♪ >> COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

IT'S A DEBATE ON PROPOSITION 138 WHICH WOULD CHANGE THE WAY TIPPED WORKERS ARE PAID IN ARIZONA.

>>> AND A DISCUSSION WITH KATRINA SCHAFFNER, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR ARIZONA'S 5th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

FALLOUT CONTINUES AFTER MILTON SLAMMED INTO FLORIDA LAST NIGHT AS A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE.

MILTON IS NO LONGER A HURRICANE.

THE STORM MOVED OUT TO SEA BUT NOT BEFORE LEAVING 12 PEOPLE KILLED IN FLORIDA WITH MANY OF THE FATALITIES WHERE TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN IN ST. LUCY COUNTY ON THE OPPOSITE COAST FROM LANDFALL.

>> THESE TORNADOES CAME OUT OF NOWHERE.

OUR DESTINY IS REPORTED BACK, I HEARD FOR MYSELF, I WAS OUT THERE WITH THEM.

SIX DIFFERENT TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN.

17 CONFIRMED TORNADOES IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY.

I CAN'T CONFIRM THAT MANY OF THEM IN THAT SHORT A PERIOD.

NORTH ST. LUCIE COUNTY IS DEVASTATED.

TED: RESCUERS CONTINUE TO PULL PEOPLE FROM FLOODED BUILDINGS OR DAMAGED VEHICLES.

THERE ARE AT LEAST 3 MILLION RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER AND THIS IS TROPICANA FIELD WHERE THE TAMPA BAY RAYS PLAY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

THE STADIUM WAS SET TO BE A REFUGE FOR THOUSANDS OF STORM PERSONNEL AND RESCUE WORKERS BUT WINDS TORE AWAY MOST OF THE STADIUM'S ROOF.

THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF INJURIES, EXPECTED TO TAKE WEEKS TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE STADIUM.

>>> INFLATION CONTINUED TO SLOW LAST MONTH REACHING A 3 1/2-YEAR LOW.

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX WAS AT 2.4%, FOR THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS, ECONOMISTS SAY IT'S HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THE STEADILY DECLINE IN INFLATION MEANS SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS WILL SEE MONTHLY PAYMENTS INCH UP BY ONLY 2.5%, LIMITING THE ANNUAL COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

MONTHLY PAYMENTS WILL GO UP $50 TO A LITTLE UNDER $2,000 BEGINNING IN JANUARY.

>>> MORTGAGE RATES ARE UP FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK AFTER HITTING TWO YEAR LOWS IN SEPTEMBER.

FREDDIE MAC REPORTED THE AVERAGE RATE ON STANDARD 30-YEAR FIXED MORTGAGE WAS 6.32%.

THE FED CUT INTEREST RATES HOPING MORTGAGE RATES WOULD CONTINUE TRENDING DOWNWARD BUT A STRONGER-THAN-EXPECTED BOND MARKET CAUSED YIELDS TO JUMP.

>>> TIME NOW FOR A DEBATE ON PROPOSITION 138, A BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD ALLOW AN EMPLOYER TO PAY AN EMPLOYEE 25% LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE IF THAT WORKER'S PAY WITH TIPS STAYS ABOVE THE MINIMUM WAGE.

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MEASURE IS STEVE CHUCRI PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ARIZONA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND AGAINST PROP 138 IS JEANNE WOODBURY, ASSOCIATE LOBBIEST AT CREOSOTE PARTNERS.

STEVE, WE'LL START WITH YOU, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ARE PUSHING HARD FOR, WHY?

>> WE ARE.

ARIZONA'S RESTAURANT INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO GO ON THE INCLINE, GOOD NEWS FOR ARIZONA AND THE INDUSTRY.

HOWEVER, EARLIER THIS YEAR AND NOT ONLY IN ARIZONA, TED, BUT MASSACHUSETTS AND OHIO.

