President Reagan's Christmas wish to the Oregon Republican Party circa 2011.

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Dear Friends,

We have had a great Republican year here in Oregon.  We are creating a party, much in the same way Reagan did, that can represent a majority of the people in Oregon.  While the Democrats increasingly focus on protecting their special interests, the Oregon Republican Party is reaching out to develop candidates who can lead all of Oregon.  I want to thank all of you for working with me to make the Oregon Republican Party, Oregon's Party.

We have had a very busy and productive year and here is what we have been up to:

- Getting party operating expenses down to focus resources on the most essential and productive activities.

- Building the computer systems and data management tools that will allow us to better identify and reach out to voters.  This includes using social media like Facebook and Twitter to reach a broad base of people, including younger voters.

- Registering new voters.  The second largest political organization in our state is “not registered to vote.”  These disenfranchised people are the ones who have given up on the current system and present an opportunity for us to engage people who have been left behind.

2012 is sure to be a big year with a potential Presidential debate right here in Oregon!  Help us continue the work we started this year – your donation today ensures our efforts starting in January.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday December 20, 2011 - 12:00 Noon

Bonamici: Just another Pearl District Liberal
Oregonian: State Sen. Can’t Recall Ever Voting Against Tax or Fee Hike on the Floor

Portland, OR – Allen Alley, Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party, released the following statement after the Oregonian published a review of State Sen. Bonamici’s legislative voting record:

“Sen. Bonamici told the Oregonian that she’s not on the “political left.”  Tell that to any small business owner who has struggled to pay for any one of the dozens of tax and fee increases she has voted for in her legislative career.  

“In fact, she told the Oregonian that she cannot think of a single time she ever voted against a tax or fee increase on the floor. That’s remarkable. According to Oregon Associated Industries, she’s racked up the second worst anti-jobs record in the Senate. She’s also the darling of the public employee unions and environmentalists, receiving the highest rating given to any senator.

“Her ultra-liberal record even extends to supporting drunk drivers’ ability to stay on the road.  Asked for an explanation, Bonamici told the newspaper the offenders might need to drive to work.

Senator Bonamici is far to the left of First Congressional District voters. As Senator Bruce Starr told the Oregonian, she is just another “Pearl District Liberal.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 8, 2011 - 10:30 AM

From Cornilles, A Jobs Plan;
From Bonamici and Democrats, no plan, just changing the subject
Bonamici and Democrats are going negative because
they have no plan to put Oregonians back to work

Portland, OR – Allen Alley, Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party, released the following statement:

“Today, voters in Oregon's First Congressional District could not be given a clearer choice to get Oregonians back to work. From Rob Cornilles a real jobs plan;  from Suzanne Bonamici a cynical effort to change the subject away from the Congressional Democrats failure to provide what Oregonians and Americans want – jobs, opportunity and a better economy.”

“Rob Cornilles’ jobs plan is getting good reviews and shows he is ready to represent the people of Oregon’s First Congressional District; Bonamici’s ‘deer in the headlights’ look at the recent debate tells us that she has no plan on jobs and appears to be trying to change the subject away from the creation of jobs and economic opportunity.”

“In stark contrast, Rob Cornilles today introduced a new television ad where he details his experience creating jobs and how he would help Oregon pull out of this terrible recession.  He also released his “Cornilles Commitment,” which spells out his pledge to work with leaders in both parties to find solutions to our state and country’s pressing problems.”

“Voters overwhelmingly disapprove of the direction of the country and the dysfunction of Washington, D.C.  With Suzanne Bonamici, we get more of the same, with Rob Cornilles, we get a leader with a clear jobs plan and a laser focus on the issue that matters most to the voters of Oregon’s First Congressional District."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 08:00 AM PDT

Oregon's Republican Party Congratulates Rob Cornilles
Candidate emphasizes independence in the McCall and Hatfield tradition

Portland, OR – The Oregon Republican Party, Oregon's Party, congratulates Rob Cornilles on his victory last Tuesday night. Allen Alley, Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party, commented this week, "We are all frustrated with the partisan inaction and bickering in Washington DC. Rob Cornilles can be part of the solution rather than the problem simply because he is not a politician. His business experience and independent political background make Rob Cornilles an especially good fit for Oregon's First Congressional District.

