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October 11, 2002

Host: Michael Grant
Topics:
The Journalists Roundtable
In-Studio Guests:
Chip Scutari, Arizona Republic;
Mark Flatten, East Valley Tribune;
Keven Willey, Editorial Page Editor, Arizona Republic

>> Michael: IT'S FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2002. IN THE HEADLINES THIS WEEK, THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT RULES THAT THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR CLEAN ELECTIONS IS LEGAL. THE GOVERNOR'S RACE TURNED NASTY THIS WEEK, WITH THE NEW AD FROM INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE DICK MAHONEY ATTACKING MATT SALMON AND JANET NAPOLITANO OVER THE SITUATION IN COLORADO CITY. AND GOVERNOR HULL WARNED THE BUDGET CRISIS WILL IMPACT STATE WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC. GOOD EVENING, I'M MICHAEL GRANT AND THIS IS THE JOURNALISTS ROUNDTABLE. JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THESE AND OTHER STORIES ARE CHIP SCUTARI FROM THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, MARK FLATTEN FROM THE EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE AND KEVEN WILLEY, EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR FOR THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC. A SHORT TERMER. IN A UNANIMOUS VOTE THIS MORNING, THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT UPHELD THE LEGALITY OF FUNDING SOURCES FOR CLEAN ELECTIONS. CHIP, WHAT DID THE SUPREME COURT SAY IN THEIR RULING?

>> Chip Scutari: MICHAEL IT WAS FRIDAY, I WAS HOPING FOR A NICE QUIET DAY, TAKE A THREE HOUR LUNCH. THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED TO RULE ON THIS CONTROVERSIAL CLEAN ELECTIONS CASE. THEY DECIDED WAS THAT THE FINANCIAL MUSCLE DRIVING CLEAN ELECTIONS WHICH IS SURCHARGES ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING TICKET IS CONSTITUTIONAL, BUT WOULD TRAMPLE FREE SPEECH RIGHTS AS REPRESENTATIVE MAY HAD TRIED TO PROVE AT THE COURT OF APPEALS, SO TOTALLY DIS A VOWED WHAT THE COURT OF APPEALS HAD ALLOWED IN JUNE. NOW THEY WANT TO TAKE THIS TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. THERE IS VERY LITTLE SURPRISE. I THINK THE BIG SURPRISE WAS THE TIMING OF THE RULING. MOST PEOPLE WERE THINKING THAT THE RULING WOULD COME AFTER THE NOVEMBER 5TH ELECTION. SO IT REALLY WON'T HAVE TOO MUCH IMPACT ON THE GOVERNORS RACE BECAUSE SALMON IS RUNNING AS A PRIVATE FUNDED CANDIDATE, AND JANET NAPOLITANO AND RICHARD MAHONEY ARE RUNNING WITH PUBLIC FUNDS. AND HESS IS PRETTY MUCH RUNNING ON FUMES. WE WILL TALK ABOUT CONGRESSMAN JEFF FLAKE'S EFFORT TO REPEAL THIS LAW.

>> Mark Flatten: THIS WAS LIVE OR DIE FOR CLEAN ELECTIONS. THE PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE LOBBYIST FEES WHICH WERE THROWN OUT EARLIER AND THE SURCHARGE ON CRIMINAL FINES WHICH IS THE BIG BULK OF FUNDING. THE ONLY THING LEFT AFTER THAT IS A CHECK OFF YOUR INCOME TAX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IF THE COURT HAD RULED THE OTHER WAY EVEN IF YOU WOULD HAVE HAD THE SHELL OF CLEAN ELECTIONS YOU WOULDN'T HAVE HAD A FUNDING MECHANISM

>> MICHAEL: AS CHIP INDICATED, IF IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL, IT'S TIME TO REPEAL IT.

>> Keven Willey: CERTAINLY WHAT CONGRESSMAN FLAKE THINGS AND THAT'S WHY HE WANTS TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT IN 2004. THERE ARE A LOT OF FLAWS, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE. I CAN'T HELP WONDER IF THE SUPPORTERS OF THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC FINANCE WON'T WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE AND ALLOW THE VOTERS IN 2005 TO KEEP AN IMPERFECT SYSTEM OR REPEAL IT, IF THEY WON'T PUT AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WOULD KEEP THE CONCEPT OF PUBLICLY FINANCED CAMPAIGNS, THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY WAY I THINK YOU CAN DO IT BECAUSE IT WAS VOTER PASSED. THE LEGISLATURE CAN'T FIX IT.

