Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey took on the opioid crisis and prison recidivism in his State of the State address Monday, but the governer’s limited dialogue regarding the state’s struggling education system received a mixed reception from education advocates.
Of the 17-page address, only two were dedicated toward education, compared to the previous year’s speech, in which the governor spent almost half his time on the state’s school system. Stan Barnes, president of Copper State Consulting Group, says that while he was expecting more discussion on education from Ducey, the governor “wisely pointed out there are a lot of good things going on with Arizona public schools.”
According to Barnes, one positive about Arizona’s school system is the “accelerated investments” in public education mentioned by the governor during his address. Chris Herstam of Lewis, Roca, Rothgerber and Christie, however, says the positive statistics on public education only referred to charter schools and schools in wealthy neighborhoods, which are not representative of the state’s education system as a whole. Herstam says the entire address was “a speech of supreme negligence toward our public education system.”
Ducey didn’t touch on the topic of extending the tax that will soon expire, and by doing so showed a reluctance toward the issue, says Barnes. Herstam says at some point taxes will need to be raised in order to fund for K-12 education despite Ducey’s promise to not introduce any increases.
Sexual harassment, the opioid crisis, focus on child-welfare and cracking down on impaired drivers were some of the other major topics discussed in the rest of the 15 pages of the address.
TED SIMONS: COMING UP, NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON FORMERMER MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO TWEETS THAT HE IS RUNNING FOR JEFF FLAKE'S U.S. SENATE SEAT TO DISCUSS THE VIABILITY OF ARPAIOS CANDIDANCY AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OF THE LEGISLATURE REACT TO THE GOVERNOR STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS. THESE STORIES NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.
VIDEO: 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 I'M TED SIMONS AND FORMER MARICOPA SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO SAYS HE’S RUNNING FOR JEFF FLAKE'S U.S. SENATE SEAT ARPAIO MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY WITH A TWEET THAT READS QUOTE, I AM RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE FROM THE GREAT STATE OF ARIZONA FOR ONE UNWAVERING REASON TO SUPPORT THE AGENDA AND POLICIES OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS MISSION TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT. ARPAIO IS 85 YEARS OLD, HE LOST HIS REELECTION BID FOR SHERIFF LAST FALL AFTER BEING CONVICTED FOR CRIMINAL CONTEMPT AND ARPAIO WAS LATER PARDONENED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP. ARPAIO’S ANNOUNCMENT TODAY DID NOT IMPRESS THE MAN WHO CURRENTLY HOLDS THAT U.S. SENATE SEAT.
VIDEO: THERE IS HARDLY BEEN AN ELECTION CYCLE YOU KNOW FROM THE EARLY 90s THAT SHERIFF JOE HASN'T TALKED ABOUT RUNNING STATEWIDE AND HE FLOATS IT OUT THERE FOR A WHILE AND THEN PULLS BACK AND SO I DON'T EXPECT IT WILL GO VERY FAR.
VIDEO: WOULD YOU SUPPORT HIM?
VIDEO: NO, NO, NOT AT ALL. THAT IS THE LAST THAT IS NOT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD AS REPUBLICANS.
TED SIMONS: SENATOR FLAKE APPEARING ON CNN DEMOCRAT KRYSTEN SINEMA ALSO RUNNING FOR FLAKE’S SEAT WAS EQUALLY UNIMPRESSED IN A TWEET TODAY THAT READS, QUOTE. ARIZONA DESERVE LEADERS WHO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE OUR COUNTRY'S GREATEST CHALLENGES AND JOE ARPAIO IS NOT THAT PERSON TOGETHER WE WILL DEFEAT SHERIFF JOE’S DANGEROUS ACTIONS AND TIRED RHETORIC. SO WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN TO A SENATE RACE THAT ALREADY INCLUDES SINEMA, TEA PARTY FAVORITE KELLI WARD AND THE LIKELY CANDIDACY OF A CURRENT CONGRESS WOMEN MARGARET McSally AND HERE TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL IS POLITICAL CONSULTANT JAIME MOLERA A PARTNER IN MOLERA ALVAREZ AND ALSO WITH US IS ARIZONA REPUBLICAN COLUMNIST LAURIE ROBERTS. GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE, THANKS FOR JOINING US. ALRIGHT JAIME MAKE SENSE OF ALL THIS WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON OUT THERE.
