Jeff Merkley Completes 100 Towns for Change Tour

Like Wyden, Merkley Will Hold Town Hall Meeting in Every County, Every Year

 
Today in Talent, Oregon, Jeff Merkley completes the 100 Towns for Change tour.  Beginning in Myrtle Creek, the timber town where he was born, Jeff Merkley has traveled the state, listening to Oregonians about the challenges our nation faces, and unveiling new plan to change the direction of the country.

In 100 towns, large and small, Jeff Merkley listened to Oregon citizens ready to change the direction of America by changing the priorities in Washington D.C.  In Talent today, Merkley was joined by Senator Jon Tester of Montana, a national leader on rural economic development, to talk about Merkley's Grow Oregon plan to create jobs in rural communities. 

Like Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley has pledged to hold a town hall meeting in every county, every year, making Oregon the first state in the country where citizens have the opportunity to question their leaders without having to make a campaign contribution or fly to Washington D.C.

"Everywhere I go in this state I meet Oregonians who are ready for change," said Jeff Merkley.  "Our country is off track and we need to change direction.  It is time to restore fairness by putting working families before the CEOs."

Yesterday Merkley called on the lame duck session of Congress to deliver tax cuts for working people by moving forward on the first phase of Barack Obama's tax plan, cutting taxes for every working family by $1,000.  Merkley proposes making these tax cuts retroactive for the current tax year, so that families start getting relief after they file their taxes next year.  This will stimulate the economy, but more importantly, it will start to restore fairness and give working families some much needed relief now.

In more than 100 towns Merkley has talked about his plans to put Oregonians before the powerful special interests to create jobs, make health care more affordable, and end our dependence on foreign oil.  Along the way Merkley announced a dozen new policy proposals to create jobs in rural Oregon, fix unfair trade deals and tax policies that ship jobs overseas, invest in renewable energy, put 50,000 more police on the street, and so much more.

From Lincoln City to Baker City, from Milwaukie to Medford, Merkley traveled across Oregon visiting schools, health clinics, factories, and businesses.  Across rural and urban Oregon, Merkley met with doctors, nurses, teachers, students, law enforcement officers, and other community leaders who are ready to change the direction of America by changing the priorities of Washington D.C.

People across Oregon and across the country joined Merkley on his tour at the campaign's web site.  There people could travel with Jeff through the campaign blog and see pictures and video from the 100 Towns for Change tour.

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Posted October 28, 2008
Press