U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s Lane County town hall turned into an emotional forum Wednesday as dozens of constituents pressed Oregon’s senior senator on U.S. policy toward Israel, the state of American democracy and Social Security and Medicare protections.
Speaking to dozens of constituents at Sheldon High School in North Eugene, Wyden opened the town hall by calling the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip “horrifying.” Wyden said he has drafted legislation to sanction and penalize Israeli officials who “get in the way” of humanitarian aid.
Wyden also emphasized the plight of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
“The hostage situation remains hugely critical,” Wyden said.
Several audience members challenged Wyden on his record of supporting military aid to Israel. One attendee noted that federal law prohibits U.S. assistance to foreign governments that block U.S. humanitarian aid and asked Wyden if he would stop voting for military aid to Israel.
In response, Wyden said the proposed sanctions would send a “real message to Israel.” He also voiced his support for a Palestinian state, but said achieving it will be difficult.
One constituent voiced solidarity with both Israelis and Palestinians.
“I support the state of Israel. I also support having a Palestinian state,” the constituent said, adding that they want the war to stop.
(Lucas Hellberg)
Not all questions centered on foreign policy. A Eugene resident asked Wyden about protecting Social Security and Medicare amid proposals to raise the retirement age.
Wyden, who is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said he had pushed back against potentially raising the retirement age and won.
“I announced that I was against it,” Wyden said. “Within three hours, they redrew it.”
Other constituents voiced concerns about authoritarianism. One attendee asked Wyden what citizens can do to stop the U.S. from sliding toward dictatorship.
Wyden said the answer lies in grassroots political action.
“Political change hardly ever starts in a government building … It’s almost always the other way,” Wyden said.
In his closing remarks, Wyden acknowledged the tense exchanges but praised the civil tone of the town hall.
“There has not been a bad point in the house,” Wyden said. “Everybody who’s disagreed with me with respect to Gaza and Israel and the like has had important things to say.”
