This week’s local journalists discuss school safety in the wake of another shooting, sports gambling becoming legal, the governor vetoing an increase in auto insurance and Horizon welcomes a new journalist to Arizona.
School Safety
A mass shooting at a Texas high school ended up leaving 10 people dead and 10 others injured Friday. The tragedy has the topic of gun control back in the news and protesters back in the streets.
“Even if he [Governor Doug Ducey] picked up all the Democrats, the Republicans didn’t like the other half of the stops, the severe threat orders of protection,” Howie Fischer with Capitol Media Times says. “They said, ‘Wait a second. You’re going to set up a procedure for someone who has not yet done something on the suspicion they might where they can be held up to 72 hours for evaluation.’ It doesn’t matter if the Democrats got what they wanted, this bill is still going nowhere.”
Ducey had called a special session on gun control in the past, and the most recent event might help that actually happen. However, it is a campaign year which may disrupt things. As Fischer says, “Why would you call a special unless you had the votes?”
Sports gambling in Arizona?
The Supreme Court has recently said the federal government cannot tell the states what to do which resulted took out the law that made sports gambling illegal.
“The way the Supreme Court decision was written, Congress, if they decided, could just outright ban sports gambling, but I’m not sure what the temperature of that is,” Richard Ruelas with The Arizona Republic says. “Sports gambling and gaming seem to be fairly popular and the governor tweeted almost immediately that it was good news for Arizona.”
The reason Ducey believes this is good news is because it may become a potential revenue source for the state. The governor is currently renegotiating the gaming compacts with the tribes that expire in 2022. The numerous sports leagues will also benefit from this because it’s predicted that legal sports gambling using the best bitcoin online casinos will attract people back to the game.
Veto: Auto insurance liability increase
Ducey vetoed a bill that would nearly double the liability needed for increase which hasn’t been done since 1972. Arizona’s requirement is if a driver gets in an accident, they should be financially responsible for the damage they caused. There’s the 15-30-10 coverage which is $15,000 for injury to any one person, $30,000 for injuries to all persons in the accident and $10,000 property damage.
“The bill got out of the House and out of the Senate. The insurance industry sort of stood aside,” Fischer says. “Doug Ducey said, ‘What about the people at the bottom who purchase that minimum? Will they still keep purchasing it?’ If you can’t cover the injuries you caused, then the rest of us have to buy what they call uninsured motorist coverage.”
Carmen Foreman with the Arizona Capitol Times explains that Ducey is concerned that once insurance premiums are raised, poor folks won’t be able to afford it and will become uninsured which would create more damages.
Bills signed into law
As of August 3, 200-pound delivery robots will be legal in Arizona. The robots are about two or three feet tall, and they can reach a speed no greater than 7 mph.
“How dangerous are these?” Fischer says. “They will be on the sidewalk sharing the sidewalk with pedestrians.”
A couple more new laws include notifying parents if their child has been threatened at school. Also, food stamp recipients in the state will receive a bonus if they buy food from Arizona.
McSally changes stance on immigration
Rep. Martha McSally is running against other Republican candidates Joe Arpaio and Kelli Ward for the U.S. Senate. Foreman says her action may have supplied her opponents with more firepower.
“McSally asked for unanimous consent to take her name off a bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients,” Foreman says. “The move just screams that it’s election season.”
Ruelas says McSally is concerned that if she agrees to keep her name on the bill, she risks being known for that one decision. Following the removal from that bill, McSally endorsed another that includes contingent status for DACA recipients, fully funding the border wall and penalizing sanctuary cities.
Sinema changes stance on Iran Deal
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema was only one of 25 Democrats who did not go with the Iran Deal presented by former President Barack Obama. However, now she has publicly voiced that she is against President Donald Trump backing out on the deal.
“Now she’s trying to get elected statewide, and I think she’s decided that if she’s going to get her own party’s backing then she needs to say that Trump was wrong,” Fisher says. “She’s doing the same thing. She’s putting her finger in the air and asking what is the feeling of folks in Arizona. Whoever’s elected on the other side is going to back Trump so she needs to differentiate herself.”
Welcome to Arizona, Carmen Foreman!
Foreman moved to Arizona from Virginia a couple months ago. She covered state politics for the Roanoke Times for about four years.
