[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON HORIZON," REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKER PAUL BOYER JOINS US TO EXPLAIN WHY HE'S HELPED KILL A NUMBER OF GOP-ENDORSED ELECTION REFORM BILLS, NEWS," ARIZONA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REACTS TO UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ASKING THE U.S. FOR MORE MILITARY AID.
THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.
>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."
I'M TED SIMONS.
THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE SPOKE TO CONGRESS TODAY, AND IN A DIRECT APPEAL ASKED FOR THE U.S. TO COME TO UKRAINE'S AID IN FIGHTING OFF RUSSIAN ASSAULT PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY AT ONE POINT COMPARED WHAT IS HAPPENING TO HIS COUNTRY WITH ATTACKS IN THE PAST ON THE U.S. >> Translator: REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR WHEN YOUR SKY WAS BLACK FROM THE PLANES ATTACKING YOU.
JUST REMEMBER IT.
REMEMBER SEPTEMBER THE 11TH.
A TERRIBLE DAY IN 2001, WHEN EVIL TRIED TO TURN YOUR CITIES INDEPENDENT TERRITORIES IN BATTLEFIELDS, WHEN INNOCENT PEOPLE WERE ATTACKED -- ATTACKED FROM AIR, YES.
JUST LIKE NO ONE ELSE EXPECTED IT.
YOU COULD NOT STOP IT.
OUR COUNTRY EXPERIENCE THE SAME EVERY DAY, RIGHT NOW.
>> ZELENSKYY ASKED FOR HELPING IN PROTECTING UKRAINIAN AIR SPACE, OR MILITARY ASSISTANCE, AND STRONGER SANCTIONS IN WHAT WE CALLED A WAR TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY ITSELF.
AFTER THE ADDRESS PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED THE U.S. WILL SEND $80 MILLION OF SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE.
THE MILITARY ASSISTANCE DOES NOT INCLUDE MIG FIGHTER JETS OR A NO-FLY ZONE, BOTH OF WHICH WERE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY ZELENSKYY.
THE MILITARY AID IS PART OF A $13 BILLION OVERALL ASSISTANCE PACKAGE TO UKRAINE NFRMENTD >>> OTHER NEWS, THE FEDERAL RESERVE RAISED INTEREST RATES IN AN ATTEMPT TO EASE INFLATION.
IT IS A QUARTER CENT HIKE.
ANALYSTS SEE TODAY AS THE FIRST OF WHAT COULD BE UP TO SEVEN RATE HIKES THIS YEAR, ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW GROW AND TAME INFLATION.
>>> A 7.3 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HIT OFF OF THE COAST OF JAPAN TODAY.
MORE THAN 2 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ARE REPORTED TO BE WITHOUT POWER, AND A TSUNAMI ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED.
>>> AND POLITICAL NEWS, THE FIRST MAYOR BOOK ABOUT THE BIDEN PRESIDENCY, INCLUDES REPORTS THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID IN PRIVATE THAT HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ARIZONA SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA.
THERE ARE REPORTS OF SINEMA ARGUING WITH WHITE HOUSE STAFF MEMBERS LAST YEAR, ABOUT BEING REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PRESIDENT.
AND ALSO INCLUDES REPORTSES OF SINEMA DESCRIBING HERSELF AS ANTI-TAX AND ANTI-GOVERNMENT 2346789 AND IS REPORTED TO HAVE MACHED PRESIDENT BIDEN WHILE SPEAKS WARMLY ABOUT IS HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY, AND ARIZONA REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ANDY BIGGS.
>>> 14 REPUBLICAN-BACKED ELECTION REFORM BILLS DIED IN THE SENATE THIS PAST MONDAY.
EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH SENATOR BOYER TO FIND OUT WHY HE KEEPS VOTING AGAINST HIS PARTY'S WISHES.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
WE'LL START OFF WITH ELECTION REFORM BILLS.
IS -- WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS ONE THEME.
I MEAN THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH EVERY SINGLE BILL THAT I VOTED NO ON.
I SUPPOSE IF THERE WAS A THEME, IT'S EITHER UNWORKABLE FOR ELECTIONS OFFICIALS -- THEY JUST LITERALLY COULDN'T IMPLEMENT THE LAW AS PASSED.
