♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," U.S.

SENATOR MARK KELLY WILL JOIN US TO DISCUSS THE LATEST IN THE WAR IN IRAN ALONG WITH AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS ON THE HOME FRONT.

>>> AND THEN, IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

A LOOK AT WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TARGETING MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

THAT'S NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

A U.S.

FIGHTER JET WAS SHOT DOWN OVER IRAN TODAY.

ONE CREW MEMBER WAS RESCUED, ANOTHER MISSING.

AND AN A-10 INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH WAS LATER HIT BY IRANIAN FIRE, THAT PILOT EJECTED SAFELY BEFORE THE PLANE CRASHED IN KUWAIT.

CLOSER TO HOME, THE WAR IN IRAN IS MAKING FOR HIGHER GAS PRICES IN THE U.S., NOT HELPING AN ECONOMY THAT CONTINUES TO BE HIT BY PERSISTENT INFLATION.

TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS WE WELCOME IN U.S.

ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, TED.

TED: YOU BET.

F-15 SHOT DOWN, A-10 WARTHOG WAS HIT, YOUR THOUGHTS AND THE DEFENSE SECRETARY GOT FINISHED SAYING WE DECIMATED ALL OF IRAN'S ABILITY TO TAKE DOWN AIRCRAFT?

>> HE'S BEEN SAYING THAT FOR OVER A MONTH NOW.

SAID HE IT TO ME IN A SKIFF THAT WE OBLITERATED THE IRANIAN NAVY, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

SAME THING WITH THE AIR FORCE.

THEY STILL HAVE A CONSIDERABLE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE THREAT CAPABILITY AND AAA, WHICH IS MACHINE GUN FIRE FROM THE GROUND, ESSENTIALLY.

I'VE BEEN NEARLY SHOT DOWN OVER IRAQ.

IT'S HARD TO ERADICATE A COUNTRY'S ABILITY TO DO THIS, AND DESPITE BEING INTO THIS A MONTH NOW, AND 13,000 TARGETS HIT, INCLUDING A LOT OF THOSE CAPABILITIES, THEY STILL DO EXIST, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THREAT TO AMERICAN PILOTS.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS THING ESCALATE.

WE'VE YET TO SEE HOW IS THIS GOING TO HELP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?

HOW DOES THIS IMPROVE THEIR LIVES?

PRESIDENT DRAGS US INTO ANOTHER ENDLESS CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IT'S NOT HELPING PEOPLE PAY FOR THINGS THAT THEY CAN'T NO LONGER AFFORD.

TED: YEAH, AND I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF PIECES OF LEGISLATION ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY.

BACK TO IRAN AND THE DEFENSE SECRETARY.

HE GETS RID OF -- ASKED FOR A QUICK RETIREMENT OF THE ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF.

TWO OTHER GENERALS LET GO.

THIS IS DURING A TIME OF WAR, SENATOR?

>> YES, PROBABLY UNPRECEDENTED TO FIRE THE ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF WHEN THEY'RE AT TIMES TALKING ABOUT A GROUND INVASION OF IRAN.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE COMPLETE SENSE, AND GENERAL RANDY GEORGE IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPETENT AND BEST LEADERS OUR COUNTRY HAS, AND PETE HEGSETH HAS AGAIN DEMONSTRATED HIS ABILITY TO GET RID OF GOOD PEOPLE BECAUSE EITHER THEY WERE PUT IN THERE BY THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION OR THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR GENDER, OR MAYBE THEY LOOKED AT HIM THE WRONG WAY.

WE'VE GOT A SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THAT, IN MY OPINION, DEPARTMENT IS KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING, AND HE NOT ONLY IS NOT MAKING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAFER, BUT I THINK HE PUTS U.S.

SERVICE MEMBERS AT GREATER RISK.

TED: INTERESTING.

THE PRESIDENT SAID, THE QUOTE WAS, WE'LL BOMB IRAN BACK TO THE STONE AGE AND PROMISING A QUICK EXIT.

DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO OVER THERE?

>> THE OTHER NIGHT IN HIS SPEECH, HE FAILED TO ARTICULATE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC GOAL, WHAT IS THE PLAN, WHAT IS THE TIME LINE, WHAT IS THE EXIT STRATEGY?

HE'S FAILED AGAIN AT THAT.