“Things there were a little more progressive,” Foreman says. “Immigration wasn’t as much of an issue. When I started here, it was a few days after that unfortunate Uber death and only a few days before Red for Ed started making noise. I’ve been running ever since I got here.”
For more information on Foreman, follow her on Twitter at @CarmenMForeman.
TED SIMONS: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON'S" JOURNALISMIST ROUND TABLE. LAWMAKERS WANT A MEASURE AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE AFTER TODAY'S SHOOTING AT A TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL. THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."
PROMO: "ARIZONA HORIZON" MADE POSSIBLE BY ARIZONA JOURNALIST MAGAZINE AND BY THE FRIENDS OF 8, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.
TED SIMONS: GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO ARIZONA'S HORIZON'S JOURNAL ROUND TABLE. JOINING TONIGHT, HOWARD FISHER, AND RICHARD ELLIS: OF THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC. A MASS SHOOTING LEFT TEN DEAD WITH TEN INJURED, DEMOCRATS IN ARIZONA INSIST THE GOVERNOR DO SOMETHING ABOUT GUN CONTROL. THEY WANT A SPECIAL SESSION.
CARMEN: THEY WANT A SPECIAL SESSION OR ACTION ON A LOT OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ISSUES THAT THEY BROUGHT UP DURING THE REGULAR SESSION. THEY WANT UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE, YOU NAME IT, THEY WANT TO PREVENT SHOOTINGS.
TED SIMONS: THERE WAS NOTHING COMING OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION.
HOWARD FISHER: THE REPUBLICANS DID NOT LIKE THE OTHER HALF OF THE SEVERE THREAT ORDERS OF PROTECTION. YOU ARE GOING TO SET UP SOMEONE THAT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING AND HOLD HIM OR HER UP TO 72 HOURS. IF THE DEMOCRATS GOT WHAT THEY WANTED, THIS BILL IS GOING NOWHERE.
RICHARD RUELAS: THERE IS A PROTECTIVE DEMOCRATIC BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT OR FAMILY MEMBERS TO TELL THE JUDGE THIS PERSON SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD A GUN AND THAT WOULD LAST A YEAR. THE TIME ELEMENT GOT SHORTER AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT SOMEONE HAD TO BE MENTALLY EVALUATED GOT TOUGHER AND IT STARTED PEELING AWAY THE VOTES. THERE WAS TALK OF A SPECIAL SESSION ON THIS AND WHETHER IT ADDS TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF HIM CALLING HIM.
TED SIMONS: CARMEN IS THERE ANY INDICATION THE GOVERNOR WILL CALL A SPECIAL SESSION OR CONSIDER SUCH A THING?
CARMEN FOREMAN: I THINK HE THOUGHT IT OVER END OF SESSION. IT IS A CAMPAIGN YEAR. HE HAS TO GET OUT AND CAMPAIGN. REPUBLICANS HAVE TO GET OUT AND CAMPAIGN AND SO DO THE OTHER LEGISLATORS.
HOWARD FISHER: WHO WOULD YOU CALL A SPECIAL SESSION UNLESS YOU HAVE THE VOTES?
TED SIMONS: CLEARLY LAWMAKERS THINK AFTER ANOTHER INCIDENT IN TEXAS WHERE DOUBLE DIGIT PEOPLE ARE KILLED --
RICHARD RUELAS: FROM WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE GUNMAN SO FAR, DUCEY'S STOP ORDER MIGHT HAVE BEEN IT, BUT DO THEY HAVE THE VOTES? DO YOU CALL A SPECIAL SESSION KNOWING YOU HAVE DEMOCRATS THAT WANT IT --
HOWARD FISHER: AND AGAIN, THIS GOVERNOR IS NEVER GOING TO CLOSE THE "GUN-SHOW LOOPHOLE." IF I SELL A GUN TO YOU, I HAVE TO FIND OUT IF YOU ARE A PROHIBITED POSSESSOR. HE'S NEVER GOING TO SIGN OFF ON THAT. IF YOU DILUTE IT TO THE POINT IT DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING, WHY BOTHER? MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
TED SIMONS: WILL DEMOCRATS TAKE WHAT YOU CAN GET OPPOSED TO UNIFORM BACKGROUND CHECKS?
CARMEN FOREMAN: THEY SEEM UNINFORMED ON THIS MORE.