>> MICHAEL: OBVIOUSLY MARK WE HAVE NO EMPIRIC DATA, WHAT DO YOU THINK, CLEAN ELECTIONS HAS TAKEN A LOT OF HITS IN THE ELECTION CYCLE, IS IT STILL POPULAR WITH THE PEOPLE OR NOT?

>> Mark Flatten: CLEAN ELECTIONS PASSED ON A VERY NARROW MARGIN IN '98, I THINK IT WAS A 20,000 VOTE DIFFERENCE.

>> MICHAEL: RIGHT.

>> Mark Flatten: THE CAMPAIGN FOR CLEAN ELECTIONS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC FINANCE. THE CAMPAIGN IN '98 WAS LET'S TAKE THE SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY OUT OF POLITICS. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WHICH DIDN'T SHOW UP TWO YEARS AGO, IS THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF POWER IN THIS COMMISSION THEY HAVE THE POWER TO REMOVE A CANDIDATE FROM THE BALLOT. THEY HAVE A LOT OF -- PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO CALL THEM -- ONEROUS FILING REQUIREMENTS. THEY CAN REMOVE AN OFFICER WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN ELECTED FOR NOT FILING PAPERWORK ON TIME. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE FLAWS.

>> MICHAEL: THEY CAN CONFUSE PEOPLE A LOT.

>> Mark Flatten: THEY'VE PROVEN THEY CAN CONFUSE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THEIR OWN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. IN TERMS OF ALL THE LITTLE HIDDEN NUANCES OF THIS LAW, WHICH ARE HUGE NUANCES, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNEW THOSE GOING IN. TWO YEARS FROM NOW, I HAVE NO DOUBT FLAKE AND EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE SIGNATURES, WHAT YOU WILL HAVE AS KEVIN SAID THEY MAY WANT TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE. I THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THIS ONE HAS A LOT OF FLAWS THAT MAY NOT BE CORRECTABLE.

>> Keven Willey: AND ONE OF THE MOST UNDER APPRECIATED PORTIONS OF THIS LAW THAT WAS PASSED WAS THE IMPACT OF THE MATCHING FUNDS WHEN IT COMES TO INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES. CHIP IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND HE IS RUNNING PRIVATE AND I'M RUNNING PUBLIC SO EVERY TIME HE REACHES A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, I GET MATCHING FUNDS. WHAT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE APPRECIATED WHEN A INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN SPENDS MONEY ON CHIP, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT COORDINATED BETWEEN THE TWO, I GET MORE MONEY. THE IMPACT RATCHETS UP. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SORTED THAT OUT BEFORE IT PASSED.

>> Mark Flatten: IT GOES FURTHER THAN THAT. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SPENT ROUGHLY $200,000 TO BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF MATT SALMON -- OR JANET NAPOLITANO. MAHONEY AND NAPOLITANO GET MATCHING FUNDS FOR THAT. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPENT $700,000 TO BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF MATT SALMON AND NOBODY GETS MATCHING FUNDS.

>> Chip Scutari: THE OTHER THING COMING TO LIGHT IN THIS PRETTY NASTY CAMPAIGN, WHICH JEFF FLAKE AND MATT SALMON WILL POINT OUT, IS HOW THE CLEAN CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING MUD SLINGING ATTACK ADS, LIKE MAHONEY, THE COLORADO CITY, ANTI-MORMON, ANTI JANET NAPOLITANO ADS. THE SO-CALLED PUBLIC CANDIDATES ARE USING PUBLIC MONEY TO RUN THE ATTACK ADS.

>> Mark Flatten: THE CORE PURPOSE IS TO GET THE SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY OUT OF THE POLITICS. ONE OUT OF EVERY $5 CONTRIBUTION RAISED FOR JANET NAPOLITANO CAME FROM THE UNION SPECIAL INTEREST. BOTH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS FOR RUNNING ADS FOR MONEY FROM OUTSIDE DONORS FROM THE SAME OLD SPECIAL INTERESTS AND THOSE HAVE BECOME THE CAMPAIGN ENGINE, THESE THIRD PARTY ADS.

