Published: November 05, 2008 07:00 pm      

New Michigan congressmen 'very practical'

DETROIT (AP) -- Democrats Mark Schauer and Gary Peters, Michigan's newest members of Congress, bring resumes of focusing on job creation and economic issues to districts flush with Republican voters.

Schauer, a Battle Creek state senator, narrowly defeated freshman Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, in a rural district in southern Michigan where the Republican party blossomed more than 150 years ago.

Peters, a former state lottery commissioner and state senator, knocked off veteran Rep. Joe Knollenberg in a suburban Detroit district that has been hard hit by job losses in the auto industry.

Both Democrats portrayed themselves as moderate problem-solvers who would push middle-class tax cuts, seek trade policies that help preserve manufacturing jobs and improve access to health care.

"They have a good sense of how you get things done," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.