALES AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, THERE YOU GO.

MEASLES IS THE MOST CONTAGIOUS ONE, THAT'S WHY WE TRACK THAT THE MOST.

PIMA COUNTY IS GOOD, TUCSON HAS GOOD VACCINATION RATES.

YAVAPAI COUNTY AND MOHAVE COUNTY, THEY'RE WAY BELOW, THEY'RE AT THE 70% LEVEL, SIMILAR IN TEXAS, THE HUGE OUTBREAK, 1300 PEOPLE INFECTED IN TEXAS.

THOSE TWO COUNTIES HAVE RATES SIMILAR TO THAT PART OF WEST TEXAS, SO THAT'S JUST A FLAME READY TO IGNITE.

TED: WHAT NUMBER ARE WE LOOKING FOR, FOR HERD IMMUNITY?

>> 95%.

TED: 95?

AND WE'RE SEEING 70?

>> LIKE I SAID, OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE ARE DOING WELL.

MARICOPA IS IN THE MIDDLE.

TED: PROBABLY POCKETS OF MARICOPA LIKE OTHER AREAS.

>> RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE SEGMENT IS.

TED: KEEP GOING.

>> THERE'S A THING WHERE YOU SEE PUBLIC SCHOOLKIDS HAVE GOOD VACCINATION RATES.

CHARTER SCHOOLKIDS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLKIDS HAVE MUCH LOWER VACCINATION RATES.

THAT'S WITHIN THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

TED: I GET IT.

HOW IS THE DATA COLLECTED, AND IS THE COLLECTION PROCESS THE SAME WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE WE KNOW IF YOU HAVE A BAD JOBS REPORT, YOU'RE OUT OF HERE.

I DON'T KNOW.

DO YOU WANT A BAD IMMUNIZATION REPORT?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOOD ANYMORE AS FAR AS HEALTH AND THE ADMINISTRATION?

>> SO THE WAY -- NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

STATES REPORT THAT DATA TO CDC AND THEN THEY COMPILE IT.

USUALLY CDC WILL PUT OUT A BIG MORBIDITY, MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT AND DO A SAMMARIZE AND WEEKLY ANALYSIS, THEY DIDN'T DO THAT THIS TIME, THEY PUT UP A SPREADSHEET WHICH I FOUND, BUT THEY'RE NOT ADVERTISING VACCINES THESE DAYS.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE COOKING THE BOOKS.

TED: GOOD TO HEAR.

I THINK.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE JOB IS SAFE OR NOT, IF IT'S A LOW OR HIGH VACCINATION RATE, WITH THAT IN MIND, CDC HAS A NEW DIRECTOR.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE NEW DIRECTOR?

>> I PERSONALLY DIDN'T KNOW HER, I CALLED SOME OF MY CONTACTS FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORLD, AND SHE TOOK HEAT IN THE CONFIRMATION HEARING FROM SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE SHE'S NOT AN MD, SHE'S A Ph.D.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.

I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT HER DECISION ON EVIDENCE BASED HEALTH AND THERE SHE SEEMS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

SHE'S A LONGTIME PUBLIC HEALTH PERSON WHO IS WELL RESPECTED.

I DON'T WANT TO -- I CAN'T SAY TODAY WHETHER SHE'LL BE A GOOD CDC DIRECTOR, BUT THE INGREDIENTS ARE THERE FOR HER TO BE AS GOOD, I THINK, AS I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED FROM MR. KENNEDY.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, IS HER ONLY POSITIVE SHE'S NOT A NEGATIVE?

>> WELL, NO, I MEAN SHE HAS ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS.

>> WHEN YOU SAY MORE THAN YOU EXPECTED -- >> SOMEBODY WHO DIDN'T CARE ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AT ALL.

SHE'S GOT ALL THE -- THE CREDENTIALS ARE THERE, BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE TIME TO SEE WHETHER SHE MAKES GOOD DECISIONS OR NOT.

