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Coming up next on "Arizona
Horizon," we've hit the month of
May and still no progress on
several big issues at the state
legislature.
We'll have an update with the
Arizona Capitol Times.
We'll hear from a local doctor
about a new study that shows a
link between red meat and heart
disease.
And we'll meet the author of a
book that takes a different
approach to success in
education.
Those stories next on "Arizona
Horizon."
>>> "Arizona Horizon" is made
possible by contributions from
the friends of , members of your
Arizona PBS station.
Thank you.
>>> Good evening.
Welcome to "Arizona Horizon."
I'm Ted Simons.
The governor continues her push
for Medicaid expansion, this as
opponents of the move seem
increasingly inclined to push
back.
Here with more in our weekly
legislative update with the
Arizona Capitol Times is Luige
Del Puerto.
Always a pleasure although the
800 pound gorilla is 8,000
pounds down there.
>> Right now there's still a
stalemate.
The governor's people and
supporters of the expansion plan
are pushing hard trying to
convince many legislators that
they can rally behind the
proposal but opponents have also
dug in.
More specifically in the Senate,
the Senate president declared he
would not -- he would do
everything in his power to block
this from getting to the floor.
>> So is support among
Republicans at the legislature,
is that support faltering in.
>> There's some indication in
the house you may see -- there's
a sense that support is
faltering a little bit in the
house, however, in the Senate
it's clear they have the votes
there.
There three Republican Senators
have said several times they are
for it so there's the necessary
16 votes to get it out of the
Senate.
>> if the votes are there in the
house although they may be
faltering but the votes are
there in the Senate, where is
the vote?
What's holding things up?
>> What's holding things up is
that I don't think it's been
decided what mechanism to use,
what path to strike to get this
out of the Senate.
When I say that, I mentioned
president Andy Biggs does not
want this reach the floor.
He has the authority to calendar
a third reading in the bill and
without his consent or authority
you will not see the bill on the
floor.
There are mechanisms to get
around him and I think that's
one of the things being
considered.
>> How to do that exactly.
>> let's talk about those.
Let's go from the cleanest to
the messiest.
>> everything is going to be
chaotic as mess -- and messy
regardless of what they choose.
They can offer its an amendment
on the floor during a committee
of the whole.
Say the budget bills are moving
and they are ready to debate the
budget bills, at that point any
member Democrat or Republican
can offer the Medicaid expansion
proposal as an amendment to one
of the budget bills.
At that point those who support
it will just vote yes, those
against will vote no.
In the Senate we know there are
votes to support it.
That will pass.
At that point it's just a matter
of third reading or voting on
the bill.
>> you can instead of voting on
the bill vote on an amendment
which is the bill?
>> Instead of using a stand
alone measure separate Medicaid
expansion bill you can take an
existing bill and amend it with
the Medicaid language. In this
instance they can use a budget
bill, existing budget proposal
there are typically nine to 10
budget bills.
One is called a health care
burb.
They can amend the Medicaid
expansion language on to it and
get it out.
>> There's nothing the president
can do did about that?
>> There is something the
president can do.
At that point when they are done
with what's called a committee
of the whole debate he doesn't
want that bill to go to the
floor he could refuse to
calendar it for a third reading
vote.
Of course he has authority to
stop it from going to the floor,
there's also a mechanism to
essentially force a vote on that
particular bill at that point.
>> that's option two, basically
roll him to the extent of we're
voting on this anyway.
Viable?
>> Yes.
That's very viable.
I think that's one of the things
being seriously considered.
There are other options.
For example a nuclear one which
is remove Senate president Andy
Biggs as president, installing a
new president and voila, it's
out of the state Senate.
>> we have separate the whole
thing as an amendment, roll the
Senate president, just get him
out of the way, you have get rid
of the Senate president, really
get him out of the way.
The common theme is the Senate
president.
How serious is he about not
allowing this thing to go
forward?
>> I think philosophically he's
against Medicaid expansion.
He has his reasons.
He doesn't think it's good for
the state.
He doesn't think fiscally it's a
viable option for the country to
go into debt to fund this
program and has declared
candidly and categorically he
would do everything in his power
to block this proposal from
getting to the floor.
He said that two weeks ago and
since then to a certain extent
that started this whole
conversation going about how to
get the proposal out of the
Senate and maybe even
circumventing his authority to
get it done.
>> Okay.
So with that in mind you got all
these options, one, two, three.
What about the option we're
hearing more about, just send
the thing to the voters, refer
it to the ballot.
We'll all make the tough
decision instead of the
lawmakers?
>> Obviously that is an option.
I have for the heard -- there's
no indication the governor is
taking that option seriously.
I think the reason is that
whether you get this done as a
referral to the ballot or out to
bill as a law, you run into the
same problems you're running
into now, the Senate president
will probably still not allow
such a proposal or such a
referral to get to the ballot.
