Senator Wyden / US Rep Bynum Linn County Town Hall

On February 7th, Senator Ron Wyden and Congresswoman Janelle Bynum held a town hall at Linn-Benton Community College.

Both Wyden and Bynum emphasized the need to keep communicating our concerns to our elected officials. Congresswoman Bynum shared that her office had received only 88 calls and messages regarding ICE over the past week—far fewer than the thousands she expected.  [See this web page for an easy way to contact Congress about ICE.] Most Americans do not feel that the tactics used by ICE and CBP make the country safer or better, and she encouraged people to engage in conversations with their neighbors. Wyden shared that he learned from his neighbors about the Trump administration’s plans to cut SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) grants and used that information to rally public opposition, which ultimately led to the administration’s backing down. This underlines the importance of continuing to contact our elected officials to make our voices heard.

Senator Wyden expressed his deep concerns about the erosion of privacy and personal freedoms in the U.S. He highlighted his commitment to securing guardrails around DHS funding, as well as his broader efforts to combat corruption by following the money and holding those responsible accountable. He discussed the “Wyden Investigation,” aimed at supporting victims of Jeffrey Epstein in their legal battles. When asked about the recent letter he sent to the CIA, Wyden simply stated that he did what he had to do as a patriot. He expressed deep concern and reiterated that the CIA could not deny their awareness of the issue’s seriousness. Congresswoman Bynum expressed strong opposition to immigration enforcement tactics such as masked law enforcement officers, $50,000 sign-on bonuses (which she sees as a form of entrapment), lack of accountability, and the unconstitutional targeting of individuals based on their appearance or speech. Both Wyden and Bynum addressed Oregon’s dire mental health crisis, with the state ranking 49th in the nation for mental health services.

A significant portion of the town hall focused on election security. Wyden discussed how the current administration is using domestic surveillance tools to intimidate Americans, noting, “They’re not going to be able to shoot all of us, but it sure looks like they are going to trail all of us.” Congresswoman Bynum stressed the vital role of the courts in protecting voting rights, particularly in light of the risks posed by ICE’s presence at polling places. Bynum urged people to take part in early voting, become poll watchers, and encourage others to vote. Bynum views the May election as a “trial run” for the November elections and urged citizens to stay engaged and vigilant. Bynum further encouraged the crowd to study history as a means of understanding how to navigate the current political climate, calling it “a fight for our lives.”

Local action against ICE was another topic of discussion. Bynum pointed to the empowering efforts of communities that have come together to create safe zones for children on their way to school. Wyden acknowledged the clear intent by President Trump to incite violence, but he urged Oregonians to not “take the bait.” He pointed to the peaceful protests in Portland, where Trump had to back down on the use of military force.

The town hall also touched on concerns about corporate influence on the Democratic party. Congresswoman Bynum stressed that elected officials must clearly articulate what they can do for constituents, rather than just what they oppose. She is committed to holding town halls and passing substantive, action-oriented messages to Democratic leaders. Senator Wyden, who has held over 1,146 town halls throughout his career, echoed the importance of engaging with constituents and discussed his efforts to eliminate the Citizens United ruling, which allows unlimited corporate money in politics.

Linn Co Dem have posted the enter town hall. Click to see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3,