He told the group middle income jobs are the backbone of any stable economy and says we need to stop rewarding companies from shipping jobs overseas.

"One study shows Oregon has 250-thousand jobs at risk of being off shored.  Unfortuantely Republicans killed the Bring Jobs Home bill.  My opponent and I have come from different places, so I've taken on China cheating on trade deals, giving them subsidies for shipping jobs overseas and my opponent has the opposite view."

Last session, Rebublicans refused to pass legislation that would end tax subsidies for companies shipping jobs overseas, while endorsing companies with local jobs.

It would have given a 20 percent tax credit to businesses relocating from overseas.

Merkley's opponent, Monica Wehby says she would have opposed the measure as well.