Jeff Merkley on Abortion

• 100 percent ratings from NARAL and Planned Parenthood. (Jul 2008)
• Led the fight to pass the Access to Birth Control Act. (Jul 2008)
• Public funding for stem cell research. (Jun 2007)
• Abortions should always be legally available. (Nov 1998)

Jeff Merkley on Budget & Economy

• Oppose bailout bill; more oversight needed. (Oct 2008)
• Bailout bill is a $700-million blank check. (Oct 2008)
• Our children have to repay debt from deregulated Wall Street. (Oct 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Civil Rights

• Co-sponsored Equality & Family Fairness Act for gay equality. (Sep 2008)
• Ok to define marriage against polygamy or same-sex. (Jun 2008)
• Oregon Equality Act: sexual orientation is a civil right. (Dec 2007)
• Apply affirmative action to state hiring. (Nov 1998)

Jeff Merkley on Corporations

• Hard look at abusive practices in the credit card industry. (Jun 2008)
• Ban the predatory practices of the mortgage lenders. (Jun 2008)
• Capped payday loan rates. (Jun 2008)
• Capped the amount check cashers can charge. (Jun 2008)
• No approval if a borrower can’t afford the loan. (Jun 2008)
• End billion dollar giveaways to oil companies. (Jun 2008)
• Stop companies from setting up offshore tax shelters. (Jun 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Crime

• Worked hard to get better laws to deal with criminals. (Oct 2008)
• More state troopers; more crime labs; more funding. (Jul 2008)
• Mandatory minimum sentence for some 1st-degree sex offenders. (Apr 2006)
• Opposes the death penalty. (Nov 1998)
• Increase rehabilitation & alternatives to incarceration. (Nov 1998)

Jeff Merkley on Drugs

• Step up enforcement to combat meth. (Jul 2008)
• Toughen laws against meth traffickers. (Jul 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Education

• History making efforts that improved education in Oregon. (Jun 2008)
• Completely overhaul No Child Left Behind. (Jun 2008)
• Fully fund public schools. (Jun 2008)
• Head Start Programs must be fully funded. (Jun 2008)
• Increase the size and number of Pell Grants available. (Jun 2008)
• Create a broad-based college tuition tax break. (Jun 2008)
• Let parents get involved in their child’s education. (Jun 2008)
• Fully fund Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (Jun 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Energy & Oil

• Cap greenhouse gases with international collaboration. (Sep 2008)
• Cap greenhouse gases with international collaboration. (Sep 2008)
• Set a 25 percent renewable energy national standard by 2025. (Jun 2008)
• Invest in research for conservation, alternative energy. (Jun 2008)
• Sustainable, renewable energy to combat global warming. (Mar 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Environment

• Sustainable forest harvest important for economy. (Oct 2008)
• Son of a timber family; will fight for timber payments. (Oct 2008)
• Supports 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. (Jun 2008)
• Incentives to cities for the reduction of emissions. (Jun 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Families & Children

• Tax credits to families to make child care affordable. (Jun 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Foreign Policy

• Bush Administration has damaged America’s reputation. (Sep 2008)
• Bush Administration has damaged America’s reputation. (Sep 2008)
• Support US payments to UN & show leadership. (Sep 2008)
• De-emphasize military; focus on international collaboration. (Sep 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Free Trade

• Oppose trade agreements that use NAFTA as a model. (Jun 2008)
• Cancel or fix unfair trade deals. (Jun 2008)
• End federal giveaways to companies that ship jobs overseas. (Jun 2008)
• Strengthen the Buy American Act. (Jun 2008)
• Oppose giving the President fast track trade authority. (Jun 2008)
• Include real & enforceable labor & environmental standards. (Mar 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Government Reform

• Oppose FISA: no immunity for telecomm surveillance. (Jun 2008)
• Spending limits on campaigns, plus full disclosure. (Nov 1998)

Jeff Merkley on Gun Control

• Maintain restrictions on purchase & possession of firearms. (Nov 1998)

Jeff Merkley on Health Care

• Address the nursing shortage. (Jun 2008)
• Support Healthy Americans Act: universal comprehensive care. (Jun 2008)
• Take on insurance & pharmaceutical companies. (Jun 2008)
• Provide affordable quality health care to all Americans. (Jun 2008)
• Fully fund the VA health care system. (Jun 2008)
• Provide children with the health care they need. (Jun 2008)
• Health care for all Americans. (Mar 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Homeland Security

• Be slow to go to war and be fast to take care of veterans. (Oct 2008)
• Persuasive evidence & clear objectives before military force. (Sep 2008)
• Persuasive evidence & clear objectives before military force. (Sep 2008)
• End nuclear testing; end nuclear development. (Sep 2008)
• End nuclear testing; end nuclear development. (Sep 2008)
• Honor America’s veterans and take good care of them. (Jun 2008)
• Extend full VA and other benefits to National Guard members. (Jun 2008)
• A tragic shortfall in recent years in veterans’ health care. (Jun 2008)
• Allow disabled veterans to collect their full retirement pay. (Jun 2008)
• Increase funding for mental health services to veterans. (Jun 2008)
• Expand educational opportunities for veterans. (Jun 2008)
• Create a GI Bill for the 21st Century. (Jun 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Immigration

• Rated 90% by Oregonians for Immigration Reform. (Jan 2003)

Jeff Merkley on Jobs

• Support an Employee Free Choice Act. (Jun 2008)
• Fight for inflation-indexed minimum and prevailing wage laws. (Jun 2008)
• Assist workers and communities get training and education. (Jun 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Principles & Values

• Endorsed by Sen. Wyden; I’ll be his partner. (Oct 2008)
• I’ve lived a pretty unconventional life. (May 2008)
• Change direction and put America back on track. (Aug 2006)

Jeff Merkley on Social Security

• Privatization would melt away retirement in stock crash. (Oct 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Tax Reform

• Supports raising taxes on earnings over $250,000 per year. (Oct 2008)
• Repeal $18 billion in tax breaks given to big oil companies. (Jul 2008)
• No state sales tax. (Nov 1998)

Jeff Merkley on War & Peace

• Opposed Iraq war from the very beginning, against Party. (Oct 2008)
• Signed onto “A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq”. (Jun 2008)
• Opposed the war from the start. (Jun 2008)
• Redeploy American combat troops out of Iraq. (Mar 2008)

Jeff Merkley on Welfare & Poverty

• Supports workfare and 2-year welfare limits. (Nov 1998)