>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND WE HEAR FROM REPUBLICANS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

ALSO TONIGHT, A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY TALKS ABOUT CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FORMER OFFICEAND HIS HOME IN DELAWARE.

A NEW SCHOOL LUNCH WAIVER AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR ARIZONA STUDENTS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS' OFFICE RELEASED DETAILS OF THE DONATION TO THE GOVERNOR'S INAUGURATION.

APS WAS THE LARGEST DONOR CONTRIBUTES $250,000.

THE PARENT COMPANY, PINNACLE WEST GAVE MONEY TO THE GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION HELPING TO FUND HOBBS' OPPONENT IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND APS SAYS IT WAS, QUOTE, PLEASED TO JOIN OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE HOBBS' INAUGURATION.

THE CAPITAL MEDIA SERVICES ALONG WITH A LOBBYING FUND FOR REALTORS AND THE STATE CHILD WELFARE DONATED $100,000 EACH FOR THE INAUGURATION.

AND ECONOMIC NEWS, RETAIL SALES FOR DECEMBER ARE IN AND SHOW A CONTINUED DECLINE.

THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SAYS SALES IN THE U.S. FELL BY OVER 1% FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH AND DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MONTH, BUT THE LARGEST DECLINE SINCE DECEMBER OF 2021 AND MORE THAN ECONOMISTS EXPECTED.

THAT SAID, RETAIL SALES DID INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR.

IN DECEMBER, THAT INCREASED AT 6%.

>>> THE WORLD'S OLDEST PERSON DIED AT THE AGE OF 118.

SISTER ANDREA DIED IN SOUTHERN FRANCE AND SHE DEDICATED MOST OF HER LIFE TO RELIGIOUS SERVICE AND DURING WORLD WAR II, SHE LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN AND CARED FOR ORPHANS.

AT 118, SHE WAS THE OLDEST LIVING PERSON, NUN AND OLDEST COVID-19 SURVIVOR.

SHE WAS ALSO KNOWN TO ENJOY A GLASS OF WINE AND CHOCOLATE ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> IT'S WEDNESDAY AND TIME FOR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE IN WHICH BE HEAR FROM STATE LAWMAKERS AND THIS IS THE REPUBLICAN'S TURN AND JOINING US ARE SENATOR PRESIDENT PROTEM AND LEADER.

>> SENATE, WE'LL START WITH YOU AND WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE AND LET'S JUST START WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND WE'LL GO THERE ANYWAY.

INITIAL THOUGHTS?

>> FAIRLY DISAPPOINTING FROM A SENATOR REPUBLICAN CAUCUS VIEW AND YOU HAD SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD, STARTING WITH THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS AND STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS THAT WE HAVE A BIPARTISAN TONE.

WE'LL WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

THE FIRST THING THAT YOU SEE AND I'M SURE THAT MY COLLEAGUE HERE WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY IS THAT YOU SEE A REPEAL OF THE CURRENT HOUSE SPEAKER'S BILL ON ESA'S IN THAT BUDGET AND AMONG OTHER THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER TUITION PROGRAM FOR NONCITIZENS, OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE VERY PROBLEMATIC AT BEST FOR A REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

MOST DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD START OFF WITH AS AN OLIVE BRANCH TO THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

>> Ted: REPRESENTATIVE, YOUR THOUGHTS AND MAYBE NOT AN OLIVE BRANCH BUT A STARTING POINT?

>> ONCE WE WERE DONE WITH THAT MEETING ON FRIDAY, I HAD TO CHECK MY I.D.

TO MAKE SURE I WAS IN ARIZONA.

YOU SEE A LOT OF THIS IS CALIFORNIA, WITH THE PULLBACK OF ESA'S AND 40 MILLION TO ILLEGALS AND A LOT WE'RE NOT USED TO AND SHE WAS AIMING AT A SPOT THAT WAS VERY, VERY FAR FROM WHERE WE'RE AT.

WHETHER WE COME TO A POINT TO AGREE ON SOMETHING, WE'LL FIND OUT VERY SOON.

>> Ted: WHEN IT COMES TO UNIVERSAL VOUCHERS AND THE EXPANSION OF THE ESA PROGRAM, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT, EXPAND, GET RID OF IT AND KEEP THE ORIGINAL ASPECT IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS ASKING AND IS THERE A WAY TO BRIDGE THE GAP?

