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STEVE: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES JOINS US TO DISCUSS THE FBI SUBPOENA OF THE 2020 MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION AUDIT.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE NEWLY PASSED STATE ACT COULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO VOTE.

>>> AND THE MAYOR OF CHANDLER AND THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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STEVE: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M STEVE GOLDSTEIN IN FOR TED SIMONS.

ON MONDAY, STATE SENATE PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSEN SAID HE COMPLIED WITH FBI SUBPOENA TO COMPLY WITH ELECTION RESULTS FROM 2020.

AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE UNFOUNDED CLAIMS.

THE AUDIT WAS DEBUNKED BUT THE HANDOVER OF RECORDS AS TRUMP CONTINUES TO PRESSURE STATES DEFINED AS ELECTION FRAUD.

JOINING US IS ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES WHO AT THE TIME OF THE ELECTION WAS MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

STEVE: WHEN DID YOU LEARN SENATE PRESIDENT PETERSEN TURNED OVER THE RECORDS TO THE FBI, AND KEEP IN MIND, IT'S A FAMILY SHOW.

>> I LEARNED OF IT, 20 MINUTES AFTER HE TWEETED IT SOMEBODY LET ME KNOW.

WE WERE NOT TOLD BECAUSE IT'S AN FBI GRAND JURY THAT WOULD HAVE HAD NO REASON TO TELL US, I'M SURPRISED HE TWEETED IT OUT BECAUSE IT'S AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION, BUT BOTTOM LINE IS, WE WERE LITTLE BIT TAKEN BY SURPRISE BECAUSE THE RUMOR MILL WAS SAYING IT WAS MARICOPA COUNTY, ON THE ONE HAND WE'RE GLAD THEY CLEARED IT UP.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT COULD BE PROBLEMATIC IN OUR OTHER CASE AS WELL.

STEVE: AS YOU MENTIONED, HE DID TWEET, WE'LL PUT IT UP ON THE SCREEN AND LET OUR VIEWERS SEE IT.

I THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WE GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME ON THE PROGRAM.

SPOKESPERSON SAID HE SAID ALL HE WANTED TO SAY IN THE TWEET.

THE FBI HAS THE RECORDS.

THE PRESIDENT WAS 100% CORRECT.

HOW FRUSTRATING IS IT THAT THESE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DEBUNKED CONTINUE TO POP UP AND SOME PEOPLE CYNICALLY CALL IT A DISTRACTION.

THIS IS NOT -- IF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE, THIS IS A MORE OF A POLITICAL DISTRACTION, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT?

>> 2020 IS OVER.

LITIGATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE KNOW FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, MAY HE REST, MARK BRNOVICH DID A VERY THOROUGH REPORT INVESTIGATED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL MAYES.

WE KNOW 2020 WAS FINE.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.

I WAS ON THE SAME BALLOT WITH DONALD TRUMP, I LOST MY RE-ELECTION.

I DIDN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT IT, THOUGH.

THE PROBLEM I SEE HERE IS THE TIE-IN WITH THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATION -- I'M SORRY, LITIGATION WHERE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS TRYING TO TAKE ARIZONANS'S PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION FROM THE VOTER ROLLS, AND WHAT I SEE IS THIS COULD BE AN END AROUND TO GET JUST PAST BRNOVICH, IRONICALLY ATTORNEY GENERAL BRNOVICH'S WIDOW, TO GET AROUND THIS WHICH THE DEPARTMENT IS LOSING IN STATE AFTER STATE AFTER STATE.

IF THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE, THEN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN PLAYING FAST AND LOSE WITH THE PROSECUTORIAL POWER AND WE'RE EXPLORING ALL OUR LEGAL OPTIONS RIGHT NOW.

THIS COULD BE A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS USE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S ABILITY TO IMPANEL GRAND JURIES AND ISSUE EXPERIENCE FOR THE GROCERIES.