THEY TRIED TO DISRUPT THE CURRENT TIPPING MODEL.

THIS IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO PRESERVE OUR TIPPING MODEL.

IT DOES TWO THINGS, YOU LED WITH THIS, IT MODERNIZES OUR TIP CREDIT TO PUT IT TO A PERCENTAGE INSTEAD OF A FLAT $3 AND GUARANTEED TIPPED WORKERS WITH TIPS WILL MAKE $2 MORE THAN MINIMUM WAGE.

IT PUTS IN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION AS WELL, BUT PRESERVES THE TIPPING STRUCTURE AS WE KNOW IT IN ARIZONA CRITICAL TO OUR INDUSTRY.

TED: JEANNE, WHY IS THIS NOT A GOOD IDEA?

>> I THINK THERE IS A BIGGER CONVERSATION TO BE HAD ABOUT TIPPING AND THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER STATES THAT HAVE ONE FARE WAGE LAWS AND SEE THE INDUSTRY IS GROWING AT THE SAME OR BETTER RATES BUT NONE OF THAT IS WHAT'S ACTUALLY ON THE BALLOT.

PROP 138 IS A SIMPLE YES OR NO QUESTION, SHOULD WE TAKE THE TIPPED CREDIT WE HAVE NOW AND CHANGE IT TO THIS NEW IDEA?

AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS A $3 CREDIT, MOVING IT TO A 25% OF MINIMUM WAGE STANDARD IS $3.59 THIS YEAR.

THAT 59 CENTS AN HOUR THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LOSING FROM THEIR PAYCHECK ADDS UP TO $100 A MONTH.

$1200 A YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT I PAY FOR A MONTH'S RENT.

I'M LOOKING AT PROP 138 AND SAYING DO I WANT A TIPPED WORKER TO LOSE AN ENTIRE MONTH'S RENT BECAUSE OF HOW I VOTE?

TED: HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> I RESPOND WITH I DON'T KNOW HOW JEANNE GOT THE NUMBERS.

HE'S MENTIONED ONE FAIR WAGE IN CALIFORNIA.

THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE'RE SEEING RESTAURANTS CLOSE LEFT AND RIGHT.

IT'S NO STRANGER THAT IN CALIFORNIA RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANTS CLOSING, CASUAL RESTAURANTS CLOSING AND PEOPLE MOVING OUTSIDE OF THE STATE.

ANYWHERE WE'VE SEEN ONE FAIR WAGE COME IN AND TAKE AWAY THE TIP CREDIT, WE'VE SEEN THE OPPOSITE HAPPEN, RESTAURANTS CLOSE AND THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE IS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHERE THEY REMOVE THE TIP CREDIT.

YOU SAW TIPS GO DOWN, EMPLOYEES GET LAID OFF, AND NOW THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IS LOOKING AT REVERSING IT IT'S GOTTEN SO BAD.

WE'RE GUARANTEEING $2 MORE THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON.

90% OF TIPPED WORKERS SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

TED: LET'S START WITH THE IDEA OF KEEPING RESTAURANTS IN BUSINESS.

DOES THIS CHANGE HELP RESTAURANTS STAY IN BUSINESS TO PAY THOSE EMPLOYEES?

>> AGAIN, AND I DIDN'T MENTION CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA IS A BAD WORD, BUT THIS IS QUITE A LOT OF STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY IN DIFFERENT REGIONS, IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, CALIFORNIA, IN THE MIDWEST THAT HAVE THE ONE FAIR WAGE LAWS.

ON THE AGGREGATE, WE SEE OVER A PERIOD OF MULTIPLE YEARS THAT THE INDUSTRY DOES JUST AS WELL OR BETTER WITH A ONE FAIR WAGE LAW AND THAT CONSUMERS ADAPT TO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.

YEAH, I THINK THAT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS GOING TO SAVE THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

TED: THE IDEA THAT -- AND I'VE SEEN THIS ARGUED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS WHEN IT COMES TO MINIMUM WAGE IN GENERAL.

