[♪♪♪] >> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, IT'S THE JOURNALIST ROUNDTABLE.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE AT ODDS AGAIN AGAINST THE OTHER'S NOMINATIONS TO HEAD STATE AGENCIES.

>> Announcer: ARIZONA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE FROM CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMON.

IT'S FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALIST ROUNDTABLE.

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOB.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON ZOOM.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION.

WE'RE GOING TO GET TO YOU IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT JIM, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU.

TODAY, THE GOVERNOR SAYS NO MAS.

>> NO MAS?

NO MAS ON GOVERNMENT AGENCY HEADS.

IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A BATTLE THAT WE'VE SEEN SINCE SHE'S GOTTEN INTO OFFICE.

EVERY WEEK I SEE SOMETHING FROM JAKE HOFFMAN.

HE'S GOT TWO AGENCY HEADS RESIGNING BECAUSE IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO GET IT CONFIRMED, ANY WAY, SO THEY'RE JUST MOVING ON ON THIS.

>> BOB, BASICALLY, THE GOVERNOR SAYING SHE'S NOT GOING TO DO THIS?

>> YEAH, SHE SAID I'M JUST NOT GOING TO PLAY THIS GAME WITH JAKE HOFFMAN ANYMORE.

I'M NOT GOING TO SEND HIM ANY MORE NOMINEES.

SHE WAS SUED.

SHE YANKED BACK A BUNCH OF NOMINEES AND SAID I'M GOING TO NAME THEM EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND LET THEM DO THE JOB ANY WAYS.

PETERSON SUED, AND THE JUDGE CAME DOWN WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO LEGITIMATELY REVIEW THEM, SHE WOULD SEND THEM NOMINEES, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED THIS YEAR.

HOFFMAN CHEWS THEM UP AND SPITS THEM OUT, AND BASICALLY THEY GET DELAYED AND DON'T GET NOMINATED.

>> HE'S DRIVEN BY CONSPIRECY THEORIES, AND SHE'S NOT GOING TO DO IT ANYMORE.

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE EXACTLY GOING TO DO MECHANICALLY TO HAVE PEOPLE TRY TO BELIEVE THESE AGENCIES.

THEY MIGHT DO SOMETHING LIKE WHAT DOUG DUCEY DID, APPOINT HEADS OF AGENCIES AND LET THEM SERVE FOR 18 MONTHS, TWO YEARS, AND THE REPUBLICAN SENATE DIDN'T CARE FOR THAT BUT STILL DIDN'T PUSH FOR NOMINATIONS OF HEADS OF STATE.

THE GOAL OF THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE IS TO STYMIE KATIE HOBBS' GOVERNMENT AND NOT LET HER CONTROL THE STATE.

THEY SAID OUR GOAL IN 2025 IS TO TRY TO GET READY FOR THE 2026 ELECTION, TO TRY TO DAMAGE THE GOVERNOR, TO TRY TO BLOCK HER WHEREVER WE CAN, AND SET THE STAGE FOR THE REPUBLICAN TO TAKE BACK.

>> YEAH, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT ON THE SHOW AND A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO DO IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR HOBBS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS IS NOT A SMALL THING.

THE AHCCCS DIRECTOR OVERSEES HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

ANOTHER DIRECTOR WHO RESIGNED THIS WEEK OVERSEES PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND SCHOOL VACCINATIONS.

THESE THINGS COULD HAVE REAL EFFECTS ON PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.

>> BOB, REAL QUICKLY, APPARENTLY HOFFMAN'S COMMITTEE, I THINK THERE'S BEEN EIGHT AGENCY HEADS CONFIRMED THIS YEAR.

NINE ARE STILL OUT THERE, WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

HE SAID THE FACT THAT SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE DROPPING BY THE WAYSIDE CONFIRMS THAT SHE IS SENDING UP PEOPLE INCOMPETENT FOR THESE POSITIONS.

DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

>> I DON'T SEE IT AS AN OBSERVER OF THE PROCESS.

I MEAN, WHAT HE'S ATTACKED THESE PEOPLE FOR IS SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'VE DONE POLITICALLY BEFORE THEY'VE JOINED THE OFFICE.

HE DOES HAVE SOME SPECIFICS AGAINST THE AHCCCS DIRECTOR.

