Arizona Senate Republicans have set up a new process for confirming nominees to lead state agencies. Now, all those who get tapped by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, will be screened by a new five-member committee.
Historically, agency nominees have been reviewed by the standing committee whose members have some expertise in each area.
Senate President Warren Petersen, a Republican, says there's a reason his party is handling Hobbs' nominations differently than those of her predecessor, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.
"Ducey actually talked to us. Because Ducey actually let us know who they were. Because Ducey actually had some discussion of who we were going to actually work with," Petersen said.
These changes come after what Republicans say is Hobbs' failure to "promptly'' send the Senate names of nominees. Republican Sen. Jake Hoffman says of the 26 appointments Hobbs has made, only two have been submitted for the required Senate confirmation.
But Hobbs' press aid countered that they're on par with past administrations.
The change in the nomination procedure is just one in a series of events as the Republican-controlled Legislature figures out how to work with a governor of a different party.
Democratic Sen. Catherine Miranda says if Republicans want to advance some of their own agenda items they need to understand that they are no longer in control of state government. She said that requires them to consider t confirming nominees to lead state agencies he legislative Democrats, even if they are only 14 of the 30 senators.
"There are dynamics that have changed here,'' Miranda said. "You're powerful with the majority vote,'' she continued. "We're powerful with the governor — which makes us equal.''