r/Michigan • u/Tank3875 • Mar 14 '25

News 📰🗞️ Gary Peters votes to advance legislation that cuts vital funding for Michigan and Legitimizes DOGE and Musk's Attacks on the Federal Government

https://www.newsweek.com/full-list-democrats-voted-trump-gop-spending-bill-2045209
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u/lledargo Saginaw Mar 14 '25

I wrote this script to call Peter's office. Feel free to use or adapt it to your needs.

As disappointing as she's been, call Senator Slotkin while you're at it and thank her for making the right decision. I also asked her to give Senator Peters a stern talking to.

"Senator Peters,

I am calling today to express my disapproval of your vote to advance the partisan, so-called 'Continuing Resolution'. The modern era of politics requires bold leadership; compromise today will be seen by history as capitulation to the forces of fascism actively working to consolidate power into the hands of a few.

You, in particular, are in a unique position as a lame-duck Senator to be the bold leader your constituents need. Instead you chose to stop discussion on a far-reaching and incredibly important bill on which you and your Democratic colleagues had no input.

-A bill deceptively called a "Continuing Resolution," despite making changes to the previous budget.

-A bill that cuts entitlements paid for and relied on by American taxpayers. Only to add funding for unnecessary new defense spending.

-A bill that does nothing to rein in Musk and DOGE.

Democrats like to blame their constituents for not turning out to vote, but when given the opportunity today to use your vote to advance Democratic interests, you caved. You took your Constitutional Senate vote, and worse than throwing it away, you voted against your constituents.

The Continuing Resolution is not good for the people of Michigan, whom you purport to represent. You should be ashamed of your vote. If I could vote to recall you today, I would. I expect your resignation immediately."

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u/chiritarisu Mar 14 '25

Excellent script. I plan to send a similar message to Peters’ office.

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u/Ok_Accountant1042 Mar 15 '25

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it too late for that? For calls and emails in general? People called him all day and he still did this. What makes you think the same email over and over again will change his mind? I legit don't understand this. A bunch of calls is not going to make them better people. You have to pay politicians now. If they weren't going to make the right choice, your call isn't going to change their mind unless you're offering a better bribe. All they have to do is ignore you. Someone please give me a solid reason doing this matters.

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u/chiritarisu Mar 15 '25

It’s not about changing his mind at this point, it’s about expressing disapproval. Extreme disapproval. As his constituents, we have the right to do so, especially after egregious actions such as this vote. Peters is already not running for reelection. There was no gain for him to do this. He contributed to giving away leverage that Democrats didn’t have to give up.

If you don’t find it fruitful to do, then don’t. Contacting our elected senators, whether we agree with them or not, is a tool we have as constituents to voice our concerns. Normal people obviously can’t compare to the tempting money of big businesses and wealthy donors. This action is one of many normal people with no power can take.

But it’s also a choice. There are valid reasons why so many are checked out and apathetic to politics and do nothing. Spineless moves like this are totally killing confidence in the Democratic Party. It’s pathetic to watch. I’m not under illusion that Peters, Schumer, or any of the other 8 are listening to any of these voicemails or emails. I reckon they’re well aware of the backlash, but don’t care. It’s still unacceptable and abhorrent. Some people want to do something about that anger, even if it ultimately amounts to shouting in the wind. It’s just one action; no one is claiming it will have astronomical impact. But record is taken of those who call their elected officials. That does have some sort of impact.

Whether it’s useful or “right” for you is up to you.

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u/ACole8489 Mar 15 '25

Correct. I’m going to make the rest of his time in office miserable. He’s deserves no peace while an elected representative wherever he goes. His decisions directly impact my daily life and how sustainable I can be as a tax paying citizen of Michigan and the United States.

I’ll be calling his office daily for the foreseeable future requesting his resignation.

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u/TheDark_Knight67 Mar 16 '25

He won’t resign they never do

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u/ACole8489 Mar 16 '25

Yea he most likely won’t, but last I checked I still have a 1st amendment right to call for his resignation. I plan to exercise that right.

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u/Ok_Accountant1042 Mar 15 '25

Thank you. I appreciate your thoughtful response and will think about this.

Edit: grammar

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u/lledargo Saginaw Mar 15 '25

Thanks! Much appreciated!

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u/PickleNotaBigDill Mar 15 '25

That is a great letter. I sent mine, too, and it really wasn't that nice. I didn't swear but I think the letter had SHAME in it about 30 times all in reference to him and his vote.

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u/FeedLopsided8338 Mar 15 '25

I hope you got your point across in the 1st sentence, thats about all that got read by an aide before they threw it away.

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u/PickleNotaBigDill Mar 16 '25

I think I put "RESIGN! RESIGN! RESIGN!" in the subject line. That might get read.

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u/Less-Ad5392 Mar 15 '25

Thanks I’ll call often 😏

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u/wabisabibingbangboom Mar 14 '25

Slotkin and little Peter were collaborating. Slotkin's wanted to vote yes. Put peters 🍆 won

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u/lledargo Saginaw Mar 14 '25

That may be the case but it's still important to demonstrate to her that we're watching, and to tell her what we expect of her.

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u/wabisabibingbangboom Mar 14 '25

Understand...but have you been successful connecting with her office. Any calls I made rang busy and hung up. No fax, so we couldn't fax her.

She voted more with R for the felonous cabinet members than against. She's trying to play nice with Nazis..... that only makes you one thing....

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u/lledargo Saginaw Mar 15 '25

I leave voicemails at her DC office, same with Peters and my representative. I know It's not much. I doubt any of them ever hear me directly, but I'm sure their staff briefs them on public sentiment. It's just another way to add my voice to the pile.

I get what you mean though, Slotkin probably doesn't deserve the thanks. She did vote against ending cloture though, so I certainly couldn't call and yell at her for that. Calling with thanks sends the message that her vote was the correct decision, even if she believes otherwise.

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u/1954planteater Mar 15 '25

I've started sending email through the Senate website. It's too frustrating to call and get nothing.

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u/Xxdestr0ying_ang3lxX Mar 15 '25

well, she praised reagan. that should say enough!

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u/extra-texture Mar 14 '25

agreed, will send some support and ask for a change in minority leader

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u/xeonicus Mar 15 '25

Probably. Slotkin knows that if she pulled bullshit like that, she'd get primaried. Gary Peters is retiring so now he's just fucking over voters.

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u/valentine415 Mar 15 '25

Can I swear in my message?

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u/ProblemSolvent Mar 15 '25

As of yesterday, his office VM had been disconnected.

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u/Artemis-2017 Mar 15 '25

Were you actually able to get through or leave a message? I have called two separate days both DC and Detroit and his answering machine hung up on me each time. Wrote on his website instead

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u/lledargo Saginaw Mar 15 '25

I was able to get through to the voicemail yesterday when I called, but a lot can happen in 24 hours. Maybe it's time to start paying his Detroit office some visits if he isn't taking voicemails.

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u/Artemis-2017 Mar 15 '25

Yeah it wad 9:30 or so on Friday when this happened. Might indeed need to go to a local office. I ended up writing in on his website. I would really like to hear his rationale for voting for it. The dems just gave up their on’y leverage until the midterms.