Governor Doug Ducey, who wants to be known as the education governor, has given pay raises of up to 20 percent to his staff while teacher salaries in Arizona are among the lowest in the country.
Senator John McCain made an impassioned speech criticizing the “half-baked” foreign policy of the Trump administration. The roundtable discusses how this might affect local races.
Steve Bannon came to Arizona to support the candidacy of Kelli Ward in the primary against Jeff Flake.
Governor Doug Ducey appointed Mesa Republican tax analyst Justin Olson will replace Doug Little as corporation commissioner.
State Representative Michelle Ugenti-Rita alleges that she has been subjected to sexual harassment in the Arizona state legislature.
Ted Simons: SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN IS FEUDING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS TIME OVER WHAT MCCAIN DESCRIBED AS A HALF BAKED FOREIGN POLICY. THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON THE JOURNALIST ROUND TABLE. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE JOURNALIST ROUND TABLE. JOINING US TONIGHT, MARY JO PITZLE. HOWARD FISHER AND LUIGI DEPUERTO. WHAT IS GOING ON?
Mary Jo Pitzl: ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES DECIDED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE GOVERNOR AWARDED HIS STAFF AND GOT PUBLIC RECORDS OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, ANALYZED THEM AND FOUND HEFTY PAY RAISES. WHEN YOU FOUND THAT IN THE TEACHER PAY WHERE ARIZONA RANKS LOW NATIONALLY, DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR SOMEONE THAT CALLS HIMSELF THE EDUCATION GOVERNOR.
Howard Fischer: I DON'T KNOW IN DAN IS WORTH $80,000 A YEAR.
Ted Simons: WHO IS DAN?
Howard Fischer: WE CALL HIM FOR THE COMMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COMPARABLE TO THE SALARY OF THE MESA POLICE, BUT THE ISSUE BECOMES THE OPTICS OF IT. THIS IS A GUY IN THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH SAYS WE WANT TO SHOW TEACHERS WE RESPECT THEM. .4 OF A PERCENT FOR FIVE YEARS, 1% OVER TWO YEARS. WHAT CRAIG CAME UP WITH, EXCELLENT REPORTING, WAIT A SECOND. IF WE WANT TO SHOW RESPECT THE SAME WAY YOU ARE RESPECTING YOUR STAFF, WHERE DO THE TEACHERS FIT IN?
Luige del Puerto: THE TEACHERS ARE OUTRAGED BY THIS REPORT. THEY ARE SAYING, LOOK, THIS IS OFFENSIVE TO US. WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAS NO PROBLEMS GIVING HIS STAFFERS 20% PAY RAISE AND YOU ARE GIVING US END OF THE DAY, 1% PAY RAISE EACH YEAR OVER TWO YEARS, POLITICALLY, IT'S A PROBLEM.
Mary Jo Pitzl: GRANTED, TO FIND THE MONEY TO RAISE THOUSANDS OF TEACHER SALARIES, UP 20%, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S A MUCH BIGGER POOL OF PEOPLE. THE POINT HERE, IF IT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE, WHY ISN'T IT GOOD FOR THE GANDER?
Howard Fischer: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE. I DID QUICK JOURNALIST MATH, 600 TO $800 MILLION TO DO A 20% RAISE STILL LEAVING TEACHERS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. THE ARGUMENT IS WE HAVE GROWN THE ECONOMY. IF WE HAD GROWN THE ECONOMY, WE WOULD HAVE TAX REVENUES WHICH LEADS TO OPTIONS OF DIANE DOUGLAS CO-CHAIRING THE GOVERNOR TASK FORCE SAID MAYBE WE NEED A PENNY ON THE SALES TAX TO DO THIS. ANSWER FROM THE GOVERNOR, NO TAX, NO HOW, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT.
Luige del Puerto: YOU MENTIONED 680 AND 800,000,000. WE DID THE JOURNALIST MATH. WE CAME UP WITH $750 MILLION. 20% RAISE FOR TEACHERS. THAT'S A BIG AMOUNT. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. YOU WANT TO MOVE THE NEEDLE. HOW DO YOU MOVE THE NEEDLE? YOU ARE LOOKING AT A TAX INCREASE THROUGH PROPOSITION 301. WE HAVE GOTTEN IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THEY ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE PROP 301. THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS EXPANDING THE PENNY.
Ted Simons: THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T WANT TO SEE A TAX INCREASE.