I'VE COVERED AHCCCS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, AND PROBLEMS IN THESE AGENCIES ARE NOT UNUSUAL.

YOU DON'T BLAME THE PERSON WHO'S RUNNING THE AGENCY WHO REALLY TRIES TO FIX THEM IN ALL OF THESE CASES.

IT'S HIGHLY POLITICAL AND IT DOESN'T PASS THE SMELL TEST IN MY EXPERIENCE.

>> YEAH, THERE WAS A NOMINEE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AG, HE GOT THROUGH THE NOMINATION PROCESS.

HE NARROWLY GOT THROUGH THAT COMMITTEE BUT THE PROBLEMS THAT HOFFMAN AND OTHERS BROUGHT UP WAS THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE POSTS THE NOMINEE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

>> JIM, AGAIN, HOFFMAN SAID THE GOVERNOR AGAIN WAS UNHINGED, SHE'S MAKING RASH EMOTIONAL DECISIONS.

I THINK WE UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT'S GOING.

WHERE IS THIS GOING?

IF THE GOVERNOR BASICALLY ASKED, SHE SAID BASICALLY, GO AHEAD AND SUE HER.

YOU SUE HER AND SLOW ROLL EVERYTHING, AND THEN, NEXT YEAR, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTION.

IS THAT WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO STOP BEFORE WE GET TO THE 2026 ELECTION AND WE SEE A, IF KATIE HOBBS GETS REELECTED AND SERVES ANOTHER FOUR YEARS IN 2027 OR REPUBLICANS GET A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR ELECTED IN 2026.

I THINK WITH A REPUBLICAN HOUSE AND SENATE AND A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE.

THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE AND SENATE HAS PLAYED BARE KNUCKLE POLITICS BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN LARGELY UNWILLING TO WADE INTO IT.

>> IT'S REFERRED TO AHCCCS HEREDIA, THE GOVERNOR SAYING IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE WAS NOT GOING TO PASS THESE FOLKS.

>> FIRST OFF, THEY HAVEN'T COME UP FOR A VOTE, RIGHT?

SO THEY HAD HEARINGS EARLY IN THE SESSION AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T COME UP FOR A VOTE.

AND JAKE HOFFMAN AND TO A LESSER EXTENT HAVEN'T MOVED ON HIM, SO AT SOME POINT IT BECOMES CLEAR SHE'S NOT GOING TO CONFIRM THEM.

WHY WOULD ANYONE PUT THEMSELVES THROUGH THIS?

HOW CAN I FIND QUALIFIED PEOPLE, AND THESE ARE HUGE AGENCIES -- AT LEAST AHCCCS IS.

IT'S THE BIGGEST IN STATE GOVERNMENT THAT OVERSEES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND TAKES SOME POLITICAL TALENT AND EXPERTISE.

YOU CAN'T JUST PULL BOB CHRISTIE OFF THE STREET AND SAY HERE, HERE'S THIS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN POLITICAL AGENCIES AND KNOW THE JOB.

I HATE TO COME DOWN ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER BUT I THINK IF YOU COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE, THE GOVERNOR HAS A POINT.

>> BACK TO THE HOFFMAN ARGUMENT, JIM.

THE NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE SOBER LIVING HOMES, THEY SAY THAT'S INCOMPETENCE.

>> I THINK THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF POLITICS THAT THEY'RE PLAYING WITH THIS.

THIS EXISTED SINCE 2019 WHEN THIS WHOLE THING KIND OF LAUNCHED AND BEGAN, AND IT WAS UNDER DOUG DUCEY'S ADMINISTRATION.

THERE WERE RED FLAGS RAISED THIS ALONG THE WAY OVER SEVERAL YEARS AND AHCCCS DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP BASICALLY THESE FRAUDSTERS FROM EXPLOITING A LOOPHOLE IN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM AND THE INDIAN HEALTH CARE PLAN.

THAT DIDN'T GET STOPPED, AND THAT WAS UNDER DUCEY.

IT WAS UNDER THE HOBBS ADMINISTRATION AND WITH KRIS MAYES AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, THEY SHUT IT DOWN AND ALL OF THIS KIND OF STUFF.

IN THE COURSE OF THE SHUTDOWN, WHEN THEY TRIED TO STOP THIS FRAUD, THEY INVOLVED PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THE FRAUD IN THE SYSTEM AND THEY HAD TO WORK TO MAKE THOSE PEOPLE WHOLE AND TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL.