>> MICHAEL: LET'S START IN CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE. ACTUALLY, LAST WEEKEND, I THINK MAYBE LAST FRIDAY, MAHONEY CUTS LOOSE THE FIRST AD WHICH GOES AFTER NAPOLITANO. ACTUALLY ON ABOUT A SIX-YEAR-OLD CHARGE THAT SHE REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE A SUBPOENA IN A CHILD PORN CASE. DID MAHONEY GO OVER THE TOP WITH THAT ONE?

>> Chip Scutari: I THINK IT'S A LEGITIMATE CRITICISM OF HER RECORD. I THINK THE WAY THE AD WAS RUN, IT'S A BIT MISLEADING. ESPECIALLY JANET'S DISTORTED MUG SHOT NEXT TO THE SCUM BAG. RICK ROMLEY, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, SAID, I TOOK THE BALL AND RAN WITH IT. SO MAHONEY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF COVERAGE. THERE'S A LOT OF INSINUATIONS IN THE TARGETING OF HOMoSEXUALS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF HALF TRUTHS AND DISTORTION. I DON'T THING IT WILL BE HELD UP AS THE PARAGON OF GOOD, CLEAN AD.

>> Keven Willey: IT FOCUSES ON ONE CASE. IF YOU LOOK BACK TO 1996, WHEN THIS FIRST WAS AN ISSUE, EVERY MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION EXCEPT FOR ONE CAME TO NAPOLITANO'S DEFENSE, INCLUDING MCCAIN, INCLUDING GRANT WOODS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THEN. THEY HELPED PUT IN PERSPECTIVE, THIS ONE CASE. THIS USES ONE CASE TO MAKE A MUCH LARGER CASE AGAINST JANET NAPOLITANO, WHICH I THINK IS VERY UNFAIR.

>> MICHAEL: ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO AD NUMBER TWO.

>> Mark Flatten: RATCHET IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> MICHAEL: MAHONEY HAS AN AD ON THE COLORADO CITY SITUATION. WHAT'S THE ALLEGATION THERE?

>> Mark Flatten: AS WE KNOW, ANYBODY THAT'S LIVED HERE IN THE LAST 100 YEARS, THERE'S BIZARRE SECT IN COLORADO CITY THAT PRACTICES POLYGAMY AND ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE IT OUT OF THAT COMMUNITY, THEY ARE VERY ABUSIVE TO THE CHILDREN, VERY CONTROLLING. SORT OF YOUR CLASSIC, RUN-OF-THE-MILL CULT. MAHONEY'S SECOND AD TOOK IT UP A FEW NOTCHES, NAPOLITANO HAS KNOWN WHAT'S GOING ON AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IN FACT, SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE UTAH AUTHORITIES AND THEY ENDED UP, I DON'T KNOW IF THE TIMING WAS COINCIDENCE OR NOT, BUT THEY GOT AN INDICTMENT OUT OF UTAH WITHIN DAYS OF THE AD MAHONEY HAD RUNNING. ARE THESE LEGITIMATE? AS CHIP SAID, THEY ARE MASSIVELY DISTORTING. THAT'S A POLITICAL AD. THESE TWO DO, ALONG THE EDGES, ATTACK NAPOLITANO ON HER RECORD. THE THIRD AD, WHICH I ASSUME WE'RE GOING TO GET TO IN A MINUTE, IS ONE THAT EVERYBODY I'VE TALKED TO OUTSIDE OF MAHONEY AND HIS PEOPLE SCRATCH THEIR HEAD AND SAY, I'VE NEVER SEEN IT GO THIS FAR.

>> MICHAEL: GO AHEAD.

>> Mark Flatten: WHICH IS THE SAME COLORADO CITY SETUP, BUT THE SECT IS A BREAK AWAY FROM THE MORMON CHURCH, BREAK WAY, THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM, THEY MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, THE NEW MAHONEY AD SAYS SINCE MATT SALMON IS A MORMON, HE WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT NAPOLITANO ADS, YOU CAN SAY HE'S GOING AFTER THE RECORD. THE SALMON THING, THAT ONLY THAT GOES AFTER RELIGION.