JAIME MOLERA: WELL THIS IS A GREAT TUESDAY I GUESS IN ARIZONA BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS SOMETHING WHENE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE DEFINITELY KELLI WARD DR. KELLI WARD WAS VERY UPSET ABOUT JOE'S ENTERING THE RACE. IT’S BASICALLY A GUY THAT’S GETTING INTO THE SAME BASE SHE IS TRYING TO CAPTURE. I THINK MARTHA McSally WAS VERY HAPPY AND KRYSTEN SINEMA WAS UNHAPPY BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, I’M UNDER THE OPINION WHEN YOU HAVE THE FISCHER IN THE HARD REPUBLICAN BASE KELLI WARD WAS TRYING TO CAPTURE THAT GIVES A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR McSally TO CAPTURE THE NOMINATION A MUCH BETTER OPPORTUNITY I SHOULD SAY FOR THE NOMINATION AND IF SHE GETS HEAD TO HEAD WITH KRYSTEN THE REPUBLICANS CHANCES GO WAY UP TO TRY TO KEEP THAT SEAT.
TED SIMONS: WARD AND SINEMA THE LOSERS IN TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT.
LAURIE ROBERTS: WARD IS THE BIG LOSER IN THE THING FOR THE REASONS THAT JAIME TALKS ABOUT AND SINEMA I WOULD NOT CHARACTERIZE HER AS A LOSER I HEAR THE CHAMPAIGN CORKES WERE POPPING OVER THERE. EITHER YOU’RE GING TO HAVE A BRUISING REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN WHICH JOE ARPAIO IS THE CENTRAL FEATURE AND LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY AND LOTS OF VICTORY WILL BE SPREAD WHICH DOES NOT MAKE THE REPUBLICANS LOOK GOOD OR YOU WILL HAVE MARTHA McSally EEK IT OUT IN WHICH CASE IT WOULD NOT BE GOOD NEWS THING FOR HER BUT REGARDLESS THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEPLETED AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING TO HAVE A BIG BLACK EYE SO I THINK POTENTIALLY YOU ARE RIGHT IT COULD BE THAT McSally IS THE WINNER BUT COULD ALSO BE SINEMA.
TED SIMONS: BUT IS ARPAIO SERIOUS THIS TIME? I MEAN WE DIDN'T HEAR JEFF FLAKE SAYING BUT HE BASICALLY SAID REPORT ON THIS QUICKLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO LAST VERY LONG, IS THIS ONE OF THESE THINGS WHERE JUST PAY ATTENTION TO ME FOR A WHILE AND THEN HE IS GOING TO BACK OUT?
JAIME MOLERA: POSSIBLY BUT THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT MAKE HIM A REAL CANDIDATE ONE IS THE FUNDRAISING AND LET'S FACE IT THAT IS ONE THING JOE HAS BEEN GOOD AT IS BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY NOT JUST ARIZONA BUT MOST OF HIS MONEY COMES NATIONALLY AND THAT IS THE SPIKOTS ARE TURNED ON AND HE’S ALWAYS HAD CREDIBLE CAMPAIGNS CONSULTANTS THAT LIKE HIM OR NOT, HIS CAMPAIGNS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROFESSIONAL AND SOMETHING TO BE FEARED IF YOU ARE RUNNING AGAINST HIM.
TED SIMONS: NO KIDDING HE HAS NEVER LOST A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY EVER.
LAURIE ROBERTS: NO.
TED SIMONS: WHY THIS LAURIE WHY THIS AND WHY NOW?
LAURIE ROBERTS: I THINK FOR TWO REASONS FOR ONE THING HE IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED HE IS NO LONGER IN THE NEWS, HE IS NO LONGER HAS A JOB AND THOUGH HE IS 85 YEARS OLD HE PROBABLY IS BORED TO TEARS SITTING AT HOME WITH AVA NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO I THINK HE DOESN'T LIKE IT WHEN PEOPLE TELL HIM NO AND EVERYBODY HAS SAID YOU ARE 85 YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY RUN AGAIN, YOU WON'T RUN AND HE DOESN'T LIKE TO BE TOLD NO AND SO HE IS PROBABLY THINKING I'LL GET THAT DONALD TRUMP ENDORSEMENT AND SKATE MY WAY IN THE SENATE I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE THAT EASY.
TED SIMONS: DO YOU THINK IT'S SERIOUS AND DO YOU THINK HE IS IN IT FOR THE LONG HALL, IF THE POLLS SHOW HIM IN SINGLE DIGITS IT'S CRAZY AND SAY HE IS THIRD IN THE FIELD OF THREE AS FAR AS REPUBLICANS ARE CONCERNED WILL HE HANG IN THERE?
