Oregon senator panned for silence

WASHINGTON – The lack of comment from Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith on a Supreme Court decision this week to take up the Bush administration challenge of Oregon’s landmark assisted suicide law is drawing criticism from Democrats and advocates of the law.

The rest of the state’s congressional delegation, including a fellow Republican, Rep. Greg Walden, have said they oppose the administration’s efforts to overturn the 7-year-old law, which has been twice approved by Oregon voters.

Smith’s Senate colleague, Democrat Ron Wyden, said he was ready to filibuster if necessary to defend the law against a potential challenge in Congress.

Smith’s office said he was traveling Tuesday, the day of the Supreme Court announcement. He also declined to comment when then-Attorney General John Ashcroft filed the appeal in November, arguing that the federal Controlled Substances Act let him decide whether doctors could prescribe lethal overdoses under the Oregon law.

“Where is Gordon Smith? Why won’t he make his position clear to Oregon voters?” state Democratic Chairman Jim Edmunson said in a statement. “

A spokesman said Thursday that Smith’s views on opposition to assisted suicide are well-known. “Senator Smith has always been up front and open about his opposition to assisted suicide, and his belief that the issue will eventually be decided by the courts,” spokesman Chris Matthews said.

Smith’s views on the issue are “not about politics,” Matthews added.