In First Debate, Peters Presents Clear Vision for Change

Press Release

Congressional candidate Gary Peters scored a solid victory over incumbent Republican Rep. Joe Knollenberg in the first debate between the two candidates in Michigan's 9th Congressional District. At the debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and held at Oakland University, Gary Peters laid out a clear vision to reinvest in the economy, create jobs, and get Michigan moving forward again. Under the policies of Rep. Knollenberg and President Bush, Michigan has lost over 400,000 jobs.

"With the cost of gas, increasing grocery bills and the rising foreclosure rate, the burden on Oakland County families continues to grow and I believe we need a change," said Gary Peters, a fifth-generation Oakland County native. "After eight years of failed leadership under George Bush and Joe Knollenberg, we need leaders who will take action to reinvest in Michigan and get our economy moving forward now."

Julie Petrick, Gary Peters' campaign manager said: "What Congressman Knollenberg offered tonight was a promise to continue the same policies that have failed Michigan for the past eight years. Gary Peters laid out a clear plan to bring change to Oakland County and create jobs, while Congressman Knollenberg had no new ideas, no new solutions, and he simply defended the Bush economy that he helped build."

In response to a question from Stephen Henderson, the Deputy Editorial Page Editor of the Detroit Free Press, Rep. Knollenberg reminded the audience that - as a sixteen year incumbent and former Subcommittee Chair - he has played a central role in the policies of the past eight years.

Rep. Knollenberg said: "The people that control Congress are the people with seniority, I've been there sixteen years."

While in office, Rep. Knollenberg and the Bush Administration stifled an economic recovery in Michigan by embracing trade policies that ship jobs overseas, protecting billions in taxpayer-funded subsidies for the oil industry, and rejecting critical tax incentives to help new alterative energy companies.

Gary Peters' economic plan aims to cut taxes for the middle class and small businesses, take away taxpayer-funded subsidies for Big Oil companies that are making record profits and charging us record prices at the pump and use that money to support new alternative energy industries. Peters will also work to give tax breaks to companies that create jobs here at home - instead of continuing the Bush-Knollenberg tax cuts to companies that ship jobs overseas.

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