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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Family Fun Bike Ride set for Saturday ... Grading to close Ashland Loop Road, White Rabbit Trailhead on Friday ... Local Take: Is the Iran deal a peace step or misstep? ... Family Fun Bike Ride set for Saturday ... Grading to close Ashland Loop Road, White Rabbit Trailhead on Friday ... Local Take: Is the Iran deal a peace step or misstep? ... TOWN HALL MEETING Wyden fields questions during Medford town hall meeting Natural gas pipeline, GMOS, trade hot topics Sen. Ron Wyden fielded questions about trade, a proposed natural gas pipeline, genetically modified organisms and other hot button topics during a Sunday town hall meeting. Comment By Vickie Aldous For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous For the Tidings Posted Jul. 20, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Vickie Aldous For the Tidings Posted Jul. 20, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News Sen. Ron Wyden fielded questions about a proposed natural gas pipeline, an international trade bill, genetically modified organisms and other hot-button topics during a Sunday town hall meeting in Medford. More than 100 people crowded into the Carnegie Building downtown to state their views and quiz Wyden, D-Ore., on a variety of controversial topics. Many voiced opposition to a proposed $7.6 billion project to build a 232-mile natural gas pipeline across Southern Oregon and a gas-export terminal in Coos Bay. They said the pipeline would traverse more than 400 water bodies in the state and could leak, putting Oregon's environment at risk. Meanwhile, several Jackson County residents said it would create relatively few full-time jobs once construction was complete, with most of those in Coos Bay. The project is under review by regulators and has yet to win approval. Wyden said he is neither for nor against the project, but he wanted the review process to move forward so constituents who both favor and oppose the project could have a chance to make their case. He noted the economy in Coos Bay is in a slump, and many residents there want the jobs the project would bring. Wyden vowed to watchdog the process to make sure environmental and safety standards are met. "On my watch, nobody's going to cut any corners," he said. However, some town hall audience members said Wyden was a hypocrite for voting against the Keystone Pipeline through the center of America while seeming to favor the local pipeline — when both projects would export North American fossil fuels to other countries. Audience members also criticized Wyden's support of a newly approved trade bill which gives President Barack Obama increased power to negotiate international trade agreements. Residents said the bill empowers multinational corporations and will cost American jobs. Wyden countered that 1 in 5 Oregonians has a job related to exports, and the bill could boost exports. He said opponents of the trade bill mistakenly believe it will create a "race to the bottom" internationally on wages and environmental protections.  "We're going to be a force for pushing standards up," Wyden said. He said the middle-class population is skyrocketing in developing nations, and Oregon can sell more products to them. Audience members encouraged Wyden to fight genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Jackson County voters approved a ban on the growing of GMOs in the county in 2014. Wyden said he supports labeling and disclosure requirements on GMO products. On the issue of marijuana, Wyden said he has worked to back Oregon voters' decision to legalize recreational marijuana. He has promoted banking reforms so businesses in the marijuana industry can use banks and conduct financial transactions. Wyden predicted when enough states have legalized marijuana, America will reach a tipping point in which the federal government stops opposing the drug. With Southern Oregon facing drought, high temperatures and a build-up of forest fuels, Wyden said he is working to separate federal wildfire fighting funds from forest-thinning project funding. "They don't have enough money to fight the fires, so they dip into the prevention fund to put the fire out," he said. Wyden said residents with varying political views should get behind efforts to thin forests, which reduce wildfire danger and put people back to work in the woods. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous .   By Vickie Aldous For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Vickie Aldous For the Tidings Posted Jul. 20, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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