Oregon Dems release ad for Merkley

Jeff Merkley is the star of an ad released Wednesday by the Oregon Democratic Party.

"Something is seriously wrong in Washington D.C," Merkley says in a voice-over at the beginning of the ad, though he may have meant to say something was seriously wrong in Washington D.C, because the issues he refers to happened on Capitol Hill as long as five years go.

One was a May 2003 vote to give congressional members a $4,400 pay raise. U.S Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) and Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) approved of the measure, while Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland), Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield), Darlene Hooly (D-West Linn), and David Wu (D-Portland) opposed it.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Portland) also opposed it, along with two thought-to-be moderate Republican senators, Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.).

The ad then goes on to look at a November 2005 vote that would have extended a tax credit to troops receiving combat pay. Sen. Wyden voted for the proposal, Sen. Smith against it.

"Our troops have done everything we ask with distinction," Merkley says in the ad. "We need to start giving them the respect they deserve."

Smith's office responded that Smith has, in fact, brought about tax relief for American military members.

"Sen. Smith worked with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to deliver tax relief to the men and women of our nation's armed services," Smith campaign spokewoman Lindsay Gilbride said. "Their legislation recently became law as part of the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act."

The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act, sponsored by U.S Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y), was unanimously approved by the House and Senate, and became law on June 17, 2008.

Watch the ad here.