The Merkley Campaign just released a new ad addressing the problem of unfair trade deals and tax policies that pad the pockets of the big corporations while leaving American workers behind. More below the fold....
Full disclosure, I am the netroots director for OR-Sen candidate Jeff Merkley
First things first, check out the new ad:
Oregon Senate candidate Jeff Merkley is a supporter of fair trade deals, unlike his opponent Republican Gordon Smith. Gordon Smith supports CAFTA, NAFTA and free trade deals with Chile, Peru, Oman, and voted to support fast track authority. When it comes to unfair trade deals that have resulted in millions of American jobs lost - over 70,000 manufacturing jobs in Oregon alone - Jeff Merkley and Gordon Smith couldn't be more different on the issue.
Jeff Merkley on Unfair Trade and Tax Policies
Jeff Merkley believes we need to make serious reforms to existing trade agreements and will oppose any future trade deals modeled after NAFTA. Jeff supports fair trade deals with enforceable environmental and labor regulations. Jeff Merkley opposes fast track authority given to Bush and future Presidents without proper congressional oversight.
When Jeff is elected to the Senate, he plans to work with Senator Feingold to strengthen the Buy American Act. Here are a few things Merkley would like to do to strengthen the Buy American Act:
• Prevent federal agencies from waiving the BAA in the "public interest" after a request for proposals has been publicized.
• Alter the "unreasonable cost" waiver to grant domestic or sole domestic source bidders preferred status when their bids are considerably similar to foreign competitors.
• Require federal agencies to analyze and report the difference in cost of obtaining certain foreign versus domestic goods, including shipping costs, prior to invoking any waiver.
• Command federal agencies to determine whether domestic production could be started up to meet agency needs and whether there are comparable items accessible and obtainable from domestic sources before invoking any waiver.
• Mandate goods to be at least 75 percent American-made to be eligible under the BAA – an increase from the current 50 percent.
If you'd like to read more about Jeff's plans to encourage job creation here at home, go here.
Republican Gordon Smith supports the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, supports tax breaks for big oil and was the man behind the repatriation amendment to the JOBS Act. Thanks to Smith, drug companies repatriated 100 billion in foreign profits while paying little in taxes and actually cutting jobs here at home.
Jeff Merkley otoh, believes that the middle class deserves tax relief and not the big corporations who ship jobs overseas. Jeff Merkley is dedicated to closing the tax loophole that allows corporations to shelter their assets in offshore accounts. It's time they pay their fair share like hardworking Americans do. Here are a few things Jeff plans to do to help ease the tax burden on the middle class:
Jeff Merkley will work with Senator Barack Obama to provide real relief for middle class families. Merkley will support Obama’s "Making Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family – cutting taxes for 95 percent of workers and their families. This plan will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans and eliminate income taxes entirely for seniors making less than $50,000.
This refundable income tax credit will offset the payroll tax on the first $8,100 of earnings, but maintain dedicated revenue for Social Security. The tax credit will also provide targeted relief to self-employed small business owners who are forced to pay both the payroll tax on employees and employers.
With two children of his own, Jeff Merkley knows just how difficult it can be to find and afford quality care for children. As parents feel the squeeze of a contracting economy, quality child care is increasingly important. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) was designed to help working families afford the cost of child care. As Oregon's U.S. Senator, Merkley will help families pay for rising child care costs by doubling the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.
While millions of Americans are struggling to get by and living on unemployment checks, big corporations are getting the royal treatment. We need to send Democrats like Jeff Merkley to the Senate if we want to see our trade and tax policies changed. Obama will need a working majority in the Senate if we want to see any real reforms enacted. Please consider donating to the Kossacks for Merkley Act Blue Page, and let's elect a progressive Democrat to the Senate!