
Journalists' Roundtable April 4, 2025
Season 2025 Episode 65 | 27mVideo has Closed Captions
It's Friday, and that means it's time for the Journalists' Roundtable.
It's Friday, and that means it's time for the Journalists' Roundtable. Joining us tonight: Jeremy Duda of Axios Phoenix, Camryn Sanchez of KJZZ and Wayne Schutsky of KJZZ.
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Arizona Horizon is a local public television program presented by Arizona PBS

Journalists' Roundtable April 4, 2025
Season 2025 Episode 65 | 27mVideo has Closed Captions
It's Friday, and that means it's time for the Journalists' Roundtable. Joining us tonight: Jeremy Duda of Axios Phoenix, Camryn Sanchez of KJZZ and Wayne Schutsky of KJZZ.
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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.
A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, INCLUDING THE STATE JOINING MORE LAWSUITS AGAINST ACTIONS BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE IS NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."
.
TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."
I'M TED SIMONS.
IT'S FRIDAY, AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND JOINING US TONIGHT, JEREMY DUDA OF AXIOS PHOENIX, AND WE'D LIKE TO NOTE JEREMY'S WIFE IS AN EMPLOYEE OF ARIZONA PBS.
ALSO CAMRYN SANCHEZ FROM KJZZ RADIO AND WAYNE SCHUTSKY ALSO OF KJZZ.
JEREMY, START WITH YOU, I GUESS PICK WHICH ORDER, ORDER THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS JOINED OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL -- DO THE ELECTION ONE, THAT'S THE MOST RECENT.
WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?
>> START LAWSUIT-FEST WITH THE ELECTION.
PRESIDENT TRUMP PLANNED YET ANOTHER EXECUTIVE ORDER ON ELECTIONS.
A NUMBER OF THINGS, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO ARIZONA IS FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION TO ADD DOCUMENTED CITIZENSHIP.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH IN ARIZONA BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BIFURCATED SYSTEM OF FEDERAL ONLY VOTERS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOW DOCUMENTED PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP ON THE FEDERAL FORM LIKE THE STATE ONE, YOU GET TO VOTE IN FEDERAL RACES, DONALD TRUMP WANTS -- I'M NOT SURE HOW FAMILIAR HE IS WITH THAT SYSTEM, HE WANTS US ON THE FEDERAL SYSTEM.
THERE'S OTHER STUFF ON EARLY BALLOTS HAVE TO BE BY THE CLOSE OF POLLS ON ELECTION DAY, RELEVANT TO OTHER STATES BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE THE RULE.
THE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP WON, AND KRIS MAYES IS ONE OF 19, 20, A DIFFERENT NUMBER FOR EVERY LAWSUIT, SAYING USURPATION OF FEDERAL POWER.
THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO WRITE ELECTION LAWS ON HIS OWN.
SHE'S CLAIMING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS PURPORTING TO DO.
TED: KRIS MAYES SAYING THE ADMINISTRATION OUT OF CONTROL, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HELL-BENT ON DESTROYING 250 YEARS OF PRECEDENCE.
>> SHE'S NEVER SUBTLE, AND LOVES A GOOD LAWSUIT.
I THINK WE'LL SEE A LOT OF LAWSUITS LOOMING FROM THIS.
CHANGING DEADLINES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTERS COULD HAVE A HUGE EFFECT ON UPCOMING ELECTIONS.
PEOPLE COULD BE AFFECTED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
MAY NOT HAVE SHOWN EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED TO VOTE, IN PREVIOUS YEARS THEY HAVEN'T NEEDED TO OR PEOPLE COULD VOTE THE WRONG TIME.
THAT'S DOOMSDAY, PRESUMING THAT THINGS HAPPEN BEFORE THEN, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO AVOID THAT, BUT EVERYONE IS IN A LITTLE PANIC FOR THE TIME BEING TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
THAT'S THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO.
TED: THAT IN BY 7:00 P.M.
I GET IT BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT THERE ANYWAY.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID TO MAKE THAT A REQUIREMENT, THAT'S GOING TO HURT ARIZONA'S EARLY VOTING SYSTEM.
>> IT CREATES CONCERNS WITH BALLOT CURING.
