Public Safety Groups Endorse Scott Peters for Re-Election to Congress

Peters is the candidate first responders trust to keep San Diego safe 

San Diego – Representatives of San Diego's lifeguards, fire fighters, and police officers came together today to announce their endorsement of Scott Peters for re-election to the 52nd Congressional District. With a record of supporting Republicans, Independents and Democrats, the organizations representing San Diego's first responders are united in their endorsement of Peters. Most recently, the San Diego Police Officers Association endorsed Kevin Faulconer for Mayor.

"While residents were being evacuated away from the flames last week, our firefighters were running head on into them to protect our homes, our families, and our businesses,” said Peters. “Every year our brave police officers are killed in the line of duty, and our lifeguards, too, put themselves at risk to save others along our coastline. I could not be more proud to stand with public safety today and to have their support.”

"Time and time again, Scott Peters has proven he is a leader law enforcement can rely on,” said Brian Marvel, President of the San Diego Police Officers Association. "In contrast, we were reminded during Peace Officers Memorial Week that Carl DeMaio voted against death benefits for the widows and orphans of officers killed in the line duty. This isn’t just about his votes against public safety; it speaks to his character. Carl DeMaio does not belong in Congress.”

"Fire fighters and their families know we can count on Scott Peters to give us the tools we need to protect your families and ourselves," said Cory Beckwith, Vice President of the San Diego City Fire Fighters Association. "We also know we can not trust Carl DeMaio. He cares more about political opportunism than about keeping San Diegans safe. San Diego’s fire fighters strongly urge you to vote for Scott Peters for Congress,” said Beckwith.

"Throughout his career, Scott Peters has fought for safe, clean beaches,” sand San Diego lifeguard Lonnie Stephens.  “We're often faced with difficult endorsement decisions, but this one is easy. Scott Peters is the candidate we can rely on as our partner to best protect our beaches and give us the resources we need to protect beachgoers.”

In Congress, Scott Peters cosponsored of the Wildfire Prevention Act, which would allow states to receive more funding from FEMA for wildfire mitigation, which is critical for areas like ours. More recently, Peters authored an amendment to the defense budget, which was adopted yesterday, that prevents the Department of Defense from taking over firefighting efforts and support aircraft currently operated by the California National Guard and the Governor – an action that is critical to local fire fighting efforts.

While on the San Diego City Council, Peters helped increase public safety budgets by 45 percent. The Fire Department was able to add fire fighters, buy new equipment and implement a new brush management program. The increase also helped the Police Department keep more trained officers on the street.

Scott Peters is a freshman member of Congress, elected in 2012. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. Scott Peters is the only candidate in the race with a demonstrated track record of working across party lines to get things done. In addition to public safety, Peters is endorsed by worker advocates, women’s rights groups, and national environmental organizations. He is also backed by some of San Diego’s most prominent Republican business leaders, including five former Chairmen of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

More about Peters' record on public safety can be found here.

####

San Diego LGBT Leaders Issue Open Letter In Support of ENDA and Scott Peters for Congress

Call on candidates to clarify position on making ENDA a reality

Today, as we honor the life and work of Harvey Milk, San Diego's LGBT elected leaders issued an open letter emphasizing the importance of strong leadership in passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

They laud the strong position taken by Congressman Scott Peters, thank him for his commitment and outspoken advocacy on LGBT Equality, and call on all candidates for Congress to make clear to voters before the June 3 primary election whether they too would fight for ENDA's passage. Peters has called on Speaker John Boehner to let Congress vote on this important civil rights legislation. He is the only candidate in this race who has.

Read the full letter below:


May 22, 2014
Open Letter in Support of ENDA and Scott Peters for Congress

To voters of California's 52nd Congressional District:

In 29 states, it is legal to fire or refuse to hire someone based on their sexual orientation. It is long past time for Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to guarantee that no one willing to work hard has to risk their job because of who they are.

The need is simple, and so is ENDA. It simply affords to all Americans basic employment protection from discrimination based who they are and who they love. These Americans pay taxes, vote, and contribute to our communities, and should not have to risk their jobs or be denied the ability to provide for their families because of who they are or who they love. ENDA makes sure that all people are treated fairly under the law, including businesses. That is why 90% of Fortune 500 companies have similar non-discrimination policies in place.

There is only one candidate in the race for the 52nd Congressional District who has called on the Speaker of the House to bring ENDA to a vote and who has been an outspoken advocate urging its passage. That candidate is Congressman Scott Peters.

For this, for his long history of standing up for what’s right, we strongly support his re-election. Those seeking to support true equality and represent our community must be leaders, and public support and advocacy for this critical civil rights legislation should be the minimum we expect.