AND THE SAME THING WITH THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

AND BY THE WAY, PETE HEGSETH SPEAKS IN A WAY THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF DEFENSE SECRETARIES.

TALKING ABOUT MAXIMUM LETHALITY AND KILLING PEOPLE AND NO MERCY AND NO QUARTER.

I THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, THAT MEANS KILLING PEOPLE INSTEAD OF TAKING THEM PRISONER.

IT'S AGAINST THE LAW, ESSENTIALLY.

WE FIND OURSELVES IN THIS CONFLICT HERE AGAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD WITH NO END GAME PLAN BY THIS ADMINISTRATION.

WE'RE SPENDING $1 TO $2 BILLION A DAY ON THIS.

WE'RE PUTTING AMERICAN SERVICEMEMBERS AT RISK AND NOT HELPING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN FIGURE OUT.

NOW THE PRESIDENT IS TALKING ABOUT TAKING THE IRANIAN OIL.

HE SAYS HE NEEDS OUR ALLIES AND SUDDENLY HE DOESN'T.

HE SAYS THIS IS ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS, AND THEN HE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT THAT FOR DAYS, AND TALKS ABOUT REGIME CHANGE.

IT'S ABOUT REGIME CHANGE, AND FIVE MINUTES LATER IT'S NOT ABOUT REGIME CHANGE.

SO I THINK THIS PRESIDENT GOT INTO THIS BECAUSE HE SAW HE WAS ABLE TO EXTRACT MADURO OUT OF VENEZUELA EASILY.

IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT KIND OF OPERATION.

THIS PRESIDENT DOESN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, WHAT THE MILITARY SHOULD BE USED FOR, AND HOW AND WHY IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST ALWAYS TO TRY TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER.

TED: SENATOR, LAST POINT ON THIS, THE PRESIDENT SAID STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THAT OPEN, WHICH PROMPTS THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE SAYING THAT OUR PRESIDENT, OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF, IS NOT A SERIOUS PERSON.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPEN?

WHAT WOULD YOU SEE AS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT RIGHT NOW, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED WITH THE WAR IN IRAN?

>> WELL, THIS PRESIDENT HAS BEEN A DISASTER FOR THIS.

HE TORE UP THE NUCLEAR DEAL IN 2017.

BECAUSE OF THAT DEAL, THEY'RE ENRICHING URANIUM AT A LEVEL OF ABOUT 3%, 3 TO 4%, AND TORE UP THE DEAL, THEY WENT TO 60%.

HE STARTS THIS WAR WITH IRAN AND THEY SHUT DOWN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, AND HE SAYS IT'S NOT HIS PROBLEM.

THIS IS LIKE -- THIS HAS BEEN A ROLLING DISASTER WITH THIS GUY, STARTING IN HIS FIRST ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT DOES HE DO NOW?

I THINK HE HAS TO HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION WITH THE IRANIANS AND WITH OUR ALLIES, BOTH OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES AND THE ALLIES IN THE REGION, AND LET'S GO OVER HOW DID WE GET HERE?

WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?

DO THE IRANIANS WANT TO GET A NUCLEAR WEAPON?

THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

THE REASON THEY ARE CLOSE, AND I TELL YOU WHAT, IF THEY ACCELERATE TOWARDS BUILDING ONE AND GET ONE, THERE'S ONE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, THAT IS DONALD TRUMP, AND -- >> PLEASE, GO AHEAD.

>> WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY OUT OF THIS, AND HAVE TO GET THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ OPENED UP, 20% OF THE WORLD'S OIL FLOWS THROUGH THERE.

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD, TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

HE WANTS TO CUT AND RUN FROM THAT PROBLEM AND JUST THROW IT OVER TO OUR ALLIES?

EUROPE, THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.

TED: WITH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, OIL PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING HERE, WHICH BRINGS US TO A COUPLE OF PIECES OF LEGISLATION YOU ARE PUSHING FOR.

COST OF LIVING EMERGENCY LEGISLATION, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH PEOPLE BEING UNABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

I MEAN, THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM, AND THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT BEEN FOCUSED ON IT.

YOU KNOW, SO IT DOES A NUMBER OF THINGS TO GET THEM FOCUSED ON BRINGING DOWN THE COST OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THE COST OF FOOD, THE COST OF UTILITIES, THE COST OF RENT.