IT'S DUPLICATIVE.
CERTAIN BILLS WOULD BE AT VARIANCE TO OTHERS, AND SOME JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING >> YOU ARE THE ONLY REPUBLICAN VOTING AGAINST THESE THINGS.
WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE ARE YOU GETTING?
>> WELL, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THEY ARE NOT VERY HAPPY WITH ME RIGHT NOW.
THEY THINK IT IS PERSONAL.
IT IS NOT.
EVERY SINGLE BILL IS ABOUT THE POLICY.
>> OKAY.
IT'S BASICALLY -- BUT, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S UNUSUAL, AND I THINK MOST FOLKS WOULD THINK IT IS USUAL, IS ONE MEMBER OF THE PARTY DOESN'T SEE THINGS THE SAME -- BALLOT IMAGES TO BE POSTED ONLINE.
WHAT IS THAT NOT A GOOD THING.
>> I LIKED THE LANGUAGE FROM 1629, BUT I DIDN'T LIKE THE OTHER COMPONENT.
THE ONE I VOTED AGAINST DIDN'T HAVE LIABILITY COVERAGE FOR THE COUNTIES.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, VOTERS WRITE A LOT OF NASTY THINGS ON BALLOTS.
AND THAT'S WHY I LIKED THE BALLOT LANGUAGE FROM 1629.
HAD THEY ASKED ME, I WOULD SAY TAKE OUT THE AUDITOR GENERAL PIECE, AND CLEAN UP THE VOTER ROLLS, AND I'LL SUPPORT IT.
>> ARE THEY NOT ASKING YOU.
>> NO.
>> MAYBE THEY SHOULD START.
HERE IS ANOTHER THING, BANNING SHARPIES FROM BEING USED ON BALLOTS.
WHY IS THAT NOT A GOOD IDEA?
>> THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DEBUNKED.
EVEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LOOKED INTO THAT AND SAW THERE WAS NOTHING TO IT.
IT IS ONE OF THOSE BILLS THAT MAY LOOK LIKE YOU ARE SUPPORTING ELECTION INTEGRITY, AND TELL THEM YOU ARE BANNING SHARPIES, BUT IT DOES DON'T ANYTHING.
>> YEAH.
AND GIVING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MORE POWER TO INVESTIGATE ELECTION COMPLAINTS.
AGAIN, THE PROBLEM THERE?
>> WELL, IN ADDITION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THERE IS AN AMENDMENT THAT ALLOWED ANY COUNTY ATTORNEY.
SO ANY COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE AG HAD SUBPOENA POWERS, DIDN'T EVEN REALLY HAVE TO HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE -- IF SOMETHING IS GOOD POLICY, IT SHOULD BE GOOD POLICY REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THE OFFICE.
I HAPPEN TO LOVE MARK BRNOVICH.
I THINK OUR MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY IS STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.
BUT IS IT GOOD POLICY?
AND I JUST DON'T THINK GIVING THAT MUCH AUTHORITY WITHOUT CHECKS AND BALANCES -- I JUST THINK THAT WAS GOING TOO FAR.
>> AND YET YOUR FELLOW REPUBLICANS DON'T THINK THAT WAS GOING TOO FAR.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT THE STATE CHAIR SAYS, YOU WILL BE REWARDED BY THE SWAMP AFTER THE SESSION ENDS.
YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> WELL, I KNOW THERE IS A KHEM TRAIL JOKE IN THERE SOMEWHERE, BUT HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT POPS IN KELLY'S HEAD FROM TIME TO TIME.
AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, SHE'LL GIVE ME A SHOUT-OUT, AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT CONSPIRACY LAND SHE LIVES IN, BUT WHEN I'M DONE WITH THE LEGISLATURE, I'LL BE GOING TO TEACHING FULL-TIMES >> AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE A MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?
>> SURE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT -- SO MY COLLEAGUES HAVEN'T STRAYED FROM WHAT I WOULD ARGUE ARE CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES.
