Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden team up to fight for lower gas prices (video)

Posted by Ben DuPree on August 8, 2008

As Sarah described well below, this past Wednesday in Eugene and Portland, Speaker Jeff Merkley and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden teamed up to lay out their plan for lowering gas prices. They talked about making America energy independent, establishing a high priority for sustainable, renewable resource technology, and to describe the sort of leadership we need in Washington D.C. to get it done.

Ron said it really well: he needs some new allies in this fight, and both America and Oregon need leaders like Jeff to get it done.

Here's the video from the event:

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Jeff Merkley Takes His 100 Towns for Change Tour to Southern Oregon!

Posted by Ben DuPree on August 7, 2008

U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley is bringing his 100 Towns for Change tour to Southern Oregon!

Starting on Tuesday, August 12, Jeff will begin his tour of Southern Oregon! He'll begin by meeting community members in Oakridge before heading over to a town hall in Chiloquin. He'll finish the day with a stop over in Klamath Falls. On Wednesday, he'll go to Jacksonville and Ashland before going to Medford for a Health Care Leaders Round Table and a veteran's rally. On Thursday Jeff will start off in Rogue River and Central Point before attending the Josephina County Fair in Grants Pass. He'll finish the tour by meeting with local business owners in Canyonville.

Please check out the specific locations below.

Oregon families are ready to change the direction of America by changing the priorities in Washington D.C. and putting Oregonians before the powerful special interests. And people are taking notice.

For too long politicians like George Bush and Gordon Smith have served only the lobbyists and most powerful special interests, ignoring the needs of hardworking families in every corner of the state. Jeff is committed to putting Oregonians first again.

Read more and discuss: Jeff Merkley Takes His 100 Towns for Change Tour to Southern Oregon!

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Merkley and Wyden Call for Action to Lower Gas Prices

Posted by Sarah Lane on August 6, 2008

Today House Speaker Jeff Merkley joined Senator Ron Wyden in calling for real action to lower gas prices. There was no better place to address the high cost of energy prices than a gas station right here in Portland Oregon. The cost of gasoline is hovering around $4 a gallon and working families are feeling the pain at the pump.

Senator Wyden wasted no time in addressing our energy crisis. Here's what Wyden had to say about Jeff's leadership on energy issues:

"I think folks here at home know that I have been trying to change our flawed, ill advised energy policy for a long time. On issue after issue, we have seen filibusters in the United States Senate. One of the reasons I wanted to come today is because I want you to help send Jeff Merkley to the United States Senate so we can get a new energy policy. We have a lot of tough fights ahead and we're going to have to take on the some of the biggest lobbies, and some of the most powerful interests in the country to bring about change. A lot of people talk about change but Jeff has actually been able to bring about change. There's one reason why Oregon is on its way to being the greenest state in the country, the Saudi Arabia of renewables, and that's because Jeff Merkley our next Senator, led the fight for renewables in the Oregon legislature."

After a rousing speech by Wyden, Jeff Merkley praised Wyden's leadership on energy issues in the Senate. Here's what he had to say:

Senator Wyden has done a spectacular job both on the energy and natural resources committee and on the floor of the Senate. Fighting for a smart energy future for America, an energy future that serves our foreign policy and that serves our national security. Fighting for an energy future that creates a good foundation for our economy and an energy future that is simply right for the environment. Unfortunately, Senator Wyden's leadership and his votes have so often been canceled out by Gordon Smith who has a very different view of the world.

Jeff is right, Gordon Smith has a very different view of the world and a different view on energy issues. Both Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have consistently supported investing in renewables rather than giving tax breaks to big oil companies. Gordon Smith has supported 18 billion in tax breaks for big oil. Where has that taken us? Not far considering the high price of gasoline these days. Jeff went on to talk about steps we need to take to lower gas prices:

I will team up with Senator Wyden to close the London loophole and stop speculation in oil. We will increase production by utilizing the strategic petroleum reserve, creating use it or lose it provisions on the 68 million acres of leases that the oil companies already have control of. We need to keep Alaska oil for America and not ship it overseas. We need to end our dependence on foreign oil by accelerating investments in new renewable fuel technologies. There are four automakers who are planning by 2010 to have plug in hybrids.Those are hybrid cars that you can plug in and charge up overnight. We need to make those cars affordable for ordinary families. We need to have a huge transition in the way we consume fuel in this nation, in domestic passenger transportation.

Here are a few pictures from the event......

