The NSA has broken privacy rules or overstepped its legal authority thousands of times a year since Congress gave it broad new powers in 2008.
While most of my public service work centers on improving our schools and fixing our broken immigration system, I also strongly stand for personal freedom.
I derive a lot of the values that I try to bring into the public sphere from my private faith.
I have taken my outside-the-box, innovative, and sometimes unorthodox approach to Congress.
My parents were active in the anti-war movement in the 1960s, so I grew up with a tradition of civic activism around our dinner table and going to different marches for different causes.
I support offering the public option to members of Congress, and as soon as I'm given the chance, I intend to go on it.
Technology improves our lives in so many ways - from our toasters, ovens, and refrigerators at home to our computers, fax machines, and BlackBerrys at work. Technology makes once-burdensome tasks easy and fun.
Colorado is a trade-dependent state.
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.
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.
Throughout history, we have only moved forward when society has distinguished between traditional values and valueless traditions.
I oppose piracy and want to see intellectual property protected because that is what fosters and rewards innovation. But SOPA won't accomplish a meaningful reduction in piracy and causes massive collateral damage to the Internet ecosystem.
As long as you have money to live then it's not a terribly important thing. If you don't have enough to live, then it's very important thing.
Members of Congress wear two hats: one as Washington legislator, the other as listener and community leader back home.