PEOPLE WHO VOTE BY MAIL, YOU PUT A SIGNATURE TO VERIFY WHO YOU ARE.
IF THEY CAN'T READ IT, DOESN'T MATCH WITH THE FILE, THE COUNTY HAS A FEW DAYS TO CONTACT YOU AND MAKE SURE THIS WAS YOU, AND HAVE YOUR VOTE COUNTED.
SHE SAID THAT REQUIREMENT CREATES CONFUSION, BECAUSE IT HAS TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN BY ELECTION DAY.
ARE WE STILL ALLOWED TO GO OUT AFTER THE FACT AND CURE THE BALLOTS, AND SHE POINTED TO HER OWN ELECTION THAT SHE WON BY LESS THAN 300 VOTES AS A REASON WHY CURING BALLOTS IS IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CLOSE ELECTIONS IN THE STATE, AND AS JEREMY MENTIONED, WE HAVE PROOF OF DOCUMENTED CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT HERE, THAT CAN AFFECT ARIZONA VOTERS BECAUSE THE LIST OF VALID FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION IN TRUMP'S ORDER IS DIFFERENCE THAN THE LIST OF IDENTIFICATION ALLOWED IN ARIZONA LAW.
TRIBAL IDs AREN'T ALLOWED UNDER TRUMP'S ORDER.
TED: SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES GOT INVOLVED AS WELL, BASICALLY SAYING WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID MAKES ELECTIONS LESS SECURE.
>> CERTAINLY, THAT'S THE ARGUMENT A LOT OF FOLKS MAKE.
THERE'S REASONS THAT THESE LAWS EXIST, THERE'S A REASON THAT THEY ARE THE WAY THEY ARE.
THE FEDERAL FORM.
THOSE MEANT TO MAKE VOTING ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, AND FROM EXPERIENCE IN ARIZONA, THERE'S REASONS WHY PEOPLE, WHO ARE CITIZENS, MIGHT NOT HAVE THE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP.
COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM OUT OF STATE, WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENTS THEY NEED.
TRIBAL FOLKS, NATIVE AMERICANS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE RIGHT DOCUMENTS.
THIS THROWS THINGS INTO CONFUSION, IF THIS WERE TO GO INTO EFFECT.
HOW IT'S GOING TO BE ENFORCED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
TED: IT FEDERALIZES STATE ELECTIONS, I SHOULDN'T SAY STATE ELECTIONS, FEDERALIZES ALL ELECTIONS IN RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THE STATES ONCE HAD.
>> AND FONTES USING THIS AS A REASON TO STAY IN CURRENT ROLE.
THERE WAS SPECULATION HE'S GOING TO CONGRESS.
THIS ORDER IS A REASON TO STAY WHERE HE IS, HIM FIGHTING A GOOD FIGHT AND PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN TOO SAYING EXACTLY THAT, WE NEED TO PROTECT STATE'S RIGHTS, NEED TO MAKE THE LAW CLEAR, NEED TO PROTECT VOTERS FROM BEING DISENFRANCHISED INSTEAD OF UNILATERALLY BY THE PRESIDENT.
WHICH IS A FLUCTUATING POSITION.
TED: WOULD STATE ELECTIONS BE BOUND BY THE RULES?
>> I BELIEVE IT APPLIES TO FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
TED: FEDERAL ONLY.
>> TEN YEARS AGO, IF YOU TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE SEEN TWO DEMOCRATS DEFENDING STATES RIGHTS AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION, I MIGHT NOT HAVE BELIEVED YOU, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CONSTITUTION RESERVES MOST ELECTION PROCEDURES TO THE STATES WITH SOME POWERS GOING TO CONGRESS, BUT AS MAYES SAID, IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE MUCH POWER TO THE EXECUTIVE.
TED: UNCONSTITUTIONAL OVERREACH BY PRESIDENTIAL AND BY THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PRESIDENTIAL POWER, AND BASICALLY SAID, THE CLAIMS SAID THAT HIS ROLE IS LIMITED TO COMPETING AND ENFORCING LAWS ENACTED BY CONGRESS.
>> THAT IS THE BALANCE OF POWERS WE HAVE IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM, CONGRESS MAKES THE LAWS, THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT WHERE THE FEDERAL FORM COMES FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THIS IS FEDERAL LAW.
