Russell Pearce to be next Arizona Senate president

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By: Christopher Sign
Associated Press

PHOENIX - Arizona Republican senators-elect on Wednesday chose illegal immigration hard-liner Russell Pearce to be the chamber's next president.

The Mesa Republican was chosen by lawmakers who held a closed-door reorganization caucus one day after Tuesday's general election added to Republicans' majorities in both legislative chambers.

The president presides over the Senate and has considerable sway over its legislative priorities, scheduling and committee makeup.

Pearce was the chief sponsor both of this year's Arizona state law known as SB1070 on illegal immigration and law enforcement and also a 2007 law imposing sanctions on businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Both laws are the subject of pending court challenges.

Pearce told ABC15 he'll be focusing on several items that affect Arizonans that are not related to illegal immigration.

"The budget is my number one issue, getting a balanced budget and being responsible in terms of our government, making it smaller and more efficient," Pearce said.

Since 2008, about a third of Arizona's revenue has disappeared. Over the next few years, state officials predict a budget shortfall by as much as $2 billion.

Pearce said that brings up other concerns he plans to address.

"It will be jobs, jobs, jobs. Private industry is what produces wealth and we're going to focus on private jobs," Pearce said. "I'm a team player and first off we have a very aggressive agenda and I will be a part of that."

Pearce also served as a co-chairman of the campaign for Proposition 200, a 2004 voter-approved law that denied some public benefits to illegal immigrants and required proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Last week, a federal appeals court struck down the citizenship requirement for voter registration.

Pearce, who defeated two rivals for the Senate presidency, is currently the Appropriations Committee chairman. He and other newly selected leaders take their new offices in January when lawmakers begin their 2011 regular session.

Republicans won three more Senate seats Tuesday, increasing their majority in the 30-member Senate to 21. They also added at least two additional seats to their current 35-member majority in the 60-member House and GOP candidates held leads in three other races.

If those leads hold, the Republicans would have veto-proof majorities in both chambers, although it is unclear if they need it. Republican Jan Brewer won a full term Tuesday and has often agreed with Republican lawmakers.

House Republicans on Wednesday 0retained Mesa Republican Kirk Adams as House speaker.

The bigger House and Senate majorities could open the door to factionalism within Republicans' ranks but should make it easier to pass their priority legislation and also provide an incremental increase of clout in dealing with the governor, said Sen.-elect John McComish, the current House majority leader.

Democratic Sen. Paula Aboud of Tucson said Pearce could prove to be an obstacle for Brewer, given his personality and the bulked-up legislative majorities.

"He's not very good at cooperation. He tends to get what he wants," Aboud said.

The 2011 session is expected to be on overcoming the state budget's growing shortfall and on consideration of Republican proposals to spur the state's ailing economy.

However, the contentious issue of illegal immigration also is expected to return, though some legislators have said they would consider it an unneeded distraction at a time when the state already is defending two laws on that subject in court.

Pearce announced last month he plans to introduce 2011 legislation to challenge automatic U.S. citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants.

The U.S. Supreme Court is now considering an appeal of lower courts' rulings that uphold the state's 2007 law imposing sanctions on businesses who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. And a federal circuit court is considering a judge's order blocking implementation of key provisions of a multifaceted 2010 law on illegal immigration and law enforcement.

The 2010 law has stirred controversy that included protests and boycotts of the state.

Incumbent Democrats who lost races include Rep. Barbara McGuire of Kearny and Sens. Rebecca Rios of Apache Junction, Amanda Aguirre of Yuma and Manny Alvarez of Elfrida. Democratic Reps. Nancy Young Wright of Oro Valley and Rae Waters of Tucson trailed in their races.

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/state/rus ... -president