Willis is a long-time political activist and former teacher who, along with the actress Meryl Streep and others, founded Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet, a group that focuses on removing environmental toxins from children's food. as co-chairwoman of the Higher Education Committee, Willis leveled sharp criticism at the Connecticut State University system in 2010, charging it spent too much on administrative compensation compared with its academic programs.But in 2011, Willis cast herself as a defender of higher education against the newly elected administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who proposed and ultimately won legislation consolidating the community colleges and state university system. Willis, who pushed years ago for higher education to complete a strategic plan, a task never begun, complained that Malloy's reorganization was "a restructuring without a plan." She said in March 2011 that she was lobbied by a number of administration officials, including Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, to approve Malloy's bill as written. As a peace offering, Willis had her committee approve the governor's bill - and a competing bill that she drafted. "I am being very nice," Willis said. "If it was a Republican governor, I would have given the proposal a hearing, but it wouldn't have come out of committee." The brief standoff with Willis led to a call from Malloy's chief of staff, Tim Bannon, to Donovan, who also has chatted with members of other committees where there was resistance to moving along the governor's bills without changes. "I was driving, got a call from Tim Bannon. We straightened some things out, that kind of thing," said House Speaker Christopher Donovan, who did not go into specifics. "Sometimes here, people get all excited. Then you sit down and work it out." Willis was not as sanguine. "The tension in the air is palpable," she said.Willis is now exploring a run for House majority leader.