AS WITH COUNTLESS OTHER THINGS.
YOU SEE PRESIDENT TRUMP TRYING EXPAND THE POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE AND SET CONGRESS OFF TO THE SET.
SAYING I DON'T NEED YOU, I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN.
TED: YEAH, THAT'S NOT THE ONLY LAWSUIT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOINED IN.
JOINED 22 OTHER STATES IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND DIRECTOR ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. OVER PUBLIC HEALTH CUTS?
>> YES, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING A LOT OF FUNDING AND OBVIOUSLY OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL IS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND WANTS TO PROTECT OUR FUNDING.
IT'S NOT THE ONLY THING, I EXPECT TO SEE MORE LAWSUITS ALONG THE LINES.
NOT THE ONLY STATE CONCERNED ABOUT IT, IT GREATLY AFFECTS OUR STATE BUDGET, TALKING ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS FOR WHAT WE NEED IN TERMS OF OUR HEALTH SYSTEM, COINCIDES WITH THE FEDERAL HEALTH SYSTEM.
TED: AND A JUDGE PUT A TEMPORARY BLOCK ON THIS ONE, CORRECT?
>> THE ARGUMENT IN A LOT OF THE LAWSUITS GOES BACK TO THIS IS MONEY APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS.
THE EXECUTIVE CAN'T UNILATERALLY CUT IT OUT.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SET FOR RURAL COUNTIES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATIONS, FOR VACCINES WHICH WE KNOW IS A HOT-BUTTON ISSUE FOR RFK, BUT YEAH, SO ESSENTIALLY ALL THAT GOES BACK IS TO WHAT POWER DOES THE EXECUTIVE HAVE VERSUS WHAT POWER DOES CONGRESS HAVE VERSUS WHAT POWER DOES THE STATE HAVE?
ULTIMATELY IT'S UP TO THE JUDICIARY TO DELINEATE THAT AND SEE WHETHER THE EXECUTIVE LISTENS.
>> I THINK IT'S FUNNY WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, BECAUSE THERE'S THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, THERE'S A FIGHT IN REVERSE, KATIE HOBBS IS TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND SHOULD BE GOING TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE DEMOCRATS ARE MAD ABOUT TRUMP.
TED: JEREMY, WE SHOULD MENTION THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, NO LOSS FOR WORDS HERE, RECKLESS DECISION, NO LEGALLY VALID EXPLANATION FOR THESE CUTS?
>> I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS COPY AND PASTE FOR THESE DIFFERENT LAWSUITS.
MOST OF THEM COME DOWN TO THE SAME ISSUES, LIKE DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS TO OUT CONGRESS OR COUNTERACT SOMETHING APPROVED BY CONGRESS.
TED: AND AGAIN, THIS WOULD IMPACT ARIZONA QUITE A BIT.
I'VE SEEN 190 MILLION TO MAYBE MORE, WHEN YOU ADD ON CUTS TO MEDICAID, THIS IS REAL BUSINESS HERE?
>> I THINK WE ALL LEARNED DURING COVID THAT OUR COUNTY IS OUR FRONT LINE WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
WHEN WE'RE NOT IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC, THEY PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN ENSURING PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO BASIC HEALTH NECESSITIES.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET ABOUT THAT IN MARICOPA COUNTY, IT'S MORE ACUTE IN SMALLER, RURAL COUNTIES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO DOCTOR'S OFFICES AND HOSPITALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND A LOT OF THE GRANTS ARE GOING TOWARDS THE RURAL COUNTIES AND THE HEALTH SYSTEMS.
TED: AT THE LEAST SEEING A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THE ORDER, EVEN THOUGH IT'S TEMPORARILY BLOCKED.
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GEAR UP AS TO WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
>> THEY TURN IT BACK ON AND TURN IT BACK OFF.
A LOT OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS PLANNED.
SO JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A TEMPORARY HOLD PUT ON THE ORDER, DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATORS CAN SPEND THAT MONEY AGAIN, THEY HAVE TO PLAN AS IF IT'S NOT THERE UNTIL THEY GET MORE DEFINITIVE ANSWERS.
