Merkley Receives Nomination of Independent Party of Oregon

Party Praises Merkley's Independent Leadership on Ethics Reform, Campaign Finance Reform, and Consumer Protections

The Independent Party of Oregon is announcing today that it will nominate House Speaker Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate. With more than 22,000 members, the Independent Party of Oregon is the third largest political party in the state and supports candidates who fight for good government and the rights of citizens.

Republican Gordon Smith has spent more than $2 million on television advertising touting his independent credentials, but the Independent Party of Oregon is endorsing Smith's opponent.

"We are supporting Jeff Merkley because he is the true `independent' in this race," said Linda Williams, state chair of the Independent Party. "Gordon Smith is very dependent - dependent on the utilities, drug companies, and other corporations for the millions of dollars he is spending on ads denying his record as a Bush Administration rubber stamp. He has voted repeatedly against campaign finance reform, including the McCain-Feingold reforms in 1997 and 2002, and has denounced voter-enacted campaign finance reforms in Oregon. He has been the Republican point-man against campaign finance reform on the TV talk shows."

"I am honored to accept the nomination from the Independent Party of Oregon," said House Speaker Jeff Merkley, candidate for U.S. Senate. "I have been proud to fight alongside the Independent party to take on special interests to pass sweeping ethics reform, protect consumers, and end the gridlock in Oregon. Washington D.C. is broken and Gordon Smith is part of the problem. America needs new, independent leaders to change Washington D.C. and turn this economy around."

Jeff Merkley: An Independent Leader to Change Washington D.C.

* Broke Through the Deadlock in Salem

After Merkley helped build a one-vote majority for Democrats in Oregon, he immediately reached across party lines to break through the deadlock in Salem and get Oregon back on track.

Merkley gave members of all political parties an equal voice in the legislative process to ensure that the best ideas were to encourage cooperation and achieve results.

The Oregonian called Merkley's session as Speaker, "Oregon's most productive in a generation." [Oregonian, 4/19/08] Nearly all of the major accomplishments of the sessions had broad support from all parties.

* Passed Sweeping Ethics Reform to Clean Up Government

As Speaker, Jeff Merkley led historic bipartisan ethics reform to ban gifts from lobbyists, close the revolving door for legislators, and restore the independent Ethics Commission. Merkley also helped to pass measures that required greater accountability, and transparency in state government.

While Merkley led the fight for ethics reform in Oregon, Smith has opposed ethics reform in Washington D.C., including voting twice against the creation of an independent ethics committee similar to what Merkley championed in Oregon. [Senate Vote #77, 3/28/06; Senate Vote #18, 1/18/07]

* Ended the Bickering to Protect Consumers

Merkley helped lead the effort to stop utilities from charging Oregon ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars for "state income taxes" and "federal income taxes" that have never been paid to any government. [SB 408, 2005]

Merkley also led the effort in Oregon to cap the interest rates at 36 percent on payday loans and place strict limits on check cashing fees, title loans, and internet lending. [HB 2871, 2007]

While Merkley led the fight to protect consumers in Oregon, Smith was protecting payday lenders and squeezing families. In 2001 Smith voted against a proposal that would have invalidated claims by predatory lenders in bankruptcy court if the lender charged more than 100% interest. [Senate vote #28, 3/14/01]

* Stood up to Big Oil Companies and Drug Companies

Merkley stood up to big oil companies to invest in renewable energy and make Oregon a leader in the green economy. While Gordon Smith was giving tax breaks to oil companies and opposing efforts to relieve our dependence on foreign oil, Merkley worked to establish a new renewable energy standard and expand renewable energy tax credits for consumers and businesses. [HB 2210, 2007; Senate vote #332, 11/17/05; HB 3201, 2007]

Merkley also fought big drug companies to lower prescription drug costs for seniors, expanding Oregon's prescription drug bulk purchasing program. [SB 362, 4/26/07]

* Advocated for Campaign Finance Reform

Merkley has been an advocate of campaign finance reform in Oregon, including limits on political contributions in Oregon. Merkley will fight for full transparency and accountability in the federal campaign finance system.

Gordon Smith voted against the McCain-Feingold campaign reform bills in 1997 and in 2002, when he was a prominent Republican spokesman against reform. He also denounced campaign finance reforms adopted by Oregon voters. [Senate Vote #273, 10/9/97; Senate Vote #54, 3/20/02]

Gordon Smith: A Rubber Stamp for George W. Bush, EXCEPT in an election year

* Votes with George Bush 90 percent of the time, EXCEPT in an election year.
* Votes with Republican leadership 85 percent of the time, EXCEPT in an election year.

Votes with George Bush / Votes with Republicans

2003 - 97% / 92%

2004 - 94% / 89%

2005 - 79% / 82%

2006 - 83% / 80%

2007 - 56% / 55%

Source: Congressional Quarterly

Gordon Smith has been a "rubber stamp" for every major initiative of the Bush Administration, supporting:

* Bush tax breaks for oil companies at a time of record gas prices [Senate vote #222, 6/21/07]
* Bush tax loopholes for corporations that ship jobs overseas [Senate vote #63, 3/17/05]
* Bush spending America into more than 9 trillion dollars of debt [TreasuryDirect.gov, accessed 6/4/08]
* Bush leading America into an unjust war in Iraq with no plan to bring American soldiers home [Senate vote #237, 10/11/02]

Posted July 31, 2008
Endorsements, Press

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