The expression "all politics is local" has always carried a special place in my heart. Growing up in Chicago, I learned all about the importance of a firm handshake, good eye contact and, most of all, a Midwestern work ethic. I witnessed firsthand how legislative outcomes at City Hall and in Springfield shaped the everyday lives of my fellow citizens. So naturally, when I moved to Washington, D.C. in 2008, I was concerned to discover that a significant disconnect exists between the political discourse on Capitol Hill and the reality on the ground in communities across America.