>>> A CEASE FIRE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS.

WE WILL HAVE THE LATEST.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, DEMOCRATIC LEADERS TALK ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT PEORIA'S PLANS TO BUILD ON UNDEVELOPED STATE TRUST LAND.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND BILL CLINTON TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M -- GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

A CEASE FIRE HAS BEEN RELEASED BETWEEN ISRAEL HAMAS.

THE DEAL CALLS FOR HAMAS TO RELEASE 33 ISRAELI HOSTAGES OVER THE NEXT 42 DAYS WITH MANY MORE PALESTINIAN PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED BY ISRAEL.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSED THE NATION AFTER THE AGREEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED.

>>> AND AFTER MORE THAN 15 MONTHS OF WAR HAMAS' SENIOR LEADERS ARE DEAD, THOUSANDS OF HAMAS FIGHT REMEMBERS DEAD, AND THE MILITARY FORMATIONS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED WITH NOWHERE TO TURN.

HAMAS FINALLY AGREED TO RELEASING HOSTAGES.

THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY FOR THIS WAR TO END THAN WITH A HOSTAGE DEAL.

AND I'M DEEPLY SATISFIED THIS DAY HAS COME -- FINALLY COME, FOR THE SAKE OF PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND THE FAMILIES WAITING IN AGONY.

AND FOR THE SAKE OF INNOCENT PEOPLE IN GAZA WHO SUFFERED UNIMAGINABLE DEVASTATION BECAUSE OF THE WAR.

>> THE DEAL GOES INTO EFFECT HE SUNDAY.

OF NOTE, SOME DETAILS REMAIN UNRESOLVED, AND THE ISRAELI CABINET STILL NEEDS TO RATIFY THE AGREEMENT.

WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THIS CEASE FIRE DEAL IN JUST A MOMENT.

>>> OTHER HEADLINES, SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS TODAY FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP'S NOMINEES FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE.

PAM BONDY, THE CHOICE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, SAID THAT POLITICS WOULD NOT PLAY A PART IN HER DECISIONS, BUT AT ONE POINT SHE MADE A FALSE CLAIM INVOLVING AN INFAMOUS PHONE CALL MADE BY THEN PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR, ARE YOU NOT CONCERNED THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CALLED A STATE ELECTION OFFICIAL AND ASKED HIM TO FILED ENOUGH VOTES TO CHANGE THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION?

>> SENATOR, I HAVE NOT LISTENED TO THE HOUR-LONG CONVERSATION, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IS NOT WHAT HE ASKED HIM TO DO.

>> YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO IT.

>> BONDY REFUSED TO ANSWER OTHER QUESTIONS ON ELECTION DENIALISM, ALONG WITH QUESTIONS ON PROSECUTING THE NEWS MEDIA OR IN ANY WAY DEFYING PRESSURE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

>>> AS FOR SECRETARY OF STATE NOMINEE MARCO RUBIO, QUESTIONS ON U.S. FOREIGN POLICY, INCLUDING THE WAR IN UKRAINE, WERE THE FOCUS.

>> THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONFLICT, AND I THINK SHOULD BE THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF THE US THAT THIS WAR SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO AN END.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT IN THIS CONFLICT THERE IS NO WAY RUSSIA TAKES ALL OF UKRAINE.

THE UKRAINIANS ARE TOO BRAVE AND FIGHT TOO HARD, AND THE COUNTRY IS TOO BIG.

THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

IT'S ALSO UNREALISTIC TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEHOW A NATION THE SIZE OF UKRAINE, NO MATTER HOW INCOMPETENT AND HOW MUCH DAMAGE THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION HAS SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF THIS INVASION, THERE'S NO WAY UKRAINE IS ALSO GOING TO PUSH THESE PEOPLE ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE ON THE EVE OF THE INVASION.

JUST GIVEN THE SIZE DYNAMIC.

>> RUBIO ALSO STATED THAT HE SUPPORTS NATO, BUT THAT EUROPE NEEDS TO SPEND MORE ON ITSELF OWN SECURITY.

>>> AND WINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA -- WINDS WERE NOT AS EXTREME AS PREDICTED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY.

THAT SAID, THE PALISADES FIRE STILL ONLY 19% CONTAINED, WHILE THE NEXT LARGEST, THE EATON FIRE, IS NOW 45% CONTAINED.

NO HOMES IN EITHER FIRE WERE BURNING TODAY.

