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Hood River News Editorial Board
October 28, 2006 |
The race between Rep. Greg Walden and Democratic opponent Carol Voisin
for U.S. Congress, Second District, has been a low-key, cordial one.
The candidates have conducted a friendly campaign, with Voisin running
on issues and ideas over Iraq, forestry policy, and the budget
deficit.
Walden has ³run² with some radio and print ads, but mostly by just
doing his job.
He has done his job well.
Greg Walden certainly deserves to be re-elected.
Voisin, an Ashland resident who by her own admission is running a
distinct uphill battle against Walden, is an extremely capable person
who has represented her party well, and she should be encouraged to
pursue public service again.
Walden has shown himself as an honorable man and true public servant
who holds all Oregonians in mind, not just those of the Second
District or Hood River County.
The hallmark of Walden¹s service over the last three years has been
his bipartisan work with Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer on the Mt.
Hood Legacy Act, which expands wilderness areas and adds more rivers
in the Mount Hood/Gorge area to protected status.
Walden, who chairs the Forests and Forest Health Subcommittee, helped
write and pass the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, which has cleared
the way for thinning forests of excess fuel loads. He also wrote and
got the House to approve the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research
Act that would expedite the process to allow the harvest of burned,
dead and dying trees after a fire and the replanting of a forest
sooner.
While this initiative has its detractors, in the long run it will
benefit both the forests and local economies.
Walden has the support of the Oregon Farm Bureau and other
agricultural and ranch groups, and Oregonians for Food and Shelter.
Walden finds time to visit Hood River and the Second District on a
remarkably frequent basis, yet maintains a near-perfect voting
attendance record in D.C.
Walden has repeatedly proven he is here when needed and there when
needed.
Part of that is a reflection of his role as assistant party whip. With
that in mind, the Second District will continue to benefit from the
ongoing respect and influence of its Native Son, who should be
returned to Congress. |
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Return Greg Walden to Congress
The Baker City Herald Editorial Board
October 20, 2006 Baker City, OR |
Rep. Greg Walden is an R even Ds can support.
Some congressmen latch on to a national hot button issue and try to
make a name for themselves.
Walden latches on to the issues that are important to his district and
tries to forge solutions.
Consider:
He and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., have been champions of making the
federal government help rural schools and counties make up for lost
timber dollars.
He's sought ways to improve forest health before there's a fire - and
remove barriers to post-fire logging and restoration.
And on Mount Hood, where he's a sponsor of new wilderness, he's also
worked so that the Forest Service will look at roads it wants to close
and consider their usefulness to four-wheelers, mountain bikers and
other recreational users.
His challenger, Carol Voisin, comes to this campaign with a lot of
passion, much of it directed at the Bush Administration's failure to
navigate the vagaries of a post-Saddam Iraq and pursue issues critical
to middle and lower income people.
Trying to paint Walden with the broad brush of Bush bashing isn't
fair.
For certain, he's supported the president on a number of issues. But
he's also disagreed with Bush on key issues.
Walden and other Northwest lawmakers fought the administration on a
proposal to raise Bonneville Power Administration power rates, which
would have hit Oregon Trail Electric Co-operative customers in the
pocketbook.
And he voted to override Bush's veto of funding for stem cell
research.
But if Iraq's your single issue, those instances might not reassure
you.
This doesn't mean Walden isn't your candidate, however.
On the war in Iraq, he straddles a fine line, stopping short of
criticizing the administration and instead delving into the
complexities of the Sunni-Shia antagonism.
Walden works on the Second District's priorities by collaborating with
colleagues - Democrat and Republican. He has successfully navigated
the political channels in the halls of congress to move legislation as
diverse as rural health care, healthy forests and prevention of meth
trafficking because it's important to us, the people he represents.
And that's exactly the kind of representation we want to continue to
have in congress.
We urge you to vote for Greg Walden for Congress. |
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Walden Exemplifies "Representative"
The La Grande Observer Editorial Board
October 20, 2006 La Grande, OR |
Few congressional districts anywhere can boast the kind of
representation that Oregon's 2nd District has. Rep. Greg Walden, a
Republican from Hood River, is a perfect match for his district. Hands
down, he deserves another term.
Walden is a rare breed among politicians, especially among those whose
work occurs in Washington, D.C. He's one who keeps in touch, who
spends virtually every weekend back in his district and who traverses
his district - as vast as it is - regularly.
And the contact he maintains results in working toward legislation
that represents his district, whether it be the Healthy Forest
Restoration Act, the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act,
co-sponsoring legislation with a Portland-area congressman to expand
the Mount Hood Wilderness, or fighting efforts to repeal the county
payments program. He understands his district, its constituents and
their needs. He exemplifies what being a representative is all about.
He's best known for his work on forest policy. He knows the condition
of our forests and what those forests mean to our region economically,
recreationally and environmentally.
But he isn't a one-issue congressman. He's gone to bat for every
region of his district. Locally, he's proven to be a resource for
Eastern Oregon University's efforts to grow and expand. To aid the
efforts of the Wallowa-Union Railroad. To help see that the Wallowa
Lake Dam gets rebuilt.
Greg Walden is a throwback to the kind of Oregon Republican who can
work with both sides of the aisle, who can effect change and be a true
representative of his constituents. He deserves a fifth term. Hands
down.
Frankly, we look forward to the day he decides that it's time to come
home full time and devote his efforts to representing all of Oregon,
not just one of five districts. That would mean a run for governor.
He's perfectly suited for such a role. |
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Walden clear choice for Congress
Herald and News Editorial Board
Klamath Falls, OR October 19, 2006 |
Oregon's 2nd Congressional District is bigger than some states, has an
economy that relies heavily on natural resources and has a congressmen
who fits it. There's no reason to make a change.
The 2nd District should return Greg Walden to office for another
two-year term - his fifth. The Hood River businessman was first
elected in 1998 after serving in the State Legislature since 1988.
His opponent is Carol Voisin, a teacher at Southern Oregon University.
Voisin has a bachelor's degree in social science and a doctorate of
theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. She's
managed academic programs at Duke University and Pacific School of
Religion, also at Berkeley.
Voisin's campaign is largely built on national and international
issues - such as Iraq. There may be a case to be made that the only
way to vote against the present policy in Iraq and take a stand on
some other national issues is to vote against a congressman from the
same party as the president, but the case against Walden, such as it
can be made, ends there and is overwhelmed by his performance.
He has been strongly attentive to the 2nd District, returning often to
it.
The district includes all of Eastern Oregon and, on the west side,
Jackson County and part of Josephine County.
Walden has demonstrated the ability to work across party lines. Good
thing, too, since the other members of Oregon's delegation are
Democrats. He co-sponsored the Healthy Forest Act along with Brian
Baird, D-Wash., and worked well with Rep. Earl Blumenauer in the
effort to establish more wilderness area at Mount Hood.
He's also fought the Bush administration on some issues including the
Mount Hood wilderness proposal and the county payments bill. He's been
a major help to the Klamath Basin in dealing with the Klamath River's
chronic water problems. He worked hard in the wake of the cutoff of
water in the Klamath Reclamation Project.