TED: THERE IS OPTIMISM THERE?

>> YES.

TED: FORMER ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR WILL HUMBLE.

THANKS.

>> THANKS, TAKE CARE.

.

TED: A CONTROVERSIAL MANDATE TO SELL OFF MILLIONS OF ACRES OF FEDERAL LANDS REMOVED FROM THE RECONCILIATION BUDGET BILL.

REPORTERS ARE PUSHING TO KEEP IT ALIVE.

WE WELCOME SANDY BAHR, DIRECTOR OF THE SIERRA CLUB GRAND CANYON CHAPTER, GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

TED: THIS PROPOSED SELL-OFF OF ACRES OF LAND MADE IT INTO THE RECONCILIATION BILL, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

IT'S IN THERE, AND THERE WAS PUSHBACK THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FROM AVERAGE PEOPLE, BUT ALSO BIPARTISAN PUSHBACK.

THERE WERE SOME REPUBLICAN SENATORS, INCLUDING IDAHO SENATORS WHO SAID, WE DON'T LIKE THIS.

PUBLIC LANDS ARE IMPORTANT TO US, SO THEY ENDED UP REMOVING IT BUT SENATOR LEE SAID HE'LL BE BACK.

TED: THIS IS SENATOR MIKE LEE OF UTAH.

THIS WAS HIS IDEA SELLING TWO TO THREE MILLION ACRES OVER FIVE YEARS WAS THE ACTUAL IDEA IN THE BILL.

HOW WOULD THIS IMPACT ARIZONA?

>> WELL, WE HAD 14 MILLION ACRES IN ARIZONA THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SELL-OFF, AND WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THOSE LANDS, YOU'RE LIKE WHY?

THEY TRIED TO MAKE THE HOUSING ARGUMENTS.

THESE ARE NOT LANDS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE OR -- OTHER THAN FOR MAYBE A RICH PERSON'S HIDEAWAY, THEY REALLY PERNT APPROPRIATE FOR HOUSING.

TED: WHAT MADE THEM ELIGIBLE?

>> THEY HAD A NUMBER OF CRITERIA.

AT FIRST, THEY SAID LANDS THAT HAD GRAZING OR OTHER PERMITTED ACTIVITY WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE, BUT THEY HAD ARBITRARY INFORMATION ABOUT HOW CLOSE THEY WERE DEVELOPED AREAS, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITIES.

IT WAS REALLY, LIKE, KIND -- TED: SOUNDS AMORPHOUS TO ME.

>> YEAH AND IT WAS VERY BROAD.

AND LAND THAT WAS PART OF THE TONTO NATIONAL FOREST ALONG THE SALT RIVER WERE INCLUDED.

PLACES LIKE SABINO CANYON, BY TUCSON, WERE INCLUDED, AND IT MADE NO SENSE AT ALL.

TED: THE BILL, THE MANDATE WAS IT WOULD BE USED FOR HOUSING.

DID THEY SAY WHAT KIND OF HOUSING?

THE IDEA IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING MENTIONED?

>> NO, IT WAS NOT.

THERE WAS NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING MANDATE.

SO THESE LANDS COULD HAVE BEEN SOLD OFF TO WEALTHY PEOPLE TO BUILD SOME HIDEAWAY, AND DUANE, THERE ARE WAYS RIGHT NOW TO TRANSFER PUBLIC LANDS THROUGH PUBLIC PURPOSES ACT THAT, IF THERE'S A PUBLIC PURPOSE, THOSE LANDS CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO LIKE A COUNTY OR A CITY, BUT RIGHT NOW -- BUT UNDER THIS, THEY WOULD HAVE SAID YOU CAN SELL THEM.

TED: YEAH.

