♪.

MARK: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM.

THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE IS NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

MARK: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M MARK BRODIE IN FOR TED SIMONS.

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

JOINING US TONIGHT, JIM SMALL FROM THE "ARIZONA MIRROR."

JESSICA BOEHM FROM AXIOS PHOENIX, AND WAYNE SCHUTSKY FROM KJZZ RADIO.

THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

WAYNE, START WITH YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP FIRED THIS WEEK, KRISTI NOEM, THE SOON-TO-BE FORMER HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH TALK OF I.C.E.

MAYBE COMING HERE, MAYBE NOT COMING HERE, MAYBE COMING HERE AROUND ELECTION TIME.

DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

IS THERE A SENSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENCE WITH MARKWAYNE MULLIN IN CHARGE AS OPPOSED TO KRISTI NOEM?

>> SHORT ANSWER IS NO.

HE SEEMS TO BE A SIMILAR TYPE OF PERSON, A VERY CLOSE TRUMP ALLY.

I THINK TRUMP APPOINTED HIM BECAUSE HE LIKES THE WAY HE DEFENDS TRUMP'S POLICIES ON CAMERA.

I THINK THIS IS A MATTER, I HEARD SOMEONE REFER TO IT AS CHANGING THE PERSON, NOT THE POLICY.

WE'RE JUST SEEING ANOTHER TRUMP FIGHTER INSERTED INTO THE ROLE BECAUSE THE LAST ONE BECAME TOO PROBLEMATIC.

MARK: MAYBE, JESSICA, A MATTER OF MESSAGING AS OPPOSED TO TO WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING?

>> I DON'T SEE AN IDEOLOGICAL SHIFT AT ALL.

KRISTI NOEM AS A PERSON, LIKE, DEMANDS ATTENTION, AND THAT OBVIOUSLY GOT TO A POINT WHERE, THE ATTENTION WAS NO LONGER POSITIVE IN MANY WAYS, AND I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY SEE LESS FLASHY, LESS MADE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA THINGS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THE NEW NOMINEE IS VERY MUCH A HARD-LINE TRUMP SUPPORTER AND WHATEVER THE PRESIDENT WANTS THE MESSAGE TO BE IS WHAT THE MESSAGE IS GOING TO BE.

MARK: JIM, DOES IT SEEM AS THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE ANY DIFFERENCES IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY DECIDE TO SURGE I.C.E.

INTO ANOTHER COMMUNITY, PHOENIX OR ANYWHERE ELSE, IN THEORY IT WOULD BE A LITTLE LESS CHAOTIC, MAYBE FEWER PEOPLE WOULD DIE?

>> I THINK REALLY, WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW, AND I DO THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD GOVERNORS LAST WEEK AT AN EVENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THAT HE WOULD NOT SEND I.C.E.

INTO STATES AND INTO CITIES WHERE THEY WERE NOT WANTED, WHICH IS INTERESTING.

WE'LL SEE IF THAT HAPPENS, IF THAT IS THE PROMISE THAT GETS KEPT BUT CERTAINLY DEMOCRATS COMING OUT OF THAT MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, AND SAID, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD HIM TO THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT'S THE CASE.

IT DOES SEEM AS THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN SIFT.

MINNEAPOLIS AND MINNESOTA WAS REALLY DAMAGING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MASS DEPORTATION EFFORTS, FOR HIS AGENDA, FOR THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION.

THAT RATTLED LIVE THE AMERICANS WHO OTHERWISE WERE FINE WITH THE IDEA OF MASS DEPORTATION BUT NOT -- WHEN THEY SAW WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE IN PRACTICE, INCLUDING AND UP TO THE FACT THEY SHOT AND KILLED TWO AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO WERE PROTESTING, I THINK THAT THAT REALLY -- THAT SOURED THE PUNCH FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD.

I CAN'T IMAGINE IT GOES AWAY TO DEPORTING 10 MILLION PEOPLE.

>> ONE THING WORTH NOTING, CITY THE IN PHOENIX, AND TUCSON AMONG THEM ARE PLANNING FOR WHAT TO DO IF AND WHEN I.C.E.

SHOWS UP HERE?

>> TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RESPONSE IS GOING TO BE, THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE GOING TO BE, AND IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT RAMPUP IS HAPPENING.