THE FIRES HAVE KILLED AT LEAST 25 PEOPLE.

MORE THAN 82,000 PEOPLE ARE STILL UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED, A CEASE FIRE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS.

THE DEAL CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES HELD BY HAMAS AND THE RELEASE OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS HELD BY ISRAEL.

JOINING US NOW DR. EVELYN AFFECT US, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ASU'S McCAIN IS INSTITUTE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THIS IS A MOMENT US DAY.

WHY A CEASE FIRE, AND WHY NOW?

>> WELL, TED, THIS IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, AS PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS QUICK TO POINT OUT, THAT HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON WITH HIS TEAM FOR 15 MONTHS, SO OVER A YEAR, SINCE THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A CEASE FIRE AND A HOSTAGE RELEASE AND PRISONER EXCHANGE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT HAMAS AND THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT COULD NOT AGREE ON TERMS.

IN THE CURRENT SITUATION, HAMAS HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKENED, AND ITS MAIN SPONSOR, THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT, HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKENED BY THE ACTIONS OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT.

SO THERE WAS MOTIVATION ON THAT SIDE.

AND THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS WEIGHED IN AND HIS ENVOY HAS JOINED PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ENVOY, AND TOGETHER THEY PUT PRESSURE ON FRANKLY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE HAMAS, AS WELL, TO COME TO A CEASE FIRE.

IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WAR, I THINK WE ALL NEED UNDERSTAND.

BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND FROM A HUMANITARIAN PERSPECTIVE, IT REPRESENTS GREAT HOPE AND PROGRESS FOR THE PEOPLE, THE FAMILIES WAITING FOR THE HOSTAGES TO COME HOME, INCLUDING AMERICANS, AND OF COURSE FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAZA, WHO HAVE SUFFERED A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE.

>> YOU KIND OF REFER TO THIS, BUT THE IMPACT OF THIS BEING THE WANING DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THE INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION READY TO TAKE OVER, HOW MUCH A FACTOR WAS THAT?

>> I THINK IT WAS A BIG FACTOR.

THE REALITY IS IS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION -- OR THE INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION -- SO HE HAS AN ENVOY, MR. WHIT COUGH, I BELIEVE IS HIS NAME.

HE JOINED WITH MCKERTH WHO HAS BEEN A LONG TIME ENVOY OF PRESIDENT BIDEN AT THE MEETING TO ESSENTIALLY PUT PRESSURE ON THE PARTIES, TO MEET WITH THE CUTRYS AND EGYPTIANS, WHO ALSO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING HAMAS TO COME TO THIS AGREEMENT.

>> THIS IS A MULTI-PHASED CEASE FIRE.

WHAT DOES THAT SEEN IN.

>> WELL, IT MEANS THAT YOU CEASE TO FIRE, AND THEN YOU CONDUCT THE EXCHANGE.

SO THE HOSTAGES WILL BE RELEASED.

WE'VE HEARD THAT THERE WILL BE 33 RELEASED IN THE FIRST TIME FRAME, WHICH IS 42 DAYS.

SO 33 HOSTAGES, THEY HAVE NOT SPECIFIED HOW MANY PALESTINIAN PRISONERS WILL BE RELEASED IN EXCHANGE, NOR DO WE KNOW EXACTLY THE SEQUENCING.

SO BOTH SIDES WILL BE, YOU KNOW, EXPECTED TO HOLD THEIR FIRE WHILE THESE RELEASES HAPPEN.

THE DIPLOMATS ALSO HAVE SAID THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM A CEASE FIRE WE HAD A YEAR AGO BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO START NEGOTIATING FOR A PERMANENT SOLUTION.

SO A PERMANENT PIECE, AND THEN A ROAD, FRANKLY, TO REBUILDING GAZA AND TO HAVING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, PERHAPS HAVING SAUDI ARABIA JOIN THE ABRAHAM ACCORD, WHICH IS TO SAY TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THE STATE OF ISRAEL TO WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH ISRAEL.

>> AND I THINK IT WAS A GOOD POINT, THE FIRST THING -- EVERYONE ACTS LIKE, OKAY, THE WAR IS OVER.

THE WAR IS NOT OVER.

IT IS A CEASE FIRE.

THE WAR EXISTS.

BUT ISRAEL'S GOAL WAS TO DESTROY HAMAS.

HAMAS IS STILL THERE.

