Horizon Roundup: Everything you need to know about DACA

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients are in legal limbo after Jeff Sessions announced the Trump Administration’s decision to rescind the program.

In response to the announcement, multiple bills have been introduced offering possible solutions. The push for a resolution appears to be a bipartisan effort.

Another issue DACA recipients in Arizona are being forced to confront is in regards to school tuition. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced he will continue to pursue his lawsuits challenging certain benefits DACA recipients receive while in the U.S., one of which is their option to take advantage of in-state tuition rates.

“This suit seeks more transparency and accountability to ensure that our universities are operating in the best interest of students and in full compliance with the law,” said Brnovich.

Transcript:

TED SIMONS: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON'S JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, WHAT'S THE DEAL ON A DACA-DEAL BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND DEMOCRATS? AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS FIGHTS BACK AGAINST A LAWSUIT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK BRNOVICH OVER STATE TUITION COSTS. THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE. ARIZONA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS. MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION. THANK YOU.

TED SIMONS: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON'S JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, I'M TED SIMONS. JOINING US TONIGHT: DIANNA NANEZ OF THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC. HOWARD FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES. AND LUIGE DEL PUERTO OF THE ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES. PRESIDENT TRUMP APPEARS TO BE WORKING WITH DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ON CAPITOL HILL ON A DEAL INVOLVING DACA RECIPIENTS. THIS IS A BIG STORY IN ARIZONA. THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STORY IS. HE IS TWEETING DIFFERENT THINGS AND SAYING DIFFERENT THINGS. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

DIANNA NANEZ: HE SURPRISED REPUBLICANS. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN BILL IN THERE. THEY HAVE 30 PEOPLE SUPPORTING THEIR BILL. LAWMAKERS SUPPORTING THEIR BILL. AND HE GOES AND HAS A NICE LITTLE DINNER, NICE LITTLE WINE, AND COMES OUT AND THERE IS PELOSI. I THINK HE WAITED UNTIL THE NEXT DAY ON PURPOSE TO TWEET. BECAUSE THE WAY WE HAVE SEEN HIM OFTEN IS TWEETING IMMEDIATELY. I THINK HE WANTED TO PLAY THAT GAME AND WHAT WAS GOING ON IS HE WENT BACK AND FORTH IN THE TWEET. NO DEAL. BUT WOULD WE EVERY WANT TO THROW THEM OUT?

TED SIMONS: NO DEAL BUT MAYBE A DEAL. CHUCK AND NANCY, WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

HOWARD FISCHER: A COUPLE THINGS. EVEN AFTER TAKING OFFICE IN JANUARY HE TALK ABOUT WORKING OUT SOMETHING FOR THE DREAMERS AND RECOGNIZED HIS CAMPAIGN RHETORIC DIDN'T WORK. HE AND CHUCK SCHUMER ARE A COUPLE OLD NEW YORK CITY KIDS. WE CAN WORK THIS OUT. HE UNDERSTANDS THAT LANGUAGE AS OPPOSED TO THE GOOD SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY AND TURTLE-LIKE WAYS OF MAYBE WE SHOULD BUILD A WALL. I THINK TRUMP ASSOCIATES WITH THE NEW YORK WAY OF ACTING AND HE AND CHUCK GOT TOGETHER AND SAID HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIX THIS?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: HE IS IN A DEAL-MAKING MODE AND HAS BEEN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS. THERE WAS THE DEAL OVER THE BUDGET CEILING A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. HE FIGURED WHY FIGHT OVER THIS WHEN WE CAN MAKE FRIENDS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT HE WANTS TO GET SOMETHING DONE ON DACA. HE WANTS TO KEEP HIS PROMISE OF BEING A HAWK ON IMMIGRATION. HE ALSO UNDERSTANDS THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS WITH SENDING 800,000 YOUNG IMMIGRANTS, KIDS, MANY OF THEM ARE NOT KIDS ANYMORE AND MANY ARE WORKING AND THAT IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR BUSINESSES. THERE ARE SOME EMOTIONAL AS WELL AS MORAL COMPLEXITIES SURROUNDING THIS ISSUE AND HE GETS IT SO WHY NOT MAKE FRIENDS.