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Jeff takes his 100 Towns tour to North Plains, Forest Grove, and Hillsboro in Washington County

Posted by Ben DuPree on August 5, 2008

After Jeff stops off in Eastern Oregon this Friday and Saturday on his 100 Towns for Change tour, he will visit three towns in Washington County on Sunday!

Jeff will be in North Plains, Forest Grove, and Hillsboro, bringing his campaign for change to the people of Washington County. Here are the details -- hope to see you out there!

Sunday, August 10

NOON
North Plains
Elephant Garlic Festival
Jessie Mays Community Center
30955 NW Hillcrest

1:15 pm
Forest Grove
Maggie's Buns
2007 21st Avenue
Main Street Walk with Small Business Owners

2:45pm
Hillsboro
Washington County Democrats Picnic
Rood Bridge Park
4000 SE Rood Bridge Rd

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Jeff Merkley in Yamhill County!

Posted by Ben DuPree on August 5, 2008

This past weekend, Jeff took his 100 Towns for Change tour to scenic Yamhill County. Rolling hills with countless crops and vineyards, charming towns, and stories galore: Yamhill county was a series of fantastic stops as Jeff takes his campaign for change across Oregon.

We began the weekend in Amity, where we met with community members and enjoyed breakfast at Barb's Only Place. The owner, Barb Rowland, told us that she has run restaurants in Oregon, Alaska, and Minnesota over her 60-year career! Here's a picture of Jeff and Barb, and a picture of Jeff next to an Amity landmark:

Next, we traveled to Willamina, where we joined Senate District 12 nominee Kevin Nortness and House District 23 nominee Jason Brown on a main street walk of the town. Jeff had the opportunity to meet and greet with local business owners and residents, talking with them about how we can put Oregon and our nation back on track. Here are pictures from our stop -- Jeff greeting residents at Fat Cat Coffee and Jeff with Jason Brown.

We then jumped back in the car and went over to the Yamhill County Fair in McMinville. The turnout was great, and Jeff got to speak with people from all walks of life who came out to enjoy the fair. It was a special surprise when we came across representatives from Habtat for Humanity -- consider Jeff once ran Habitat in Portland, they had a lot to talk about! Here's are two great pictures from our stop off at the Fair:

We ended the day with stops in Lafayette and Dundee. In Lafayette, Jeff spoke at a picnic with the Yamhill County Democrats and County Commissioner candidate Kris Bledsoe. Jeff spoke about health care, ending the war in Iraq, and getting our nation back on track. Check out highlights of his talk by clicking here. Also, Jeff's longtime friend Raelene Fendall stopped by the event and was happy to share why she switched from a Republican to a Democrat to support Jeff, and how he's a man of integrity -- click here to watch what she had to say.

We closed out Saturday in Dundee, as Jeff met with members from their City Council and joined them on a main street walk to visit local business owners. Here are some great shots from both of these events:

Sunday saw us back in the saddle, returning to Yamhill County to continue our tour of this beautiful region. We began the day in Newberg, where Jeff and I attended worship at the Joyful Servant Lutheran Church. The ceremony was beautiful -- Pastor Tom Struck delivered a powerful sermon on hunger and on what we can do in our everyday lives to help end world hunger. Afterward, Jeff toured the as-yet-uncompleted new sanctuary and spoke to the congregation's members.

Next, we hit the road for Carlton, where Jeff met up with House District 24 nominee Al Hansen. Jeff and Al toured downtown Carlton, where they met with local supporters and visited with local wine growers to talk about the positive impact of Measure 49.

Jeff then rode over to the city of Yamhill and visited with local activists in Beaulah Park. The group had a lively discussion about the environment, and especially how what has worked here in Oregon can be applied on a federal level once Jeff reaches Washington D.C. Furthermore, Jeff and the group discussed the disastrous state of health care and what can be done to get our nation's health care back on track. Here are some pictures from the gathering:

Finally, we ended our tour of Yamhill County in Dayton, where we rode into the heart of wine country for a meet and greet at the Methven Family Viineyards with the members of Oregon Small Business for Responsible Leadership, a group which has endorsed Jeff's candidacy. Joined by Kurt Schrader, Jeff spoke to the group and layed out his agenda for bringing the change we need to Washington D.C. Here are some shots of the beautiful countryside around the Methven Family Vineyards:

In all, it was an eventful, whirlwind weekend through one of the best and most colorful pieces of Oregon.

Discuss: Jeff Merkley in Yamhill County!

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Merkley Announces Additional Stops on 100 Towns for Change Tour

Posted by Ben DuPree on August 4, 2008

Will Travel to 7 Towns in Eastern Oregon and the Gorge Next Weekend

In towns across Oregon, families are ready to change the direction of America by changing the priorities in Washington D.C. and putting Oregonians before the powerful special interests.