LAURIE ROBERTS: I THINK THAT HE WILL IF HIS HEALTH ALLOWS IT REMEMBER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A GUY THIS SUMMER IN THE HEAT OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE 86 YEARS OLD DOES HE HAVE THE STAMINA TO DO THAT. THEN AGAIN DOES HE NEED THE STAMINA TO DO IT HE HAS 100% NAME ID AND EVERYBODY KNOWS JOE ON HAS AN OPINION ABOUT JOE PROBABLY DOESN'T NEED TO BE OUT THERE A LOT AND A TON OF MONEY AND IF HE CAN GET THE DONALD TRUMP ENDORSEMENT BAR THE DOOR IT'S GOING TO BE CRAZY.
TED SIMONS: THIS IS STILL A CANDIDATE THAT COULDN'T EVEN WIN MARICOPA COUNTY.
JAIME MOLERA: CORRECT.
TED SIMONS: I MEAN THIS IS THE SAME GUY HERE.
JAIME MOLERA: ABSOLUTELY.
TED SIMONS: ANYTHING CHANGE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW?
JAIME MOLERA: I DON’T THINK SO AND THAT’S WHY I GO BACK TO HOW IT EFFECTS THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE I DO NOT BELIEVE HE CAN WIN ULTIMATELY CERTAINLY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION I DON'T THINK HE CAN WIN IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY HOWEVER HE CAN PULL BIG CHUNK OF VOTES AWAY FROM KELLI WARD. KELLI WARD HAS A 91 LATEST TWO POLLS ARE THE SAME 91% NAME ID WITH REPUBLICAN VOTERS 91% SO SHE IS KNOWN BUT SHE ALSO HAS ABOUT A 52, 55% APPROVAL RATING BY THOSE REPUBLICANS NOW THESE ARE THE HARD CORE REPUBLICAN VOTERS THAT LIKE DONALD TRUMP THAT PUT HIM OVER THE TOP IN ARIZONA IF JOE CAPTURES LET'S SAY HALF OF THAT THAT MEANS MARTHA McSALLY HAS A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO THEN MOVE INTO THAT SPACE AND GET THE NOMINATION.
TED SIMONS: GOING BACK TO WHAT LAURIE WAS REFERRING TO HERE IF HE STAYS IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL AND HE AND KELLI WARD TEAM UP AND BATTER. McSALLY SHE CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT SHE IS THIS THAT AND THE OTHER DO THE TRUE BELIEVERS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT ARE THE WARD ARPAIO FANS DO THEY STAY HOME ARE THEY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT AN McSALLY CANDIDACY IF SHE WINS THE PRIMARY? 19:37:39
JAIME MOLERA: THAT IS THE CHALLENGE McSALLY HAS. MCSALLY DOESN'T HAVE AN EASY ROAD TO GET TO NOMINATION. GRANTED I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH FIGHT BUT WITH MORE OF WHAT I CALL THE EXTREME REPUBLICAN BASE GETTING INTO THIS I THINK THAT HURTS OR EXCUSE ME HELPS HER CHANCE TO ULTIMATELY CAPTURE THE NOMINATION. WHERE SHE HAS TO BE CAREFUL IS IF SHE GOES TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT TO PLACATE THAT EXTREME ELEMENT THAT IS WHAT KRISTIN WOULD USE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION TO TRY AND BEAT HER.
LAURIE ROBERTS: I THINK THIS IS A RACE WHERE DONALD TRUMP ENDORSEMENT IS GOING TO ESSENTIALLY DECIDE THE THING. IF DONALD TRUMP GETS BEHIND PUTS HIS ENDORSEMENT ON TOP OF THIS PARDON AND JOE ARPAIO CAN TAKE THAT AROUND THE STATE I DON'T SEE HOW KELLI WARD SUPPORTERS OR KELLI WARD CAN STAY IN THE RACE AND GIVEN WHAT THEY SAID THE WHOLE THING IS TO BACK UP DONALD TRUMP THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET BEHIND DONALD TRUMP CANDIDACY.
TED SIMONS: DOES ARPAIO HAVE A CAMPAIGN STAFF DOES HE HAVE A HEADQUARTERS ANYTHING GOING?
LAURIE ROBERTS: HE CERTAINLY HAS FUNDRAISING E-MAIL OUT.
TED SIMONS: THEY ARE ALREADY OUT THERE.
LAURIE ROBERTS: THEY ARE ALREADY OUT THERE IN FACT SO ARE THE DEMOCRATS ALREADY OUT THERE WITH FUNDRAISERS ORGANIZING AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING AGAINST ARPAIO.
