Check out the campaign websites of Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick and you’ll find at least one prominent issue missing from the debate as these two duke it out for the democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Gordon Smith: poverty.
In part because of economic policies championed by Gordon Smith and President Bush, poverty levels have risen in America since 2001. In Oregon, as the Oregon Center on Budget and Policy Priorities pointed out on August 28, 2007, that means more Oregonians are suffering...
Oregon does need a plan for reducing – even ending poverty – and there are people across the country working on such strategies. Neither Gordon Smith or Ron Wyden has never shown any leadership on the issue. I challenge Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick to make fighting poverty a centerpiece of their campaigns.
Both campaigns responded. Steve Novick invited me out for coffee with his campaign manager to discuss poverty and Jeff Merkley's net outreach coordinator did the same.
But I'm still waiting for both the campaigns to post their plans online for fighting poverty in America. Senate candidates ought to be concerned about this issue and Oregonians need to demand that they offer specific ideas that help reduce the poverty level in Oregon and the other 49 states.
I've been promised those plans will be coming soon and while I know how hectic and busy campaign life can be, I'm still waiting.... So are tens of thousands of Oregonians without health care, without a place to live, and without enough food to eat.