IF A RESTAURANT CAN'T MAKE IT WITH THE CURRENT TIPPED LOGISTICS, IF YOU WILL, MAYBE THAT BUSINESS ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE IT, ANYWAY.

>> IT'S VERY SELDOM YOU SEE A TIPPED OR RESTAURANT WORKER NOT MAKE MINIMUM WAGE IN TIPS, ESPECIALLY HERE IN ARIZONA BECAUSE WE'RE FLOURISHING SO MUCH.

WE HAVE OVER 12,000 RESTAURANTS, DAILY PAYROLL IS $2.1 MILLION.

JEANNE AND I ARE GOING TO DISAGREE WHAT THIS MEANS TO THE TIPPED WORKER.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES AS SURCHARGES GO THROUGH THE ROOF.

80% OF TIPPED WORKERS KNOW AND ADMIT IT WHEN THEY SEE A SURCHARGE GO ON THE CHECK, TIPS GO DOWN.

THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION.

WE HAVE SO MUCH SUPPORT BY TIPPED WORKERS.

TED: NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THE SERVICE CHARGES AND SURCHARGES ON THEIR BILLS.

IS THAT A GOOD ARGUMENT, THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD TAKE THOSE THINGS AWAY?

>> NO.

I MEAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BIGGER INDUSTRY DYNAMICS AND JUST DISAGREE WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT THIS DOES FOR TIPPED WORKERS, THE NUMBERS ARE REALLY, REALLY CLEAR BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE MAKING A SIMPLE CHANGE FROM $3 AN HOUR LESS, IF YOUR TIPS ADD UP TO MINIMUM WAGE WITH THE CUT, TO 25% LESS IF TIPS ADD UP TO $2 OVER.

BUT $2 OVER MINIMUM WAGE ISN'T ANYWHERE CLOSE TO A LIVING WAGE.

PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTING THEMSELVES WITH THESE JOBS ARE ALL PAST THAT THRESHOLD.

THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE LOSING EITHER $3 TODAY OR $3.59 UNDER PROP 138.

AND AGAIN, 59 CENTS AN HOUR ACROSS THE COURSE OF A MONTH, ACROSS THE COURSE OF A YEAR IS $1200 A YEAR.

TED: THE IDEA THAT -- YOU WANT TO RESPOND ON THAT?

>> JEANNE CAN COME UP WITH THE MATH, I CAN COME UP WITH MY MATH.

REALITY IS THIS, THAT IF THIS IS SO BAD, WHERE'S THE HUE AND CRY FROM THE SERVERS.

90% OF SERVERS SUPPORT THIS.

THERE'S A CARNEGIE MELLON STUDY THAT SUPPORTS IT.

THEY WANT TO ELIMINATE THE $3 PER HOUR THAT GOES TO THE RESTAURATEUR.

A MOM OR POP OR BIG CHAIN, DOESN'T MATTER.

THIS WOULD PUT BUSINESSES OUT OF BUSINESS.

IT IS MODERNIZING TIP SYSTEM WHERE CONSUMERS AREN'T GOING TO FEEL IT AND ARIZONA'S RESTAURANT ECONOMY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

TED: PLEASE.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE 90% COMES FROM.

I DON'T SEE THAT TIPPED WORKERS ARE ACTUALLY BEING PUBLIC ABOUT THEIR POSITIONS ON THIS AT ALL.

I DON'T SEE WHY MINIMUM WAGE TIPPED WORKER WOULD SAY, HEY, BOSS, I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU POLITICALLY, BUT BEYOND THAT, THE GROUPS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD THAT SEEM LIKE THEY'RE GRASSROOTS TIPPED WORKER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SAVE OUR TIPS AT THE CAPITOL AND SUPPORTER FOR MOST OF THE ARGUMENTS FOR PROP 138, THAT'S JUST THE ARIZONA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.