Mary Jo Pitzl: RIGHT. EVEN JOURNALIST MATH WILL TELL YOU IT'S AN INCREASE. AS YOU TRY TO TRIM THE STATE AGENCIES AND DOWNSIZE GOVERNMENT, THERE IS NEW MONEY GOING TO EDUCATION. BIG PICTURE, IT'S NOT A LOT. IT'S A BIG POOL OF PEOPLE. THE REAL TAKE AWAY IS, YOU PAIR THIS AND THE OUTRAGE, THERE WERE TEACHER PROTESTS TODAY, ANOTHER PLANNED FOR MONDAY WHERE THEY DELIVER BAGS OF PEANUTS, WE WANT RAISES NOT PEANUTS. EDUCATION WILL BE THE BIG ISSUE 2018, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE AN ELECTION YEAR. PAIR THAT WITH THE VOUCHER PROPOSAL ON THE BALLOT, SEE IF IT REMAINS THERE, IT WILL BE EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION.
Ted Simons: WITH THAT IN MIND, THE GOVERNOR'S SPOKESPERSON SAID YOU SHOULD REWARD INDIVIDUALS WHO PERFORM AND THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS DOING. TEACHERS ARE NOT HAPPY TO HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THERE ARE A LOT OF TEACHERS OUT THERE PERFORMING AND THEN SOME.
Howard Fischer: THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE EDUCATION BUDGET FOR HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOLS, RATED A. CURIOUSLY ENOUGH, WE FOUND THAT TENDS TO BE THE SCHOOLS WITH A LOT OF MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE ARE FEEDING THAT. THE OTHER QUESTION, WE ARE REWARDING PEOPLE FOR INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES. TAKE A LOOK AT CLASS SIZES WHERE THEY WERE A DECADE AGO AND WHERE THEY ARE NOW. IF YOU ARE GOING 27 TO 39 IN THE CLASSROOM, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MANAGE, YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL TESTING, ADDITIONAL PAPER WORK. IT DOESN'T WASH.
Ted Simons: AGAIN THE OPTICS, LUIGI, THE OPTICS OF HEARING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYING WE ARE REWARDING PEOPLE. WE ARE REWARDING PEOPLE WHO PERFORM AND THE TEACHERS ARE GOING, WHAT?
Luige del Puerto: POLITICALLY, THE NARRATIVE FAVORS THE TEACHERS NOT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. HOWEVER YOU JUSTIFY IT, LOOKS BAD ALL THE WAY AROUND. IF YOU DIG INTO THE DETAILS, HERE IN LIES THE PROBLEM, IF YOU HAVE TO DIG INTO THE DETAILS AND EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC, POLITICALLY, IT'S A PROBLEM. THE NEW HEAD -- THE FORMER HEAD OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, NOW THE HEAD OF ECONOMIC SECURITY, HE'S COMING FROM A SMALL DEPARTMENT AND MOVING INTO THE STATE'S BIGGEST DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEES. HE HAS A 73,000 PAY BUMP. THE GUY BEFORE HIM, TIM JEFFRIES, PROBABLY HAD THE SAME COMPARABLE AMOUNT. IF YOU ARE GETTING SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE, SOMEONE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IT'S A PAY RAISE. THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAID, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES. MANY OF THEM -- HALF OF THEM ARE GETTING PROMOTIONS. WE CRUNCHED THE NUMBERS. 1.2 MILLION PAY RAISES WERE GIVENS AS A RESULT OF PROMOTIONS. 700,000 GIVEN WITHOUT PROMOTION.
Howard Fischer: YOU MENTIONED THE FLAW IN YOUR OWN COMMENTS. WHEN YOU HAVE TO START EXPLAINING IT. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. THAT GOES BACK TO THE OPTICS QUESTION HERE.
Mary Jo Pitzl: I'M WAITING FOR THIS TO RIPPLE THROUGH OTHER RANKS OF STATE GOVERNMENT BESIDES TEACHERS. I PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY. THEIR DIRECTOR GOT A HEFTY BUMP. LUIGI SAID HE WAS PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR. THERE WAS A BUMP THERE. THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE. PEOPLE AT DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY, THEY WERE READY TO MUTINY.
Ted Simons: SCALE OF 0-10 AS AN ISSUE FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION, THIS IS UP THERE HIGH.
Mary Jo Pitzl: WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENT GROUPS KEEPING FANNING THE FLAMES.
