Category: In the News

Merkley-Wyden Bill Would Boost Brewers

WASHINGTON — Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden cosponsored legislation Wednesday that will encourage job growth by reducing the beer excise tax on American small brewers. “Oregon’s brewers are a valuable part of our state’s economy and culture,” Merkley said. “They employ thousands of Oregonians and brew beers recognized

Merkley visits Ardenwald, promotes heart health

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley visited Ardenwald Elementary last month to talk about healthy lifestyles and watch students take part in an annual American Heart Association education program. And while the senator didn’t pick up a jump rope himself, he told students he has been known to do some occasional rollerblading.

Bill Aims to Protect Homeowners in Service

WASHINGTON — Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Friday in an effort to strengthen mortgage protections for servicemembers once they return home from duty. The Protecting Servicemembers from Mortgage and Abuse Act of 2011 will help protect members of the military from mortgage abuses by encouraging financial

Merkley asks Obama to release oil from petroleum reserve

Oregon U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley has joined five other senators asking President Obama to take steps that might hold down the price of gasoline. Merkley, a Portland Democrat, joined Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Barbara Boxer of California, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Kirsten

Fight for timber funds continues, Merkley tells crowd at town hall

Getting timber payments into President Barack Obama’s proposed budget is a good first step, but the fight’s not over, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., told people who gathered Saturday at North Bend City Hall. Obama’s inclusion of $328 million for the first five years is a ‘small step,” Merkley said.The fight

Merkley talks jobs at town hall

Jobs, jobs, jobs. In one form or another, that was the key talking point Sunday afternoon during a Town Hall meeting with Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley at the Albany Senior Center. More than 50 people from Albany, Corvallis, Springfield and Eugene came to question and hear from the former five-term

Merkley swings through valley

With no set theme, the topics covered in Sen. Jeff Merkley’s Sunday afternoon town hall meeting included renewable energy, the housing market,  the war in Afghanistan and the rising cost of higher education. The hour-long town hall, which took place on the second floor of the Benton County Historical Society

Breast Feeding Equipment Repeal

Bend, Ore.–Good news for nursing mothers everywhere. The internal revenue service has decided to repeal a ruling that denied mothers the ability to list breast feeding equiptment as a medical expense. The action was spurred by Oregon’s junior Senator, Jeff Merkley. He said the IRS decision doesn’t just benefit nursing mothers. Studies show

IRS Allows Breast-Feeding Equipment Deductions

WASHINGTON — In response to a request from Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Reps. Sander Levin (D-MI) and Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), the Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday it will reverse a ruling that denies equipment used to help women breast feed from being covered as a

Merkley: End violence or aid stops

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley called for an immediate end to violence against protesters in Egypt on Thursday, joining a group of Democrats who said the U.S. should cut off foreign aid to the nation unless a peaceful solution is quickly found. Merkley, D-Ore., said violence by supporters of

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