By:Alvin Wilson 
Staff Writer

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden visited Polk County on Jan. 16 to hold one of his annual open meetings.

Wyden has made it a point to visit every county in Oregon at least once a year. This was his 762nd town hall meeting since he became an Oregon senator in 1996.

Here is what Wyden had to say about some of the topics covered during the meeting:

On the militia occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge:

“It is very understandable that the people in Eastern Oregon are frustrated about the economy. It is also frustrating, and understandably so, that they feel the government doesn’t much listen to them.

Obviously this is putting a lot of stress on the people of Harney County, and it cannot be allowed to go on … I want it understood: once this issue is resolved, I expect that there are going to be appropriate legal consequences.”

On gun control:

“A number of years ago, a man by the name of Jay Dickey added a provision into law that barred the government from doing any research into the causes of this recent gun violence. I say let’s get some serious, objective research going to take a look at these things.

The real question for me is whether, after another attack, we get to the point in America where we just shrug our shoulders and say ‘that’s the way it is.’ That’s not good enough for me. I am for some practical steps that are completely consistent with the second amendment.”

On making higher education more affordable:

“I am the author of the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides up to $10,000 of relief for students in college. Now, obviously $10,000 isn’t all you need to pay for college, but it’s a decent start.”

“There are two other matters I’m working on that are not law. The first would create the first ever federal incentive for a state to freeze or lower tuition […] State colleges would be eligible for some federal help to reduce costs.

The second bill is the Wyden-Rubio Student Right to Know Before You Go Act.

It allows families to see what graduation rates were, debt levels, remedial education, and for the first time, what you would be likely to earn if you got a degree from that school.

One thing I like about this bill is that if one school is doing a good job at these things, the school that is not doing a good job better clean up its act, or they’ll be out of business. So for the first time you’re beginning to inject some marketplace forces into holding down the cost of college.”

Some of his responses weren’t taken particularly well, due to Senator Wyden being a Democrat and Polk County being mostly conservative.

But Wyden didn’t alter his views as a Democrat among conservatives, and he ended the meeting by acknowledging the differences between them.

“I’m sure you go home today disagreeing with me about one subject, two subjects,” said Wyden. “Maybe you walk out of here thinking ‘this fella doesn’t know much about anything.’ But I hope you go home today thinking that this is what the founding fathers wanted us to do. This is what they wanted it to be like.”