>> Keven Willey: THE MAHONEYS WERE VERY CLOSE TO JFK WHEN HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT FOUR DECADES AGO. YOU REMEMBER IN THAT CAMPAIGN THE RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY THAT WAS EXERTED AGAINST HIM. FOR MAHONEY TO COME OUT AND USE THE SAME SORT OF RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY AGAINST ANOTHER CANDIDATE IS JUST CONTEMPTIBLE. THERE IS NO OTHER WORD FOR IT.

>> Chip Scutari: YOU HAD ASKED ME DID THE FIRST MAHONEY AD GO OVER THE LINE. I WOULD SAY PROBABLY NOT. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY WITH THIS MAHONEY HIT ON SALMON, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO AIR BECAUSE IT WAS TOTALLY UNFAIR TO MATT AND HIS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

>> MICHAEL: IS THIS BASICALLY HAND GRENADE THROWING?

>> Chip Scutari: THE COLORADO CITY AD, AS BIZARRE AND DAMAGING IT MIGHT BE TO MATT AND JANET, I DON'T THINK THE MAIN STREAM EDUCATED, UNDECIDED VOTER IS GOING TO SAY I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR DICK MAHONEY. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO SWAY A LOT OF PEOPLE. HE SAID HE IS FOR THE CHILDREN OF COLORADO CITY, I DON'T THINK THAT WILL MOVE THE MASSES TO SWITCH THEIR VOTE.

>> Keven Willey: THEY REVEAL A LOT ABOUT DICK MAHONEY'S CHARACTER, FAR MORE THAN SALMON OR NAPOLITANO. SECOND, LOOK BACK TO THE "VOTE MORMON" SIGNS THAT CROPPED UP ON MATT SALMON SIGNS AND THE PHONE CALLS BEING USED AGAINST JANET NAPOLITANO. WHO DO YOU THINK IS BEHIND THOSE?

>> Mark Flatten: THERE WAS THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, THESE THREE WOMEN DECRYING THE CULT. BE CLEAR, WHAT THESE WOMEN ARE SAYING IS GOING ON IS HIDEOUS. MATT SALMON PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING IT'S HIDEOUS, VIOLATION OF THE LAW AND NEEDS TO BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT. WE ASKED HIM, DICK, YOU'RE A LONG TIME PRACTICING CATHOLIC, DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULDN'T BE GOVERNOR BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T ENFORCE THE LAW WITH THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? HE SAID, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. HE DIDN'T ANSWER IT. YOUR IMMEDIATE REACTION IS, THEY MUST NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND THE NUANCE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, YOU ASK, AND ABSOLUTELY.

>> Keven Willey: HE DOESN'T BACK OFF A BIT. THERE IS NO NOTE OF REGRET OR APOLOGY.

>> Mark Flatten: I ASKED HIM YESTERDAY, ARE YOU SAY, DICK, TO BE CLEAR THAT MATT SALMON WILL NOT ENFORCE THE LAW BECAUSE HE IS A MORMON?

>> Mark Flatten: YEP.

>> Chip Scutari: HE TOLD US HE IS GOING TO DO EVERYTHING AND NOT BLOCK. I REMEMBER I WENT AROUND WITH MAHONEY GIVING THE CLEAN ELECTION $5. I'VE BEEN WITH HIM AT COFFEE SHOPS, DEBATES. THIS NEVER CAME UP, CORPORATE WELFARE, STADIUM, THIS NEVER CAME UP. AND HE WAS ON THE RADIO, AND HE WAS ASKED, WHAT DID YOU DO AS SECRETARY OF STATE? I THINK THE RESPONSE WAS I MADE THREE PHONE CALLS. MAYBE HE HAD SOME NEW FOUND REVELATIONS AND WANTS TO SAVE THE CHILDREN OF COLORADO CITY BUT THIS NEVER CAME UP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> Keven Willey: THIS IS THE MAN RUNNING INDEPENDENT BECAUSE HE THINKS THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE TOO CORRUPT.

>> Mark Flatten: THE PARTIES HAVE BEEN RUNNING SOME FAIRLY POINTED ADS, SORT OF USUALLY FARE. IN A NORMAL CAMPAIGN WE WOULD CALL THEM MUD SLINGING. YOU LOOK IN CONTRAST AND GO BOY, THAT'S A CLEAN AD.

