Gordon Smith Flip-Flop Alert: Ron Wyden's Health Care Plan

Jeff Merkley's campaign for U.S. Senate is issuing a Gordon Smith Flip Flop Alert today on Senator Ron Wyden's Healthy Americans Act, warning Oregonians that Smith has switched his position only because it is an election year.

For nearly twelve years Smith has failed to support any plan to provide health care for every man, woman, and child in America. However, with polls showing Smith to be one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the country, Smith has gone into panic mode, desperately changing his positions on every issue that is important to Oregonians.

This latest flip-flop comes on the heels of Senator Smith's decision to mislead Oregonians about climate change, tax subsidies for oil companies, the Iraq war, higher fuel efficiency standards, and even Barack Obama.

Since November Jeff Merkley has supported Wyden's health care plan, calling on Smith to stand up to the special interests and side with Oregonians.

Smith is running away from his health care record because his health care record has been a disaster.

* Smith has sided with the insurance companies, opposing Ron Wyden's effort to protect patients' ability to chose their own doctor and protect doctors who help patients appeal HMO decisions. [Vote 208, 10/9/99]

* Smith has failed to stand up to drug companies as well, consistently opposing efforts to allow the government to negotiate for more affordable drugs for seniors. [Vote 60, 3/17/05; Vote 302, 11/3/05]

Gordon Smith has taken over $271,000 from the pharmaceutical industry and more than $589,000 from the insurance industry for his Senate campaigns (Source: Center for Responsive Politics).

Posted June 26, 2008
Press