BUT TO BLAME THE HOBBS ADMINISTRATION FOR THIS ISSUE IS -- I THINK IT REALLY JUST KIND OF GETS TO THE POINT OF THIS IS WHAT THE POLITIC OF IT IS BECAUSE -- POLITICS OF IT IS BECAUSE THEY STOPPED IT.

ERGO, IT MUST BE THEIR FAULT, WHICH IGNORES WHAT HAPPENED THE FIVE YEARS PRIOR.

>> AND APPARENTLY THE NOMINEE WAS FOR ALL OF THOSE COVID MEASURES THAT TRIED TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY.

>> YEAH, AND TO BUILD ON JIM'S POINT, A LOT OF STUFF, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT MATTERS WHEN IT HAPPENED, THEY'RE GOING TO BLAME THE HOBBS ADMINISTRATION ON IT.

I'LL GET BACK TO IT LATER.

THEY'RE GOING TO USE ANYTHING THEY CAN AND DO ANYTHING THEY CAN TO BLAME THE HOBBS ADMINISTRATION FOR ANYTHING AS THEY HEAD INTO THIS ELECTION.

IT'S A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE 20 YEARS AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING.

I COVERED NAPOLITANO, AND SHE DID NOT HAVE THIS TROUBLE GETTING HER AGENCY HEADS PASSED FOR THIS KIND OF THING.

>> WELL, BUT THE GOVERNMENT WASN'T SET UP FOR THIS KIND OF THING.

THIS COMMITTEE, IT'S NEW, IS IT NOT?

>> YEAH, THIS COMMITTEE WAS CREATED A MONTH AFTER HOBBS TOOK OFFICE SPECIFICALLY TO GRILL DIRECTORS AND TO DIG UP THINGS AGAINST HIM.

YOU SEE JAKE HOFFMAN AND THE THINGS THAT HE SAYS IN COMMITTEE AND THINGS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT RELEVANT TO A PERSON'S JOB, WHAT A POLITICAL APPOINTEE POSTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE HE TOOK THIS ADMINISTRATION JOB, WHAT -- DO YOU EXPECT, DO YOU EXPECT ALL SORTS OF POLITICAL POSTS PRAISING THE OPPOSITION WHEN YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY -- THESE ARE PARTISAN POSITIONS.

THESE ARE DEMOCRATS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO SHOW THAT THEY CAN'T RUN THE DEPARTMENT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY GET CHEWED UP AND SPIT OUT FOR.

>> AND DENNIS, REGARDING THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT, A DIRECTOR WAS SPIT UP AND CHEWED OUT FOR SMUGGLING?

>> YEAH, IT WAS A TIP THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING NEAR THE BORDER.

IT WAS A PRODUCE INSPECTOR, WHAT I WAS TOLD.

HE WAS ARRESTED ON ACCUSATIONS THAT HE WAS ENGAGED IN HUMAN SMUGGLING.

NOW WHAT HAPPENED WAS MIDPART OF LAST MONTH, BACK AROUND THE 10 OR 11 OF LAST MONTH, FEDERAL AGENTS, BORDER AGENTS SPOTTED HIM PICKING UP A COUPLE OF UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS.

THEY FOLLOWED HIM, THEY PICKED THEM UP, AND AT THE TIME, YOU KNOW, THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON STATE WORK TIME.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

DIDN'T HAPPEN ON STATE WORK TIME BUT I WAS TOLD HE WAS WEARING HIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL UNIFORM AT THE TIME, AND ACCORDING TO THE COURT DOCUMENTS AND POLICE PAPERWORK WE SAW, THE TWO MIGRANTS THAT THIS GENTLEMAN HAD PICKED UP, COMBINED TO PAY ABOUT $20,000 TO BE SMUGGLED INTO THE COUNTRY.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE STATE WORKER DIDN'T HELP GET THEM ACROSS THE BORDER BUT ONCE THEY GOT HERE THEY WERE TOLD TO WAIT IN A HOUSE AND THEN THEY WERE PICKED UP AT THIS HOUSE AND THEN TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

>> AND JIM, THIS DID NOT ESCAPE THE ATTENTION OF ONE JAKE HOFFMAN, WHO SAID THIS IS A SIGN OF THE TYPE OF MANAGEMENT IN HOBBS' GOVERNMENT.

