Sierra Club: Jeff Merkley is a champion for Oregon's environment

The Sierra Club and its 24,000 Oregon members today endorsed Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate, touting his commitment to tackling global warming, protecting public lands, and his successful track record of making Oregon a leader in renewable energy.

The organization slammed Gordon Smith's environmental record, citing Smith's history of supporting many of the Bush administration's failed environmental policies over the past six years, and his lack of leadership in protecting the environment on behalf of the people of Oregon.

The Sierra Club, one of the state's largest and most progressive environmental organizations, thoroughly examined candidates' overall environmental records and platforms, involving volunteers across Oregon as well as the organization's statewide and national political committees.

The Sierra Club cited Jeff's successful history of fighting for environmental solutions in the Oregon Legislature, including unprecedented investments in renewable energy, new recycling laws, efforts to protect Oregon's water supplies from toxic discharges, and stopping the pollution that causes global warming.

"Speaker Merkley has been a champion for the environment and Oregon's economy, passing legislation that has created economic opportunity, benefits to consumers, and green jobs that are tackling the greatest environmental challenge of our time - global climate change," said Ivan Maluski, Conservation Coordinator for the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club.

"Gordon Smith has been inconsistent and unreliable, often walking in lock-step with the Bush administration. He's been swayed by big oil companies, timber industry cash, and destructive mining interests.
Oregonians value clean air, clean water, and the precious natural resources that boost Oregon's quality of life, and we all deserve a U.S. Senator who will protect and fight for these values"

To view Jeff's plans to tackle global warming, click here.

Posted March 14, 2008
Spotlight

Jeff Merkley was born in the small town of Myrtle Creek, Oregon, the son of a sawmill worker. He's fought hard for working families in Oregon and he's ready to help lead America.

As Oregon's Speaker of the House, Jeff Merkley led one of the most effective, efficient and progressive legislative sessions in Oregon's history - with big achievements for schools, ethics, health care, jobs, alternative energy, and protections for working families.

Discover why Jeff Merkley is ready to lead.

For years, Gordon Smith has given rich corporations and well-connected lobbyists in DC the upper hand - costing too many working families their jobs.

Jeff Merkley knows first-hand it's time to crack down on big corporations outsourcing American jobs and create economic opportunity for every Oregon worker right here at home.

Dive into the issues - and learn where Jeff Merkley will lead America.

Paid for by Jeff Merkley for Oregon