Peters ranked most effective senator

Researchers again ranked Michigan U.S. Sen. Gary Peters as the "most effective" senator at lawmaking for the last two-year term of Congress.

The nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking noted that the Bloomfield Township Democrat also won the top honor for the 116th Congress when he was a freshman in the minority party.

"That he has emerged as the most effective lawmaker in the entire Senate once again demonstrates that his success in the 116th Congress was not a one-time aberration that was driven (perhaps) by the fact that Sen. Peters was engaged in a tough reelection battle in 2020," wrote Craig Volden, co-director of the Center for Effective Lawmaking.

The center cited Peters, who chairs the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, for introducing 102 bills and getting 19 of them signed into law, which is the the most enacted into law by a U.S. senator during a single Congress in more than 40 years, according to the Congressional Research Service and Senate Historical Office.

Volden noted that Peters had at least one Republican co-sponsor on each of his successful bills, with the exception of a bill to rename a post office in Michigan that was co-sponsored with Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing. Peters also had substantial portions of another 10 bills he'd introduced incorporated into other legislators’ bills that went on to become law.

No Michigan lawmakers made the top 10 lists of most effective lawmakers in the House, though Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township, was recognized among freshman members who had exceeded expectations by having at least one bill signed into law.

Also, Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, was recognized as a "top performer" in the policy area of environment, as well as Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, in the area of civil rights and former Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Grand Rapids Township, in trade.