Leadership
The Lieutenant Governor of Washington serves as the President of the Senate, but only casts a vote if required to break a tie. In his or her absence, the President Pro Tempore presides over the Senate. The President Pro Tempore is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the entire Senate through a Senate Resolution. The President Pro Tempore is the chief leadership position in the Senate. The other Senate leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders are elected by their respective party caucuses.
The current President of the Senate is Brad Owen. The current President Pro Tempore is Tim Sheldon and the Majority Leader is Rodney Tom. While both Sheldon and Tom are Democrats, they have sided with the Senate Republicans to form the Majority Coalition Caucus. The Minority Leader is Democrat Ed Murray. Republicans have quickly gained more and more influence in the Senate and the House, unlike the gubernational, congressional, and federal elections in the state.
Read more about this topic: Washington State Senate
Famous quotes containing the word leadership:
“During the first World War women in the United States had a chance to try their capacities in wider fields of executive leadership in industry. Must we always wait for war to give us opportunity? And must the pendulum always swing back in the busy world of work and workers during times of peace?”
—Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)
“This I do know and can say to you: Our country is in more danger now than at any time since the Declaration of Independence. We don’t dare follow the Lindberghs, Wheelers and Nyes, casting suspicion, sowing discord around the leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt. We don’t want revolution among ourselves.”
—Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)