Received this e-mail today from Rep. Gary Peters (D. MI) U.S. Senate campaign:
When some people hear the term “net neutrality,” they zone out. It sounds very technical. But this is something that impacts almost every one of us. Since you’re reading this email, chances are it affects you, too.
Right now, all content on the Internet is treated the same. Your favorite blog comes at the same speed as your bank statement. The website for the mom and pop store or public library loads the same as the site for a major chain. And you pay the same for all of it.
Net neutrality makes all of this possible. It is the founding principle that makes the Internet the engine of innovation and economic growth it is today. And right now, that principle is being threatened.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering a rule that could allow big corporations to pay for their content to be treated differently -- effectively limiting your access and potentially passing those costs down to families in Michigan and across the country.
Today, we -- the users of the Internet -- are going to fight back. Tell the FCC to protect net neutrality. Sign the petition today.
http://www.petersformichigan.com/...
The fight to preserve net neutrality is about protecting Michigan families and businesses. A world where a student doesn't have access to the research they need for a school project because big corporations have made that choice for them is unacceptable to me. We cannot let net neutrality fall by the wayside.
Net neutrality is too important to disappear. Join me in urging the FCC to protect net neutrality -- sign on today.
http://www.petersformichigan.com/...
Thank you for your support today.
Gary
Click here to add your name:
http://www.petersformichigan.com/...
By the way, Peters' recently called out the Koch Brothers and has one message for them, "Come at me, bros":
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Peters, a three-term Michigan Democrat now making a bid for the Senate, has drawn fire from Koch-backed groups like Americans for Prosperity (AFP) over health care reform and carbon regulations. AFP has already spent more than $5 million this election season on television ads targeting Peters.
The latest poll shows Peters up 9 points against Terri Lynn Land, Michigan's former secretary of state and Peters' likely opponent in the general election. (The Michigan primary won't be held until August 5.) But Peters is expected to face a tough Senate race in November, and the ad wars are already well underway.
"I feel like l'm not really running against Terri Lynn Land. I feel like I'm running against the Koch brothers," Peters said at a campaign rally in Detroit on Friday. "That's who I'm really running against here."
But rather than dodging the attacks, Peters is meeting them head-on.
Friday's rally featured an appearance from Democrat Debbie Stabenow, who will be Michigan's senior senator now that fellow Democrat Carl Levin is retiring. It also brought in some progressive star power with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Both Warren and Peters had appeared that morning at Netroots Nation, an annual meeting of liberal bloggers and organizers held in Detroit's Cobo Center.
At the rally, Peters joked that his wife, Colleen, has seen him on television more than in person during the campaign. "That's a problem, because all the ads you see, they're all negative ads," said Peters. "When you see my wife, tell her I'm a nice guy, please."
The AFP ads aimed at Peters have focused mainly on his support for the Affordable Care Act. Peters, for his part, has been on the attack against the Kochs themselves on another issue: petroleum coke. Last year, Koch Carbon, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, drew national attention for letting massive piles of petcoke, a byproduct of petroleum refining, sit in Detroit. The piles were creating huge clouds of dust over the city.
Peters spoke out against the petcoke piles and against Koch Carbon, and introduced legislation calling for a federal study on the health and environmental impacts of the product. The piles were moved earlier this year, but there's an ongoing political and regulatory battle about where they should ultimately go.
Peters spoke about the petcoke issue Friday. "I am not going to let the Koch brothers pretend as if they care about the health care of Michiganders," said Peters. "We remember those piles that were piled up just down the river from where we are now ... They care about their agenda, which is weakening environmental laws. It's about being anti-middle class, about tax breaks for millionaires. We are going to tell them in no uncertain terms this election that Michigan is not for sale. The people of Michigan get to determine who is going to be their next senator."
Peters has emphasized environmental issues during his campaign, calling for reduced greenhouse gas emissions -- another area where AFP has gone after him. But Peters told The Huffington Post on Friday that he doesn't think the AFP attacks will be a problem for him. "I think people understand it's important, and they expect people who are running for elected office to stand up and take a stand and show some courage," he said. - Huffington Post, 7/18/14
Click here to donate and get involved with Peters' campaign:
http://www.petersformichigan.com/...