Jeff Merkley is Coming to a Town Near You!!!

Posted by Sarah Lane on June 12, 2008
100 Towns Tour for Change

The Merkley Campaign started the day off with a bang. Jeff announced his huge 100 town tour all across the state of Oregon. Make sure to check back in at the website for tour updates, videos and pictures from who knows...maybe it will be your town!

Earlier today, I drove over to East Multnomah County to catch the announcement of the, "100 Towns for Change Tour." Jeff picked the perfect spot to announce the tour, right in the driveway of his family home. His wife Mary, who is a nurse and mom to their two young kids, was also on hand at the event. The event was filled with Jeff's neighbors and supporters with their kids in tow, holding signs and wearing Merkley buttons.

After Jeff announced the state-wide tour he wasted no time in talking about the issues we Oregonians care about. Here's a snippet from his speech at the announcement:

This race can help put our nation back on track and do great things for the citizens of Oregon. Whether you're in Milwaukie or you're in Madras or in Medford or over in Lincoln city on the coast or Baker city in eastern Oregon, what you know is that when you go to the gas pump you're paying more than $4 a gallon and that's outrageous. You know that when it comes to housing, housing has increased dramatically in cost in the last ten years. You know that when it comes to health care you're facing double digit increases every single year and perhaps your employer has eliminated your health care or your co-pays have gone up. If you have health care you're worried about losing it and if you don't have it you're worried about getting sick.

You know that things are not right when the only thing that is not going up is your income. We have had a flat standard of living for 30 years for 80% of Oregonians, and now we're looking at possible declines in that standard of living as the cost of everything goes up while salary is the same. People in communities throughout this state, they are seeing their living wage jobs with benefits go overseas and being replaced by service jobs. There is nothing.... nothing that impacts a family as much as having a good job as the foundation for the success of a thriving family.

Jeff gets it. Jeff understands that working families are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of gas. Jeff understands how hard it is for Oregonians to have to work two jobs just to make ends meet. Jeff understands that the rising cost of health care premiums are just too much for some Oregon families to be able to pay every month. Jeff understands that a good paying job is at the heart of the American dream. That's the kind of Senator we deserve representing us in Oregon, someone who is in touch with the problems we face.

This Saturday Jeff will be heading to Mrytle Creek, the town where he was born. After Myrtle Creek, he'll be heading to Roseburg, Sutherlin, Cottage Grove, and Creswell. On Sunday, Jeff will be visiting Fairview, Troutdale, Boring, Sandy and Estacada. Keep checking our website for updates, pictures and videos about Jeff's visits all across the state of Oregon.

Do you want Jeff to come to your town? Do you want Jeff to come to your favorite restaurant? Where is the best place to get an ice cream cone in your town? Feel free to post your suggestions and your ideas about where Jeff should head next. Post a comment here on the blog about your favorite places and your favorite towns in Oregon. We'd love to hear from you!