The Woman Behind the Senate Seat

Senator of New York Kirsten Gillibrand was picked by Governor Paterson to take over Hillary Clinton’s seat. Although being active in politics is not new to the Senator who spent most of her life in public service, Gillibrand told Joan Hamburg on The Joan Hamburg Show WOR 710HD that her new position is “exciting”.

 

“These are fairly urgent times” she said. With a high unemployment rate that varies throughout parts of the city, Gillibrand is “very focused on creating jobs” and is working with President Obama to accomplish this goal.

 

As for her transfer into Senate, Gillibrand found it fairly easy to adjust. “My Senate colleagues have been unbelievably gracious and kind to me” she said. She received advice from Senator Schumer and described Clinton as “extremely gracious” and was given a lot of advice from her on her to run her office. Since many of Clinton’s former staff is still there, Gillibrand was able to fit in. “I’ve been able to hit the ground running,” she said.

 

Gillibrand has been spending a lot of time talking to the people of the state. She said a lot of the legislation she has been working on is focused by the concerns citizens have brought up to her. As a parent of two children, her personal incentive to push legislation is present.

 

“Some of the bills I’ve actually sponsored have been enhanced because of my experience [as a parent]” she said. For example, Gillibrand discussed the issue of daycare as well since its cost is rising. Working around this, she said she is trying to push incentives in the field of daycare that will encourage the decrease in cost as well as the increase of daycare employees.

 

 Another issue she tackled was the safety of our drinking water. After reading a report that said pharmaceuticals were in the cities drinking water, Gillibrand felt it was her duty to make it safer. For our children, “its really important that we know our drinking water is safe,” she said. Therefore, she wrote a bill that demands the EPA to test the water and release a report on its safety. “I have a lens and experience that certainly informs me,” she said about her connection as a parent and a senator. “These are issues that need to be addressed.”

 

Since her job as a mother influences her work as a senator, spending time with family in between work is important to the Senator. “My free time I devote entirely to seeing my family” she said. Her husband and two young boys moved to Washington D.C. away from their upstate New York home when she won the election in 2006. However, being a Senator allows for her to travel parts of the state when she needs and still tries to make it home at least once a month.