TED SIMONS: FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE A REPUBLICAN MINDS. THE REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL TALK TO US PLEASE WHAT IS THE THOUGHT BEHIND ALL THIS? IS THIS OH, GOOD GRACIOUS IS THIS HALLELUJAH IS THERE SOMETHING IN BETWEEN?
JAIME MOLERA: I THINK FROM WHAT A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THIS STATE WHETHER IT'S THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRS THEY CERTAINLY ARE NOT GOING TO MISS THIS BUT I THINK THEY ARE VERY HAPPY NOW THAT YOU HAVE JOE ARPAIO JUMPING IN THE RACE AGAIN MINIMIZING WHAT KELLI WARD CAN DO I THINK THEY SEE MARTHA McSally AS PROBABLY THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE I MEAN IF YOU LOOK AT HER BACK STORY WITHOUT KNOWING MARTHA McSally. AS A FEMALE FIGHTER PILOT, COLONEL IN OUR MILITARY, SHE HAS A GREAT STORY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER BE THE PERSON THAT RUNS AGAINST AGAIN A VERY STRONG ABLE CHRISTIAN SINEMA THAT IS GOING TO BE FORE MIDABLE IN NOVEMBER AND McSally CAN CHALLENGE IT.
LAURIE ROBERTS: IT'S CLEAR THE DEMOCRATS ARE MOST AFRAID OF MARTHA McSally BECAUSE THEY ARE FOCUSED 100% ON CRITICIZING HER. THEY DON'T EVEN MENTION WARD, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED BUT IF THEY ARE NOT SENDING WARD MONEY BUT AGAIN I THINK THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING, I THINK IT BECOMES BASICALLY A JOE ARPAIO MARTHA McSally RACE AND IF DONALD TRUMP WEIGHS IN. LOOK OUT.
TED SIMONS: AND I DIDN'T EVEN WIN MARICOPA COUNTY COULD HE STILL BE VIABLE HERE AND I'M ASKING YOU THIS IS A PARDONED FELON.
JAIME MOLERA: UH-HUH.
LAURIE ROBERTS: NO, MISDEMEANOR.
TED SIMONS: WELL HE HAS BEEN PARDONED CRIMINAL PARDONED CRIMINAL CONTEMPT CHARGE CONVICTION.
LAURIE ROBERTS: UH-HUH.
TED SIMONS: REPUBLICANS GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS? THEY ARE GOING TO GO FOR THIS?
LAURIE ROBERTS: YEAH A LOT OF THEM THINK HE IS A HERO THAT IT WAS ACTIVIST JUDGE THAT PUT HIM IN THIS PREDICAMENT ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
JAIME MOLERA: TO QUOTE JEFF FLAKE NO NO NO NO NO. [LAUGHTER]
TED SIMONS: ALL RIGHT I GUESS WE WILL STOP IT RIGHT THERE, GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH HERE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US WE APPRECIATE IT COMING UP, ON ARIZONA HORIZON STATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OF THE LEGISLATURE GIVE THEIR TAKE ON THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.
TED SIMONS: GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY DELIVERED HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS YESTERDAY OUTLINING HIS VISION FOR ARIZONA AND TONIGHT WE HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AESLE. AS WE WELCOME SENATE MINORITY LEADER, KATIE HOBBS AND HOUSE MINORITY LEADER REBECCA RIOS GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANKS FOR JOINING US. WE WILL GET TO PARTICULARS IN A SECOND BUT OVERALL YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SPEECH WHAT YOU HEARD.
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: I FELT IT LACKED A LOT OF SUBSTANCE AND NOT REAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE ISSUES WE ARE FACING IN OUR STATE.
TED SIMONS: DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESSES FROM GOVERNOR DUCEY.
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: NOT REALLY THEY ARE USUALLY LACKING A LOT OF SPECIFICS.
TED SIMONS: WHAT ABOUT YOU, YOUR THOUGHTS.
REP. REBECCA RIOS: I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THERE WAS A LOT OF LACK OF DETAIL, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SPECIFICITY I THINK THE ONLY ISSUE THAT HE OFFERED ANY REAL SPECIFICITY ON. WAS HIS CONCERN ABOUT COSMETOLOGIST AND BLOW DRYERS AND SHORT OF THAT WE GOT VERY LITTLE IN WHAT TO DO FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
TED SIMONS: THE GOVERNOR DID COME OUT AND HAD AN IDEA OF EDUCATION WHAT HE SEES AS RESTORING PRERECESSION FUNDING THERE IS A PLAN THERE WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PLAN?