IN OUR STATION, WE'VE HAD REPORTING THAT HSI, A DIVISION OF I.C.E.

HAS BEEN DOING OPERATIONS, THE ZIPPS ONE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, BUT THERE'S BEEN A FEW OTHERS.

IT IS HAPPENING BUT THUS NOT ON THE LEVEL OF MINNESOTA.

>> AND I THINK THAT THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE DEDICATED SURGE THEY SEND IN 2,000 OR 3,000 OR 4,000 ARMED AGENTS INTO ARIZONA, BUT ABSOLUTELY SEEN AN INCREASE, ARIZONA LUMINARIA HAD GREAT REPORTING THIS WEEK ABOUT -- I WANT TO SAY FOUR OR FIVE TIMES THE NUMBER OF JUST ARRESTS.

BASICALLY STREET ARRESTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST YEAR OVER THE YEAR BEFORE, AND THAT'S DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS QUIETLY INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF I.C.E.

OUT THERE PATROLLING AND OUT THERE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO DEPORT.

MARK: JESSICA, I'M GOING TO MAKE AN AWKWARD TRANSITION HERE, ASK YOU ABOUT AN AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT THAT FOUND THAT SPENDING IN ARIZONA SCHOOL DISTRICTS WAS DOWN HALF A CENT FROM THE PRIOR -- BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE.

52.1 CENTS DOWN FROM 52.6 CENTS.

LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING A PROPOSAL TO GET THAT UP TO 60 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR, WHICH SEEMS LIKE WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS HARD DATA NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS POINT TO IN THEIR CONTINUED MISSION TO GET UP TO THE 60 CENTS -- DOLLARS?

NO.

I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT THERE ARE -- AS WE ALL KNOW, INFLATION HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON ALL OF OUR BUDGETS AND THAT'S DEFINITELY BEEN THE CASE FOR SCHOOLS, AND SO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WOULD TELL YOU THAT THIS MONEY THAT'S NOT BEING SPENT ON DIRECT INSTRUCTION IS NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, THROW PARTIES.

IT'S GOING TO PAY FOR BUSES AND THE COST OF GAS THAT IT COSTS TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS.

ONE THING I FOUND INTERESTING IN THE REPORT IS THAT WHILE ENROLLMENT IS DECLINING, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IS INCREASING, AND THOSE SERVICES, WHETHER THEY'RE COUNSELLORS, SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, THOSE ARE NOT COUNTED AS DIRECT INSTRUCTION, THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCE IN THE REPORT, BUT THE TOP LINE IS WHAT REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE THROWING OUT THERE, SAYING LOOK, THINGS ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND WE NEED TO FIND A WAY, PERHAPS TO THE BALLOT BOX, TO FIND THE 60 CENTS.

MARK: JIM, THIS IS A TALKING POINT LEGISLATORS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE SEEN 20 YEARS' WORTH OF THIS TALK.

60 CENTS OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR BEING MAGICAL NUMBER THAT THINGS WILL SOMEHOW BE DIFFERENT AND THAT'S WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH ARIZONA SCHOOLS PERFORMANCE AND WITH ALL OF THIS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S STILL -- YOU HAVE A FUNDING DISCUSSION, RIGHT?

ARIZONA RANKS PERPETUALLY 47, 48, 49th IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF PER-PUPIL FUNDING.

THINGS ARE WITH THE ESA VOUCHER, SIPHONING ENROLLMENT AND STUDENTS LEFT BEHIND NEED THE MOST ATTENTION AND THE MOST SPECIALIZED SERVICES, THAT'S A DRIVING FACTOR, THE ESA VOUCHERS ARE ALLOWING FAMILIES IN A LOT OF CASES TO GO, AND THE ONES THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND ARE THE ONES THAT ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST AND ARE IN THE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A VOUCHER OR PRIVATE SCHOOL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

MARK: WAYNE, HOW MUCH DEBATE, DISCREPANCY COULD BE IN HOW YOU CLASSIFY WHAT IS A CLASSROOM EXPENSE?

>> I THINK JESSICA MADE A GOOD POINT.

THERE ARE THINGS THE LAYMAN'S PERSON THINK IS AN EXPENSE THAT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AREN'T.

