As Michiganders from across the state cast their ballot for tomorrow’s August 4th primary election, here’s what they’re reading about U.S. Senator Gary Peters’ record of effectiveness in delivering results and priorities for his second term.
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Ahead of the primary election Sen. Peters voted on Friday, reminding voters of the ways they can vote in the upcoming primary election and the importance of exercising their right to vote.
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- Peters has set his sights on a few priorities for another term, he said, including health care, education and economic recovery in a post COVID-19 world.
- “I will continue to be focused on healthcare. I want to make sure that everyone in this country has access to quality, affordable health care. We need to deal with the cost of health care and make sure that people can afford it,” Peters said. “But I also know we’ve gotta expand this economy and particularly right now when we are dealing with massive unemployment, I’m going to be making sure that our small businesses survive and continue to be the engine of growth.”
- “Dealing in a bipartisan way is something that is in my DNA,” Peters said. “The only way we have lasting solutions to some of the tough problems we face as a country is to come together in a bipartisan way.”
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- Well, one thing I am focusing on is to make sure that we strengthen jobs in Michigan, particularly in manufacturing, this is certainly critical. And one thing this pandemic has really shown is that we have to have resilient supply chains.
- But certainly, the other thing that this pandemic has clearly shown that we need is that we have to make sure that everybody in this country has access to quality, affordable health care. And that means preserving the Affordable Care Act and building on the Affordable Care Act. And that’s why I think it’s unconscionable that we have a president now, who refuses to open up enrollment in state exchanges so that people can have access to that quality healthcare.
- We’re in the middle of a pandemic. People should be able to get into that now so that they have the security to know that they have the health care that they will need should they contract COVID.
- So, I’m going to continue to fight for strong health care. The Great Lakes are absolutely critical for us to make sure that they keep safe and clean and I will continue to be a loud and active advocate for Great Lakes and environmental protection, including dealing with the existential threat of climate change.
- Peters said much of his work in the Senate is focused on improving the outcomes for veterans, informed by his own experiences in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Peters originally volunteered in 1993 at the age of 35, then rejoined in 2001 after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
- The 61-year-old senator wrote a provision signed into law in 2016 that expanded eligibility for programs assisting service members suffering from PTSD. The law allows traumatized veterans who received a less than honorable discharge to receive mental health support. It was inspired by the senator’s interactions with an Afghanistan war veteran living on the streets in Grand Rapids, Peters said.
- Peters touted another bill improving access to workforce training programs that received the president’s signature in March. It increases the number of apprenticeship programs that veterans can apply for using GI bill benefits.
- The Bloomfield Township Democrat said voters will hear more about his efforts to increase veterans disability compensation, including additional funding for Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and to clean up PFAS contamination at Air Force bases around Michigan.
- “What I’ve been talking about during this campaign are the things that I’ve focused on as a U.S. Senator, the issues I fight for, and the legislation that I pass,” Peters said.
WLUC: Sen. Peters vows to protect the Affordable Care Act during virtual campaign event
- Healthcare was the focus of a virtual campaign event held by Senator Gary Peters Tuesday morning. Peters says a focus of his during the COVID-19 pandemic is protecting the Affordable Care Act.
- “One thing that certainly comes out of this pandemic is it highlights the need for us to make sure that we have quality, affordable, healthcare for all Americans,” said Peters. “To me, healthcare is a right, it’s one that we need to focus on to make sure that it’s available.”
- The Affordable Care Act, known commonly as Obamacare is responsible for the healthcare coverage of more than 800,000 Michiganders. For that reason, Sen. Peters outlined his desire to see the law expanded, and embraced.
- “We should open up the enrollment of the Affordable Care Act now so that people who may not have health insurance have the opportunity to have that piece of mind now,” said Peters.
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- “I have my job to do which is my first focus and I have to be focused on getting us through this crisis”
- “I’ve been ranked as one of the most effective lawmakers. I’m a proud Democrat but I look to find ways to find common ground. Georgetown has ranked me as one of the most bipartisan members. Being the fourth most effective when seniority matters in the Senate, I tell folks imagine what I can do in the next six.”
Petoskey News: Thankful for those offsetting Trump’s lack of leadership
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- Every day, as more people die of COVID-19, President Trump’s failures as a leader become more infuriating and painful. He was unprepared for the COVID-19 crisis. We are feeling his failure to organize and act decisively here in Michigan.
- Now, Michigan is suffering, and his failures are disproportionately hurting those left behind in Trump’s economy: people working low-income jobs, those lacking health insurance, small business owners and their employees. Bailouts for airlines, banks, and hotel chains do little to help us in Northern Michigan.
- Finally, thanks to our neighbors on the front lines for all they do. But they deserve more than thanks. They deserve financial support. Sen. Gary Peters has proposed a “Heroes Fund” to ensure that our local heroes — essential workers, health care professionals, grocery store and delivery workers — receive hazard pay through the year’s end. He is advocating for additional protective gear. He has urged the administration to allow veterans and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients to receive automatic stimulus checks.
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- Gary’s father was a public school teacher, and his mother was a nurse’s aide. Gary graduated from Rochester High School, furthered his education at four Michigan universities and earned numerous degrees. Besides serving in the military, he worked over 20 years as a financial advisor. He helped families budget for life, send their children to college and to save for retirement.
- As a senator, Gary has taken issue with Betsy DeVos, U.S. Secretary of Education. Gary views her actions as undercutting public education. Betsy has acted to move money from public schools to private and parochial schools and to gut the protection of college students defrauded by for-profit universities.
- As a U.S. senator, Gary supported the Affordable Care Act and believes that families need access to quality, affordable healthcare. He is against discrimination of patients with pre-existing conditions.
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