TED: LET'S KEEP IT GOING, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOINING OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL, JOINING 18 OTHER STATES IN THE SUIT TO STOP PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM THE MASS FIRINGS OF PROBATIONARY WORKERS AND OTHER THINGS.
>> I LIKE WHEN WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE GET TO SAY ATTORNEYS GENERAL.
HOW DOES IT AFFECT ARIZONA?
ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR WORK ON THE STREET?
IS IT FAIR TO THEM, WHO'S IT AFFECTING.
IT DOES BREED GOOD HEADLINES FOR DEMOCRATS.
PEOPLE ARE SICK AND THEY CAN'T GET MEDICINE.
PEOPLE ARE OUT -- VETERANS HAVE NO JOBS BECAUSE OF THIS EVIL PERSON, AND I THINK THAT IF AND WHEN MAYES OR FONTES, WHOEVER DECIDES TO RUN FOR OFFICE, ARE POINTING THIS OUT AND SAY HEY, I WAS HOSTING TOWN HALLS, I WAS FILING LAWSUITS, WHAT WERE YOU DOING?
>> WE'VE SEEN THAT FROM MAYES FROM THE EARLY DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION, PLANTED HER FLAG AS THE OPPOSITION TO TRUMP IN ARIZONA.
KATIE HOBBS HAS TAKEN A MUCH MORE MEASURED APPROACH TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
NO MEASURED APPROACH TO SPEAK OF FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, AND GUNG HO PRETTY MUCH EVERY CHANCE SHE'S GOT.
TED: AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE NINTH LAWSUIT AGAINST TRUMP'S ACTIONS SO FAR.
I DON'T KNOW, ANYTHING HAPPEN HERE?
>> YESTERDAY'S ELECTION LAWSUIT WAS DENIED.
THERE WAS A TENTH TODAY THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SIGNED ONTO WITH OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL, THAT HAD TO DO WITH FUNDING FOR LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT'S ALWAYS BEING CUT.
TED: SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP THE POLITICAL ASPECT OF ALL THIS.
WHAT IS THE POLITICAL FALLOUT, THE BENEFIT OR OPPOSITE REACTION FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL MAYES?
>> I MEAN, IN TERMS OF HER NEGATIVELY BENEFITTING OR POSITIVELY BENEFITTING?
TED: BOTH.
BOTH.
>> THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE PRO-TRUMP ARE SAYING THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED.
TOO MUCH BLOAT.
PEOPLE ARE CRYING AND CLUTCHING PEARLS BECAUSE THEY'RE USED TO BEING FAT CATS.
THIS IS THE FIRST STAGE OF A REALLY GREAT SYSTEM AND TRUMP SAID SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES, THIS IS GOING GREAT, LIKE WITH THE STOCK MARKET STUFF, IT WILL LEVEL OUT, IT WILL BE FINE.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR.
I COULD SEE IF THINGS TURN AROUND, MAYBE THAT COULD BE PART OF HER OPPOSITION'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST HER SAYING SHE WAS TOO LIBERAL AND GUNG HO, LIKE JEREMY SAID.
IN THE MEANTIME, SHE'S RIDING A WAVE OF MOMENTUM RIGHT NOW.
TED: YOU WITH THAT, JEREMY?
>> COUNTING ON TRUMP BEING UNPOPULAR AND THE REPUBLICANS BEING UNPOPULAR, A MIDTERM WITH A REPUBLICAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE, TRADITIONALLY VOTERS GO THE OTHER WAY.
WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH OF THE NEWS LOOKS LIKE THE NEWS OF THE PAST WEEK ECONOMICALLY.
THAT MIGHT BE A SMART BET ON HER SMART.
THERE'S SO MUCH, HOW MUCH HAPPENS ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
TED: WEEKLY BASIS?
>> DAILY BASIS, OUT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHAT THINGS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF, KRIS MAYES IS BANKING ON PEOPLE NOT VOTING ALONG THE LINES OF TRUMP.
TED: WAYNE, SENATOR JAKE HOFFMAN IS NOT PLEASED WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, A LITTLE REPUBLICAN, NONREPUBLICAN.
