By Michelle Knopp, Assistant PAC Director

U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley recently declared, “I think Oregon deserves a senator who will always, always protect a woman’s right to choose.”   This is not a new sentiment for Merkley.   As a five-term state representative, Merkley has, without fail, voted for policies that shield and expand abortion as well as other destructive policies.

Merkley has voted against parental involvement legislation twice.   He also voted against legislation that would allow authorities to press charges against someone if they killed an unborn child in the process of committing a crime (the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, or “Laci Peterson’s Law”).   Merkley has supported funding abortion, assisted suicide, and embryo-killing, stem cell research with taxpayer dollars.

Merkley isn’t shy about his ardent advocacy of unlimited abortion-on-demand through all nine months of pregnancy.   In his campaign for U.S. Senate, Merkley has been vocal about his opposition to all pro-life legislation.   In one primary campaign television ad titled “Fighter,” the announcer states, “Jeff Merkley, always protecting a woman’s right to choose.”

In April, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon praised and endorsed Merkley.   PPAO’s Executive Director, Nancy Bennett, said, “We need this kind of leadership in the U.S. Senate – someone who will help protect access to birth control, stop funding dangerous, ineffective abstinence-only education, and insist that any Supreme Court nominee be committed to uphold Roe v. Wade.   That’s why Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon is proud to support Jeff Merkley.”

Since being elected to the Oregon House in 1998, Merkley has a 100 percent voting record with NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon and Planned Parenthood.   “I am honored to have the endorsement of Planned Parenthood,” said Merkley.   “I believe that reproductive choices should be made by women, not by government.   Time and time again, Republican Gordon Smith has voted against reproductive rights of women.   He is fundamentally out of step with Oregon.   I will always protect a woman’s right to choose.”

Merkley specifically attacks Senator Gordon Smith for his 1999 vote against affirming Roe v. Wade.   Merkley also opposes Smith’s multiple votes to ban partial-birth abortions.   In addition to these pro-life votes, Senator Smith has been a consistent vote for constitutional judges as well as many pro-life amendments and policies.

As the election cycle progresses, Merkley will likely try to moderate his pro-abortion-on-demand stance in attempting to make his extreme views more palatable to the voters.   Do not be fooled.   Jeff Merkley is anything but “moderate” on life issues.

Merkley at a glance…

-Opposes Parental Notice

-Opposes Laci Peterson’s Law

-Supports funding abortions with taxpayer dollars

-Supports assisted suicide

- Endorsed by Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon

-Supports abortion-on-demand for all 9 months of pregnancy