Representative Scott Peters is a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and has spoken out about its importance in advancing core civil rights on the House floor and in the media. He even published an opinion piece on the editorial page of UT San Diego, whose owner was one of the largest financial backers of Proposition 8.

Voters deserve to know before this primary election whether the other candidates in this race will match Peters' support of ENDA by committing to sign the Discharge Petition and calling on Speaker John Boehner to bring ENDA to a vote on the House floor.

Today, as we honor LGBT pioneer Harvey Milk, we call on all candidates in the race to make their position on ENDA clear prior to June 3, and we recommit our support for Scott Peters for Congress.


Sincerely,

Speaker of the California Assembly Toni Atkins

President, San Diego Unified Board of Education Kevin Beiser

San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria

The Honorable Christine Kehoe

San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts

NO LABELS AWARDS THE "PROBLEM SOLVER SEAL OF APPROVAL" Award Recipient California Congressman Scott Peters

Congressman Scott Peters has been awarded the No Labels Problem Solver Seal of Approval by the nonpartisan organization committed to breaking through gridlock and dysfunction to forge collaboration for shared success.

In January 2013, No Labels unveiled the Problem Solvers: a group of Republican, Democrat and Independent House and Senate members who have agreed to meet regularly to build trust across the aisle.

This group is unlike anything that has existed on Capitol Hill, where there is no forum for large groups of Democrats and Republicans to actually meet together to work through problems. The Problem Solvers offers a new way forward. The Problem Solvers are committed to regular across-the-aisle meetings, embracing the new attitude of problem solving and being real leaders.

You can read more here: http://www.nolabels.org/problem-solvers

NO LABELS AWARDS THE "PROBLEM SOLVER SEAL OF APPROVAL"
Award Recipient
California Congressman Scott Peters

Washington, D.C. - No Labels – a national movement dedicated to a new politics of problem solving is proud to announce the next recipient of its "Problem Solver Seal of Approval." Launched last month, this designation is awarded to political candidates seeking public office across the country who have committed to joining the No Labels' congressional coalition of Problem Solvers. These Problem Solvers, if elected, will collaborate with colleagues across the aisle in developing sound policies that support a national strategic agenda based on a set of shared goals.  

This month, No Labels is awarding its Problem Solver Seal of Approval to Congressman Scott Peters, the Democratic candidate in California’'s 52nd district. “We're proud to award the Problem Solver Seal of Approval to Congressman Peters," said Clarine Nardi Riddle, a co-founder of No Labels. "His pragmatic approach to problem solving is a model from which all elected officials and their constituents can learn and benefit.  From job creation to healthcare to energy and the environment, Rep. Peters is steadfast in his effort to forge sensible, bipartisan policies that meet the needs of all Americans.”

Congressman Peters said, "I came to Congress to create policies that deliver results for my district and for the country and the way to do this is by working across the aisle and collaborating with others who have diverse political views. No one person or party can fix our nation's toughest challenges. That's why I'm fully committed to a bipartisan approach; it's the only way to make a real difference for all Americans."

Before being elected to Congress in 2012, Rep. Peters served as San Diego’s first City Council president, where he pursued greater accountability and efficiency in government. He continued on this path during his first term in Congress by helping to pass No Budget, No Pay, one of No Labels’ signature pieces of legislation. Designed to stop Congress from being paid until it passes a budget, Rep. Peters refused to keep his paycheck during the government shutdown and voted to stop Congress from giving itself a raise.

Since 2010, No Labels has worked to forge bipartisan solutions for all Americans, and formalized this commitment in January with the launch of a three-year campaign to create a national strategic agenda. With the release of its e-book, No Labels: A Shared Vision for a Stronger America, No Labels sets out a set of shared goals in four main policy areas: economic growth and job creation, sustainable long-term fiscal policy, Social Security and Medicare, and energy.

As of today, 82 members of Congress have endorsed the idea of a national strategic agenda. For more information about No Labels and its campaign for a national strategic agenda, contact Caroline@NoLabels.org

No Labels is a grassroots movement of Democrats and Republicans dedicated to a new politics of problem solving. The organization has already attracted more than half a million citizens across the country, as well as members of Congress who meet regularly in the only forum for problem solving on Capitol Hill.

###

FAKE Minimum Wage Petition in Circulation. Do NOT Sign!

Be careful! The person at the grocery store asking you to sign a minimum wage petition is a fraud! It EXEMPTS 93% of businesses in San Diego and invalidates the REAL Minimum Wage ordinance proposed by Council President Todd Gloria and supported by Raise Up San Diego.

There is no denying that this effort is a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and we ask that you not only avoid signing the petition but to  post on FB or twitter that you 'declined to sign' the measure because it does nothing to help San Diegans make ends meet. We can't let those who oppose a raise in the minimum wage to get away with their lies and deceptive tactics.

Please spread the word!