Buyouts a bad idea
During a recent visit to Klamath Falls, Voisin supported a buyout
program of farmland and irrigation rights from willing sellers as a
way to lessen demand for water and reduce the problems. Walden has
opposed that approach, and he's right to.
The land would be almost certain to come into some form of public
ownership that doesn't pay property taxes. That would be a terrible
idea at a time when the county is facing the eventual end of the
county payments revenue it gets from the federal government and is
more reliant than ever on property taxes. Such a program would also
reduce the critical mass the Basin needs to maintain for a viable
agriculture economy.
Walden is well tuned in to the needs of the Klamath Basin and the rest
of the 2nd District. Voters should send him back to the nation's
capital to continue his work. |
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Walden Worthy of Re-election
Medford Mail Tribune Editorial Board
October 19, 2006 |
The Nov. 7 mid-term election is being billed nationally as a
referendum on Bush administration policy on the Iraq war, homeland
security and the economy. Bush will remain in office until 2008, but
Democrats are urging voters to express their growing dissatisfaction
with the president by replacing Republican members of Congress.
Here in Oregon's sprawling 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Carol
Voisin will undoubtedly reap some benefit from that sentiment in her
bid to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Greg Walden. As in previous
elections, it will undoubtedly not be enough.
We are no fans of the Bush administration; this newspaper endorsed
John Kerry for president in 2004, largely on the basis of Bush's
performance during his first term. We opposed the invasion of Iraq in
2003 and we remain thoroughly unimpressed with just about every aspect
of this presidency.
Nevertheless, we recommend that voters return Walden to Congress. We
do so not because he supports the administration but because he
focuses his energy on serving his district, and because he has
effectively worked across the aisle on legislation important to his
constituents.
Walden certainly votes with his party most of the time. But he points
out correctly that the same can be said of his Democratic colleagues
in the Oregon delegation.
Serving in the House is a balancing act for most representatives -
vote with your caucus often enough to maintain cordial relationships
that can translate into support for legislation you want that may not
please all of your fellow party members.
Walden, unlike some more high-profile House members, does not serve on
the Armed Services or Intelligence committees; he has not sought the
national spotlight on the Iraq war, the national economy or treatment
of detainees suspected of terrorism. He has worked diligently on
natural resources issues, including securing House passage of a
bipartisan bill to expand the Mount Hood Wilderness Area.
He is quick to point out areas where he disagrees with the Bush
administration, including defending Oregon's Death With Dignity law
from administration attacks. Walden also signed a letter urging
President Bush not to veto the stem-cell research bill, and when that
effort was unsuccessful, voted to overturn the president's veto.
We don't agree with him on every issue, but he effectively represents
a district that is overwhelmingly Republican, rural and conservative.
Democrat Carol Voisin is an intelligent, appealing candidate who spent
the summer traveling the 2nd District, which encompasses all of
Eastern Oregon, from the Columbia Gorge to the California border, as
well as Jackson County.
She is well-spoken and pointed in her criticism of Walden's voting
record.
But she would face a steep learning curve if elected. Voisin has lived
in Oregon only since 2002 and has never served in elective office.
We recommend that Voisin get some governmental experience under her
belt and spend a few more years getting to know the second largest
congressional district in the country before she tries to represent it
in Washington, D.C. |
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Walden Over Voisin
The Dalles Chronicle
The Dalles, Oregon |
The race for Oregon's sprawling second congressional district is far
easier to call. Incumbent Republican Greg Walden is rapidly becoming
one of the prime movers in the House of Representatives. He has
managed to shepherd significant pieces of legislation through the maze
of committees and to successful votes on the floor by careful
consensus-building and a willingness to find common ground with
Democrats.
One spectacular example is his three-year effort with Rep. Earl
Blumenauer (arguably Oregon's most liberal member of Congress) to
secure the input of all stakeholders in crafting a bill that would add
77,000 acres of wilderness designation and 22 miles of wild and scenic
river designation in the area around Mt. Hood.
An indicator of the success of that team effort was a unanimous vote
by the House in favor of the careful compromise.
Walden, who has in the past been accused by his opponents as being in
lockstep with the Bush administration and its proposals, has now made
some clear stands in opposition to the administration, particularly in
its attempt to take revenue from the Bonneville Power Administration,
which would have driven rates up steeply for local ratepayers.
His opponent, Carol Voisin, presents herself well, but has never been
elected to a public office of any kind. It is our firm editorial board
position that candidates with no prior experience should not be voted
into the major leagues.
The Chronicle's editorial board strongly endorses Greg Walden. |
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Walden is the obvious choice
Argus Observer Editorial Board
Ontario, Oregon,
October 11, 2006 |
When area Oregon voters gather their ballots from the mail and reflect
on the best candidate for the sprawling 2nd Congressional District,
the only real choice is GOP incumbent Greg Walden.
Walden faces a challenge from Democratic and southern Oregon resident
Carol Voisin, but if curious voters reflect on Walden's record as a
congressman representing Oregon, he clearly sets a high standard of
legislative excellence.
Critics could rightly point out that the record is a false gauge since
Voisin has never been elected to a congressional slot.
Yet a strong record really is important and Walden has one.
Walden's Healthy Forest Act, an initiative he pushed with vigor,
became law last year and during the last Congressional session he
worked to win approval of the Forest Emergency Recovery & Research
Act, a mandate that pushes for the harvest of timber before the wood
rots on the ground.
Walden has also established a record of working across party lines -
something noticeably lacking in many other portions of the nation - to
get critical issues solved.
Finally Walden consistently keeps his focus on his home district.
Walden is no stranger to Malheur County because he makes sure he
visits on a regular basis to hear voter concerns.
Walden is a proven legislative leader with enough savvy to keep
Oregon's 2nd Congressional District's issues alive on the national
scene.
He not only deserves another term as our congressman, but he's earned
it. |
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WALDEN FOR 2ND
DISTRICT
Oregonian Editorial Staff
Sunday, October 8, 2006 |
In the sprawling 2nd District, east of the Cascades plus part of
Southern Oregon, GOP incumbent Greg Walden is the clear choice over
his Democratic opponent, Southern Oregon University instructor Carol
Voisin.
She opposes Walden for his support of the Bush administration on the
big issues. But that's the only plausible argument she can make
against Walden.
Walden has opposed the Bush administration on national issues
(stem-cell research) and local issues (resisting cuts in payments to
rural counties hurt by cutbacks in logging on federal land). He also
has a proven record of working with Democrats.
Last Congress, Walden's Healthy Forests Act became law. This Congress,
he's worked with Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., to win House passage of
the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act, which promotes the
harvest of timber before insects and rot diminish its value. He's
teamed with Blumenauer to try to protect more than 77,000 acres from
logging and development in the Mount Hood National Forest.
Walden shows a talent for not only working across party lines, but
bringing constituencies together. He's also moved up the ranks of the
Republican leadership while staying close to his district. That's why
Walden should stay right where he is for the next two years. |
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Return Walden to Congress
Bulletin Editorial staff
Bend, Oregon,
October 10. 2006 |
Voters will have plenty of tough decisions to make in November, but
none of them involve Greg Walden. Sending the Hood River Republican
back to Congress is a no-brainer. Walden's opponent, Democrat Carol
Voisin, offers constituents of the state's vast 2nd District virtually
nothing in the way of relevant experience or original thought. Walden,
on the other hand, has an impressive and moderate record to which
he'll surely add in a fifth term.