THAT'S JUST YOU, IT'S NOT AN ACTUAL GRASSROOTS GROUP, IT'S ASTROTURF.

YOU CAN LOOK AT MONEY AND THAT'S WHO'S PAYING FOR IT.

TED: -- IT'S NOT ASTROTURF, WE'RE THE LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY.

JUST LIKE JEANNE IS ADVOCATING FOR ONE FAIR WAGE, WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR OUR RESTAURATEURS.

I DON'T SEE THE HUE AND CRY OR HOW THAT IS MISLEADING OR BAMBOOZLING PEOPLE.

IT'S WHAT WE DO AS AN INDUSTRY.

TED, WE HAVE WORKERS IN THE STATE IN RESTAURANTS FOR 20 YEARS, WHETHER YOU ARE A MOM OR DAD, DROPPING YOUR KID OFF AT SCHOOL, WORKING A SINGLE SHIFT, THAT'S WHY WE KEEP EMPLOYEES SO LONG IN A RESTAURANT.

TED: HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT FOR THOSE WHO STAYED IN A RESTAURANT FOR A LONG TIME AND SEE A CHANGE LIKE THIS AND AREN'T SURE THIS IS A GOOD THING.

WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

>> I THINK RESTAURANTS ARE INCREDIBLE BUSINESSES.

THERE'S REASONS WORKERS HAVE LOYALTY TO THE BUSINESSES.

AND, AGAIN, LIKE ONE FAIR WAGE IS NOT ON THE BALLOT.

I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE ON BEHALF OF ONE FAIR WAGE.

I'M HERE TO SAY THAT THIS SPECIFIC MEASURE IS A BAD DEAL FOR THE WORKERS.

THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO FROM WHAT THEY'RE GETTING PAID NOW TO $1200 LESS A YEAR.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, DOES THIS MEASURE PROTECT AGAINST FUTURE INCURSIONS BY ONE FAIR WAGE?

>> I THINK THE FRAMING OF INCURSION BY ONE FAIR WAGE IS -- TED: IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE MILITANT, BUT THE IDEA OF ONE FAIR WAGE COMING BACK, SEEMS LIKE IT COULD PROTECT AGAINST THAT.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> I SEE THE ARGUMENT THERE BY HAVING SOMETHING VOTER PROTECTED, HAVING SOMETHING IN THE CONSTITUTION, THAT WOULD OSTENSIBLY PROTECT AGAINST ONE FAIR WAGE.

THIS IS COMING FROM THE LEGISLATURE SO IT'S EASIER TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

ONE FAIR WAGE IS A CAMPAIGN COMING FROM THE PEOPLE TO CHANGE SOMETHING THAT IS VOTER PROTECTED.

THE VOTERS HAVE TO CHANGE IT.

ONE FAIR WAGE COULD MOUNT THAT CAMPAIGN.

>> LET'S BE CLEAR, ONE FAIR WAGE IS NOT COMING FROM THE PEOPLE, IT'S PAID CIRCULATORS FOR TRYING TO UNIONIZE THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

THAT ASIDE, THEY STATED PUBLICLY, ONE FAIR WAGE IS GOING TO GO CITY BY CITY TO ELIMINATE THE TIP CREDIT.

TED: I GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, YES OR NO.

IF THIS STILL PASSES, AM I GOING TO SEE SERVICE CHARGES AND STUFF ON THE BILL?

>> YOU SHOULDN'T.

WE'RE NOT A FAN OF SURCHARGES, I'M NOT EITHER.

WE HOPE NOT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT AGAINST THE VERY THINGS.

TED: KEEP THAT INCURSION FROM HAPPENING ON MY BILL.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

GOOD DISCUSSION.

GOOD DEBATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

.