THERE ARE STATIC COSTS THE STUL EXPERIENCE, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE A THOUSAND STUDENTS OR 500 STUDENTS, LIKE AIR CONDITIONING, WHETHER IT'S FULL OR HALF FULL AND THE COSTS DON'T GO AWAY BECAUSE ENROLLMENT DECLINES.

AS YOU'RE LOSING STUDENTS, YOU MIGHT SEE LESS MONEY GOING INTO THE CLASSROOM FOR INSTRUCTION BUT OTHER COSTS ARE STAYING THE SAME, THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE LEVELS CHANGE.

IT'S NUANCE.

THERE'S A BROADER DISCUSSION TO BE HAD ABOUT HOW DO WE KEEP SCHOOLS FUNDED?

PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

SO WHETHER THERE'S FIVE KIDS LEFT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT INSTRUCTION, PRIVATE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

MARK: JESSICA, YOU MENTIONED ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

THE REPORT FOUND THAT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE UP, BUT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE BY A TON.

>> RIGHT.

THAT WAS WHAT WAS INTERESTING.

IT FELT LIKE THE MAJORITY OF THE COSTS THAT WERE INCREASING, WERE THESE THINGS THAT LIKE AIR CONDITIONING COSTS MORE, THE COST OF ELECTRICITY IS HIGHER NOW.

THINGS THAT ALL OF OUR BUDGETS ARE A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER AND WE'RE PROBABLY SPENDING MORE MONEY ON THINGS THAN WE USED TO AS WELL.

YES, ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE UP, BUT AGAIN, I THINK WHEN WE THINK OF ADMINISTRATORS, WE'RE THINKING OF JUST A PRINCIPAL IN AN OFFICE, AND I THINK WHAT WE'VE LEARNED OR HOPEFULLY ARE LEARNING ABOUT HOW SCHOOLS ARE GOVERNED AND ADMINISTERED IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCE IN WHAT SERVICES.

I THINK THAT SOME OF THESE PROVIDERS WERE TALKING ABOUT, THE SPEECH LANGUAGE POTHOLOGIST IS INCLUDED.

SCHOOL NURSES IN ADMINISTRATIVE CATEGORY, WHEREAS MAYBE THAT'S NOT WHAT THE NORMAL EVERYDAY PERSON IS THINKING OF WHEN THEY THINK OF ADMINISTRATOR.

MARK: RIGHT.

>> THERE'S A BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE SALARIES.

SUPERINTENDENTS DO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, AND CERTAIN DISTRICTS HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT HAD THE HIGHEST SUPERINTENDENTS PAID IN THE STATE.

THERE'S A LEGITIMATE DISCUSSION TO BE HAD ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE RUNNING THE DISTRICTS AND HOW MUCH THEY SHOULD BE PAID IN THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THAT AS SOMEONE WHO'S COVERED SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE NOT FAR PAST, NOT EVERYBODY IS A SUPERINTENDENT.

WE'VE HAD HIGH-LEVEL SUPERINTENDENTS QUIT BECAUSE OF THAT, AND SO YOU'RE PULLING FROM A SMALLER AND SMALLER POOL OF PEOPLE, SO SOMETIMES THOSE INCENTIVES, THE PAY AND THE PERKS, ARE HOW YOU GET A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE TO TAKE THE JOB.

MARK: JIM, THE 60 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR IN THE CLASSROOM COULD BE ON THE BALLOT.

ANOTHER RACE ON THE BALLOT, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, HER TERM WILL BE UP.

SHE'S RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

A NEW POLL FOUND IN THE GOP PRIMARY, THE FIRST PUBLIC POLL SINCE KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON LEFT THAT RACE, ANDY BIGGS IS LEADING DAVID SCHWEIKERT 40 TO 19%, I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU MAKE OF THE TOPLINE NUMBERS?

>> NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISING, I DON'T THINK.

ANDY BIGGS HAS BEEN IN THE RACE LONGER.

HAS A LARGER PROFILE THAN DAVID SCHWEIKERT.

BOTH ARE COMING OUT OF CONGRESS, SO THEY'VE GOT PROBABLY MUCH HIGHER I.D.

INDIVIDUALLY WITHIN THEIR DISTRICTS.