HAMAS' GOAL WAS -- I'M NOT QUITE SURE.

WE'RE STILL KIND OF WORKING THAT OUT.

I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE WOULD SUGGEST THAT WHAT PAUSE' ACTIONS WOULD MEAN ISRAEL WOULD FOLD AND EVERYONE WOULD LEAVE THE MIDDLE EAST.

SO DID ANYONE -- WHO IS WINNING THIS WAR?

DID ANYONE WIN UP TO THIS CEASE FIRE?

>> WELL, TED, I WOULD SAY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ISRAEL, I THINK THEY HAVE WON A LOT.

HAMAS IS TESS MADE.

ALREADY I THINK -- DECIMATED.

SIX MONTHS AGO OR SO THE NOW FORMER DEFENSE OF ISRAEL HAS SAID HAMAS IS NO LONGER A CREDIBLE MILITARY THREAT TO ISRAEL.

SO ISRAEL IS NOW GOING AFTER, YOU KNOW, EVERY LAST HAMAS FIGHTER, WHICH YOU CAN ARGUE WHETHER THAT'S MILITARILY NECESSARY, FRANKLY.

SO I THINK THEY HAVE ACHIEVED A LOT.

THEY HAVE ALSO ACHIEVED A LOT VIS-A-VIS HEZBOLLAH AND LEBANON, THEY PRETTY MUCH DESTROYED THEM AS A FIGHTING FORCE, WHICH IS WHY IRAN IS UNDER PRESSURE AND WHY WE HAVE THE DEAL.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION, YEAH, I MEAN, HAMAS THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD BRING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HELP THE PALESTINIANS IN THEIR QUEST FOR A SEPARATE SOVEREIGN STATE OR ACTUALLY WHAT HAMAS WANTED, THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL AND A STATE WHERE, YOU KNOW -- PALESTINIAN STATE WHERE ISRAEL IS TODAY, WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC.

AND AS YOU SAID, THEY HAVE MADE NO PROGRESS TOWARDS ANY OF THEIR AIMS.

IN FACT, THEY HAVE BEEN DEALT A SERIOUS BLOW.

>> IS THERE A PLAN FOR THE DAY AFTER?

IS THERE A RECONSTRUCTION PLAN?

IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE WORKS -- I'M ASSUMING MAYBE UNDERGROUND THERE MIGHT BE.

BUT ABOVE BOARD, IS ANYONE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT, IF THE CEASE FIRE HOLDS, AND IF THE WAR COINS DEED SEND IN.

>> WELL, THE DIPLOMATS HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICALLY ABOUT HAVING THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES MOVE AWAY, YOU KNOW, OUT OF CERTAIN PARTS OF GAZA, EVENTUALLY OUT OF GAZA.

THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT STILL, AN ACTIVE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND EGYPT WITH A REGARD TO WHERE THE ISRAELI FORCES CAN BE ON THAT BORDER OF GAZA THAT TOUCHES PAWNEE EGYPT.

AND SO THAT'S STILL AN ONGOING DISCUSSION.

THERE'S ALSO A QUESTION OF WHO PROVIDES SECURITY INSIDE GAZA IF THEY DO IN FACT COMPLETELY WITHDRAW, RIGHT NOW ONLY IDF CAN GUARANTEE SECURITY.

THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION WILL NOT GIVE HAMAS THE NOD TO KEEP THE SECURITY, THERE AND IF ANOTHER PALESTINIAN FORCE WERE TO BE APPROVED, IT WOULD TO BE CONSTITUTED, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND MONEY TO ESSENTIALLY PUT THAT FORTH IN PLACE.

THE THIRD OPTION, OF COURSE, IS THE -- IS SOME KIND OF ARAB FORCE, SOME KIND OF INTERNATIONAL FORCE.

AND I THINK WE'RE HEADED TOWARDS SOME KIND OF INTERNATIONAL FORCE IS THE MOST REALISTIC SECURITY FORCE.

BUT WE'RE A LONG WAY FROM GETTING AGREEMENT ON THAT.

AND OF COURSE AS I MENTIONED, RECONSTRUCTION AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, THAT'S ALSO PARAMOUNT FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAZA.

>> UP TO NOW, HOW IS ALL THIS RESHAPED THE MIDDLE EAST?

HOW CAN THE DAY AFTER EVEN FURTHER RESHAPE THE MIDDLE EAST?