TED SIMONS: THIS IS A BIG STORY IN ARIZONA. WE HAVE A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF DACA RECIPIENTS AND A WALL BEING MEASURED AT THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM POLITICIANS AND DACA RECIPIENTS?

DIANNA NANEZ: DACA RECIPIENTS ARE USED TO THIS. THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THE UPHILL BATTLE TO THE DOWNHILL BATTLE. THEY WERE CONSISTENT ON MESSAGE TO THIS. THEY CAME OUT WITH PRESS CONFERENCE AND THEY SAID WE DON'T NEED A DEAL. WE HAVE A DREAM ACT HERE AND LOOK AT THE DREAM ACT GOING FORWARD WITH THAT. WE SAW A CONSISTENT MESSAGE. I THINK TRUMP WANTS TO GET REPUBLICANS IN LINE AND THIS IS A WAY TO DO THAT. HE IS IN THE DEAL MAKING MODE. IF THE REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT TO FIGURE IT OUT, HE SAID I WILL GO TO THE DEMS.

HOWARD FISCHER: HE IS CORRECT IN A CENTRAL POINT WHICH IS THE QUESTION AND LEGALITY OF DACA SIN -- IS IN DOUBT. THE QUESTION OF CAN YOU GRANT THIS BLANKET KIND OF DEFERRED ACTION AS OPPOSED TO INDIVIDUALS. THERE IS LEGAL QUESTIONS AND THE GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA AND NOW THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAYS YOU CAN'T TAKE IT AWAY AND WE WILL LET THE COURTS FIGURE IT OUT. CLEARLY, WHEN OBAMA ENACTED THIS IN 2012 IT WAS MEANT AS A STOP GAP TO DO SOMETHING.

TED SIMONS: THE LEGISLATURE HAS A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING. ARIZONA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. WHAT KIND OF SOMETHING ARE THEY GOING TO DO?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: WHAT WE HAVE GOING TO SEE IS WHAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE WHICH IS YOU HAVE CONGRESS MEN LIKE ANDY DIGS WHO SAYS BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING BUILD THE WALL, MAKE SURE WE SECURE THE BORDER BEFORE YOU COME UP WITH ANY KIND OF A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS UNLESS YOU FIX THAT BORDER, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT. YOU WILL SEE THAT FROM DIG AND A COUPLE POLITICIANS. THERE ARE THE JOHN MCCAIN'S AND JEFF FLAKE'S OF THE WORLD WHO SAY WE HAVE TO DO IT IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER AND WE CAN COME UP WITH A DEAL THAT PROVIDES SECURITY TO THESE DREAMERS AT THE SAME TIME DO SOMETHING ON THE BORDER. SO, I THINK TRUMP PROBABLY GETS MORE REPUBLICANS TO GO ALONG WITH THIS DEAL THAN IF IT WERE COMING OUT OF THE, LET'S SAY, THE U.S. HOUSE, I MEAN THE MAJORITY OF THE U.S. HOUSE.

HOWARD FISCHER: EVERYONE WANTS TO OVERREACH. ANDY WOULD LIKE A WALL. DACA RECIPIENTS SAY THIS ISN'T ENOUGH. WE WANT TO BRING OUR RELATIVES. THIS IS WHERE THIS COULD FALL APART WHERE BOTH SIDES SAY WE WILL LET YOU STAY AND THEY WANT MORE.

TED SIMONS: THE PRESIDENT SAID WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT CITIZENSHIP, AMNESTY, OR ALLOWING PEOPLE TO STAY HERE. IF THE WORD AMNESTY IS IGNORED, THROWN TO THE SIDE, DON'T LOOK, SAY OR TOUCH, CAN SOMETHING GET DONE?

