SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Democrat Dan Maffei, who has just returned to Congress after winning back his seat in November, is on the road during a House recess. He says he wants to listen to concerns of the local business community.

The small-scale listening tour is barely underway and Maffei says some clear messages are being delivered.

“They want to see Washington work together to create jobs for Americans. And, particularly, make sure that the middle class is strong. And they're not seeing that out of Washington in the last couple of years. Now, I think they do have some sort of hope that maybe things are changing,” said Rep. Maffei.

Maffei says leaders he's speaking with want Washington to put its fiscal house in order to provide the stability needed to prompt more business investment and growth.