"Cornilles proved his political independence in the primary campaign," said Alley, "by his refusal to sign political pledges written by Washington lobbyists and insiders." Alley also noted that Cornilles plans to make tax reform the central issue in the January special election contest against his Democrat opponent, Suzanne Bonamici.

"Cornilles' willingness to tear up the 10,000-page federal tax code that is riddled with special perks and favoritism, and start over by eliminating tax breaks for the well connected while lowering rates across the board, will appeal to the voters of the First District," said Alley.

"Rob Cornilles' independent background fits CD-1 in much the same way that Tom McCall's and Mark Hatfield's independence matched the attitudes of Oregon voters," said Alley. "Rob's entrepreneurial experience is just what Oregon needs, in contrast to his opponent, whose work experience is primarily as a government lawyer and politician. Bonamici's narrow world and economic view explains why she's voted in the Oregon legislature with her party 98 percent of the time. If we want more gridlock and insider politics as usual, then send Bonamici to DC."

"To build careers, we need to grow our economy, and Rob can help us do that."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 - 10:00 AM PDT

IF SUZANNE BONAMICI CAN’T DECIDE ABOUT TRADE,
IS SHE ABLE TO REPRESENT US IN CONGRESS?
Sen. Bonamici has refused six times in three weeks to take a position

Portland, OR – State Senator Suzanne Bonamici, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, refuses to tell a trade-dependent constituency how she would have voted on three key trade agreements approved by Congress last week.

The Oregon Republican Party calls on her to step up and tell voters where she stands on this generator of jobs and opportunity for Oregonians. “Either Bonamici does not have the experience to decide, or she is withholding her position for political reasons. Either way, Oregonians lose,” Oregon Republican Party spokesman Greg Leo said today.

In five public appearances and an interview broadcast Saturday night on KGW’s Straight Talk, Senator Bonamici has given a range of excuses for not taking a position on the most important trade legislation for Oregon in 15 years.

Tonight, she’ll have a seventh opportunity to tell voters of the First Congressional District, one of the most trade-dependent districts in the nation, how she would have voted.

In front of the AFL-CIO, which opposed the agreements, Senator Bonamici said she’d come up with a position later.  Then at the Portland City Club she said she wouldn’t announce her position because it would cost her “leverage” in Congress, even though she’s a candidate, not an elected member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

At Forest Grove’s Pacific University and in Scappoose, she waffled, saying she still hadn’t made up her mind.  Finally, questioned by Straight Talk’s Laurel Porter, she said she didn’t have enough information to make a decision. When pressed, she said she would poll the state’s Congressional delegation to learn why each voted the way they did, and then perhaps make up her mind.

“Senator Bonamici is the only candidate in the First Congressional District to not declare a position on these trade agreements.  Her waffling on an issue that is so critical to job creation in our trade-dependent region shows that she is not ready to serve in Congress, a place where these critically important issues are decided. Oregonians are tired of politicians who won’t talk straight with voters,” said Leo. “This inability to decide shows that Senator Bonamici lacks the experience or understanding to represent Oregon First Congressional District.”

“Trade is the lifeblood of jobs in this district, and voters deserve to know if she’s for or against trade. This issue is too important to duck,” ORP spokesman Greg Leo concluded.

Background:
One of the agreements approved last week expands trade between Oregon and South Korea, our 5th largest export market.  With Oregon’s economy on the ropes, trade is one of Oregon’s important economic growth opportunities.  Even the liberal Brookings Institution estimates that 268,000 Portland-area jobs depend on trade.

At nearly every Congressional debate so far, all of the candidates, except Suzanne Bonamici, have taken a position in support or opposition to the trade agreement with South Korea.  With an issue as important to Oregon as trade, Suzanne Bonamici should take a position, not waffle.

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