>> YEAH, THIS SURPRISED ME, SENATOR HOFFMAN, THE LEADER OF THE FAR RIGHT FREEDOM CAUCUS AND GETTING INVOLVED IN RUNNING FOR STATE POLITICAL PARTY POSITIONS OR ELECTED POSITIONS, AND THE MOST RECENT ONE, IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO RUN AGAINST TOM HORNE, OUR REPUBLICAN SUPERINTENDENT, AND BIG CRITICISM WAS THAT TOM HORNE IS LIKE THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM IN THE STATE, WHICH IS SURPRISING, CONSIDERING THE SUPERINTENDENT IS A HUGE DEFENDER OF THE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM, BIG FAN OF IT, AND A BIG FAN OF SCHOOL CHOICE FOR DECADES.
TED: SINGLE GREATEST THREAT TO ESAS, HOW DID HE MAKE THAT WORK?
>> DIDN'T MINCE WORDS.
I WAS AT THE GAGGLE WHERE HE SAID IT, AND WE ASKED HIM TO FOLLOW UP AND HE SAID NO THANK YOU.
THERE HAS BEEN TWITTER FIGHTING SINCE THE CONVERSATION WHICH EXPANDED THE EXPLANATION ABOUT IT, AND I SPOKE TO HORNE TO SAY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT?
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS?
HORNE DEFENDED HIMSELF AND SAID I'M A DEFENDER OF ESA PROGRAM, I SUPPORT SCHOOL CHOICE, SUPPORT THE VOUCHERS, BUT I BELIEVE IN WHAT I'VE DONE, WHICH IS REJECTING SOME RIDICULOUS STUFF, LIKE A ROLEX BECAUSE, IF I HAD DONE THAT, IT WOULD BE A HORRIBLE HEADLINE FOR US AND OUR PARTY AND OUR CAMPAIGN, AND IT'S ALSO NOT MY JOB.
WE HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE GOOD FOR STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY AND AT A REASONABLE COST.
AND I THINK HIS POINT IS THAT THE FREEDOM CAUCUS WANTS NO LIMITS, PERIOD.
TED: HORNE HAS PROPOSED SPENDING CAPS, HAS HE NOT?
>> CAPS ON CERTAIN TYPES OF EXPENDITURES, REJECTIONS OF CERTAIN OTHER TYPES OF EXPENDITURES, AS CAMRYN MENTIONED, YOU SEE THESE EXTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURES OUT OF THE ESA PROGRAM THAT HAVE DUBIOUS EDUCATIONAL VALUE, AND YOU GET HEADLINES AND THE DEMOCRATS START YELLING ABOUT HOW HORRIBLE THEY THINK THE PROGRAM IS, WHICH THEY HATED FROM THE BEGINNING, WHICH TOM HORNE HAS BEEN DEFENDING THE PROGRAM FROM THE BEGINNING, WE REMEMBER WHEN THIS FIRST CAME UP AND HE WAS SUPPORTIVE OF IT FROM THE BEGINNING.
THERE'S LIMITS HOW MUCH YOU CAN SPEND ON COMPUTERS WITHIN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, OTHER TYPES OF EQUIPMENT, AND OUTRIGHT REJECTIONS OF THINGS, LIKE A $24,000 GOLF SIMULATOR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S HARD TO ARGUE THAT THOSE TYPES OF EXPENDITURES AREN'T BAD FOR THE PROGRAM AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION.
TED: HERE'S ONE THING TO SAY WE DON'T AGREE ON THIS, IT'S ANOTHER TO SAY YOU'RE THE SINGLE GREATEST THREAT?
>> JAKE HOFFMAN HAS NEVER BEEN ACCUSED OF DOWNPLAYING A SITUATION.
HERE, LIKE WE'VE SAID, RUNNING CANDIDATES IN MANY OF THE STATEWIDE RACES, SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW, DOES JAKE HOFFMAN BELIEVE TOM HORNE IS THE GREATEST SINGLE THREAT?
PROBABLY NOT.
IT GOT HEADLINES WRITTEN AND GIVES THE OPENING TO PROPOSE A CANDIDATE OF HIS OWN TO TAKE ON.
TED: WHO WOULD THAT CANDIDATE -- WHO COULD THE CANDIDATE BE?
>> WE WERE SPECULATING ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW YET, I THINK IT'S MORE OF A TREND, IT GOES BROADER BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, THE WAY HOFFMAN ANNOUNCED THIS IS AT A GAGGLE PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE HE ANNOUNCED PREPPING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.