REP. REBECCA RIOS: THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS HE IS TALKING ABOUT 100 MILLION DOLLAR APPROPRIATION THIS YEAR BUT THAT'S LESS THAN 10% OF THE 1.1 BILLION THAT WE SHORT CHANGED SCHOOLS OVER THE LAST DECADE SO YES IT'S A GOOD SMALL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT HE STILL AVOIDING A REAL SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT REVENUE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. PROP301 IS ON THE TABLE AND STARING US IN THE FACE AND HE REFUSES TO DISCUSS THAT AND SOMETHING AS A LEGISLATURE WE CAN HAVE THE COURAGE TO RENEW RIGHT NOW AND AT LEAST ASSURE OF THE 600 MILLION FUNDING STREAM YOU KNOW ANNUALLY.
TED SIMONS: REPUBLICANS WILL SAY IT'S A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION BUT THEY WILL SAY IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ARE THEY WRONG?
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: NO, THEY ARE NOT WRONG. THE REALITY IS THOUGH THAT A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE MONEY THAT THE GOVERNOR IS CLAIMING IN THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT ACTUALLY NEW MONEY AT ALL, IT'S MONEY WE HAVE THAT IS IN THE BASE LINE ALREADY AND SO YOU KNOW HE AND HE HAS DONE THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN CLAIMED NEW MONEY HE SAID PROP123 WAS NEW MONEY AND MONEY OWED IN THE SETTLEMENT SO IT'S A VERY, VERY SMALL STEP.
REP. REBECCA RIOS: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC REALIZE THAT HE IS PROPOSING APPROPRIATING 100 MILLION BUT THIS IS THE SAME GOVERNOR IN DISTRICT ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE THE SAME GOVERNOR THAT CUT 113 MILLION IN DISTRICT ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IN FISCAL YEAR 16 SO HE HAS A TRACK RECORD OF CUTTING FUNDS AND COMING BACK A YEAR OR TWO LATER PLAYING THE HERO SAYING I'M GOING TO RESTORE THESE DOLLARS BUT ARE YOU REALLY THE HERO WHEN YOU ARE THE PERSON THAT CUT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE AND SO A LOT OF THIS IS AGAIN MORE OF THAT SHELL GAME.
TED SIMONS: WHEN THE GOVERNOR SAYS AND HE SAID THIS IN HIS ADDRESS THAT THE STATE IS DOING VERY WELL AS FAR AS EDUCATION IS CONCERNED STUDENTS SPENDING IS UP 10 PERCENTAGED ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION SO THAT IS 2015 IS HE WRONG?
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: WE ARE STILL WELL BELOW WHERE WE WERE A DECADE AGO.
TED SIMONS: THERE IS AN INCREASE THERE AND WE WILL TALK TO THE GOVERNOR AT THE NINTH FLOOR AT THE EXECUTIVE TOWER AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT THESE KINDS OF THINGS BUT HE WILL SAY 1.7 BILLION IN NEW STATE FUNDS COMMITTED SINCE 2015 AND THAT IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: WELL, I MEAN I THINK IT'S A LOT OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS AND HE HAS HAD THIS THESE KIND OF PROPOSALS ABOUT EDUCATION SINCE HE GOT INTO OFFICE AND THE VOTERS HAVE SEEN RIGHT THROUGH IT AND THEY ARE DEMANDING MORE AND HE IS TRYING TO PUT FORWARD MORE BUT HE PUT HIMSELF IN THIS CORNER OF WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT REVENUE WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT TAXES SO THIS IS WHAT HE IS LEFT WITH IS DIGGING FOR THE CHANGE IN THE COUCH CUSHIONS.
TED SIMONS: I NOTICED THE DEMOCRATS BEFORE YOU IN THE ADDRESS PUT OUT A PAPER SAYING THE REPUBLICANS ARE PURPOSELY STARVING SCHOOLS PURPOSELY KIND OF CAUGHT MY EYE THERE TALK ABOUT THAT, EXPLAIN THAT.
REP. REBECCA RIOS: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN 1.7 THAT HE SAYS IS NEW DOLLARS OVER THE PAST DECADE IT'S DISINGENUOUS AND WHAT WE ARE REFERRING TO IT'S NOT NEW MONEY, THE MAJORITY STATUTORILY REQUIRED FOR GROWTH AND INFLATION AND DISINGENUOUS WHEN YOU SAY WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND YOU FUND A 20% INCREASE IN THE STO CORPORATE TAX CREDIT EVERY YEAR THAT GOES DIRECTLY IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS SO AS DEMOCRATS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT DISINGENUOUS PRESENTATION THAT SOMEHOW THERE IS NO MONEY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION YET THIS IS A GOVERNOR THAT HAS SAID TIME AND AGAIN EVERY YEAR HE IS IN OFFICE HE WILL GIVE A TAX CUT AND SO IT'S A MATTER OF PRIORITIES AND YOU CAN'T SAY WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION WHEN YOU ARE GIVING IT AWAY TO CORPORATIONS.