Walden is best known for his work on forest policy. He sponsored the
Healthy Forests Restoration Act, which speeds up the removal of
hazardous fuels on public lands.
He followed up that legislation with the Forest Emergency Recovery and
Research Act, which, among other things, would speed up salvage
logging after catastrophic events like wildfires. The bill recently
passed the House by an overwhelming margin - including the support of
dozens of Democrats - and awaits action in the Senate.
This legislation, together with his desire to update the Endangered
Species Act, has made Walden a target for environmental groups. But
the longer you live in the 2nd District a good chunk of which burns
every summer, the harder it becomes to maintain the fiction that
reducing fuels and logging dead trees are bad things.
As long as we're on the subject of fictions, the “Chainsaw Greg”
persona is even harder to establish in light of some of Walden's other
initiatives. He and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., sponsored
legislation to expand the Mount Hood Wilderness by more than 77,000
acres. The House approved the bill this summer, though its future is
uncertain, in part because it would classify more land as wilderness
than the Bush administration considers appropriate.
Over the years, meanwhile, Walden has helped to secure millions of
dollars for regional conservation projects, including some to improve
water flows in the Deschutes River.
As suggested by Walden's conservation and forest-management
legislation, he has been a very effective advocate for his district.
He helped transfer ownership of the Bend Pine Nursery from the federal
government to the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District, a seemingly
simple task that took years of work. He has supported various
incentives to establish a biomass energy industry in Oregon. He has
helped to preserve “in lieu of” payments to counties like Deschutes,
Crook and Jefferson, which used to receive millions of dollars in
revenue from logging on federal land. He has also backed measures to
enhance medical care in the rural areas that make up much of his
district.
In accomplishing these things, Walden has demonstrated a willingness
to cross party lines. He worked with Blumenauer on the Mount Hood
bill, of course, and he worked with Democrats Brian Baird, of
Washington, and Stephanie Herseth, of South Dakota, on the Forest
Emergency Recovery and Research Act.
He has been, in other words, a pragmatic, moderate asset to Oregon's
2nd District. Voters should do themselves a favor and send him back to
Washington. |
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Walden's woods work tops list of his achievements
Grants Pass Daily Courier
September 21, 2006 |
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden has become a national leader in efforts to
return common sense to federal forest management and has obtained
funding critical to Oregon's rural residents.
For these reasons and others, the Daily Courier editorial board
heartily recommends Walden for a fifth term as the 2nd Congressional
District's representative. The district includes about 36,000 voters
in the vicinity of Grants Pass, along with residents in Jackson County
and all of Eastern Oregon.
Walden, a Republican from Hood River, faces Carol Voisin, a Democrat
and professor at Southern Oregon University, in the Nov. 7 election.
Walden was appalled at the red tape and waste of wood in the aftermath
of the 500,000-acre Biscuit Fire that blazed through the local
Siskiyou National Forest in 2002. Dead trees rotted for two years
before the U.S. Forest Service even started selling them. At the
start, salvage logging was restricted to only 3.8 percent of the burn
area, and still only 20 to 30 percent of the planned harvest will be
cut, due to delays.
The lack of replanting will mean the forest will probably grow back
much slower and with more brush, creating another tinderbox.
Walden acted to stop similar situations from costing communities jobs
and America, as a whole, healthy forests. He shepherded his Healthy
Forests Restoration Act through Congress in 2003. His Forest Emergency
Recovery and Research Act cleared the House this year and sits in the
Senate. Together, they would drastically reduce the time federal
forest managers have to develop plans for thinning forests and
salvaging burned trees.
On funding, Walden has fought successfully to keep open the Veteran
Affairs' Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics in White
City and the air tanker base in Medford. He is also working to retain
O&C "safety net" funding critical for Josephine and 17 other Oregon
counties.
His opponent, Voisin, is a poised and intelligent political newcomer
who labels the Iraq war "immoral” and decries the rising national debt
and the state of the health care and education systems. She also
thinks the federal government is sticking its nose too far into
Americans' lives in the name of security. In addition, she rips Walden
for almost always siding with the president or other Republicans on
issues.
We share some of Voisin's concerns;, especially over domestic problems
and invasion of privacy. However, Walden's siding with other
Republicans is probably him just reflecting his generally conservative
constituents. For example, 62 percent of county residents voted for
Bush in his two runs for office, in 2000 and 2004.
Walden has indeed been representative of his constituents and
supported what's important to their quality of life. The Daily Courier
strongly urges 2nd Congressional District voters to again support
Walden by electing .him in November.
Election recommendations are decided by the Daily Courier editorial
board - the president, publisher and editor - and thus aren't signed
by an individual, as is the newspaper's usual policy.
Contact your U.S. senators
Sen. Gordon Smith, 404 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington,
D.C. Phone: (202) 224-3753. Fax: (202) 228-3997. District office: 1175
E. Main St., Suite 2D, Medford, OR 9'7504.
Phone 608-9102. E-mail: E-mail: (go to Smith's Web site and click on
"Contact me") Web site: gsmith.senate.gov/public
Sen. Ron Wyden, 230 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
20510. Phone: (202) 224-5244. Fax: (202) 228-2727. District office:
310 W. Sixth St., Rm. 118, Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 858-5122. Fax:
858-5126. E-mail: (go to Wyden's Web site and click on "E-mail Ron.")
Web site: wyden.senate.gov |
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Cynicism outweighs issues in '06
East Oregonian Editorial |
The scramble for
party power in Washington as November's election looms seems
particularly cynical this year.
It is apparent as public unrest over the war
on terror and the lack of war on domestic issues builds that the
President's party is willing to throw his final two years in office
under the bus to keep control of Congress.
The Democrats, on the other hand, are coming
into the race completely unarmed about how they'd do things
differently, playing only to the current troubles without credible or
thoughtful solutions.
This thirst for power always has been a
reality in Washington, it's just that there is so much partisanship in
America today, the cynicism of this midterm campaign seems especially
onerous.
And midterm elections always have been the
worst for the president and his party, especially the second midterm
election. In fact, the president's party historically loses an average
of 24 House seats and an average of five Senate seats in these races.
But this year there is talk about vengeance.
Democrats are openly discussing the
ramifications of their taking over the House, and it's not talk of a
fresh approach to perplexing issues, it's talk of tying up the White
House in nonstop investigations like the Republicans did to Bill
Clinton's final two years.
It's far from a heart-warming display of the
kind of democracy we would export to the world.
Meanwhile, Republicans who have served the
White House in formal lock step for the past six years have taken the
primary defeat of pro-war Democrat Joseph Lieberman to heart and
apparently with the President's permission.
Those House Republicans whose seats are seen
as most fragile are showing up on media in an all-out blitz to decry
the way the administration has prosecuted this war.
The cynicism in all this is that these
politicians evidently have such low regard for their constituents they
feel they can say anything that suits their personal political needs
and voters will keep them in power.
It's nice to note that Congressman Greg
Walden has refrained from this bailout on the last six years. He has
kept his nose to the domestic grinder and everyone in Eastern Oregon
should be grateful for that, even those who want a Democrat in the
seat.