TED: ARIZONA'S 5th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COVERS AREAS OF MARICOPA AND PINAL COUNTIES INCLUDING PARTS OF GILBERT, CHANDLER, QUEEN CREEK AND APACHE JUNCTION.

THE DISTRICT IS REPRESENTED BY REPUBLICAN ANDY BIGGS.

CONGRESSMAN BIGGS DECLINED OUR INVITATION TO DEBATE KATRINA SCHAFFNER, SO EARLIER TODAY, WE HEARD FROM MS. SCHAFFNER.

KATRINA SCHAFFNER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW HERE.

YOU ARE RUNNING IN A VERY HEAVILY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

I THINK IT'S LIKE 20% OF ACTIVE VOTERS IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5 ARE DEMOCRATS.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

>> I'M RUNNING TO CHALLENGE A SYSTEM THAT BENEFITS THE TOP AND LEFT THE REST OF US BEHIND.

I THINK IT'S TIME WE HOLD BILLIONAIRES AND PRICE GOUGING CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE.

ANDY BIGGS IS A WEALTHY MAN WHO SERVES WEALTHIER MEN.

BUT I WORKED IN THE TRADES, I WORKED IN CORPORATE AND I'VE BEEN A POLITICAL ACTIVIST MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.

I UNDERSTAND HOW FEDERAL POLICY IMPACTS DAY TO DAY LIFE AND HOW THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD IMPACT OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT QUALIFICATIONS.

HE'S A LONGTIME INCUMBENT, HE KNOWS HOW TO GET AROUND WASHINGTON.

IF HE CHOOSES TO, TO GET THINGS DONE, A BRAND-NEW PERSON OUT THERE.

HOW DO YOU CONVINCE VOTERS YOU ARE A BETTER OPTION LIKE THEM?

>> CAREER POLITICIANS LIKE ANDY BIGGS HAVE CONTINUED TO PUT UP BLIND SPOTS, COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH IN REALITY AND WHAT'S HAPPENING DAY TO DAY IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

IT'S TIME WE HAVE TURNOVER IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THAT WE HAVE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION.

SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE TO EARN A LIVING.

ANDY BIGGS USED LOTTERY WINNINGS TO JUMP START AND BOOST HIS POLITICAL CAREER IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND SO FAR HE HAS STRUGGLED TO WORK NOT ONLY WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY, BUT WON'T EVEN CROSS THE AISLE TO GET ANYTHING DONE, AND I THINK THAT VOTERS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM ARE READY FOR THAT CHANGE.

THAT'S WHY OUR CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN POWERED BY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE A CHANGE IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM.

TED: THAT DISTRICT, IMMIGRATION IS A BIG ISSUE TO CONGRESSMAN BIGGS AND TO FOLKS IN THE DISTRICT.

HE SAYS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TURNED A BLIND EYE TO VIOLENT CRIMINALS INVADING OUR COUNTRY, HE SAYS THAT THE SOUTHERN BORDER IS, QUOTE, WIDE OPEN.

WHAT SAY YOU?

>> YEAH, YEAH, HE SAYS THAT AND CONTINUES TO VOTE AGAINST FUNDING THE BORDER AND SUPPORTING BORDER POLICY.

WE HAVE SEEN, OVER THE YEARS, SO MANY FAMILIES THAT HAVE STRUGGLED.

WE SAW THOSE IMAGES OF THAT FATHER AND HIS TODDLER DAUGHTER TRYING TO CROSS THE RIO GRANDE AND FOUND THEM HEAD FIRST IN SHALLOW WATER.

THESE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SAFETY.

IMAGINE WHAT THEY MUST HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH TO PUT THEIR FAMILY THROUGH THAT TO FIND A PLACE IN AMERICA TO HOPEFULLY START A NEW LIFE.

SO I AGREE WE HAVE WORK TO DO AT THE BORDER AND HAVE THE BORDER BILL THAT'S BEEN SITTING IN CONGRESS THAT MAGA REPUBLICANS KILLED IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE SIMPLY BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP SAID DON'T GIVE DEMOCRATS A WIN.

