7/8/2009 8:52:00 PM Senate president taps Prescott
rancher Pierce as president pro tem
File photo/The Daily Courier
Sen. Steve Pierce, R-Prescott
Staff and wire reports
PHOENIX - Arizona Senate President Bob Burns named Prescott rancher Steve Pierce as Senate president pro tem Wednesday in the wake of discord among senior GOP senators over budget issues and leadership style.
"He wants to get us off dead center, and he asked me if I would do it," Pierce said. "I think I bring some common sense and support for the president."
The change means that Pierce will work alongside House Majority Whip Andy Tobin of Paulden. Pierce, an Arizona native, can't recall the last time that this region had leaders in both houses. Although he is a freshman legislator, Pierce has a long history with the Republican party.
Tobin said having Pierce directly involved in budget negotiations now will help rural Arizona. All the other Republican leaders are from urban areas.
"It's huge to have him in the (budget negotiating) room now," Tobin said.
The Legislature is now nine days into the fiscal year without a budget.
The president pro tem presides over the Senate in the president's absence and is a member of the majority's leadership team.
Burns ousted Sen. Thayer Verschoor of Gilbert from the appointed position of president pro tem on Wednesday.
"This is a team effort and I think that maybe I can improve that teamwork by making this change," said Burns, who also removed Majority Whip Pam Gorman of Anthem as a Rules Committee member.
Verschoor and Gorman were among three Republican leaders who sided with Democrats in voting against Burns in a Rules Committee vote against legislation to submit Gov. Jan Brewer's proposed sales tax increase to voters.
That surprise development reflected many Republicans' unease or declared opposition toward the tax proposal, a key element of Brewer's budget-balancing approach.
Verschoor, who unsuccessfully sought the Senate presidency himself this past fall, said Burns had a top-down leadership style that didn't involve enough consultation with colleagues.
"Nobody had ever asked if I was OK with it," Verschoor said of the tax proposal.
Gorman did not immediately return calls for comment.
Majority Leader Chuck Gray of Mesa was the third Republican who voted against the tax legislation in the committee vote, but Burns said he was keeping Gray on the committee.
"I've had some discussions with Sen. Gray and I'm prepared to let him stay there at this point in time," Burns said.
The full Republican caucus elects the majority leader and whip. Burns acknowledged there had been talk of possible changes in the elected positions but he said he was taking a hands-off approach.
Burns said he chose Pierce because the freshman lawmaker has communicated well with him, is ambitious and wants to be engaged. "I believe he can help me out," Burns said.
Posted: Friday, July 10, 2009
Article comment by:
Sweet
I can see this pretend rancher and his pals starting a "cow-op" where they share cows on each others property to receive the taxpayer (us) subsidy until they can develope. What a joke.
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
"I think I bring some common sense....." When did that start?
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
The beginning of the end.
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
John Travers
Way to go Senator! I love it and love Steve. Eat it up no name and Local!!!Oh ya too hard to swallow....!!!!
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Grassroots
New blood. That's a good thing.
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Promote him now becasue he won't be in office next go around. He owns too much land and has alienated education too much to stay in office.
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
What an honor this is..?
Did I read this article right? Burns hates it that one of his handpicked committee people went against him so he fires that dude and picks Pierce because he knows Steve will vote with him. Is that an honor or is it a curse. I can't decide. I think the more closely aligned with Bumblin' Bob Burns I was the worse off I'd be. The guy is a disaster as a lawmaker.
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Sparky
Goes to show money can buy anything in Arizona.
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
YIKES.......
Great..........NOT!!! Another blow to education and our children. Special interest groups are celebrating.......... Yikes!!!!
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Lori B
Congratulations, Senator Pierce! It is great to have you moved up to a position where Rural Arizona can be heard, and you will get things moving along towards a SENSIBLE budget. NO SALES TAX! Do you hear us now Gov. Brewer?
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Local Citizen
I was called on a poll. They ask what I rate each one in office, When they got to Pierce, I asked any thing lower than Zero? Taking care of his rich buddies, to heck with the others. I bet he is big with the rent a cow companies gets the low tax on all his land.
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Two from the Big Chino
"Tobin said having Pierce directly involved in budget negotiations now will help rural Arizona." -- Help it stop being rural, that is.
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
This guy is another republican nut...no wonder the state is in debt with liberal spending republicans.
Posted: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Fareness Docktrin
Sounds like they needed a "yes man" for the Grover Norquist, special interest, "no taxes to pay for anything ever" agenda. They got him.
