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I like to think I am a serious legislator and trying to get things done. That's my goal in life, to get things done.

I am the epitome of a citizen legislator.

I just want to be a really good congressman. You should look at what you are today and be the very best you can.

I have a proven record as an effective legislator, which I believe is my greatest asset.

I just know that I'm innovative. I'm a quick thinker... In Washington, I just want to be a senator who finds a way to drive change and not figure out a way to conform.

Instead of taking a very high-paying type of law job or something that I might be able to do, I have been a legislator. That's what I do. I think it's an honorable profession - if you're honest and have integrity and work hard.

My focus has been on being a good congressman, and there is so much other work to do.

I've been in Congress 14 years. I've been on the Appropriations Committee in which we are in charge of trying to move legislation.

In the end, I think part of my problem was that I was a better legislator than I was a politician.

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