Last week, Republican Gordon Smith voted in support of the Climate Security Act. The Merkley Campaign is calling his vote an election year flip flop. The Merkley Campaign isn't letting Gordon Smith get away with his flip flops on the issues of importance to Oregonians, the campaign recently created a feature on the homepage of their website called flip flop alerts to show Gordon Smith's true colors. The local press is calling Gordon's vote in support of the Climate Security Act, "The Greening of Gordon Smith." Who is right? Did Gordon Smith support the Climate Security Act because he is worried about his re-election chances or has he had a change of heart when it comes to protecting the environment?

Merkley said that supporting the Climate Security Act was the right thing to do. However, Jeff Merkley did point out the obvious:

If only Sen. Smith ran for reelection every year, then we would tackle climate change. For nearly 12 years he has opposed every significant effort to combat climate change, voting to cancel out Ron Wyden's vote every single time.  

An editorial in the largest paper in Oregon has a slightly different take on Smith's vote in favor of the Climate Security Act:

In 2003 and again in 2005, he voted against the Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act, which was considerably weaker than this year's bill. On Friday, however, in the third major Senate vote on global warming legislation, Smith was among 10 senators who switched from opponent to supporter.

On Thursday, Smith took the Senate floor and delivered an impassioned call for addressing global warming.

"Climate change is real," he said. "It is a problem and it needs a response -- for the sake of our economy, our environment, our national security."

Smith's epiphany, though years overdue, is welcome. Welcome, that is, except at the campaign headquarters of Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley, which sent out press releases this week fuming over Smith's election-year conversion on global warming

Is it really an epiphany? Did Gordon Smith just realize that cutting carbon emissions is vital to halting the warming of our planet? I find that hard to believe. Is Gordon Smith really becoming a more environmentally friendly candidate or is it election year posturing? You decide.

Who is the Real Gordon Smith?

Gordon Smith told voters that he would not vote to drill in ANWR repeatedly during his 2002 campaign. When Alaska Senator Ted Stevens added the drilling amendment to the defense spending bill back in 2005, Gordon Smith said, "I will vote for the bullets," and became the tie breaking vote. Smith did not keep his word to Oregon voters and chose to support the special interests over the interest of his constituents.

Gordon Smith opposed two similar versions of the Climate Security Act back in 2003 and 2005. Why the change of heart this year? Has he suddenly become concerned with climate change, or does he want to appear more moderate on environmental issues? Back in 2003 and 2005 Gordon Smith opposed efforts to encourage 40mpg standards for automobiles by 2015. Will he decide that 40mpg automobiles are worth supporting now that he suddenly believes climate change is worth fighting?

Gordon Smith Protects Oil Interests Over the Environment

When it comes to the environment Gordon Smith may flip flop on certain environmental issues in an election year, but not when it comes to your hard earned tax dollars. Gordon Smith has voted for 18 billion in tax breaks to the oil and gas industry. Gordon Smith voted to invoke cloture on the horrid Bush/Cheney energy bill that awarded 11.9 billion in tax breaks to the oil and gas industry. In the year following, Gordon Smith voted for an additional 13 billion in tax breaks for the energy industry. If that wasn't bad enough, Gordon Smith opposed a windfall profits tax on oil companies who saw record breaking profits.

Who is the Real Environmentally Friendly Candidate?

Republican Gordon Smith has a lifetime rating of 29% from the League of Conservation Voters. Gordon Smith's highest rating from the LCV came this year, 73% which is a C rating. It's not surprising that his highest rating given by the LCV is during an election year. Not surprising at all. We can't depend on Gordon Smith to vote to raise fuel efficiency standards, protect our natural resources or supply tax breaks in renewable energy programs. We can hope that he'll flip flop in an election year like he has in the past, but is that really good enough?

Support the Real Green Candidate

While there may be some in the local press who believe that Gordon Smith may be going green, Oregonians do have a real champion on environmental issues. Jeff Merkley received a 95% rating from the OLCV last year and received the coveted, "Caretaker of Year," award. Here's a statement from the OLCV:

Speaker Merkley was
a strong leader who did not carry his ego on his sleeve. He listened
carefully and always had an open door to the conservation community. He also cared a great deal about the cohesiveness of his caucus and was able to juggle the tricky balance between moving a conservation agenda forward while ensuring his caucus members agreed to the goals. Speaker Merkley deserves much of the credit for this successful environmental session.

The successful session the OLCV is talking about was led by House Speaker Merkley. Under Merkley's leadership, Oregon passed these green bills making Oregon's 2007 session the greenest in the nation:

SB 838 - Establishes a renewable energy standard so that 25% of Oregon's electrical power needs to be met by renewable energy sources by 2025.

SB 375 - Establishes minimum efficiency standards for a number of home and commercial appliances.

HB 2620 - Provides that public improvement contracts for construction or major renovations of public buildings appropriate at least 1.5% of the total contract price for solar energy technology.

HB 2211 - Expands the business energy tax credits available for renewable energy investments (concepts put into omnibus bill)

HB 2212 - Expands the residential energy tax credits available for renewable energy investments (concepts put into omnibus bill)

HB 2210 - Establishes the renewable fuel standard and provides incentives for Oregon biofuel production

SB 737 - Provides Oregon with a first ever "roadmap" for reducing and eliminating sources of toxic pollution in our rivers, streams and the Pacific Ocean.

I don't want my Oregon Senator to vote the right way only when they're up for re-election. I want an Oregon Senator who will vote the right way whether they're up for re-election or not. Combating climate change, promoting conservation and creating green collar jobs is important to me. I know it's important to you guys too. There's only one candidate that is a true environmental champion and that candidate if Jeff Merkley. Please consider donating to my Act Blue Page for Jeff or telling a friend about this important race in Oregon.