STEVE: BOIL IT DOWN MORE WITH A MICROLEVEL WITH ARIZONA.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED, AND THERE ARE CERTAIN SIMPLE THINGS DONE WITH A LITTLE BIT EXTRA.

WHEN YOU SEE THE SENATE PRESIDENT DOING THIS KIND OF THING, DO YOU WISH HE WOULD FOCUS ON THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE THE ELECTION SAFER AS OPPOSED TO THINGS THAT MIGHT SOW MORE DOUBT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE INTRODUCED THE ARIZONA VOTERS FIRST ACT TO VOTE BY MAIL, SO THE ALLIES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE MAKE SURE WE HAVE MONEY FOR THE COUNTIES TO ACTUALLY MAINTAIN THE VOTER ROLLS, AND FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE GRIEVANCES OF THE PAST AND RELITIGATING SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY SETTLED, AND THAT IS 2020.

THE PROBLEM IS, WE'RE USING TONS AND TONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THROUGH THE FBI WE'VE SEEN TODAY, HSI HAS BEEN INVESTIGATION.

FOR ONE PERSON'S POLITICAL LOSS, INSTEAD OF WORRYING ALL ABOUT ARIZONA'S VOTERS, THE SECURITY OF THE DATA, WHICH I'M TRYING TO PROTECT AND THE EASE OF ACCESS FOR THEIR VOTING, ALL OF WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ARIZONA'S VOTERS, SO SAYS THIS CENTER FOR THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA'S FUTURE.

THEY DON'T WANT THE NONSENSE THEY'RE SEEINGOUD OF WASHINGTON, D.C., AND OUT OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

STEVE: SO THE FACT THAT YOU AND SOME OTHER SECRETARIES OF STATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE STOOD UP AND SAID YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION.

TO SOME DEGREE, IS THAT ENOUGH?

WILL THAT SHOW US WHETHER THE EFFORT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION IS REALLY SERIOUS, THAT IF YOU SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY BALL, THEY'LL BACK OFF?

OR IS THIS A LOT MORE LITIGATION?

>> WE'VE TOLD THEM WE'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY BALL AS YOU WILL, AND THAT'S WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS SUING US.

THEY'RE CONTINUING TO UTILIZE TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN A LOSING EFFORT TO VIOLATE THE PRIVACY ACT OF 1974, TO VIOLATE ARIZONA STATUTES THAT REQUIRE KEEPING THIS PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION IN CONFIDENCE, AND SO NOT JUST HERE IN ARIZONA BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND NOT JUST DEMOCRATS, BY THE WAY, THERE ARE REPUBLICAN SECRETARIES OF STATE, AND FOLKS WITH THOSE DUTIES, WEST VIRGINIA, UTAH, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE UP THERE WHO HAS THE SECRETARY DUTIES, SHE'S SAYING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE JUST SUED HER.

THESE OF ELECTIONS OFFICIALS TELLING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NO.

AND AGAIN, I AM AFRAID THIS NEW FBI INVESTIGATION IS AN END AROUND TO GET PAST THE DISTRICT COURT WHO IS LITIGATING THIS VERY SAME ISSUE, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS, TOO.

WE'RE NOT 100% SURE YET THAT THE INFORMATION TURNED OVER BY THE SENATE PRESIDENT INCLUDES THAT PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.

IF IT DOES, THEN THEY'VE SURRENDERED INFORMATION THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE OTHER LITIGATION, AND THOSE KINDS OF SHENANIGANS ARE NOT THE WAY YOU SHOULD USE OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR POLITICAL ENDS.

STEVE: EARLY ON, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, PEOPLE WERE SAYING THIS IS POLITICAL RHETORIC.

OTHERS WERE SAYING THANK YOU FOR RAISING THE FLAG, AS IT WERE, THIS IS THE WAY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.

WE'VE SEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE PROBABLY DOESN'T HAVE VOTES.

WE'LL SEE.