WE'RE NOT BUILDING MORE HOUSING IN THIS COUNTRY.

THERE'S PRICE GOUGING THAT STILL GOES ON TODAY.

I'M LOOKING AT TRYING TO ADDRESS FUTURE ISSUES WITH REGARDS TO THAT ISSUE, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT CAN RAISE AND LOWER PRICES DEPENDING ON WHO THE CUSTOMER IS.

THAT FUNDAMENTALLY SEEMS LIKE NOT CAPITALISM AND WRONG.

SO BUT THIS IS TO TRY TO GET THIS ADMINISTRATION FOCUSED ON WHAT MATTERS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THEY'VE NEGLECTED TO DO THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR.

TED: GAS PRICES, RELIEF ACT.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SUSPENDING THE FEDERAL TAX THROUGH THE SUMMER?

>> YEAH, IT'S ABOUT 18 CENTS.

IT DOESN'T COVER THE RUN-UP IN GAS PRICES ENTIRELY FROM THE ACTIONS OF THIS PRESIDENT AND THIS ADMINISTRATION, BUT IT WILL GIVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SOME RELIEF OVER THE SUMMER INTO OCTOBER.

WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

TED: HOW DO YOU KEEP THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND FULLY FUNDED HERE?

IS THAT GOING TO PUT THAT IN JEOPARDY?

>> THAT IS PART OF THE LEGISLATION, RIGHT?

SO IT TAKES MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND TO BACKFILL THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO GET THE 18.4 CENTS PER GALLON.

TED: SENATOR, WE THANK YOU, AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT ASK YOU ABOUT FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI LOSING HER JOB.

SHE ATTEMPTED A GRAND JURY INDICTMENT AGAINST YOU.

YOUR RESPONSE TO WHAT HAPPENED THERE IN WASHINGTON.

>> WELL, SHE CLEARLY WAS ONE OF THE RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS FOR WEAPONIZING D.O.J.

AGAINST TRUMP'S ADVERSARIES, ENEMIES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM HERE, INCLUDING ME.

I DON'T LOOK AT MYSELF AS AN ENEMY OF THE PRESIDENT.

I'M TRYING TO HELP DO MY JOB AND HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE FOR BAD DECISIONS.

I SAID SOMETHING HE DIDN'T LIKE.

HE SAID I SHOULD BE HANGED AND EXECUTED AND PROSECUTED, AND THEN THEY TRIED TO THROW ME IN JAIL.

SO SHE WAS PARTLY INVOLVED IN THAT.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS HER REPLACEMENT, HER PERMANENT REPLACEMENT?

WHAT DOES HE DO?

IS DONALD TRUMP LOOKING FOR A BETTER YES PERSON, A BETTER YES MAN THAN PAM BONDI WAS, PERHAPS?

I THINK THAT'S PRETTY LIKELY.

SO I'M CERTAINLY NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT'S NEXT HERE.

WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE IS THEY DESERVE LEADERS IN THESE POSITIONS WHO ARE PROFESSIONALS, WHO UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW, WHO ARE NOT JUST SYCOPHANTS FOR A PRESIDENT WHO WANTS TO BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE THAT WILL NEVER, EVER PUSH BACK AGAINST WHAT HE WANTS.

TED: SENATOR KELLY, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

TED: IT'S TIME NOW FOR AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND JOINING US TONIGHT, JESSICA BOEHM FROM AXIOS PHOENIX, DENNIS WELCH FROM CBS 5 AND 3TV AND HOWIE FISCHER CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES.

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S GET IT GOING HERE.

NOT AS MUCH TIME AS USUAL.

HOWIE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

THE PRESIDENT MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND THE STATE SAYS WHAT?

>> NO WAY JOSE, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT.

HE BELIEVES THAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT THE CONGRESS CAN IN FACT REGULATE FEDERAL ELECTIONS, WHICH IS TRUE.

CONGRESS HAS, IN FACT, NOT, WHICH IS WHY WHAT KRIS MAYES IS SAYING, WHAT ADRIAN FONTES IS SAYING, WHAT THE A.G.s OF 23 OTHER STATES ARE SAYING, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

WE HAVE NO EXCUSE MAIL-IN BALLOTING SINCE 1991.