>> Michael: THE SORT OF WEIRD TWIST IS PROPOSITION 203, THE MARIJUANA, THE DRUG CZAR IS ON ONE SIDE, JANET NAPOLITANO AND SALMON OPPOSING PROP 203. THE QUESTION COMES UP, HAVE EITHER ONE OF YOU USED MARIJUANA AND JANET SAYS YES.

>> Keven Willey: WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME?

>> MICHAEL: BECAUSE HOWIE IS NOT HERE.

>> Keven Willey: WONDERFUL. SADLY, WITH SOME PEOPLE IT PROBABLY DOES PLAY, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. WITH A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, IT NO LONGER DOES. IT WAS A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE WHEN IT CROPPED UP 15 YEARS AGO IN NATIONAL POLITICS. AND AS I RECALL, THIS CAME OUT FOUR YEARS GO WHEN SHE RAN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL SO I'M NOT SURE IT WAS ANY REAL HEAD LINE. HAVING SAID THAT, I'M SURE WITH SOME PEOPLE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> MICHAEL: I DO THINK, MARK, IT RAISES A HYPOCRISY ISSUE, ONE ELEMENT IS DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA, BUT ON THE OTHER, WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE I MESSED AROUND WITH IT.

>> Mark Flatten: I GUESS THAT'S SAYING PEOPLE ARRESTED TODAY SHOULD BE LOCKED UP AND THROWN IN JAIL, BUT APPARENTLY YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT BACK WHEN YOU WERE IN COLLEGE. I WASN'T THERE, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT DREW AN ICY STARE FROM OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL. WHATEVER THAT MAY MEAN.

>> MICHAEL: KNOCK ME OVER WITH A FEATHER. WELL, SPEAKING OF THE WHOLE ADVERTISING DEAL, MORE THAN 30 MILLION RAISED IN THE GAMING PROPOSITION? THE COLORADO RIVER INDIAN TRIBE I THINK TOOK THIS ONE TO A NEW LEVEL NOW GOING DIRECTLY AFTER WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS NOT 17 TRIBES, BUT IS ONLY SIX TRIBES AND INCIDENTALLY THEY ARE REAL RICH TRIBES.

>> Chip Scutari: I THINK THEY ARE PICKING UP ON A WEEK LONG SERIES OF INDIAN GAMING AND IT WAS POINTED OUT FIVE OR SIX OF THE 17 TRIBES HAVE THE BULK OF THE MONEY. THE CRITS ARE REALIZING THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TARGET 202 TO VOTE NO ON IT. JUST LIKE THE PROPOSITION 202, WHICH IS BACKED BY THE 17 TRIBES AND THERE IS AS WITH SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO, SAYING VOTE NO ON 201 AND 200. WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING PEOPLE IN THIS BATTLE IS THAT THAT'S REALLY MOVING NUMBERS. I THINK THAT'S THE NEW SHIFT, CRITS, RACE TRACKS AND 202 HAVE TO SAY VOTE NO ON THE OTHER ONE BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH CONFUSION. IF YOU ASK YOUR FRIENDS WHICH ONE ARE YOU VOTING FOR, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN 200, 201 OR 202.

>> MICHAEL: LET'S SAY THERE IS A CORE NO GROUP ON ALL THREE, I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THAT CORE NO GROUP IS, BUT IF YOU HAVE EVERYONE FIRING ON EVERYBODY ELSE AND YOU MOVE THEN A CERTAIN INTERMEDIATE NO VOTE TO EACH ONE OF THEM, MAYBE THE PROSPECT OF ALL THREE GOING DOWN LOOMS LARGER.

>> Keven Willey: YEAH, I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER. I HAVE THOUGHT FOR SOME TIME THAT GREATEST PROBABILITY HERE IS THAT ALL THREE WILL GO DOWN. HAVING SAID THAT, AND NOW HAVING GONE PUBLIC WITH THAT, ALL THREE WILL PASS, WHICH I THINK FROM A NEWS PERSPECTIVE IS EVEN MORE FASCINATING BECAUSE ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE THEN, IT'S ONE OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS AND THE LAWYERS WILL SORT IT OUT -- YOU'LL BE HAPPY.

