Gary Peters for Representative MI-09

Name:	Gary Peters for Representative MI-09
Office:	MI-09
Website:	PetersForCongress.com

Background:

I served as a State Senator representing Oakland County from 1994-2002. I served as the ranking Democrat on more policy committees than any other Senator, was elected to Chair the Senate Democratic Caucus, and often gave the Democratic response to Governor Engler’s State of the State address on statewide television. While never backing down from core Democratic values, I also have a track record of reaching across the aisle and getting things done. During my eight years as a State Senator I had more of my bills signed into law than any other Democratic State Senator.

As a State Senator I led efforts to improve public education, fight crime, protect consumers, defend personal privacy, hold elected officials accountable and balance the need for security with the need to protect civil rights. I supported measures to crack down on child abuse, fight domestic violence, punish abusers of the elderly, reduce utility taxes, stop unwanted telemarketing, and improve the quality of and access to health care. I also led efforts to protect Michigan’s natural resources by authoring a bill which banned drilling for oil and gas under the Great Lakes. I opposed excessive pay raises for legislators and managed my Senate office budget so carefully I was able to return an entire year’s operating budget back to the state. From 2002-2007 I served as Lottery Commissioner and during this time I was able to raise record amounts of money for public schools while staying under budget every year.

In addition to my public service background, I was a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, serving in the Gulf during Operation Southern Watch. Currently I am the Griffin Endowed Chair of American Government at Central Michigan University, where I use experiences from my public service to educate students. I take the role of a Representative very seriously and believe the people of the 9th district deserve to have their voice heard in Congress. I will be that voice.

Goals:

Throughout our history as a nation, the American dream has been premised on the notion that our children will have the opportunity to lead better lives than their parents. I am afraid that this dream is becoming unattainable for increasing numbers of American families. As a father of three, I am concerned that my children’s generation will be the first generation in our history to fall short of this dream and that is why I am running for Congress. I am running for Congress to restore the American dream of opportunity for all. America’s middle class is under assault and my number one goal in Congress is to defend and expand the American middle class. Without a vibrant middle class, American democracy is in jeopardy.

Issues:

My campaign will focus on three main issues: the war in Iraq, the economy, and the need for universal health care.

Iraq: Iraq is a defining issue of our time and I firmly believe it is time for a new direction.

President Bush led us into the Iraq war under false pretenses and his total lack of a coherent strategic objective has created a terrible mess for both the American and Iraqi people. Tens of thousands of our brave troops have been killed or wounded and our country’s standing in the eyes of the world has never been lower. President Bush, Vice President Cheney and the members of Congress who continue to blindly support this flawed policy have all failed us. It is time for a change!

When I go to Congress I will draw on my military experience in the post 9/11 world and in the Persian Gulf during Operation Southern Watch. As a former military officer, I believe the best way to support our troops is to bring them home and we need to start bringing them home now.

Economy: Today, a vibrant middle class and the American way of life are being threatened as manufacturing jobs hang in the balance by the millions. In the last six years alone, the U.S. has lost over 3 million manufacturing jobs. We must act now and our actions must be bold. I believe American manufacturers are not just competing against foreign companies but rather they are competing against entire foreign countries that aggressively support their manufacturers. We must do the same.

In Congress, I will fight to make China and Korea play by international rules and we must demand that the world trade organization (WTO) address non-tariff barriers that prevent the importation of U.S. made products into their markets. In Congress, I will demand the President pursue cases in the WTO against China and Japan under WTO rules that prohibit the use of currency manipulation to gain unfair trade advantages. I will also work to ensure that the U.S. Trade Representative’s Annual National Trade Estimate reports include as defined trade barriers: currency misalignment, non-ILO labor practices and weak or non-existent environmental standards.

Michigan manufacturers and our workers can successfully compete against any competitor in the world but the rules of the game must be fair.

Health Care: I find it unconscionable that nearly 47 million Americans live each day without healthcare.

Uninsured families are not the only ones being hurt by our current health care system. Rapidly escalating health care costs put American businesses at a significant competitive disadvantage versus global competitors located in countries with national health care systems and as a result good paying jobs are being lost.

I find it very troubling that we have the most expensive health care delivery system on the planet yet we have a lower life expectancy and a higher infant mortality rate than nearly every other major industrialized country in the world. We are certainly not getting what we are paying for.

Unfortunately, drug and health insurance companies have not offered constructive long-term solutions and are in fact currently spending millions of dollars every year on lobbyists dedicated to protecting the status quo and blocking meaningful health care reform.

In Congress, I will fight for universal health care for all Americans.

Grassroots Support:

Grassroots organizing has always played a central role in my campaigns. This campaign will not be any different. In fact, I believe the only way to win this race is by putting boots on the ground. I intend to personally knock on thousands of doors, and engage activists everywhere I go. Although my opponent will be well financed by powerful corporate special interests, I intend to overcome this financial advantage with grassroots organizing strength. As of December 31st 2007, I have already raised over $70,000 on Act Blue and we are continuing to gain momentum.

DFA Values:

As a State Senator I was recognized by progressive groups as a champion for their cause. The Michigan Sierra Club named me their Environmentalist of the Year for my work in protecting the Great Lakes and fighting for environmental justice. MARAL (Michigan affiliate of NARAL) recognized my support of women’s reproductive rights in the Senate with their Legislative Advocacy Award. I have recently been endorsed by the Triangle Pride PAC- Michigan’s leading gay rights advocacy organization. I have also been endorsed by every labor union that has endorsed in this race. I received the earliest endorsement in the history of the Michigan AFL-CIO for a congressional candidate and just recently received the endorsement of the SEIU.

I know a thing or two about fiscal discipline. I’ve consistently balanced budgets in both the private and public sectors and I will demand the same in Congress.

As the Commissioner of the Michigan State Lottery, I raised record amounts of money for our public schools while operating under budget every year. During my four-year tenure as Commissioner, the Lottery increased sales by nearly $600 million per year and I am proud to report that our expenses came in $13 million below budget.

In my eight years as an Oakland
County State Senator, I ran such a tight ship that I returned the equivalent of an entire year’s worth of office expenses back to the state treasury.

In Congress, I will fight for pay-as-you go budgeting. I will support fiscally responsible policies that reduce the deficit and help our economy grow without saddling our children with monstrous debts. Record spending and out of control ‘earmarks’ that benefit special interests at the expense of others are offensive to all Americans who work hard and sacrifice every day to live within their means.