2008 OR Senate Debate: on Budget & Economy


Gordon Harold Smith: Supports bailout as BETTER regulation, not MORE regulation

Merkley reiterated his opposition to the $700 billion bailout even after the rebound on Wall Street Monday, saying he wanted to see more oversight over federal regulatory branches. “This bill was poorly done,” he said.

Smith said he wasn’t for either more or less regulation, but better regulation in general and said he supported the bailout also because it included a four-year reauthorization of the county payments program.

Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate, in Southern Ore. Mail Tribune Oct 14, 2008

Jeff Merkley: Oppose bailout bill; more oversight needed

Merkley reiterated his opposition to the $700 billion bailout even after the rebound on Wall Street Monday, saying he wanted to see more oversight over federal regulatory branches. “This bill was poorly done,” he said.

Smith said he wasn’t for either more or less regulation, but better regulation in general and said he supported the bailout also because it included a four-year reauthorization of the county payments program.

Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate, in Southern Ore. Mail Tribune Oct 14, 2008

Gordon Harold Smith: Stabilize the monster that is devouring Wall Street

The two addressed the Wall Street bailout. “The bill that Gordon Smith voted for last week... it is a blank check. A $700-million blank check to the biggest titans on Wall Street. It doesn’t address the core issues,” Merkley said.

“Stabilize the monster that is devouring Wall Street... before it gets to your street. That’s the kind of action that is called for right now,” said Smith.

Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported by AP on KGW Oct 10, 2008

Jeff Merkley: Bailout bill is a $700-million blank check

The two addressed the Wall Street bailout. “The bill that Gordon Smith voted for last week... it is a blank check. A $700-million blank check to the biggest titans on Wall Street. It doesn’t address the core issues,” Merkley said.

“Stabilize the monster that is devouring Wall Street... before it gets to your street. That’s the kind of action that is called for right now,” said Smith.

Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported by AP on KGW Oct 10, 2008

Gordon Harold Smith: Supports government help for people facing foreclosure

Merkley hung the blame for the economic crisis on Smith’s shoulders. “Do you understand that our children are going to have to pay back the debt you are running up?” he asked. Merkley blamed deregulation supported by Republicans such as Smith.

For his part, Smith argued that Merkley was out of touch in his choice to oppose the recently approved $700 billion bailout package.

Both candidates said they supported government help for those people facing foreclosure.

Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported by AP on KATU Oct 9, 2008

Jeff Merkley: Our children have to repay debt from deregulated Wall Street

Merkley hung the blame for the economic crisis on Smith’s shoulders. “Do you understand that our children are going to have to pay back the debt you are running up?” he asked. Merkley blamed deregulation supported by Republicans such as Smith.

For his part, Smith argued that Merkley was out of touch in his choice to oppose the recently approved $700 billion bailout package.

Both candidates said they supported government help for those people facing foreclosure.

Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported by AP on KATU Oct 9, 2008

  • The above quotations are from 2008 Oregon Senate Debate between Gordon Smith and Jeff Merkley.
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Candidates and political leaders on Budget & Economy:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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