YOU KNOW, BUT DAVID SCHWEIKERT HAS NOT, I THINK HIS CAMPAIGN IS REALLY -- WE'VE STARTED TO SEE IT REALLY GET GOING IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

DID MORE TV ADS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THAT'S ONLY GOING TO INCREASE AS THE RACE HEADS INTO THE JULY PRIMARY, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT ANDY BIGGS HAS THAT MAGA BASE BEHIND HIM, AND THAT TURNING POINT USA, THAT APPARATUS IS SUPPORTING HIM, AND SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT ROAD FOR DAVID SCHWEIKERT TO OVERCOME THAT.

MARK: THE OBVIOUS CAVEATS HERE, POSES MOMENT OF TIME, SNAPSHOT OF A POINT IN TIME, WE'RE A LONG, LONG WAY AWAY FROM THE JULY PRIMARY AND FAR FROM THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

IS IT POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT YET TO TELL WHERE THE ROBSON VOTERS MIGHT BE GOING YET?

OR IS THAT REFLECTED IN THE LARGE NUMBER OF UNDECIDEDS?

>> WHAT ROBSON VOTERS?

JUST JOKING.

WHEN YOU HAVE 41% UNDECIDED, THAT'S A HUGE CHUNK.

TO SEE WHICH DIRECTION THEY GO ON THIS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES OF THE VOTERS, WE DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THAT.

I THINK IF WE SEE KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON COME OUT AND BACK ONE CANDIDATE, THAT MIGHT SHIFT THE WIND A LITTLE BIT ASKING HER SUPPORTERS TO GO BEHIND ONE OR THE OTHER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BASED ON HER STATEMENT, CALLING FOR UNITY IN THE PARTY, SHE WANTS THE PRIMARY TO PLAY OUT AS IT IS.

MARK: JESSICA, GOVERNOR HOBBS WAS AHEAD OF CONGRESSMAN BIGGS AND SCHWEIKERT, 42-37 OVER BIGGS.

44-35 OVER SCHWEIKERT.

16% UNDECIDED IN BOTH MATCHUPS.

IF YOU'RE THE HOBBS CAMPAIGN, HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THAT?

>> I WOULDN'T TAKE TOO MUCH STOCK INTO IT AT THIS POINT.

I THINK RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, POLL IS A MOMENT IN TIME.

WHAT THIS SHOWS IS VOTERS ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE, AND THIS IS PROBABLY A REFLECTION HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHICH WE KNOW FROM OTHER PUBLIC POLLING IS NOT TRENDING IN THEIR FAVOR, AND SO I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY MORE OF AN EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE HAVING AN OPINION ABOUT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND MAKING THEIR DECISION THAT WAY.

THAT BEING SAID, YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT HOBBS WOULD BE DOING BETTER GIVEN THE POLLING WE'RE SEEING OF HOW PEOPLE ARE REACTING TO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MASS DEPORTATION EFFORTS.

SO I DON'T THINK THIS SAYS A WHOLE LOT EITHER WAY.

I GUESS OBVIOUSLY HOBBS WOULD RATHER BE AHEAD THAN BEHIND, BUT WITH 16% UNDECIDED IN A GENERAL ELECTION, THAT GIVES A LOT OF LEEWAY THERE.

MARK: JIM, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS THAT THE PARTY IN POWER, THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY, TENDS TO DO LESS WELL IN THE MIDTERMS.

IS THERE ANY EXPECTATION THAT MIGHT FILTER DOWN TO NONFEDERAL RACES?

COULD THE GOVERNOR'S RACE BE AFFECTED BY THE POPULARITY OF THE PRESIDENT?

>> I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERY RACE THAT HAS AN R&D IN IT IS AFFECTED, OBVIOUSLY.

I THINK THAT SETS THE TONE FOR THIS ELECTION.

WHEN VOTERS ARE SHOWING UP TO THE POLLS, IF VOTERS ARE ANGRY AT ADMINISTRATION IN POWER, IN THIS CASE, THE REPUBLICANS AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHEN THEY SHOW UP AT THE POLLS, THEY TAKE IT OUT ON WHATEVER CANDIDATES THEY CAN THAT ARE THERE.

DONALD TRUMP ISN'T ON THE BALLOT THIS TIME, BUT BOY, ANDY BIGGS IS, OR DAVID SCHWEIKERT IS, OR GO UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT.

SO I THINK YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO SEE THAT AND CERTAINLY SOME OF THE EARLY POLLING HAS SHOWN THAT THIS MIGHT BE BUILDING INTO A, YOU KNOW, INTO A VERY STRONG YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

THERE IS A LOT OF RUN WAY BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER AND A LOT OF THINGS CAN CHANGE.