DIANNA NANEZ: I THINK IT IS NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER THE WORLD AMNESTY IS USED OR NOT. IT WILL BE USED. YOU SAY THE ANN CULTER BASE SAID LET'S GO AHEAD AND IMPEACH HIM AND I THINK IF SHE COULD SHE WOULD HAVE LIT THE WHOLE WHITE HOUSE ON FIRE. THE WORD IS GOING TO BE USED BUT IT WILL BE USED ON THE WORDS DO WE WANT TO SEND 800,000 GRADUATES HOME? WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GOING TO DO IS CONSTRUCTION HAS ALREADY BEGAN ON THE WALL.

TED SIMONS: AMNESTY IS THE WORD REPUBLICANS -- YOU JUST DON'T USE IT. WHAT HAPPENS IF ANYONE SUGGESTS IT IS AMNESTY?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: PEOPLE WILL SUGGEST IT IS AMNESTY BUT THE STRONG SENTIMENT BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS WE NEED TO LET THESE KIDS STAY HERE. MANY OF THEM PULL UP THEIR PULL NOT JUST IN ARIZONA BUT ALSO IN THE COUNTRY SHOWING THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WANTS THEM TO GET CITIZENSHIP. AND THAT IS TRUE IN A VERY RED STATE LIKE ARIZONA WE HAVE SEEN IT TIME AND AGAIN. I THINK THE QUESTION FOR MOST PEOPLE BOILS DOWN TO THE MORALITY OF SENDING THE CASE OF SENDING KIDS WHO ONLY KNOW THIS COUNTRY AS THEIR COUNTRY BACK TO WHERE THEIR PARENTS COME FROM.

HOWARD FISCHER: THIS IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO WHAT THE REPUBLICANS THINK THEY WILL GET. IT WILL NOT BE A FENCE IN A TRADITIONAL SENSE. IT CAN BE ADDITIONAL BORDER PATROL SECURITY, OFFICERS OR TECHNOLOGY. THAT IS WHAT WILL TAKE TO PULL THE DEAL TOGETHER. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING FOR THE CONSERVATIVE PUBLIC TO GO ALONG.

TED SIMONS: AS FAR AS THE IMPACT ON OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND STATE OFFICE ON DOWN WHAT IS THE REACTION?

HOWARD FISCHER: THE GOVERNOR SAID CLEARLY, LOOK. YOU KNOW, THE OBAMA ACTION WAS ILLEGAL. WE NEED THE CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION. HE TOLD ME JUST THE OTHER DAY AS FAR AS HE IS CONCERNED HE THINKS DACA STUDENTS MAY BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITIES WITHIN STATE ONCE WE CAN GET PAST THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS A LOT OF SYMPATHY WHEN EVEN THE GOVERNOR IS READY TO RAISE HIS HAND. THIS AS A GUY WHO DOES ONE OF THESE FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: IT IS NOT JUST A POLITICAL CLASS. THERE IS THE BUSINESS CLASS THAT HAS A STRONG INFLUENCE AT THE STATE CAPITOL. THE OTHER DAY WHEN THE PRESIDENT SAID I WILL RESCIND DACA AND HE SAID WHY ARE WE THROWING OUT THE MOST HARD WORKING AMERICANS? WHY ARE WE DOING IT? YOU HAVE THIS STRONG SENTIMENT COMING FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THEY WILL BE WHISPERING TO JEFF FLAKE AND JOHN MCCAIN AND NOT JUST IN ARIZONA BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

TED SIMONS: THAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE RACE, TREASURY RACE, WE WILL SEE THAT KIND OF WHISPERING GOING ON.

DIANNA NANEZ: WE WILL SEE THE WHISPERING GOING ON AND SEE THE PEOPLE LIKE YOU SAID THAT ARE GOING TO CALL IT AMNESTY NO MATTER WHAT THEY DEAL IN THE DEAL. HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS WITH THE HISTORY. I TALKED TO CAV GNAW THIS SUMMER AND HE SAID, HEY, I PUSHED SB1070 BUT ON THE DREAMERS I THINK THEY SHOULD STAY.