IT WORKS WELL HERE.

80 SOMETHING PER CENT OF ARIZONANS USE IT.

I'M NOT TELLING YOU HOW TO DO IT.

I'M TELLING THE POST OFFICE, YOU GET A LIST OF REGISTERED VOTERS AND ONLY SEND BACK THE BALLOTS THAT HAVE THE ENVELOPES WITH SPECIAL STICKERS ON THEM.

TED: AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE, I THINK, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SAID HE WANTS TO PICK HIS OWN VOTERS.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ON THE PRESIDENT'S -- FOREFRONT OF HIS MIND FOR A WHILE NOW, TALKING ABOUT THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

FIRST IT STARTED WITH THE REDISTRICTING, TRYING TO GET TEXAS TO GIVE HIM FIVE MORE STATES.

NOT WILLING TO SIGN LEGISLATION FOR THAT, THAT'S ALL ABOUT THE MIDTERMS.

THIS IS ABOUT THE MIDTERMS.

AND COMING OVER HERE, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE WHOLE THING, AS WE ALL KNOW, ELECTIONS AREN'T SIMPLE THINGS.

OUR ELECTION OFFICIALS SPEND ODD NUMBER YEARS GETTING READY FOR THE EVEN NUMBER YEARS, AND THE TIMING OF THIS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE 82 DAYS AWAY FROM EARLY BALLOTS BEING SENT OUT IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

I KNOW THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE PRIMARY, BUT MEANS THE GENERAL ELECTION ISN'T THAT FAR OFF.

IF YOU HAD THE BIG CHANGES COMING RIGHT NOW, WHAT KIND OF TIME LINE AND PRESSURES AND HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT THE ELECTION WOULD BE HUGE.

>> YEAH, LOGISTICALLY, THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR CHALLENGE.

YOU ARE ASKING POSTAL WORKERS WHO ARE NOT ELECTION WORKERS TO BE IN THE ELECTIONS BUSINESS.

THE OTHER THING IS, AS YOU NOTED, IT WAS IMMEDIATELY CHALLENGED IN COURT.

IT WILL BE HELD UP IN COURT, AND THERE IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PRECEDENT THAT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN'T MAKE SERIOUS CHANGES TO AN ELECTION, SO CLOSE TO AN ELECTION.

PERHAPS WE CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION MOVING FORWARD BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER FEELS NOT GREAT.

TED: AND REAL QUICKLY, IT FEELS LIKE THE DOG CHASING THE CART HERE.

DO REPUBLICANS WANT TO BAN MAIL-IN BALLOTS WHEN SO MANY SEEM TO COME FROM REPUBLICANS?

IT WAS A REPUBLICAN IDEA TO BEGIN WITH?

>> IT WAS, YES, AND IT WAS A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO FIRST ENACTED ABSENTEE VOTING WITHOUT A NEED, WITHOUT A REASON, AND IT HAS CONTINUED TO BE THAT WAY.

AND OBVIOUSLY, AS HOWIE MENTIONED, MOST ARIZONANS, INCLUDING MOST REPUBLICANS VOTE BY MAIL.

IN ARIZONA, IT FEELS LIKE POSSIBLY NOT A WISE MOVE.

>> BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE INTERIM IS THAT DEMOCRATS FIGURED HOW TO USE IT.

SAME AS THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO USE THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS, AND WE GOT TO CHANGE THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.

WE GOT TO CHANGE THE MAIL-IN BALLOTING LAWS, BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAD BEEN AS GOOD ON THE STREET AS REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN.

WE CAN'T HAVE THAT.

TED: HOWIE, STICK WITH YOU.

SURPRISE I.C.E.

FACILITY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 1500 BEDS, PROCESSING SITE, LOTS OF PROTESTS AND CONCERN, AND NOW WE'RE HEARING IT'S NOT NEARLY AS BIG A DEAL.

>> THEY'RE SAYING WE NEED A COUPLE HUNDRED BEDS, IT WILL BE INTERIM, WON'T BE STAYING THERE.

YOU GOT TO DECIDE DO YOU, IN FACT, BELIEVE I.C.E.?

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN ARIZONA DON'T, AND THEN THE QUESTION IS, WHAT CONTROLS DOES THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVE, IF, IN FACT -- IF I.C.E.

