Passing bills requires ‘negotiating in good faith’

Successfully getting legislation passed in the Legislature requires strategizing, limiting the number of policy proposals, negotiating and learning from criticism, according to Arizona lawmakers with the highest “batting average” in successfully gaining approval from their colleagues and Gov. Doug Ducey. /Photo by Deposit Photos

By Tori Gantz | Arizona Capitol Times  

In a narrowly divided House, Rep. Jeff Weninger says he knows what it takes to get legislation through both chambers and up to the Governor’s Office.

The Chandler Republican attributed a large part of his success to “competitiveness” throughout the legislative process. But his strategy also includes limiting his policy proposals to an amount that is reasonable for one lawmaker to control — typically 20 bills or fewer — and working with others who are interested in the bill’s concept to obtain a complete understanding of its intricacies.

Weninger said the most important trick he has learned is to “negotiate in good faith.” He said the bill language must be tight and define the exact meaning of any terminology that may be contested. It’s something he said he learned from former Sen. Eddie Farnsworth, who Weninger served with on a House committee early in his career.

“I was burned a time or two where I would negotiate with someone from the other side,” Weninger said. “So, I started being very deliberate with my language, in the future, saying, ‘OK, if I do this, would you be on board?’ because otherwise it’s just really not your bill anymore.”

READ ON:

Share this!

Additional Articles

Top master-planned communities for 2024

By AZ Big Media Here are the Top 10 master-planned communities in Arizona, based on public voting for the 2024 edition of Ranking Arizona, the state’s biggest and most comprehensive business opinion poll. Ranking Arizona

Read More »
News Categories

Get Our Twice Weekly Newsletter!

* indicates required

Rose Law Group pc values “outrageous client service.” We pride ourselves on hyper-responsiveness to our clients’ needs and an extraordinary record of success in achieving our clients’ goals. We know we get results and our list of outstanding clients speaks to the quality of our work.