Jeff Merkley on Free Trade

Democratic Senate Challenger; member of State House

Oppose trade agreements that use NAFTA as a model

Jeff opposes the Peru Free Trade Agreement, and other trade agreements that use NAFTA as a model for those very reasons. Imagine for a moment just what would happen if any state in this country suddenly threw out all labor standards --the minimum wage, the right to organize workers, the 40-hour work week. And imagine what would happen if the EPA allowed them to ignore all environmental laws--if they could dump waste anywhere they wanted, if they could pollute the air with greenhouse gasses at unchecked levels. Every factory owner in the country would move their operations there, leaving workers in the rest of the states without a good paying job and without a way to provide for their families. In our global economy, moving jobs off shore is just as easy as moving them to another state. We can't let that happen. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Cancel or fix unfair trade deals

Gordon Smith has failed to oppose every single one of these bad trade deals, including NAFTA and CAFTA. Jeff Merkley will fight to end unfair trade agreements that have cost Oregon nearly 70,000 jobs. Merkley will demand enforceable environmental and labor standards to protect our planet and protect workers in America and around the world. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

End federal giveaways to companies that ship jobs overseas

Merkley will end loopholes that subsidize corporations that build foreign operations and let companies avoid paying taxes on the profits from those operations, shipping American jobs overseas. In 2004, Gordon Smith voted against an amendment for tax credits that would have encouraged domestic job growth and discouraged outsourcing of good American manufacturing jobs. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Strengthen the Buy American Act

Over the last several decades special interests have weakened important safeguards that protect our national security and support American workers. In 2003, Gordon Smith cast the deciding vote for McCain's amendment to encourage outsourcing by exempting the Department of Defense from the Buy American Act. Merkley will work to strengthen the Buy American Act to ensure that our government is building an American workforce that can fulfill our country's military and national security needs. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Oppose giving the President fast track trade authority

We absolutely MUST resist any attempt to give this and future Presidents fast track trade authority without Congressional oversight. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Include real & enforceable labor & environmental standards

In our global economy, moving jobs off shore is just as easy as moving them to another state. We can't let that happen. America must ensure that new trade agreements include real and enforceable labor and environmental standards. Sadly, President Bush Gordon Smith and too many others in Congress have shown little regard for making sure American workers are on a level playing field with their international competitors. Read more. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Mar 2, 2008

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*Other candidates on Free Trade:*		*Jeff Merkley on other issues:*
*OR Gubernatorial:* Ted Kulongoski *OR Senatorial:* Dave Brownlow Gordon Harold Smith Ron Wyden *2008 Senate retirements:* Wayne Allard(R,CO) Larry Craig(R,ID) Pete Domenici(R,NM) Chuck Hagel(R,NE) Trent Lott(R,MS) Craig Thomas(R,WY) John Warner(R,VA) *2008 Presidential Contenders:* Chuck Baldwin(C) Rep.Bob Barr(L) Sen.Hillary Clinton(D) Sen.Mike Gravel(L) Alan Keyes(C) Sen.John McCain(R) Rep.Cynthia McKinney(G) Ralph Nader(I) Sen.Barack Obama(D) Rep.Ron Paul(R)	*2008 Senate Races:* AK:Stevens v.Begich v.Cuddy v.Sikma AL:Sessions v.Figures AR:Pryor v.Kennedy CO:Schaffer v.Udall DE:Biden v.O`Donnell GA:Chambliss v.Cardwell v.Jones v.Buckley IA:Harkin v.Reed ID:Risch v.LaRocco IL:Durbin v.Sauerberg v.Stafford KS:Roberts v.Jones v.Slattery KY:McConnell v.Lunsford LA:Landrieu v.Kennedy MA:Kerry v.O`Reilly v.Beatty ME:Collins v.Allen MI:Levin v.Hoogendyk MN:Coleman v.Franken v.Ventura v.Cavlan v.Pallmeyer MS4:Wicker v.Musgrove MS6:Cochran v.Fleming MT:Baucus v.Kelleher NC:Dole v.Hagan NE:Johanns v.Kleeb v.Raimondo v.Larrick NH:Sununu v.Shaheen NJ:Lautenberg v.Zimmer NM:Wilson v.Pearce v.Udall OR:Smith v.Merkley v.Frohnmayer v.Brownlow OK:Inhofe v.Rice RI:Reed v.Young v.Tingley SC:Graham v.Cone v.Conley v.McBride SD:Johnson v.Dykstra TN:Alexander v.Eaton v.Padgett v.Tuke v.Lugo TX:Cornyn v.Noriega v.Jameson VA:Gilmore v.Warner v.Marshall WV:Rockefeller v.Wolfe WY4:Barrasso v.Carter v.Goodenough WY6:Enzi v.Rothfuss	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare Other Senators House of Representatives SenateMatch (matching quiz) Senate Votes (analysis) House Votes Bill Sponsorships Affiliations Policy Reports Group Ratings

Page last updated: 7/2/2008