TED SIMONS: DISINGENUOUS THOUGH IS ONE THING AND DOING PURPOSELY CUTTING SCHOOLS IS ANOTHER DO YOU BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR AND REPUBLICANS AT THE LEGISLATURE ARE PURPOSELY CUTTING SCHOOL FUNDING?
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: WELL, I MEAN I THINK THAT IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF EDUCATION FUNDING AND NOT THINK THAT THERE IS SOME PURPOSE GOING ON THERE. I MEAN I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS WHO BELIEVE THERE IS AN AGENDA TO UNDER MINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PRIVATIZE ALL OF OUR EDUCATION AND I THINK THERE IS FOLKS AT THE CAPITOL WHO DEFINITELY ARE TRYING TO DO THAT.
TED SIMONS: DO YOU THINK THAT FOLKS AT THE CAPITOL THAT MIGHT BE TRYING TO DO THAT ARE THEY WILL THEY TAKE A DIFFERENT TACT THIS GO AROUND BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC OUT CRY OR DO YOU SEE THE SAME KIND OF THING?
REP. REBECCA RIOS: I THINK IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR AND I THINK WHAT YOU SAW IN THE GOVERNOR STATE TO STATE WAS TO PLAY KEY VOTERS BECAUSE THIS IS THE PRIORITY ISSUE FOR VOTERS IN ARIZONA AND SO WILL THESE FOLKS GO AND BE BLATANTLY TRYING TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION PROBABLY NOT IN AN ELECTION YEAR BUT THEY WILL BE RIGHT ON TRACK NEXT YEAR AND AGAIN AT THE END OF THE DAY A LOT OF THIS I'M SORRY IS LIP SERVICE, THIS DOES VERY LITTLE TO EVEN REPLACE WHAT THEY HAVE CUT OVER THE LAST DECADE AND I THINK IT'S THEIR ATTEMPT TO SAY LOOK VOTERS LOOK WHAT WE ARE DOING WE ARE PUTTING A FEW DOLLARS IN BUT AGAIN THIS IS REPLACING DOLLARS THEY HAVE CUT.
TED SIMONS: THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID THAT THE ECONOMY WAS LOOKING VERY GOOD AND LOOK HOW FAR HE SAYS WE HAVE COME IN THREE YEARS 1.BILLION SHORTFALL WHEN HE CAME IN OFFICE NOW WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND MONEY, YOUR VIEW OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF JOB GROWTH AND WHAT WILL REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE DO?
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: WELL I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN GENERAL THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IS NOT FOCUSING ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE PRIORITY BUT I THINK IF THE CORPORATE TAX CUT. IF WE WERE GOING TO GET A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THAT WE WOULDN'T BE FACING THE CRISIS WE ARE FACING IN EDUCATION FUNDING WE WOULD HAVE THE REVENUE THAT WE NEEDED, I MEAN THE TAX CUTS WERE SOLD TO US TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND IF THAT WAS THE CASE WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING IN TERMS OF FINDING THE FUNDING WE NEED FOR EDUCATION.
TED SIMONS: NOT TO SPEAK FOR THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE HE WILL SPEAK FOR HIMSELF ON THE PROGRAM TOMORROW NIGHT BUT I THINK WHAT HE WILL LIKELY SAY IS THE TAX CUTS AND STIMULUS IS HELPING BUSINESS IS HELPING GROWTH THE REVENUE THAT FOLLOWS THAT GROWTH WILL HELP EDUCATION GIVE IT SOME TIME AND WATCH IT WORK YOUR RESPONSE.
REP. REBECCA RIOS: AND TO THAT I WOULD SAY WE ARE GOING IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT 100 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THAT WHEN WE ARE IN A BOOMING ECONOMY, TO THAT I WOULD SAY OUR STATE COMPARED TO ALL NEIGHBORING STATES WE HAVE THE LEAST CORPORATE INCOME TAX THAT WE RECOGNIZE BECAUSE, AGAIN, HE HAS PRIORITIZED CORPORATIONS OVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OVER INDIVIDUALS AND I THINK MOST VOTERS OUT THERE ARE TIRED OF THIS AND WANT CORPORATIONS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.