>> WELL, THE BIG GAME, THE BIG PLAY FOR THE INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND FOR THE UNITED STATES IS PUTTING IRAN BACK IN ITS BOX WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING TERRORISTS ALL OVER THE REGION AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE KNOW WE HAVE AMERICANS IN AMERICA, YOU KNOW, WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE, WHO WERE INSPIRED BY THESE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS ON THE INTERNET.

SO WE NEED TO FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM BY CONTAINING THE THREAT THAT IRAN POSES BECAUSE IT HAS A LOT OF MONEY AND IT SPONSORS THESE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.

THE SECOND THREAT FROM IRAN OF COURSE IS THIS NUCLEAR WEAPONS INDUSTRY, BECAUSE IT IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON THAT CAN ATTACK THE UNITED STATES AND ESSENTIALLY PUT US IN HARM'S WAY AND BLACKMAIL US.

SO THAT'S THE BIG GAME, FRANKLY, FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, TO ELIMINATE THE THREAT PILLARED BY IRAN TO US AND OF COURSE TO ISRAEL.

>> LAST QUESTION, WE'VE GOT 30 SECONDS LEFT HERE, SO QUICKLY IF YOU COULD.

LESSONS LEARNED BY THIS WAR UP TO NOW.

>> WELL, I THINK YOU NEED TO EFFECTIVELY BE A NEUTRAL MEDIATOR, AND AS THE UNITED STATES, PUT OUR POWER AND OUR PRESSURE ON BOTH SIDES EQUALLY.

AND YOU KNOW WHERE NECESSARY, USE MILITARY FORCE, BUT ALSO DO IT DISCRIMINATELY, LOOKING OUT FOR CIVILIAN LOSS OF LIFE.

>> AGAIN, MCCANE INSTITUTE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> 2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE BEGAN THIS WEEK.

YESTERDAY WE HEARD THERE REPUBLICAN LEADERS ON THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THE SESSION.

TONIGHT IT'S THE DEMOCRAT'S TURN.

WE WELCOME SENATE MINORITY LEADER PRIYA AND HOUSE MOUNT LEADER OSCAR DE LA SANTOS.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

SENATOR, WE'LL START WITH YOU, DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES, WHAT YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> WE'VE GOT NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT PRIORITIES.

YOU KNOW, ONE MAJOR ISSUE THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO WORK ON IS AFFORDABILITY.

AFFORDABILITY IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT INVOLVES HOUSING PRICES BEING HIGH, CHILD CARE PRICES BEING HIGH, AS A MOM OF TWO KIDS UNDER 5, I ABSOLUTELY EXPERIENCE THAT EVERY DAY.

WE WANT TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION, WHICH WE KNOW WE HAVE FAILED TO DO FOR MANY DECADES.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO SECURE VOTING RIGHTS.

WE WANT TO SECURE OUR WATER IN ARIZONA.

WE WANT TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE I FORGOT.

>> I WAS GONNA SAY -- >> AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY.

THE FACT IS PEOPLE ARE OUTRAGED BY THE PRICE GOUGING THAT'S GOING ON.

EVERYWHERE ARIZONAN TURN, THEY'RE BEING FLEESED WHETHER IT'S IN HOUSING OR HEALTHCARE CORPORATIONS THAT ARE MAKING MONEY HAND OVER FISTS, AND THEY'RE TIRED OF BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD SOLUTIONS.

>> THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT EXTENDING A LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT.

GOOD IDEA?

>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

IT'S ONE OF THE TOOLS, NOT THE ONLY TOOL, IT'S ONE OF THE TOOLS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE HOUSING THAT'S ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE.

THERE ARE OTHER TOOLS WE HAVE.

I'M PUTTING FORWARD LEGISLATION TO CRACK DOWN ON THE GIANT OUT-OF-STATE CORPORATIONS THAT ARE COMING IN HERE, BUYING A TON OF OUR HOUSING STOCK, BASICALLY REMOVING HOMES FROM THE MARKET THAT SHOULD BELONG TO ARIZONA FAMILIES.

ARIZONA HOMES SHOULD BELONG TO ARIZONA FAMILIES.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER TOOL WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT.

>> TO THAT END, SHORT-TERM RENTALS, SHOULD SOMETHING BE DONE -- CAN SOMETHING BE DONE?

WE'RE TALKING TO THE MINORITY PARTY HERE.

>> WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING BE DONE.

