Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

Oregon Congressional District 2 is the largest of Oregon’s six districts covering two-thirds of the state including all of Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Wheeler counties, and part of eastern Josephine county, and some of the Grants Pass area. Some 53 percent of the land is federally held. Cliff Bentz was elected to represent District 2 in 2020 to replace Greg Walden, who chose to retire.

Cliff Bentz served in the Oregon House for ten years and the Oregon Senate for two years before being elected to Congress. He is a partner in the law firm Yturri Rose specializing in agricultural, water and real property law. He also owns a 100-acre alfalfa farm.

Challenger Joe Yetter is a veteran, a physician, teaches a faculty development fellowship program, and was part of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. He says he is running because, “we cannot ruin the world that they [our children] must live in. Equality and justice mean that all people are equal under the law and, to the extent it is possible, we must redress the sins of our past.”

Yetter favors two or more years of national service for all young Americans. He says, ”this is not a popular idea today, but I'll work to make it popular. As your representative in Congress, I will work with President Biden and my Congressional colleagues to continue to repair and expand NATO re-establish our standing in the world.”

Bentz says, “America is not just a country; it is an idea. A very successful idea that no one else in the world has been able to duplicate.” He opposes boycotting Israel and doesn’t support expanding NATO.

Yetter would build the economy by supporting the Build Back Better investments in infrastructure and job training needed, in an equitable way. He sees higher wages, improved workers' rights, gender equity, family farm values, support of home-ownership, and a tax code that is fair as a priority.

Bentz says we have to have a strong economy. Each person crossing our southern border cost the American taxpayer $10,000 per year, which is amounting to $7 million a day and growing. We are spending billions and billions of dollars on unnecessary things and sending money to states that don’t need it. At some point taxpayers have to pay for it and that doesn’t seem to be understood by many.

Yetter’s health care stance is for government run healthcare. He also says, “I believe in liberty. I believe in bodily autonomy. Roe should be codified in Federal law.” He supports universal health care that includes pre-pregnancy counseling, nutrition, and health habits; that provides health care throughout the pregnancy and after; and that provides care for the family regarding employment and social support.

Bentz opposes government run healthcare costing $30 trillion and wants to see a free-market plan that drives down skyrocketing costs. He supports medical malpractice reform to stop frivolous lawsuits and voted against controlled drug pricing that limits initiative for new and better medications. He sees the healthcare system being drained and abused by illegals crossing the border.

As a veteran, Yetter feels strongly about the nation’s obligation for the medical needs of veterans and funding for improved services. He says, “I consider VA medical care The Best Care Anywhere. And, remember: I've practiced medicine (and been a patient, too), in the military and in civilian practice, on three continents and in several states here at home.”

Bentz also fully supports veterans and says, “without our military, and the men and women serving, we would not have a country.”

Yetter is a full supporter of renewable energy suggesting solar panels on irrigation canals in drought areas that will cool the water and reduce evaporation. He says, “We need to act immediately to combat climate change: electrifying, de-carbonizing, sequestering, and more.”

Bentz led a panel on the lower emission future for fossil energy at the Congressional Western Caucus saying, “getting completely rid of fossil fuels is not a strong strategy for the U.S. We need to not only lower (not delete) our carbon footprint, but also understand how the carbon footprint is created. That understanding will generate cleaner energy domestically.” As a member of the Natural Resources Committee he says, “it genuinely eludes me as to why we are not producing energy in America. Our energy is cleaner and we can produce it more efficiently than other nations.”

Bentz supported farmers on the floor in congress to provide a relief package with a balance to provide water to farmers in drought areas. He opposes the breaching of dams on the Snake River and sending billions to communities affected. He sees fires and withholding water to farmers as the biggest priority for his district. He says, “We must get back into the forests to mitigate the risk of future wildfires.”

Yetter also supports marijuana legalization nationwide, rational gun ownership and responsibility, and universal pre-K education and full funding of state college for any student in an accredited program.

Bentz wants closed border, opposes recreational marijuana, reduced regulations, lower taxes, supports Second Amendment rights, opposes taxpayer-funded college, is anti-gender identity, and values life of the unborn.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-10-10 19:48:34

Last Update: 2022-10-06 21:25:26