Let the rest of the nation play the party
line, and let our candidates debate the issues and how to deal with
them.
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of
the East Oregonian editorial board comprised of Publisher Dave Balcom,
Managing Editor Steve Brown and Secretary/Treasurer Jacqueline Brown.
Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions
of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. |
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A one-year reprieve for rural counties
The Oregonian - Wednesday, August 09, 2006 |
Rural Oregon communities dodged a White House bullet this week, but
that's hardly cause for celebration. The indispensable county payments
program President Bush wants to slash remains squarely in his gun
sights.
For the moment, though, give plenty of credit to members of Oregon's
congressional delegation who worked hard to hold the administration at
bay. Their efforts led to a one-year extension of the 2000 law that
has provided $1.6 billion to Oregon counties for such basic government
services as schools and roads.
Hats off to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., for
fighting long and hard this year to renew the county payments, and to
Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., for pushing for at least a one-year
extension.
It will provide $523 million to counties across the country, with
Oregon receiving more than half. That's an enormous relief in towns
from Roseburg to Reedsport, but they remain in limbo.
Oregon's team in Washington, D.C., must keep up the difficult task of
getting the county payments law renewed, as is, for another five
years. They must not let this administration break the nation's
long-standing promise to rural America. |
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Thing of beauty: a yes vote for new wilderness
The House is set to pass a Mount Hood wilderness bill, Sunday,
July 23, 2006
The Oregonian |
and now the heavy lifting falls to Oregon's senators
Three years ago, it was hard to imagine that anyone could carry the
heavy load of a Mount Hood wilderness bill up the steep slope of a
Republican-controlled Congress.
Yet now the bill is only a few big steps away from reaching the summit
and becoming law.
A House committee led by a chairman deeply suspicious of any new
wilderness has approved, by unanimous consent, a bill that would add
77,500 acres of wilderness at Mount Hood. The full House could take up
and approve the Mount Hood wilderness bill as soon as this week.
When that happens, Oregon Reps. Greg Walden and Earl Blumenauer
finally can hand over their backpacks to Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon
Smith. Then it will be the senators' turn to do the heavy lifting to
get more Mount Hood wilderness into law.
Walden and Blumenauer deserve a rest -- and the enthusiastic applause
of Oregonians -- for all they have done together on Mount Hood.
Walden, the rural Republican, and Blumenauer, the urban Democrat, have
gone the extra mile to bridge their political differences and bring
home the first expansion of Mount Hood wilderness in 21 years.
The two political opposites have spent three years on this trek,
holding public summits, meeting with hundreds of stakeholders and even
walking the land on a four-day, 41-mile hike together around the base
of Mount Hood.
Now they have brought to a final vote in the House a bill that would
protect the beautiful Roaring River watershed and the ancient,
1,000-year-old cedar trees in Big Bottom. Their bill also will corral
more federal money to pay for trails and expand other much-¬needed
recreation facilities.
The legislation also will direct the government to make long-overdue
improvements in the overwhelmed roads leading up to the mountain.
Further, it will help resolve a long running development dispute by
enabling a proposed land swap giving Mount Hood Meadows Ski Area 120
acres of federal land in exchange for about 770 acres the ski area
owns at Cooper Spur.
The House bill is a fine piece of legislation, but the Senate can make
it even better. The House bill omits several areas on the east slope
of the mountain that should be included in any expansion of Mount Hood
wilderness. In a recent meeting with The Oregonian's editorial board,
Smith and Wyden said they were not yet prepared to discuss their own
negotiations about the Mount Hood wilderness. We hope the senators can
reach agreement on a deal that would push the expansion to more than
100,000 acres.
But they need to get moving. Like the summer hiking season on Mount
Hood, the Senate calendar during an election year is short. Not all
that many days are left to get a Mount Hood bill all the way through
Congress and onto the president's desk.
It would be a shame to waste this week's House vote, and all of Walden
and Blumenauer's hard work to get Mount Hood wilderness this far.
Wyden and Smith need to shoulder those packs, put the wilderness bill
on their backs and start climbing. |
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A bright future for the Dom
Support from the community and from Walden pays off
Medford Mail Tribune - July 26, 2006 |
It wasn't so long ago that the future of the Veterans Affairs
domiciliary in White City appeared to be anything but rosy. The "Dom,"
as it was called locally, was on a federal hit list for possible
closure and its aging buildings made it a likely victim of federal
cutbacks in veterans programs.
What a difference a few years makes. In 2003, the Department of
Veterans Affairs named the facility as one of 30 nationwide under
consideration for closure or significant reduction in services. That
was averted in 2004 after a strong show of community support and, on
Saturday, U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson came to
White City to announce that the VA planned to expand and improve the
64-year-old facility.
Now called the Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics, the
center provides general medicine and mental health care to about
12,000 veterans in the Southern Oregon and Northern California region
and has about 400 resident patients.
The proposed new work includes demolition of some of the original
structures that were built to house soldiers in training during World
War II. They will be replaced by new residential buildings that would
allow SORCC to house 600 patients. A new clinic and other specialty
care facilities also are on the drawing board.
The project is still in the "proposed" phase because it needs
congressional approval of the funding. But given the presence of
Nicholson in White City and the current climate of support for
servicemen and women and veterans, that approval seems likely.
Second District Congressman Greg Walden deserves a fair share of the
credit for the effort to save and enhance SORCC. He was there in 2003,
opposing plans to close it, and he was there Saturday when the
improvement plans were announced. He recognizes it is a critical
facility for the patients it serves and for the community that
benefits from its $52 million annual budget. |
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Support rural health care bill
Bulletin Editorial - June 10, 2006
Bend, Oregon |
The hospital in Hermiston is an unfortunate example of why Congress
should support a bill introduced by Rep. Greg Walden to help rural
hospitals and clinics stay open.
Last year, to save money, the hospital downgraded how many patients it
could serve. The Good Shepherd Medical Center had been struggling like
many rural hospitals. It was in the red $1.5 million or more for the
last couple years.
The primary reasons were that Medicare and Medicaid did not fully
compensate the hospital for the cost of patient care and it was also
due to bills patients did not pay.
The hospital made the difficult choice of switching to a different
federal government classification. By becoming what is called a
critical access hospital, it is able to get more Medicare money for
patients. But it had to reduce the maximum number of patients in the
hospital to 25 at any time.
Nobody is dying because of the change Good Shepherd made. The hospital
has sometimes had more inpatients than 25. What it could mean is that
patients face delays on elective surgery or might be referred to
another hospital farther away.
If you look across a map of Oregon, there are generally more uninsured
patients and more patients on the Oregon Health Plan the more you go
east.
That makes it harder for hospitals and doctors and nurses to make
money, because of the low reimbursement rates.
The low profits, in turn, can make doctors scarce. Across the country,
about
25 percent live in what are considered to be rural areas and only 10
percent of doctors practice in those areas.
Walden, R-Ore., introduced his Medicare Rural Health Provider Payment
Extension Act to give rural health care a booster shot. The bill,
which would increase payments by 5 percent for home health care and by
2 percent for ambulance trips, extends incentives for doctors to
practice in rural areas and helps pay for lab tests performed in rural
hospitals.