Out of the Senate.
You run into the same problems
you're running into now.
>> do you also address three
separate options like you did
before?
Are those relatively viable
there?
>> Yes.
Those same options that I
mentioned to get a bill out of
the Senate can be used as the
same mechanisms to get a ballot
referral out of the Senate.
Of course the political cover
that a ballot referral provides
is Republicans can say, well, it
wasn't a tax increase it was a
referral for a tax increase.
It's not me voting for a tax
increase.
>> we've heard that before with
the one cent sales tax.
>> Exactly.
>> Before we let you go with all
this going on or not going on as
the case may be, what's going
on?
It sounds like the capitol is
turning into crickets.
What's happening down there?
>> On the surface it's very,
very quiet.
They are settling into this hum
drum routine where they go in
three days a week and pass a
handful of bills and there's a
conference committee hearing
every now and then.
Not a whole lot going on on the
surface level.
However, behind the scenes is
where the action is taking
place.
I can tell you there are efforts
right now to break the
stalemate.
To get a budget out if not the
Medicaid proposal at least get a
budget out of the Senate.
The problem is that the budget
really cannot be severed from
the Medicaid expansion proposal.
I don't think the governor would
allow a budget bill to reach her
desk without resolving this
elephant in the room. more on
this in the Friday journalists'
roundtable. Good to hear from
you now.
Thank you for joining us.
We appreciate it.
>> Thank you.
>>> A new study shows a nutrient
found in red meat is tied to an
increased risk for heart
disease.
For more on just how far this
connection goes is Dr. Nathan
Laufer, founder and medical
director of the heart and
vascular center of Arizona.
Good to have you here.
Thanks for joining us.
>> Thanks for having me.
>> let's start by just figuring
out what is -- is it
L-carnitine?
>> Yes.
It's found in significant
amounts in red meat, lesser
amounts in dairy products, but
we have been concerned for many
years as cardiologists about
excess consumption of red meat.
We always thought that it was
the cholesterol and high fat in
the red meat that was linked to
coronary artery disease but this
new study links carnitine as
well.
>> take us exactly into how it
increases cardiovascular risk.
>> it's absorbed when red meat
is ingested is broken down by
bacteria in the gut.
That bacteria will then form a
substance, the short version is
called tMAO.
That helps cholesterol land
inside the plaque and helps
create plaque rather than just
flying through the arterial warm
and being absorbed by the liver.
>> it hits your gut, gut has
bacteria in there, it forms this
tMAO thing, and the cholesterol
decides to stay.
>> it gets sticky and decides to
sit and stay, gets absorbed in
the wall and that's the
beginning of atherosclerosis.
>> We were trying to figure out
what was making that cholesterol
sit and stay.
>> that's right.
There are numerous risk factors.
It's also used in supplements
and weight building and muscle
bulking.
But there are several other risk
factors.
The one we can't do anything
about obviously is the genetic
risk factor, about but those
that are reversible are smoking,
high blood pressure, lack of
exercise, risk factors we can
certainly do something about.
The exercise, for example, will
raise the good cholesterol and
good cholesterol takes
cholesterol out of the plaque
and brings it back to the liver.
>> for those of us who do
exercise, you keep telling
yourself it's a good thing.
How is it good?
Does it add more veins, more
arteries?
Does it clear out the arteries?
A what does exercise do to help
your heart?
>> Excellent question.
The first you mentioned is does
exercise clear out the arteries.
The answer is no, but it's an
excellent preventer of plaque
buildup.
The more you do the higher the
HDL, the good cholesterol.
It doesn't do that much to lower
the bad cholesterol, which is
the cholesterol that lands
inside the plaque and creates
plaque, but by building up the
good cholesterol it can decrease
the amount of plaque formation.
That's one thing.
The other thing is that people
who exercise tend to be more
conscious of their health in
general and have a more balanced
diet.
>> the idea of the good
cholesterol, though, HDL, if
that stuff is siting there and
staying there and you start
exercising, that stuff still
stays there.
>> That stuff still stays there
unless you're a monkey.
Studies done in monkeys that
were Fed high cholesterol diets
for five years developed
atherosclerosis.
If then all the cholesterol was
taken out of their diet and they
were Fed a vegetarian diet, five
years later you could show some
regression of this cholesterol
buildup.
But whether we show regression
or not, the fact that we can
stabilize the plaque and stop
progression is very important.
You brought along a kind of a
poster or something there of
what actually is happening in
the artery.
It's basically -- it really --
again, you could have that
artery and you could start
running marathons you'll still
have that artery.
>> correct.
That was the problem with Jim
Fixx from 20, 25 years ago, who
believed exercise is good for
you to the exclusion of
medication.