RICHARD RUELAS: THERE ARE BILLS THEY WANTED PASSED AS A PACKAGE OR WHETHER THEY WANT TO SAY WE INTRODUCED X NUMBER OF BILLS, MAKE THAT HIGH AS POSSIBLE. MANY OF THESE DIDN'T HAVE A BUMP STOCK OR BACKGROUND CHECK.
HOWARD FISHER: THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR. IF YOU BELIEVE THE POLLS MOST PEOPLE SUPPORT UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND MOST PEOPLE SAY, WHY DO YOU NEED A BUMP STOCK? WHY DO YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT FIRES OFF THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS A MINUTE? THAT'S FINE. MAYBE IT PLAYS WELL. EVEN AT SOME POINT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID A BUMP STOCK BAN SOUNDS GOOD AND THEN HE SAID NEVER MIND. THIS IS ALL POLITICS.
TED SIMONS: ON A SCALE TO 0 TO 10 NOTHING GETS DONE TO 10 SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT IS DONE, THIS AFFECTS FUTURE GUN CONTROL LAWS WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOWARD FISHER: ZERO.
CARMEN FOREMAN: MINUS THREE.
RICHARD RUELAS: THIS IS ROUTINE.
TED SIMONS: NOTHING CHANGES. SOMETHING THAT MIGHT CHANGE IS SPORTS GAMBLING IN ARIZONA. BETTING ON MORE THAN JUST THE PONIES, RICHARD.
RICHARD RUELAS: THE SUPREME COURT SAID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T TELL THE STATES WHAT TO DO AND TOOK OUT A LAW SAYING SPORTS GAMBLING ISN'T ALLOWED IN THE STATES. CONGRESS COULD OUT RIGHT BAN SPORTS GAMBLING. SPORTS GAMBLING AND GAMING IS FAIRLY POPULAR. THE GOVERNOR TWEETED PRETTY MUCH IMMEDIATELY, THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR ARIZONA. HE TALKED TO US OUTSIDE OF SPEECH SAYING THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCE.
TED SIMONS: CARMEN, HE CALLED IT AN OPPORTUNITY.
CARMEN FOREMAN: HE IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN AND HOW TO INTEGRATE THIS INTO ARIZONA'S CURRENT GAMING.
HOWARD FISHER: HE IS ALREADY LOOKING. RICHARD WAS THERE TOO. HE IS SAYING, WELL, MAYBE WE WILL GIVE SOME TO THE TRIBES, BUT MAYBE WE WILL LET THE TRACKS DO IT. THERE ARE NEARLY 60 OFF TRACK BETTING SITES OFF THE STATE.
TED SIMONS: THE TRIBES DO HAVE TO PRESERVE OFF RESERVATION GAMBLING SITES.
HOWARD FISHER: IF IT'S PART OF A NEWCOMB PACT.
TED SIMONS: TALK ABOUT NOW?
HOWARD FISHER: THEY CANNOT DO IT NOW. IF YOU DO IT POST 20-22, AND YOU SAY TO THE TRIBES, WE WILL GIVE YOU GAMING TABLES. WE WILL GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL SLOT MACHINES. IN ADDITION, YOU WILL GET THE RIGHT TO DO YOUR OWN SPORTS BETTING AND KENO.
RICHARD RUELAS: BASEBALL SEEMS CONDUCIVE TO THIS, IN-GAME BETTING OOFL WHAT IF YOU WALK INTO A BAR AND YOU WANT TO BET FIVE BUCKS ON THIS GAME AND THAT GAME.
HOWARD FISHER: THAT IS WHAT THE OTB ARE. A LOT OF THEM ARE AT BARS.
TED SIMONS: YOU HAVE DIFFERENT TRIBES WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS. IF THAT IS NOT EASY ON ITS OWN, NEWCOMB PACTS, THIS COULD TAKE A WHILE.
HOWARD FISHER: THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING SINCE A YEAR AGO. I THINK THE TRIBES RECOGNIZE THERE IS NOTHING TO REQUIRE CLASS THREE GAMING. THEY LIKE IT. IT'S BEEN A GOOD REVENUE FOR THEM TO TAKE WHAT HE OFFERS.
RICHARD RUELAS: THE SPORTS BOOK IS NOT A HUGE REVENUE DRAW. WE ARE IN A CITY WITH ALL OF THE MAJOR SPORTS AND COLLEGE TEAMS.