THE SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS ARE STARTING TO BECOME PROBLEMS, THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED IN HER SPEECH, AS WELL, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THAT FOR A WHILE NOW BUT REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAVE THUS FAR REFUSED TO REMOVE THE PREEVERYONE ONON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVING THAT POWER.

>> IS THAT A HARD NO OR -- >> WE'RE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION.

SO LET'S HOPE SO.

>> STICKING WITH THIS, PROP 123, PUBLIC CAN SAY YES, YES, YES, BUT ALL MONEY NEEDS TO GO TO THE TEACHERS.

I KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR'S NOT CRAZY ABOUT THAT IDEA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IS THE IDEA OF SPREADING THE MONEY AROUND -- IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SEE.

>> WE WANT A CLEAN CONTINUATION OF PROP 123, A VITAL PIECE OF EDUCATIONAL FUNDING.

WITHOUT IT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE THAT REPUBLICANS WILL QUALITY FUND THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM FROM THAT GENERAL FUND MONEY.

AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S NOT -- TEACHERS ARE ONE MAJOR AND VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THEY'RE NOT EVERYONE.

WE'VE GOT IMPORTANT SERVICES, JANITORS AND OTHER IMPORTANT EDUCATORS WHO ALSO NEED TO BE PROVIDED FOR.

>> WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD VOTE AGAINST IF IT WERE FOR TEACHERS ONLY?

>> WE'RE NOT GONNA GET THERE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEGOTIATED BIPARTISAN DEAL THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

I'M A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.

I MADE LESS THAN $30,000 A YEAR.

THIS ISSUE IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

DEMOCRATS LOVE TEACHERS BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY.

AGAIN, THE IDEA OF GUARDRAILS, THE GOVERNOR, IT'S A BILLION DOLLAR BOONDOGGLE, HAD A LOT TO SAY ABOUT ESAs AND A LOT TO SAY THAT PROBABLY WON'T GET TOUCHED BY LEADERSHIP.

REPUBLICANS WILL BASICALLY SAY IT'S ALL ABOUT GIVING FAMILIES CHOICE IN SCHOOLS.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WE LOVE CHOICE.

AND 90% OF ARIZONA FAMILIES CHOOSE TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE CHOSEN TO DO?

DEFUND IT.

WE RANK 50th IN THE NATION.

DEAD LAST FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING.

IT'S A DISASTER.

IT'S A TRAGEDY, AND PART OF THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE WE'RE SPENDING A BILLION DOLLARS ON THIS ESA TAX SCAM WHERE YOUR TAXPAYER MONEY IS BEING USED TO PURCHASE LUXURY SEWING MACHINES AND A FLAT ROOF CURRICULUM.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

THAT MONEY NEEDS TO BE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR PUBLIC STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

>> AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S AN UNTOUCHABLE ITEM.

DOES IT FEEL THAT WAY TO YOU.

>> AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET.

BUT I DO HOPE THAT WE ARE GOING TO START BUDGETING RESPONSIBLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR STATE BUDGET CANNOT BEAR BEING NEAR A BILLION DOLLARS THAT THESE VOUCHERS HAVE -- ARE COSTING US ANNUALLY.

, WITHOUT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY, RIGHT.

WE'VE SEEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BRING CASES OF FRAUD ON NON-EXISTENT STUDENTS WHO ARE JUST PEOPLE GRABBING THIS MONEY BECAUSE IT'S FREE AND UNACCOUNTABLE.

THAT CAN'T CONTINUE.

>> SENATOR, DURING THE SPEECH, THE GOVERNOR SAID I'VE MADE IN A TOP PRIORITY, WHICH ACTUALLY GOT SOME REACTION, COULD YOU SEE FROM SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS DOWN THERE ABOUT THE VOTERS.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE -- THEY'RE NOT BUYING IT, IN OTHER WORDS.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE WORK TOGETHER -- THIS IS A FEDERAL ISSUE, OBVIOUSLY, IN MANY WAYS, SHAPES AND FORMS.

BUT WHAT CAN THE STATE DO, WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATURE DO?

BECAUSE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN.

THEY PASSED THE PROPOSITION THAT CALLS FOR AN INCREASE, WAITING FOR COURT CASES ON THAT, BUT THE VOTERS HAVE KIND OF MADE IT CLEAR, THEY WANT SOMETHING DONE.

>> I THINK WHAT GOVERNOR HOBBS HAS DONE ALREADY IS ACTUALLY VERY SIGNIFICANT.

