Peter has never been afraid to make the right enemies. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, Peter proposed a 0.02% tax on the riskiest transactions – that’s 2¢ per $1,000 – to protect working people from the market volatility caused by selfish, negligent Wall Street gamblers.
Ultra-right-wing billionaire Robert Mercer was so offended by the suggestion that he pay his fair share, he created a super PAC specifically for the purpose of spreading lies and attacks against Peter. Mercer spent nearly $2 million attacking Peter and funding his opponents from 2010 to 2020.
Peter, of course, didn’t back down – not even a little.
By respecting the folks in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District enough to tell them the truth, Peter built a powerful grassroots movement that defeated Mercer’s hand-picked candidates every time.
Not only that, but despite dishonest opposition from Congressional Republicans, and even a disappointing lack of political will from some of his Democratic colleagues, Peter continued to push for Wall Street accountability until his last days in Congress. His willingness to stand up to greedy corporations, arrogant CEOs, and shady dark money groups earned him a well-deserved reputation as a true champion for working people.
