Two federal congressmen visited Eugene this week to hold town hall meetings with their constituents and to open dialogue about community concerns.
Rep. Peter DeFazio traveled around the Eugene area, making his final appearance Wednesday evening at the EWEB Training and Conference Room. Sen. Ron Wyden listened to comments about the Iraq war at the University Thursday afternoon.
Subjects that were of most interest to participants in the town hall meetings were the Iraq war, impeachment of the Bush administration and concerns about military involvement in Iran.
Many participants noted that Sen. Gordon Smith had no town hall meetings scheduled during the Congressional recess.
A call for an end to the Iraq war
The Iraq war was the center of the most discussion in both town hall meetings. Wyden devoted the majority of his time to discussion of the war and its implications globally and locally.
“We are going into one of the most important debates in recent history,” Wyden said. “The debate on the war in Iraq.”
Wyden said he is in support of a bill that would begin withdrawal of troops 120 days from the date it is passed. He admitted the bill “keeps a presence” and there is no number associated with how many troops would make up that presence.
The costs of the war were also a concern for citizens.
State Rep. Phil Barnhart said the Oregon legislature has done what it can to help veterans transition back into American society, but the state doesn’t have the funding.
“The United States government provides almost nothing in the transitions of people returning from Iraq,” he said.
Wyden agreed the true costs of the war are not clear to the public.
“We need truth in budgeting in terms of war costs,” he said. He said he believes the war will end up costing $1 trillion when counting injuries soldiers have sustained, and the life-long care some will need.
“People are surviving astoundingly horrendous wounds,” he said.
DeFazio said the Iraq war is costing American taxpayers $2 billion each week.
“This country is on the verge of financial collapse,” DeFazio said. “We’ve nearly doubled the national debt in six years.”
Globally, the Iraq war has affected how people view the U.S. government, Wyden said.
“We have lost a lot of prestige around the world because of this war,” he said. “Our policies are creating more jihadists rather than fewer.”
Impeachment not likely
Residents expressed concerns to DeFazio ranging from impeaching Vice President Dick Cheney to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
While DeFazio attempted to begin the discussion with what Congress has accomplished since Democrats took the majority, some of the 100 people in attendance began shouting questions.
When one woman asked that people wait until the question and answer period, DeFazio said, “It is a little fifth grade with people shouting at each other.”
The discussion never headed back to Congress’ accomplishments, and overriding concerns of citizens dominated the rest of the hour.
DeFazio tried to explain in order to begin impeachment of President Bush, “You need to have an impeachable offense.” DeFazio supported the idea of impeaching Gonzales, but said he would need a whole lot more support in the House to make a bill move forward.
“I believe if we could get the people to get rid of him and we could get our Justice Department back, then we could get the special prosecutors” who could work on finding impeachable offenses within the presidency.
Additionally he mentioned there is a bill circulating that calls for the impeachment of Cheney, but DeFazio reminded the audience that the country faces larger problems because of the war in Iraq.
Wyden did not spend a lot of time on impeachment, which he considers a dead issue. His forum was attended by about 140 people, including University President Dave Frohnmayer and Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy.
One woman brought Wyden a copy of PBS personality Bill Moyers’ discussion of impeachment, which Wyden said he had heard.
No support for war with Iran
Concern about Iran was also a major topic at both meetings.
Law school professor Garrett Epps told Wyden he believes one of two things will happen in the near future, either Congress will get the votes it needs to begin withdrawal and President Bush will ignore Congress by saying he is commander in chief and can do as he pleases, or the administration will develop a plan to divert attention by moving toward war with Iran.
Wyden responded that when the legislature sees how strongly people feel about withdrawal, Congress will get the courage to stand up to Bush.
“I think it is obvious we face a challenge there but going to war with Iran is not the way to proceed,” Wyden said.
DeFazio was also asked about Iran, and he held the same opinion about a confrontation.
“We’ve already got a disaster in Iraq and if we attacked Iran, it wouldn’t end their nuclear capability,” he said. “This is an ongoing debate, and it’s scary.”