Jeff Merkley in 2008 OR Senate Debate
On Budget & Economy:
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
On Crime:
Worked hard to get better laws to deal with criminals
On crime, Smith said his opponent has opposed stiffer laws against gang crimes, rapists and child sex offenders. “When I look at Jeff Merkley’s stance on crime, I’m appalled,” he said.Merkley responded, “Shame on you,
Gordon Smith, for portraying that series of lies.” He said Smith took things he said or did out of context, and he affirmed that he has worked hard in the state Legislature to get better laws on the books to deal with criminals.
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate, in Southern Ore. Mail Tribune
Oct 14, 2008
On Environment:
Son of a timber family; will fight for timber payments
Smith noted that he was able to restore federal timber payments to Oregon counties by inserting it in the federal economic bailout bill--a bill Merkley had said he would have opposed.Merkley responded that Smith had never
been able to restore the payments while Republicans controlled the Senate. “We need to have a son of a timber family to fight for timber payments,” said Merkley, who was born in timber-dependent Douglas County and whose father once owned a mill.
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported in Statesman Journal
Oct 14, 2008
On Environment:
Sustainable forest harvest important for economy
Both Smith & Merkley said they wanted to do more to promote timber harvesting as a way to beef up the state’s economy.Smith said 8 billion board feet were harvested during the 1980s, which he thought was too much. As opposed to his opponent,
Smith said he wants to create a timber industry that will offer more jobs.
Merkley said that a sustainable forest harvest is important for the economy. He said that both Bush and Smith have caused the state to lose 12,000 jobs in the timber industry.
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate, in Southern Ore. Mail Tribune
Oct 14, 2008
On Homeland Security:
Be slow to go to war and be fast to take care of veterans
On Iraq, Merkley noted that he was against the war from the start. “I stood up two months before the war and said we should be sending diplomats into Iraq, not bombs,”
Merkley said. “Be slow to go to war and be fast to take care of our sons and daughters when they come home. We got it exactly backwards from the Bush administration.”
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported in Statesman Journal
Oct 14, 2008
On Principles & Values:
Endorsed by Sen. Wyden; I’ll be his partner
Smith made frequent reference to his ability to work both sides of the political aisle. He often cited his ability to work with Sen. Ron Wyden, his Democratic counterpart representing Oregon. He said he also has taken on Bush on several issues over the
years and has worked with Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for president. But Merkley said he has been endorsed by Wyden. “Sen. Wyden needs a partner in Jeff Merkley,” he said. Merkley said Smith has voted with Bush 90% of the time.
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate, in Southern Ore. Mail Tribune
Oct 14, 2008
On Social Security:
Privatization would melt away retirement in stock crash
Merkley said he’s opposed to Smith’s plan to privatize Social Security, which he said would have been a dangerous move considering how hard retirement funds have been hit by the falling stock market. “It would have melted away the way Wall Street has
melted away,” he said.Smith said he encourages Americans to save more as a way to better prepare for retirement and add to the benefits received under Social Security. He took issue with Merkley for suggesting he wanted to do away with Social Security
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate, in Southern Ore. Mail Tribune
Oct 14, 2008
On Budget & Economy:
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
On Budget & Economy:
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
On Tax Reform:
Supports raising taxes on earnings over $250,000 per year
Asked about the Bush tax cuts, in particular how Smith could defend them in light of the current economic crisis, Smith said, “I believe in pro-growth tax cuts.” He said that Oregonians today were paying lower federal taxes because of him, but higher
state taxes because of Merkley’s work in the state Legislature. Merkley addressed Smith directly: “The fact is, Gordon, you’ve voted for taxes 67 times.” Merkley said he would support Obama’s proposed plan to raise taxes on people making more than
$250,000 per year.
Taxes came up again when both candidates were asked whether it was smart to cut taxes during a time when the national debt is growing. Merkley hung the blame 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.
“So what would you have me do?” Smith asked. Much of the money he’s asked for, Smith said, has been because state senators, representatives and others back home have asked him for it.
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported by AP on KATU
Oct 9, 2008
On War & Peace:
Opposed Iraq war from the very beginning, against Party
When the candidates were asked where their stance differs from their own party’s, Merkley mentioned having opposed the Iraq war from the very beginning. When Smith challenged that assertion,
Merkley shot back. “You know about that speech, yet you choose to mislead the citizens of this state,” he said. “We are mired in war. We are mired in debt.”
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported by AP on KATU
Oct 9, 2008
Page last updated: Dec 02, 2018