Merkley Discusses Plans to Lower Gas Prices and Create Jobs in Rural Communities

Gordon Smith Has Been a Failure for Rural Oregon

While touring Southern Oregon on his 100 Towns for Change tour, House Speaker Jeff Merkley, candidate for U.S. Senate, discussed real solutions to lower gas prices and create good-paying jobs in rural communities across the state.

For too long big oil companies and oil sheiks have set the agenda in Washington D.C. and now Oregon families and businesses are paying the price. In fact, on average Oregon families and businesses will spend more than $660 for gasoline this year than they did in 2007[1].

Senator Gordon Smith and the Bush Administration have been a disaster for rural Oregon, driving up gas prices, providing tax breaks to companies that send jobs overseas, and refusing to reauthorize county timber payments that are so critical to our rural economy.

While Senator Ron Wyden and the rest of Oregon's Democratic delegation have fought hard, Senator Smith has been ineffective at recruiting support within his own party for Oregon's priorities and righting the wrongs of the Bush Administration.

Jeff Merkley has plans to change Washington D.C. by putting people before the powerful special interests.

* Merkley's plan to lower gas prices, relieve pain for consumers, end American dependence on foreign oil.

Jeff Merkley will fight to lower gas prices by ending excessive speculation of oil prices, increasing domestic supply, and making a major investment in renewable energy.

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 Wall Street speculation of oil companies[2].

Last month Gordon Smith sided with Wall Street speculators and against lower gas prices, standing with Republicans to kill legislation that would have closed the "London Loophole," which allows U.S.-based trading of American commodities on nominally foreign markets that are not subject to American regulation. Speculators have used this loophole to evade accountability and oversight, driving up the price of oil in order to profit off American consumers.

* Merkley's Grow Oregon plan to create jobs, cut taxes, improve quality of life in rural communities across the state.

Merkley's Grow Oregon plan will work to ensure that young people have opportunities to remain in their communities, raise a family, and enjoy a good quality life in rural Oregon.

By ending unfair trade agreements, investing in new transportation and water infrastructure, ensuring access to technology, and fostering entrepreneurship, we can ensure that Oregon's natural resource industries thrive.

Merkley will also work to cut taxes for farmers, ranchers, fishermen and loggers, and spur investment in biofuels and renewable energy, creating good-paying jobs across rural Oregon.

Through a crack down on the meth epidemic that is draining rural economies and by supporting new efforts to make health care more affordable and accessible for families and businesses, Merkley's plan will improve quality of life in rural communities.

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[1] Based on monthly averages for Oregon gas prices from the Oregon Department of Transportation and AAA and fuel efficiency averages from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Statistics.

[2] Center for Responsive Politics, Senate vote #69, 4/2/98; Senate vote #456, 11/21/03; Senate vote #67, 4/7/04; Senate vote #331, 11/17/05, Senate vote # 184, 7/25/08

Posted August 12, 2008
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