If one of my boys was asking me if they should go into politics, I'd say there's only one reason to go into public life and that's to help people.

Filibusters have proliferated because under current rules just one or two determined senators can stop the Senate from functioning. Today, the mere threat of a filibuster is enough to stop a vote; senators are rarely asked to pull all-nighters like Jimmy Stewart in 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.'

Of course, the genesis of a good portion of the gridlock in Congress does not reside in Congress itself. Ultimate reform will require each of us, as voters and Americans, to take a long look in the mirror, because in many ways, our representatives in Washington reflect the people who have sent them there.

Families and businesses are tightening their belts to make ends meet - and Washington should too.

I love working for the people of Indiana. I love helping our citizens make the most of their lives, but I do not love Congress.

Filibusters should require 35 senators to... make a commitment to continually debate an issue in reality, not just in theory. The number of votes needed to overcome a filibuster should be reduced to 55 from 60.

If I could create one job in the private sector by helping to grow a business, that would be one more than Congress has created in the last six months.