I WOULD IMAGINE A CLOUDY DAY IS GOING TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE LOYAL OPPOSITION.

>> I THINK WITHOUT A DOUBT.

I THINK TO DENNIS' POINT EARLIER, ANY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A POLITICAL SHOT AT GOVERNOR HOBBS THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE IT, AND THEY'VE SHOWN THAT THEY HAVE AND I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO SO.

>> AND BILL, THE REASON WHY THIS WAS A BIGGER STORY, TOO, IT DOES GET BACK TO AGENCY.

THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPARENTLY IS IMMINENTLY QUALIFIED FOR ALL OF THIS.

HE NARROWLY GOT THROUGH THAT COMMITTEE, THAT CONFIRMATION COMMITTEE AND STILL IS AWAITING CONFIRMATION IN THE SENATE, AND CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COMMITTEES TO CLEAR THIS GUY TO THE VOTE, THEY DON'T NEED MUCH MORE EXCUSE NOT TO VOTE FOR HIM.

I THINK WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE, JAKE HOFFMAN IS ALREADY SAYING THIS IS CLEAR MISMANAGEMENT NOT ONLY BY THE NOMINEE BUT THE GOVERNOR, TOO.

>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT SENATOR CAVANAGH PUSHING THESE BILLS TO THE FOURTH FLOOR WHEN THEY GET PUSHED OVER AND OVER AWAY.

>> JOHN CAVANAGH HAS BEEN PUSHING WHAT WE CALL THE BATHROOM BILL.

IT STARTED OUT TARGETING ADULTS, TRANSGENDER WOMEN, WHO HE WANTED TO BAN FROM WOMEN'S BATHROOMS BACK IN 2013.

THERE WAS A HUGE KERFUFFLE BACK AT THE LEGISLATURE BUT IN THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, IT'S BACK, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH SCHOOLS.

IT HAS TO DO WITH COMING UP WITH SOME WAY TO, WHAT HE SAYS IS PROTECT YOUNG FEMALE STUDENTS FROM BEING EXPOSED TO MALE TRANSGENDER BIOLOGICAL MALES IN THEIR BATHROOMS.

THIS DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN BUT IT'S A GREAT POLITICAL CUDGEL.

HE'S PUSHED IT THROUGH THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THAT BILL IN 2013, LAST YEAR, HE COULDN'T GET IT OUT.

HE ALSO TRIED A BALLOT MEASURE FOR THE PRONOUN BILL, SO THE OTHER ONE IS THE PRONOUN BILL WHICH SAYS YOU CAN'T CALL A STUDENT BY ANOTHER PRONOUN OTHER THAN THEIR BIRTH WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR PARENTS.

THERE'S ENOUGH OF THIS GOING ONTO WHERE IF IT'S A POLITICAL ISSUE HE'S GOING TO KEEP PUSHING.

>> WHAT I FOUND THAT'S INTERESTING IN BOB'S REPORTING ON THIS IS CAVANAGH SAID HE THOUGHT THAT DEMOCRATS WOULD MODERATE ON THIS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION RESULTS LAST YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THIS CULTURE WAR STUFF PLAYED INTO THAT BUT CAVANAGH IS BETTING ON THIS AND THAT'S WHY HE KEEPS BRINGING THIS UP.

>> I THINK THOSE ARE HOOKS, AND REPUBLICANS USE THOSE HOOKS AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION USES IT.

BUT BACK TO THESE IDEAS, THESE CULTURE WAR BILLS.

IF THEY WIND UP ON THE BALLOT, DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

DOES THAT OF COURSE THE VOTE VOTE -- AFFECT THE VOTE, NEXT YEAR'S VOTE?

>> I DON'T SEE ANY OF THESE ISSUES -- DENNIS' LARGER POINT, I THINK PEOPLE TEND TO BE MOTIVATED BY ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES OR POCKETBOOK ISSUES OR THEY'RE MOTIVATED BY DISSERVING WITH GOVERNMENT AND WHOEVER IS GOVERNOR -- DISSATISFACTION WITH GOVERNMENT AND WHOEVER IS GOVERNOR.

I DON'T THINK THAT THESE ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE MUCH OF AN IMPACT.