TED SIMONS: THIS COULD BE THE ULTIMATE BIPARTISAN ACT THAT GETS EVERYONE CLOSE.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: IT IS A BECAUSE OF TRUMP.

TED SIMONS: THE GREAT HEALER AND UNITED.

HOWARD FISCHER: THAT WAS BUSH.

TED SIMONS: WE TALKED ABOUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS OVER THE INCREASE OF TUITION COST AND IN-STATE TUITION BEING OFFERED TO DREAMERS. TWO-PRONGED ATTACK. THIS WEEK THE BOARD OF REGENTS FIRED BACK AND WE HAVE A LITTLE DONNYBROOK GOING ON.

HOWARD FISCHER: THEY KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LAWSUIT OVER DACA. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS TOLD BY JUDICIAL WATCH AND THERE IS A DECISION SAYING THE 2006 LAW THAT SAYS YOU CANNOT SUBSIDIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ILLEGALLY FOR TUITION. THE BLIND SIDE WAS SAYING WHILE WE WERE LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF MAKING TUITION AFFORDABLE WE HAVE A PROVISION SAYING IT MUST BE AS FREE AS POSSIBLE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS YOU START WITH WHAT DOES IT COST AND HAVE ADD ONS AND WHATEVER THE LEGISLATURE GIVES YOU BALANCE THE DECISION. PHIL RIGHT MORE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND HE SAID THIS IS A PUBLICITY STUNT. THE FACT THAT HE DID THIS AND BLINDSIDED PEOPLE AND THE FACT IS WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REBUILD. THE FACT IS HE IGNORES THE CUTS TO THE LEGISLATURE. ONE YEAR HE GOT A 99 MILLION CUT AND HE SAID YOU CAN'T SUE THE LEGISLATURE SO I WILL ORIGINAL SUE THE REGENTS. WE ARE DEFINITELY IN IT.

TED SIMONS: WE ARE IN IT BUT IN IT AND THEN SOME BECAUSE YOU OPEN UP A LAWSUIT AND YOU HAVE THIS IDEA WITH THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION SAYING THE LEGISLATURE IS MAN DATED TO PAY FOR EDUCATION TALKS BY RAISING TAXES IF NECESSARY.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS ALSO SAID IT IS A PUBLICITY STUNT BUT THERE IS ONE SOMETHING WE AGREE. IT HAS RISEN AND RISEN BY MORE THAN 300% IN A DECADE OR SO. NOW THE QUESTION IS THEN THAT HOW WILL THE SUPREME COURT LOOK AT THIS ONE. THE SUPREME COURT HAS LOOKED AT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE A DECADE AGO IN 2007 AND THEY SAID WELL, IT IS A QUESTION WE SHOULD NOT BE WEIGHING IN. IT IS NOT UP TO US. WE ARE LOOKING AT TWO QUESTIONS. ONE IS THE FUNDING DOWN TO THE LEGISLATURE SUFFICIENT AND APPROPRIATE? WELL, WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER THAT. AND THE SECOND QUESTION THAT THEY SAID THEY WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT IS WHETHER THE TUITION FEES SET BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS OR THE PRESIDENT IS THAT PROPER AND THE COURT SAID IT IS UP TO THE LEGISLATURE AND OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

DIANNA NANEZ: WHEN THAT REPORT WAS FILLED, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS FILING THIS AND I WENT BACK AND PULLED IT AND THEY SAID YOU CANNOT SUE THE BOARD OF REGENTS OVER THE ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE FACT THEY ARE A CONSTITUTIONALLY CREATED GOVERNMENT AND THIS WAS WITHIN THEIR POWER TO DECIDE. HE IS GOING TO GO IN THERE AND MAKE THIS ARGUMENT THAT EVEN IF I CAN ONLY GET THEM TO MAKE IT SOMEWHAT AFFORDABLE I WIN HERE. THE DREAMERS THING HE DISCUSSED WITH YOU WILL, AS WE DISCUSSED HERE BEFORE, EVERYBODY SEES THAT GOING TO THE SUPREME COURT. THAT IS A SEPARATE ISSUE. LET'S TALK ABOUT JUST THE CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE THAT SAYS EDUCATION HAS TO BE AFFORDABLE AND TALK ABOUT THE 370% INCREASE.