DO YOU CAP IT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BECOME ALL FUEL'S PART TWO?

>> WITH THE ESA'S, IT WAS A MONUMENTAL WIN AND IT TOLD OUR PARENTS IN ARIZONA, YOUR CHILD MATTERS.

EVERY CHILD LEARNS AT A DIFFERENT PACE AND EXCEL IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.

FORS AS REPUBLICANS, THAT'S THE PATH TO GO.

A CHILD MIGHT LEARN AND EXCEL IN HOME SCHOOL, CHARTER OR PUBLIC AND WHY WE WOULDN'T ALLOW THAT?

FOR US, IT'S NOT NEGOTIABLE TO SAY, LET'S GET RID OF IT.

SHE IS PROPOSING A REPEAL TO COME INTO HOW ABOUT CHILDREN THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE SPECIAL NEEDS?

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT REPEALING THAT, AS WELL?

>> Ted: SHE SAID UNIVERSAL EXPANSION.

>> CORRECT.

I DON'T THINK WE BUDGE ON THAT AT ALL.

>> Ted: A BIG WIN HERE AND VOTERS WOULD SAY, A BIG WIN AND WE ALL VOTED WE DIDN'T -- NOT ALL OF US, BUT DIDN'T WANT THAT EXPANSION.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE AND LAWMAKERS WERE ELECTED AND THE GOVERNOR WAS ELECTED, AS WELL, AND SHE DOES NOT LIKE THE ESA PROGRAM.

>> I HAVE SAID THIS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

THE GOVERNOR, IN HER INTERPRETATION OF BIPARTISANSHIP IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN MY INTERPRETATION OF BIPARTISAN AND IT DOESN'T MEAN SHE GETS EVERYTHING SHE WANTS AND DOESN'T MEAN WE GET EVERYTHING WE WANT.

I WOULD CAUTION THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE VERY STRONGLY ON THIS PROGRAM, ESA PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S IT'S A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE MERITS OF PASSING SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND OFFERING IT TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND THAT IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION THAN WE'LL TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM YOU THAT WE HAVE GIVEN YOU.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE OF EVENTS.

WE HAD A RALLY YESTERDAY THAT WAS ATTENDED BY DOZENS OF PARENTS THAT CAUSED, I THINK A RECKONING, IF YOU WILL, OF WHAT PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT A CAP FOR THE PROGRAM?

>> IF THAT HAD BEEN SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD COME TO, I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WE FEED TONEEDTO GO, IT WOULD HAVE AN MORE THAN A REPEAL.

>> Ted: IS IT SOMETHING DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS COULD COME TO?

>> I THINK THAT'S QUESTIONABLE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD.

IF YOU LISTEN TO GROUPS LIKE SOS OR OTHER ALPHABET SOUP GROUPS OF EDUCATION, REPEAL IS WHAT THEY WANTED.

THEY FEEL THEY PUT HOBBS IN OFFICE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY GET WITH GOVERNORSHIP.

>> Ted: SPEAKS OF EDUCATION, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SPENDING CAP?

WHEN WILL THAT BE ADDRESSED AND LIFTED?

YOU HAVE TO GET IT BY MARCH 1st AND WHAT'S THE WAITING AROUND FOR?

>> WE'LL GET THERE AND WE DO IT EVERY YEAR.

THE QUESTION BECOMES, DO YOU WANT THE LEGISLATURE -- THEY WANTED AN OVERSIGHT AND WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE THERE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE AND WE'LL DO IT WHEN WE HAVE THE RIGHT TIME.

THERE'S NO REASON.

>> Ted: IS IT TIME TO READDRESS THIS THING?

>> I DON'T THINK SPOND IT'S SO.

TO ME, I DON'T SUPPORT A PERMANENT.

I LIKE THE FACT WE COME BACK EVERY YEAR, TAKE A LOOK AND MAKE SURE IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL PASS AND WE'VE PASSED IT EVERY TIME WE'VE NEEDED TO.

