“Ensuring that a Republican serves in this position in the 51st Legislature – even if only for one month – was a very important part of the power-sharing negotiations for term-limited Republican senators like myself and Senators Wilcoxson and Laughlin. After the significant gains Republicans have made in the Senate during our tenure, it is important to us that we are able to serve with the first Republican president pro tem.
“This important step also is recognition of the equal status of the president pro tem and the co-president pro tem in governing the Senate for the next two years,” he said.