NRSC releases new ad with Merkley back in the trees

The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a familiar ad Monday accusing Merkley of passing legislation to cut timber jobs and raise taxes.

The ad looks a lot like an NRSC ad released last week, and begins by accusing Merkley of “not being able to see the forest for the trees.” It then focuses on the timber industry, and accuses Merkley of working in the Oregon State House to cut timber jobs in 2003.

“Eighty-five thousand people in Oregon are employed in the forest and timber industries,” the ad says. “But Jeff Merkley voted against a plan to create timber jobs.”

The ad sounds a lot like another advertisement the NRSC released Tuesday. That ad also accuses Merkley of not being able to see the forest for the trees and cites the exact same tax hikes that the latest ad cites, including votes for higher income taxes, business taxes and property taxes.

The only difference between the two ads is that, instead of cutting timber jobs, the earlier ad accused Merkley of supporting a gas tax. It was quickly pointed out by the Merkley campaign that the gas tax enjoyed a broad range of support from both parties, as well as business interests.

Calls to Merkley’s campaign were not immediately returned.

EARLIER on PolitickerOR.com: NRSC releases new ad accusing Merkley of tax hikes