MARK: A LOT OF TIME.

SOMETHING ELSE VOTERS MAY BE DECIDING IS WHETHER TO KICK THE LEGISLATURE OUT OF THE CAPITOL APRIL 30, WHETHER THEY'RE DONE OR NOT, RIGHT?

THE HOUSE PASSED A MEASURE THAT WOULD DO -- ASK VOTERS TO DO JUST THAT.

>> US CAPITOL REPORTERS CAN ONLY HOPE.

[LAUGHTER] >> A LITTLE HISTORY, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS TECHNICALLY SUPPOSED TO END ON APRIL 30.

IT'S A VERY SOFT DEADLINE THEY HAVE IN THEIR OWN RULE.

IT'S EASY TO GET AROUND IT AND OFTEN DO.

WE ARE USUALLY THERE UNTIL JUNE 30 TO GET A BUDGET DONE.

THIS IS, FROM REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN WILMETH, A REPUBLICAN FROM PHOENIX SAID THERE IS NO REASON FOR MOST OF US TO BE THERE IF ALL WE HAVE DO IS A BUDGET.

THAT'S NEGOTIATED BY THE SENATE PRESIDENT, THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

THEY CAN HASH THAT OUT WHILE THE REST OF US GO HOME AND CALL US IN FOR A SPECIAL SESSION VERSUS KEEPING US AROUND AND WE'RE KICKING TIRES WAITING FOR THE DEAL TO GET DONE.

MARK: WHAT THEY'VE DONE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THEY HAVEN'T ADJOURNED BUT TAKEN BREAKS WHERE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE OSTENSIBLY HAPPENED BEHIND THE SCENES AND THE RANK AND FILE COME IN WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING TO VOTE ON.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

THERE HAVE BEEN LONG BREAKS.

THIS IS IMPLICATIONS FOR PAY AND PER DIEM AND STIPENDS, THIS IS INCENTIVIZING EVERYONE ELSE TO GET LEADERSHIP IN ORDER AND GET THE BUDGETS DONE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GETTING PAID TO SIT AROUND.

MARK: JESSICA, THIS IS GOING ALONG WITH ANOTHER PROPOSED BALLOT REFERRAL THAT WOULD SAY THE BUDGET IS NOT DONE BY APRIL 30, NO ONE IS GETTING PAID.

>> RIGHT, AND I THINK THAT -- WELL, I HAVE TO SAY, I'M WORKING WITH THE SALT LAKE CITY TEAM THIS WEEK, AND THEY ARE ADJOURNING, THEY HAVE, IT WILL BE OVER, AND I WAS DAYDREAMING OF THE THOUGHT KNOWING WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WOULD BE OVER.

THE BIGGER QUESTION, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS AND I THINK THE POINT THAT'S BEING MADE HERE, IF WE HAVE THE PART-TIME SESSION, LET'S HAVE A DATE, KNOW WHEN WE'RE DOING IT, AND THE FLIPSIDE OF THAT, WHAT IF YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT POLICY DISCUSSION AND IT'S APRIL 30, THEY WOULD SAY GO AWAY.

YOU COULD CALL A SPECIAL SESSION, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AS DRAMATIC AS IT'S MADE OUT TO BE.

WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS EVERY YEAR AS PEOPLE GET FEISTY AND WANT TO START THEIR ELECTION CAMPAIGNS OR OTHER THINGS.

MARK: JIM, REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO WHITTLE DOWN.

A LOT OF PROPOSED BALLOT REFERRALS.

IS THERE A SENSE THESE TWO OR ONE THEM MIGHT MAKE THE CUT?

>> LITTLE EARLY TO SAY.

THAT'S THE DECISION THAT GETS MADE CLOSER TO THE END OF SESSION SINCE IT WON'T BE APRIL 30.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS EVERYTHING WILL GET TO WITHIN ONE OR TWO STEPS OF BEING PUT ON THE BALLOT, AND THEN THEY'LL SIT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT, A, I THINK WHICH ONCE ARE MOST IMPORTANT, AND B, IF WHAT THE CAMPAIGN LOOKS LIKE.

IS THERE SOMEONE LINING UP TO PASS IT, OPPOSE IT, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE?

