Speaker of the Assembly Albio Sires, New Jersey
What life experience has best prepared you for this job?
Having come to the United States as immigrants from Cuba. My
family has instilled in me the importance of education and hard
work, and I have watched my parents struggle through the ups and
downs of being immigrants and raising a family.
My experience as a teacher also has helped me see the importance
of education, and serving as mayor (of West New York) has benefited
me in dealing with the local issues.
Who have been your role models?
My mother and father. They have worked very hard their entire
lives and I have learned many things by watching them struggle
financially while raising a family.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the
legislative institution?
The constant pressure of the budget. It is a delicate balancing
act to preserve state services provided to the people of New Jersey.
We also must recognize how budget shortfalls can place additional
pressure on local municipal budgets and taxpayers.
What is the most important state issue before Congress right
now?
Homeland security and how to fund it. The realities of 9/11 have
placed added pressure on states - particularly New Jersey - and the
federal government must devise a plan that finances state and local
homeland security efforts in a fair and equitable manner.
What have been your priorities this legislative session?
Supporting education initiatives has been a priority of mine,
whether it is increasing school funding or providing more
opportunities for people to attend college. I believe that higher
education is one of the most important tools we can provide to
students. New Jersey has delivered by establishing the NJ STARS
program to provide free tuition at community colleges to students in
the top 20 percent of their high school classes.
What has been the biggest challenge of this legislative
session?
It is a delicate balance between meeting the needs of the 40
individual legislative districts and New Jersey on a statewide
level. Each session, we must craft an agenda that addresses state
issues and still deals with each legislator's particular agenda for
his or her district.
What do you think is the most effective way to engage citizens
in the legislative process?
The workings of the Legislature often can escape the general
public, so it is important to utilize the media and advances in
technology to spread the word. If people know what policies their
legislators are advancing, they are more likely to take an interest
and believe they have a stake in what happens in the State
House.
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