Growing up in a very rural and remote area in Colorado's San Luis Valley - one of the poorest counties in the United States - essentially created the framework of values from which I operate. I stand up for the little guy. I fight discrimination at all levels. I fight for an inclusive America.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of my personal heroes.

For some in Washington, it's become sport to pick on the federal workforce. I think they do so unjustly. The very foundation of a stable America is having a government that functions well. Many countries have dysfunctional governments, because they don't have a good government workforce.

I don't think anyone can speculate what will happen with respect to oil prices and gas prices because they are set on the global economy.

We are talking about institutionalizing a program on solar development that will outlast the Obama administration.

Liability does apply with respect to the amount of the oil spill.

Too often in Washington special interests urge us to fight one another just because we belong to different parties. It is time for this to stop and for Washington to focus on what needs to be done.