TED SIMONS: IS THIS A PLAY BY THERE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO GET THE LEGISLATURE TO START PAYING FOR TUITION?

HOWARD FISCHER: I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK THIS IS MORE OPENING UP A QUESTION. I DON'T THINK HE WANTS TO FIGHT WITH THE LEGISLATURE. REMEMBER, THE LEGISLATURE CONTROLS HIS BUDGET SO LET'S UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT YOU HAVE GOT SOME TRICKY PROBLEMS HERE. FOR EXAMPLE, OUT OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE COUPLE BILLION A YEAR IN TUITION AND GENERAL FUND MONEY RAISED YOU HAVE MONEY GOING TO FINANCIAL AID. SHOULD WE NOT HAVE FINANCIAL AID AND WE CAN LOWER TUITION ON EVERYBODY ELSE. YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF QUALITY. IF YOU BELIEVE WHAT HE IS SAYING AND THAT IS YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT IT COSTS HOW DO YOU TEACH JOURNALISM WITH A PEN, PAD AND TYPE WRITER? WHAT ELSE GOES INTO THIS? WHO MAKES THE DECISIONS TO PAY FOR PROFESSORS AND EQUIPMENT?

TED SIMONS: THAT IS GETTING BACK TO THE COURT SAYING THIS IS A POLITICAL DECISION.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: THERE IS ONE HOPE THAT MAYBE THE COURT WILL IN FACT COME UP WITH A RULING THAT VERY PRECISELY DICTATES WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. IS IT THE LEGISLATURE ALONE? A BORE THROUGH TUITION RAISING AUTHORITY? AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION BECAUSE WHAT ELSE HAPPENED OVER THE LAST DECADE IS WE HAVE SEEN THE LEGISLATURE CUT DOWN THE BUDGET FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN FORCED COME UP WITH WAYS TO DEAL WITH THOSE CUTS. HE IS SAYING IF YOU LOOK AT THE TUITION FEES THAT IS MORE THAN 300%, IT IS MORE THAN -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATE OF INFLATION IT IS MORE THAN THAT. THERE IS A LITTLE RESEARCH AND HE CAN PROBABLY TELL US MORE BUT THE FACT MAYBE THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE. SO, MY THINKING IS THAT THE COURT WILL EITHER HAVE TO EXCEPT THIS AND IF THEY DO THEY WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE.

HOWARD FISCHER: YOU ARE MISSING THE BASIC POINT. IF THE CONSTITUTION SAID EDUCATION SHALL BE FREE CLEARLY A MEASURABLE STANDARD OR EDUCATION SHALL BE NO MORE THAN $70 A YEAR. POSSIBLE UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES? UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIRING NOBEL OR PEOPLE WITH BARELY BACHELOR DEGREES?

TED SIMONS: WITH A QUALITY EDUCATION THAT SUPER EXCEEDS OTHERS?

HOWARD FISCHER: THAT IS THE PROBLEM. I CAN'T THINK OF ANY WAY YOU CAN CONSTITUTIONALLY DEFINE WHAT IS AS NEARLY FREE AS POSSIBLE. UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES?

DIANNA NANEZ: THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO THE COURT SAYING WE WANT YOU TO DEFINE. WE WILL HELP YOU DEFINE.

TED SIMONS: THE COURT WILL NOT WEIGH --

DIANNA NANEZ: WE SAW THAT WITH THE GIFTS.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: THE COURT WILL NOT SAY THIS IS THE AMOUNT OR THIS IS WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE. BUT THE COURT CAN SAY YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE. IF YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE, IT IS UP TO YOU DO TO SOMETHING.