>> MICHAEL: I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL BE ECSTATIC, THE VICE PRESIDENT IS SHOWING UP.

>> Chip Scutari: HE IS TRYING TO RAISE SOME MONEY. THERE IS A CLOSE BATTLE WITH GEORGE CORDOVA. THE REPUBLICANS WILL HOPE THE RACE WILL RAISE AT LEAST 100 GRAND PUT OVER THE TOP AGAINST MR. CORDOVA, THERE'S A HUGE CONGRESSIONAL RACE FOR DEMOCRATS IN DC.

>> MICHAEL: SOME INFORMATION COMING OUT ABOUT CORDOVA'S BUSINESS DEALINGS THIS WEEK?

>> Keven Willey: THERE'S AT LEAST ONE, PROBABLY MULTIPLE -- LAWSUITS ALLEGING VARIOUS DEGREES OF IMPROPRIETY. ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH WAS SETTLED IN A CONFIDENTIAL AGREEMENT, SO WE DON'T KNOW THE CLAIMS AND COUNTERCLAIMS. THERE IS ALSO A SMALL LIEN, LIKE $900 OF OWED TAXES WHICH HE AT ONE POINT OWED AND THERE WAS A LIEN PLACED ON HIS PROPERTY. THAT LIEN, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN RETIRED OR THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS KICKED IN. IT DOES SORT OF CAST A CLOUD OVER THE CANDIDATES.

>> MICHAEL: MARK, I KNOW THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT AFTER THE PRIMARY BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT EXPECTED GEORGE CORDOVA TO BE THE VICTOR.

>> Mark Flatten: I THINK THE REACTION WAS GEORGE, WHO?

>> MICHAEL: HAVE THEY RESOLVED THAT? IT IS A TARGET RACE. FULLY BEHIND THE CANDIDATE WITH THEIR BACKING?

>> Mark Flatten: SURE, FOR THE SAME REASONS. I MEAN, THEY COULDN'T CARE LESS WHAT THE NAME IS, THE ONLY THING IS THEY HAVE A D OR R BEHIND IT. THEY'RE JUST BUTTONS ON A MAP, THAT'S ALL THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

>> Chip Scutari: ANY TIME THERE'S A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE WITH BAD BUSINESS, THEY SAY HERE WE GO ANOTHER DEMOCRAT THAT CAN'T HANDLE FINANCES. THEY'RE WHOOPING IT UP AT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> Keven Willey: I THINK RICK, THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT WHY THE TAM FAMILY IS STILL IN VA. FLIP A COIN, WHO IS MORE OF A CARPETBAGGER.

>> MICHAEL: GOVERNOR HULL THIS WEEK WARNED THE IMPACT OF THE STATE'S BUDGET CRISIS WILL BE FELT BY BOTH STATE WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC. WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR SAYING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF BUDGET CUTS?

>> Mark Flatten: THE SKY IS FALLING.

>> Keven Willey: END OF STORY.

>> Mark Flatten: SHE'S BEEN BEATING THE SAME DRUM AND NOBODY IS LISTENING.

>> MICHAEL: THE PLAN IS TO BY SOMETIME NEXT WEEK TO TRY TO COME UP WITH ENOUGH -- FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH SHE CAN RING OUT OF THE AGENCIES. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS OF A LAME DUCK SPECIAL SESSION?

>> Keven Willey: THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO, TO DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN THIS FISCAL YEAR TO CUT SO THAT THE CUTS DON'T SEEM MORE EXTREME NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE SIX MONTHS TO ABSORB THEM ALL. I THINK THE GOVERNOR WAS RIGHT INITIALLY TO TRY TO PUSH IT IN THIS DIRECTION. SHE IS NOT GETTING ANY SUPPORT AND SHE'S BACKING OFF FROM THE PUSH. I CAN UNDERSTAND POLITICALLY, EVERYBODY IS RUNNING THE RACES. THEN FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BATHROOMS ARE AND ALL THAT STUFF BEFORE THEY FIGURE OUT THE BUDGET. THEY WILL ONLY HAVE SIX MONTHS, RATHER THAN A FULL YEAR, TO ABSORB ALL OF THESE CUTS AND WE'RE TALKING MEGA CUTS.

