Senate majority leader Jim Mehlhaff has previously compared keeping his Republican caucus together to herding wild cats.
Now, with several lawmakers temporarily out due to personal or health reasons, it’s become an even tighter margin in key debates.
“Sometimes, you’re just not going to get a consensus on a bill," Mehlhaff said. "You’ll probably see a lot of 18-17 votes, or 18-16 with one or a couple absent this session. Don’t get married to your bills, work hard, and if you don’t get it done, try again.”
Mehlhaff said the gameplan now is to keep legislative decorum front of mind.
“There is a lot of diversity of thought," Mehlhaff said. "I often joke there’s many caucuses within my caucus – and I don’t lead any of them. I think the key thing we always have to remember is everyone is here and everyone has the best interests of their constituents in mind when they bring proposals forward.”
One of those wedge issues will be the incoming property tax debate taking over the Capitol this year.