Gordon Smith was recently attacked by Jeff Merkley as playing election year politics by voting for the Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Bill. Merkley, in effect said "I agree with you, but I don't think you mean it": "This was the right vote," Merkley said, "but Oregon needs a senator who will fight global warming in Washington D.C. just like I've done in Oregon, not becasue it is an election year but because I believe in it." Smith responded by citing the many environment and energy-related bills he has supported, including higher mileage standards, tax breaks for alternative energy and funding for Portland light rail. "The science on climate change has evolved dramatically in five years," Smith spokeswoman Lindsay Gilbride said. "Sen. Smith is proud to be part of the bipartisan coalition fighting for a cleaner environment and secure energy sources." The Elephant Take: I examined Gordon Smith's environmental record at the
Rants and ruminations from a center-right Republican in the great northwest