>> Chip Scutari: MOST FOLKS DON'T REALIZE HOW BAD THE BUDGET CRISIS IS. THE GOVERNOR CAME IN AND TOLD THEY COULD CUT 65 STATE AGENTS, EVERYONE BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THE BIGGIES. I DON'T THINK MOST FOLKS ON THE STREET REALIZE HOW TERRIBLE THE FISCAL HEALTH IS.

>> MICHAEL: THERE'S A NEW POLL THAT SHOWS --

>> Mark Flatten: NEW POLL THAT I BELIEVE SHE IS THE LEAST POPULAR GOVERNOR IN AT LEAST RECENT HISTORY. SHE SCORES A POINT BELOW FIFE SYMINGTON. AND EVaN MECHAM -- I THINK A POINT BELOW SYMINGTON AND TWO POINTS BELOW MECHAM.

>> Keven Willey: I THINK WHOEVER WINS THE GOVERNORSHIP NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO WISH THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT.

>> Chip Scutari: GOVERNOR HULL IS ABOUT AS POPULAR AS MILLIE VANILLI WHEN THEY WERE AT THE GRAMMY.

>> MICHAEL: ALMOST OUT OF TIME. NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO ARIZONA'S PARENTAL CONSENT LAW?

>> Mark Flatten: NOT PARTICULARLY STARTLING, THE COURTS -- I GUESS I SHOULD BACK UP. THE STATE HAS WRITTEN HOLDING CLOSER TO THE PREVIOUS RULINGS.

>> MICHAEL: IT HAD NOT BEEN A FACT, BUT AFTER THE VARIOUS PAPERS HAS CLEARED, MARK, I GET THE NINTH CIRCUIT RULING. PANELISTS, WE'RE OUT OF TIME. AT THE END OF MOST SHOWS, WE INVITE YOU TO LOG ONTO THE CHANNEL 8 WEBSITE FOR THE ELECTION. WE'VE ADDED MUCH MORE TO OUR SITE. HERE NOW IS A VISUAL TOUR OF WWW.KAET.ASU.EDU. ONE OF THE MOST USEFUL FEATURES YOU WILL FIND IS FULL INFORMATION ABOUT EVERY PROPOSITION ON THE STATE BALLOT. HERE'S HOW TO HELP YOU DETERMINE YOUR VOTE ON A BALLOT PROPOSITION. GO TO THE SITE AT WWW.KAET.ASU.EDU. WHEN YOU GET THERE, CLICK ON THE ELECTION 2002 EMBLEM. THEN CLICK ON ARIZONA BALLOT PROPOSITION. LET'S SAY YOU WANTED TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PROPOSITION 203. CLICK ON THAT BOX. THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO A PAGE OF SUMMARY, A BALLOT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO OUR SITE. AMONG THE OTHER FEATURES YOU'LL FIND, MY BALLOT, A CHECKLIST OF THE PROPOSITIONS YOU CAN PRINT OUT AND TAKE TO THE VOTING BOOTH. A LINKS AND RESOURCES PAGE THAT INCLUDES SITES WHERE YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE, FIND OUT WHICH DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN, REQUEST AN EARLY BALLOT AND FIND THE LOCATION OF YOUR POLLING PLACE. YOU CAN VIEW TRANSCRIPTS OF THE SHOWS WE DO ON BALLOT PROPOSITIONS, AND REQUEST AN EARLY BALLOT. YOU CAN VIEW ASU POLLS AND BALLOT MEASURES. MONDAY ON "HORIZON," JOIN US AS WE GIVE YOU A PREVIEW OF THE STATE'S REPORT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS. TUESDAY, THE RESULTS OF THAT REPORT WILL BE RELEASED. IT WILL REVEAL WHICH SCHOOLS DIDN'T MAKE THE GRADE. WEDNESDAY, ANOTHER "HORIZON" AD WATCH. WE'LL ALSO TALK TO THE TEMPE YOUTH WHO WAS NAMED THE NATIONAL YOUTH OF THE YEAR BY THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. THURSDAY, A LOOK AT THE HOT CONGRESSIONAL RACES, INCLUDING THE PITCHED BATTLE TAKING PLACE IN NORTHERN DISTRICT ONE. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US ON A FRIDAY EVENING. I'M MICHAEL GRANT. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. GOOD NIGHT.