Wyden addresses variety of topics at Bend town hall

Several hundred Deschutes County residents asked Sen. Ron Wyden a variety of questions at a town hall Monday evening at Summit High School, and he said his 11-stop swing east of the Cascades comes at a time of heightened interest in government and politics — the highest he’s ever seen.

Wyden said the number of people who want to be heard is unlike anything he has seen in his decades on Capitol Hill.

“They want to be heard, and they have strong feelings about what is going on,” Wyden said. “I really use these accounts and what I hear when I am out in rural Oregon, and I use those accounts in big debates in Washington D.C.”

Among the topics Wyden addressed, he said the main thing he was happy to see was how residents of Deschutes County want to hold their public officials accountable for their actions. And in a pointed dig at athe new administration, he said people should feel their government is legitimate.

Concerns raised by audience members included President Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns, the president’s financial history and the investigation of possible Russian influence in the presidential election.

“I want you to know that as your guy on the Senate Select Committee of Intelligence, I will not let this get swept under the rug,” Wyden told the audience.

He also continued to address the environment and fear of losing public lands, as well as the situation in Syria. He said he supported the initial missile strike in Syria, because it sent a message to Assad, but it isn’t the full answer.

“My hope is this administration will see the idea of a sensible, long-term foreign policy is to use all the tools in the toolbox,” Wyden said. “And one strike is not a long term policy.”

Other community members expressed concerns about Medicare keeping up with the needs of the population. The senator said it hasn’t been, and must better address rising health issues like cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The senator said it won’t be easy, but he wants to see the political climate back on track.

He will travel to 10 more counties in the coming days.