WHETHER THEY PASS OR NOT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AND WE'LL SEE IF THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED TO SEND -- DECIDES TO SEND THESE TO THE BALLOT.

THEY'RE GOING TO FACE THE SAME ISSUE NEXT YEAR, WHERE IF YOU GET A VETO AND YOU PUT THESE ISSUES ON THE BALLOT, YOU END UP WITH A REALLY LARGE BALLOT AND VOTERS GO, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

WHY DO WE NEED TO DO THIS?

IS THERE WAS A PUBLIC POLL THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK ABOUT A SURVEY THAT COVERS LGBTQ AND A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SAY THEY DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT DEALING WITH THIS AT ALL.

THERE ARE FAR MORE IMPORTANT THINGS FOR GOVERNMENT TRYING TO DEAL WITH.

>> BOB, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

COULD THIS BACKFIRE FOR REPUBLICANS TRYING TO GET THIS ON THE BALLOT?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK IT'LL BACKFIRE BUT THE QUESTION IS DOES IT DRIVE ANY PUSH BACK, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IF YOU ASK A PARENT, DO YOU WANT A BOY TO GO INTO A GIRL'S REST ROOM AT SCHOOL, I THINK ALL PARENTS WOULD EMOTIONALLY SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

THE DEMOCRATS KEPT BRINGING IT UP -- HAD A COUPLE OF TEACHERS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

NANCY GUTIERREZ FROM TUCSON IS ONE.

KEPT SAYING, LISTEN, I'M A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER.

THIS ISN'T HAPPENING.

KIDS CAN FIGURE THIS OUT.

THEY KNOW HOW TO GO TO THE BATHROOM WITHOUT BEING EXPOSED TO SOMETHING THEY DON'T WANT TO GET EXPOSED TO.

BUT AGAIN, IF YOU PHRASE THIS TO A MOM OR A DAD ABOUT HER TEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER YOU GET AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE, SO SOME OF THESE THINGS COULD PASS IF THEY GET ON THE BALLOT.

>> AND BOB, TO THAT POINT, TOO, IT ALSO COMES DOWN TO THE QUESTION OF WHO'S GOING TO FUND THESE CAMPAIGNS.

YOU CAN GET AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE BUT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED SOME MONEY TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO FUND THESE BUT THAT'S ANOTHER BIG QUESTION.

IT'S NOT GOING TO DRIVE TURNOUT ON ITS OWN.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND MONEY TO FUND THOSE ISSUES.

>> THAT WAS THE ARGUMENT LAST YEAR WITH ALL OF THE MEASURES PUT ON THE BALLOT AND THERE WAS NO MONEY PUT BEHIND ANY OF THEM.

BUT VOTERS ARE SMART AND THEY DO READ THEIR PAMPHLETS AND THEY DO READ THEIR SAMPLE BALLOTS AND THEY DO VOTE INTELLIGENTLY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF LAST YEAR'S VOTES AND REFERENDUMS, VOTERS ARE SMART.

THEY FIGURE IT OUT.

>> FORMER FBI COUNTER INTELLIGENCE AGENT, WHISTLEBLOWER, HE'S RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

>> RUNNING FOR CONGRESS APPARENTLY.

STILL IN ARIZONA AGAINST JUAN CISCOMANI FROM TUCSON.

YOU KNOW, INTERESTING MOST RECENTLY LIVED IN CALIFORNIA BUT APPARENTLY IS AN ARIZONA NATIVE BUT FILED FROM PRESCOTT TO RUN IN TUCSON, SO I -- YOU KNOW, NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF DEMOCRATS' MOST TARGETED SEATS IN ARIZONA.

NO DOUBT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS TRYING TO KNOCK JUAN CISCOMANI OFF.

>> I DID CALL THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE ASKING ABOUT THIS GUY, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THE PAPERWORK WHICH IS NOT A GOOD SIGN.

I'M TOLD BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE THAT HE JUST NEEDED TO GET THAT DONE.

>> I'M GUESSING HE WON'T BE THE ONLY DEMOCRAT EYEING THAT PARTICULAR SEAT.

>>> BOB, BEFORE WE GO, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ANTI-DEI ORDERS ARE SAYING THAT STATES HAVE TO FOLLOW OR FEDERAL MONEY, IT'S GOING TO BE ADIOS, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS NOT TOO PLEASED.

