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Klamath Falls Herald and News
May 10, 2008 |
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Thumbs Up: We appreciate our
congressman, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden. He’s hardworking, down to earth,
friendly, and responsive. We put calls in recently to a few elected
leaders — he was the first to respond and had the best information.
What we appreciate, too, is that he doesn’t just speak up when he’s
prompted by someone or something, but goes on point. He has been doing
a series of short speeches, for instance, about the effects that
suspension of the federal timber payments have on counties like
Klamath. Check it out on his Web site,
www.walden.house.gov. Look for the county payments tile about
halfway down the home page — you’ll go to a page where you’ll find a
list of the speeches, including the one about Klamath County. Watch
him in action. You’ll see what we mean. |
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Bend Bulletin
May 13, 2008 |
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Expand healthy forest act
Wildfires just aren’t cooperating with the law.
The Healthy Forest Restoration Act makes it easier for the U.S. Forest
Service to do thinning projects within 1.5 miles of homes — an area
called the wildland-urban interface.
The trouble is, that’s not where the treatment is always needed the
most.
Last year, there were 1,468 fires started in the Northwest on Forest
Service or Bureau of Land Management lands. Only 17 of those fires
burned within or adjacent to the wildland-urban interface.
So U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, wants to expand the Healthy
Forest Restoration Act so it can be applied to other areas that need
it.
For most people, fighting wildfires is about where to draw the line:
Where should it be easy for the federal government to go in to help
prevent an unwanted inferno?
Before the Healthy Forest Restoration Act passed in 2003, the Forest
Service could already get permission to do thinning projects. Getting
permission could be complicated, though, and controversial. People may
like wood for their homes and don’t want forest fires ravaging the
landscape, but for some environmentalists, trees in national forests
should be managed as though there aren’t also people in the world.
The healthy forests legislation allowed the Forest Service more
freedom to do prescribed burns or thin trees near the wildland-urban
interface. Environmental laws still apply, but the review process is
streamlined. Rather than looking at several alternatives, only two
plans of action need to be studied. One looks at what the Forest
Service would like to do and the other would be doing nothing. About
20,000 acres in the Deschutes National Forest have been treated under
the law every year since it passed in 2003.
We haven’t seen Walden’s proposal yet. He seems on the right track.
The federal government is not a fit steward of forest lands if it
allows them to burn out of control and pour carbon into the atmosphere
or destroy homes. |
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East Oregonian
April 23, 2008 |
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Endorsement: Greg Walden is a great
representative
We have been unabashed in our support of U. S. Representative Greg
Walden whom we hope continues to represent us in Washington, D. C. not
just during the next two years, but for many years to come.
The Republican from Hood River has become one of the most popular and
respected members of the U.S. House while representing a vast district
that encompasses much of Eastern Oregon and spills into the west side
down around Medford.
Each time he gets sent back to the Capitol, he has a little more
seniority even if he isn't in the majority party. He's still a
relatively young man and he likes the work so a long-term investment
in Greg Walden will continue to payoff for the citizens in this
region.
When Greg Walden ran for congress ten years ago, the Bend Bulletin
noted Walden "served nearly a decade in the Legislature, where he was
House majority leader for two sessions. He was well-regarded by both
Democrats and Republicans for his integrity and effectiveness."
Little has changed since that original assessment.
Greg Walden has a keen understanding and he has made hundreds of
flights back to his district to make sure that he keeps in touch with
his constituents. Walden is legendary for his marathon trips around
the district every time he returns.
Few individuals in his position are as accessible or as tuned in to
the residents of their district as is Walden. And few representatives
so effectively reflect the values that are important to this area. |
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Klamath Falls Herald and News
April 29, 2008 |
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Secure Rural Schools tops rep’s list
With Oregon counties cinching their financial belts, U.S. Rep. Greg
Walden, R-Ore., is making the case for extending federal timber
payments.
The congressman last week began giving one-minute speeches before the
U.S. House of Representatives about the counties affected by the loss
of the payments. He is expected to speak about Klamath County at 7
a.m. Pacific Daylight Time Wednesday.
Walden took a similar course of action last year as Congress continued
to avoid or table the issue. His spokesman, Andrew Whelan, said there
is a House bill now ready for a vote that would reauthorize the
payments for another four years, but leadership won’t bring it to the
floor.
“He’s calling on the leadership to act,” Whelan said.
Oregon counties previously received about $ 280 million annually from
the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self Determination Act. The
money was compensation to counties which saw a decline in logging
because of environmental regulations.
Klamath County received up to $15 million from the payments in 2006.
The payments were reauthorized late in May 2007 for one more year but
that reauthorization expired last fall.
Walden said he is returning to the strategy of one-minute speeches to
urge that House Resolution 3058, which contains a four-year extension
of declining payments, be voted on. |
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La Grande Observer
February 26, 2008 |
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Opening of satellite office boon to
region
The 2nd Congressional District is larger than any state east of the
Mississippi River. That’s right, state. So it is welcome news that
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., is opening a regional office in La
Grande to complement ones already up and running in Medford and Bend.
The move will allow Northeast Oregon constituents better access to the
congressman and his staff and improve the odds that local problems of
a federal nature will get solved in a timely manner.
