Over 60 residents came to the Jackson County Expo to ask questions about topics including dam removal, climate change and a looming federal government shutdown. Bentz, a Republican, represents Oregon's 2nd District, which encompasses two-thirds of the state in Eastern and Southern Oregon.
One group showed up in force: postal workers. They were there to encourage the representative to help while the USPS considers the consolidation of some services from Medford to Portland.
Bentz said he supports the postal workers, and fought a decade ago to save rural post offices in Eastern Oregon that were in danger of shutting down.
“As far as updating and mechanizing the system, they’re going to have to do it," he said. "But, they’re gonna have to take into account already existing systems such as this one and make sure that people in these areas are protected, otherwise it won’t work.”
Bentz said he only learned about the controversial issue less than a week ago, but plans on pressing the USPS for their reasoning behind it.
Outside, looming over the Jackson County Expo, a thick layer of smoke had blown in from wildfires in Northern California. Bentz said making sure Oregonians are adapted to the changing climate is important, as summers become hotter and drier.
“We can’t keep choking to death on this smoke," Bentz said. "It’s killing our kids, it’s killing people. This is not good. And the way that you address it is you try – and I’m basing this on I don’t know how many studies – you go in and you reduce the fuel loads.”
Bentz said he supports the Resilient Federal Forests Act, a bill that would in part remove the need for environmental review to expedite forest health projects. The latest version of that bill didn't received much support from his Democratic colleagues, including any in Oregon.
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, secured billions in funding for wildfire prevention and forest health in last year’s budget bill, which Bentz voted against.