Howard Fischer: THAT'S BECAUSE, THE NUMBERS MUCH AS PEOPLE SAY WE HAVE A LOWER COST OF LIVING HERE, IF WE HAVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS DEAD LAST IN THE NATION, HIGH SCHOOL AT 48. PEOPLE UNDERSTAND CHILDREN. PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM. THE QUESTION BECOMES, DOES THIS GOVERNOR WANT TO GO TO WAR WITH TEACHERS, AND IS THAT A WINNING FORMULA FOR HIM 2018, TAKING ON DAVID GARCIA, EDUCATION BACKGROUND OR STEVE FARLEY WHO HAS ARGUED FOR THESE ISSUES IN THE LEGISLATURE.
Ted Simons: LET'S MOVE ON. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND JOHN MCCAIN AT IT AGAIN. MCCAIN WAS RECEIVING THE LIBERTY MEDAL AND ATTACKED THE PRESIDENT'S FOREIGN POLICY DID SO BY CALLING AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY, SAID OUR FOREIGN POLICY IS HALF BAKED.
John McCain(SOT): THE FEAR OF THE WORLD WE HAVE ORGANIZED AND LED THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY TO ABANDON THE IDEALS WE HAVE ADVANCED AROUND THE GLOBE, TO REFUSE THE OBLIGATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND OUR DUTY TO REMAIN THE LAST BEST HOPE OF EARTH FOR THE SAKE OF HALF BAKED SPURIOUS NATIONALISM COOKED UP BY PEOPLE THAT WOULD RATHER FIND SCAPEGOATS THAN SOLVE PROBLEMS -- IS AS UNPATRIOTIC AS AN ATTACHMENT TO ANY OTHER TIRED DOGMA OF THE PAST THAT AMERICANS CONSIGNED TO THE ASH HEAP OF HISTORY.
Ted Simons: NOW THE PRESIDENT RESPONDED ON A SYMPATHETIC RADIO SHOW BY BASICALLY WARNING JOHN MCCAIN.
Tape: YOU HEARD WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY, SENATOR MCCAIN.
Donald Trump: I HEAR IT. PEOPLE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. AT SOME POINT I FIGHT BACK. I'M BEING VERY NICE. AT SOME POINT, I FIGHT BACK. IT WON'T BE PRETTY.
Ted Simons: LUIGI, NO WORD ON HOW HE WILL FIGHT BACK, WHEN HE WILL FIGHT BACK. ANY DETAILS HERE? WHAT DO WE MAKE OF THIS?
Luige del Puerto: HOW DOES HE FIGHT BACK? WHAT LEVERAGE DOES HE HAVE ON JOHN MCCAIN? JOHN MCCAIN HAS BRAIN CANCER. WE KNOW IT. THIS IS A GUY WHO IS A WAR HERO, STAYED MANY YEARS IN VIETNAM AS A PRISONER OF WAR. WHAT LEVERAGE DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE ON JOHN MCCAIN? I DON'T THINK HE HAS ANY.
Mary Jo Pitzl: HE'S GOOD WITH A WAR OF WORDS. SOMETIMES THAT'S ALL YOU NEED. IF THIS WAS AN ELECTION YEAR FOR MCCAIN, THAT COULD BE CONSEQUENCES.
Howard Fischer: THERE'S NOT ANOTHER SIX YEAR TERM. THIS IS THE MAVERICK WE SAW TWO DECADES AGO COMING BACK. MCCAIN IS ONE OF THE OLD HAWK. MCCAIN LOVES U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AND STRENGTH AND EVERYTHING ELSE. TRUMP IS REPRESENTING, IF YOU WANT TO CALL ISOLATIONISTS, WHAT IS OUR INTEREST? BY THE SAME TOKEN, MCCAIN GAVE THE PRESIDENT TOO MUCH CREDIT CALLING IT HALF BAKED. I THINK IT WAS RAW POTATOES.
Ted Simons: MOVING ON, POLITICS IN ARIZONA, JOHN MCCAIN IS NOT RUNNING AGAIN. WE ARE PRETTY SURE OF THAT. DONALD TRUMP IS STILL A MAJOR FACTOR IN REPUBLIC PARTY POLITICS IN ARIZONA. HOW DOES THIS FIGHT PLAY?