The new office at 1211 Washington Ave., directly across from the post
office, features a state-of-the-art video conferencing link between
all of Walden’s offices. The La Grande office is staffed by Colby
Marshall, who in addition to being Walden’s Eastern Oregon connection,
also serves as policy adviser on agriculture and natural resource
issues.
The congressman has a huge challenge and responsibility. The vast
district was built on a strong foundation of agriculture and natural
resources. Today new opportunities abound in such areas as technology,
energy and telecommunications. Walden has been up to the challenge to
date, and probably keeps in better contact with his district than just
about any congressman. He travels cross country most weekends, which
helps him remember who butters his bread and who is holding him
accountable for playing a constructive role in national policy-making.
Access to a congressman is important. Too often these days people are
apathetic and alienated toward the federal government and lawmaking.
Too often, it seems, lobbyists and big-money interests seem to have
all the access. Individuals, whether rich or poor or in between, need
to feel as if they can make a difference and their grass-roots voices
are being heard, that their pocketbook issues matter.
Opening an office in La Grande further cements the importance of the
community and the value of Eastern Oregon University to the region.
Students will get valuable experience in politics working in Walden’s
office. Having the office in La Grande will ensure that local voices
are heard in Washington, D.C. |
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East Oregonian
August 12, 2007 |
Walden at home throughout his district
Congressman Greg Walden currently is busy logging another 2,000 miles
around his district - something he tries to do every time he gets a
break from his duties in Washington, D.C.
It isn't enough the well-traveled public servant has made 309 trips
across the United States during what is now his fifth term in office.
Once he gets home, in order to touch base with his constituents, he
has to visit around an area that covers roughly two thirds of the
State of Oregon. According to the congressman's office, this is the
seventh-largest district overall and the second-largest district that
does not cover an entire state. To put it into further perspective,
his second congressional district is larger in size than 33 of the 50
states.
Rep. Walden is a man who is in touch with his constituency both
because of his visits, but also because ideologically he has a firm
grasp on the values of those he serves.
His visit to Umatilla County this week was his third of the year and
the 41st since he took office.
There are some who would like to see him take a run at the statehouse
in Salem. We aren't among that group because we like him just where he
is. And, based upon his ability to connect with the people throughout
the vast area he serves, it would be a safe bet he could continue
representing this region for as long as he chooses.
He is articulate, thoughtful and an individual with the skills to work
effectively with diverse groups. Those are the ingredients that help
veteran congressmen ascend to positions in power. With four terms in
Congress already behind him, Walden is well on his way to advanced
seniority.
Familiar Sight At St. Patrick's Day
Walden is extremely comfortable in the small towns that dot his
district and possesses an uncanny knack of being able to visit with
anyone who comes his way.
One of his favorite annual visits is St. Patrick's Day in Heppner
where he shares the stage with Tom Melton and several others for the
KUMA Coffee Hour. He follows this session with an appearance in the
parade equally comfortable interacting with those lined up along the
street.
Although he spends a considerable amount of time on the east coast, he
is close to his family. Despite the fact he spends much of his life
rubbing shoulders with national figures, he has no trouble easing into
the role of father standing alongside the track in Hermiston rooting
on his 17-year old son who is racing on behalf of Hood River High
School.
In Washington, D.C., Walden serves on two committees: the Committee on
Energy and Commerce and the Select Committee on Energy Independence
and Global Warming. He also is on three sub-committees: Energy and Air
Quality, Telecommunications and the Internet, and Oversight and
Investigations.
Along with Rep. Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, he chairs the 182-member
Rural Health Care Coalition, a bi-partisan coalition of members of the
U.S. House of Representatives committed to advancing rural priorities
in health care policy.
This group has built on its successes by maintaining and increasing
appropriations funding for various rural health programs, improving
access to physicians in rural America, and providing additional
improvements to rural health programs.
His visit to Eastern Oregon and the groups and topics he has been
addressing underscores his grasp of issues vital to the well-being of
the citizens he serves.
We admire Walden's tireless efforts to reach out to those he
represents and his distinguished service as our representative in
Congress. |
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Hood River News Editorial
January 27, 2007 |
Raising a ruckus
Walden's daily county payments talks are the right idea
It's not quite filibustering, but the speech series Greg Walden
has planned for the floor of the U.S. House might be even more
effective.
Walden is raising what he calls "a bit of a ruckus" on the House floor
in hopes of jump-starting a federal funding program for rural
counties.
For a minute each day for 18 days, he is making a protracted plea for
reauthorizing the Secure Rural Roads and Community Self-Determination
Act. Walden plans to name one of the 18 affected counties in his
Second Congressional District — and what that area stands to lose.
In the case of Hood River — up on Feb. 6 — the revenue is $2.9 million
that is essential to maintain roads and operate schools. (Jackson
County tops Walden's list with a potential loss of $24.3 million.)
Congressional funding packages tend to get just that — packaged — and
specific losses and gains can get lost in the long, dense wording of
complex legislation.
So for his colleagues to hear what will happen, county by county, in
Walden's Second District if the funding, known as "county payments" is
lost, is a refreshing way to make the case for reauthorization. The
funds are truly vital to this and other counties, and we encourage
Rep. Walden in his efforts. It is the kind of innovative advocacy that
earned the Hood River native his re-election in November. |
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