WERE LEASING THE FACILITY, THEY COULD SAY NO WAY.

IF I.C.E.

OWNS THE FACILITY, WHICH IS APPARENTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING HERE, THERE'S VERY LIMITED THINGS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO.

GEORGIA SAID WE CAN'T TELL YOU, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT, YOU'RE NOT GETTING OUR WATER.

TED: INTERESTING, YOU MIGHT NOT GET THE WATER OUT THERE ANYWAY IF THE INFRASTRUCTURE CAN'T HOLD UP FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE.

THE MAYOR SEEMS TO THINK THERE WILL BE NO OPERATIONS IN CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS BECAUSE -- >> IT COMES BACK TO THE POINT DO YOU TRUST THEM TO BE HONEST BROKERS OF THE INFORMATION?

REMEMBER WHEN THIS STARTED, WE WEREN'T GETTING ANY INFORMATION.

I THINK NOW SOME PEOPLE ARE PLEASED THEY'RE STARTING TO GET MORE INFORMATION.

THE PLANS AREN'T AS BIG AS WE FIRST THOUGHT.

WE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BE HOUSING MORE INMATES THAN INITIALLY, BUT DO YOU TRUST THAT?

SOME OF THE FOLKS I'VE BEEN SEEING, I'VE TALKED TO, THE FACILITY WAS A MASSIVE FACILITY.

IT IS VERY CLOSE TO A HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH I THINK IS JUST ABOUT A MILE AWAY, AND THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET IN TECHNICALLY A DIFFERENT CITY.

THEY'RE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS EITHER.

WHAT RISK IS IT TO THEM TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ALSO, IF YOU BOUGHT A HOUSE IN THAT AREA, WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO YOUR PROPERTY VALUES OVER THERE?

I TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

TED: AND AGAIN, THEY'RE LOOKING OVER ALL OF THE PURCHASES NOW, ARE THEY NOT, THAT KRISTI NOEM DID BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING OVER EVERYTHING KRISTI NOEM DID.

>> NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PAUSED FUTURE WAREHOUSE BUYS AND REVIEWING ALL THESE THINGS, THAT'S AT THE SAME TIME WE GOT THIS INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURPRISE FACILITY PERHAPS BEING SMALLER OR WITH FEWER PEOPLE THAN WE WERE EXPECTING, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS ALL COMES BACK TO THE SAME CONVERSATION WHICH IS THAT'S THE DECISION TODAY, WHAT WILL THE DECISION BE TOMORROW?

TED: YEAH, YEAH, STICKING WITH YOU.

WE HEARD SENATOR KELLY TALK ABOUT HIS IDEA OF A FEDERAL GAS TAX, MAYBE PAUSING IT FOR A WHILE.

SAME TALK GOING ON IN ARIZONA?

>> YEAH, THE GOVERNOR IS OPEN TO HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TEMPORARILY PAUSING THE STATE GAS TAX, WHICH I BELIEVE IS ABOUT 18 CENTS PER GALLON, AND SHE WANTS TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AS PART OF BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

>> THIS IS -- THE SILLY THING ABOUT THIS, WE KNOW THE GAS TAX, WE TALK ABOUT THE MAIL-IN VOTING, HAS NOT BEEN RAISED SINCE 1991.

THE 18 CENTS IS WORTH FIVE CENTS, WE HAVE CARS THAT ARE MORE EFFICIENT, WE HAVE ELECTRIC CARS, WHO ARE NOT PAYING PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING TO MAINTAIN THE ROADS, THIS IS THE QUICK AND DIRTY SOLUTION.

SHE WASN'T THE FIRST ONE WHO PROPOSED, IT JULIE WILLOUGHBY PROPOSED STUFF IN TERMS OF FUEL FEES AND GAS TAX, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S ELECTION YEAR.

I'LL SAY I'M INTERESTED IN THE GAS TAX, FORGETTING THE SAME QUESTION YOU ASKED THE SENATOR, WHICH IS OUR HIGHWAY USER REVENUE FUND IS $500 MILLION A YEAR.

YOU TAKE OUT THE GAS TAX FOR THREE MONTHS A YEAR, YOU CAN'T BUILD THE ROAD.

