Congressman Cliff Bentz | EP 12.

The Bridge

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Congressman Cliff Bentz | EP 12.

Kevin Frazier

Jun 16, 2021

Congressman Cliff Bentz is the newest member of Oregon's congressional delegation, defeating Knute Buehler, Jason Atkinson, and eight other candidates in 2020 to replace longtime Rep. Greg Walden in Oregon's second congressional district (the state's only safe Republican seat). Previously, Bentz was a state legislator with a reputation for dealmaking (e.g. one of the architects of Oregon's $5.3 billion transportation package in 2017). In Congress, Bentz' voting record has been interesting: he voted against certifying Pennsylvania's election results, but in favor of establishing a commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection against Congress. In this episode, we discuss whether an infrastructure deal is possible in DC, how Congress compares to the legislature, and Oregon's urban-rural divide. We also talk about the pressure (or lack thereof) of party leadership in DC (Kevin McCarthy!) and his thoughts on the Greater Idaho movement.

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The Bridge

The Bridge, a podcast hosted by Ben Bowman and Alex Titus.

Our podcast explores how the nationalization of politics is reshaping Oregon’s political landscape and providing a platform for Oregon issues to garner national attention.

Our thesis is that we must understand the opportunities and limitations of a political environment increasingly driven by people and events at the national level if we want to create a more unified and productive political culture in Oregon.

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