>> Ted: A LOT OF REPUBLICANS THEY'VE TOLD ME IT NEEDS TO BE ABOLISHED AND HAS TO HAPPEN AND WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IF THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS WOULD LIKE, I HAVE NO DOUBT, AND WE SAW IT JUST THIS PAST NOVEMBER ONCE AGAIN PARTNERSHIP HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF THAT'S THE DESIRE, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL GO AND NO DOUBT THE LEGISLATURE WILL GO AHEAD AND GIVE UP THE CONSTANT OVERSIGHT WHEN THIS CAP IS UP.

LET'S SAY, THE REASON WE BUMPED UP AGAINST THIS CAP IS BECAUSE SENATE AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE ALLOWED THE PREVIOUS REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR VOTED FOR BUDGETS THAT HAVE INCREASED EDUCATION SPENDING EXPO EXPONENTIALLY.

>> Ted: NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO REFER IT?

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR STRIKE FORCE AND PREVIOUS GOVERNOR'S STRIKE FORCE AND NOT SEEING ANY PART THIS?

YOUR RESPONSE?

>> IT HAD TO BE DO WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SEX TRAFFICKING, AND WE INCREASED THE PENALTIES WHICH ARE HAPPENING AT THE BORDER.

IT'S DRUGS, HUMAN SMUGGLING AND TO SAY WE WANT TO GET RID OF THAT FUNDING IS DISAPPOINTING TO EVERY PERSON IN ARIZONA.

WE WANT A SAFE BORDER AND WANT TO STOP THAT AND SENDS A MESSAGE OUR BORDER IS OPEN WHICH WE'VE HEARD FROM D.C.

THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I'M ACTUALLY SHOCKED TO SEE THAT HAPPENED.

>> Ted: IS ARE A WAY, THOUGH, TO REDIRECT THE FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FOCUSED ON THE PARTICULAR ISSUES AND NOT SAYING THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING DOWN THERE AND CAN YOU BETTER FOCUS?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL IT THE STRIKE FORCE BUT SOMETHING ELSE?

CAN YOU BETTER FOCUS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND FENTANYL?

>> I THINK WE CAN, BUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR PUT IN PLACE, IT DID WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO AND WE CAN CONTINUE, BUT IS THERE A CONVERSATION THAT SAID DO WE MAKE THAT AN EVEN MORE CONCENTRATED FORCE?

ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ISSUES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF.

>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE NAME AND I'M NOT MARRIED TO THE NAME AND WE ARE MARRIED TO THE MISSION.

WE ARE MARRIED VERY MUCH TO THE MISSION OF MAKING SURE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR KIDS ARE SAFE AND FENTANYL IS STOPPED AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING TO HELP OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS WHO, FRANKLY, IN MY OPINION FEEL LIKE THEY'RE FIGHTING THIS BATTLE WITH ONE ARM TIED BEHIND THEIR BACK AND THAT IS WHY THE STATE IS STEPPING IN TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE.

>> Ted: I DON'T WANT TO GO TOO LONG BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTINUATION BUDGET.

I MEAN, IS THAT A NONSTARTER FOR THE DEMOCRATS?

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS.

WHERE DO THE TWO SIDES MEET?

>> SIX MONTHS AFTER THE CONTINUATION BUDGET, REWIND TO SIX MONTHS AGO AND THAT CONTINUATION BUDGET, BEING CALLED THAT TODAY, RECEIVING OVERWHELMING SUPPORT.

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THINK WERE SHOCKED IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF POLITICAL POLARIZATION, WE COULD COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

SO THAT'S OUR PLAN AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY AT HOMES KNOWS, WE'LL KEEP GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING AND WE CAN WORK ON REST OF THE, WHAT, $2.5 BILLION SURPLUS AFTER WE TAKE CARE OF THE CORE GOVERNMENT.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE, WHEN WE LOOK AT GOVERNOR HOBBS AND IS YOUR GOAL TO SHUT DOWN GOVERNMENT?

IF THAT'S THE GOAL, SHE VOTE KNOW ON THE BASELINE CONTINUATION GOVERNMENT.

>> Ted: THE SAME QUESTION COULD BE ASKED OF REPUBLICANS.

>> OUR ONE DUTY IS THE BUDGET AND OUR JOB TO LET'S FUND THE BUDGET TO STAY OPEN.

THAT'S OUR GOAL AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN SAY RIGHT NOW AND AGREE TO IT.