TED: HOW WOULD YOU SECURE THE BORDER AND HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE A SECURE BORDER?

>> THAT'S THE THING, WE NEED TO PASS THE BORDER BILL SO WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE MORE AGENTS AT THE BORDER TO BETTER DO THEIR JOBS.

WE ALSO NEED TO TACKLE THE BACKLOG WE'VE BEEN SEEING.

NEED TO INVEST IN MORE TECHNOLOGY, AND IN THE LONG RUN, WE NEED BETTER OVERSIGHT BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP SO WE HAVE LESS PEOPLE HAVING TO COME HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO WE NEED THAT BETTER OVERSIGHT, SO IN THE LONG RUN, WE ACTUALLY CAN TACKLE THIS ISSUE INSTEAD OF PLAYING POLITICS WITH IT.

TED: AS FAR AS THE ECONOMY IS CONCERNED.

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN BIGGS, BLAME INFLATION, SAYING THE DOLLAR DOESN'T GO AS FAR AS IT USED TO BE ON DEMOCRATIC POLICIES AND THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION AND THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT HAS FAILED TO GIVE A START.

HAS HE GOT A POINT?

>> WE NEED TO INVEST IN WORKING PEOPLE AND EVERYDAY FAMILIES AND STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY, MAKING SURE THAT PRICES -- WE'RE HOLDING CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE TO KEEP THE PRICES DOWN AND ANDY BIGGS HAS CONTINUED TO PASS TAX BREAKS FOR THE TOP, AND THAT HAS SKYROCKETED OUR DEFICIT.

SO HE IS NOT CONCERNED WITH INFLATION IN ANY WAY.

HE IS JUST SIMPLY TRYING TO PASS THE TAX BREAKS FOR THE TOP AND WEALTHY DONORS.

I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO START SUPPORTING EVERYDAY FAMILIES, WORKING PEOPLE, AND HOPEFULLY GET TO THAT POINT WHERE WE'RE BALANCING OUR ECONOMY A LITTLE BIT BETTER SO WE HAVE MORE COMPETITION SO CORPORATIONS ARE COMPETING WITH SMALL BUSINESSES.

TED: SO SOUNDS LIKE YOU WOULD BE AGAINST EXTENDING TRUMP'S 2017 TAX CUT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

IT SKYROCKETED OUR DEFICIT.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, DO YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5, IN THAT CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT, THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR FROM THEIR REPRESENTATIVE?

>> YES, WE'VE BEEN ON THE TRAIL FOR A YEAR.

THEY WANT TO COME TOGETHER.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY, ABOUT THE BORDER, CONCERNED WITH THE COST OF GROCERIES AND THE HOUSING MARKET AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO STOP PLAYING POLITICS AND START GOVERNING, INVESTING IN THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES, LIKE I SAID, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A LIVING WAGE, AND THAT'S KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION, AND WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO'S WILLING TO TACKLE THAT.

TED: ABORTION, SHOULD CONGRESS BE INVOLVED IN ABORTION RIGHTS AND ABORTION ACCESS?

>> YEAH, TOO MANY TIMES NOW, WE ARE HEARING SO MANY WOMEN WHO ARE STRUGGLING, WHO ARE BLEEDING OUT, WHO ARE DYING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED.

WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO CODIFY ROE AND BRING IT BACK TO ROE STANDARDS.

IT IS NOT UP TO ANY POLITICIAN TO TELL A DOCTOR HOW TO DO A JOB, TO TELL A WOMAN WHAT SHE NEEDS AND HOW TO RUN HER BODY.

THAT IS UP TO HER AND HER FAMILY AND DOCTOR.

TED: IS IT UP TO INDIVIDUAL STATES TO MAKE THE DECISION, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO CODIFY ROE ON A FEDERAL LEVEL TO PROTECT WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ANDY BIGGS WANTS A FEDERAL ABORTION BAN WHICH WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO ALL THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IN OUR HEALTH CARE.

