AZ Political Podcast: State Senate president looks ahead to new session

On this week’s AZ Political Podcast, state Senate President Warren Peterson joins me to talk about how he’d like to spend his second term as president, and that includes seeking ways to speed up Arizona’s r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w ballot counting process.

Also high on his agenda for Arizona’s 57th Legislature is tackling the state’s water issues, education funding (including increasing teacher pay) and funding public safety — which leads me to ask about funding for the just-passed Prop 314 that made crossing the border illegally a state crime (along with being a federal crime).

While Republicans will continue to enjoy majorities in the state House and Senate, and he will remain Senate president, there will be some changes in leadership — which Petersen breaks down for us.

And speaking of leadership, I feel the need to inquire why a not-so-highly-paid state legislator would add to his headaches by agreeing to go into legislative leadership. (Hint: I think he likes it.)

AZ Political Podcast is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.

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