THE REST OF THE REMAINING SESSION COULD BE FIGURING OUT THE SURPLUS.

YOU HAVE A $2.6 BILLION SURPLUS.

YOU HAVE THE BASELINE AND FUND GOVERNMENT TO STAY OPEN AND THE REST IS A FREE-FOR-ALL.

LET'S FUND THIS AND THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD WORK.

>> Ted: THAT'S A LOUSY BARGAINING POINT FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OVER IF SHE GOES THAT DIRECTION.

DO YOU NOT AGREE?

>> SHE WANTS TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA, SHE HAS TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT TO STAY OPEN.

>> Ted: GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH.

UP NEXT, A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIDEN CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT CASE.

CLASSIFIED GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS HAVE.

FOUND AT MOMENT AND FORMER OFFICE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN.

THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT APPOINTED A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND WE LOOK SPOTINTO THE ISSUE WITH NOW A PARTNER AT DENTON'S RAW LAW FIRM.

LET'S GET THE BASICS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THESE DOCUMENTS SO FAR OR DO WE KNOW MUCH AT ALL?

>> WE DON'T KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AS WE DO WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

BUT MAYBE THE BEST PLACE TO BEGIN, TED, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS IS TO JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT AT ALL?

A CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT AND IN PARTICULAR, A TOP SECRET DOCUMENT IS ONE IN WHICH THE DISCLOSURE WOULD PRESENT GRAVE DAMAGE TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

AND WHY IS THAT?

BECAUSE IT MIGHT DISCLOSE SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND SPIES OVERSEAS, MEN AND WOMEN RISKING LIVES TO GATHER INFORMATION FROM ENEMIES TO DO US HARM.

WE HAVE OVERSIGHT, SATELLITES LISTENING INTO CONVERSATIONS FROM OUR ENEMY.

IF WE DISCLOSE THAT OR HOLD THAT INFORMATION IN A DOCUMENT IN A NONSECURE AREA, WE PUT OUR NATION'S SECURITY AT RISK.

SO BOTH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND CURRENT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAVE HAD DOCUMENTS, THOSE KINDS OF DOCUMENTS IN AN UNSECURE LOCATION.

>> Ted: OK. LET'S TALK ABOUT BIDEN FIRST HERE.

HIS HOME AND OFFICE, WHO FOUND THESE THINGS AND WHEN WERE THEY FOUND?

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN FOUND THESE DOCUMENTS, ACTUALLY HIS LAWYERS DID, WHEN THEY WERE REVIEWING THE OFFICE THEY WERE CLOSING DOWN IN A UNIVERSITY FACILITY HE HAD NAMED AFTER HIMSELF.

LAWYERS WERE GOING THROUGH CLOSING IT DOWN AND REPORTED THEM TO THE NATIONAL OR CHIVES.

ARCHIVES.

THIS TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE MIDTERM LESS AND LES ELECTIONS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS LAWYERS INDICATED THAT, YES, THESE NATIONAL CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS WERE HELD IN AN UNCLASSIFIED LOCATION.

SINCE THEN, TED, WE'VE HAD, IF I MAY SAY, A DRIP OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED AS RECENTLY AS LAST THURSDAY.

>> Ted: YEAH.

THE INITIAL REPORTING, THE TIMING, CURIOUS TO YOU?

>> IT IS CURIOUS AND THE RESPONSE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN, LISTEN, WE ARE COOPERATING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS DOING A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SO WE FEEL A NEEDN'T TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAS OCCURRED HERE.

THAT'S TRUE SO FAR AS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS CONCERNED.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT, OUGHT NOT TO TALK ABOUT ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS, BUT THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT FACED WITH A SIMILAR CONSTRAINT.

THEY COULD, IF THEY WISHED UNDER THE LAW, SPEAK ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION.

IT FEELS AS IF THE REASON FOR NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS IS MORE POLITICAL THAN LEGAL.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION AND APPOINTS AN INVESTIGATION AND LET'S TALK ABOUT ROBERT HUR.

>> HE'S A FORMER PROSECUTOR, A FORMER PROSECUTOR IN MARYLAND APPOINTED BY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IT SHOULD PROTECT HIM FOR A BRIEF PERIOD AND THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT BIASED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO ACCEPT HIS INITIAL FINDING, WHATEVER THOSE WILL BE.

