Earlier this week, we reported that Gordon Smith was backpedaling on fiscally conservative principles by co-sponsoring legislation to reduce this year’s budget savings by half. Unfortunately, the Senate, setting up what should be a tumultuous battle with the House, passed it.

Last night, things got worse with Ron Wyden making a personal effort to prevent the preservation of Terri Schiavo’s life. Because the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case concerning Oregon’s assisted suicide law, Wyden is afraid that legislation to protect Schiavo would damage Oregon’s case before the court. Of course, if one reads the language proposed in the House and Senate, it would be clear that no threat to Oregon’s law was included.

But Gordon Smith is missing from this debate as well. Smith personally advocated Justice Department intervention to block the assisted suicide law in 2000. John Ashcroft acted, but was blocked by a circuit court. While the Supreme Court has taken action Smith has been silent. The Beltway Buzz and numerous other media organizations have put in comment requests to Smith to no avail.

This is shameful on Smith’s part, both in respect to the Oregon voters who twice voted for the legislation (whether you agree with it or not), and to those who advocate the preservation of life. If Smith had been vocal in his support of the court’s move, he would have possessed moral authority to speak up in Schiavo’s case. Instead, this week has left Smith appearing fiscally irresponsible and morally tepid.