Clik here to view.
Here's a little more information:Image may be NSFW.U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) introduced a bill Tuesday looking to secure federal funds for a customs plaza that would be built on the Detroit end of a new bridge to Windsor.
Clik here to view.The Canadian government would pay the $2.1 billion construction bill for the North American International Trade Crossing, but that wouldn't include a federal customs plaza, and Peters proposed the Customs Plaza Construction Act of 2014 as the latest step in the long process of getting the bridge built.
“The Detroit-Windsor border is one of the busiest and most important trade crossings in North America, and a new bridge here will create thousands of jobs in Southeast Michigan," Peters said in a statement. "The project will make it easier for Michiganders and businesses in the region to trade with one of our most important trading partners in Canada. The new customs plaza is the critical next step for Michigan and our economy.”
The project was authorized by the U.S. State Department last year. Land acquisition is another obstacle yet to be cleared in the project. - MLive, 2/12/14
http://www.detroitnews.com/...
The project has the support from business and labor organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Michigan Farm Bureau. Labor organizations such as the Michigan State AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, International Union of Operating Engineers and Utility Workers Union of America have also expressed broad support. The Canadian government would agree to spend to spend more than $630 million Canadian dollars ($575 million U.S. dollars) over two years to build a new Detroit-Windsor bridge crossing. Not only is this a good project to invest in, it would also test Governor Rick Snyder's (R. MI) ability to get something done:Image may be NSFW.The project has bipartisan support and has been endorsed by Gov. Rick Snyder, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and the Detroit Regional Chamber. Last year, the U.S. State Department approved a presidential permit for the crossing, though the owner of the privately operated Ambassador Bridge has filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking to block the crossing.
Clik here to view.The proposed NITC calls for a six-lane bridge. The Canadian government has agreed to fund construction and land acquisition of the $2.1 billion project, per an agreement with the state of Michigan to be repaid by tolls.
Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel “Matty” Moroun, billionaire owner of the 85-year-old bridge, said declining traffic means a new bridge isn’t warranted. He has proposed building a second span next to his bridge, but Canadian officials oppose it for a number of reasons.
Snyder applauded Wednesday the introduction of Peters’ bill in a statement. After speaking at a Michigan Farm Bureau event Wednesday in Lansing, Snyder said he has been in talks with Michigan’s congressional delegation on securing federal funding for the customs plaza.
The Legislature so far has refused to dedicate any portion of state resources toward the project, even restricting the Michigan Department of Transportation’s involvement.
The governor cited several factors that have created a snag in the Customs Plaza funding in Congress.
“They have a challenged budget in terms of huge deficits,” Snyder said.
Securing this kind of line-item funding has changed in Congress, he added. - The Detroit News, 2/12/14
If you would like more information, please do contact Peters' office for more details:Image may be NSFW.The legislation faces an uncertain future, at best. While Snyder, a Republican, could push House leaders for passage, federal agencies are typically loathe to have congressional mandates when it comes to prioritizing spending and would likely balk at the bill. Legislators from other parts of the country would also be expected to object, considering local customs projects as important as the one in Detroit. - Detroit Free Press, 2/12/14
Clik here to view.
In other Peters-related news, Peters was able to get Congress to agree on something:
A small victory but with this Congress, that's impressive to get nearly every member on board. Also, I don't know accurate this poll is, but right now Peters' wealthy GOP opponent, Terri Lynn Land, has a slight lead:Image may be NSFW.Legislation coauthored by U.S. Rep. Gary Peters and a Republican colleague resulted Wednesday in a rare sight in the nation’s capital: bipartisan accord.
Clik here to view.Peters of Bloomfield Township was the chief Democratic sponsor of a measure written with U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, that cuts red tape for auto dealers and buyers and passed the U.S. House today on a 405-0 vote.
The legislation gets rid of what Peters called a “redundant and outdated” rule in the Clean Air Act requiring auto dealers to provide buyers a certificate that says the vehicle being purchased is in compliance with emission standards.
Peters — who was joined by several other Michigan members of Congress from both parties as cosponsors — said the provision is not necessary given that the Clear Air Act already requires all cars and trucks sold in the U.S. to comply with the rules when they leave the factory floor. - Detroit Free Press, 1/8/14
Again, not sure what EPIC-MRA's track record is when it comes to accuracy but with raising the minimum wage being a popular issue, it should help Peters and Schauer in the general election. Of course this race could be a little tougher because the Koch Brothers want this seat:Image may be NSFW.Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and U.S. Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land lead their likely general election opponents in a new statewide poll, but a minimum wage hike proposal supported by top Democrats also fared well.
Clik here to view.EPIC-MRA's statewide poll of 600 likely voters, conducted February 11 through 15, shows Snyder maintaining an 8-point lead over Democratic candidate Mark Schauer that he established in the firm's September survey.
Forty-seven percent of respondents indicated they would vote for Snyder or are leaning in that direction, compared to 39 percent for Schauer. Fourteen percent were undecided.
The early race to replace retiring Sen. Carl Levin remains very close, with 41 percent of respondents saying they would vote for Land and 38 percent backing Democratic U.S. Rep. Gary Peters.
