Oregon State Fire Fighters Council Endorses Jeff Merkley
Press Release
Oregon State Fire Fighters Council (OSFFC) President Kelly Bach announced OSFFC's endorsement of Sen. Jeff Merkley at a press conference today in Portland.
In 2008, the OSFFC endorsed Jeff Merkley's opponent, Republican incumbent Gordon Smith, making today's endorsement among the most significant of Jeff's reelection campaign.
"Jeff has proven himself as a leader on the issues that are most important to fire fighters and our families. He has fought tirelessly to protect our jobs, our benefits, our pensions and our values. We can count on him to stand with us -- and with all working people and middle class families -- going forward," said OSFFC President Kelly Bach. "Monica Wehby, on the other hand, is no friend to working people, or to our fire fighters. She has endorsed an extreme Tea Party budget that would constitutionally require massive cuts of up to 25 percent to important programs for middle class families. It would force cuts to Medicare. And it will endanger funding for the SAFER and FIRE grants that we rely in order to keep our communities safe. This election is critical for Oregon and we need Jeff in the Senate fighting for the priorities that matter to all Oregonians."
When Jeff was Speaker of the Oregon House, he worked with the OSFFC to pass a bill that made safety and staffing mandatory subjects of bargaining. Jeff also helped secure a SAFER Grant from FEMA that saved 26 firefighting positions in Portland and he pushed for the FIRE program to help communities secure the training and equipment they need. Right now, Jeff is leading the fight to ensure oil trains are as safe as they can be and local fire fighters have the resources they need to respond effectively in the event of an emergency.
"I'm thrilled to have the endorsement of the Oregon State Firefighters Council, and proud of the work we've done together to make fire fighters safer on the job and more secure when they're retired," Sen. Merkley said."I have spent my time in the Senate fighting for working people and middle class families because the powerful already have enough advocates in Congress."
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