HOWARD FISCHER: WE ARE BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED. THE LEGISLATURE SAID THE GOVERNOR SAID WE DID ALL WEEK. THE REGENTS SAID GIVEN THE NEED FOR QUALITY EDUCATION WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO WHERE WE HAVE AFTER PERHAPS SPENDING $2-$3 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY WITH ONE FEDERAL AGENCY.

TED SIMONS: WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. CORPORATION COMMISSIONER DOUG LITTLE WILL BE EXCORPORATION COMMISSIONER SOON GOING OFF WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. IS THIS A JOB YOU WANT TO TAKE OR A JOB YOU SHOULD TAKE ALL THINGS CONSIDERED?

DIANNA NANEZ: TED SIMONS: I WOULD SAY BOTH IN THIS CASE. I WOULD SAY GOING TO THIS DEPARTMENT OF ENTRY IS SOMETHING HE WANTS AND WILL BENEFIT IN MANY WAYS FROM IT. WE WILL GIVE HIM THE VOICE AT THE NATIONAL AND CORPORATE LEVEL.

WE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS IF EVERYONE THOUGHT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION WAS A SHINING STAR?

DIANNA NANEZ: I BELIEVE SO.

HOWARD FISCHER: AND ONE OF THE PARALLELS AS YOU POINT OUT IS THAT THE TRUMP TALKED ABOUT OUR FRIENDLY CLEAN COAL AND ALL THAT STUFF. YOU KNOW, DOUG LITTLE HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY. AS SUGGESTED, INCREASING THE STANDARDS. BUT HE ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO PUT A VALUE ON EACH OF THESE YOU HAVE THE RECOGNIZE COAL IS THE BASE LOAD. IT HELPS MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM. THAT THE LIGHTS AROUND THE STUDY ROW GOING ON WHETHER THE WIND IS BLOWING OUT OR THE SUN IS OUT THERE OR WHATEVER. AND IN THAT SINCE, HE IS IN SYNC WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND SEES THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE INFLUENCE.

TED SIMONS: DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. WHAT KIND OF PUSH DO YOU HAVE WITH A TITLE LIKE THAT?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: VERY LONG TITLE. HIS JOB IS TO TALK TO THE TRIBES, OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND ENTITIES OUTSIDE THE NATION'S CAPITOL IN PUSHING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AGENDA ON COAL. WE WILL FIND OUT HE WILL BE A BUREAUCRAT BASED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IT IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY. HE CAN MAKE A BIGGER IMPRINT AS A BUREAUCRAT IN D.C. IN SO FAR AS TRUMP'S AGENDA AND WHAT HAPPENS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY AND COAL.

HOWARD FISCHER: YOU HAVE HIM SAYING I RAN CLEAN. I AM NOT TAINTED. THIS HAS TO BE PRETTY WEARING ON YOU TO KNOW THERE IS A CASE BEFORE THE SUPERIOR COURT AND SUPREME COURT ON THIS.

TED SIMONS: GIVE ME ONE GAME AS A POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR.

HOWARD FISCHER: ALL THE LAWMAKERS ARE CONFLICTED OUT. I THINK THE MAYOR OF CAREFREE HAS BEEN INTERESTED.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: RICK GRAY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS ONE AS WELL. BRENDA BURNS MAYBE. VERY WELL QUALIFIED AND BEEN THERE. WE HEARD JUSTIN OLSEN'S NAME.

TED SIMONS: DO THEY HAVE TO RESIGN FROM THE LEGISLATURE FIRST?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: THEY CANNOT. IF THEY ARE IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW THEY CANNOT JOIN THE CORPORATION COMMISSION. I KNOW ONE NAME.

TED SIMONS: GIVE ME THE NAME.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: ANDY TOLLMAN.

TED SIMONS: THEY MAY TRY.

TED SIMONS: GIVE ME ONE NAME.

