In all probability, Republican legislative leadership and the governor will need Democratic votes in the Senate to pass a referral to increase the state sales tax. If bipartisan talks take place, the job of negotiating the terms will fall on Jorge Luis Garcia, the Democratic minority leader from Tucson.

Democratic state lawmakers are hoping 2010 is a better year than 2009.

This year, Democrats occasionally helped to pass time-sensitive legislation, including measures that ensured Arizona would get federal stimulus money. But, for the most part, Senate Minority Leader Jorge Luis Garcia and his fellow Democrats watched from the sidelines as Republicans unilaterally crafted budget bills and other legislation.