HOW SERIOUS DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT THE FED IS TAKING OVER ELECTIONS?

>> IT'S A VERY SERIOUS THROW THE 22 MILLION AMERICANS THAT CERTAIN STUDIES HAVE SHOENLD BE DISENFRANCHISED, IT'S A SERIOUS THREAT.

HERE'S THE THING FOR ARIZONA VOTERS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND.

WHAT IT MEANS IS YOU CAN NO LONGER VOTE BY MAIL, PERIOD.

SO IF YOU LIKE VOTING AT YOUR KITCHEN TABLE OR ON YOUR COUCH OR HAVE THE TIME TO LOOK YOU WHAT THE WANT TO LOOK AT.

RESEARCH THE CANDIDATES AND FIGURE THINGS OUT, WHICH IS HOW MOST ARIZONANS VOTE, THEY'RE TAKING THAT AWAY FROM YOU.

THE ARIZONA VOTER WHO IS USED TO VOTING BY MAIL.

I THINK THAT'S CRAZY BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE CHOICES ARIZONA VOTERS REALLY LOVE.

IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH LOSING YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE BY MAIL IN A SECURE WAY THE WAY ARIZONANS LIKE TO VOTE, GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THIS THING.

BUT I DON'T.

I THINK ARIZONANS DESERVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THEY CAN UNDER THE WAYS WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS, WHICH ARE SECURE AND ACCOUNTABLE, TO PUT THEIR VOICE OUT THERE AND BE HEARD IN A FAIR WAY.

THIS IS JUST SHENANIGANS TO DISTRACT FROM ALL OTHER THINGS.

WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

TALKING ABOUT MAKING MORE PEACE AND LESS WAR.

I THINK IT'S ALSO A DISTRACTION FROM A LOT OF VERY UNCOMFORTABLE THINGS FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.

YOU KNOW, CAN WE JUST GET BACK TO DOING THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO AND LET PEOPLE SLEEP IN PEACE FOR ONCE.

STEVE: YOU ARE RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE AGAIN.

>> RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

STEVE: GOOD TO SEE YOU, AGAIN, SECRETARY FONTES.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

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STEVE: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED THE SAVE ACT, IF PASSED IN LAW, THE ACT WOULD REQUIRE PEOPLE TO VOTE IN PERSON, THAT COULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

JON MEYERS IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARIZONANS WITH DISABILITIES COUNCIL.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOOKING TO TAKE OVER LOCAL ELECTIONS.

THIS COULD HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE EFFECT WITH VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES.

I WANT TO ASK ABOUT YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS.

GO DOWN THE LIST FOR US.

>> THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IS ALREADY AT A DISADVANTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTIONS AND VOTING OPPORTUNITIES.

WE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO SEE THEM FURTHER DISADVANTAGED.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OFTEN HAVE ISSUES AROUND TRANSPORTATION.

THEY OFTEN HAVE ISSUES AROUND HAVING ACCESS TO KINDS OF IDENTIFICATION THAT THE SAVE AMERICA ACT WOULD REQUIRE AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

SO THIS ACT BY ELIMINATING VOTE BY MAIL, BY PLACING UNFUNDED MANDATES ON STATES TO ADMINISTER MASSIVELY LARGE BUREAUCRATIC STRUCTURES TO ENACT THE LEGISLATION, IT'S SIMPLY GOING TO MAKE THINGS HARDER, GOING TO THROW UP ADDITIONAL BORDERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BEYOND WHAT THEY ALREADY FACE AND GOING TO DISENFRANCHISE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ARIZONAANCE AND MILLIONS, AS THE SECRETARY SAID, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.

STEVE: DO YOU THINK THAT WAS THOUGHT OR TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH WHEN SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DISCUSSING?

IT REALLY LITERALLY WOULD DISENFRANCHISE THOUSANDS OF VOTERS.

DO YOU WISH YOU WERE GETTING A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY WISH WE WERE GETTING MORE ATTENTION.

