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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," OUR "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" CONTINUES WITH NICK MANSOUR, THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR STATE TREASURER AND IMPACT OF THE U.S.

DEBT HITTING AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF $40 TRILLION.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

OUR SERIES "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" CONTINUES TONIGHT WITH THE FOCUS ON THE OFFICE OF STATE TREASURER, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BANKING AND INVESTMENT DUTIES FOR THE STATE ALONG WITH MANAGEMENT OF ARIZONA'S PERMANENT LAND ENDOWMENT.

NICK MANSOUR IS A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER, ENTREPRENEUR AND FORMER CHANGE THE ARIZONA COLLEGE OF NURSE.

WE SHOULD NOTE, THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ELIJAH NORTON DECLINED OUR INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION.

NICK, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO BE STATE TREASURER?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

THE BASIC THING IS INVESTING OUR MONEY.

I MANAGED OVER 1500 EMPLOYEES, OUR STUDENTS THERE, GRADUATES THERE PERFORMED VERY WELL, AND SOME YEARS WE WERE THE HIGHEST PERFORMING NURSING SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY -- THE STATE, RATHER.

I KNOW ABOUT MANAGING MONEY.

I KNOW ABOUT MANAGING PEOPLE AND LEADING AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS.

>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES?

>> WELL, THE MAIN THING IS MANAGING OUR MONEY, AND THERE'S ABOUT $20 BILLION OR $22 BILLION FOR OUR DAY TO DAY CASH OPERATING NEEDS, BUT THE BIG THING IS WE HAVE $11 BILLION FUND FOR THE BENEFIT OF EDUCATION.

WE'RE NOT INVESTING IT WELL TODAY, AND IF WE DID WHAT OTHER STATES HAD A SIMILAR FUND LIKE THIS DO, WE WOULD MAKE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S THE MAIN THING I'M FOCUSED ON.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND, PROP 123.

AS FAR AS A STATE TREASURER ADVOCATING FOR AND AGAINST POLITICAL POSITIONS, WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT?

>> IT'S VERY CLEAR.

I DO NOT BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE INJECTING PARTISAN, NONFINANCIAL CRITERIA IN HOW WE MAKE OUR INVESTMENTS.

THAT IS AN ACTUAL DIFFERENCE IN THIS RACE.

WHEN WE DO THAT, IT JUST MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE RISKIER INVESTMENTS AND HIGHER TAXES, AND THAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE HAPPEN.

TED: SO PRIMARILY, AN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION IS HOW YOU SEE IT.

>> IT'S BEST RUN AS A NONPARTISAN POSITION.

HAVING SAID THAT, IT IS OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, THE TREASURER SHOULD BE ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES, AND I INTEND TO DO THAT AS WELL.

TED: YOU INTEND TO DO THAT BUT NOT AS THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS?

>> THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE OUR MONEY IS INVESTED WELL AND DOING A GOOD JOB FOR US.

TED: WHAT SHOULD THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY LOOK LIKE?

>> WELL, THE RIGHT ORDER IS SAFETY, LIQUIDITY AND THEN YIELD.

THAT'S HOW WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED MANY YEARS AND HOW I WANT US TO REMAIN FOCUSED.

TED: YOU WANT SAY MORE CAUTIOUS THAN AGGRESSIVE?

>> I WOULD SAY MORE CAUTIOUS THAN AGGRESSIVE BUT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, AND WE WANT TO INVEST OUR MONEY SMARTLY AND WISELY BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN, AS LONG AS WE'RE GETTING SAFETY FIRST AND LIQUIDITY SECOND.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CRYPTOCURRENCIES?

INVESTING IN CRYPTOCURRENCIES?

>> WE'RE NOT DOING THAT TODAY.

THAT'S THE RIGHT POLICY.

I'M NOT ADVOCATING WE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THERE HAVE BEEN BILLS FLOATED ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND IT'S CERTAINLY WORTH LOOKING AT, TODAY WE'RE NOT DOING IT, THAT'S THE RIGHT THING YOU.

>> CONTINUE THAT POLICY.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED A BILL CITING VOLATILITY IN THE CRYPTOCURRENCY MARKET, YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> YES, I DO.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

WOULD YOU INVEST, HAVE THE STATE INVEST IN FIRMS, IN BANKS, BUSINESSES, WHAT HAVE YOU, THAT DISAGREE WITH YOU POLITICALLY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT NONFINANCIAL CRITERIA AFFECTING WHO WE'RE DOING BUSINESS WITH AND HOW WE'RE INVESTING THE MONEY, AND THAT IS A BIG POINT OF DIFFERENCE.