The live operator telephone poll, which included a 20 percent cell phone rate, has a margin of error of four percentage points, meaning the Senate race is a virtual dead heat seven months out from the November election.
Schauer and Peters have each proposed or backed calls for a minimum wage increase, which appears to be a popular position with voters. Democrats around the country are pushing minimum wage proposals with an eye toward getting out the vote in a non-presidential election year. - MLive, 2/14/14
Peters made an enemy out of the Koch Brothers when he went after Koch Carbon:Image may be NSFW.National conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity unveiled a new television commercial at the Michigan Capitol on Tuesday, criticizing U.S. Rep. Gary Peters and sparking outrage from Democrats before the press event even began.
Clik here to view.AFP was expected to screen the "issue ad" at noon inside the state Capitol, but those plans fell apart after House Minority Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) blasted Republican leadership for allowing the group to use the people's building to release an ad with political overtones.
Peters is in the midst of a closely watched U.S. Senate race. Former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, a Republican, is also running for the seat.
AFP had reserved a Capitol conference room through state Rep. Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills), but House Republican spokesman Ari Adler said leadership did not know what the organization had planned for the space.
"As soon as we found out it was being used to announce a politically-motivated ad, we asked them to leave and find another location," Adler explained.
AFP President Tim Phillips and Michigan Director Scott Hagerstrom eventually screened the ad for reporters on the steps outside the Capitol, referring to the commercial as a form of issue advocacy rather than a political attack.
The 30-second spot, set to air across the state this month, criticizes Peters for repeating President Barack Obama's claim that the Affordable Care Act would allow Americans to keep any health insurance policy they like.
In reality, plans held by roughly 225,000 Michiganders do not offer all 10 "essential health benefits" required by the law and will be cancelled. Michigan residents can keep non-qualifying plans through 2014 under a change announced by the president in November.
The AFP buy will total more than $1 million over the next three weeks and include ads on broadcast television, cable, radio and the Internet, Phillips said. Despite the timing, he denied suggestions that AFP is targeting Peters now because he is running for Senate. - MLive, 1/14/14
So of course they want Peters to lose. However, Peters has been getting some major fundraising help:Image may be NSFW.Peters said he was going to request the Government Accountability Office conduct a study concerning regulations related to petroleum coke at the federal and state level and any possible risks it might pose to public health and the environment. Peters said he is seeking best practices used in other areas of the United States to develop a solution that can work here.
Clik here to view.“Hopefully, we can use them to mirror what are the best ways to handle this from across the country,” he said. “This material might be coming back. It’s important we learn how to store this to protect the lakes and the people of southwest Detroit."
The black, coal-like material is created during the refinery process and can be sold as a fuel source. The mounds of pet coke that began growing along the river this year were produced at the nearby Marathon Petroleum’s oil refinery and purchased by Koch Minerals LLC, a company owned by industrialists Charles and David Koch.
Peters’ press conference come a few weeks after Detroit Bulk Storage said it would no longer accept new shipments of the controversial pet coke. According to Daniel Cherrin, spokesman for Detroit Bulk Storage, the piles have been getting smaller since the shipping lanes reopened and the company began loading it onto boats. - The Detroit News, 8/6/13
And while some Democrats may not want to be seen with President Obama on the campaign trail, Peters is happy to have the President's support:Image may be NSFW.On Wednesday, Biden dined with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and attend a fundraiser for Mark Schauer, the Michigan Democratic Party’s gubernatorial hopeful, and U.S Rep. Gary Peters.
Clik here to view.As members of Congress in 2009, Schauer and Peters both voted for the so-called "auto bailout" that President Barack Obama signed into law. Peters continues to serve in the U.S. House, while Schauer narrowly lost his narrow re-election bid in 2010. - MLive, 1/16/14
I think it's a smart move on Peters and Schauer's behalves not to run away from Obama. Base turnout is key in off year elections whether it's in blue states, red states or swing states. If you would like to donate or get involved with Peters campaign, you can do so here:Image may be NSFW.President Barack Obama’s approval numbers are down following the rocky rollout of the Affordable Care Act, but two Democrats with important statewide elections weren’t running from the president during his visit to Michigan State University on Friday.
Clik here to view.Before signing a massive $500-billion farm bill, Obama gave shout-outs to both U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, a Bloomfield Township Democrat, who is in a close race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Carl Levin, and former Congressman Mark Schauer, a Battle Creek Democrat, who is hoping to topple Republican Gov. Rick Snyder.
Peters didn’t fly to Lansing with Obama aboard Air Force One — as Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and some other members of Congress did. But he got up on the stage and had his photo taken with Obama at the Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, where the bill signing took place.
Peters told reporters Friday the Affordable Care Act is imperfect and needs to be fixed, but he expects perceptions of it to improve as more people are enrolled.
“I always welcome the president of the United States to Michigan,” Peters said at MSU.
Target-Insyght executive director Ed Sarpolus, a former Democratic staffer, said Obama could play an important role in getting out the Democratic vote and also in raising money. Some of that won’t necessarily involve Obama visiting Michigan, Sarpolus said. He can use automated phone calls and send surrogates, such as his wife, Michelle Obama.
“The base still likes Barack Obama,” Sarpolus said. “The Republicans attack him, but there are still people who like him.” - Detroit Free Press, 2/9/14
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