There is only one Democratic U.S. Senator in this year's freshman class. Gary Peters won the seat left open in Michigan by the retirement of fellow Democrat Carl Levin.
But Republican won enough seats in other states to take control of the upper chamber. Peters tells WMUK's Gordon Evans that he will work in a bi-partisan way on issues important to Michigan.
The Senate is beginning debate on legislation that would pave the way for building the Keystone XL Pipeline. Peters plans to introduce a couple of amendments related to the pipeline. One would address the residual "pet coke" from the tar sands oil carried by the pipeline. Peters says the other amendment would deal with inspections of pipelines He says if an aging pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac were to rupture it would probably be worse than the oil spill on the Kalamazoo River in 2010.
Peters will serve on the Homeland Security Committee in the Senate. He says the shooting at a satirical newspaper in Paris shows the dangers that exist throughout the world. But Peters says it's important that civil liberties are safeguarded while security is ensured.
When President Obama delivers his State of the Union Address next week, Peters says he will be listening for more on the economy, especially manufacturing jobs and the auto listening.