AND AS CONSERVATIVES WE TEND TO CONSERVATIVE WHAT IS GOOD, AND WE DON'T LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO, AND WITH ELECTIONS, WE'RE AS A PARTY TRYING TO TELL A LOT OF ELECTION OFFICIAL LS HOW TO DO THEIR JOBS AND POORLY AT THAT, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T IMPLIMENT IT PROPERLY, IF THOSE BILLS HAD PASSED.
>> YEAH.
YEAH.
AND THIS PRECINCT COMMITTEE ELECTION ISSUE.
THIS LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE HEADED FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.
YOU TELL ME, A, AND B, WHY DID EVERYTHING PASS?
DID YOU READ IT BEFOREHAND?
>> TYLER PACE AND I, WE BOTH WENT TO OUR STAFF ATTORNEY, AND I SAID, JEFF, PLEASE DON'T FORCE US TO VOTE ON THIS BILL.
WE WANT TO HAVE TIME.
WE EVEN SAID WHAT DOES THIS PC THING DO?
AND COLLECTIVELY WHAT WE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY WAS THERE IS A TIMING ISSUE.
THE HOUSE IS TO BLAME.
THEY DRUG THEIR FEET FOR THREE WEEKS.
IT HAD TO DO WITH SIGNATURE GATHERING, AND WE HAD TO PASS IT THAT DAY.
I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE VOTING FOR IT.
I DID VOTE FOR IT, BECAUSE I RELIED ON THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM OF STAFF TO SAY IT WAS OKAY.
>> AND IT DOES INDICATE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS DOWN THERE THAT SIMPLY DID NOT READ THE LEGISLATION.
>> ON THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
>> SPEAKING OF SPECIAL SESSIONS.
IS THERE GOING TO BE A SPECIAL SESSION ON REPEAL AND REPLACE NOW THAT PROP 2 HAS BEEN DEEMED UNCONSTITUTIONAL?
>> IF WE'RE DOING A WATER, A PC SPECIAL SESSION, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I DO THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO A SPECIAL SESSION ON WATER AND REPLACE.
>> YEAH, VOTERS SAID THEY WANT THAT MONEY IN THERE FOR EDUCATION FUNDING.
THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY NEGATED BY THE COURTS BECAUSE IT WENT OVER THE SPENDING CAP, AND EVEN THE TRIAL COURT SAID I HAVE GOT TO GO WITH WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID.
THAT SAID, HOW MUCH DOES THE FACT THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED THIS, PLAY INTO WHAT YOU, LAWMAKERS, ARE GOING TO DO?
>> SURE, OPPONENTS WILL TELL YOU THAT VOTERS WERE LIED TO, BECAUSE PROPONENTS SAID IT WASN'T A TAX.
AND THEY DIDN'T EXSEFRT IT FROM THE EXPENDITURE LIMIT.
THAT IS WHAT IS THE DISCUSSION IS.
I DO THINK VOTERS IN ARIZONA DO WANT MORE FUNDING FOR EDUCATION.
THAT'S WHY I'M WORKING ON A GRANT BARGAIN, TO SEE IF WE CAN COBBLE TOGETHER ENOUGH VOTES, AND I THINK I WOULD NEED TWO-THIRDS THAT WOULD SUPPORT MORE FUNDING AND SCHOOL CHOICE MEASURES.
>> TO THE TUNE OF WHAT PROP 208 WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IN?
>> I'M LOOKING AT A BILLION DOLLARS.
>> THAT IS EVEN MORE.
THAT BEING SAID, WOULD YOU ALSO AGREE ON LOWERING THE STATE INCOME TAX?
>> YOU MEAN TO THE 2.5?
I WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO GO THE OTHER WAY.
I WAS TRYING TO FUND THAT AND MAKING THE TOP EARNERS PAY MORE.
>> YOU REALIZE THAT IS NOT GOING TO GET MUCH TRACTION.
>> I'M REALIZING IT.
BUT IT IS STILL A TAX CUT FROM 4.5%.
BUT I HAVEN'T GOT INMUCH TRACTION WITH THAT WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
>> AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS FAR AS INCREASING EDUCATION FUNDING AT OR NEAR LEVELS PROP 208 WOULD HAVE AND CUTTING INCOME TAXES?
>> I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO BOTH.