TED SIMONS: WILL THEY I KNOW THERE IS SOME TALK ABOUT MAKING MINIMUM INCOME TAX FOR 500 FOR CORPORATIONS AND RIGHT NOW SOME OF THEM DON'T PAY ANYTHING BUT 50 DOLLARS TOPS EVEN THAT MUCH IS THAT A NONSTARTER AT THE CAPITOL?
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: YOU KNOW UNFORTUNATELY I THINK IT PROBABLY IS. I THINK YOU KNOW IN TERMS OF PAYING FAIR SHARE 500 FOR A CORPORATION DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT MUCH BUT UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PLAN.
TED SIMONS: GOVERNOR MENTIONED A BORDER STRIKE FORCE MAKING ARIZONA AND THE COUNTRY SAFER AND WORTHY OF CONTINUED INVESTMENT DO YOU AGREE?
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BORDER IS A FEDERAL PRIORITY A FEDERAL ISSUE AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THERE HAS BEEN FRUSTRATION THAT THE FEDS HAVEN'T STEPPED UP BUT I THINK WE HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES IN OUR STATE THAT WE SHOULD BE DIRECTING OUR RESOURCES TO.
TED SIMONS: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BORDER STRIKE FORCE?
REP. REBECCA RIOS: THERE WERE ISSUES IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS DIRECTLY AIMED AT PLACATING HIS BASE THAT BEING ONE THE OTHER SECOND AMENDMENT GUN RIGHTS SO AGAIN I THINK THE SPEECH WAS VERY LITTLE SUBSTANCE, I THINK IT WAS PLAYING TO HIS BASE, AND I MEAN I WAS VERY DISCOURAGED.
TED SIMONS: WHAT WOULD HAVE ENCOURAGED YOU, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HEAR AND AGAIN UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND HE IS NOT GOING TO YOU KNOW SUGGEST OR PROMOTE A MASSIVE INCREASE IN TAXES.
REP. REBECCA RIOS: I THINK IF YOU ARE GOING TO CALL YOURSELF THE EDUCATION GOVERNOR THEN YOUR ACTIONS NEED TO BACK THAT UP. THE LAST YEAR STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WE SAW THIS LITANY OF IDEAS BUT WHEN HIS BUDGET CAME OUT THERE WAS NOTHING TO BACK IT UP AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS WHY THIS YEAR HE AVOIDED PUTTING ANYTHING TANGIBLE THERE THAT THEN WE COULD CALL HIM OUT ON BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT REVENUE YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WHICH IS PROP301 WHICH I HAVE HEARD HE DOESN'T WANT TO ADDRESS BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT THAT ON THE BALLOT WITH HIM. THAT IS -- THAT'S NOT RIGHT. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS.
TED SIMONS: WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR? OBVIOUSLY YOU WERE NOT IMPRESSED BY THE SPEECH WHAT WOULD HAVE IMPRESSED YOU?
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: WELL I THINK CERTAINLY MORE SPECIFICS AND NOT THE KIND OF SPECIFICS WE SAW LAST YEAR WHICH WAS THIS LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS THAT THERE WASN'T A LOT OF SUBSTANCE TO BUT ACTUAL REAL SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM, WE HAVE TEACHERS LEAVING THE PROFESSION IN OUR STATE IN DROVES, WE HAVE 2000 SOME OPEN TEACHING POSITIONS RIGHT NOW THIS IS A CRISIS AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THE EDUCATION PLAN THAT THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT WILL DO ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THAT CRISIS.
TED SIMONS: INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO MAYBE REFUND OR RESTORE I SHOULD SAY A LITTLE BIT OF THAT SOFT CAPITOL THAT HAD BEEN CUT FOR SO MANY YEARS.
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: THERE IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEEDS THAT SCHOOLS UTILIZE THE FUNDING FOR THAT HAD BEEN NEGLECTED FOR THE PAST DECADE SO THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF COMPETING PRIORITIES.
TED SIMONS: ANOTHER THING I NOTICED FROM STATEMENT RELEASE FROM DEMOCRATS THIS QUOTE DISHONEST STATE LEADERSHIP HAS HELD BACK THE STATE DISHONEST IS A BIG WORD A HEAVY WORD HOW SO?