TED: AGAIN, RESIDENTS, VOTERS, CITIZENS OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5, ARE YOU IN LINE WITH THEIR THINKING?

>> YES, I WAS OUT THERE COLLECTING SIGNATURES TO PUT THIS ISSUE ON THE BALLOT HERE IN ARIZONA, AND EVEN CONSERVATIVES WANT TO SUPPORT ROE BEING CODIFIED.

THEY UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE AND HOW IT'S IMPACTING US DAY TO DAY, AND SO YES, I BELIEVE THAT OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF VOTERS DO SUPPORT CODIFYING ROE.

TED: REAL QUICKLY BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE.

A FOREIGN POLICY.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS U.S.

POSITION IN THE WORLD?

CONGRESSMAN BIGGS SAYS THE U.S.

PUTS GLOBAL INTEREST AHEAD OF ITS OWN CITIZENS.

HAS HE GOT SOMETHING THERE?

>> COMING FROM THE GUY PROMOTING RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA AND SUPPORTS PUTIN.

NO, I THINK THAT WE AS A COUNTRY NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR VALUES, AND PART OF THAT IS DEMOCRACY.

I'M NOT SURPRISED HE WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE HE WAS PART OF THE CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY TO OVERTURN OUR ELECTIONS.

WE NEED TO COMMIT TO OUR FUNDAMENTAL VALUES AND SUPPORT OUR ALLIES.

TED: HE SAYS THE MONEY GOING TO UKRAINE WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ADDRESSING THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE IN AMERICA.

>> HE SHOULD PASS THE FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE BORDER.

IT'S CLEAR BASED ON HIS RHETORIC HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT UKRAINE, THE BORDER, FEMA.

PRETTY CLEAR HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE BUDGET WORKS.

HE IS NOT QUALIFIED TO SIT IN THIS POSITION IF HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT VERY SIMPLE THING.

TED: MY LAST THING, WE TALKED ABOUT ABORTION, THE ECONOMY, AMERICA'S PLACE IN THE WORLD, IMMIGRATION.

YOUR IDEAS, YOU GOT FIRM IDEAS, BUT FRANKLY SOUND BETTER USED AND MORE RECEIVED IN A MORE DEMOCRATIC AND IN A MORE LIBERAL DISTRICT.

HOW DO YOU GET THESE IDEAS -- I'M GOING TO ASK THIS AGAIN, IT'S A REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

HOW DO YOU GET THE IDEAS ACROSS TO PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT -- THIS IS A LONG WAY TO ASK THE QUESTION HERE.

IF YOU GO TO WASHINGTON, DO YOU DO WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT OR WHAT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5 VOTERS AND RESIDENTS THINK IS RIGHT?

>> I BELIEVE IN WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE.

I WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH CONSTITUENTS, LISTEN TO CONCERNS AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE, NOT ABOUT DEMOCRAT VALUES VERSUS REPUBLICAN, VERSUS POLICY, IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO IMPACT PEOPLE FOR THE BETTER, FOR THOSE WORKING PEOPLE, FOR FAMILIES AND A LOT OF THE ISSUES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE CAN COME TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING TO MOVE OUR COUNTRY FORWARD.

AND OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHETHER THEY ARE A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN, INDEPENDENT, DEMOCRAT.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT, THEY UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO BETTER INVEST IN LOCAL ECONOMIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES, I DON'T THINK WE'RE THAT FAR APART.

TED: YOU WOULD SAY A MIXTURE BETWEEN YOUR IDEAS, THEIR IDEAS AS OPPOSED TO EITHER OR?

>> YEAH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO COME TOGETHER AND FIND COMMON GROUND TO MOVE OUR COUNTRY FORWARD.

TED: KATRINA SCHAFFNER, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.