An hours-old peace deal among the state Senate's feuding Republican leaders fell apart Tuesday despite being brokered by Gov. Nathan Deal, leaving open the question of whether the chamber would repeat last year's drama instead of passing legislation.
The Senate's majority Republican caucus openly bickered last year over high-profile issues such as immigration. Williams and Rogers' more democratic approach with caucus members at times stymied consensus-building and slowed legislation. Some days, members spent more time in private Republican caucus meetings than in open session.
In August, Deal brokered a deal with Senate leaders about when the state would hold transportation sales tax referendums this year. It fell apart during a Republican caucus meeting, angering him and House Republicans.
The year's legislative session began Monday with the governor voicing expectations of an ambitious agenda -- one he did not want derailed by bickering by some in his own party. Deal spokesman Brian Robinson said the governor met for several hours late Monday with Senate leadership in search of a solution and, it seemed, had found one in what seemed to be a power-sharing compromise.
"There's no animosity on my part. I like him as a person," Williams said. "We have a different philosophy in the governance of the Senate. It's a separation of powers, three-branches-of-government issue with me."
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