Freedom’s Watch releases new ad accusing Merkley of cutting funds for seniors

Another national  group weighed in on Oregon’s Senate race Tuesday when it released an ad accusing Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) of cutting funds that would support home care for seniors.

The ad is paid for by Freedom’s Watch, a national group that says it is dedicated toward “advancing a conservative agenda and market-based solutions to pressing domestic problems.” The group says in its ad that during Merkley’s reign as Speaker of the House, the budget for home care for seniors decreased.

“For the oldest Oregonians, living at home every day brings its own challenges. But compassionate homecare makes it easier. Who could have ever opposed it? Jeff Merkley,” the ad says.

But Merkley’s campaign was quick to hit back, saying that the ad, as well as an ad U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith’s (R-Pendleton) campaign released August 25, was incorrect.

Freedom’s Watch did not return calls for comment, but according to a release the Smith campaign sent out with its ad accusing Merkley of reducing senior aid, Merkley cut $4 million in funding for Oregon Project Independence. That same figure was cited in the Freedom’s Watch ad. According to Smith spokeswoman Lindsay Gilbride, the $4 million figure comes from the dollar figure requested by Gov. Ted Kulongoski for the project.

But according to the Merkley campaign, despite not allocating all the funds Kulongoski requested, spending for Oregon Project Independence still increased by $1 million while he was Speaker of the House. In total, the campaign says spending on seniors increased $365 million during Merkley’s tenure.

“This is a completely false claim,” Merkley spokesman Matt Canter said of the Freedom’s Watch ad.