Howard Fischer: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN ARIZONA CALLING ISOLATIONIST TYPE POLICY AND IT PLAYS. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT WAY? WE KNOW SOME OF WHAT TRUMP IS DOING IS PLAYING IN THE FLAKE RACE. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. IN TERMS OF ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S ALL RHETORIC. I GET UP IN THE MORNING. I READ THE TRUMP TWEETS BECAUSE I NEED SOMETHING TO GET MY HEART GOING.
Ted Simons: AS FAR AS ARIZONA POLITICS ARE CONCERNED, WE'LL GET TO STEVE BANNON APPEARANCE IN A SECOND. HOW DOES ALL OF THIS PLAY?
Luige del Puerto: IT PLAYS OUT AS IT HAS IN THE PAST, 20 TO 25% MINORITY OF THE REPUBLIC PARTY THAT ADHERES TO WHAT WE REFER TO AS TEA PARTY POLITICS. YOU HAVE THOSE FOLKS SINGING THE PRAISES OF THE PRESIDENT AND UNBASING JOHN MCCAIN.
Mary Jo Pitzl: I EXPECT IT WILL RIPPLE OVER TO THE FLAKE SENATE RACE. PROBLEM WITH THE PRESIDENT. ALMOST A PROXY. THIS MAY NOT BE HELPFUL TO JEFF FLAKE AMONG A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE CONSTITUENCY.
Ted Simons: INTERESTING. LET'S TALK ABOUT KELLY WARD. STEVE BANNON IN TOWN. WARD KICK OFF IN SCOTTSDALE. BANNON COMES IN, SELF ANOINTED WING MAN FOR DONALD TRUMP. IT CAN'T HURT AN ARIZONA REPUBLIC PARTY POLITICS.
Howard Fischer: IT CAN'T HURT. WHETHER IT HURTS THE REPUBLICS IN THE LONG RUN, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE. HERE WAS KELLY, CONTRAILS -- KEMP TRAILS QUESTION OF POISONING THE ATMOSPHERE. THIS GIVES HER SOME LEGITIMACY. IF BANNON IS TRUMP'S WINGMAN IS INTERESTING BECAUSE HE'S ATTACKING MCCONNELL AS THE PRESIDENT IS COZYING UP TO HIM. IT GIVES HER CREDIBILITY, MEANS ALL THE NAMES THROWN OUT THERE WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME THAT, JAY HEILER OR SOMEONE ELSE, DEWITT, ROBERT GRAHAM --
Ted Simons: AGAIN, THIS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS MEANS WHAT?
Luige del Puerto: IT'S SIGNALING TO TRUMP SUPPORTERS THAT KELLY WARD IS THE ANOINTED CANDIDATE FOR THE TRUMP BASE. STEVE BANNON WAS SUCCESSFUL IN ALABAMA, THE CANDIDATE HE WAS SUPPORTING THERE. HE'S SAYING WE'LL DO THE SAME IN ARIZONA.
Mary Jo Pitzl: AND IT'S GOING TO BRING IN MORE MONEY THAN KELLY WARD WOULD HAVE COUNTED ON BEFORE. THAT PLAYS IN A MORE COMPETITIVE PRIMARY. EVERYONE SAYS YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE MESSAGING. IT JUST GOT A TURBO BOOST.
Ted Simons: AS BANNON WAS HERE OR AFTER, CHIEF STRATEGIST, PRESS SECRETARY FOR KELLY WARD SAID WE ARE SORRY FOR DOING WHAT WE DID. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
Howard Fischer: WHEN WE HEARD THIS IS COMING, WE THOUGHT, THEY'LL HAVE A HUGE BOMBSHELL ABOUT KELLY WARD. IT WAS SORT OF A MEA CULPA, WE CREATED A MONSTER, IF YOU WILL, OUT OF THE FRANKENSTEIN'S LAB, AND WE HAD NO IDEA SHE WAS NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME.
Ted Simons: WE HAVE A PANEL FOR THE EXACT WORDING THE EXPRESS SECRETARY HAD TO SAY. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE SHOWED SHE'S NOT UP TO THE TASK OF STANDING UP TO THE PRESSURE CAUSING SO MANY CANDIDATES TO BETRAY VOTERS WHEN THEY GET TO WASHINGTON. IS STEVE BANNON THE SWAMP NOW? THESE ARE EX-BREITBART REPORTERS.
