My grandmother was not a U.S. citizen. Growing up along the border, you see the real human side of immigration - not the picture often drawn by politicians far removed from the border.

One of the things that ties people together, whether they live in a rural or urban area, is the really big number of people who have served in the military. Veterans issues are very important in the district.

The policy of the future cannot forever be determined by the politics of the past - or even the present.

For me, the issue is if I'm your advocate, if I'm your representative, my job is to stand up for you and talk about you and defend you.

In politics, you have to balance these things: what is good for the country, what is available, and what is possible.

I am just absolutely convinced that the best formula for giving us peace and preserving the American way of life is freedom, limited government, and minding our own business overseas.

My thing is this: You've got to talk about politics because it's out there. But I try to respect the fact that even if you don't have my views, I still respect your view. I may dog your view, but I'll respect that you have that view. And it's OK to come back at me to defend your view.

Liberal redistributionists in favor of heavy taxation place less weight on incentive than do small-government conservatives.