MY OPPONENT DOES WANT TO DO THAT SORT OF THING, AND IT ULTIMATELY MEANS RISKIER INVESTMENTS AND US EARNING LESS, AND THEREFORE HAVING HIGHER TAXES.

TED: MORAL OUTLOOK WOULD NOT AFFECT INVESTMENT STRATEGY?

>> CORRECT.

I'M ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED WE WANT THIS OFFICE TO BE NONPARTISAN, TO REMAIN NONPARTISAN, THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THIS RACE.

TED: ALL RIGHT, PROP 123.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> WELL, TODAY, AGAIN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATION ENDOWMENT FUND, AND WE'RE NOT INVESTING IT WELL.

TED: HOW ARE WE NOT INVESTING IT WELL?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT OTHER STATES ARE DOING, OUR MIX BETWEEN BONDS AND PUBLIC STOCK INDEX FUNDS, WE'RE OVERALLOCATED TO BONDS TODAY, AND SHOULD BE DOING MORE ON THE PUBLIC INDEX SIDE.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGE.

THERE'S TEN OTHER STATE THATS DO THIS, A MIX OF RED AND BLUE STATES.

THERE IS BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT NOT TO INVEST THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT.

IF YOU COPY TEXAS, WYOMING, UTAH, WE'D BE DOING A BETTER JOB, IT WOULD BE SAFE AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE STATEMENT.

TED: INTERESTING, YOU SAY BONDS MORE THAN THE MARKET, AND YOU SAID YOU WERE CAUTIOUS MORE THAN AGGRESSIVE.

SOME WOULD SAY THOSE TWO DON'T SQUARE?

>> I THINK THERE IS TWO THINGS HERE.

YOU CAN BE BOTH.

ONE IS DO YOU WANT TO BE SAFE IN THE OTHER IS DO YOU WANT TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE?

I WANT TO BE BOTH.

YOU CAN BE SAFE AND FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING.

THIS THING IS A LONG-TERM FUND.

WE'RE HOLDING THIS MONEY IN PERPETUITY FOR OUR KIDS AND BENEFIT OF OUR GRANDKIDS AND WE'RE NOT DOING IT TODAY.

TED: THAT'S INVESTMENT.

WHAT ABOUT DISTRIBUTION, IS IT WISE TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION FROM SOMETHING LIKE A STATE LAND TRUST?

>> YES, I THINK IT IS WISE FOR US TO DO MORE THAN WE'RE DOING TODAY, AND TODAY WE'RE DISTRIBUTING ABOUT 2.5% OF THE FUND EVERY YEAR.

MOST ENDOWMENT FUNDS ARE CLOSER TO 5%.

OUR LEGISLATURE AND OUR GOVERNOR AGREE THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT TO 6.9% BUT HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT, THAT'S ABOUT AS HIGH AS YOU COULD GO AND ONLY DEPENDS IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE.

CAN CERTAINLY BE ABOVE WHERE WE'RE TODAY.

>> THE CURRENT TREASURER THINKS 4 TO 4.9% IS THE INDUSTRY NORM, SHE WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE US GO HIGHER THAN THAT.

LATEST THING OUT OF LEGISLATURE THAT NEVER GOT TRACTION BUT STILL GOING 6.9%, WE WERE HEARING 8% AT ONE TIME.

IS THIS BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH THE PUBLIC'S MONEY?

>> WE WANT TO PROTECT THIS FOR THE LONG TERM, AND SO YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT INTO HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE OVER TIME.

I THINK YOU CAN GET ABOVE 5%.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT INFLATION AND THE FUND CONTINUES TO GROW EVEN DESPITE THE DISPERSEMENTS.

TED: YOU MENTION INFLATION, MARKET VOLATILITY.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN TAKING MONEY OUT OF THIS TRUST.

I MEAN, HOW MUCH DO YOU CONSIDER THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRIBUTION?

>> OH, YOU HAVE TO BE CONSIDERING THAT.

