CD09: Gary Peters live chat

Do you Support for Medical Marijuana? (4.00 / 3)

Dear Gary,

Thanks for visiting MichLib today and taking our questions.

Do you support the use of Medical Marijuana as outlined in the proposed Michigan Constitutional Amendment that will be on the November ballot?

If you were in Congress would you support Rep. Barney Frank's bill, H.R. 5842?  

This is also known as the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, that will limit the ability for the federal government to override state laws in regards to Medical Marijuana.

Thanks for your time.

---

by: AntiqueLibertyLover @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:34:37 PM UTC

Thanks for joining us! (4.00 / 5)

Would you care to comment on the Michigan Supreme Court decision this week with regard to domestic partner benefits?

---

by: PerfectStormer @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:34:40 PM UTC

Equal Rights (4.00 / 4)

I'm glad you brought this up.

I'm proud of my unwavering support of equality for all Americans. I believe that all people, regardless of who they love, should be afforded the same rights.  

Especially at a time when Michigan is working so hard to bring new talent into our state, it is ludicrous that we would deny benefits to an entire community and impede our ability to recruit the best and the brightest.

Every person should be given the opportunity to excel in the workforce regardless of his or her sexual orientation. I believe that all persons should be judged on their merit, and I will work diligently to value and protect diversity in the workplace.

In the Michigan State Senate, I introduced legislation that would prevent discrimination based on personal appearance and I worked hard to end workplace discrimination.
 

---

by: Gary Peters @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 17:24:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

From Eric (4.00 / 5)

Eric is unable to be online, as he is in-transit to Lansing for tomorrow' Policy Summit. So he asked that these questions be asked on his behalf.

--

How can Michigan position itself as a leader in alternative energy, and how does this translate into opportunity for the residents of the 9th?

Do you think the answer to the nation's energy question involved further exploration and drilling in Alaska?  How about under the Great Lakes?

---

by: rich @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:35:41 PM UTC

Drilling (4.00 / 4)

Thanks for the question. Drilling under the Great Lakes is something I've worked against for a long time. When I was in the State Senate, I led the fight against Gov. John Engler's attempt to open up the Great Lakes to oil and gas exploration.  My work on this issue, and others, led to the Michigan Sierra Club naming me the environmentalist of the year.

As for drilling in ANWR, I'm opposed to that. We need to be focusing our attention on renewable and alternative energy.

---

by: Gary Peters @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:41:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks for having me (4.00 / 4)

Thank you for having me. I've been an avid reader of MichLib for a long time now, and I'm looking forward to getting more involved, both now and after I'm in Washington.

---

by: Gary Peters @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:37:47 PM UTC

First Legislation? (4.00 / 4)

Hi Gary,

Thank you again for coming on and talking with us today.

I'm curious what the first piece of legislation you sponsor will be?

Thanks for taking the time!

---

by: scotth @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:38:37 PM UTC

First legislation (4.00 / 4)

My first priority when I get to Congress will be to work on jumpstarting Michigan's economy. That means ending unfair trade deals that ship jobs overseas, and ending the tax incentives given to companies that outsource jobs. It also means investing in job creation here at home and diversifying our economy.

On the subject of "first legislation," on my very first day in the Michigan Senate in 1995, I introduced 3 bills to cut taxes for the middle class and 2 to expand health care coverage for children.

---

by: Gary Peters @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:45:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Great to chat with you (4.00 / 3)

Gary,

Thanks so much for taking questions today.

What do you think about a national Medicare for All plan to cover our uninsured?

If you were in congress would you support Rep. John Conyer's bill, H.R. 676?

Thanks again

---

by: trentsteel @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:44:26 PM UTC

Health Care (4.00 / 2)

This is one of the central questions facing us today. We need to provide access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans. This is a moral issue and an economic issue.

As our companies work to compete in the global economy, they are put at a competitive disadvantage with foreign companies by the rising cost of health care in the United States, as compared to many other industrialized countries.

Unlike my opponent, who has shown a complete lack of leadership on this issue, and who continues to have no real plan to solve America's health care crisis, I support a plan that guarantees all Americans the same level of care that Members of Congress receive.

---

by: Gary Peters @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:52:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

question (4.00 / 4)

Hi Gary - Thanks for doing this and congrats on the league of conservation voters endorsement!  With our big three (polluters) dropping the ball on fuel efficient cars, do agree there should be even more stringent cafe/fuel efficiency standards?

---

by: greeninMI @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:47:21 PM UTC

Energy efficiency (4.00 / 2)

I was very honored by the LCV endorsement. Congressman Knollenberg was the first member of the House put on the LCV's Dirty Dozen list this cycle, and there's a very good reason for that.

As far as your question about fuel efficiency, I believe that we need to give our auto companies the incentives they need to lead the world in the manufacture of fuel efficient automobiles. Detroit has the best automotive engineers and workers in the world, and I am confident that the cars we produce here will set the bar.

I heard on WDET this morning that premium gas prices hit over $4.00/gallon in Michigan for the first time, and AAA expects regular gas prices to follow shortly.

The real problem is that we haven't had an energy policy in this country for the last eight years, and we need to act now to turn that around.

In the past, I've talked about building public-private partnerships, working with our universities to develop better technologies, and using incentives to spur innovation - and I really think that's the direction we need to go.  

