In a time when we are examining, re-examining, and about to get tired of the four people on the top of the ballot this year, it's hard not wonder what the next generation of politicians in both parties will look like. I recently wrote about how this is a new generation of voters, many of whom are college-educated and have college-educated parents. It will be interesting to see not only how they vote, but how they continue to vote in future elections. In the last four weeks, I have been speaking to politicians who are making big impacts on their state governments.

I wanted to see the directions of the parties, especially in younger politicians (those born after 1955). My search led me to Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland. Steele was the first statewide elected African-American in the state and the first GOP 'second in command' in the state since 1970. Now the chairman of GOPAC, the Republican recruiting political action committee, Steele is looking to find more "firsts" for his party.

I spoke with David Avella, GOPAC's executive director, about what the climate looks like in a party that will see a big transition in the next few years.

"The thrust of Chairman Steele's speeches has been to tell candidates that if you have an idea, put it on the ballot," he said.

GOPAC works aggressively to train candidates and offer advice on running their campaigns. Steele knows about winning elections against the odds, and almost won a U.S. Senate seat in 2006.

Avella steered me toward three up-and-coming politicians that are changing the way we look at politics. When George W. Bush leaves office, there will be an opportunity to change the climate and agenda of the party. Chris Saxman is a delegate in Virginia's 20th District. Virginia's delegates are similar to our assembly people. Saxman has been calling for more transparency in budgeting, and has worked with both sides of the aisle to find several areas where Virginia can save several hundred million dollars.

Saxman has also called for a ban on fundraising while the legislature is in session. In other words, politicians should raise money for re-election on their own time. The legislature is not a big fan of Chris' plan, but it fits with his credo of responsible government.

"The fiscal outlook for the state in the next 30 years – and in other states – is dreadful if we do not cut costs," he warns.

Saxman also fought for HB1163, Transparency in Taxation, legislation that shows where state tax money goes, and then posts these results online for all to see. Hear that, New York City Council?

Jonathan Paton of Arizona is calling for similar changes to politics as usual. Arizona faces a huge problem with illegal immigration on their borders. Fighting for the Human Smuggling Act, Paton says that Phoenix has already seen 900 prosecutions.

Paton makes sure to call 10 voters every day personally.

"I call three Republicans, three Democrats, three voters that are not registered to a party, and one wildcard constituent," says Paton. "We need more accountability; we need more Teddy Roosevelt, which is why I support Senator John McCain."

Paton feels that McCain can bring the independent streak of accountability that is needed in a new, forward-thinking Republican Party.

Marco Rubio is the 37-year-old speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. We know how important Florida is, and the state's speaker is a young, Hispanic-American that wrote a manifesto entitled "100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future." Rubio went on a listening tour of the state and found new ideas to improve government.

Why do we Queens and Brooklyn residents care about these politicians? Because they are leading their governments, and will eventually be leading our federal government in some way. They are giving us hope that ideas work.

So the next time Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver keeps an important bill from a vote, we need to remember that it does not have to be that way. We should wonder why the largest and most advanced city in the world refuses to cure itself from the do-nothing style of governing that plagues it, and why other states are facing their problems and making a more concerted effort. It's not that these young representatives are Republicans that makes this a story – it is that they are not afraid to jump into the process and even rattle the cage of their own political establishment.