JOHN DAY — Sen. Ron Wyden looked for common ground among those on opposite sides of the political spectrum during his town hall April 24, 2025, at the Grant County Airport.

The Oregon Democrat championed the Secure Rural Schools Bill while urging those in attendance to advocate for its renewal. Like many town hall meetings that have happened since the November general election, the Trump administration and its policies were the main topics during talks.

Mark Witty, the superintendent of Grant School District, introduced Wyden and provided background on his history of public service to the mostly packed airport conference room. Witty also introduced student leadership from Humbolt Elementary School, who led the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the start of the meeting.

Questioners were chosen via drawn tickets. If a ticket was drawn and didn’t have a match in the crowd, the opportunity to ask a question to Wyden was given to attending Grant Union Jr./Sr. High School seniors.

Policy differences

Susan Church highlighted the Trump administration’s deportation practices while asking what the Senate was doing in response. Wyden’s answer: “Not enough.”

Wyden said Congress had tried to pass a bipartisan immigration bill but it was met with opposition from Elon Musk and the president. Wyden stressed that Democrats and Republicans need to work together to solve the immigration issue.

Grant Union senior Charley Knowles inquired about the loss of lumber mills and asked what the plan is to bring those jobs back. Wyden said the Secure Rural Schools Bill would help bring those things back.

“That’s the next logical step to rebuild,” he said.

Wyden said funds from the Secure Rural Schools Bill go toward education, jobs and law enforcement in rural communities. He stressed the importance of the bill throughout the town hall, calling it the most important bill he’s ever written.

“I’m convinced that in a lot of places in rural Oregon, if we hadn’t had this money over the years, we’d have school three-days a week,” he said.

Grant Union senior Mallory Lusco asked about the executive branch ignoring the Supreme Court pertaining to the deportation of Kilmar Abregio Garcia, whom the administration has admitted was wrongfully deported.

Wyden highlighted the need for due process while pointing out the courts are finally starting to come on board with checking the executive branch.

Tariffs, fire concerns and Social Security

The subject of wildfires also was at the forefront of discussions following last year’s devastating wildfire season in Grant County. One questioner asked about funding for fuel reductions following last year’s busy fire season.

Wyden said he’s learned rural Oregon will be hotter at an earlier time than last year and remain hot for longer than it was last year. As a result, Wyden is advocating for funds that would pay for more prescribed burns and allow the hiring of more seasonal firefighters.

Wyden again pointed to the Secure Rural Schools Bill as something that would help.

Bradley Hale, a John Day city councilor, asked about tariffs on American products in response to Wyden’s criticism of the Trump administration’s tariff policy. Wyden said the best way to deal with tariffs on U.S. products are targeted tariffs in retaliation as opposed to the application of broad tariffs.

Hale also mentioned the U.S. trade deficit with China and tariffs on items that could affect national security. Wyden said he understands national security has always been treated in a special way and he’s OK with that.

After some back and forth, Wyden said he’d speak with Hale following the town hall about the matter.

John Day City Councilor Chris Labhart expressed concerns about cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Wyden zeroed in on Social Security, calling it an earned benefit.

“Social Security has an efficiency rate of 98%,” he said.

Wyden said Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency are making it harder to contact people and resolve issues. The goal, according to Wyden, is to privatize Social Security and use cuts to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare as justification for tax cuts for billionaires.

Wyden stressed he’d strongly oppose any efforts to privatize Social Security.

Bipartisan way forward

Bipartisanship and working across the aisle was a common and lasting theme of the town hall.

“If you can’t create a coalition of both sides, you don’t have a win-win, you have a lose-lose,” he said.

Wyden urged those in attendance to reach out to their friends in rural communities to build support for the Secure Rural Schools Bill while again stressing bipartisan solutions to problems.

“We’re at our best when we find common ground,” he said.