NRSC released new ad accusing Merkley of tax hikes, job losses

The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a new ad Tuesday accusing Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) of voting to raise taxes on everything from fuel to income to small business.

The ad goes on to say that Merkley’s support of gas taxes, income taxes, property taxes, and his vote against the kicker tax refund ended up killing jobs in the Beaver State, which lost 7,400 jobs in August alone.

"Oregon's economy is hurting and gas prices are out of control," the ad says. "But Jeff Merkley can't see the forest for the trees."

But Merkley spokesman Matt Canter said that the ad was only knocking legislation that Smith’s fellow Oregon Republicans stood by.

“Gordon Smith is taking a shot at Kevin Mannix and his other Republican friends that supported the gas tax,” Canter said, noting that more Republicans supported the measure than opposed it. “That was supported by Democrats, Republicans, business groups, and others as a way to rebuild infrastructure. Mr. Bipartisan is slamming bipartisan achievements in Oregon to win an election.”

NRSC spokesman John Randall said that Merkley was simply avoiding the stance he took by trying to pin blame on others. 

"It's ironic that we accuse him of raising the gas tax four times, and he points out one instance where others said it was ok," Randall said. "It's not even a denial."

Canter went on to say that gas prices were high because of Smith’s actions in Washington D.C., not Merkley’s actions in Salem.

“Our gas prices are high because of policies of George W. Bush and Gordon Smith" Canter said. "They’ve been towing the line of the oil companies for the past eight years.”

But Randall said that the Democratic Party could also be blamed for not solving the nation's energy crisis.

"You have one party that is trying to solve this energy problem," Randall said. "You have another party that voted to take a five week vacation when gas prices were at an all time night. That is Jeff Merkley's party."