>> NO, FONTES IS NOT, AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PART OF THIS.

THEY'RE DOING THIS WITH K-12 SCHOOLS.

THEY'RE SAYING IF YOU WANT FEDERAL FUNDING, YOU'VE GOT TO CERTIFY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY DEI FUNDS.

IN THIS CASE, IT'S HAVA FUNDS, HELP AMERICA VOTE FUNDS, TRYING TO SECURE OUR ELECTIONS, WHICH YOU WOULD THINK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WOULD WANT.

IT'S FOR ELECTION SECURITY, IT'S FOR BALLOT MAINTENANCE, MAKING SURE THAT VOTERS WHO AREN'T SUPPOSED TO VOTE DON'T VOTE.

AS WE'RE SEEING ALREADY ACROSS ALL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANY TINY BIT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS IS GOING TO HAVE TO CERTIFY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE DEI POLICIES.

>> I THINK ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES, HE'S WEIGHING HIS OPTIONS, HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY SAY DEI.

IT'S NOT DEFINED.

>> NO, AND I THINK THIS IS A CHALLENGE FOR EVERY STATE GOVERNMENT, IS WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

IS AS WE'VE SEEN THE DISCOURSE OVER THIS ISSUE THE LAST FEW YEARS, I THINK IT'S VERY FLUID AND THE GOAL POSTS TEND TO MOVE A LOT IN TERMS OF EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY FORTHCOMING GUIDANCE FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR A STATE TO QUALIFY FOR THESE CRITICAL ELECTION SECURITY FUNDS AND EXACTLY HOW THE STATES ARE GOING TO QUALIFY FROM IT AND WHAT'S GOING TO COME DOWN THE PIKE.

>> YES.

>> BECAUSE THE CLOCK IS TICKING FROM DEMOCRATIC AGs LIKE KRIS MAYES WHO SAY LOOK, YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO OUR GOVERNMENT.

>> PROP 123, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, PASSED ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, TAKES MONEY OUT OF THE STATE LAND TRUST AND PUTS IT INTO K-12 EDUCATION.

IT'S GOING TO EXPIRE UNLESS VOTERS EXTEND IT LAST YEAR.

MESSNER AND REPUBLICANS ARE TAKING IN ACTION TO PROTECT THE SCHOLARSHIP VOUCHER PROGRAM IN ARIZONA.

>> BOB, IS ANYONE EVEN CLOSE TO THE SAME CAMPFIRE ON THIS?

>> OH, NO, THIS SPLITS THEM.

THEY WILL NOT PASS IT IF THEY PUT A VOUCHER RELATED ISSUE INTO A SCHOOL FUNDING BILL.

REMEMBER, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THE MAJORITY IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

THIS IS A BALLOT REFERRAL.

THEY DO NOT NEED GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS' SIGNATURE.

THEY DO NEED HER BULLY PULPIT IF THEY WANT TO CAMPAIGN ON THIS.

DO YOU THROW $300 MILLION OF SCHOOL FUNDING AWAY?

I GUESS THEY'RE GOING TO RISK IT.

>> JIM?

>> IF THAT'S THE WAY THEY GO AND THEY TRY TO GO WITH THIS WITH JUST REPUBLICANS AND A HIGHLY PARTISAN PLAN HERE, REMEMBER, THIS THING BARELY PASSED WHEN GOVERNOR DUCEY AND ALMOST EVERY LAWMAKER AND KIND OF THE POLITICAL MACHINE WAS BEHIND IT LAST TIME I THINK THAT WOULD DOOM THEM TO FAIL WHICH WOULD PROBABLY MEAN THE REPUBLICANS, THE LEGISLATURE CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO COME UP WITH THAT MONEY TO PAY IT BECAUSE THIS WAS A SETTLEMENT OF A LAWSUIT THAT STEMMED OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> GUYS, GOOD CONVERSATION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

>>> AND THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M TED SIMONS.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

[♪♪♪] I love working at Arizona PBS for many reasons.

The people, I'm fortunate to wor with, some really talented individuals -I was shocked, Like I was going to work for the place that produced Sesame Street.

I love that we have such a strong community impact.

Because I get to tell the stories of Arizona.

Really, there's no job more fulfilling than using your skills and talents and abilities to enrich your communities.

The creativity and the passion of my colleagues It's just a great place and I love being here.