Sen. Bob Worsley: Negotiator or naïve?

Regional News

Audio By Carbonatix

Considered a moderate Republican by Arizona’s conservative standards, Sen. Bob Worsley occupies a position that makes him invaluable to both political parties at the Capitol.

For Democrats, the Mesa Republican is one of a few swing voters they infrequently count on to clash with his GOP colleagues and help kill legislation that the Republican majority wants approved.

For Republicans, his willingness to vote against his own party is a thorn. But it’s one they must grapple with, so sometimes they make concessions that, while painful to some GOP hardliners, are necessary to get Worsley’s vote and approve bills.

Worsley was caught in yet another tug of war over SB1431, a bill that expands access of Arizona’s school vouchers to all students.

Without his vote, the bill was doomed to fail in the Senate, where it would have fallen one vote short of the 16 necessary to clear the chamber.

And without an amendment that Worsley fought for, which dampens the blow of creating universal access to vouchers, the bill’s fate in the House was unclear.

That’s the way Worsley likes it, his fellow lawmakers say.