Gary Peters

Gary Peters has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 9th district of the State of Michigan, since 2009.

Positions, record and controversies
During the 2008 campaign, Peters took positions on the following issues

Economy
Peters supports tax cuts for the middle class, ending subsidies for oil companies, and tax cuts and incentives for small businesses to get new equipment and hire more employees. He also favors protecting the auto industry.

Environment
Peters favors both lowering gas prices and increasing investment in alternative energy research. He supports policies to create more green jobs through tax incentives, public-private partnerships, and job retraining programs.

National Security
Peters' plan to enhance national security includes responsibly ending the war in Iraq, ensuring the strength of the U.S. - Israeli relationship, and knowing and controlling who is entering the country. He also supports gaining energy independence and reducing the U.S.'s reliance on foreign oil.

Spending
Peters supports balancing the budget, cutting spending, and encouraging fiscal responsibility in Washington.

Healthcare
Peters believes that "access to high quality affordable health care should be the right of every American" and that the health care system should focus on patients and doctors, not drug and insurance companies. He supports health policies that make it possible for workers to keep their insurance after being laid off and says he will work to make it possible for Americans to have access to plans similar to the one available to members of Congress. He does not support universal healthcare for illegal immigrants.

Veterans
Peters supports fully-funding veterans health care, placing a high priority on ending the backlog of VA claims, ending the practice of deducting disability payments and survivors' benefits from social security payments, expanding VA healthcare and education benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserve not currently covered, and encouraging more focus on PTSD and TBI in the VA healthcare system.

Bio
Peters is a former Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve, and a former Vice President for two major investment firms. He was twice elected from Oakland County to serve in the Michigan Senate. He was named the Griffin Chair of American Government at Central Michigan University.

2008 elections
Peters won the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Rep. Joseph Knollenberg (R-Mich.) in the 2008 congressional elections, and went on to defeat Knollenberg in the November 2008 general election.

Money in Politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Financial Services

External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on Michigan’s 9th Congressional District
 * "Gary Peters for Congress" Official Gary Peters for Congress Website.