Merkley Calls on Smith to Return Cash from Indicted Senator Ted Stevens

Smith Has Taken $39,000 from Stevens

Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley, candidate for U.S. Senate, is calling on Republican Senator Gordon Smith to give up $39,000 in campaign contributions he received from Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens, who was indicted today. Merkley is calling for Smith to donate the money to charities to help provide health insurance to Oregon children.

The longest serving Republican senator in Unites States history, Ted Stevens was indicted today on federal corruption charges. Stevens has contributed $39,000 to Smith's campaign.

Stevens was indicted on seven charges of corruption for failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts for labor and construction on his house.

"Senator Smith should donate these contributions to charities to help provide health insurance to Oregon children," said Speaker Jeff Merkley. "Ted Stevens has been indicted on very serious ethical charges. These charges cast an ethical cloud on money he raised from oil companies and others, some of which he passed on to Gordon Smith."

Here are the contributions that Stevens has made to Smith:

Date of Contribution / Amount of Contribution

3/14/2007 - $5,000

3/14/2007 - $5,000

3/28/2006 - $5,000

3/2/2005 - $5,000

Quarter 2 of 2002 - $10,000

5/12/2002 - $2,000

2/11/2002- $2,000

6/29/2001 - $3,000

10/31/1996 - $1,000

11/27/1995 - $1,000

Republican Senator Gordon Smith has taken more than $300,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas interests, while delivering $18 billion in tax giveaways for oil companies and opposing measures to end excessive speculation on oil prices. [Center for Responsive Politics, FEC Reports; Senate vote #69, 4/2/98; Senate vote #289, 9/23/99; Senate vote #456, 11/21/03; Senate vote #67, 4/7/04; Senate vote #332, 11/17/05; Senate vote #222, 6/21/07]

Posted July 29, 2008
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