AND INDICATED HE MIGHT WANT TO PUT UP SOMEONE FOR TREASURER OF HIS OWN.
IT'S NOT JUST TOM HORNE HE'S GOING AFTER.
AS WAYNE SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATIONS I THINK IT'S EVERYTHING THAT THE FREEDOM CAUCUS WANTS TO PUT THE CANDIDATE IN, THAT COULD BE A DISASTER POTENTIALLY FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
IF THEY SUCCEED IN THE PRIMARY, AS WE SAW WHENEVER THE LAST ELECTION WAS, THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT SO WELL FOR JAKE HOFFMAN AND THE REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL.
>> THE CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY, MAGA, FREEDOM CAUCUS, TRUMP-ALIGNED CANDIDATES TEND TO DO VERY WELL.
TRUMP IS STILL AND HAS BEEN POPULAR AT BASE.
THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT IS GOLD IN THE PRIMARY AS CAMRYN MENTIONED, GENERAL ELECTION, MUCH DIFFERENT STORY.
PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE BUYERS REMORSE, TURNS OUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE GENERAL.
>> HOFFMAN'S HAND PICKED CANDIDATE FOR MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP DID WIN THE ELECTION, HE'S TRYING TO BUILD OFF THE MOMENTUM WITH SOME OF THESE MORE RECENT COMMENTS.
>> INTERESTING.
JEREMY, BACK TO YOU, VARIED MEASURES AT THE LEGISLATURE TO RAISE THE PAY OR THE PER DIEM OR JUST SOMETHING FOR STATE LAWMAKERS.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
>> FOLKS DO NOT MAKE A HECK OF A LOT OF MONEY, AS WE SAW A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN SENATOR EVA BURCH RESIGNED, CITING MONEY.
THE PAY RAISES HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, THE VOTERS ARE NOT SO KEEN ON DOING THAT, THE LAST TIME WAS 1998, SOME LAWMAKERS, WANT TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY NEXT YEAR, NOT TO RAISE THE SALARY ITSELF BUT INDEX IT TO INFLATION.
THEY SAY IT WILL BE RETROACTIVE TO THE LAST TIME VOTERS APPROVED A PAY RAISE, THAT WOULD DOUBLE HIS $24,000 A YEAR SALARY TO 48,000.
AND THERE'S PER DIEM, CAN GET LUCRATIVE, THE DAILY MONEY THESE FOLKS GET FOR FOOD, TRAVEL, ET CETERA, IF YOU ARE FROM OUTSIDE MARICOPA COUNTY FROM RURAL ARIZONA, CAN BE A LOT OF MONEY.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO TRAVEL FIVE HOURS TO GET TO THE CAPITOL.
FOLKS IN MARICOPA COUNTY SAY WHY NOT US TOO, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TRAVEL A FEW MILES, THIS WOULD INCREASE THAT TO AROUND 200 A DAY, WHICH WOULD BE PRETTY GOOD.
I THINK THE "ARIZONA MIRROR" DID THE MATH LAST YEAR AND THAT THE MARICOPA COUNTY LAWMAKERS GET $5700 PER SESSION PER DIEM.
OUT OF MARICOPA COUNTY AVERAGES 40,000, 40 SOMETHING PER SESSION.
THOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME TRAVEL EXPENDITURES, THAT CAN BE DONE LEGISLATIVELY.
TED: TWO QUESTIONS, VOTERS GOING TO GO FOR THAT IDEA OF BASICALLY DOUBLING PAY, AND SECONDLY, THE IDEA OF THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE I THINK THE SECOND ONE, PER DIEM IS A BILL, IS THE GOVERNOR GOING TO RAISE PER DIEM FROM 35 TO $200 ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK?
>> IF IT PASSES WITH VOTERS, I DON'T THINKING IT BE OVERWHELMINGLY, IT WILL BE, OH, IT'S TIED TO INFLATION.
VOTERS ARE GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS 100% PAY INCREASE, WHICH SOUNDS GREAT TO ME.
IT'S NOT SMALL POTATOES, IF YOU ARE OFFERED THAT, AND I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR HAVING IT, BUT VOTERS DON'T CARE MUCH ABOUT THE ARGUMENTS.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, YOU WANT LAWMAKERS WHO REPRESENT YOU, NOT JUST THOSE WHO ARE INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY.