WE ALL ARE EXPERIENCING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN INFLATION GOES UP, AND LIKE I SAID, WE WANT THIS FUND TO CONTINUE TO GROW ON AN AFTER-INFLATION BASIS FOR AS LONG AS WE'RE GOING TO HOLD IT, WHICH IS FOREVER.

TED: A PAST TREASURER SAID DOING WHAT PROP 123 DOES VIOLATES THE PRUDENT INVESTOR RULE.

YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT?

>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW FAR YOU GO, AND AT 4 TO 5%, NOT AT ALL, 4.9% IS AS MUCH AS YOU SHOULD GO.

TED: HIS IDEA IS YOU SHOULDN'T DIP INTO THE PRINCIPAL OF A FUND LIKE THIS?

>> I AGREE WITH YOU DON'T WANT TO DIP INTO THE PRINCIPAL OF THE FUND.

FUND HAS TO DISTRIBUTE MORE ON A YEARLY BASIS.

TED: IT'S THERE TO MANAGE, IT'S NOT THERE TO GIVE OUT, ESPECIALLY AT 4, 6, SOMETIMES 8% RANGES.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> I THINK THEY HAVE A POINT.

THIS IS A FUND FOR THE BENEFIT OF EDUCATION PRIMARILY, AND WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IT BOTH FOR THE LONG-TERM AND FOR OUR STUDENTS TODAY, AND SO IT IS A BALANCING ACT, AND WE DON'T WANT TO GO TOO FAR ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, SO THEY HAVE A POINT, BUT WE NEED TO BE DISPERSING THE RIGHT AMOUNT TODAY, AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE AMONG THE LOW OF THE STATES WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING OUR EDUCATION.

THIS IS A WAY TO FUND EDUCATION WITHOUT ANYBODY PAYING ANY MORE TAXES AND SHOULD BE USING IT WISELY.

TODAY, WE'RE NOT.

TED: DO YOU THINK THAT VOTERS SHOULD CHOOSE A STATE TREASURER?

YOU'VE ALREADY SAID IT'S MORE ADMINISTRATIVE THAN ANYTHING, THE POLITICS SHOULDN'T PLAY A PART IN THIS.

DO YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING APPOINTED BY A GOVERNOR AS OPPOSED TO VOTED BY CITIZENS?

>> WELL, I THINK THE FACT IS IN OUR CONSTITUTION, IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE, AND SO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WOULD REQUIRE A CHANGE.

I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE TREASURER TRY TO BE NONPARTISAN, AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY WE CAN TRUST, AND THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT MY OPPONENT WHEN IT COMES TO TRUST.

TED: LAST QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR OPPONENT, HE DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE HERE.

YOUR BIGGEST CONCERN, SOMEONE WATCHING THIS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO NICK MANSOUR IS, I DON'T KNOW THE OTHER GUY EITHER.

WHY SHOULD THEY VOTE FOR YOU?

>> I DO THINK TRUST IS A REAL ISSUE IN THIS ELECTION, AND I HAVE OVER 100 BUSINESS LEADERS FROM AROUND THE STATE WHO ENDORSED ME.

WE HAVE DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, REPUBLICANS, WHO ENDORSED OUR CAMPAIGN.

I GREW UP HERE.

YOU CAN TALK TO LOTS OF FRIENDS AROUND THE STATE AND THEY'LL TELL YOU I'M SOMEBODY CAN YOU TRUST.

ON THE OTHER HAND, ELIJAH NORTON MADE HIS MONEY SELLING USED CAR WARRANTIES.

WE KNOW OF OVER 100 LAWSUITS BETWEEN HIS COMPANIES AND THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND THEY ARE ALLEGING THINGS LIKE SELLING ELDERLY ADULTS USED CAR WARRANTIES FOR CARS THEY DON'T HAVE, DENYING CLAIMS, FAILING TO REIMBURSE, DECEPTIVE MARKETING PRACTICE.

HERE'S THE POINT, IT'S NOT HARD TO HAVE SOMEBODY SUE YOU, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO WONDER IS THIS REALLY SOMEBODY WE WANT SAFEGUARDING OUR MONEY?

TED: ARIZONA COLLEGE OF NURSING HAD PROBLEMS ALONG THE WAY AS WELL.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU NEED TO RESPOND TO?

>> WELL, I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE DO AT ARIZONA COLLEGE OF NURSING.

WE HELPED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BECOME NURSES, AND DURING MY TIME THERE, OVER 90% OF OUR GRADUATES PASSED THE STATE LICENSING EXAM ON THE FIRST TRY.

