If becoming a member of Congress is like going to college, then crafting legislation is our homework.

My district is centered around the progressive college town of Boulder, Colorado, and the high-tech U.S. 36 corridor. It goes from the well-established suburbs of northwest Denver in Adams County to the beautiful mountain towns of Vail and Breckenridge and the majestic Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains.

I've started several small businesses myself and know that it is tough out there for the little guy in the global economy. I came to the conclusion that, oftentimes, the best thing the government can do for small business is to stay out of the way.

Sometimes you hear that many politicians vote for a bill in various forms before they vote against it, or vice versa. The conflict, negotiation, and eventual compromise involved in this process form the essence of the democratic process.

We need to prove to American voters, particularly independent voters who gave us this opportunity to lead, that this is not your grandfather's tax-and-spend Democratic Party.

One of my main legislative efforts in education is to help expand and replicate successful charter schools. Charter schools are public schools with site-based governance.

I believe that in order to sustain a governing majority, the Democratic Party has got to learn that it can govern without raising taxes.

Improving our nation's education system has long been the cornerstone of my policy agenda.

Someone who is wrongfully accused needs to do their best to put it behind them and move on.

When the money dries up, the sites die off. That's the way to go after piracy.

It's insulting when somebody who is not a member of our community feels like they have a great understanding of what it's like to grow up gay in this country.

In the business world, if you're not looking ahead, you're missing something.

To be effective in Congress, you must focus. With so many issues and debates occurring at any given time, it is easy to spread yourself too thin and lose sight of your goal.

What I care most about is representing my constituents. If that ruffles a few feathers along the way, so be it.

Our students are the best investment we can make for our country and our future economic prosperity. It's in our best interest to ensure they're receiving the best education possible and maximizing their potential.

A free and open Internet is essential to our democracy, economy, and modern way of life.

Senators, representatives too often, we hear from our base, don't talk to the other side, don't with work with them.

For me, blogging is just like talking.

Agribusinesses should never dictate the quality of school meals.

My constituents include CU Buffs, ski bums, techies, artists, suburban soccer moms, and proud, hard-working Colorado families.

Big food companies have their priorities, which include selling cheap, unhealthy foods at high profits.

I derive a lot of the values that I try to bring into the public sphere from my private faith.

We have to find a way that every Coloradan can participate in our economic growth and feel that all the changes that are occurring are working to their benefit rather than their detriment.

We can no more condone the wastefulness of self-serving company executives than we can the sacrifice of the lives of our citizens in a senseless war.