ALL THAT STUFF IN THE PAST HASN'T WORKED OUT VERY WELL.
I'M NERVOUS FOR THE PROPONENTS OF IT, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COME ACROSS AS, ONCE AGAIN, LAWMAKERS TRYING TO GRAB CASH FOR THEMSELVES.
TED: PER DIEM, THE GOVERNOR, HOW DO YOU THINK SHE WOULD HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
SHE'S DOING FINE.
IT DEPENDS WHETHER SHE THINKS IT WILL BE GOOD FOR HER CAMPAIGN IN A LOT OF WAYS, I THINK.
I DON'T KNOW SHE WANTS TO BE SEEN AS THE ONE HANDING OUT MONEY TO HER FRIENDS.
>> SHE'S A FORMER LAWMAKER, WHO PUBLICLY SAID SHE STRUGGLED TO PAY BILLS AT TIMES.
HOWEVER, SHE'S IN A PUBLIC FIGHT WITH REPUBLICANS OVER FUNDING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, AND HER ALLIES IN THE LEGISLATURE, THE DEMOCRATS HAD MADE A POINT TO SAY REPUBLICANS WANT TO APPROVE THE FUNDING BUT ARE TRYING TO GET A PAY RAISE.
THAT WOULD INDICATE IT'S NOT POPULAR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.
>> THE ARTS OF THE DEAL GOING ON HERE?
>> WHEN DOUG DUCEY SIGNED IT FOR OUT-OF-COUNTY LAWMAKERS, THERE WAS A GOOD ARGUMENT TO BE MADE BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE ROAD.
IF YOU ARE IN MARICOPA COUNTY, A VERY LARGE COUNTY, YOU MIGHT LIVE A FEW MILES FROM THE CAPITOL, KATIE HOBBS' DISTRICT WAS INCLUDED IN THE CAPITOL.
SHE IS CLOSE BY.
VOTERS SAY WHY SOMEONE WHO LIVES TEN MILES FROM THE CAPITOL AND CAN DRIVE THERE IN 10 MINUTES SHOULD GET $200 A DAY FOR THAT?
TED: CAMRYN, FORMER SENATOR WADSACK IN THE NEWS AGAIN, SHE'S NOW SUING THE CITY OF TUCSON FOR POLITICAL PERSECUTION?
>> YEAH, BECAUSE SHE WAS SPEEDING A LOT.
[LAUGHTER] >> SHE WAS GOING LIKE 75 IN A 35 MONTHS AGO.
WE ALL READ ABOUT IT BECAUSE, WHEN SHE GOT PULLED OVER, SHE SAID I'M A LAWMAKER, YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME.
THEY WAITED, GAVE HER THE TICKET, SHE WENT TO COURT AND SAID NO, YOU DON'T GET SPECIAL PRIVILEGES TO BREAK THE LAW.
IT WAS A SUBJECT THAT CAME UP AT THE LEGISLATURE, AND NOW SAYING TO THE CITY OR THE COURT THAT THE CITY OWES HER MILLIONS IN DAMAGES AND IT AFFECTED HER CAMPAIGN BECAUSE SHE RAN AGAINST LEECH AND LOST TO HIM AND GOT A LOT OF BAD PRESS FROM THE SITUATION.
TED: ALL PART OF A PLAN, APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO THE CLAIM, TO RUIN HER REPUTATION.
$8 MILLION, WAYNE, SHE WANTS?
>> THE ARIZONA SENTINEL SAID THE VIDEO WAS LEAKED TO THEM.
SHE'S ARGUING THAT'S PART OF A COORDINATED EFFORT BY TUCSON PD TO FRAME HER UP.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DEFENDS THEY FORCED HER TO SPEED.
TED: SHE SAID SHE WASN'T SPEEDING.
>> SHE SAID SHE WASN'T, I GUESS.
BASICALLY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO GO AS WELL AS HER ATTEMPT TO GET OUT OF THE TICKET, WHICH ULTIMATELY GOT DISMISSED BECAUSE SHE TOOK HER DIVERSION COURSE, AS THE REST OF US WHO GOT SPEEDING TICKETS IN ARIZONA HAVE DONE, COULD HAVE BEEN WRAPPED UP MONTHS AGO, BUT GOOD TO HAVE AN EXCUSE WHEN YOU LOSE AN ELECTION.