SOME YEARS WE WERE THE BEST PERFORMING SCHOOL, NURSING SCHOOL, IN THE STATE.

DID WE ALWAYS -- WERE WE 100% PERFECT?

NO.

WERE THERE ISSUES?

YES.

DID WE TRY TO RESOLVE THOSE?

SURE.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THE QUANTITY, AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF LAWSUITS, INCLUDING SOME THAT ARE CONTINUING TO GO ON TODAY.

IT'S A PATTERN, AND THAT SHOULD BE CONCERNING.

TED: NICK MANSOUR, ARIZONA STATE TREASURER CANDIDATE, DEMOCRAT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

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TED: THE U.S.

NATIONAL DEBT RECENTLY SURPASSED THE $40 TRILLION MARK FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH INCREASING BORROWING COSTS PAYING FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE ONGOING WAR IN IRAN AND TAX CUTS ENACTED IN 2025.

HERE TO BREAK DOWN WHAT IT MEANS IS ASU ECONOMIST DALE ROGERS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN, $40 TRILLION HERE, $10 TRILLION?

>> WHAT EVERETT DIRKSON SAID, AN OLD SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS, THE MINORITY SENATOR IN THE SENATE, A BILLION HERE, A BILLION THERE, PRETTY SOON, IT ADDS UP.

THAT'S WHEN A BILLION WAS A LOT OF MONEY.

IT IS A MAGIC NUMBER, ESPECIALLY WHEN A LOT OF US THOUGHT TEN YEARS AGO WHEN WE HIT 20 TRILLION, IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, TRUMP, BIDEN, TRUMP, WE'VE DOUBLED THIS CRAZY OUT-OF-CONTROL DEBT FROM ALL OF THE U.S.'

HISTORY.

TED: LET'S STICK WITH THE LATEST VERSION OF TRUMP.

HE PROMISED TO REDUCE THE DEBT BURDEN, FROM DAY ONE INTOES ON.

WHY HASN'T THAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, THE TAX CUTS, AND WE -- IT ACTUALLY INCREASED SPENDING, AT THE SAME TIME, DECREASING REVENUES, AND YOU KNOW, TO BE FAIR, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET THAT THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

TED: YEAH.

>> NEARLY 70% OF IT ARE ENTITLEMENTS.

EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE, BUT THE WAR AND THE TARIFFS -- REMEMBER 2019, WHEN THE BOND MARKET -- AND YOU KNOW THE BOND MARKET'S COLD-BLOODED, TED.

THE STOCK MARKET CAN GET DISTRACTED BY STUFF HE SAYS.

BOND MARKET USUALLY DOESN'T, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT VERY SLIM CHANGES IN THAT YIELD RATE ON BONDS, AND 2019, THEY SAID WE THINK THESE TARIFFS ARE NOT A GOOD IDEA, AND INCREASE THE YIELD ON BONDS AND TRUMP HAD TO BACK OFF.

TRUTHFULLY, THE BOND MARKET IS REALLY THE ONLY PHYSICAL DISCIPLINARIAN WE HAVE LEFT.

NOBODY ELSE IS REALLY SAYING, LOOK, YOUR DEBT'S OUT OF CONTROL.

TED: AREN'T YIELDS INCREASING AGAIN?

>> YIELDS -- THAT'S BAD WHEN.

YIELDS INCREASE, IT'S GOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT LOW AND ARE SELLING HIGH, BUT THEY ARE INCREASING AGAIN BECAUSE, FOR ONE THING, PART OF WHAT IT MEANS IS THERE'S A GREATER SUPPLY THAN DEMAND FOR BONDS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WORLD IS BACKING AWAY FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION, SO WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE SAY, I'M NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT THE U.S., YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER IN CLASS, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT YEAR IT WAS, BE A STORY IF I REMEMBER WHAT YEAR, BUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DEBT IN CLASS, AND CHINA, AND CHINA OWNED 6.5% OF OUR DEBT, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE MY CAR IS PARKED BUT I REMEMBER WHAT I SAID IN CLASS SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO, AND TODAY IT'S 1.5% BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SLOWLY GETTING OUT OF THE U.S., AND TRUTHFULLY PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF US A LITTLE BIT, AND THERE'S FLEEING -- THERE'S GREATER SUPPLY THAN DEMAND SO THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO GET INVOLVED.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE ERODING CONFIDENCE IN THE DOLLAR IS AT PLAY HERE AS WELL.