TED SIMONS: DIVERSIONS ARE NOT QUITE THERE. SAY THEY PASS IT. SAY GAMBLING BECOMES --
HOWARD FISHER: YOU ARE BETTING ON THE SUNS.
TED SIMONS: THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE REVENUE BE ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
CARMEN FOREMAN: ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK BRNOVICH SAID OTHERWISE. HE IS NOT SUPER OPTIMISTIC. HIS EXAMPLE OF THE SUPER THIS YEAR WHERE THE IF I WOULD EAGLES HAD A HUGE UPSET.
RICHARD RUELAS:AS GAMING GOES, THE LEAGUES ARE SORT OF UNDERSTANDING THIS IS WHERE IT'S GOING. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WATCH SPORTS NOT FOR THE OUTCOME BUT FOR PLAY AND PLAYER. WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR SAYING, WE DON'T WANT SLOT MACHINES LIKE AT THE AIRPORTS IN VEGAS.
TED SIMONS: HE WANTS IT AT INDIAN RESERVATIONS, CASINOS, BETTING SITES.
HOWARD FISHER: HE WAS CLEAR. DO YOU WANT IT UP AND DOWN NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE? HUH HUH.
TED SIMONS: THE GOVERNOR VETOES AUTO INSURANCE LIABILITY. WORK US THROUGH THIS. THE BILL WOULD NEARLY DOUBLE; SINCE 1972 HAVE, WE HAD AN INCREASE IN LIABILITY?
HOWARD FISHER: IN ARIZONA, THE PRESUMPTION IS TAKING A THREE TO FOUR THOUSAND POUND VEHICLE ON THE ROAD; YOU CAN BUY WHAT THEY CALL 15-30-10 COVERAGE. THIS HAS BEEN IN EFFECT LITERALLY SINCE DOUG DUCEY WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD PLAYING ON THE RUG WITH CARS AND TRUCKS. 1972. MA GOO GOT COLLEAGUES TO SAY, LET'S NEARLY DOUBLE IT. GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE. GOT OUT OF THE SENATE. THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY SORT OF STOOD ASIDE AND DOUG DUCEY SAID WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO PURCHASED THE MINIMUM? WILL THEY STOP PURCHASING? WHAT ABOUT THE COST TO THEM? IF YOU CANNOT COVER THE INJURIES YOU HAVE, THE REST OF US HAVE TO BUY UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE.
TED SIMONS: I IMAGINE THE COST OF DAMAGE HAS INCREASED SINCE 1972.
CARMEN FOREMAN: SIGNIFICANTLY.
TED SIMONS: IS THE INSURANCE LOBBY THAT STRONG? THE GOVERNOR SAYS POOR FOLKS WILL FOREGO INSURANCE.
CARMEN FOREMAN: HE SAID THIS WOULD RAISE INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND POOR FOLKS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT, SO THAT WOULD CAUSE MORE DAMAGE ON THE ROAD.
TED SIMONS: DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?
RICHARD RUELAS: I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS BILL DIED BECAUSE IT WAS A STRIKER, LATE. IF HE IS GENUINE THAT HE IS WORRIED ABOUT POOR PEOPLE, DOES THIS COME BACK NEXT YEAR?
HOWARD FISHER: A LOT OF IT COMES DOWN; TO HE NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED. THE NUMBERS SEEM PULLED OUT OF THE AIR FOR HIM. WHAT IS THE ADDITIONAL COST? SOME OF THE TESTIMONY SAID $8 A MONTH. $8 A MONTH, SORRY, NOBODY'S GOING BROKE OVER $8 A MONTH.
RICHARD RUELAS: I'M NOT DROPPING NETFLIX FOR THIS.
HOWARD FISHER: THANK YOU. THAT WAS A WONDERFUL NON-SECTOR THERE. WE APPRECIATE THAT.
TED SIMONS: LET'S GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THESE QUICKLY. AM I GOING TO GET BUMPED INTO BY A DELIVERY ROBOT WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK?
