February 20th, 2023

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.

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.

This was Merkley's 19th town hall so far in 2023.