WHAT ARE THE SHORT-TERM, WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THE 40 TRILLION IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S A MARK, BUT IT'S LEAVING A MARK, WHAT DOES IT MEAN SHORT-TERM, WHAT DOES IT MEAN LONG-TERM, FOR THE ECONOMY?

>> WELL, A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW HAVE REALLY NEGATIVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE POLITICAL HERE, BUT WHEN YOU GO AND ALIENATE THE CANADIANS THAT'S ACROSS THE BORDER.

TED: WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF ALL THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ALL THAT?

>> IT'S SO STUPID IT MAKES MY HEAD HURT.

I'M NOT KIDDING.

IT'S JUST DUMB.

TRUTHFULLY, CANADA IS LIKE 10% OF WHAT WE ARE, SO IT'S ALWAYS 10 TO 1, BUT THE CRAZY INSULTS AND NOW TODAY SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE LAKE AMERICA WHEN IT'S LAKE ONTARIO, I GREW UP IN MICHIGAN, IT'S LAKE ONTARIO, IT'S WHACKY TO ALIENATE OUR FRIENDS, AND THE STUFF WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO WITH IRAN, THE ECONOMIC D-DAY, UNLIKELY THAT'S GOING TO WORK AND THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE PEOPLE AWAY FROM IT.

TED: LAST QUESTION, WE'RE SPEEDING TOWARD A CLIFF, YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT A CLIFF WAS 20 TRILLION IN DEBT, SO I DON'T KNOW, TED.

IT SEEMS LIKE UNCLE SAM HAS A REALLY GOOD CREDIT CARD, I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT INTEREST ON THE CURRENT DEBT, IT'S GREATER THAN THE DEFENSE BUDGET WHICH SEEMS LIKE A CRAZY DEFENSE BUDGET.

SO ONE YEAR INTEREST IS GREATER THAN THAT, SO YOU CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS.

A LOT OF EUROPE HAS PRETTY HIGH DEBT AS WELL, DEBT TO GDP, AND TRUTHFULLY, THEY'RE NOT AS POWERFUL AS THEY USED TO BE.

TED: DALE ROGERS, ASU ECONOMIST, AS WE HIT $40 TRILLION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

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TED: READ BETTER, BE BETTER IS A LITERACY PROGRAM SUPPORTING DOZENS OF FAMILIES.

AFTER-SCHOOL READING PROGRAM LOOKS TO GIVE CHILDREN THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY, SERVICE AND LOVE OF READING.

EDUCATION REPORTER ROXANNE DE LA ROSA HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: ONLY ABOUT 39% OF THIRD GRADERS IN ARIZONA ARE READING PROFICIENTLY, ACCORDING TO ADVOCACY GROUP EDUCATION FORWARD.

ONE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM KNOWN AS READ BETTER, BE BETTER, IS DOING THEIR PART TO HELP BATTLE THE STATE'S LITERACY CRISIS.

READ BETTER, BE BETTER CEO FOUNDED THE NONPROFIT AFTER TEACHING LITERACY TO CHILDREN LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY IN PERU.

>> I DISCOVERED THE LITERACY LEVELS ARE NOT DISSIMILAR AT ALL, HAVING BEEN WITH A REALLY, REALLY LOW INCOME TRANSIENT COMMUNITY I'M WORKING WITH.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH LOW-INCOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS BY PAIRING UP OLDER STUDENTS WITH YOUNGER STUDENTS TO READ TOGETHER.

ALAN SHARES WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TAKE ACTION.

>> SO I WAS CURIOUS HOW THAT'S POSSIBLE, WITH SO MUCH RESOURCE, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE WE HAD FIFTH GRADERS COMING INTO THE PROGRAM THAT WERE UNABLE FUNCTIONALLY UNABLE TO READ.

>> Reporter: THIRD GRADERS WHO AREN'T READING MAY FALL BEHIND THE REST OF THEIR PEERS AND FOUR TIMES LESS LIKELY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.

NATASHA EDMONDS NOTICED HER SON SEAN STRUGGLED WITH READING, SHE HEARD ABOUT READ BETTER BE BETTER AND DECIDED TO ENROLL HIM INTO THE PROGRAM.

SHE SHARES WHY THE PROGRAM MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR HER SON?