Luige del Puerto: THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN US DETAILS WHY THEY LEFT AND WHY THEY ARE SAYING SHE'S NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME. WHAT THEY HAVE ARTICULATED IS WHAT THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ARTICULATING FOR YEARS NOW THAT KELLY WARD IS A FLAWED CANDIDATE NOT READY FOR PART-TIME TIME. IF SHE'S THE CANDIDATE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, MAYBE SHE LOSES TO KRISTIN CINEMA.
Howard Fischer: WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH WARD BEFORE HAND, POLICY DIFFERENCES, ARGUMENTS THERE, AND THEY FIGURED, WE ARE LEAVING, THIS IS OUR LAST POUND OF FLESH.
Ted Simons: THEIR STATEMENT ENDED WITH STAY TUNED. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Howard Fischer: I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S MY ORIGINAL POINT. WHAT DO THEY HAVE THAT THEY CAN SHOW THE ARIZONA PUBLIC MAKES KELLY WARD UNFIT?
Ted Simons: IS JEFF FLAKE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE FOR THE REPUBLIC PRIMARY?
Mary Jo Pitzl: I'M IN THE CAMP THAT SAYS IT'S EARLY TO SAY, BUT THAT'S THE WIDE PERCEPTION. EVERYONE'S WRITING THAT STORY. FLAKE HAS TROUBLE, GETTING IT FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. HE HAS NOT BEGUN TO CAMPAIGN. WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT WILL TAKE US. WE WON'T SEE THAT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
Ted Simons: HOWIE, WHO IS JUSTIN OLSON, AND WHY IS HE NOW A CORPORATION COMMISSIONER?
Howard Fischer: EVEN NEEDS TO BE ON THE GOVERNMENT PAYROLL SOMEHOW. JUSTIN OLSON, FORMER MEMBER OF THE HOUSE, RELIGIOUS, LED THE FIGHT TO DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD. HE KNOWS NUMBERS. DEFEATED BY ANDY BIG IN THE PRIMARY, HE TOOK CONSULTING JOBS, APOLLO GROUP, THE PARENT COMPANY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX. WHEN WE HAD A VACANCY DEVELOPMENT WITH DOUG LITTLE, WHO WENT TO WORK WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, HE SAID, HEY, I LIKE THIS GOVERNMENT STUFF. GIVEN HOW NUMBER INTENSE THIS IS, HE'S PROBABLY NOT A BAD PICK.
Luige del Puerto: RIGHT. ALSO, HE USED TO WORK FOR THE ARIZONA RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. HE IS A POLICY WONK. PROBABLY KNEW ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET MORE THAN ANYONE BUT ANDY BIGGS. THE INTERESTING POLITICAL SIDE STORY TO THIS ONE, HE RAN AGAINST KIRK ADAMS, HAND PICKED SUCCESSOR FOR THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, GOES TO SHOW YOU TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS, AND NOW HE'S ON THE CORPORATION COMMISSION.
Mary Jo Pitzl: HE SIGNALED HE WILL FILL OUT LITTLE'S TERM ENDING JANUARYY 19.
Ted Simons: HE'S SAID HE'S GOING TO RUN.
Luige del Puerto: THE THING ABOUT THAT, THE GOVERNOR LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO APPOINT TO THE COMMISSION, NEEDED TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO COULD RUN A CAMPAIGN, KNEW HOW TO CAMPAIGN. HE DIDN'T HAVE TO RAISE MONEY AND DO ALL THAT. JUSTIN OLSON FITS THE BILL.
Ted Simons: DOES HE FIT THE BILL AS AN APS FAVORITE?
Howard Fischer: I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS HISTORY THERE. YOU HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS THAT SAY THE APS IS PROMISED. IT'S DISCLOSED EVENTUALLY WHO THEY ARE SPENDING ON. I WOULD GUESS JUSTIN OLSON OR DEMOCRAT, I THINK I KNOW WHERE THE APS MONEY GOES.
Mary Jo Pitzl: WE HAVE DUCEY'S IMPRINT BECAUSE HE APPOINTED ANDY TOBIN, AND DUNNE AND NOW JUSTIN OLSON. WILL THAT LEAD AWAY FROM SOME OF THE DIVISION WE HAVE SEEN ON THE COMMISSION? TUNE IN.
Howard Fischer: NO, SIR AS LONG AS BOB BURNS --
Mary Jo Pitzl: MAYBE THEY'LL JOIN HIM. MAYBE OLSON WILL JOIN BURNS.