WE HAVE TRIED, THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY REACHED OUT TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS TO TRY AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

THE IMPACT ON VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES.

IT FEELS AS THOUGH THESE ARGUMENTS HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS AMONG THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION.

WE HOPE THEY WILL TAKE A MOMENT AND RECONSIDER.

WE HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND THAT THE BILL HAS PASSED THE HOUSE, BUT IT IS STALLED IN THE SENATE, AND I THINK THAT MEANS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, IF THIS LEGISLATION IS EVEN GOING TO PASS AT ALL, IT HAS TO PASS WITH SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

STEVE: JON, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY VOTERS OR PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES VOTE BY MAIL?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER BUT I WOULD SAY IT IS THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY.

JUST AS IT'S A MASSIVE NUMBER OF ARIZONANS IN GENERAL WHO VOTE BY MAIL.

IT IS EXTREMELY POPULAR IN THIS STATE, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, AND IT'S ESPECIALLY VALUABLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOR REASONS, AGAIN, HAVING TO DO WITH GEOGRAPHY AND ACCESS TO POLLING PLACES, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE IN ARIZONA.

FORCING PEOPLE TO GO TO A POLLING PLACE IS BURDENSOME IN AND OF ITSELF.

IT'S THE WAY WE WORK THROUGHOUT HISTORY IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT IT'S A PROBLEM WE'VE OVERCOME, BUT FORCING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO GO TO A POLLING PLACE PUTS THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN DANGER BECAUSE IT IS STILL VERY HOT WHEN WE HAVE OUR PRIMARIES, WHEN WE HAVE OUR GENERAL ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA.

SO FOR REASONS OF PRACTICALITY WE'RE MAKING IT DIFFICULT WITH THIS LEGISLATION, BUT FOR REASONS OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING WE'RE MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS FOR THEM.

STEVE: WE FOCUS ON MARICOPA COUNTY, AND A LOT OF VOTERS ARE RURAL AS WELL, FIND IT MORE DIFFICULT TO VOTE IN PERSON.

>> NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

LITERALLY THROWING THE COST OF ADDITIONAL POLLING PLACES ONTO THE STATES MAKES IT UNTENABLE.

THERE'S NO CHANCE THAT ARIZONA COULD PUT A POLLING PLACE IN EVERY LOCATION WHERE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY LIVES.

AND MOREOVER, MOST OF THEM DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE KIND OF TRANSPORTATION THEY NEED IF THEY LIVE IN A RURAL OR ISOLATED COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO GET TO A POLLING PLACE.

>> YOU MENTIONED TALKING TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT IT MORE.

ARE THERE BEST PRACTICES OUT THERE?

TRYING TO WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO SEE HOW YOU COULD COALESCE.

>> DEFINITELY WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ARIZONA.

AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES.

THE NETWORKS ARE PEOPLE WITH ALL TYPES OF DISABILITY AND WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO EDUCATE VOTERS, EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO TAKE THE NEEDS INTO ACCOUNT.

OVER THE RECENT YEARS, WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS.

THIS STATE -- ARIZONA HAS WORK AS HARD AS ANYONE, PERHAPS HARDER THAN ANYONE TO ENSURE VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND ACCOMMODATED WHEN THEY CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

WE CAN'T GO BACKWARD.

THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION WOULD SIMPLY BE A STEP INTO THE PAST.

STEVE: JOHN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.N, THANK FOR BEING HERE, GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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STEVE: THE LEAGUE OF ARIZONA CITIES AND TOWNS IS AN ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING 91 INCORPORATED CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE STATE.

THE GROUP ACTIVELY WATCHES STATE LEGISLATURE, ESPECIALLY POLICIES AND BILLS THAT COULD AFFECT CITIES AND TOWNS.

WE WELCOME CITY OF CHANDLER MAYOR HARTKE WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE, MAYOR.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

STEVE: HB-4030, RAISED HACKELS WHICH WOULD LIMIT WHAT MUNICIPALITIES WOULD DO WHEN IT RELATES TO INCREASING REVENUE.

FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT'S GOING TO SOUND LIKE WAIT A SECOND, WHY IS THE STATE LEGISLATURE TRYING TO LIMIT WHAT CITIES AND TOWNS CAN DO, WHAT'S THE REACTION TO THE EFFORT?

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>> I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF WANTING TO RESPOND TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND PROVIDE TAX RELIEF, BUT WHAT I OFTEN SEE IS THAT THE NUANCES BETWEEN EVERY CITY IS ASTRONOMICAL.

HAVE YOU YOUNG CITIES THAT ARE COMING IN LIKE SAN TAN VALLEY TO AGING CITIES LIKE PRESCOTT, WHOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT FALLING APART, BUT JUST NEEDS A LOT OF WORK.

SO IT'S ALWAYS PROBLEMATIC TO SAY THAT -- WELL, CITIES ARE FLUSH WITH MONEY, THEY DON'T NEED TO ADDRESS THIS BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN DIFFERENT SPOTS.

WE HAVE LOWERED PROPERTY TAX RATES TEN YEARS IN A ROW.

WE HAVE THE LOWEST WATER RATE OF ANY CITY IN THE VALLEY.

WE'RE THE ONLY LARGE CITY TO PAY OFF OUR PSPRS UNFUNDED LIABILITY, SO A LOT OF THE PRESUMPTIONS ARE JUST NOT THERE.

>> I THINK ONE ISSUE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BRING UP IS WATER IN PARTICULAR.

WE LOOK AT THE COLORADO RIVER, CITIES AND TOWNS HAVE TO DEAL WITH POTENTIALLY AND PERHAPS LIKELY HAVING TO RAISE RATES, UPDATING TECHNOLOGY.

LET'S TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WATER AND HOW THIS COULD AFFECT THINGS, IF CITIES HAD TO RAISE RATES?

>> MANY OF THEM ARE, I MEAN QUEEN CREEK IS LOOKING AT BUILDING A SYSTEM, TAPPING INTO THE AQUIFER AS IS BUCKEYE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS FINANCIAL ENDEAVOR, AND FOR THE REST OF US, BETWEEN WHATEVER CUTS WE TAKE WITH THE COLORADO RIVER, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO ADVANCE PURIFICATION, WHETHER IT'S DOING MORE WORK ON OUR OWN SYSTEMS, MOAN IS EXPENSIVE.

I MEAN -- I'M SORRY, WATER IS EXPENSIVE.

STEVE: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO LAWMAKERS, WHAT HAVE YOU SAID TO LAWMAKERS, IF CAN YOU SHARE WITH US, ABOUT THIS TO SAY TO THEM, AGAIN WHICH YOU SAID TO US, CITIES AND TOWNS ARE DIFFERENT.

YOU'RE GOING TO HANDCUFF US FOR FOUR YEARS, POTENTIALLY.

>> I WOULD SAY, LOOK, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS, WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM.

WE'RE NOT FIGHTING AND WE HAVE THE SAME CONSTITUENT.

SO WE'RE CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE, WE UNDERSTAND OUR CITIES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES THAT ARE JUST ESCALATING IN COSTS AND TO HANDCUFF US WITH THIS WOULD HAVE TREMENDOUS NEGATIVE RESULTS.

STEVE: FINALLY ON THIS, DO YOU THINK IT'S BECAUSE ANY SPECTER OF ANY REVENUE INCREASE OR TAX INCREASE IS THE ULTIMATE BOGEYMAN FOR DECADES IN POLITICS.

DO YOU THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY LET'S LUMP ALL TAXES TOGETHER?

>> I THINK SO.

EVERY CITY'S FINANCIAL BASE IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

WE TRY TO DIVERSIFY OURS SO WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THE LOW COSTS, BUT WE'RE DIFFERENT.