There is a hefty price for all that help. If Walden's bill passes, it
is estimated to cost $3.1 billion more for Medicare for the years
2007-11, than it would without it.
We think that price is worth it. Congress approved the support for
rural health care providers once before. It should do so again to
ensure rural Americans have at least some local access to care.
The bill may not prevent more hospitals from making the choice that
the Good Shepherd was compelled to, but it should help. |
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Bend Bulletin
Bend, Oregon
April1
7, 2006 |
If you plan to vote in the Republican primary for Congress, we
recommend voting for Rep. Greg Walden.
Walden, a small-business owner who lives in Hood River, has a record
of solid accomplishments for the district. He has helped improve
access to rural health care in Prineville, Madras and Fossil through
federally funded clinics, pushed through the sale of Bend Pine Nursery
to improve access to parks in Bend, helped Central Oregon's traffic
issues with the Millican Road project, and helped get money for Oregon
State University's Cascades Campus.
He has also introduced and passed some legislation to sensibly manage
forests in public lands, including one that would - in certain cases -
permit logging after a fire before the logs rot away. Along with
Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer, he has introduced a bill to add
77,500 acres in designated wilderness to the Mount Hood National
Forest. |
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Walden and Butcher for Congress
Baker City Herald, April
7, 2006 |
Greg Walden is the Earl Blumenauer of Eastern Oregon: all but
unbeatable in his district.
That hasn't stopped one Republican and four Democrats from taking the
floor in an attempt to unseat the four-term Congressman from Hood
River.
For Republicans, the choice in the primary is simple. Paul Daghlian
isn't even token opposition - he just missed the deadline to withdraw
from the race. GOP voters can be happy with Walden and with his steady
rise in Congress. They should give him a strong show of support in the
primary as he tackles the thorny issue of post-catastrophic fire
recovery on our National Forests.
And while we suspect Walden will walk away with the vote in November,
Democrats at least have a choice this year - and local Democrats can
cast their ballots for a favorite son who is helping baste Oregon
Democrats with some Eastern Oregon flavor.
Four candidates have thrown their hat in the ring for the Democratic
nomination, and they are campaigning together to take as long a
running start at Walden as possible.
For Baker County Democrats, a unified vote for Baker City's Chuck
Butcher seems the logical choice.
Butcher spearheaded the effort to place explicit respect for gun
rights in the Oregon Democratic Party's platform. If nominated to face
Walden, he'll have an opportunity to stump against a background of
Northeastern Oregon pragmatism - something candidates from Medford or
Bend or Hood River just can't tap. |
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Bulletin - Editorial, April 7, 2006
Bend, Oregon |
One interesting thing about the support for Rep. Greg Walden's bill on
salvage logging is that it's bipartisan.
Walden is a Republican from Hood River. Brian Baird, a Democrat from
Washington state, sponsored the bill with him.
And look at the vote passing the bill out of the House Agriculture
Committee on Wednesday. The vote was 36-3. The "yes" votes included 14
Democrats.
The bill would speed up decisions on salvage logging. It gives public
land managers 30 days after a fire or other catastrophic event for a
plan to be released to restore the forest. There would be a 90-day
comment period after that and then there could be court action.
Opponents argue that it's better to just let forests recover on their
own. Well, Walden's bill does not say that all burned areas should be
logged after a fire. Forest managers would make the decision. Walden's
bill just compels them to make a decision before any possible monetary
benefit from salvage logging would rot away. |
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Outside Ethics Panel Makes Sense
Bulletin - Editorial, April 6, 2006
Bend, OR |
Oregon's political odd couple, Republican Greg Walden and Democrat
Earl Blumenauer, have joined forces again, this time on a bill to
create an independent ethics panel to judge the actions of their
fellow House members. Grounded in their experience with Oregon's
ethics commission, their proposal makes sense.
This state's Commission on Government Standards and Practices turned
30 a couple of years ago, and while it hasn't always run perfectly -
it is funded by the Legislature, which has been known to cut when
displeased by the commission's investigations - it has helped assure
the state's citizens that bad behavior on the part of government
officials will not go unpunished. And, despite occasional financial
problems, no one ever has accused the panel of being biased in favor
of one party or another.
Walden and Blumenauer would scrap the House's Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct in favor of a new independent ethics panel. The
new body would be made up of 11 persons, all former members of
Congress. Five would be chosen by the House speaker, five by the
minority leader and an 11th chosen by the other 10. The new group
could investigate and issue reprimands and advisory letters on its
own, though stronger sanctions could be imposed only by the House
itself.
Ethics reform is not easy, however badly it might be needed. The House
panel itself has had a checkered career, in part because it is so
clearly the child of the group it is expected to judge. Its
investigation led to the resignation of Democratic Speaker Jim Wright
in 1989, while an investigation into Newt Gingrich's actions in the
1990s was the beginning of the end of that Republican's political
career.
Largely in response to such investigations, the House limited the
group's power and barred outside groups from making formal complaints
about members' actions.
Independence could end the worst of Congressional meddling, and for
that reason alone it's worth a try. With Americans' faith in Congress
sagging, bringing in independent judges of representatives' actions
may be the best way to correct the problem. |
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Proven Solution in Oregon Good for Washington
East Oregonian, March 29, 2006 |
It faces a long uphill battle, but the Oregon model would mean real
ethics reform in the U.S. Congress. Congressmen Earl Blumenauer and
Greg Walden have introduced the Ethics Reform Act of 2006 based on
their experiences in the Oregon House years ago.
Today, when an ethics issue arises, House members who are "in the
pool" are drafted to sit on a review committee. It's an onerous duty
with absolutely no political upside.
The Oregon model would create an independent commission of 11 former
members of Congress, five appointed by the Speaker and five by the
Minority Leader.
The 11th would be selected by the initial 10.
As with the Congressional Budget Office, the commission would have an
executive director appointed for a 7-year term who would direct staff
to replace the staff on the Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct. The director would be eligible for only one reappointment.
It is important to realize only a handful of the 435 members ever get
involved with charges of ethical misconduct, but when scandals do
occur, they taint every member. Recent revelations charging widespread
influence peddling by some lobbyists and some officials have left the
House and Senate embarrassed and abused.
When this happens, the current system stalls as the minority party is
in no hurry to resolve issues that would erase the embarrassment for
the majority party members facing re-election.
Walden readily admits this solution faces the tough task of overcoming
the House's sense of policing its own, and has caused some members of
his party to wonder why he's partnering with a Democrat in this
venture.
"Forcing this discussion is important," he said. "It lets people
confront the issues and puts this kind of solution in the mix."
It's a solution with a proven track record in Oregon that could serve
this nation well in Washington. |
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Stepping up on Mount Hood
The Oregonian, March 22, 2006 |
Like mountain climbing, politics is about choosing where to set your
feet. On Tuesday, Congressmen Greg Walden and Earl Blumenauer
announced their biggest step yet on Mount Hood.
The two are prepared to introduce a bill to add 77,500 acres of Mount
Hood wilderness, give wild and scenic river protections to 23 miles of
streams and set in motion a land exchange to end a 30-year dispute
over commercial development on the mountain's east flank.