I DON'T THINK IT IS AN EITHER/OR, SO THAT'S WHY I'M COBBLING TOGETHER SOME KIND OF GRAND BARGAIN THAT WOULD SATISFY BOTH CONCERNS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SENATOR PAUL, ON THE PRECINCT THING, WOULD REPUBLICANS WILL BEING TO WORK WITH DEMOCRATS TO GET THEIR VOTES ON THAT?
IT COULD BE A DONE DEAL IF YOU COULD GET THEM TO JUMP ON BOARD, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO WANT SOMETHING IN EXCHANGE.
>> THEY DO.
AND IT WAS FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE THEY VOTED NO SON EVERY SINGLE BILL.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY WANT, BUT I THINK THE GOOD POLICY IS TO ALLOW PC'S TO GET ELECTED.
I JUST DO.
I THINK THAT'S THAT GOOD POLICY, AND IF THERE IS A WAY TO DO IT -- AND MAYBE IF THERE'S LOW-HANGING FRUIT, SOMETHING TO GET IT THERE, I WOULD SUPPORT IT.
>>.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, TED.
TAKE >>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME IN THE U.S. COULD SOON BE HISTORY.
>>> THE U.S. SENATE HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A BILL TO MAKE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME PERMANENT.
WHAT WOULD THE MOVE MEAN FOR ARIZONA?
WE ASKED ASU CLIMATOLOGIST AND GEOGRAPHY EXPERT RANDY CERVENY.
GOOD TO SEE JOY, RANDY CERVENY.
THANK S FOR JOINING US.
LET'S TALKS ABOUT DAYLIGHTS SAVINGS.
WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE DIE LATHS SAVINGS TIME?
>> IT WAS ORIGINALLY PUT FORTH AS AN ENERGY-SAVING MEASURE FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
BY HAVING SUN INTO THE EVENING HOURS, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE AS MANY LIGHTS ON.
SO DURING FOR EXAMPLE, THE ENERGY CRISES WE HAD DURING THE 1970S, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A BRILLIANT IDEA TO GO ON PERMANENT DAYLIGHT'S SAVINGS TIME TO SAVE ENERGY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BUT NOW THE MOVE IS TO GET RID OF IT.
WHY DO PEOPLE WANT TO GET RID OF IT?
>> WELL, THEY WANT TO GO PERMANENTLY ON TO DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.
THEY LIKE THIS IDEA OF HAVING SUNLIGHT IN THE EVENING HOURS.
WE HATE IT, BUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY WANTS SUNLIGHT INTO THEIR EVENING >> OKAY.
BUT FORGET ABOUT GOING BACK, LEAPING FORWARD, WHATEVER.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ARIZONA?
>> WE WILL BE THREE HOURS BEHIND EAST COAST TIME.
WE WILL BE CONSISTENTLY ON THE TIME THAT CALIFORNIA IS ON.
WE WILL REMAIN ON WHAT IS CALLED MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, SO WE WOULD BE ON THE SAME TIME AS CALIFORNIA, SO WE WOULD ALWAYS BE THREE HOURS OFF OF PLACES LIKE NEW YORK CITY.
>> SO EVERYONE IS HAPPY ABOUT THIS, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT PASS.
AND RANDY, THIS IS ALL FINE AND DANDY IN THE SUMMERTIME, BUT WHEN WINTERTIME COMES BACK EAST, YOU COULD HAVE SOME FOLKS PRETTY UP SET ABOUT THIS, COULDN'T YOU?
>> OH, YEAH, THEY TRIED THIS IN THE '70S.
AND THE IDEA WAS PUT FORTH AND ACTUALLY PASSED FOR A WHILE.
THE PROBLEM PEOPLE DIDN'T REALIZE IS THAT MEANT IN THE WINTERTIME, THAT THEIR KIDS WOULD BE WAITING FOR THE BUS IN THE MORNING, AND IT WOULD BE PITCH BLACK OUT, THAT BY PUSHING THE SUNLIGHT INTO THE EVENING HOURS, YOU ARE PUSHING NIGHTTIME INTO THE MORNING HOURS, AND PEOPLE GOT UP IN ARMS ABOUT HAVING THEIR KIDS WAITING AT THE BUS STOP IN DARKNESS.
