Sen. Merkley encourages 'call to resist' at Central Oregon town halls

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) held a number of town hall meetings in central Oregon this weekend.

The senator spoke to Oregon voters in Prineville, Sisters and Madras where they had the opportunity to ask Merkley about various topics including homelessness, veteran protections, the Trump administration, as well as other ongoing shakeups at the federal level.

As Jefferson County was hit hard by conflagrations last year, some at the Madras town hall voiced concerns about the ability to fight wildfires in the coming season due to federal cuts, including 7,400 firings from the U.S. Forest Service nationally.

Merkley noted that, although the state has prior funding that's carried over from the federal level, the state may struggle if this season isn't "normal."

"We should be OK for a normal year," he said. "But if it turns out to be the worst year, like we had last year, then maybe not. It's a real concern."

Another town hall attendee shared concerns over proposals put forth in the House to cut $880 billion from Medicaid, currently used by one-third of Americans. Merkley assured he and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have been fighting to save the program, provided in the state as the Oregon Health Plan.

"It's a big risk right now and I've been dedicating a lot of time of ringing the alarm bells about what it will do to devastate healthcare in America," he noted.

An additional question brought up President Trump's use of cryptocurrency, one of which is a "memecoin" launched before his inauguration in January. On Monday, the token surged in popularity after its website offered top holders a chance to dine with the president on May 22.

"If I proceed to say, as an elected official, 'Hey, you wanna have some influence with me or come meet with me? Buy some memecoins and go to the top of the list.' That is corruption, plain and simple, that is wrong," Merkley stressed.

He ultimately ended his town hall with a call to action.

"This is a call to resist, a call to defend our core constitution, a call to be off the couch, a call to hold your electors accountable," Merkley said. "Give us a hard time, with your phone calls, with your letters, with your attendance at town halls, with your questions, with your demonstrations. And join an affinity group, because to be angry and frustrated alone is to be oppressed. To be angry with others is to be energized and effective."