The Manchester Enterprise
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Schauer preps for first term
Congressman weighs in on 'top priorities' for Michigan, country
By Sean Dalton, Heritage Newspapers
PUBLISHED: December 4, 2008
With November's general election now in the history books, U.S. Congressman-elect Mark Schauer has been busy setting his sights for the coming year in Washington, D.C.
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Schauer defeated Republican incumbent Tim Walberg on Nov. 7 to represent Michigan's 7th Congressional District.
"I'm feeling great," Schauer said. "I'm excited for the work I will be a part of to help Michigan through a tough economic transition."
He said his supporters throughout the district are equally enthusiastic for a change in Washington.
"This is something my volunteers have been looking at for months and months," Schauer said.
Schauer thanked the Western Washtenaw Democrats for their work, as well as state Rep. Pam Byrnes of Lyndon Township and U.S. Rep. John Dingell of Dearborn, which he credits for his victory.
He was also thankful for an infusion of campaign resources from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. All of that support, as well as that of his individual supporters, helped him win an "incredibly tough election."
Now Schauer is focused on issues that he feels are top priorities after "a tough eight years."
"We have to re-evaluate our trade policies, including looking at trade deals like (the North American Free Trade Agreement) and sort out our relationship with China and (the World Trade Organization)," he said. "We have to make sure that we have policies that create a level playing field, fair trade and an opportunity for our workers and businesses to compete in this global economy."
Schauer called helping Michigan's ailing auto industry a "very urgent priority."
"That is just critical to those direct automotive jobs ... critical to the industry in general, suppliers and auto dealers," he explained. "We can't be neutral and see the domestic auto industry die."
His policy is that of the Democratic Party: "Help them make changes they have to make to be successful and healthy over the long term," with a guiding hand pushing those companies toward technologies and processes that result in more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Schauer says he expects some talk on the matter to occur during the next "lame duck" session of Congress.
Like automotive jobs, protecting home buyers and homeowners is another top priority, Schauer said.
"We need to protect these jobs, home buyers and some of the businesses so we don't see a repeat of the Wall Street meltdown," he said, adding that more financial sector regulation would be something he could support in Congress.
Support will also come from Schauer's Congressional seat in the form of votes for legislation that stems the tide of foreclosures in Michigan, which is "devastating families and communities and lowering home values," he said.
To that end, he supports any efforts from the top to help displaced autoworkers retrain for new work. In the interim Schauer supports unemployment benefit extensions to keep those hit hardest by the economic recession afloat long enough to regain their footing.
Schauer will also be behind "incremental" efforts to address the growing health care issue in the country, starting with expanding children's health insurance programs.
Schauer said he is just glad to have this opportunity to represent the people of the 7th Congressional District in Michigan.
"A Democrat has never held this district before, since its creation in 1992," he said. "We had a lot of attacks thrown at us from Tim Walberg's campaign and other special interest groups, but we were able to withstand that and get out our message about turning around our economy."
Schauer says that his immediate focus is setting up his Congressional operation in a way that "keeps me closely in touch with my constituents and closely accessible," describing a connection with his electorate "like this district has never seen before."
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