SO EVENTUALLY THEY REPEALED THE LAW THAT HAD PEOPLE GOING ON PERMANENT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.
>> AND THE PROS AND CONS.
I HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY IT IS JUST A GOOD IDEA TO STOP SHIFTING AROUND, BECAUSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SHIFT, I GUESS THERE ARE STUDIES ABOUT MORE ACCIDENTS, PERSONAL ACCIDENTS, INJURY ACCIDENTS, CAR ACCIDENTS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?
>> YEAH, IT DOES.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE CERTAIN RHYTHMS IN YOUR BODY THAT TAKE A WHILE TO ADJUST IF YOU CHANGE THE CYCLE YOU ARE ON.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT THAT HERE IN ARIZONA, BECAUSE WE HAVE TOO MUCH LIGHT DURING OUR DAY ANYWAY.
IN THE SUMMERTIME, WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO PROLONG THE DAYLIGHT, SO WE WANT TO END IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, SO YOU DON'T HAVE 115 DEGREES AT 8:00 AT NIGHT.
TO WE DON'T HAVE THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS LIKE PEOPLE OVERSLEEPING OR CAR ACCIDENTS OR THAT TYPE OF THING, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS STAYED ON STANDARD TIME.
>> WHY WERE WE ONE OF THE VERY, VERY FEW TO DO THAT -- I THINK WE'RE THE ONLY STATE EXCEPT FOR -- WHAT, HAWAII?
>> RIGHT.
WE DON'T WANT TO PROLONG THE SUMMER HEAT INTO THE EVENING HOURS.
AND HAWAII DOESN'T DO IT BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CLOSE TO THE EQUATOR, THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DAY AND NIGHT ISN'T THAT MARKED.
IT IS USUALLY GOING TO STAY RIGHT AROUND 12 HOURS, SO ADJUSTING THE CLOCKS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE IN A PLACE THAT IS THAT CLOSE TO THE EQUATOR.
SO THOSE ARE BASICALLY THE TWO BIG PLACES IN THE COUNTRY THAT DON'T OBSERVE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DO YOU THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN IS GOING TO SIGN IS THIS?
>> YEAH, I THINK THEY WILL, AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT COME NEXT YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME, THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF OUTRAGE ABOUT IT, AND THERE MIGHT BE A MOVEMENT TO GO BACK.
>> THAT'S WHAT KEEPS THE NEWS BUSINESS IN BUSINESS, RANDY, THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>>> A NEW HIRING INITIATIVE AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VETERANS AMONG STATE EMPLOYEES.
THE INITIATIVE IS CALLED AZ HIRES VETS, AND WE LEARNED MORE FROM COLONEL WANDA WRIGHT THE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES.
COLONEL WRIGHT GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
NOW WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED AZ HIRES VETS.
>> IT'S A GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE TO ATTRACT MORE VETERANS TO THE GOVERNMENT.
VETERANS WERE IN PUBLIC SERVICE WHEN THEY WERE IN THE MILITARY.
AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO TRY TO ATTRACT THEM TO ARIZONA TO WORK WITHIN OUR PARTICULAR STATE GOVERNMENT.
THEY HAVE GREAT TRAITS.
I'M A VETERAN MYSELF, AND I KNOW WE HAVE DISCIPLINE.
WE HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
WE'RE TEAM WORKERS, AND SO I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO REALLY DO SOME THINGS TO ATTRACT VETERANS TO OUR STATE.
>> AND I THINK WE HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ON HIRING VETERANS IN JUST THE GENERAL WORKFORCE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO STATE GOVERNMENT, I WOULD THINK THAT FOLKS THAT HAVE WORKED FOR THE GOVERNMENT FOR MUCH OF THEIR LIVES WOULD FIND WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT ATTRACTIVE, BUT THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY >> A LOT OF TIMES VETERANS WILL NOT TELL YOU THEY ARE VETERANS, SO I IMAGINE IT'S MUCH MORE.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE ABOUT 35,000 STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, SO IT'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE.
IT'S AROUND 8%, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT TO 15% IF POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK THE VETERANS TEND TO GO TOWARDS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW.
>> RIGHT.