REP. REBECCA RIOS: AGAIN I THINK WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THE RHETORIC THAT COMES OFF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE FLOOR IT'S A CONSTANT STATEMENT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO INVEST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AT THE SAME TIME THE NEXT ISSUE IS OKAY WHAT TAX CUT ARE WE GOING TO GIVE THIS YEAR WHAT BREAKS ARE WE GIVING CORPORATIONS THAT IS DISHONEST TO TELL THE ELECTORATE WE DON'T HAVE MONEY. WHEN YOU KNOW DARN WELL WE DO, WE JUST GAVE IT AWAY IN THE LAST BILL. THAT’S DISHONESTY.
TED SIMONS: DISHONESTY?
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: YEAH AND REBECCA GAVE THE EXAMPLE EARLEIR OF THE GOVERNOR CUTTING OR SIGNING THE BUDGET THATCUT IN AND TURNING AROUND AND RESTORING THAT AND DID THE SAME WITH THE J TED AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE AND NEEDY FAMILIES SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF BAIT AND SWITCH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DISHONESTY.
TED SIMONS: GOVERNOR ALSO SAID HE HAS A SOLID TRACK RECORD WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE TO GET THINGS DONE AND 90% OF LAWS PAST LAST YEAR WERE BIPARTISAN.
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: IF YOU LOOK AT THE BULK OF LEGISLATION THAT COMES OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT ON IT THE CONTROVERSIAL THINGS ARE WHAT GETS THE ATTENTION AND BUT THE FACT IS THE DEMOCRATIC BILLS, BILLS WE SPONSOR THAT ARE PRIORITIES FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS DON'T MOVE FORWARD, HE HAD I THINK FOUR DEMOCRATIC BILLS ON HIS DESK LAST YEAR THAT IS IT OUT OF ALL THE BILLS PROPOSED IN THE LEGISLATURE.
TED SIMONS: BIPARTISAN SHIP IS IT REARING ITS HEAD IN THE LEGISLATURE.
REP. REBECCA RIOS: HE MENTIONED IN THE STATE OF THE STATE THAT HE WANTED TO WORK WITH DEMOCRATS ON EDUCATION WELL I HOPE HE CALLS US TO THE TABLE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT PHONE CALL AND AGAIN THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH US, WE SAW IT DONE BACK WITH JANE HOLE WHEN PROP301 WAS INISIATED, WE SAW IT WITH MEDICAID EXPANSION AND SEEN IT WITH KIDS CARE SO WHERE THERE IS TRULY A WILLINGNESS TO WORK BIPARTISAN DEMOCRATS STAND READY TO BE CALLED.
TED SIMONS: LAST QUESTION DISTRACTIONS BETWEEN ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT TO AN ELECTION SEASON WHICH EVERY ONE AND THEIR BROTHER AND SISTER ARE RUNNING FOR OTHER OFFICES AND PERHAPS RUNNING FOR REELECTION HOW MUCH DOES THAT IMPACT WHAT GETS DONE?
SEN. KATIE HOBBS: I THINK ELECTION YEAR IT DISTRACTS A LOT. I THINK THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ISSUE IS A BIGGER DISTRACTION AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOUSE TODAY BUT I MEAN, THERE IS STILL THIS KIND OF ELEPHANT HANGING OVER AROUND THAT ISSUE.
TED SIMONS: PLEASE.
REP. REBECCA RIOS: WE HAD TRAINING TODAY ETHICS TRAINING WHICH INCLUDED SEXUAL HARASSMENT I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS REALLY CONCERNING IS THERE WERE A NUMBER OF MALE REPUBLICANS THAT GOT UP TO SPEAK AND WERE CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON WHEN SOMEBODY COULD BRING FORWARD A SEXUAL HARASSMENT CHARGE AND IT WAS ALMOST A SENSE OF WE WANT TO KNOW AT WHICH POINT THERE IS A CUTOFF SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT ANY MORE AND TO ME SAYS THEY DON'T GET IT AND IT WAS VERY DISHEARTENING I THINK WITH REGARD TO THE INVESTIGATION GOING ON MY UNDERSTANDING IS WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS THE REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE AND HOPEFULLY SOME RESOLUTION SO WE CAN GET ON WITH THE STATE'S WORK.
TED SIMONS: ALL RIGHT GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE THANKS FOR JOINING US WEDNESDAY ON ARIZONA HORIZON A ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE TOWER WITH ARIZONA GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY WHO TALKS ABOUT HIS PRIORITIES FOR THE STATE GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY WEDNESDAY RIGHT HERE ON ARIZONA HORIZON. THAT IS IT FOR NOW. I'M TED SIMONS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
VIDEO: ARIZONA HORIZON WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION. THANK YOU.
Stan Barnes: President, Copper State Consulting Group
Chris Herstam: Lewis, Roca, Rothgerber and Christie.