AND AFTER THAT, IT'S A MATTER OF HOW MANY DO WE WANT TO PUT ON THE BALLOT?

FIVE OR 15 UP.

WE'VE SEEN BOTH, CERTAINLY THE LONGER THE BALLOT GETS, THE HARDER IT GETS TO PASS ANYTHING, VOTERS SAY, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE NOT DOING THIS AND GOING TO VOTE NO.

JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE HAD A RECORD LONG BALLOT, AND TWO-THIRDS OF THEM, MAYBE 75% OF THEM FAILED.

I'M SURE IN SOME PART BECAUSE OF BALLOT FATIGUE.

MARK: IS IT POSSIBLE, WAYNE, TO ENVISION WHAT THE YES OR NO CAMPAIGNS ON THESE MIGHT BE AND HOW ROBUST THEY MIGHT BE?

>> ON THESE SPECIFIC THINGS I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING, I HEARD LUKEWARM TAKES FROM OTHER THAN THE SPONSORS.

OBVIOUSLY IT PASSED, SOME WHO ARE OKAY WITH IT, SOME ARE UNEASY ABOUT IT.

HARD TO ENVISION WITH SO MANY OTHER ISSUES POTENTIALLY ON THE BALLOT, WHICH GROUP IS GOING TO BE THIS IS THE PLACE I HAVE TO PARK MY MONEY.

AS JIM SAID, WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING WHO'S GOING TO OPPOSE AND SUPPORT IT, THAT'S WHERE IT COULD END UP ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR.

MARK: JESSICA, WITH THE STATEWIDE OFFICES, NOT TO MENTION CONGRESS AND THE LEGISLATORS, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WHAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY LONG TIME, WE DON'T HAVE A SENATE RACE, THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ON THE BALLOT, A LOT OF BIG MONEY THINGS ON THE BALLOT.

>> A LOT OF PLACES TO SPEND MONEY.

I HAVE TO SAY, AS MUCH AS WE ENJOY HAVING AN APRIL 30 END DATE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO DO.

MARK: YOU ARE SAYING IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE CAPITOL PRESS CORPS WANTS IT TO HAPPEN?

>> NOT THE BIGGEST PRIORITY, YEAH.

MARK: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE BILL ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

THIS CAME IN THE WAKE OF A LITTLE BIT OF A SCANDAL WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WITH WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE CALLING A PAY-FOR-PLAY OPERATION.

WHAT WOULD THIS BILL DO?

>> THIS BILL WOULD ESSENTIALLY REQUIRE FOLKS WITH STATE -- SEEKING STATE CONTRACTS OR THOSE WHO HAVE THEM DISCLOSE ANYTHING OF VALUE.

POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS, THAT TYPE OF THING, TO A GOVERNOR OR ASSOCIATED POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

OTHER WAY TO GET IT ALL OUT THERE, WHICH WOULD GO TO THE ROOST THIS ISSUE THAT YOU MENTIONED, WHERE A CONTRACTOR WITH THE STATE RECEIVED A BIG OLD PAY BUMP AFTER THEY HAD ALSO GIVEN A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO THE HOBBS CAMPAIGN AND ASSOCIATED ENDEAVORS.

MARK: JESSICA, OBVIOUSLY, THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT COMMENT ON BILLS BEFORE THEY GET TO HER, SHE VETOED SOMETHING SIMILAR LAST YEAR, ANY REASON TO THINK SHE HAS A CHANGE OF HEART?

>> SHE IS PREPARING HER OWN TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE TO MAKE SO YOU CAN'T DO POLITICAL DONATION DURING A BIDDING PROCESS.

THAT'S WHAT SHE WOULD PREFER TO SEE.

GIVEN THE FACT SHE'S GOING INTO AN ELECTION YEAR AND THE PAY TO PLAY IS GOING TO HAVE A NICE RING TO IT IN TV ADS, SHE MIGHT WANT TO RECONSIDER.

MARK: ALL RIGHT, WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR THE CONVERSATION.

AND THAT WILL DO IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M MARK BRODIE IN FOR TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

- Hello, I'm Alice Ferris, and we hope you enjoyed Arizona Horizon.

For more than 40 years, viewers in Arizona have relied on Ted Simons, and Arizona Horizon for in-depth coverage of issues of concern to our community.