LINN COUNTY DEMOCRATS
  • HOME
  • May 20 Election
    • Kristopher Schendel, GAPS Zone 1
    • Stephanie Lunceford, GAPS Zone 2
    • Kris McLaughlin, GAPS At-Large Position 2
    • Brad Longman, LBCC Zone 5
    • Bill Hays, ESD Zone 1
    • Michael Thomson, ESD Zone 3
    • Renewal of Albany Ambulance, Fire and Police Local Option Tax
  • News & Updates
    • Letters from Linn Democrats Chair
  • Oregon Legislature
  • About
    • Officers & Committee Chairs
    • Standing Committees
    • Precinct Committee People
    • Neighborhood Leader Program
    • State Central Committee Delegates, Alternates
    • Congressional Districts 4 and 5 Committee Delegates and Alternates
    • Precinct & District Maps >
      • School District, LBCC, ESD Maps
    • Bylaws >
      • Standing Rules
    • Resolutions
    • County Platform >
      • Legislative Action Items
    • State Platform >
      • Legislative Action Items
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Resistance Resources
  • Contact Us
    • Linktree
  • Archives
    • Election 2022
    • Election 2024 >
      • Mayor, Council winners
      • Kamala Harris, Pres. Tim Walz, Vice Pres.
      • Janelle Bynum, CD5
      • Val Hoyle, CD4
      • Tobias Read, Secretary. of State
      • Elizabeth Steiner, State Treasurer
      • Dan Rayfield, Attorney General
      • Mike Ashland, SD9
      • Ivan Maluski, HD11
      • Michelle Emmons, HD12
      • Terrence Virnig, HD 15
      • David W. Beem, HD17
      • David Scranage, Linn Commissioner
      • Michael Thomson, Alb. Council, Ward 1B
      • Carolyn McLeod, Alb. Council, Ward 2B
      • Marilyn Smith, Alb. Council, Ward 3B
      • Ballot Measures
    • Elección 2024 (Espanol) >
      • Kamala Harris, Pres. y Tim Walz, Vicepres.
      • Janelle Bynum, Congreso, Distrito 5
      • Terrence Virnig, Distrito 15 de la Cámara de Representantes
      • Carolyn McLeod, Concejo Municipal de Albany, Distrito 2B
      • Marilyn Smith, Concejo Municipal de Albany, Distrito 3B
  • Resources
    • Resistance Resources

February 20th, 2023

2/20/2023

Comments

 
Picture
Sen. Jeff Merkley presents Build Lebanon Trails representatives Art Cisneros and Christine Davies with an American flag that flew over the Capitol. At the start of his town hall at LBCC, Merkley spotlighted the work of the Lebanon organization, which has been expanding the area's network of trails since 2005.

Merkley continues his town hall tradition

ALBANY — Sen. Jeff Merkley, started his 19th Town Hall of 2023 and 525th overall on Saturday afternoon at Linn-Benton Community College by noting that few senators hold town halls anymore.
“We have such a tribal divide,” said Merkley, who has served in the Senate since 2009. Yet he and his fellow Oregon colleague, Sen. Ron Wyden, who spoke in the same LBCC Forum auditorium last month, both believe the town halls provide important opportunities to hear Oregonians' concerns and viewpoints. And like Wyden, he asks audiences to adhere to one basic thing: Be respectful of others’ views.
The 60 people who turned out Saturday modeled that respect, as Merkley fielded more than a dozen questions on a wide range of topics.
The senator said he supports ending the U.S. embargo against Cuba, deplores tobacco companies marketing of flavored vapes to teens and wants a windfall profit tax on oil companies for their record $200 billion in profits in 2022. Merkley calculated that those profits amounted to $2 per gallon.
“They’re gouging Americans,” he said.
As for a Universal Health Care bill being considered in Salem, Merkley said that if the state comes up with a plan, he’d work to provide necessary support for it at the federal level.
He also said he’s calling for intense scrutiny of questionable practices within Medicare Advantage and that “no one should be shunted into Medicare Advantage.”
Before he concluded his remarks, Merkley noticed Scio-area resident Christina Eastman standing with a sign protesting the industrial chicken factory proposed for the rural area close to her home. 
“A good activist seizes the moment,” he said. “Well done.”
Albany Mayor Alex Johnson, who introduced Merkley, had the final words during the hourlong town hall. He mentioned the controversy over the planned removal of 84 trees in and near Monteith Riverpark to make way for the waterfront renovation project. Also planned is the planting of 3,000 new plants and trees, and he noted that a hotel is interested in locating downtown.
“Be patient.” he said.
Picture
Albany Mayor Alex Johnson introduced Merkley. Johnson said Merkley was one of the first people to send him a letter of congratulations when he was first elected mayor in 2020. After the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, Johnson called Merkley to see how he was doing.
Picture
This was Merkley's 19th town hall so far in 2023.
Comments

    News & Updates

    Look here for news, commentary and updates from Linn Dems and ally organizations

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

  • HOME
  • May 20 Election
    • Kristopher Schendel, GAPS Zone 1
    • Stephanie Lunceford, GAPS Zone 2
    • Kris McLaughlin, GAPS At-Large Position 2
    • Brad Longman, LBCC Zone 5
    • Bill Hays, ESD Zone 1
    • Michael Thomson, ESD Zone 3
    • Renewal of Albany Ambulance, Fire and Police Local Option Tax
  • News & Updates
    • Letters from Linn Democrats Chair
  • Oregon Legislature
  • About
    • Officers & Committee Chairs
    • Standing Committees
    • Precinct Committee People
    • Neighborhood Leader Program
    • State Central Committee Delegates, Alternates
    • Congressional Districts 4 and 5 Committee Delegates and Alternates
    • Precinct & District Maps >
      • School District, LBCC, ESD Maps
    • Bylaws >
      • Standing Rules
    • Resolutions
    • County Platform >
      • Legislative Action Items
    • State Platform >
      • Legislative Action Items
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Resistance Resources
  • Contact Us
    • Linktree
  • Archives
    • Election 2022
    • Election 2024 >
      • Mayor, Council winners
      • Kamala Harris, Pres. Tim Walz, Vice Pres.
      • Janelle Bynum, CD5
      • Val Hoyle, CD4
      • Tobias Read, Secretary. of State
      • Elizabeth Steiner, State Treasurer
      • Dan Rayfield, Attorney General
      • Mike Ashland, SD9
      • Ivan Maluski, HD11
      • Michelle Emmons, HD12
      • Terrence Virnig, HD 15
      • David W. Beem, HD17
      • David Scranage, Linn Commissioner
      • Michael Thomson, Alb. Council, Ward 1B
      • Carolyn McLeod, Alb. Council, Ward 2B
      • Marilyn Smith, Alb. Council, Ward 3B
      • Ballot Measures
    • Elección 2024 (Espanol) >
      • Kamala Harris, Pres. y Tim Walz, Vicepres.
      • Janelle Bynum, Congreso, Distrito 5
      • Terrence Virnig, Distrito 15 de la Cámara de Representantes
      • Carolyn McLeod, Concejo Municipal de Albany, Distrito 2B
      • Marilyn Smith, Concejo Municipal de Albany, Distrito 3B
  • Resources
    • Resistance Resources