Press Releases

Portland - Documents reveal that before Smith Frozen Foods received a bounty of taxpayer money from the Department of Agriculture (USDA), it was reaping additional contracts from the U.S. military.  In fact, as much as 10 percent of the company’s money may have come from the government.

SALEM, Ore. - Jeff Merkley is still struggling to answer why he did not lawfully disclose income from his multiple rental properties for three straight years.  Rep. Charlie Rangel, financier and supporter of Jeff Merkley, is still at the center of a major national political scandal and under investigation for failing to report income from his one rental property.  How will Jeff Merkley explain not reporting earnings from 12 rental units? 

SALEM, Ore. -. Jeff Merkley has been caught again dodging ethics rules.  Following in Rep. Charlie Rangel's footsteps, Jeff Merkley repeatedly failed to disclose rental income he's received from his 12 properties across Oregon.

Thursday, June 12, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Matt Canter, (503) 274-4439

 Merkley Announces 100 Towns for Change

Putting Oregonians Before Special Interests

In towns across Oregon, families are ready to change the direction of America by changing the priorities in Washington D.C.  It is time to put Oregonians before the powerful special interests.

Today House Speaker Jeff Merkley, candidate for U.S. Senate, announced his 100 Town for Change tour.  Born in rural Oregon and the first in his family to go to college, Jeff Merkley comes from a different place than Gordon Smith and fights for very different things.  Merkley has spent his life fighting the special interests to create real opportunity for hardworking families and delivering for communities across the state.

For too long politicians like George Bush and Gordon Smith have served only the lobbyists and most powerful special interests, ignoring the needs of hardworking families in every corner of the state. 

Because real change in Washington D.C. begins in Oregon, Merkley will travel to 100 towns across the state.  Starting in the timber town where he was born, Merkley will meet with hardworking families struggling to pay the bills, workers worried about their jobs being outsourced overseas, and business owners squeezed by skyrocketing health care costs.

From Lincoln City to Baker City, from Milwaukie to Medford, Merkley will travel across Oregon visiting schools, health clinics, factories, and businesses to talk about his plans to create quality jobs; establish universal health care; and make college and technical schools affordable for all families.

In 100 towns across rural and urban Oregon, Merkley will visit 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 can join Merkley on his tour at the campaign's web site, www.jeffmerkley.com.  There people can read the campaign blog and see pictures and video from the 100 Towns for Change tour.

The 100 Towns for Change tour will begin this Saturday in Myrtle Creek, where Merkley was born, and continue in Roseburg, where he spent his early years.  He will meet with local leaders about restoring timber payments to rural communities and talk with workers and small business owners about plans for universal health care.  From there Merkley will travel to Sutherlin, Cottage Grove, and Creswell to meet with families, citizens, veterans, and community leaders about Merkley's plans to change the priorities in Washington D.C.

100 Towns for Change

Town #1:      Myrtle Creek
Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.
Meeting with citizens about the rising cost of health care
Peree's Restaurant & Lounge
335 N. Main St., Myrtle Creek

Town #2:      Roseburg
Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
Downtown Roseburg
Meeting with small business owners and others about high gas prices
Corner of Jackson and Douglas Streets

                        Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 11:45 a.m.
Chi Garden Restaurant Meeting with local leaders and citizens about timber payments and other important economic issues
528 SE Stephens St., Roseburg

Town #3:      Sutherlin
Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.
White Horse Coffee & Tea Co.
Meeting with community members about global warming and energy independence
960 East Central, Sutherlin

Town #4:      Cottage Grove
                        Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 2:15 p.m.
                        Meeting with community members about heath care and                                     education                       
                        Cottage Grove Relief Nursery
                        720 North 14th Street, Cottage Grove

Town #5:      Creswell
Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 3:45 p.m.
Meeting with community leaders about economic development
Los Cabos Mexican Restaurant
106 W. Oregon Ave., Creswell

Town #6:      Fairview
Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
Meeting with community members and activists about creating jobs
Country Inn
1712 Fairview Dr.