Walden, a Hood River Republican, and Blumenauer, a Portland Democrat,
have walked and talked Mount Hood for three years. Some will now argue
the two congressmen who represent each side of Mount Hood should have
gone further in their legislation. But anyone who wants to pick up the
heavy political backpacks the two have carried is welcome to them.
Walden and Blumenauer have gone the distance. They have trekked around
the base of Mount Hood and talked, talked, talked to the many people
and groups that care deeply about the mountain and its surroundings.
The bill they have produced is not end-all, be-all legislation for
Mount Hood. But it also preserves the traditional gathering rights of
the Warm Springs tribes. It sets up a Recreation Advisory Committee to
referee the recreation disputes inevitable in a natural area with 1.5
million urban neighbors.
Should they have gone further? Well, yes, there are other beautiful
areas on Mount Hood fully deserving of wilderness protections,
including old-growth forests around Boulder Lake, Memaloose Lake and
Fifteenmile Creek.
But these two congressmen, with their vastly different politics and
worldviews, have produced a bill that should move quickly through a
House of Representatives that over the past three years has approved
only five new wilderness bills for the entire nation.
Walden and Blumenauer went as far as they could. One more step in any
direction and they would have split up. That's the modern history of
the wilderness debate in Oregon. People push, push, push until a broad
consensus is all but impossible. So it has been 21 years since any
wilderness has been added to Mount Hood, even though this beautiful
natural place that sits so close to urban Oregon demands more
protections.
Sen. Ron Wyden has called for up to 200,000 acres of new wilderness on
Mount Hood. Someday Congress may well be prepared to take that kind of
bold step to protect more of the lands around the base of Mount Hood
and along the ramparts of the Columbia Gorge. But it won't happen this
year.
Some conservation groups are now urging Wyden to join with Sen. Gordon
Smith to introduce a Mount Hood bill in the Senate that would expand
on the wilderness areas in the Walden-Blumenauer bill. That would be
our preference, too.
Yet the time has come for anyone with a bigger, better idea on Mount
Hood to step up and shoulder the political burden. It's easy to throw
around big wilderness numbers -- 150,000 acres, 200,000 acres, 230,000
acres -- but it's something else to write a serious proposal that can
pass Congress.
Walden and Blumenauer have done the heavy lifting. They have literally
carried their proposal around the mountain, to every community and
interest group, and have now laid it before Congress. No one has ever
taken more sure-footed steps on Mount Hood. |
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Oregon Duo Offer Bipartisan Chance for True
Ethics Reform
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, March 22, 2006
By the Editorial Board of the Union-Bulletin |
In the wake of the latest scandals in Washington, D.C., which centered
on superlobbyist Jack Abramof and former Rep. Duke Cunningham,
Congress has promised ethics reform.
Unfortunately, majority Republicans and minority Democrats can't agree
on the steps that should be taken to ensure the members of Congress
act ethically in dealing with lobbyists. Hope for true reform has been
fading.
But last week the prospects might have gotten just a little brighter
when two lawmakers from Oregon - one a Republican and the other a
Democrat - made a bipartisan pitch for ethics reform.
We see real merit in the proposal by U.S. Reps. Greg Walden, R-Hood
River (whose congressional district includes Umatilla County), and
Earl Blumenauer, D-Portland. The Walden-Blumenauer plan would create
an ethics commission outside of Congress that would be made up for
former members of Congress. The new panel, which would replace the
House Ethics Committee, would be led by an executive director who
would serve a seven-year term and could not be reappointed. The
committee would have 11 members, five picks by Republicans and five by
Democrats. The final member would be picked by the committee.
``It is critical that we establish a system in which the ethics
process can work responsibly, efficiently and impartially,'' Walden
said. ``While most members of Congress conduct our business with
integrity, there is still a need for outside oversight. When it comes
down to it, we simply don't have the time or, frankly, the objectivity
to provide the necessary oversight over our colleagues.''
Using former members of Congress to serve on this panel is an
excellent idea. Those who have served in the House and Senate clearly
understand the system and the ethical challenges that elected
officials face. Their experience puts them in a great position to see
all facets of the issues.
Having ex-members of Congress serve on panels has proven to be very
productive. Consider the terrific job former Sen. Slade Gorton has
done on the 9/11 Commission.
``The (ethics) process isn't working the way it needs to work,''
Walden added. ``Clearly we need to do some extraordinary things to
regain the trust of the American people and restore integrity to
Congress - or at least the public perception of Congress.''
It will be a huge challenge. But a bipartisan effort is a solid first
step.
Lawmakers from Oregon have a history of working across the political
aisle. Sens. Gordon Smith, R-Pendleton, and Ron Wyden, D-Portland,
have successfully tag-teamed on several issue. The duo of Walden and
Blumenauer has potential for the same type of success.
Let's hope it works - for the sake of Congress and the American
people. |
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Wheat growers honor Walden
By the East Oregonian Saturday, March 11, 2006 |
 WASHINGTON,
D.C. - The National Association of Wheat Growers presented U.S.
Congressman Greg Walden, R-Ore., with its "Wheat Advocate" award this
past week.
The association honored Walden for supporting the wheat industry,
which contributes more than $200 million annually to Oregon's economy.
Walden was one of five members of the U.S. House of Representatives
NAWG honored. The officers and directors of the Oregon Wheat Growers
League, based in Pendleton, presented Walden with the award.
"Throughout my seven years representing the 2nd District in Congress
and having grown up on a cherry orchard in The Dalles, I've been proud
to stand up for Oregon's hardworking farmers and ranchers who produce
some of the highest quality food and fiber in the world." Walden said.
"Wheat is one of the most important crops in the district, and I will
continue to do everything I can to support farm policies that allow
wheat producers and our rural economies to do what they do best, from
Umatilla County to Klamath County and points in between."
Sherman Reese of Echo, 2005 NAWG president, applauded Walden's
continued passion to support agriculture, and wheat producers in
particular.
"He knows and understands how very important it is to growers in his
district that he take a lead on farm commodity, energy, trade and
transportation issues that help us remain competitive in a global
marketplace," Reese said. "Specifically, we appreciate his work to
improve the region's transportation infrastructure, including the
Columbia River system that provides a critical shipping lane for wheat
growers in the Northwest and Upper Midwest."
The association gives the Wheat Advocate Award annually to members of
Congress who support the wheat industry and its goals.
Issues considered during the past year included strengthening the
30-year old Endangered Species Act, estate tax repeal, energy and
disaster assistance, the Transportation Reauthorization Act, the Water
Resources Development Act reauthorization and the Energy Policy Act.
The Energy Policy Act included several provisions to enhance biofuel
and other alternative energy development.
Walden is in his fourth term representing Oregon's 2nd District, which
covers 20 counties in central, southern and eastern Oregon.
He's a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the
Committee on Resources. |
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Walden's long and winding road
East Oregonian February 25, 2006 |
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden of Hood River keeps track of his trips to visit
constituents in Oregon's massive 2nd Congressional District. This week
marked his 263rd round trip from Washington, D.C., since taking office
in 1999.
In five days he attended 29 events in seven counties, including three
in Pendleton, and traveled 1,816 miles.
