August 5, 2008 - 11:10am
Merkley campaign responds to Smith ad
By Britten ChaseDemocratic U.S. Sen. candidate Jeff Merkley’s campaign responded to Senator Gordon Smith’s (R-Pendleton) ad released Monday accusing the Oregon Legislature, and Speaker of the House Merkley in particular, of spending excessively on a remodel done to the State Capitol in Salem.
“Smith is spending millions of dollars on this advertisement, and the capitol renovation came in under budget and on time,” Merkley spokesman Matt Canter said, saying that by the time the final couch was in place, the entire project cost four million less than had been anticipated.
Canter said that Smith had plenty of fiscal irresponsibility in his own record, including his vote approving the construction of the Capitol Hill Visitor Center in Washington D.C. According to Canter, that project is running late and $350 million over budget.
Canter also pointed out that Smith approved money for Alaska’s infamous “Bridge to Nowhere,” which was proposed by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who was indicted last week on charges for concealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts.
“Senator Smith will do anything to distract voters from his record,” Merkley spokesman Matt Canter said. “His record includes driving the nation into nine trillion dollar debt, traveling to 20 foreign countries on the taxpayer dime, and approving every boondoggle of the Bush administration.”
EARLIER on PolitickerOR.com: Smith releases new TV ad
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Quote of the Day
October 9, 2008
"It is a mistake for a state to put all of its political future in the hands of one political party. Oregon could be on the verge of doing that."
- U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R), during his endorsement meeting with The Oregonian, on the Democratic Party's dominance in state politics.
-The Oregonian
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Matt, that's no excuse.
Is this the best defense the Merkley campaign can come up with? 'Sure the Speaker wasted money, but so does Smith.'
Coming in "under budget" is meaningless if the original budget or the final outcome evidences waste.
Merkley burned through so much money in the Primary, he needed the DSCC to bail him out. If he makes it to the Senate, it'll be the rest of us paying for his irresponsibility.
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