>> THE STRANGEST PART OF A VERY STRANGE LAWSUIT, LOOKING THROUGH IT.
SHE CLAIMED THAT SHE WASN'T SPEEDING, CLAIMS SHE WAS PULLED OVER AS PART OF THE CONSPIRACY.
WE'RE GOING TO PULL OVER JUSTINE WADSACK TO HURT HER CAREER.
NO EXPLANATION, EVEN A COUPLE OF WORDS, HOW A RANDOM TUCSON POLICE DEPARTMENT PATROL OFFICER KNEW THAT THIS CAR ALLEGEDLY GOING 71 MILES AN HOUR BELONGS TO A STATE LEGISLATOR, LET ALONE FOLLOWING HER WITH A HELICOPTER OR SOMETHING WAITING FOR HER TO GET OFF OF I-10, OKAY, SHE'S IN TUCSON PD JURISDICTION, GO GET HER.
TED: THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN, JEREMY.
>> I GUESS SO.
IT WILL BE FUN TO WATCH IN COURT, UP UNTIL THE POINT -- I'M GUESSING IT GETS THROWN OUT.
TED: KEEP AN EYE ON THAT ONE.
WAYNE, IS IT GOING TO BE FUN WATCHING ALEXANDER COLLANDER RUN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE?
>> IF YOU'RE AN OBSERVER OF ARIZONA POLITICS, IT WILL BE FUN FOR YOU.
COULD BE RERUN OF LAST TIME WHEN WE SAW MARK FINCHEM TAKE ON ADRIAN FONTES BECAUSE THEY HAVE SHARED DISPROVEN THEERIES OF ELECTION FRAUD, AND THAT'S PART OF THE ELECTION.
IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT WRITTEN UP ABOUT IT.
TED: HOW CAN YOU SHY AWAY WHEN YOU CLAIMED MASSIVE FRAUD IN THE 2020 ELECTION?
>> HE'S BEEN A PARTY TO A LOT OF CASES, IN THE ELECTION FRAUD, THE CRACKEN LAWSUIT.
GOT A SLAP ON THE WRIST FROM THE STATE BAR AND STARTED OFF THIS CAMPAIGN GIVING REPORTERS A BRICK WALL.
WE ASKED HIM ABOUT A LOT OF THAT STUFF, WE ASKED DO YOU THINK BIDEN WON 2020?
DO YOU THINK KATIE HOBBS WON IN 2022?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER?
THE PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO DO THIS AND THAT?
HE KEPT SAYING NEXT QUESTION.
I TRIED TO WRITE THEM ALL DOWN BUT HAD TO DO OTHER STUFF.
I THINK MAYBE HIS STRATEGY IS TO JUST IGNORE ALL OF THAT AND MOVE FORWARD FROM IT, BUT IT'S HARD TO NOT THINK ABOUT IT AND BRING IT UP BECAUSE IT WAS A BIG DEAL.
TED: WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN STRATEGY HAVING HIM AS CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE?
>> IT DEPENDS WHICH REPUBLICAN, BECAUSE HE MAY NOT BE THE NOMINEE.
WE HAVE A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE WAITING IN THE WINGS TO CHALLENGE HIM IN THE PRIMARY.
ONE WHOSE ENDORSEMENT HE INACCURATELY CLAIMS TO HAVE GOING TO THE RACE.
GINA SVOBODA HOW SHE ENDORSED HIM AND CLIPS FOR PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE RACES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND WE ALL KNEW SHE'D BEEN CONSIDERING THE RACE.
WE WALKED AWAY FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND SENATOR TEXTED HER, SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT, I'M CONSIDERING A RUN MYSELF, AND PEOPLE WHO KNOW COLADIN, SAY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, LINE UP BEHIND HER.
>> YEA OR NAY, WILL SOMEONE JOIN HIM IN THE RACE?
>> I THINK SVOBODA WILL GET IN.
TED: THAT'S ENOUGH TIME FOR THAT ONE.
PANEL, GOOD HAVE YOU HERE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
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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