HOWARD FISHER: AS OF AUGUST 1ST, YOU CAN 200-POUND ROBOTS, TWO TO THREE FEET TALL. WE HAVE BEEN ASSURED NOTHING CAN GO WRONG. REMEMBER THE UBER -- NEVER MIND. THESE WERE DESIGNED TO BE PERSONAL DELIVERY DEVICES, 200-POUNDS. INSTEAD OF SENDING SOMEONE TO DELIVER YOUR PIZZA, HAVE IT DONE HERE. THE QUESTION IS, HOW DANGEROUS ARE THESE?
RICHARD RUELAS: SEVEN MILES PER HOUR.
HOWARD FISHER: 200-POUNDS, SEVEN MILES PER HOUR, HOW DO YOUR KNEECAPS FEEL?
RICHARD RUELAS: AS I BET ON THE PHONE, HOW DO I --
TED SIMONS: THERE ARE STIFFER PENALTIES FOR --
HOWARD FISHER: THEY GET A BONUS. IF THEY BUY FRESH ARIZONA FOOD, THEY GET A BONUS IN FOOD STAMPS AND WE HAVE A LAW DESCRIBING WHAT A DENTAL THERAPY IS?
HOWARD FISHER: IT IS A DENTIST WITH TRAINING WHEELS.
TED SIMONS: MARTHA MCSALLY CHANGED HER STANCE ON IMMIGRATION. THIS HAS ELECTION IN MIND.
CARMEN FOREMAN: SHE ASKED FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO TAKE HER NAME OFF A BILL TO PASS A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR DA-CA RECIPIENTS. IT SCREAMED CAMPAIGN SEASON.
RICHARD RUELAS: I WOULD BE AFRAID OF A MAILER THAT HAS THE WORD AMNESTY ON IT. IF SHE IS SUPPORTING THAT, SHE WILL IS LABELED AS THAT.
TED SIMONS: FULLY FUNDING THE TRUMP BORDER WALL AND PENALIZING SANCTUARY CITIES AS WELL.
HOWARD FISHER: FUNNY HOW RUNNING AGAINST KELLI WARD AND JOE ARPAIO GETS YOUR FLANK ON THIS ONE.
TED SIMONS: DOES IT HELP AGAINST KELLY WARD AND JOE ARPAIO? THOSE FOLKS ARE PRETTY FAR RIGHT.
CARMEN FOREMAN: IT WAS NOT AN ISSUE UNTIL SHE ASKED TO TAKE HER NAME OFF THE DACA BILL. NOW IT IS MORE FIRE POWER FOR WARD AND ARPAIO.
RICHARD RUELAS: I THINK IT IS -- YOU SHORE UP. IT WAS NOT AN ISSUE, BUT YOU CAN GUESS THAT JOE ARPAIO WOULD HAVE MADE IT AN ISSUE. THIS IS HOW THEY WERE GOING TO RUN AND BEAT HER.
TED SIMONS: DOES THIS SUGGEST INTERNAL POLLING. IT'S VERY CLEAR. IT WAS CLEAR AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE WORD AMNESTY IS APPLIED TO ANYTHING.
RICHARD RUELAS: WE HAD THE CARAVAN OF CENTRAL AMERICANS COMING TO MAKE A SHOW. THAT MADE IMMIGRATION AN ISSUE AGAIN THIS YEAR.
CARMEN FOREMAN: AS THOUGH IT WASN'T GOING TO BE AN ISSUE ALREADY.
TED SIMONS: WHERE IS THAT CARAVAN? DID THEY MAKE IT
RICHARD RUELAS: SOME WE WANT TO NOGALIS. I THINK THIS YEAR THEY DREW ATTENTION THEY DID NOT EXPECT.
TED SIMONS: KIRSTAN SINEMA CHANGED HER STANCE ON THE IRAN DEAL, THE MIRROR IMAGE OF WHAT MCSALLY IS DOING.
CARMEN FOREMAN: FLIPPING IT AROUND. WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS ONBOARD, SHE WAS AGAINST IT. NOW THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP CANCELED IT, SHE IS AGAINST HIM.
HOWARD FISHER: I HAVE COVERED HER SINCE HER DAY IN THE ARIZONA HOUSE; SHE HAS TRIED TO WEAVE A POSITION FOR HERSELF. ONE THING FOR METRO PHOENIX, NOW SHE IS TRYING TO BE ELECTED STATEWIDE. IF SHE IS GOING TO GET HER OWN PARTY'S BACKING, SHE HAS TO SAY, TRUMP WAS WRONG. SHE IS DOING THE SAME THING, PUTTING HER FINGER IN THE AIR AND SAYING, WHAT IS THE FEELING OF FOLKS IN ARIZONA?
