SOUNDBITES State Legislatures asked some legislative leaders about their frame of mind as they head into the 2011 sessions. Why Did You Wa nt This Job? Idaho Senate President Pro Tem Robert Geddes: I grew up in a politically active family. My father served in the Legislature for 24 years. I guess part of me continues to have him as my role model. I’ve served 16 years, and I’ll turn 55 next year. I’ve tried to balance that with a profession and family. It’s rewarding. It gets into your blood and you always think you could do a little more to make our society better. House Speaker Mike Haridopolos: I love my state and my family. As the son of an FBI agent and a college instructor, I believe in public service. I wanted to lead as Senate president because I have a conservative vision for our state and felt that now, more than ever, we need leaders who recognize that people spend money smarter than a large bureaucratic state. These are tough times, and if we lead in an inclusive, unselfish way, anything is possible. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan: I am asking for my constituents’ support because we have some great challenges facing us that can be best addressed by experienced leadership. New Jersey Speaker Sheila Oliver: I sought public office because I want to help create an inclusive environment where all ideas can emerge and be respected. I want to establish, in no uncertain terms, that leaders in public office need not conform to stereotypical images that portray them as self-serving and self-promoting people who don’t care about their constituencies. And just as important, I want to help establish the fact that women and people of color are capable of accomplishing anything and everything possible.

and still functioning as they’re Jersey is to eradicate the ideologi- Haridopolos: I worry about Flo- Q. What’s supposed to. The ultimate ques- cal and geographical divides. Our ridians who have been hit hard tion is whether we still can afford state is home to both some of the by these tough times. There’s your vision them. We have to be sustainable wealthiest and poorest citizens in such a domino effect when one and doing the right thing. the country—from new suburban person loses a job and can’t find for the Haridopolos: My vision is to enclaves to the third oldest city in another one. As we’ve seen, it ensure Florida places no impedi- the nation. I want to continue to leads to home foreclosures, addi- ments on fulfilling someone’s help plant seeds that will allow tional demands on social ser- state? dream—whether it be creating a a not-too-distant generation to vices and declining tax revenue, Geddes: I’m a conservative start-up business, starting a fam- experience a New Jersey where which affects every Floridian. I Republican. My vision is that ily or starting another chapter in there is inclusion, diversity of fear that if Washington continues we need to continue to do what life. With no state income tax, thought, and a focus on creating its spending, we might not have we can in three key areas: pub- being a right-to-work state and the best possible quality of life for the flexibility as a state to make lic safety, infrastructure needs now in the top 10 in education everyone—regardless of socio- the changes we need. The best and education. Everything else performance, Florida is poised economic status, political affilia- example of this is the health care is probably not as high a priority. to attract new jobs. My vision tion or geographic location. bill that will increase our state Certainly we have responsibilities is to make our state the place to rolls by 50 percent. in other areas, but in my opin- do business. With a strong con- Madigan: I worry that the havoc ion in those other areas we have servative majority we must lead Q. What caused to our social service sys- diminished people’s ingenuity by example. If we offer predict- tem—especially mental health and personal responsibility. We ability and certainty—meaning keeps you workers—might be hard to repair. cannot continue as a state to do as a promise of no new taxes, the Oliver: While some people may much as we have done in the past. reduction of government red insist that they actually thrive That means we’re going to limit tape and common-sense health up at night? on stress, I am not one of them. our resources to what people have care reforms—we will fulfill that Geddes: What’s worrying me Many years ago, I learned how to the ability to pay for rather than mission. more than anything else is how handle stress because I realized saying this is nice program and Madigan: My vision includes we’re going to be able to con- that stress and worry are counter- should be funded. So my vision the need to fashion a bipartisan tinue balancing the budget. We productive to problem-solving for Idaho is to continue to be fis- effort to more fully address the expect an even bigger challenge and living a healthy and produc- cally responsible and to evaluate unprecedented fiscal troubles next year because funds we had tive life. So I am able to sleep all the programs we have in place facing the state. socked away in rainy day funds soundly and wake refreshed, to determine if they’re necessary Oliver: The vision I have for New are depleted. ready to tackle another day.

