Democratic Party of Oregon

232 NE 9th Ave.

Portland, OR 97232

(503) 224-8200

www.oregondemocrats.org

For Immediate Release                                                             Contact: Marc Siegel

Monday, May 5, 2008                                                               Phone: 503-239-8641

 As Part Of Statewide Protests, Oregonians In Smith’s Hometown Protest His Corporate Sponsored Opposition To Climate Change BillGordon Smith has become a vending machine for votes. Special interests insert money and Gordon Smith produces any vote they want. Portland – Following earlier protests in Eugene and Medford, Oregonians in Pendleton, U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith’s (R-OR) hometown, demanded that Smith stand up to his corporate donors and stop opposing important climate change legislation.  “Oregon cannot afford to have a senator whose special interest contributors have bought his opposition to fixing climate change,” said Ben Talley, Pendleton area organizer for the Stop Gordon Smith Campaign. “We can’t let Gordon Smith get away with serving the corporate interests rather than the people’s interests.”   “Why doesn’t Gordon Smith think Climate Change is a problem?  Because he’s paid to ignore this crisis,” Talley said. “Smith has taken millions from Big Oil and other special interests who control his votes. In return, Smith has voted twice to keep $5 billion in tax breaks for Big Oil and oppose important climate change legislation.” Smith’s donors have bought his opposition to the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. Oregon’s other U.S. Senator, Democrat Ron Wyden, is a co-sponsor of the bill to combat climate change and the bill has bi-partisan support.  But Smith won't support this important legislation. Smith has taken millions of dollars from the special interests who oppose this legislation, including hundreds of thousands from Big Oil. For more information on how special interests control Smith’s votes, click here. The bill would be an important step in combating climate change. It would cap greenhouse emissions and make appliances and buildings more energy efficient, according to The Register-Guard.(The Register-Guard Editorial, 2-28-08)  The Eugene, Medford and Pendleton protests were held outside Smith’s offices. They were organized by the Stop Gordon Smith Campaign.  ###  Paid for by the Democratic Party of Oregon.Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.232 NE 9th Ave.Portland, OR 97232www.oregondemocrats.org