[img_assist|nid=2851|title=Senate candidate Jeff Merkley|desc=Campaign Photo|link=none|align=left|width=175|height=175]The Oregon Republican Party is still looking for answers from U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) about disclosure forms they are saying he should have filled out for 12 rental properties in the Portland area.

Last week, ORGOP accused Merkley of violating state ethics laws by failing to disclose the extent to which his rental properties affected his personal income. State legislators are required to report any additional income that makes up more than 10 percent of their total household income.

At the time, a spokesman for Merkley’s campaign said that the income from the properties did not meet the reporting threshold.

On Tuesday, ORGOP released a statement saying that in order for Merkley’s properties to have not met the reporting threshold, the Oregon House Speaker could be charging no more than $33 per month in rent.

According to a 2003 Landlord Notice obtained by PolitickerOR.com, Merkley charged $950 a month for at least one rental property.

Merkley spokesman Matt Canter said Republicans were just using the issue to turn attention away from recent controversies surrounding U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith’s (R-Pendleton) hiring practices at his frozen food plant, located in Weston.

“No wonder Republicans have bankrupted our nation, they can’t add or subtract,” Canter said of ORGOP’s charges that Merkley would have to be charging renters the bare minimum to not be reporting any income. “This is all just an effort to distract voters from undocumented workers at Smith Frozen Foods.”

Canter went on to say that Oregon lawmakers are held to a higher standard of financial disclosure than Washington, D.C. lawmakers.

“Look at the report that just came out in Roll Call,” Canter said, referencing a report that showed Smith was the 10th wealthiest member of Congress. “He has financial interests across the country from Maryland to Hawaii. And he should be held to the same standards Merkley was held to throughout his career.”

Smith campaign spokeswoman Lindsay Gilbride said that the incumbent Senator did not own any houses in Hawaii. However, he does own a timeshare. But, she cautioned, Smith was not the one under fire for failing to report rental income.

“The facts just don't add up,” Gilbride said. “Jeff Merkley owes Oregon taxpayers answers. He has some serious explaining to do.”