PENDLETON, Ore. – Congressman Cliff Bentz of Oregon’s District Two held a town hall meeting in Pendleton, engaging with his constituents.
The meeting provided an opportunity for public comment and discussion on several pressing issues. Bentz addressed the recent federal firings, a topic that drew several of those affected to not only this town hall, but, according to Bentz himself, to multiple of his town hall meetings.
According to Bentz, the “blizzard” of sweeping changes under the Trump administration aim to handle the growing national debt and possible budget shortfall.
One former employee from the Oregon Department of Forestry expressed her frustration, describing the situation as “an attack on working class employees.”
“We do not have as many protections as regular career employees,” she said. “The Trump administration directly targeted working class Americans with the least working protections.”
Bentz responded to her and others’ concerns, acknowledging the challenges faced by probationary employees. “I don’t think you’re suggesting that the federal employee should be held harmless from this challenge that we all face. You’re not saying that at all, I’m sure,” Bentz said. “What you’re saying is you want due process. You’re going to get it, because I’m going to guess you have joined one of the class action suits.”
Many attendees voiced the opinion that the billionaire class and other top earners in the United States should front the national debt. Meanwhile, Bentz pushed back, stating that if all of the billionaires in the United States were taxed fully, that would only pay for current government spending budget for one year.
The congressman also shared his disagreement with President Trump’s handling of the war between Ukraine and Russia, and attendees voiced concerns about the future of Medicaid and Social Security, which Bentz addressed during the session.
This meeting was part of Bentz’s series of town halls aimed at engaging with constituents across the district.
