We know that the baby boom has changed society at every age - education, housing, jobs, child care, health care, you name it. That will keep happening as they move into normal retirement, whatever that is.

We face tremendous challenges to our way of life, our health care system and our state budget.

Hispanics are coming of age in an aging society. Education is the bottom line.

It's based on economics and demographics. The people of that area demand more health services. They demand more education jobs.

It's been very frustrating to many private-sector businesses: They know there are people out there who don't have jobs, but when they go and offer them positions, people say they are not ready to work yet. People are looking at their FEMA checks and their housing allotment and their unemployment benefits and they are saying, 'Hey, I am going to wait awhile.' They are getting enough assistance that they don't need to go back to work.

Our gains are due to a clear political message about jobs, education and giving people security in their old age. Our aim is to give this country a stable and predictable government.