He jokes that visiting his district, which is bigger than many states,
is like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. When you finish, people ask,
"When are you going to paint the bridge?" and sure enough, it's time
to start again.
But Walden's travel record is good for more than gee-whiz statistics.
It's a reminder that a politician's worth is directly related to his
connection to the people he represents. Walden deserves credit for
staying in touch. |
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Rep. Walden began work early to help displaced
Simplot staff
East Oregonian July 11, 2005 |
Last week, U.S. Congressman Greg Walden, R-Ore., announced that the
U.S. Department of Labor had awarded a grant of nearly $350,000 to aid
workers who lost their jobs due to Simplot’s decision to close its
potato processing plant in Hermiston.
The grant will help provide individual counseling, career planning and
employment development (training) to former Simplot employees who are
eligible for aid.
While the grant had to clear the DOL, Walden deserves most of the
credit for the assistance it will provide. He had the foresight in May
2004 — six months before the plant closed its doors for good — to
comprehend just how large an impact Simplot’s closure would have on
its employees and asked for the assistance then.
Simplot used to employ more than 600 workers when the plant was
running at full steam; nearly 300 former employees can take advantage
of this grant, which is an alarming rate of people in need.
But correlation between Simplot’s closure and high unemployment in
Umatilla County isn’t all bad according to the Oregon Employment
Department. Last October, a month before Simplot closed its doors and
laid off its 535 remaining workers, the unemployment rate in Umatilla
County was 6.5 percent. That number spiked to 10.9 percent in January
— a month with an always-high rate — and has steadily declined since.
In May of this year, unemployment was down to 7.5 percent, compared to
7.3 percent from May 2004. And if you look at May rates in 2003 (8.4)
and 2002 (6.4), it appears we’re not that far off track.
Umatilla County appears to be absorbing the Simplot layoffs just fine.
On top of that, we have an elected official who’s attempting to assist
those former potato plant employees who are having a difficult time
rebounding.
Bottom line: Walden’s effort doesn’t provide income to former Simplot
workers who are still looking for ways to put food on their tables and
pay light bills. At the same time, Walden understood the impact
Simplot’s closing would have on individuals and acted for those
Umatilla County constituents back in May 2004.
Replacing the 600-plus jobs Simplot’s exodus caused takes time and
effort on many fronts. The Congressman’s efforts assure those
displaced workers that when the jobs come back, they’ll be ready for
them. |
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Walden Stays in Touch With His District
La Grande Observer, April 7, 2005 |
Congressman Greg Walden, R-Ore., knows better than to stay in the
comfortable cocoon of the Washington, D.C., Beltway with its party
circuit, speechifying, political posturing and badgering by lobbyists.
Walden knows that to do his job well he has to make frequent contact
with the people he represents. And he needs to lead the way in dealing
with important issues like methamphetamine abuse.
That means a lot of travel, by plane, train and automobile, if you're
serving a fourth term representing an area the size of Oregon's 2nd
District. The district takes up about three-fourths of Oregon land
space. That means lots of potluck lunches. That means lots of
listening, such as in the series of forums on tackling the meth
epidemic Walden recently played host to that proved so valuable to
raising awareness and getting a start on solutions.
Walden's most recent visit gave him a chance to see firsthand several
projects near to the hearts of Northeast Oregon — Hot Lake resort
restoration, Mount Emily fuel reduction, the Wallowa-Union Railroad
and more.
Walden knows Oregon. He paid his dues as he worked his way up the
political ladder, serving in leadership posts in both the Oregon House
and Senate.
According to his Web site, the congressman commutes from his hometown
of Hood River to Washington, D.C., virtually every week when Congress
is in session. That means this frequent flyer has logged nearly 2
million miles in the air during more than 230 round trips.
And over time, Walden's power in Washington, D.C., is growing. That
means better service for constituents and more federal dollars
invested in the 2nd District. He serves on the Committee of Energy and
Commerce and the Committee on Resources, both dealing with the kind of
issues important to Northeast Oregon.
What's more, House Majority Whip Roy Blunt recently appointed Walden
to be a Deputy Whip, one of only 17 in the House of Representatives.
This gives Walden a spot in House leadership, and provides a strong
voice for Oregon. |
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Now You Know How I Will Vote!
Record Courier, Baker City October 21, 2004 |
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This is the time that I tell my readers who I
will be voting for. I suffer no delusions that I will actually help
someone make up their mind on who to vote for. However, as it is each
election cycle, editors pontificate mightily and in a mostly vain
attempt to help out. With that said, I offer the following. …
Greg Walden, current Republican Representative
for the 2nd District should be reelected. He has
continually shown his knowledge of the issues facing Oregon, and his
ability to make the necessary alliances in Washington, to make the
needed changes for Oregon. |
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Return Walden to Congress
Hermiston Herald October 19, 2004 |
Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District, of
which Hermiston is part of, is fortunate to have as its representative
a man who is bright, energetic, in touch with the district’s unique
needs, and a respected figure in the U.S. Congress.
Greg Walden is that man and he deserves re-election.
Representing the 2nd District is no easy job. It begins in Wallowa
County and ends at Jackson County, covering every county in between.
But Walden is up to the task. He returns home from Washington, D.C.,
every weekend and routinely makes visits to his constituents.
Hermiston has been among his regular stopping points throughout his
term in office.
Walden is well versed on the issues impacting the district, including
Eastern Oregon. And he is that rare politician who is not afraid to
answer “I don’t know,” when asked a question on a topic with which he
is not familiar. But on those rare occasions, he makes a point to do
his homework and will have an answer the next time the question is
posed to him.
Walden embodies the most important quality a member of Congress should
have – he fights for the people of his district. He worked diligently
on the Klamath Basin water issue and authored the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act.
Walden is well respected within the House of Representatives and a key
member of the Republican Party. As a result, it only makes sense for
the voters of the 2nd District to return him to another term in
Congress. His experience and abilities translate into better
representation for Eastern Oregon. |
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Re-elect Walden and Wyden
Baker City Herald October 19, 2004 |
Rep. Greg Walden is a Republican.
Sen. Ron Wyden is a Democrat.
Party lines don’t count, however, when it comes to representing the
interests of Baker County. Both Walden and Wyden are doing a fine job
and deserve your vote for another term.
Both lawmakers saw the need for forest management reform long before
Pres. Bush made it a signature issue for his administration. The
result: a bipartisan and bicameral push that saved the issue from the
political forces that conspired to polarize and create election year
“wedge” issue.
Wyden remains a united force in Oregon, holding summits not just in
Portland, but La Grande. He was the first Oregon senator to establish
a rural Oregon office. He tried to craft a solution to bring Amtrak
back to Eastern Oregon. And he’s reached across the aisle to create
the “Craig-Wyden Bill,” legislation that has helped Baker County
schools and roads deal with the collapse of timber industry. No wonder
he’s received with a warm welcome at his annual town hall meetings in
Baker County.
Walden is carrying the torch of public land management further,
driving an effort to revise the Endangered Species Act so that
decisions are based on peer-reviewed science, not bureaucratic
suppositions and computer models. In his debate in Baker City with
John McColgan, Walden emerged with a clear edge for knowledge of the
district. As well as he knows Oregon and D.C., he’s an effective
operator in the Congress for the Second District. We appreciate the
campaigns of McColgan and Al King. Our democracy benefits from debate,
a diversity of viewpoints and probing questions.