---

by: Gary Peters @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 17:05:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

In the Shoes... (0.00 / 0)

Gary,

Place yourself in Mark Brewer's shoes when the decision was made to move the primary up? Would you have done the same? How do you think the situation could be best resolved?

---

by: scotth @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:54:58 PM UTC

Another question (0.00 / 0)

I've heard that even the Congressional Budget Office says tax cuts are costing our country a lot of money.  Would you let the Bush Tax Cuts expire?

---

by: trentsteel @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 16:57:30 PM UTC

Tax cuts (4.00 / 2)

When we talk about the "Bush Tax Cuts" let's be clear what we're talking about - tax cuts to companies that ship jobs overseas, and $112 in tax cuts to millionaires for every $1 that goes to people making under $200,000.

What we need in this country are real middle class tax cuts. As I mentioned above, that was one of the things I did on my first day in the Michigan Senate, and I will continue to fight for middle class tax cuts in Congress.

I think we should be looking at tax cuts for college tuition, for senior citizens, for small businesses - and those are all things that President Bush and Congressman Knollenberg have completely ignored. If we want to jumpstart our economy, we need a comprehensive economic plan that puts middle class families first - and we need leadership now.

---

by: Gary Peters @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 17:11:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Gary, do you support a single payer system (4.00 / 2)

or just a universal plan that involves the insurance companies?

---

by: bfealk @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 17:09:57 PM UTC

Michigan's economy (4.00 / 1)

Gary - With all the repubs beating the drums on tax cuts (in the Michigan and in Congress), I think they're really missing the bigger picture on what the money goes for (e.g. health insurance for children) and what it shouldnt go for.  Given your experience on cutting taxes in the Michigan Senate, do you think that the new taxes / revenue were the way to go in solving Michgian's budget crisis?  In fixing our national economy?

---

by: greeninMI @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 17:17:31 PM UTC

Economic priorities (4.00 / 1)

The question of who we send to Congress is definitely about priorities. You mentioned children's health care, and I think the recent vote on the expansion of MIchild (SCHIP) is definitely a question of how we prioritize our budget - and one where Congressman Knollenberg is clearly wrong. It shows a total lack of leadership, when unemployment is rising and the number of people without health insurance increases daily, that Congressman Knollenberg would deny children the ability to see doctors.

It says something about us as a country that we are willing to ensure that the most vulnerable of our society, our children, are taken care of.  As a father of three I know there is nothing more troubling then when your child is ill, and not having the money to get treatment for your sick child is every parent's worst nightmare.

So when we look at fixing the problems with our state and national economy, you have to look at your priorities, and you have to spend taxpayers' money wisely. In the Michigan Senate, I ran my office so efficiently that I was able to return a full-year's operating budget. When I ran the state lottery, I raised record amounts of money for the public schools, and did it under budget every year. That's the kind of leadership we need in Washington - especially after the monstrous deficits that President Bush and Congressman Knollenberg are leaving our children.

---

by: Gary Peters @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 17:36:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hey Gary! (4.00 / 2)

Since I already know where you are on policy, I'm going to ask a personal one :)

Who has been the single greatest influence (political or otherwise) in your life and why?

P.S. I hope you are on the phone raising money while blogging!

www.dianslavens.com

---

by: BrandonHynes @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 17:33:13 PM UTC

greatest influence (4.00 / 2)

Clearly, my parents. They instilled in me the values that guide me every day. They taught me that, when you see a problem, you never run away from it. You stand up and meet it head-on.

That is what motivated me to run for State Senate, it's what drives me every day, and that's what I'll bring to Congress.

I'd like to thank everyone for participating today and for your great questions. I'm honored by the support I've gotten from the netroots community here in Michigan and across the country. Changing Washington isn't easy, and as you all know, it can only be done with all of us working together.

If I didn't get a chance to get to your question, please feel free to email me at gary@petersforcongress.com.

Our momentum in this race is building every day. Please help us keep this going by contributing online - any amount will make a difference. The ActBlue link is: https://secure.actblue.com/con...

Thanks to your support, I know we can win this election and, most importantly, we will have real leadership for a change in Washington.
 

---

by: Gary Peters @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 17:45:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you... (4.00 / 1)

very much for taking the time to answer questions here, Gary.  We're looking forward to your victory in November.  

---

by: rich @ Fri May 09, 2008 at 17:50:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sir, with all due respect... (0.00 / 0)

I would appreciate my answer in this forum and not in a private email.

Mr. Peters, you seem like an honorable man with a distinguished record of service to our country.  For that I thank you.

But gone are they days when I will let politicians I am sympathetic with get a pass on a tough issue.  The road we are on now is paved with lots of good intentioned Democrats who went along with Republicans because it was the politically expedient thing to do.  They did not listen to reason and or their conscience but instead to their advisers and or lobbyists.

I would like to know if you stand with Michigan's sick and dying at their moment of need.  Will you let they and their physicians decide what medicine can best relieve their suffering.  Or do you stand with George Bush and Joe Knollenberg, and pretend that there are enough options despite the advice of the American College of Physicians.

I think everyone on this forum and in the state deserves to know where you stand on this issue.

Thank you for your time.

---

by: AntiqueLibertyLover @ Mon May 12, 2008 at 05:47:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]