Four leaders on distractions, downturns and tough decisions.

PositionTAKING THE FLOOR - Tonya Schuitmaker, Donald E. Williams, Shan S. Tsutsui, and William O'Brien - Interview

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SENATOR TONYA SCHUITMAKER

Michigan Senate President Pro Tem

SL: What's the greatest challenge you'll face in the 2012 session?

Schuitmaker: We need to continue working together to help this state move forward. The residents of Michigan are our first priority, and we need to keep them in mind as we introduce legislation and move Michigan toward a prosperous future.

SL: Were you surprised by the challenges you faced in the 2011 session'?

Schuitmaker: I wasn't surprised. Michigan has lost more than 850,000 jobs in the past nine years, making it clear that something had to change. I firmly believe the best social program is employment. It was apparent that we needed to chase jobs, not revenues.

SL: In working on the budget, what was your top priority?

Schuitmaker: I knew we needed to make tough decisions and make serious reforms to how our government operates and the amount of money we spend. We are delivering substantial reforms to reduce unnecessary regulations and improve the economic climate to create jobs and improve the quality of life for Michigan families. In the first seven months of the session, we dramatically transformed the landscape of Michigan into a pro-jobs, pro-small business, pro-growth state.

SL: How do you work with the other party?

Schuitmaker: We keep communication open and professional. Yes, there can be big philosophical differences on what the priorities should be due to the economic situation, but that does not take away from the fact that there are a lot of wonderful, service-minded individuals working in the Legislature. The range of issues we work on is daunting. Since Jan. 1, the governor has signed 127 bills into law. Of those, 54.2 percent of the legislative votes were unanimous by both the Republicans and Democrats. Even though we have our differences, there is wholehearted agreement more than half the time.

SL: What advice would you give to the next leader?

Schuitmaker: Do your homework. Be active in your community and listen to your constituency. It's a lot of hard work, but it is so rewarding to be a part of the democratic process and to make a positive impact in Michigan.

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SENATOR DONALD E. WILLIAMS

Connecticut Senate President

SL: Looking at the 201 l session, were you surprised by the challenges you faced?

Williams: The challenges were significant but expected. We knew we had a large projected deficit for the next biennium, and closing that gap was a top...

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