AND AS FAR AS HIRINGEING VETERANS, HAS THERE BEEN A PUSH IN THE PAST FOR THAT?
>> THERE IS SOME LEGISLATION FOR PRESENCE TO VETERANS.
SO THEY TRY TO SEE IF A VETERAN'S RESUME COMES ACROSS, AT LEAST GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY IF THEY ARE QUALIFIED.
>> I WOULD IMAGINE RECRUITMENT AND HIRING MANAGERS, THEY NEED TO KNOW THOSE FOLKS ARE OUT THERE AND READY TO GO?
>> YES.
AND THEY BRING SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEIR DEPARTMENTS BE READY TO GO.
>> HAVE THERE BEEN CHALLENGES IN THE PAST OR IS IT JUST AWARENESS?
>> I FEEL LIKE IT IS JUST AWARENESS.
EVEN WHEN I WAS COMING THROUGH AND RETIRED FOR THE AIR FORCE, I NEVER THOUGHT TO WORK FOR STATE GOVERNMENT.
I HAD A FRIEND IN STATE GOVERNMENT, AND MY FRIEND IS LIKE, THERE IS A POSITION IN STATE GOVERNMENT, I THINK YOU SHOULD APPLY.
AND MY COMMENT WAS WHAT IS THAT?
SO I THINK IF WE MARKET IT MORE, MORE WOULD HEAR ABOUT IT.
>> OKAY.
COUPLE OF EVENTS ARE COMING UP HERE.
I THINK THESE ARE HIRING EVENTS.
TALK TO US ABOUT THESE.
>> THEY ARE HIRING EVENTS.
WE HAVE ONE ON THE 30TH OF MARCH, AND ONE ON THE 28TH OF APRIL.
AND THEY ARE TO ENCOURAGE OUR VETERANS TO COME AND TALK WITH RECRUITERS ABOUT POSITIONS.
THERE'S 1,700 POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN STATE GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW, AND QUITE A FEW OF THEM ARE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AND SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE VETERANS TO COME -- AND COME TO EACH OF THOSE EVENTS, AND REALLY TALK TO RECRUITERS AND HIRING OFFICIALS.
>> WHERE WILL THEY BE LOCATED?
>> AT THE CAPITOL.
>> SO YOU BASICALLY SIT DOWN WITH -- >> YOU WILL SIT DOWN WITH SOME RECRUITERS AND YOU CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT PARTICULAR JOBS.
ALL OF THE JOBS AVAILABLE ARE ON THE WEBSITE, AND THEY CAN LOOK FOR THEM, AND FIND THAT HIRING OFFICIAL AND ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS THEY WANT.
>> LAST QUESTION, THE GENERAL WORKFORCE, JUST -- THE OVERALL PICTURE FOR HIRING VETERANINGS, IS IT IMPROVING?
>> I BELIEVE IT IS IMPROVING.
VETERANS ARE REALLY AT A VERY STABLE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT RIGHT NOW.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DISCOVERED IS THERE ARE A LOT OF VETERANS WHO ARE UNDEREMPLOYED.
THEY HAVE A JOB, BUT THEY AREN'T MAKING THE MONEY THEY SHOULD BE MAKING BASED ON THEIR SKILLS.
SO WE WANT TO TALK TO THEM AS WELL, TO SAY, HEY, YOU HAVE THAT $14 AN HOUR JOB OUT THERE, COME WORK FOR US, AND WE CAN INCREASE YOUR PAY AND BENEFITS.
WE HAVE MEDICAL, SICK LEAVE, AND EVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A 401K, AND YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETIRE.
>> YEAH.
YEAH.
>> AND THESE ARE GREAT THINGS TO HAVE WHEN YOU ARE AN HOURLY WORKER WHEN YOUING DON'T GET 40 HOURS A WEEK PAID AND YOU DON'T GET THOSE SERVICES.
>> COLONEL WANDA WRIGHT, NICE TO SEE YOU, AND GOOD LUCK WITH THIS AZ HIRES VETS, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD THING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I HOPE THE VETERANS COME.
>> YEAH.
YEAH.
>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.
I'M TED SIMONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW SOME VALLEY ATHLETES ARE WORKING TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE.
♪♪
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