>> THERE ARE COSTS WHEN YOU DO THAT, THAT IS THE BIG COST, PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT THE GAS, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO APPRECIATE POTHOLES IN THE HIGHWAYS, THEY'RE GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT.

IN ADDITION, YOU GOT THE 18 CENTS ON THE STATE GAS TAX.

THE FEDERAL GAS TAX IS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT THERE.

TALKING 36 CENTS A GALLON.

WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO HOW MUCH GAS HAS RISEN IN THE PAST MONTH, PEOPLE WILL BE HAPPY FOR A LITTLE RELIEF BUT PAYING A LOT OF MONEY FOR GASOLINE.

TED: WITH THOSE PRICES GOING UP THE WAY THEY ARE, LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO NOSE AROUND WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES AGAIN.

NOSE AROUND WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND THE FUNDING GOES AWAY.

>> EXACTLY.

WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE NERD, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE FUND OUR FREEWAY SYSTEM, OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEM, AND I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO HAVE LARGER CONVERSATIONS WHETHER THE GAS TAX IS MAYBE NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO FUND OUR ROADS ANYMORE.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S ALL FINE AND GOOD.

RIGHT NOW PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO PAY SO MUCH FOR THAT.

>> WE'RE FORGETTING THE CURRENT GOVERNOR, WHEN SHE WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, SAID WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE GAS TAX AND PROPOSE 36 CENTS.

SHE SAID THAT WAS THEN AND DIDN'T GET A VOTE, NEVER MIND WHAT I DID.

TED: YOU THINK WE'RE FORGETTING THAT, CONGRESSMAN BIGGS ISN'T FORGETTING THAT.

>> HE'S NOT FORGETTING THAT.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME IN 2018.

I WANT TO BRING THIS UP, TOO.

WE SPOKE WITH SENATOR RUBEN GALLEGO , IT IS A BIG IMPORTANT STORY.

THE ONE EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THAT, AND THE WAR, AND WHAT HE WANTS IS THE IRS TO UP THE MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE, AND GALLEGO SAYS THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK CONGRESS, WHO CAN'T LEGISLATE THEMSELVES OUT OF A PAPER BAG THESE DAYS.

IT WOULD TAKE A RULING OR MEMO FROM THE IRS.

HE BELIEVES IT'S NOT GOING TO GET THE IMMEDIATE HELP FOR FAMILIES OR SMALL BUSINESSES BUT COULD SEE MORE MONEY BACK THAT COULD HELP THEM GET THROUGH THIS TIME.

TED: INTERESTING IDEA, BUT GET BACK TO THE IDEA OF ANDY BIGGS REMINDING EVERYONE THAT HE CO-SPONSORED THIS BILL.

SHE SAID SHE COSPONSORED IT.

NEVER HAD A HEARING.

NOT A BIG DEAL.

NEVER MIND WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE.

COULD THIS BECOME AN ISSUE, AN ELECTION ISSUE?

>> I MEAN MAYBE.

THE BIGGER ISSUE IS IF GAS CONTINUES TO $5 IN NOVEMBER?

I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT KATIE HOBBS DID IN 2018.

TED: NOT NECESSARILY 2018, THE IDEA OF A GAS TAX, SPENDING THE GAS TAX.

IF GAS IS $8 A GALLON, YOU HAVE EVERY REPUBLICAN IN THE COUNTRY LOOKING FOR COVER.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> THERE IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR PUSHED THROUGH BY THE FREEDOM CAUCUS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THEY WERE LOOKING AT HOW DO YOU GET ELECTRIC CARS TO PAY FOR THE ROAD?

YOU HAVE A MILEAGE TAX.

THEY'RE ASKING VOTERS TO SAY YOU CANNOT ENACT A MILEAGE TAX BECAUSE WE'LL LEAVE ASIDE THE HEAD OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS DRIVES THIS TESLA, BUT DO WE REALLY WANT TO TAKE CERTAIN THINGS OFF THE TABLE.

IF WE'RE MOVING TOWARD ELECTRIC, MOVING TOWARD NATURAL GAS, MOVING TOWARD HELIUM, HYDROGEN, YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE.

TED: ELECTION ISSUE?

>> FOLLOW UP ON WHAT JESSICA IS SAYING.

WHO'S GOING TO BLAME HOBBS.

SHE WANTED TO RAISE THE TAX, TOO.