18 state legislatures JANUARY 2011 Idaho Senate President Pro Tem Robert Geddes Robert Geddes was first elected to the Idaho Senate in 1996 and has served as president pro tem since Why Did You Wa nt This Job? 2000. Following this interview, he announced his intention not to run again for the the post of Senate have seen Republicans stripped president pro tem. Q. What do you think of of leadership posts merely for voting for minor measures to partisanship in today’s give the state some fiscal breath- ing room. legislatures? Oliver: I am becoming increas- ingly disappointed at both the President Geddes: The Republicans cur- stituents, and they should have a level of the discourse and the Mike Haridopolos rently have a super majority in voice. Admittedly, there has been a lack of mutual respect or toler- Mike Haridopolos became president the Idaho Senate. We work well loss of civility in this process. Dif- ance for all points of view. There of the Florida Senate following the with the minority 98 percent of fering viewpoints are encouraged. is absolutely nothing wrong with November 2010 election. He was first the time. There are just a couple Personal attacks should always be espousing divergent points of elected to the House in 2000 and the of issues on which we have some off limits. That is why we pride view. There is something wrong Senate in 2003. Haridopolos teaches significant disagreement. But I ourselves in the Florida Senate on with engaging in the kinds of history at the . would say our relationship and our ability to work together, and infantile, ignorant and even ability to work with all legisla- even when we disagree, both sides gutter-level behavior we are see- tors is pretty professional. are always heard. ing around the country. We must Haridopolos: No points of view Madigan: Extreme partisanship shake off this reality show men- should ever be stifled. Legislators has made it impossible to address tality and remember why we are were elected to represent their con- major fiscal problems. Sadly, we in public office. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Michael Madigan, first elected to the Illinois House in 1970, became Q. How do you lead in a time of crisis? speaker in 1983. He has held that post ever since except for the period Geddes: I think now is a time of crisis, and it’s not to make the necessary changes to remove govern- from 1994 to 1996. Madigan is a that much fun. What helps me more than anything ment barriers to job creation. The best thing we lifelong resident of Chicago, where else is that, in the Idaho Senate, we have extremely can do is lead by example and tighten our own he practices law. talented people with wide experience and a healthy belts first. That is why in the Senate, we have amount of good common sense. Leading is not so already cut our own pay over the past few years much leading as it is knowing where to find the and saved more than $1 million by reducing our best resources to manage through the crisis we’re own staff. facing. Madigan: My approach in difficult times is the Haridopolos: Facing challenges head-on dur- same as in less difficult times: Apply common- New Jersey Speaker ing a crisis is a true sign of leadership. We’re sense solutions, solicit broad-based input and ideas, Sheila Oliver elected by our fellow citizens not to mark time and expect big problems to be solved gradually. Sheila Oliver was first elected to but to tackle the issues of our day. Florida, like Oliver: Leadership is the only ship that doesn’t the New Jersey Assembly in 2003, most other states, has been hit hard by the current return to port when there is a storm. During times was deputy speaker pro-tem in the economic meltdown. We’re faced with declining of crisis, I believe that leaders must stay the course, 2008 and 2009 sessions and became budgets, high unemployment, and the economic remain at the helm, and navigate the rough and speaker in 2010. She is the first impact of this summer’s oil spill in the Gulf. uncharted waters. I also never lose sight of the fact African-American woman to lead a While it’s tough to see Floridians suffering, we that I am a public servant charged with doing what legislative chamber in New Jersey and have an opportunity to put our great state back on is best for the people of New Jersey, and that helps only the second in U.S. history to lead the right track. With crisis comes an opportunity provide the fuel to keep me going. a legislative chamber.

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