It is good for you and maybe
prolonged his life somewhat but
not to the exclusion of
medication.
If you look in the middle of the
artery you'll see the beginnings
of a plaque that's formed.
To the right you'll see a
severeatherosclerosis plaque.
If you can start exercising, mod
fight your diet, start a
Mediterranean type diet you may
stop the progress.
If you are little with the
middle segment of that you can
live many years.
>> we're not talking linguine,
are we?
>> no.
A diet from southern Italy, for
example, which is rich in fish,
chicken, fruits, vegetables and
olive oil there was a study that
just came out last month that
showed that Mediterranean diet
plus a little bit of olive oil
or some nuts such as walnuts,
high in antioxidants, actually
can decrease the cardiovascular
mortality by 50 to 60% compared
to just low fat diet.
>> Okay.
Have a glass or two of wine, eat
grapes, do the Mediterranean
diet, douse myself in olive oil,
eat fish, I take an aspirin or
two.
Again, is that artery going to
always look like that?
>> That artery will look like
the artery you started with when
you started this diet.
You will decrease further
progression.
Even if you delay progression,
say you don't decrease
progression but can delay it 20
or 30 years, you've still done
some good.
>> We have another graphic here.
This is a straight on view of
the artery.
Again, this is basically -- if
you got it, you got it.
How do you know you got it?
Are there warning signs?
We hear so much about sudden
heart attacks out of the blue.
If you have that, how out of the
blue is this?
>> That's another excellent
question.
First if you look at the yellow,
that's the plaque inside the
artery which is in pink.
That little spot you see in red,
that's a clot that's formed
inside the plaque.
We don't really care that people
have plaques.
Most people don't care if they
have atherosclerosis.
They care if they die of heart
attack.
Is atherosclerosis a predictor
of heart attacks?
That's the $64,000 question.
Cardiologists are not very good
at predicting heart attacks.
We're very good at finding
plaque buildup in the artery but
does that lead to heart attack?
Turns out if you lower your
blood cholesterol whether you
have a 70% or 20% plaque you
have the same risk of having a
heart attack.
The problem is the 20% plaque
will not show up on the stress
test.
If we did an angiogram where we
put dye into the artery we would
not do anything if we just saw
20% plaque.
That patient has the same risk
as a person with a 70, 80 or 09%
plaque at having that plaque
tear and cause a clot to form of
the best predictor is lowering
the cholesterol level.
Then that plaque will scar down
and be less like Jell-o and less
likely to tear and form a firmer
plaque that won't tear.
That is probably the best
predictor of whether you'll have
a heart attack is what your
cholesterol level is.
>> before we go, the study, what
does that tell us, eat less red
meat, eat no red meat?
>> Less red meat.
Less.
Maybe four to eight ounces
deposit in their plaque.
>> great stuff, doctor.
I'm glad we had you on.
Good to have you here.
>> thank you.
>>> Byron Garrett is former head
of the PTA and current chairman
of the national family
engagement alliance.
He has written a book titled the
ABCs of life which provides an
alphabet of practical advice for
young people.
Glad to have you.
>> Glad to be here.
>> Who is Byron Garrett?
>> He raised both nephews from
middle school through high
school.
I would baby-sit him and he
would say, uncle Byron, A is for
apple.
I said, that makes no sense.
How about A is for attitude.
We went all the way through the
alphabet and transferred it into
a book.
>> this -- looking at this book
it seems geared toward young
people.
Maybe not so young as well.
>> we're all kids at heart.
But it was originally written
with students in mind, but it
had such universal principle.
It really fits the entire cross
generational message.
>> Why is a book like this
necessary?
>> In this day and age when you
look at the challenges young
people face but specifically in
school, I chose Scholastica,
they were great enough to
publish it.
Whether it's bullying, other
things from a teasing, taunting
perspective, they need continued
inspiration, that type of
guidance to keep them moving
forward.
I was just at Alhambra high
school.
Siting there with two freshman
classes those who know where
they want to be still need that
extra lift to say you can do
amazing things if you choose to.
>> Expect failure but also
success.
>> expect failure.
The notion is anyone who knows
how to ride a bike they know not
because they fell off but
because they got back on.
At some point things didn't work
the way they wanted it to.
You rise from that and end up
being successful.
>> chapter for N, never, never,
never say never.
>> that's so easy and so true.
It's difficult.
Sometimes people hit a wall.
They want to say I want to give
in, give up, get out.
They suffer from what I call
stinkin' thinkin'.
You have to pursue your passion.
>> Back to what you were saying,
people can say that's easy for
Byron.
He has that personality.
It could be your brain
chemistry.
People are up, positive, moving
forward.
Others may be more reflective,
depressive.
>> we all come from different
situations.
I have seen people that have
gone from losing avenue to
luxury lane and luxury lane to
losing avenue.