TED SIMONS: SAME QUESTION I ASKED OF MCSALLY, WILL THIS HELP OR HURT HER IN AN ELECTION?
RICHARD RUELAS: I DO NOT KNOW THAT THE IRAN DEAL WILL BE STRONG AS THE IMMIGRATION DEAL. IT CAN BE USED. IT IS HER SKILL AS A POLITICIAN TO SAY I WAS AGAINST IT FOR THIS REASON. SINCE IT WAS IN PLACE, I SAW WE NEEDED TO KEEP IT.
HOWARD FISHER: A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS. WE COULD BOMB TEHERAN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TOO.
CARMEN FOREMAN: THIS IS THE YEAR, ACROSS THE COUNTRY. DEMOCRATS ARE BEATING NOT TRUMP. WE DO NOT LIKE ANYTHING TRUMP DOES. COME THE GENERAL ELECTION. IT WILL BE FORGOTTEN ABOUT.
TED SIMONS: WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL BE A MAJOR FACTOR BY THE GENERAL ELECTION. RICHARD, WHO IS GREG PATTERSON AND WHY IS HE RUNNING FOR THE LEGISLATURE?
RICHARD RUELAS: HE HAD A BLOG CALLED EXPRESSO PUNDIT. HE WAS AN INTERESTING STATE LAWMAKER. A BOARD OF REGENT WHO GOT AN INTERESTING RECORDED CONVERSATION. NOW APPARENTLY, I FORGET THE BACK STORY AND WANTS BACK IN TO STATE GOVERNMENT PROVIDING MORE THOUGHT.
HOWARD FISHER: THIS IS A CONVERSATION HE HAD WITH MARK FINCH UM. HE HAD THE TENDENCY TO DRESS UP LIKE 1880S OLD WEST. THERE WAS A CONVERSATION WE SAID GET RID OF THE COSTUME. YOU ARE HURTING YOUR STATE. YOU ARE HURTING YOUR IMAGE.
RICHARD RUELAS: GO TO CHURCH.
HOWARD FISHER: IT DID NOT HURT. DID NOT HELP BECAUSE THE REGENTS ARE DEPENDENT ON THE LEGISLATURE FOR FUNDING AND EVERYTHING ELSE. GREG IS THE DEN IS THE MENACE OF THE LEGISLATURE. MAYBE WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE THAT IN THE LEGISLATURE TO SAY, WAIT A SECOND. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? HOW DO THE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES FEEL ABOUT HIM? THAT IS ANOTHER STORY.
RICHARD RUELAS: IT IS HARD TO BE A DEN IS THE MENACE ON THE REGENTS.
TED SIMONS: WAS IT A SURPRISE HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE REENLTS, WAS IT NOT?
RICHARD RUELAS: DID NOT SEEM HE WAS THE NATURAL CHOICE.
HOWARD FISHER: HE WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU Unexpectedly SAID. LET US STIR THINGS UP. HE IS GOOD AT THAT. HE IS GOOD AS LOOKING AT PEOPLE LIKE THAT AND GOOD AT FINANCES.
TED SIMONS: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOWARD FISHER: IT IS HARD TO KNOW. THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL ELECTION YEAR. FRESH BLOOD IS A GOOD THING IN THIS KIND OF YEAR. GREG PATTERSON FRESH BLOOD, I AM NOT HOLDING MY BREATH.
TED SIMONS: CARMEN, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND HOW POLITICS THERE, YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THE RINGER NOW, FIRST SESSION. HOW IT COMPARES TO HERE.
CARMEN FOREMAN: I MOVED FROM VIRGINIA TO TAKE THE JOB AT THE CAPITOL TIMES. I COVERED STATE POLITICS THREE OR FOUR YEAR, COVERING STATE LEGISLATURE, CONGRESS, A MISHMASH OF THINGS. THINGS THERE ARE MORE PROGRESSIVE. IMMIGRATION WAS NOT AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE. WHEN I STARTED HERE, IT WAS A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE UBER DEATH AND A FEW DAYS BEFORE RED FOR ED HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE, SO I HAVE BEEN RUNNING EVER SINCE I DOT HERE.
