Battle of the Ads: Tax Cuts

U.S Senator Gordon Smith’s (R-Pendleton) campaign released a new television ad on Tuesday disparaging Oregon House Speaker and U.S Senate candidate Jeff Merkley’s (D-Portland) voting record on tax increases in the state House. On Wednesday the Oregon Democratic Party hit back with a new ad of its own disparaging Smith’s record on voting for tax increases in the U.S Senate.

The Smith ad accuses Merkley of voting for higher taxes 44 times during his tenure in the state House, including two of the highest tax increases in the history of the state, as well as tax increases that affected senior citizens.

The commercial ends with, “Jeff Merkley wrong on taxes, bad for the economy,” and includes four votes Merkley cast to increase gas taxes, although it fails to mention that all four votes were cast for the same bill.

Democratic Party officials responded to the new ad by releasing a new online video accusing Smith of voting against tax cuts for things like college tuition and renewable energy, and instead voting for President Bush’s tax cut that went toward more wealthy voters.

“For years Gordon Smith and George Bush have delivered tax cuts for Big Oil and opposed middle class tax cuts for Oregon’s working families,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. “Now, Gordon Smith runs the most negative campaign in the country and distorts Jeff Merkley’s record. Jeff Merkley led the fight for tax relief for working families and restored fiscal responsibility in Salem. “

See Smith's television ad here.

See the Oregon Democratic Party's response here.