Letter: Town Hall mailed in by senator, but package empty

Published 6:58 am Wednesday, January 21, 2026

By Staff reports

I attended the Town Hall with Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley on Jan. 17 at Warrenton High School. People were angry, frustrated, needing to be heard and looking for a glimmer of hope from the smoldering heap in D.C., also known as Congress.

The senator’s responses to questions were canned, boring, and not helpful. The most disappointing segment was Sen. Merkley’s response to an angry attendee, rightly so, about several issues including affording to live on Social Security.

Merkley suggested that because he himself has no power, the commenter should join an affinity group and/or organize marches, which would also help with depression. (Yes, but it doesn’t help affordability or impeaching the president.) It seems Merkley is happy to continue to collect his paycheck, while the rest of us should do this work for free.

I suggest that Sen. Merkley, with a residence and office in D.C., get his colleagues together and organize a march in Washington called Impeach Trump. He was voted into office to do things. It’s time.

CAT VILLIERS

Warrenton