In the state of Michigan, where I served in the state Legislature, there was a lot of shuffling of money between one year and the other to balance the budget.

If you're going to vote yes and change the law. You have to know what's in it. You can't depend on other people.

I think something substantial will pass out of the House at some point during this term.

Everyone knows about the substantive issues of concern, like federal health care, but very little is said about the process, the lack of accountability.

I would rather keep all the levels lower and stick to the sequester, but there are people in leadership who live outside of reality and want to increase things that Republicans like and pretend Democrats don't exist.

But I'm hopeful some of that will start to change. The public is more libertarian, the public is saying we want people who are going to be independent and not bow to leadership in either of the major parties.

As a legislator, I saw how effective I could be by being transparent, posting and explaining all of my votes.