>> Ted: I SAW A REPORT SAYING PRESIDENT BIDEN DOESN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IS IN THESE DOCUMENTS.

ARE YOU BUYING THAT?

>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW.

AND AS WE WERE SAYING EARLIER, WE KNOW SO VERY MUCH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP BECAUSE OF A LARGE VOLUME OF PLEADINGS TAKING PLACE AND FEELINGS TAKEN PLACE BY TRUMP'S OWN LAWYERS.

ON THE BIDEN SIDE OF THE ISSUE, WE KNOW SO LITTLE BECAUSE OF WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS DISCLOSING AND BITS AND DRABS AND PIECES OF IT.

WHAT HE KNEW AND DOESN'T KNOW, TED, AS YOU KNOW, WILL BE CRITICAL TO DETERMINING WHAT HAPPENED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN IS A CRIME OR SIMPLY AN ACCIDENT.

>> Ted: I'VE HEARD THIS COMPARISON, LIKE AN OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOK.

YOU HAVE AN OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOK AND FOUND AND YOU TAKE IT BACK, OOPS, SORRY, I FOUND THIS.

AS OPPOSED TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING I'M NOT TAKING THIS BACK, YOU HAVE TO COME AND GET IT, WHICH WE HAD AN FBI RAID, FOR GOODNESS SAKES AND COMPARE THESE TWO SITUATIONS.

>> SO THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT SIMILARITIES IN THE SENSE THAT WE DISCUSSED, THAT THEY BOTH DEAL WITH CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS.

NEVER SHOULD THOUGH DOCUMENTS BE IN AN UNSECURE LOCATION AND BOTH WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT BIDEN AND WE KNOW SO FAR THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP REFUSED TO TURN OVER THESE DOCUMENTS AND HAD A SUBPOENA AND WOULD NOT TURN THEM OVER AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT TO PUT THEM IN A SECURE LOCATION.

THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BECAUSE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S LAWYERS WILL SAY, WE ARE FULLY COOPERATING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION, HOW LONG WILL EACH PROBE GO, DO YOU THINK?

HOW LONG WILL WE GO THROUGH?

>> ON THE PRESIDENT TRUMP SIDE BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS AND MUCH LESS THAT HAS TO BE DONE ON THE PRESIDENT BIDEN SIDE.

TO HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AND RESOLVED QUICKLY.

I EXPECT THE PRESIDENT WILL BE ASKED TO SIT DOWN FOR AN ENTER RUE ANDINTERVIEW AND THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HE RESPONDS AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED SOON.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TED.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING HIGHER THAN ONE PERSON CAN DO OTHER THAN THAN SERVE YOUR COUNTRY AND THE TIME OF NEED.

>> Ted: FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION HOBBS SAID SHE WAS ALLOCATES FUNDS FOR REDUCED FEE MEALS AND WE WELCOME SARAH MARTINELLI AND HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> $6.4 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED.

>> Ted: IF THIS WAIVES SOMETHING ELSE, EXPLAIN.

>> SO UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, STUDENTS CAN QUALIFY FOR EITHER FREE OR REDUCED PRICED MEALS BASED ON FAMILY INCOME AND THOSE STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR REDUCED PRICED MEALS WILL HAVE FEES WAIVED USING THESE FUNDS.

>> Ted: THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT EARN, I GUESS, LESS THAN 30 SOME ODD THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR AND QUALIFY FOR FEDERALLY FUNDED MEALS.

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: THEY MAKE 30, 40, 50,000.

>> SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 36,000 AND 51,000 AND IF YOU EARN 51,000, YOU DO NOT QUALIFY AND YOU WOULD BE PAYING THE FULL PRICE.

>> Ted: THERE'S A FEE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

>> REDUCED PRICED MEALS ARE 30 CENTS CENTS FOR BREAKFAST AND 40 CENTS FOR LUNCH AND ON THE SURFACE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT.

IT ADDS UP IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.

>> Ted: FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS USES THIS MONEY AND THIS IS MONEY FROM COVID RELIEF?

>> YES.