 Town #7:      Troutdale
                        Sunday, June 15, 2008 at NOON
                        Meeting with citizens about high gas prices and the local                                      economy
                        Troutdale General Store 289 E Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale

Town #8:      Boring
Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 1:15 p.m.
Meets with community members about climate change and energy independence
Farmers' Market
Hwy 212, between Walley Rd. & Dee St., Boring

Town #9:      Sandy
Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
Holding a town hall meeting on the war in Iraq and a new G.I. Bill for veterans
VFW Post 4273
38452 Proctor Blvd., Sandy

Town #10:    Estacada
Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.
Talking with community members about restoring fiscal responsibility
Scenes & Beans
264 South Broadway, Estacada

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Democratic Party of Oregon

232 NE 9th Ave.

Portland, OR 97232

(503) 224-8200

www.oregondemocrats.org

For Immediate Release Contact: Marc Siegel

June 10, 2008 Phone: 503-239-8641

Oregon Democrats: Obama Economic Tour Highlights Choice Between Third Bush Term and Change America Needs

Portland – As Senator Barack Obama continued a two-week economic tour, Oregon Democrats highlighted the sharp contrast offered in this November’s election.

Senator McCain, who voted with George Bush 95 percent of the time last year, HAS SAID that Americans are better off than they were seven years ago and admitted that he doesn’t understand the economy as well as he should.

Now, McCain is promising to make the Bush tax cuts he once opposed permanent and extend President Bush’s flawed economic policies that have left Oregon’s working families struggling. By contrast, Senator Obama has offered a new direction that will put our economy back to work for Oregon’s working families.

“The choice in this election is a choice between more of the same policies that have widened inequality, added to our debt, and shaken the foundation of our economy, or change that will put Oregon’s working families first,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. “While Senator Obama is offering an agenda for stimulating our economy, cutting middle class taxes, making health care affordable and accessible, and putting college within reach for every American, John McCain is promising four more years of President Bush’s flawed, out of touch agenda.”

JOHN MCCAIN ECHOES BUSH TALKING POINTS ON THE ECONOMY …

April 2008: McCain Says "The Fundamentals of America's Economy are Strong," Americans Better Off Than They Were Eight Years Ago.

"MR. COOK: I'm going to ask you a version of the Ronald Reagan question. You think if Americans were asked, are you better off today than you were before George Bush took office more than seven years ago, what answer would they give?

SEN. MCCAIN: …I think if you look at the overall record and millions of jobs have been created, et cetera, et cetera, you could make an argument that there's been great progress economically over that period of time. But that's no comfort. That's no comfort to families now that are facing these tremendous economic challenges. But let me just add, Peter, the fundamentals of America 's economy are strong. We're the greatest exporter, the greatest importer, the greatest innovator, the greatest producer, still the greatest economic engine in the world. And, by the way, exports and free trade are a key element in economic recovery."

[Bloomberg Money & Politics, 4/17/08: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/04/john_mccain_on_bloomberg_tv.html]

President Bush: “Fundamentals Of Our Nation's Economy Are Strong."

"I say that the fundamentals of our nation's economy are strong. Inflation is down. Job markets are steady and strong. After all, the national unemployment rate is 4.6 percent. Corporate profits appear to be strong. Exports are up. There is no question that there is some unsettling times in the housing market, and credits associated with the housing market. And that's why I look forward to working with Congress to modernize the FHA loans so that people can refinance their homes, and to change the tax code so that if somebody renegotiates a loan they don't have to pay a penalty, a tax penalty, in so doing." [White House News Conference, 9/20/07: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070920-2.html]

…AND PROMISES FOUR MORE YEARS.

Cost of "Four More Years" Budget Placed At $6.3 TRILLION.

A CBO report called "January Budget and Economic Outlook" showed continued deterioration in the budget outlook with the projected 2008 deficit growing to $219 billion. But as bad as the budget situation has become under the current Republican Administration, continuation of the Republican policies by any of the Republicans on stage tonight will only make things worse. The majority staff of the Senate Budget Committee estimates that funding Republican priorities like making the Bush tax cuts permanent and funding ongoing - and perhaps permanent - operations in Iraq will add $6.3 trillion to the CBO's already dismal ten-year predictions. [http://budget.senate.gov/democratic/documents/2008/cbojanupdatefactsheet2008]

Like Bush, McCain Ignores Housing Crisis, Lacks Specific Proposals.