IT COMES DOWN TO WHO DO VOTERS BLAME FOR PAYING 5 BUCK ACE GALLON, 6 BUCKS A GALLON.

IT'S NOT HOBBS.

TED: IT'S HARD TO TELL BECAUSE IT'S ELECTION TIME.

HOWIE, TALK ABOUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, PERHAPS, BEING ASKED TO LOOK OVER ORDINANCES INVOLVING CITY LIMITS TO I.C.E.

ACTIVITY, PHOENIX AND TUCSON IN PARTICULAR, AND THIS IS NOT JUST A REQUEST.

THIS IS A REQUEST IN A VACUUM HERE.

>> THIS IS MORE THAN A REQUEST.

THIS IS IT COULD LOSE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS FOR CITIES.

THERE'S A FEDERAL LAW WHICH SAYS YOU CANNOT FORCE CITIES TO DO FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT, BUT THERE'S A STATE LAW THAT SAYS YOU WILL COOPERATE WITH ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

PHOENIX AND TUCSON AND OTHER CITIES ARE LOOKING AT THIS, ARE SAYING, YOU CANNOT USE OUR PROPERTY FOR CIVIL ENFORCEMENT FOR YOUR MARSHALLING AREAS, WHERE YOU ARE SETTING UP, AND IT WILL BE A CRIME FOR YOU TO DO THAT WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION.

WELL, SENATOR NGUYEN SAID WAIT A SECOND, WHAT ABOUT THE LAW ON THE BOOKS?

HE WANTS ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES TO SAY ARE YOU VIOLATING THIS LAW?

AS YOU POINT OUT, WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THERE'S ANOTHER STATE LAW THAT SAYS IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS YOU ARE VIOLATING A STATE LAW, THEY CAN WITHHOLD HALF OF YOUR STATE AID.

WE'RE TALKING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HERE, SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE, A, WHAT DOES MAYES DECIDE AND IF IT IS A TECHNICAL VIOLATION OF LAW, WHAT DO THE CITIES DO?

TED: DENNIS, HOW FAR DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS GO?

>> YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY, THE LEGISLATURE WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN TO PUNISH A CITY LIKE PHOENIX, IF THEY WERE IGNORING A LAW RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONTENTIOUS SESSION RIGHT NOW.

BUDGET SESSIONS ARE ON AND OFF THESE DAYS.

THERE IS TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND VERY CONCERNING IF I WAS IN THE CITY HALL AND I HAD A POLICY TO SEE HOW THIS WOULD TURN OUT.

TED: JESSICA, ATTORNEY GENERAL, HOW DO YOU THINK SHE'S GOING TO DO?

>> IT IS HOW YOU INTERPRET THE COOPERATION OR INTERFERENCE.

IS PHOENIX AND TUCSON SAYING YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING ON OUR PROPERTY?

IS THAT INTERFERING WITH ENFORCEMENT?

I THINK THAT SHE'S PROBABLY GOING TO FIND A WAY TO SAY NO.

TED: THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING HERE, 30 DAYS TO FIGURE ON IT OUT, RIGHT, HOWIE?

>> THEN WE GO TO COURT.

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY DIFFICULT.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN TERMS OF THAT GOING.

IF, IN FACT, YOU ARE SAYING TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, WHICH I.C.E., IS YOU MAY NOT PARK YOUR VEHICLES ON CITY PROPERTY, NOW YOU MAY BE INTERFERING WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> SPEAKING OF ELECTION, MAYES HAS HER OWN ELECTION TO THINK ABOUT.

SHE RULES AND SAYS YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE THIS ORDINANCE OUT, THERE I BET THERE'S A COUPLE OF REPUBLICANS RUNNING THE PRIMARY TRYING TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS OFF OF HER FOR THAT.

TED: WE GOT ABOUT 15 SECONDS.

YOU SAID THIS IS THE DUMBEST THING YOU'VE SEEN IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE SO FAR.

MAKE IT FAST, PAL.

>> GOVERNOR HOBBS CHALLENGED ANDY BIGGS TO EAT A TACO ON CAMERA.

THERE'S A LITTLE MORE TO IT BUT THAT'S WHERE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS RIGHT NOW.

TED: THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE TO IT.

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING IT SHORT.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.