TED SIMONS: WE ALWAYS THINK WE ARE A BUNCH OF YAHOOS OUT HERE. THE STORIES HERE ARE INCREDIBLE; OTHER STATES DO NOT GO THROUGH ALL THIS. IS THAT TRUE?
CARMEN FOREMAN: NO, IT IS FUNNY. I SEE THE LEGISLATION HERE AND THINK VIRGINIA HAD THE SAME BILL THIS SESSION TOO, THE COSMETOLOGY AND DRY BARS -- EXACT IT.
RICHARD RUELAS: ON A PRACTICAL LEVER, I NOTICE AFTER OUR 18 HOUR SESSION YOU TWEETED, WE DO NOT DO IT LIKE THAT IN VIRGINIA.
CARMEN FOREMAN: BUDGET PROCESS HERE IS SECRETIVE. IN VIRGINIA, IT IS ANNOUNCED IN SENATE FINANCE WEEKS BEFORE THE END OF SESSION.
TED SIMONS: THAT IS THE WAY IT HAS TO BE DONE, IS IT NOT?
HOWARD FISHER: YOU HAVE IT BUILT BOTTOM UP. NOW IT IS A FEW PEOPLE SITTING IN A SMOKE FILLED ROOM. IT IS HANDED DOWN AS IF FROM ABOVE.
TED SIMONS: RICHARD, THE IDEA THAT ARIZONA POLITICS. WE HAVE HAD IMPEACHED GOVERNORS AND JOE ARPAIOS AND RUSSEL PEARCES AND SUCH. DO YOU HEAR THAT AROUND THE COUNTRY?
RICHARD RUELAS: THAT IS WHAT JOURNALISTS AROUND THE COUNTRY WANT. THERE WAS A TIME WE SLOWED THAT DOWN. GOVERNOR DUCEY CAME INTO OFFICE HOPING TO END THAT. THAT IS WHY COMEDY CENTRAL CAME HERE SO OFTEN. JOURNALISTS FROM OUT OF TOWN, CRAZY ARIZONA.
HOWARD FISHER: HE TALKED ABOUT STATES BEING THE LABORATORY OF DEMOCRACY; ARIZONA IS THE METH LAB OF DEMOCRACY.
TED SIMONS: WE COULD LEAVE IT THERE. I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE GUN VIOLENCE. IT IS A TERRIBLE STORY TODAY PRESSING ON EVERYONE'S MIND. YOU THINK NOTHING WILL COME OF THIS IN THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE.
HOWARD FISHER: NO, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COALESCE FORCE, PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES WILLING TO COMPROMISE. THE GOVERNOR'S BILL, AS RICHARD POINTED OUT, STARTED OUT WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF THING LIKE IF ADULTS LEAVE THEIR GUNS AROUND, KIDS CAN GET THEM. THEN IT DID NOT HAVE STOP ORDERS IN TERMS OF ALLOWING PARENTS TO DO ANYTHING. EDDY FARNS WORTH SAID, I AM NOT GOING TO HEAR THIS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE IT ON THAT SIDE, DEMOCRATS AT THIS POINT ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN SCORING POINTS. EVEN IF THEY GOT THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, THEY DO NOT LIKE THE STOP ORDERS THAT THEY ARE. I DO NOT SEE ANYTHING HAPPENING.
TED SIMONS: OKAY. WE WILL STOP IT RIGHT THERE. THANKS FOR BEING ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."
TED SIMONS: LOCAL LEADS FOR MARCH FOR OUR LIVES TALK ABOUT TODAY IS SHOOTING AT A HIGH SCHOOL. AND WE HEAR ABOUT 60,000 COMPETING WATER CLAIMS. THAT'S MONDAY ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."
TED SIMONS: TUESDAY, A PREVIEW OF THE GREAT AMERICAN READ AND POWER OF BOOKS. WEDNESDAY, GAS PRICES AS THE SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON PATCHES. AND THURSDAY, POMPE AND THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT VASUVIOS. AND FRIDAY, IT'S ANOTHER ROUND TABLE. THAT IS IT FOR NOW. I'M TED SIMONS. YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
Carmen Foreman: Arizona Capitol Times
Howie Fischer: Capitol Media Services
Richard Ruelas: The Arizona Republic