Ted Simons: MAYBE OR -- NOT. FINALLY, BEFORE WE GO, WHO IS MICHELLE AND WHAT IS SHE SAYING ABOUT THE CAPITAL AND THE ENVIRONMENT DOWN THERE?
Mary Jo Pitzl: SHE'S A FOUR TERM REPRESENTATIVE FROM SCOTTSDALE. YESTERDAY SHE SENT OUT A TWEET LINKING TO A FACEBOOK POST NOTING THE CURRENT CONVERSATION ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORK FACE SAYING I ENDURED THAT MYSELF AS A FRESHMAN IN 2011. SHE ISN'T NAME NAMES, BUT SHE SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE COMING FROM FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS BECAUSE IT MADE IT A DIFFICULT PERSONNEL SITUATION. SHE WROTE, BECAUSE SHE'S NOT TALKING TO ANYONE NOW THAT SHE TOOK HER ISSUES TO LEADERSHIP AND THINGS GOT BETTER WITH TIME.
Ted Simons: SHE SAYS DELIBERATE ACTIONS WERE TAKEN AGAINST HER BY THOSE IN THE SENATE AND FACED RETALIATION FOR REPORTING THESE INCIDENTS. WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS?
Howard Fischer: PART OF THE PROBLEM LOOKING INTO MOTIVATION, SHE HAD ISSUES THAT THEY DIDN'T LIKE. DID THEY KILL THE BILLS BECAUSE SHE SPURNED THEIR ADVANCES AND SHE REPORTED THEM? SHE WAS IN THE HOUSE AND THESE WERE SENATORS. THERE WAS NO SWAY THERE. IT'S IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. LIKE MANY FORMS OF HARASSMENT. WHAT IS HARASSMENT? DID THEY MAKE A COMMENT TO HER? DID SOMEONE SAY, SWEETHEART, WE ARE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT YOUR BILL.
Mary Jo Pitzl: I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT IN EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. THERE ARE CONCRETE DETAILS THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
Luige del Puerto: WHAT SHE WROTE WAS SHE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCES AND LUDE AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS REGARDING HER APPEARANCE FROM MALE COLLEAGUES. YOU DON'T THAT I CAN THAT LIGHTLY REGARDLESS OF HER POSITION. SHE'S SAYING SHE'S EXPERIENCED.
Ted Simons: NOT ONLY THAT, INTERACTING BECAME UNCOMFORTABLE AND INTIMIDATING.
Howard Fischer: I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE LIGHT OF THIS BY SAYING THE EYE OF THE HOLDER. THERE ARE THINGS THAT CONSTITUTE HARASSMENT. SINCE THE EARLY '80S, IT'S A GOOD OLD BOY'S CLUB. THE MEN WHO RAN THE PLACE, I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF MALES THAT RESENTED SOMEONE WITH A STRONG PERSONALITY, AND WHETHER OUT OF HOSTILITY OR BEING CUTE, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
Ted Simons: MARY JO, SHE WANTS FORMAL PROCESS, TO ENCOURAGE VICTIMS TO SPEAK OUT. WILL THEY CREATE A FORMAL PROCESS BECAUSE OF THIS?
Mary Jo Pitzl: LOOKING AT THE LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, I WOULD EXPECT THAT.
Luige del Puerto: ME TOO. WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WHAT WE REPORTED IN THE PAST IS, WE HAVE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS MAKE SEXISM PERVASIVE. LET'S LOOK INTO THIS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO MOVING FORWARD. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY HERE.
Howard Fischer: THE OTHER PIECE OF IT, THERE ARE ETHICS RULES IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE. I THINK WHAT MICHELLE ALLEGED WOULD FIT UNDER THE GENERAL RULE OF CONDUCT UNBECOMING, AND I BET WE SEE MORE CONDUCT CONVERSATION.
Ted Simons: ALL RIGHT. GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
Ted Simons: MONDAY ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WHY FLUORESCENT LIGHTS AND COMPUTER SCREENS COULD BE DAMAGING YOUR EYESIGHT AND MAKING IT HARDER TO SLEEP. AND A LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER WORKS TO CHRONICLE ALL OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S DESIGNS. THOSE STORIES MONDAY, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON." THAT IS IT FOR NOW. I'M TED SIMONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! ºº
Mary Jo Pitzl: Arizona Republic
Howard Fischer: Capitol Media Services
Luige del Puerto: Arizona Capitol Times
