Trade issues are focus of Wyden town hall in Salem

Trade issues dominated U.S. Sen Ron Wyden's town hall meeting in Salem on Sunday.

Local union leaders and others asked Oregon's senior senator to oppose "fast-track" authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, a proposed free trade treaty with 12 Pacific-rim countries.

"I want to know why he feels this is a good idea," Chris Muhs, secretary of Teamsters Local 324, said while holding a sign reading "Fast Track: Wrong Track."

Union leaders say the proposal favors corporations over middle class workers.

Much of the negotiations have been conducted in secrecy, although Wyden has fought for more transparency.

Wyden told the crowd of about 150 that current trade policy is outdated, and the proposal could bring economic growth and jobs to Oregon and especially the Willamette Valley.

He said will wait to form an opinion about the proposal and urged constituents to do the same.

"It's not done," he said. "It hasn't come out. I've got to see what it is in order to have an opinion."

Wyden has been chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, but with the Republican shift in Congress next week will become the committee's ranking Democrat.

Other questions for Wyden covered a wide range of topics:

One resident asked whether Republican control of Congress could lead to a rollback of hard-won environmental protections.

Another asked what Wyden would do to improve gun-safety laws.

And another asked about funding for roads and other infrastructure.

Wyden encouraged audience members to work at the grass-roots level to support environmental programs.

He said he supports laws ensuring that those with a criminal history or mental illness cannot own guns.

And he said he'll make infrastructure funding a special priority this session.

The Salem town hall was moved to a larger venue after more than 100 protesters disrupted a Portland appearance Saturday.

The Portland town hall was called off after about 45 minutes when "hands up, don't shoot" protests broke out.

The "hands up" gesture and saying comes from demonstrations following the August 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and a grand jury's decision not to indict the police officer involved.

Oregon's senior senator aims to hold a town hall in each of Oregon's 36 counties every year.

He also appeared at the Beaverton City Library Sunday.

On Monday he'll hold town halls at 10 a.m. at Philomath High School, and at 2 p.m. at Eugene's Sheldon High School.

tloew@statesmanjournal.com, (503) 399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/SJWatchdog