It's not a notion of where you
come historically.
Your origin does not equal your
destination.
We need young people to realize
that everything may not work the
way you want it to now but you
have to focus on what you want
to accomplish.
Success doesn't happen overnight
but it does happen over time.
>> how do you get past it
because it's innate?
>> We have challenges.
I don't want anyone to say
anyone in life who is highly
successful did not overcome
obstacles.
We all do.
How do I transform this
stumbling block into a stepping
stone.
Is the glass half empty or half
full.
Really looking at it from the
perspective of what can I do to
prepare me for where it is I
want to be tomorrow.
>> learn how to learn.
>> Well, continuous learner or
being a lifelong learner.
Growing up my parents would say
you don't have any homework
tonight?
Great.
There's a set of encyclopedias.
We want you to write a book
report on duckbill platypus if
you can figure out how to spell
it.
You should be the expert on any
area that you want to enter.
In this day and age it helps
young people and adults realize
you should continuously be
learning and improving to move
forward.
>> is your life different than
in the past?
If so, or if not if it's always
been this way, who inspired you?
>> It is different.
I think we live from our
experiences always tell folks
there a group of individuals you
will never meet.
Yvonne Garrett, my parents, my
fourth grade teacher, my sixth
grade teacher, they are folks
when I would hit a wall they
were the ones I still hear their
consistent encouragement saying
regardless of what someone else
says you have the opportunity to
exceed if you choose to.
>> That says so much about how
important teachers are.
>> Right.
>> mentors to young folks.
>> education is critical.
Adults have a unique role not
only in the classroom but
community based organizations
outside the classroom to
encourage young people and
instill a strong work ethic and
a belief in themselves they can
rise above the occasion.
People rise or fall to the
expectation you set for them.
We have to continue to say
regardless of your background,
your situation, if you want an
apology I'll apologize for where
you came from but when you wake
up tomorrow morning there's
still a responsibility to move
forward and deliver.
You don't have to stay stuck in
the same situation you're in.
The response has been great.
From adults, grandparents,
students, everyone in between.
I believe the message is so
simple, the realty is it
resonates.
You talked about a couple
letters or chapters.
My favorite is X.
You have 24 hours in a day, 12
hours to mind your business, 12
hours to take care of your
business, zero hours to mind
somebody else's business.
>> The ABC's of life.
Good to have you.
>> Thank you so much.
>> Thanks for joining us.
>>> Thursday on "Arizona
Horizon," we will talk pore
about schools and kids as we
look at an upcoming education
forum and meet a college
professor who left academia to
live off the grid.
and 10:00 on the
next "Arizona Horizon."
That is it for now.
I'm Ted Simons.
Thank you so much for joining
us.
You have a great evening.
>>> "Arizona Horizon" is made
possible by contributions from
the friends of 8.
Members of your Arizona PBS
station.
Thank you.
>>> Later on 8H.D. --
>> On the next episode of
Australia's first 4 billion
years, an adventure way down
under.
>> Blimey, this is tough.
>> with keys to the kangaroo's
story and the giant evolutionary
leap that led to a continent of
strange creatures.
>> This little guy is a truly
famous Australian.
>> Australia's first 4 billion
years, on nova.
on 8H.D.
>>> 8H.D., 8 life, and 8 world.
This is Arizona PBS supported by
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>>> 8th grad online auction is
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This year it includes exotic
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>>> How do we educate in a
rapidly changing world?
>> How can we create a
sustainable way of life?
>> How can we teach peace?
>> Arizona State University.
Rise to the challenges before
us.
>>> A parent is a child's first
teacher.
That's why 8 is providing a
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parents and care-givers of
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in Yuma County.
Learn how to expand your child's
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You will also get interactive
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Register for this six week
series at AZPBS.org/workshop.
Workshops begin soon, so sign up
today.
>>> What if there were a
neighborhood where every child
felt they belonged?
And a big dog helped them stay
little a little longer?
What if a cat with a hat taught
them this and that.
A monkey helped them find the
wonder in every little thing.
And a flightless bird showed
them how to soar?
Support the people and programs
that never stop asking, what if?
>> Coming soon to 8H.D. --
>> I asked if I could host a new
shows about the constitution.
Know what they said?
Hit the road.
>> I'm Peter Siegel.
Does the constitution have what
it takes to keep up with the
lives, limits and freedoms of
modern America?
Let's find out.
Constitution usa with me, Peter
Siegel.
on
8H.D.
>>> The national Memorial Day
concert.
>> Coming together in grateful
remembrance of those who have
sacrificed and died for our
country.
>> With Colin Powell, Katherine
Jenkins, the national symphony
orchestra, Gary Sinise and me,
Joe Montane, Sunday, May 26,
p.m., only on PBS.