Editor’s Note: San Diego Jewish World plans to announce its official endorsements in October for national, state, and local offices as well as on ballot measures facing voters in the Nov. 3 election. In the meantime, we have invited our regular contributors, as well as members of the San Diego County Jewish community, to offer their personal endorsements, giving positive reasons for voting for a candidate of their choice. We anticipate we will receive endorsement columns from both sides of the aisle, and pro and con arguments regarding ballot measures. We hope they will be of assistance to our readers. If you’d like to submit an endorsement OpEd, please send it to donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com. Remember, we are looking for positive reasons to vote for your candidate, not attacks on the opponent! — Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — I’m not much of a political analyst. I typically discuss finances and, on occasion, the arts. So, when the editor invited me to write a political endorsement, I was surprised. But then I realized that I have many positive things to say about our current Congressperson Scott Peters. And, I wholeheartedly endorse him!
Before getting into his accomplishments, positions on issues and endorsements, I want to point out something that many people don’t know about Scott Peters: He works on a bi-partisan level for the good of the country! If you’re like me, you are tired of the political jockeying that leave us citizens empty handed. Scott is different. In fact, Scott has taken a stand to join hands with the other party to work toward solutions by being part of the Problem Solvers Caucus. This is a ground-breaking bloc of Congressional Republicans and Democrats committed to working together on governance of our country. According to the sponsoring organization of the Problem Solvers Caucus, No Labels: “Through collaboration and a dedication to common sense problem solving, we can ensure the needs of Americans are put before partisanship. Despite the continued dysfunction in Washington, the No Labels movement is proving there is an alternative to the endless and destructive polarization in our politics. No Labels is the counterweight to the political extremism cannibalizing both sides. We have developed a long-term strategy to redefine a new type of politics that the vast majority of Americans support.”
With their bloc of 48 Representatives (24 Democrat and 24 Republicans), the Problem Solvers Caucus has the power to tilt the vote and break the deadlock between the major parties. Here are just a few of the Problem Solvers’ accomplishments behind the scenes:
- Summer 2020: Problem Solvers were brought directly into negotiations with the White House and Congressional leaders to salvage the bipartisan COVID-19 relief and policing reform bills.
- March 2020: The day after Mike Pence was chose to lead the White House Coronavirus Task Force, he invited 14 Problem Solvers to the White House Situation Room to discuss a path forward for several legislative relief measures.
- July 2019: The Problem Solvers led passage of a Congressional resolution expressing support for Israel and denouncing the BDS movement against the country.
- January 2019: The Break the Gridlock proposal was passed with bipartisan support in the House – thanks to votes from three Republican Problem Solvers – creating a new opening for bipartisan legislation to be debated and voted upon on the House floor.
Now that we know Scott puts the needs of the country above partisan politics, what has he accomplished? Scott introduced many bills that were passed and signed into law, including:
- A law that allows all Purple Heart recipients to gain access to full GI benefits, regardless of how long they’ve served.
- A law that allows nonprofits to directly use homelessness assistance grants for those in need, butting bureaucratic red tape.
- An amendment to the National Defense Authorization Acts reforming the Department of Defense’s acquisition processes to ensure that small businesses and large, more established businesses are on a level playing field when competing for contracts.
He has been an ongoing proponent for San Diego priorities, wildfire prevention funding, reducing the cost of prescription drugs, gun safety, reducing government waste, supporting the military, job creation, national security, equality and government ethics.
Scott has been endorsed by numerous community leaders and organizations, such as Nathan Fletcher, Susan Davis, Juan Vargas, Toni Atkins, Todd Gloria, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Organization for Women PAC, Ocean Champions, San Diego Police Officers Association, the Sierra Club and many others.
Congressperson Peters is a committed to working on our behalf and his record demonstrates that. He deserves – and we deserve – another term!
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Sheryl Rowling is a certified public accountant, personal finance specialist, and principal of Rowling & Associates. She may be contacted via sheryl.rowling@sdjewishworld.com