COVID RELIEF FUNDS THAT WERE LEFT TO BE SPENT AND SHE DECIDED TO, ACTUALLY, HER LAST ACTION IN OFFICE, TO ALLOCATE FUNS FUNDS ON A TEMPORARY BASIS THROUGH THE END OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, 2023- 2023-20/24.

>> Ted: WHAT DOES THIS EQUATE TO?

>> 20 MILLION MEALS OF STUDENTS THAT WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THOSE FEES.

>> Ted: THE END OF NEXT YEAR AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PROGRAM BEYOND THAT?

IS THERE A CHANCE, DO YOU THINK, THEY'LL BE CONTINUE TO BE WAIVED?

>> SO THE HOPE WOULD BE YES, NOT ONLY WOULD STUDENTS IN THE RETUESDAYED PRICEREDUCED PRICE CATEGORY WOULD BE FREE BUT ALL STUDENTS WOULD HAVE MEALS FOR FREE.

THIS IS WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND A LOT OF STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PROGRAM AND WE HAVE FOUND IN OUR RESEARCH WHERE WE ASKED ARIZONA RESIDENTS WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CONTINUING IT IN THE FUTURE, THAT MANY FAMILIES, EVEN THOSE THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS REALLY, REALLY LOVED THE PROGRAM.

MOSTLY WORKING, BUSY FAMILIES HAVE A LOT ON THEIR MIND AND THEIR PLATE AND KNOWING THEY COULD SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY IF THEY WOULD GET A MEAL OR NOT WAS A HUGE BENEFIT A LOT OF FAMILIES REPORTED.

>> Ted: TALK ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF SIMPLY MAKING HEALTHY FOODS MORE AVAILABLE.

>> THE ARIZONA FOOD BANK LOOKED COMMISSIONED US TO LOOK INTO THIS QUESTION AND WE LOOKED AT COST SCENARIOS TO SEE HOW WE COULD DO THAT AND WHAT WOULD THE COSTS BE TO THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO SUPPORT THAT.

AS YOU MENTIONED, SCHOOL MEALS ARE FINISHED FUN FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE STATE OF ARIZONA DOES NOT PUT FUNDING TO MEALS.

BUT WHAT IF WE ADISCUSSADJUST WHEREAS AS WOULD KICK IN.

THIS IS A GREAT OPTION, BUT AS WE'VE MENTIONED, IT EXPANDS ACCESS BUT ONLY FOR A SMALL GROUP OF STUDENTS.

THIS IS WHERE HOW MANY STUDENTS WOULD QUALIFY WITHOUT A MEAL APPLICATION.

BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY PARTICIPATES IN SNAP OR OTHER PROGRAMS, AND ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE HOPING TO SEE IF WE COULD EXPAND ACCESS TO SCHOOL MEALS BY HAVING SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFY FOR THAT FEDERAL PROGRAM, PARTICIPATE.

RIGHT NOW, ONLY 27% SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN ARIZONA AND OFFERS FREE MEALS TO ALL STUDENTS.

BUT THERE'S COMPLICATED FUNDING ISSUES AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF IT MAKES SENSE.

THAT'S ONE REASON THEY DON'T ALL PARTICIPATE.

WE COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE PARTICIPATION AND IMPORTANTLY, INCREASE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM VERSUS ARIZONA HAVING TO PAY.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS RESEARCH IS CONCERNED, ELIMINATING REDUCED PRICE COPAYS AND THAT HELPS ACROSS THE BOARD.

GRADES, ATTENDANCE AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS?

>> A LOT OF WORK DONE RECENTLY, LOOKING THROUGH THE LITERATURE TO EXAM WHAT KIND OF EFFECTS DOES INCREASE HAVE ON STUDENTS.

THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT STUDENTS ARE ATTENDING MORE AND HIGHER TEST SCORES, ET CETERA.

THOSE EFFECTS TEND TO BE STRONGEST IN THE LOWER INCOME STUDENTS.

>> Ted: AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHO YOU'RE FOCUSED ON HERE?

>> RIGHT.

>> Ted: A LITTLE BIT OF OPTIMISM?

>> YES, HOPEFUL THIS POLICY IN PLACE RIGHT NOW WILL ALLOW US TO MAYBE EXPAND IN THE FUTURE.

>> Ted: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.