Says Smith is “Election-Year Environmentalist” Who Has Voted to Protect Tax Breaks for Big Oil, Against Fuel Efficiency and Global Warming Solutions
Portland—Environment Oregon, the state’s largest environmental organization, with 35,000 members and activists, announced today that the organization has endorsed Jeff Merkley in the race for Oregon’s U.S. Senate seat. The organization cited his plans for dealing with our energy crisis, ending America’s dependence on foreign oil, and curbing global warming, as well as his record of leadership in enacting renewable energy solutions and other environmental protections for Oregonians. By contrast, says the organization, current senator Gordon Smith has voted against energy efficiency and in favor of tax subsidies for oil companies and drilling in pristine areas.
“Jeff Merkley has been a consistent and effective leader, producing real results that are moving Oregon toward energy independence and getting us off fossil fuels,” said Jeremiah Baumann, program director for Environment Oregon. “Oregonians are at work today in jobs manufacturing solar energy systems and building wind farms because of policies Jeff Merkley helped put in place.
Environment Oregon pointed to Oregon’s renewable energy standard requiring utilities to generate 25% of Oregon’s electricity from renewable sources by 2025, one of the strongest such standards in the country, and renewable energy tax incentives for Oregon consumers and businesses, both adopted under Merkley’s leadership as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives. These policies are credited with spurring a boost of renewable energy development in Oregon, making Oregon home to the nation’s largest cluster of solar manufacturing companies. Merkley also presided over the adoption of Oregon’s goal of reducing global warming pollution more than 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, one of the strongest goals adopted by any state.
“Just as importantly, he has a bold vision for taking Oregon’s successes to Washington and to delivering the change this country needs,” said Baumann. Merkley supports a national renewable energy standard of 25% by 2025, increased gas mileage standards to put more efficient cars on the roads, and reducing global warming pollution 80% by 2050. “Jeff Merkley is committed to ending our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels and to fully addressing global warming as we put hundreds of thousands of Americans to work building a new renewable energy economy.”
By contrast, Environment Oregon said that current U.S. Senator Gordon Smith has sided with oil companies and automakers, voting against more efficient cars and trucks, against curbing global warming pollution, against cutting subsidies to oil companies, and in favor of drilling for oil off American coasts and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The organization pointed out that Smith tends to reverse positions and vote in favor of environmental protections in election years. In 2002, Smith ran for his last election promising to oppose drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge but voted in favor of drilling after winning re-election. He voted repeatedly against limiting global warming pollution, until this year when he voted to allow debate on a Global Warming bill which many experts believed was inadequate to meet the standards set by scientists.
“Senator Smith brings flip-flopping to a whole new level,” said Baumann. “He voted against fuel-efficient cars before he voted for them, he voted for offshore drilling before he voted against it, he voted against dealing with global warming before he voted for it, and he voted against drilling in the Arctic before he voted for it.”
“We know that the Gordon Smith running for office in Oregon isn’t the Gordon Smith the oil companies are eager to see back in Washington, D.C. The fact is Oregon needs trusted leaders, not an election-year roulette table.”
Last month, Environment Oregon also endorsed Barack Obama for president and Joe Biden for vice president, in coordination with Environment America and its federation of 25 other state environmental organizations, which represent more than 750,000 citizen members and activists nationwide, including 35,000 members and activists involved with Environment Oregon.
Environment Oregon received significant support from its citizen members throughout Oregon, many of whom sent in comments in response to the endorsement decision, including:
“YES!!! Please endorse Obama for President and work HARD for his election. The quality of air my three year old breathes for the rest of her life depends on it!” – Julie W., Portland
“We can’t afford another president who ignores Climate Change and its mandates for immediate action.” –Barbara R., Salem
“He is not in the pocket of the oil companies. He endorses green energy alternatives. He also sees the relationship between green energy and the economy—more green jobs.” – Susan D., Ashland
“He has shown the best long term environmental voting record and appears poised to focus America on a 10 year course correction with energy. The alternative is more of the same with oil and coal, shale oil and atomic energy. That is not a hopeful future.” – Kurt K., Sherwood
Over his career as a U.S. Senator, Obama has voted with Environment Oregon 86 percent of the time, compare to a lifetime voting score of 30 percent by John McCain.
“Environment Oregon is committed to working with our federation of state organizations to mount an aggressive effort to secure a victory for Barack Obama, including one of the biggest independent grassroots campaigns this cycle to register and turn out voters,” stated Baumann.