"McCain, in the midst of a weeklong western fundraising swing, focused on the home-financing crisis at an event in the Republican bastion of Orange County as he tried to rebut Democratic criticism of his economic credentials. His pitch, though, offered little in the way of specific proposals to immediately address the crisis."

[AP, 3/25/08]

McCain Voted Against A National Affordable Housing Program.

McCain voted against an amendment that would increase the general estate tax exemption for a couple to $4 million, as well as the family-owned business exemption to $8 million per couple by 2010 and establish a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the production of affordable housing. The amendment would dedicate $5 billion to the trust fund.

[2000 Senate Vote #189, 7/14/2000]

Health Care Costs Skyrocket but McCain's Plan Just Like Bush's.

"Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) has proposed reining in health-care costs, in part by treating the value of employer-sponsored health-care plans as income and providing a $5,000 per family tax credit for those who buy health insurance. He also supports free-market proposals aimed at stoking competition and giving patients more information, which he believes will increase pressure on health providers to control costs." In fact, "President Bush proposed a similar idea" to the tax credits in McCain's plan, which was dead-on-arrival in Congress in early 2007, because the plan only awarded those who purchased insurance in the private market.

[Washington Post, 3/24/08; Wall Street Journal, 10/11/07; Washington Post, 1/25/07]

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Paid for by the Democratic Party of Oregon.

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

232 NE 9th Ave.

Portland, OR 97232

Rep. Deborah Boone Launches Initiative to Improve Coastal and Ocean Resources and the Communities that Depend Upon Them

Trust?

Poll Results

Gordon Smith cancels out Ron Wyden’s good work. That’s the part of Smith's 12-year record Oregonians expect the Republican U.S. Senator to sweep under the rug this campaign season. They declared their feelings in the Stop Gordon Smith Campaign's online poll.

Statement by Governor Ted Kulongoski on Revenue Forecast Salem – “Today’s revenue forecast delivered positive news for the citizens of Oregon.

 SLOW ECONOMIC GROWTH UNACCEPTABLEWeak Economic and Revenue Forecast Calls for Fiscal Restraint

Hillary Clinton’s Reaction to Sen. McCain’s Climate Change Proposal

McCain on the Environment:
Different Issue, Same Double Talk

New Poll Explains Why Gordon Smith is Attacking Jeff Merkley

Democratic Party Calls For Gordon Smith To Take Down Negative Ads

Kroger Repeats Call to Stop LNG Proposals
Kroger applauds new report that documents high costs and environmental damage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Amy Langdon

May 12,2008

503-485-2002 office

503-510-4160 cell

MANNIX RELEASES SENSITIVE EMAIL ON ERICKSON; CALLS INTO QUESTION ERICKSON’S CREDIBILITY

Salem – Kevin Mannix, candidate for Congress, released today an email from a woman who says Mike Erickson provided funds to a young woman and transported her to an abortion clinic where the young woman, whom Erickson impregnated, had an abortion.

“It is unfortunate that I am the one who has to release this information to the public considering others have known for some time,” said Mannix.

“The email is verified and sheds light on the character of Mike Erickson who claims he is pro-life yet he paid for an abortion and left the woman at a clinic,” said Amy Langdon, campaign manager. “It is critical to share this woman’s story with the voters of CD 5 as they make the decision as to who will be the Republican nominee.”

A letter from Mannix and the email is being mailed to fifth congressional district Republican voters who have not yet returned their ballots. [see attached documents]

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Lobbyist-in-Chief?

Do lobbyists and the special interests need more control in Washington, D.C.?

CLINTON CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES OREGON LGBT STEERING COMMITTEE 

Hillary Cites Fight For Universal Health Care As Driving Force Behind CampaignReunites With 22-Year Old Who Hillary Met Through Make A Wish Foundation In 1994

Too LateThe Message Precedes The Man. Before John McCain Hits Oregon, The DPO Has Already Forwarded “His” Voters’ Pamphlet Statement To Oregon Voters.