SHE'S PUT RESOURCES TO THE BORDER TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON THE DRUG INTERDICTION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF WHAT IS CAUSING HAVOC IN THE STATE WHEN HAVE YOU FLOW OF DRUGS.

I KNOW THAT THE PROPOSITION PASSED BUT VOTERS AREN'T LOOKING FOR A VERY INTER EXTREME CRACKDOWN ON IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES WHO CONTRIBUTE SO MUCH TO OUR ECONOMY.

I THINK WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS HUMANE POLICIES.

AND SO I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, ANY ATTEMPT BY REPUBLICANS TO OVERREACH WILL BE VIEWED -- SUPPORTED BY THE VOTERS.

INSIDE WE NEED A BALANCED APPROACH.

AND I THINK GOVERNOR HOBBS IS STRIKING THE EXACT RIGHT ZONE.

WE HEAR A LOT OF TALK AND POLITICAL RHETORIC FROM THE OTHER SIDE BUT IT'S GOVERNOR HOBBS WHO HAS PUT FORWARD MORE THAN $100 MILLION TO SECURE OUR BORDER, CRACK DOWN ON THE CARTELS, TAKE FENTANYL OFF THE STREETS.

TODAY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, 8 MILLION PILLS OF FENTANYL THAT GOVERNOR HOBBS HAS TAKEN OFF THE STREETS WITH THE HELP OF DEMOCRATS.

REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T DONE THAT.

DEMOCRATS HAVE.

I THINK THE OTHER SIDE IS ALL TALK, WE'RE ALL THE ACTION.

>> BEFORE YOU GO, I WANT YOU BOTH REALLY QUICKLY ON THIS BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

WE MENTIONED MINORITY PARTY, I MENTIONED VOTERS SENDING A MESSAGE.

YOU LOST GROUND AT THE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU THINK VOTERS WERE SENDING?

>> LISTEN, ARIZONA VOTERS ARE INDEPENDENT-MINDED.

SURE, DONALD TRUMP WON, BUT SO DID RUBEN GALLEGO.

PROP 14 PASSED, BUT SO DID THE ABORTION ACCESS ACT PASS.

REPUBLICANS SANITY TOTAL OF 11 OF THEIR PRIORITIES TO THE BALLOT BOX.

THE MAJORITY OF THEM LOST.

ARIZONA VOTERS ARE INDEPENDENT-MINDED.

HERE'S THE MESSAGE.

WORK TOGETHER.

BE BIPARTISAN.

FIND SOLUTIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT, SENATOR, WHY DO YOU THINK DEMOCRATS LOST GROUND AT THE LEGISLATURE.

>> EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID.

I'LL ADD THAT VOTERS ARE LOOKING FOR AFFORDABILITY.

THEY WEREN'T SEEING IT.

DEMOCRATIC PROPOSALS THIS SESSION ARE FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS TO THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING.

REPUBLICAN PROPOSALS ARE A LOT OF TALK, BUT NO ACTION.

>> SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE OSCAR DE LA SANTOS, MINORITY LEADERS AT THE LEGISLATURE, GOOD HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

THE CITY OF PEORIA HAS REACHED A DEAL WITH THE LAND DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP NEARLY 7,000 ACRES OF LAND NEAR THE 303 CORRIDOR.

AND HERE NOW WITH DETAILS IS PEORIA MAYOR, JASON BECK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR.

>> SO THE DEAL WITH THE LAND DEPARTMENT, EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

>> WHAT THE INITIAL CONCEPT WAS WITH STATE SLAMMED REALLY HOW DO WE OPEN UP THE ECONOMY IN THE NORTHWEST VALLEY BESIDES JUST TSMC WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEORIA HAS, AND SPECIFICALLY THE NORTHWEST VALLEY OFF OF THE 303.

WE HAD ALL OF THE STATE LAND.

WE HAD NO ACCESS TO OPEN LAND.

SO TO TRY TO ENGAGE THAT WE HAD TO WORK WITH STATE LAND AND TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO WORK IN CONCAN CERTIFICATE WITH THEM, PUT -- CONCERT WITH THEM, PUT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND ZONING AND TAKE ACTION TO WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING THAT INTO PLAY.

>> RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, THE WHOLE KIT AND CABOODLE.

>> EXACTLY.