SOME HAVE PROPERTY TAX, SOME DON'T.

SOME TAX FOOD.

SOME DON'T.

WE'RE UNIQUE.

AND ONE SIZE FITS ALL DOESN'T FIT ARIZONA CITIES.

STEVE: SO WE STARTED WITH ADVERSARIAL STUFF.

I WANT TO GO TO SOMETHING THAT SHOWS COOPERATION, HB-2046 RELATES TO PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, SOMEHOW BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WOULD SUPPORT CITIES AND BUSINESSES, IF YOU CAN GIVE A CLIFF'S NOTES VERSION, WHY DO YOU LIKE?

>> I LIKE IT BECAUSE THERE ARE LARGE PROJECTS COMING INTO ARIZONA.

TSMC IN PHOENIX.

ARMCOR IN PEORIA.

LG IN QUEEN CREEK, INTEL IN CHANDLER.

THERE IS TREMENDOUS INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS OF ROADS AND WATER AND OTHER THINGS THAT GO IN AND OUT OF THOSE THAT NOW, THIS WILL ALLOW CITIES TO RECOUP UP TO 80%.

WE'VE GOT SKIN IN THE GAME, BUT THESE LARGE COMPANIES ARE FORCE MULTIPLIERS, THERE WILL BE LOTS OF OTHER COMPANIES COMING INTO ARIZONA THAT WILL BE SUPPLIERS OF THESE THAT REALLY IMPACT AND BENEFIT THE ENTIRE STATE.

THE $175 BILLION INVESTMENT OF TSMC WILL BENEFIT US IN HUGE WAYS.

TAIWAN IS NOW OUR SECOND LARGEST TRADE PARTNER, AND SO IT'S ASTRONOMICAL, AND THIS ALLOWS THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY THE ABILITY TO RECOUP SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL GO TO SETTING THESE UP.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THE INTEL IN CHANDLER WHICH HAD A MASSIVE IMPACT.

ARE THERE LITTLE INTRICACIES THAT ARE DIFFERENT WITH THIS LEGISLATION THAN WHAT WOULD PUT THAT INTO EFFECT THAT HELPED INTEL YEARS AGO?

>> WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST, THERE'S A ONE-TIME AMOUNT SET ASIDE.

WHAT THIS WILL DO IS ASK FOR UP TO 75 MILLION EVERY YEAR -- AGAIN, AND IT'S TAXES ONLY THAT GO TO THAT.

SO IT'S NOT GOING FROM ELSEWHERE.

SO PHOENIX WILL GET RECOUP, POTENTIALLY FOR WHATEVER AMOUNT WILL GO TO TSMC.

THE SAME WITH ANY CITY THAT HAS AN INVESTMENT URBANLY UP TO 50 MILLION, RURALLY UP TO 15 MILLION.

STEVE: THIS IS NOT PICK AND CHOOSE, THIS CAN HELP MANY CITIES ACROSS THE STATE?

>> INDEED.

THERE ARE SUPPLY CHAIN COMPANIES IN ELOY AND CASA GRANDE AND ALL ACROSS THE VALLEY THAT ARE THERE SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THESE LARGE SEMICONDUCTOR COMPANIES.

STEVE: VERY BRIEFLY, NOT TAKING A BET HERE, BUT DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO GO THE WAY THE LEAGUE WANTS IT TO?

ONE WOULD GO DOWN AND ONE WOULD GO FORWARD?

HOW WOULD YOU GAUGE IT?

>> YOU ARE ASKING ME TO BE A BETTING MAN.

I HOPE THEY ALL GO FORWARD IN OUR CASE.

I UNDERSTAND.

WE ALL WANT TO BE WATCHDOGS ON TAX DOLLARS.

WE ALL WANT TO BE WATCHDOGS ON OUR CONSTITUENTS.

STEVE: MAYOR HARTKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU, STEVE.

STEVE: THAT'S ALL ARE IN EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M STEVE GOLDSTEIN IN FOR TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR