Four leaders on challenges, priorities and the other party.

• Position: SOUNDBITES - Brent Hill, Greg Stumbo, William Batchelder and Bobby Harrell - Interview

SENATOR BRENT HILL

Idaho Senate President Pro Tem

SL: Have your new members made your job easier or more difficult?

IDAHO SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM BRENT

HILL: Of our 35 state senators, six of them are new this year. Part of my job is to help them be successful in their new positions and to motivate the more experienced legislators to help in the process. Our members were anxious to help and worked very well with the new senators from both political parties.

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SL: Describe your challenges this year.

HILL: By anyone's standard, 2011 was one of the most difficult sessions the Idaho Legislature has ever faced. In addition to facing the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes and enacting major reforms in public education, we dealt with some of the most emotional issues that confront state lawmakers.

Within a six-week period, we tackled abortion, assisted suicide, state nullification of federal laws, constitutional conventions, guns on college campuses, and the management of wolves. It is unusual to address more than one or two of these highly emotional issues during one legislative session, but we met them all head-on.

SL; What was your top budget priority? HILL: Public education is the largest portion of the state budget and is always our top priority. We are facing very difficult economic times and a strong resistance to increasing taxes. Although the Legislature had amassed significant rainy-day accounts to help public education in the event of an economic downturn, our preparations were insufficient to see us through a recession this deep and this long. We made aggressive cuts in almost all state agencies and programs trying to protect public education as long as possible, bur even our top priority suffered.

SL: How do you work with the other party?

HILL: Idaho is one of the most Republican states in the country, and our Democrats can some times feel excluded from the political process. I have tried to allow our Democrats to fully participate in the presentation and discussion of the issues facing the legislature. I meet with the minority leadership often, listen to their concerns, and keep them apprised of upcoming matters. They are our friends and colleagues and we always try to treat them with respect.

SL: What are you doing to promote citizen respect for the Legislature?

HILL: When I became the Senate president pro tem this year, one of my primary goals was to restore the public's confidence in government. Political...