>> I DO THINK THAT HAVING A PEER WITH HIM, READING WITH HIM BECAUSE THEY COMMUNICATE IN DIFFERENT LEVELS THAN A TEACHER OR AUTHORITY FIGURE, SHOULD I SAY, IT CAN SEEM LIKE WHERE IT'S SPEAKING DOWN TO THEM OR COMMUNICATING IN A WAY THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

>> Reporter: EDMONDS TOOK ON THE ROLE AS PROGRAM COORDINATOR TO HELP OTHER SCHOOLS BRING READ BETTER BE BETTER TO OTHER CAMPUSES.

>> AS A MOM, NO ONE LIKES TO SEE THEIR CHILD STRUGGLE.

WHEN THEY'RE ABLE TO OVERCOME IT, IT DOES SOMETHING TO YOU, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR READ BETTER BE BETTER OF BEING A PART OF HIS LIFE.

NOW HE'S NOR CONFIDENT IN READING, HE LOVES IT.

>> Reporter: HER SON STILL PARTICIPATES IN THE PROGRAM, BUT THIS TIME HE'S A LEADER WHO READS TO YOUNGER CHILDREN.

>> HOW I CONTINUE WORKS BECAUSE IT HELPED ME, AND IF I HAVE TO HELP KIDS LEARN READ A BOOK, I COULD JUST REMEMBER WHAT THE LEADERS TAUGHT ME WHEN I WAS A READER.

>> Reporter: HE SHARES HOW IT FEELS TO READ WITH A PEER VERSUS READING WITH AN ADULT.

>> THE ADULTS ARE LIKE READ FASTER, LIKE READ, AND THE TEENS OR KIDS ARE, LIKE, TAKE YOUR TIME.

WE HAVE ALL DAY.

WE GET TO READ SLOWLY, AND WHEN WE READ SLOWLY, WE GET TO, LIKE, WE GET ON IMPROVE NATURALLY.

>> Reporter: ROXANNE DE LA ROSA REPORTING FOR "ARIZONA HORIZON."

TED: AND WE END TONIGHT'S SHOW WITH THE NEWS THAT DOLLY PARTON DIED TODAY, SHE WAS 80.

NO CAUSE OF DEATH GIVEN BUT HAD BEEN IN DECLINING HEALTH, AND HER FAMILY SAYS SHE DIED PEACEFULLY AT HOME IN NASHVILLE.

DOLLY PARTON WAS A FORCE OF NATURE, REMARKABLE SINGER, SONGWRITER, ACTOR AND ENTREPRENEUR.

HER CAREER TOOK HER FROM ENTREPRENEUR OF TENNESSEE TO UNOFFICIAL QUEEN OF MUSIC.

SHE WROTE SONGS AS JOLENE, COAT OF MANY COLORS AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU.

SHE WAS A BELOVED PHILANTHROPIST.

HER LIBRARY PROGRAM GIFT MORE THAN 300 MILLION BOOKS TO KIDS AROUND THE WORLD, AND HER THEME PARK IN TENNESSEE, DOLLYWOOD, CONTINUES TO A HUGE SUCCESS AND ENCAPSULATES EVERYTHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO DOLLY PARTON.

>> I HAD THE DREAM TO BUILD AN AREA THERE THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR MY RELATIVES IN THE AREA, AND PEOPLE WERE NEEDING THE WORK.

DOLLYWOOD HAS BEEN GREAT TO DO THAT AND TO HELP THE ECONOMY TO GROW IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY.

CERTAINLY THERE IN THE MOUNTAIN AREA WHERE MY OWN FOLKS ARE, AND WHERE I GREW UP.

SO IT WAS JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO TO HAVE MY FAMILY BE PROUD OF HAVING A PARK WITH THEIR NAME ON, IT WITH MY NAME THERE, AND STOW STARTED ALL KINDS OF WONDERFUL PURPOSES AND THE WHOLE AREA HAS REALLY GROWN SINCE DOLLYWOOD OPENED.

WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE WE HAD A LITTLE TO DO WITH IT.

THERE'S MORE HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES, IT'S GROWN LEAPS AND BOUNDS AND I'M PROUD TO BE FROM THAT AREA AND PROUD TO HAVE A BUSINESS DOING SO WELL THERE.

TED: DOLLY PARTON, A SINGULAR AMERICAN ICON, DEAD AT THE AGE OF 80.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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