DIANNA NANEZ: I AM NOT GOING TO GO THERE. WITH ALL THERE DARK MONEY CONVERSATIONS I THINK THE KEY THING IS GETTING SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE A CONFLICT LIKE WE SAW LAST TIME.

TED SIMONS: WHAT ABOUT RODNEY GLASSMAN? HE IS NOW A REPUBLICAN LAST I HEARD. THIS WEEK HE IS A REPUBLICAN.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: THAT IS THE POINT. I THINK DAVID STEVENS SAID HEAVY WAS INTERESTED. HE IS A COUNT ANTICIPATE RECORDER.

TED SIMONS: BEFORE WE GET OUT OF HERE THE MEDICARE EXPANSION IS A TOPIC ON THE SHOW. EVERY DAY.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: IT IS A QUESTION IF HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN OFF FOR OBAMA'S PROVISION TO QUALIFY. WE HAD TO BACKFILL IN THE MONEY FOR THE SINGLE ADULTS WHO WE CUT. SO THEY CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO LEVY THE WHATEVER ON THE HOSPITAL. AND THE HOSPITALS WERE HAPPY BECAUSE THEY SAID WE WILL PAY LESS ASSESSMENT AND LOSE UNCOMPENSATED CARE WITH PEOPLE'S INSURANCE. THE PASS WAS A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE. ANY TAX, NEW OR INCREASED, HAS TO HAVE A TWO THIRDS VOTE. DIDN'T GET THAT. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN SUING AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID WE WILL LOOK AT THE QUESTION. IS A LEVY, TAX OR ASSESSMENT.

TED SIMONS: LOWER COURT AGREED IT WAS AN ASSESSMENT. WILL THE HIGHER COURT TURNED AROUND AND SAY THIS IS AN ASSESSMENT?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: IT IS DONE BY THE ACCESS DIRECTOR AND THEREFORE IT IS NOT ATTACKED. NOT OWN THAT. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. YOU HAVE SEEN THE LEGISLATURE SAY WE WILL NOT DO THIS OURSELVES. WE WILL ASK THE AGENCY TO RAISE THE FEE.

TED SIMONS: A FEE THAT AFFECTS 400,000 LOW INCOME ARIZONA RESIDENTS. THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

DIANNA NANEZ: IT IS A BIG DEAL.

TED SIMONS: ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE GO AWAY, YOU THINK THE SUPREME COURT WOULD ACTUALLY OVERTURN THE LOWER COURT'S RULING ON THIS?

HOWARD FISCHER: THE FACT THEY TOOK IT IN THE FIRST PLACE MEANS WE COULD HAVE HAD A CLOSER LOOK.

TED SIMONS: SCALE OF 1-10.

HOWARD FISCHER: I THINK THIS IS ONLY A FOUR THEY OVERTURN IT.

TED SIMONS: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: THREE.

TED SIMONS: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DIANNA NANEZ: 4.

HOWARD FISCHER: WE WILL BE BACK AND FIND OUT WHO IS RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD.

HOWARD FISCHER: AND WHAT DO YOU THINK, TED?

TED SIMONS: I THINK WE WILL BE BACK. MONDAY ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WHAT'S BEHIND THE RECORD NUMBER OF HOA'S FORECLOSING ON HOMEOWNERS. AND WE'LL HEAR FROM TWO WOMEN WHO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES SERVING IN VIETNAM. THAT'S MONDAY AT 5-30 AND 10 ON ARIZONA HORIZON. TUESDAY: WHY THE PHOENIX AREA IS LEADING THE COUNTRY IN WAGE GROWTH. WEDNESDAY: ASU PRESIDENT MICHAEL CROW RESPONDS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S LAWSUIT OVER TUITION RATES. THURSDAY: AN UPDATE OF THE OSIRIS-REX ASTEROID PROBE, WHICH HAS A LOCAL CONNECTION. AND FRIDAY, IT'S ANOTHER EDITION OF THE JOURNALISTS -- THAT IS IT FOR NOW. I AM TED SIMONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.