But in Oregon, it isn’t the D or the R after a lawmaker’s name that
counts. It’s the O and the R. Walden and Wyden are effective leaders
for Baker County, Oregon and our country. Please join us in supporting
their reelection. |
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He’s addressed issues and funding vital to the
2nd District.
East Oregonian October 18, 2004 |
It is not enough to campaign against the
President’s administration if you wish to unseat a U.S. representative
of the caliber of Greg Walden.
Walden has run a campaign of effectiveness not philosophy. The Hood
River Republican has gone to Washington and brought home money and
support for the 2nd District.
That’s why we elect U.S. representatives to Congress. The 2nd
Congressional District is larger than some states, but Walden has his
hands on the issues that affect us here: |
- $920,000 federal dollars for a new grain quality lab outside of
Arlington;
- $5 million federal dollars to pave the way for a new Highway 97
in Redmond;
- $240,000 federal dollars for the Umatilla-Morrow ESD for
emergency response and Crisis Management Program;
- $202,500 federal dollars for the Huntington Volunteer Fire
Department.
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Democratic challenger John McColgan is hoping to end Walden’s
congressional career after three terms by ignoring the incumbent’s
service to the district and to focus on the failings of the Bush
administration.
It’s an apples and oranges argument for the general contractor from
Talent. The job he’s applying for is one of the great “what have you
done for me lately” positions in America. It is not about foreign
policy or even social re-engineering.
It’s about the meat and potatoes issues that are vital to all of us —
jobs, transportation, farming and energy for example.
It’s easy to just pick one area of a party’s philosophy and vote that
way. It would be just as easy for Walden to blindly follow, but that
is not indicated by his actions on Social Security, Medicare and
public education.
As a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, he has a chance
to help the district in areas of energy, telecommunications,
technology, health care and rural infrastructure.
There is great deal of speculation about Walden’s real political goals
and many believe he’s positioning himself for a run for Oregon’s
governorship. That’s immaterial at this time. What does matter is how
much service can a U.S. Representative provide to our district?
By actions, not words, by accomplishments and not philosophy, Walden
has earned the right to continue to serve the 2nd District. |
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Our picks in the Nov. 2 election
Mail Tribune, Medford October 15, 2004 |
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U.S. Representative: Greg Walden. The
Hood River Republican represents the heavily Republican district well
and his growing effectiveness in Congress is evidenced in the passage
of such bills as the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. |
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Walden the best choice for voters
Daily Argus Observer, October 12, 2004
Ontario, OR |
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, should be the hands-down pick for
eastern Oregon voters.
Walden, now in his third term as the Oregon 2nd Congressional
District’s federal lawmaker, has gradually constructed a solid record
with initiatives such as the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, a
bipartisan plan that brings a sense of reason to the table regarding
environmental issues in the West.
Walden, though, has also slowly built up his own political clout in
Washington, D.C. He is the vice-chairman of the Energy and Commerce
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and he is also the deputy
majority whip.
Walden has also consistently made it a point to visit every corner, no
matter how remote, of his sprawling district. It is not uncommon to
spot the Hood River resident at area county fairs, like the one in
Malheur County, listening to voters and gathering input on the issues
that are important for rural Oregon.
His challenger, Democrat John McColgan, Talent, says many of the right
things but framed against Walden’s already impressive record in
Congress he comes up short. McColgan should be lauded for jumping to
the race against such a high profile and competent incumbent, but
voters should stick with the candidate that already has a proven
record of success.
Walden should be, and really is, an easy choice. |
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Walden is right fit for 2nd District
La Grande Observer October 7, 2004 |
Oregon’s 2nd District, which ranges from the end of the road in
Wallowa County to the southern end of Jackson County, couldn’t find a
better fit for its congressman that that which U.S. Rep. Greg Walden
provides. Walden is in sync with his district, is a rising star among
congressional Republicans and has a growing sense of what it takes to
make a difference in a body of 435 elected officials. He should be
re-elected.
Walden goes to bat for his district when needs arise. Witness the
Klamath Basin water issue, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act that he
authored, and even working to find funding for local projects such as
the Wallowa Lake dam and the Wallowa Union Railroad. He understands
his district, its needs and the impact he can have on behalf of his
constituents in Congress.
Walden understand the district because he refuses to lose touch with
it. He returns home to Hood River every weekend and he visits
throughout the district regularly.
The vast and mostly rural 2nd District needs a voice in both the state
and national political arenas. Greg Walden provides that voice in the
nation’s capital – and he does it as well as any representative in
Washington, D.C. A more effective voice would be hard to find.
Re-Elect Rep. Greg Walden. |
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Walden
The Dalles Chronicle October 5, 2004
The Dalles, Oregon |
Two very different political philosophies led Oregon’s Sen. Ron Wyden
and Rep. Greg Walden to long careers in political service on both the
state and national scene. Wyden is the long-term liberal, and Walden
the long-term conservative. Both are articulate debaters for their
points of view, and both have done well in promoting Oregon interests
in Congress. But, there is another, quintessential Oregonian quality
in both Wyden and Walden: they are eminently practical in the
application of their philosophies. Both are willing, without
compromising their core beliefs, to compromise in finding workable
solutions.
Rep. Greg Walden has perhaps worked harder in both representing Oregon
and keeping in touch with his sprawling district that covers 20 of
Oregon’s 36 counties. Last week alone, he secured a $255,000 loan for
White River Health and Living, Inc (a new Maupin senior living
facility), had two pieces of legislation (to provide forestry
education for Oregon’s youth and improved water quality and quantity
in Medford) pass the House unanimously, and joined Interior Secretary
Gale Norton in touring the Cascade Volcano Observatory.
[John McColgan] is personable, well-educated and articulate, and would
probably do well in Congress, but the Chronicle believes the region
and the state are both served well by Wyden and Walden, and that a
seat in either house of Congress should not be an entry-level
position. |
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Central Oregonian
August 31, 2004 |
Democrat John McColgan is making a second
bid against incumbent Republican Greg Walden. In this race, the choice
is clear. Walden deserves another term.
Walden has done a good job for Central Oregon and Crook County,
including helping make Millican Road project a reality and working
with others in Congress for the Health Forests Restoration bill.
Walden has worked diligently with Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Gordon Smith
to bring economic development and projects to Crook County, which
sorely needs them. Walden is perhaps second only to Democratic Senator
Ron Wyden in keeping in touch with his constituents.
Crook Count y Judge Scott Cooper pointed out Walden’s help on the
Millican Road project, which provides a quicker route for commercial
trucks to deliver products from Prineville to other areas. Referring
to Millican Road, Cooper said Walden “helped lead the regulatory
barriers.” In an earlier interview, Cooper said “A lot of people made
the road a reality: with out the support of Sen. Wyden and Rep.
Walden, we would never have had the ability to construct anything.”
The county judge also pointed to Walden’s staff members as being quite
helpful in getting the road project off the ground.
…we predict Walden will receive another term because of his commitment
and dedication to Central Oregon and its populace. |
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