Because real change in Washington D.C. begins in Oregon, House Speaker Jeff Merkley, candidate for U.S. Senate, will travel to 100 towns across the state. Starting in the timber town where he was born, Merkley will meet with hardworking families struggling to pay the bills, workers worried about their jobs being outsourced overseas, and business owners squeezed by skyrocketing health care costs.

Merkley will continue his 100 Towns for Change Tour next week, visiting seven towns in Eastern Oregon and the Gorge on Friday, August 8th and Saturday, August 9th.

* Friday, August 8th, Merkley will head to Hermiston, Pendleton, and Baker City.
* Saturday, August 9th, Merkley will be in La Grande, Arlington, Condon, and The Dalles.

For too long politicians like George Bush and Gordon Smith have served only the lobbyists and most powerful special interests, ignoring the needs of hardworking families in every corner of the state.

Born in rural Oregon and the first in his family to go to college, Merkley has spent his life fighting the special interests to create real opportunity for hardworking families and delivering for communities across the state.

All events are open to the public. Members of the press are also invited to attend.

For more information, please contact Mike Westling at (503) 274-4439 or mike@jeffmerkley.com.

Friday, August 8

3:30 pm
Hermiston
Umatilla County Fairgrounds
515 W. Orchard Ave.

5:00 pm
Pendleton
Stetson's Steakhouse (Banquet Room)
103 SE Court Ave
Conversation with community members about global warming and energy security

7:00 pm
Baker City
Sunridge Inn
1 Sunridge Ln.
Meeting with Community Members About Rising Gas Prices
Note: Media should arrive at 6:50 pm for availability with Speaker Merkley

Saturday, August 9

9:00 am
La Grande
1203 Adams Ave.
Union County Democtats Office Opening

10:00 am
La Grande Farmers' Market
Max Square, 4th & Adams

1:30 pm
Arlington
Village Inn
400 Beech St.
Meeting with Community Members About Health Care

3:30 pm
Condon
City Park, Main St.
Town Picnic

7:00 pm
The Dalles
Wasco County Democrats Office
508 Washington Street
Hot Dog Feed

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John Kroger in Redmond Oregon

Posted by Sarah Lane on August 1, 2008

John Kroger who is currently running to become Oregon's next Attorney General, is a strong supporter of Jeff Merkley. John Kroger won the Democratic and Republican nomination for Attorney General back in the May 20th primary. Here's a great picture of Kroger holding a Merkley sign during a visit to Redmond, Oregon.

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Jeff on the Peter B. Collins Show

Posted by Ben DuPree on August 1, 2008

Jeff stopped by the Peter B. Collins show on Thursday, July 31. He and Peter talked about Jeff's thoughts on ending the Iraq War, achieving energy independence, caring for our veterans, college education, and protecting our children and families.

Click below to listen!

Part one of two:

Part two of two:

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Jeff on the Jayne Carroll Show

Posted by Ben DuPree on July 31, 2008

Jeff was on the Jayne Carroll show on Thursday, July 31. He talked about his background, work with Habitat for Humanity to give struggling families a hand up, how he's the true fiscal conservative in the Senate race, and how Gordon Smith is running away from his record as a Republican and conservative.

To listen, click below:

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Back to where it all began

Posted by Mike Westling on July 31, 2008

Jeff began the day in at the Viking Restaurant at Junction City, where he met with Rep. Chris Edwards and several members of the community to drink coffee and share thoughts on health care, education, and the Iraq War. If you’re near Junction City on August 7-10, you should head over to the annual Scandinavian Festival to enjoy food, crafts, and the Scandia Run.

Jeff made a stop at Wind-up Bird Coffee House in Coburg with Rep. Phil Barnhart. After a chat about health care and the war in Iraq over lunch, Jeff and Rep. Barnhart walked the main street and visited a few local businesses.

To cap off the day, Jeff returned to the place where he made his first campaign stop a year ago, the Benton County Fair. There were some rides, lots of food, and plenty of 4H members showing the animals they had worked months to train. Jeff spoke to fairgoers outside the very active Benton County Democrats booth.

On Friday, Jeff will be in Tillamook for a meeting with local Democrats at the Tillamook County Democratic Headquarters located at 112 Main St. in Tillamook at 3:00pm. Be sure to stop by if you can!

Keep checking the Web site for updates on Jeff’s visits to Yamhill County, Eastern Oregon, and Southern Oregon.

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100 Towns Tour for Change
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