85% OF OUR CITIZENS IN THE CITY OF PEORIA LEAVE THE CITY TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO HOW DO WE ACTUALLY BRING THE JOBS TO THE NORTHWEST VALLEY.

HOW DO WE STOP FROM PEOPLE HAVING TO DRIVE 300 HOURS A YEAR AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND REHOME THEM TO WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY SPEND MORE TIME IN THEIR FAMILY AND SPEND MORE MONEY IN THEIR OWN CITY.

>> HOW MUCH DOES THIS APPLY TO TSMC?

>> THE FACTOR, RIGHT NOW WE JUST SIGNED A DEAL WITH AM CORE, WHICH IS A HUGE ADVANCE PACKAGING COMPANY, AMCOR.

THEY ANNOUNCED THEY'VE DONE A DEAL RECENTLY WITH -- A PARTNERSHIP WITH TSMC AND APPLE.

AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR IPHONE CHIPS AND IPAD CHIP ALSO ACTUALLY BE MADE IN THE CITY OF PEORIA.

>> OKAY.

SO OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A CORRELATION.

>> IT'S A BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

CAN'T AVOID THAT.

>> WHEN YOU DRIVE BY, YOU GO HOLY SMOKES.

ALL RIGHT.

THE CITY, HOW MUCH DOES IT PAY?

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE IN TERMS OF RETURN ON INVESTMENTS?

>> THIS IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME.

AND IT REALLY GIVES OTHER CITIES A ROADMAP TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN CONCERT WITH THE STATE LAND DIVISION.

WE'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE LAND WHERE IN THE PAST OTHER CITIES HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CRACK THIS, IF YOU WILL.

WHAT THIS DOES IS RETURNS UP TO $500 MILLION OF REBURSTED -- REIMBURSED INFRASTRUCTURE, SO WE GENERATE THE $500 MILLION OF GENERATED REVENUE FOR THE CITIZENS AND BUILDS STATE EDUCATIONAL FUNDING OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

>> AN INITIAL INVESTMENT OF $140 MILLION.

>> $140 MILLION AND THAT CIRCUMSTANCE HE ITS BACK.

OUR FIRST DOLLAR, EVERY TIME A PIECE OF LAND GOES TO AUCTION, FIRST DOLLAR COMES BACK TO REIMBURSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE PUT INTO IT.

WE TREATED THIS AS A BUSINESS DEAL INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY TREATING THIS AS KIND OF A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, IF WILL YOU.

>> YEAH, JUST LAND SALES ALONE, WITH THE REBURSTMENTS, COULD BE WHAT?

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

>> IT LITERALLY COULD BE IN THE BILLIONS.

FOR US, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR PILLARS ON WHAT IT CREATES, IT CREATES ABOUT $500 MILLION OF REIMBURSED INFRASTRUCTURE, ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1.5 AND $3 BILLION FOR EDUCATIONAL TRUST FUND, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WAS ONE OF THE BIG TOPICS IN THE PREVIOUS INTERVIEW.

FOR TAXES AND REVENUE, IT GENERATES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD.

>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA OUT THERE.

OPEN SPACES, HIKING.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO GET KICKED OUT.

>> NOT AT ALL.

PART OF WHAT WE CALL OUR MORE PROGRAM, OUR MOUNTAINS AND OPEN SPACE PROGRAM, WE JUST ADDED 3800 ACRES OF OH SPACE TO THE CITY OF PEORIA WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE INCREDIBLE TRAILS, MORE OPEN SPACE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO WITH THESE PROGRAMS.

>> WAS THERE MUCH OPPOSITION TO THIS?

>> TO THE STATE LAND DEAL?

>> YES.

>> I HAD NOT HEARD A SINGLE PERSON SAY THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT $ $500 MILLION REIMBURSED BACK INTO THE CITY.

IF YOU TALK TO MOST PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S THE ARIZONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OR G-PEC, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES THAT ANY CITY HAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT TO BEAR.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TOLD ME I COULDN'T GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED WHICH ONLY MADE ME WANT TO WORK HARDER AT GETTING IT DONE.

WE PUT AN INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM TOGETHER WITH HENRY GARMENT, WHO USED TO RUN THE STATE OF ARIZONA FOR GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY, WAS COO, AND THEN ALSO A GENTLEMEN BY THE NAME OF MIKE FALTS, TOO.

WE PUT THE INNOVATIVE THOUGHT PROCESS INTO HOW WE DRIVE FOR THE CITY.

>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.