>> AND I THINK THAT IS MORE LEE WILL BE BACK, BUT THEY ARE ALSO DOING A LOT OF THINGS TO OPEN UP THOSE LANDS FOR PRIVATIZING THEM IN A LOT OF WAYS FOR OIL AND GAS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT, RIGHT NOW, CERTAIN LANDS ARE PROTECTED FROM THAT AND TRYING TO OPEN UP A LOT MORE OF THE LANDS.

THEY'RE GETTING RID OF ROADLESS PROTECTION FOR CERTAIN LANDS THAT WOULD OPEN THEM UP FOR TIMBER, FOR OTHER MINERAL DEVELOPMENT.

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

TED: SENATOR LEE ALSO SAID THEY WOULD NOT INCLUDE NATIONAL PARKS, NATIONAL MONUMENTS, NATIONAL WILDERNESS AREAS AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE AT ALL?

>> IT'S GOOD THEY WERE INCLUDED BUT NO.

THERE WERE A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT -- IN ARIZONA, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 MILLION ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND, AND WE LOVE OUR PUBLIC LAND, AND THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMY.

THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO PROVIDING US WITH CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER, WITH RECREATION, CULTURALLY, AND THEY DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO ANY OF THAT.

TED: THAT WOULD BE MY NEXT QUESTION, I KNOW THE BILL MANDATED THAT FEDERAL OFFICIALS HAVE TO CONSULT WITH STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ON THE LAND THAT THEY HAVE THEIR EYES ON.

ARE YOU SAYING CONSULT MEANS IGNORE?

>> WELL, IT CAN SOMETIMES, AND ALSO THERE ARE CERTAIN STATE OFFICIALS THAT WOULD LOVE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO SEE MORE PUBLIC LANDS SOLD OFF.

WE HAD BILLS AT THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE THIS STOEGZ PROMOTE THAT AS WELL.

SENATOR MARK FINCHEM, PRETTY MUCH, EVERY YEAR HAS SOME KIND OF BILL TO GET RID OF PUBLIC LANDS.

WE'VE SEEN REPRESENTATIVE DALE GRIFFIN WITH THE BILLS.

THEY THINK THERE'S TOO MUCH PUBLIC LAND.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS.

THERE IS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS.

TED: A QUOTE FROM SENATOR MIKE LEE, WASHINGTON HAS PROVEN TIME AND AGAIN IT CANNOT MANAGE THIS LAND.

THIS BILL PUTS IT IN BETTER HANDS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> THAT'S NONSENSE.

FIRST OF ALL THERE ARE LANDS THAT ARE NOT MANAGED AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD BE.

HERE'S THE OTHER THING THEY'RE DOING, AND THIS IS NOT JUST NOW, BUT IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE.

THEY DEFUND THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT OR THE FOREST SERVICE, AND THEN THEY COMPLAIN THEY DON'T DO THINGS.

THEY FIRE PEOPLE SO THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK, AND THEN THEY COMPLAIN THAT THE WORK ISN'T GETTING DONE, AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY UNFAIR, AND I WOULD DISAGREE.

PRIVATIZING PUBLIC LANDS IS NOT THE ANSWER.

THESE ARE LANDS THAT BELONG TO ALL OF US, AND FOR THEM TO SELL THEM OFF TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR SOMEONE'S PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S JUST WRONG.

TED: SENATOR LEE VOWED TO BRING THIS BACK IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, IS THERE ANY WAY HE DOES BRING THIS BACK THAT WOULD BE, IN YOUR OPINION, IN YOUR MIND, LESS OF A PROBLEM THAN WHAT WE SAW WITH THIS GO-AROUND?

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT HE WOULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING.

AT ONE POINT HE TALKED ABOUT NARROWING IT TO BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LAND, BUT STILL, HAVING SOMETHING THAT BROAD AND DOING IT WITHOUT ACTUALLY KNOWING WHAT'S THERE.

THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM, THEY INCLUDED LAND WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING WHAT'S THERE, WHAT'S OF VALUE, AND WHY NOT USE THE CURRENT PROCESS THAT WE HAVE FOR TRANSFERRING THOSE LANDS, IF THERE'S A PUBLIC PURPOSE?

WHAT THEY DON'T LIKE ABOUT THE CURRENT LAW IS THERE HAS TO BE A PUBLIC PURPOSE.

TED: SANDY BAHR, SELLING OFF FEDERAL LAND.

DIDN'T MAKE IT IN THIS BILL.

SEE HOW IT GOES IN THE FUTURE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS.

.

>> THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WILL RESCIND THE LONGSTANDING FINDING THAT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ENDANGER HUMAN HEALTH.

THE MOVE SETS OFF WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE LARGEST DEREGULATORY ACTIONS IN U.S. HISTORY.

JOHANNA STROTHER WITH THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION IN ARIZONA JOINS US NOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THIS ENDANGERMENT FINDING HAS IT RESCINDED OR PLANS TO RESCIND?

>> PLANS TO RESCIND.

IT WILL GO THROUGH A PROCESS, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WHERE WE'RE HOPING PEOPLE CHIME IN SAYING PUBLIC HEALTH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THIS ROLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BEEN AROUND 15 YEARS, THERE'S LOTS OF SCIENCE IN THE LAW TO BACK GREENHOUSE GASES DO CAUSE HARM TO OUR HEALTH, AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT -- TO STOP THE ROLLBACK.

TED: THIS DATES BACK TO 2009 AND PRESIDENT OBAMA, CORRECT?

>> YES, YES.

TED: AND ENDANGERMENT FINDING.

WHY IS THIS SUCH A BIG DEAL?

THIS IS LAW?

IS IT POLICY?

>> SURE, THE SCIENCE SAYS THERE WAS SCIENCE DONE, STUDIES DONE SHOWING THAT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS DO HARM OUR HEALTH, THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS PLAYING A ROLE, MAKING IT WORSE, MAKING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WORSE, AND THAT'S A THREAT TO OUR HEALTH.

TED: THAT WAS BASICALLY THE BASIS FOR SUBSEQUENT REGULATIONS FROM THE EPA?

>> YES.

TED: FOR ALL REGULATIONS FROM THE EPA.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ROLLBACKS CURRENTLY THAT THE EPA HAS LOOKED AT OR THREATENED TO DO, THAT THREATEN OUR HEALTH IN ARIZONA.

I WAS JUST ON THE SHOW TALKING ABOUT OUR STATE OF THE AIR REPORT THAT SHOWS ARIZONA RANKED FOURTH WORST FOR OZONE POLLUTION.

SO THE ROLLBACKS THREATEN OUR HEALTH HERE.

TED: SO I'M SEEING REPEALING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FOR LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS IS ALREADY BEING PLANNED?

.

>> ALREADY PLANNED.

THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR IS ONE OF THE MOST POLLUTING SECTOR.

IN FACT IT IS THE MOST POLLUTING SECTOR IN ARIZONA, AND DID A REPORT ON ZEROING IN ON HEALTHY AIR, IF WE TRANSITION TO ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES COULD SAVE 15.1 BILLION IN PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS.

THERE ARE BENEFITS TO DOING THIS STUFF, UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE THREATS TO WEAKEN IT.

TED: THE EPA IS CASTING DOUBT ON THE SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS BEHIND THE REPORT, THIS IS THE QUOTE FROM THE EPA, THE NEW EPA, SIGNIFICANT DOUBT ON RELIABILITY OF FINDINGS.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT THERE?

>> NO, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE HAVE DECADES OF RESEARCH THAT HAS SHOWN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS HARM OUR HEALTH, OUR AIR POLLUTION, OZONE, PARTICULATE MATTER HARM OUR HEALTH.

PARTICULATE MATTER CAUSES LUNG CANCER.

THERE IS DECADES OF SCIENCE THAT SAYS THIS AND WE'VE KNOWN THAT MANY, MANY YEARS.

TED: THE EPA HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ACT?

>> THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTING OUR HEALTH, THEY'RE PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH.

TED: BUT THAT AUTHORITY IS CONTINGENT ON THE FINDING, AND IF THE FINDING IS RESCINDED, START FROM SCRATCH?

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A LOT OF TROUBLE IN ARIZONA, WE ALREADY ARE.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE GET MORE SICK, GOING TO SEE MORE CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA, MORE VISITS TO THE ER, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TACKLING THE PROBLEM.

TED: THINGS LIKE COPD, ALL THESE THINGS.

>> EXACERBATES COPD, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND LEAD TO DEATH.

TED: GENERAL HEALTH IMPACTED?

>> PEOPLE WITH DIABETES, A WIDE HEALTH IMPACT.

TED: EPA CHIEF SAYS NO ONE NOTES THE NEED FOR CARBON DIOXIDE.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF NEED -- THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NOTED.

I KNOW ADVOCACY GROUPS LIKE OURSELVES AT THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, MANY OTHERS TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS IS HARMFUL TO OUR HEALTH.

THERE'S LOTS OF SCIENCE OUT THERE.

TED: BUT THEY'RE SAYING WE NEED CARBON DIOXIDE.

>> CARBON DIOXIDE, IN FACT, DOES AFFECT OUR HEALTH AND THERE REALLY ISN'T -- THERE'S A NEED TO CLEAN UP.

TED: WHEN THEY SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE CARBON DIOXIDE FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PLANET, YOU SAY NO?

>> WE SAY NO, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF CLEANING UP AND TACKLE THE PROBLEMS LIKE THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

TED: NATIONAL PRESIDENT CEO SAID THE ASSOCIATION WILL USE EVERY TOOL AT OUR DISPOSAL TO DEFEND CLEAN AIR AND TOOLS IN THE CLIMATE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TALKING TO LOCAL LAWMAKERS IN THE STATE THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE IN ARIZONA.

WE NEED TO TACKLE OUR TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HERE.

WE NEED TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE ZERO-EMISSION.

TRANSITION TO WIND AND SOLAR.

WE HAVE SUNLIGHT HERE MOSTLY ALL YEAR AROUND WHICH HELPS TO CREATE THE AIR POLLUTION, BUT CAN HELP ON THE WIND AND SOLAR SIDE.

WE NEED TO USE OUR TOOLS AND RESOURCES IN THE STATE TO BREATHE EASIER.

TED: BUT USING TOOLS AND RESOURCES IN THE STATE, WHEN YOU HAVE FEDERAL AUTHORITY -- THERE IS NO AUTHORITY THERE, HOW DO YOU MIX AND MATCH?

>> WE KEEP ECHOING OUR MESSAGE, AS AN ADVOCACY GROUP, WE'LL BE DOING OUR JOB.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS 120 YEARS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP.

WE NEED TO PROTECT PEOPLE.

TED: THE AIR IN ARIZONA, IS IT GETTING BETTER?

WORSE?

ARE WE IN A HOLDING PATTERN?

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> OUR STATE OF THE AIR REPORT SHOWS SINCE THE CLEAN AIR ACT, WE'VE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEAN AIR QUALITY.

THE SPECIFIC PIECES OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND WORK WHEN THEY'RE PUT IN PLACE.

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND IN THIS LAST REPORT, WE SAW OZONE IS GETTING WORSE, CLIMATE CHANGE IS A BIG ISSUE AND MAKING OUR AIR POLLUTION BURDEN WORSE AND MAKING IT HARDER TO CLEAN UP, SO WE HAVE.

WE'RE SEEING TRENDS THAT ARE UP AND DOWN, DEFINITELY THIS YEAR WE SAW WORSE IN THE OZONE LEVELS.

>> JOANNA STROTHER, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, IMPORTANT INFORMATION, APPRECIATE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.