BEND, OR -- Freshman State Representative Knute Buehler (R-Bend) held a recent town hall to reflect on this year's Legislative session. Buehler told the crowd at St. Charles Friday that the session got off on the wrong foot when Democrats pushed through five controversial bills with no Republican support, especially low carbon fuels legislation. "I really think the low carbon fuels tax was a swing and a miss. We're going to put a 19-cent tax on our fuel in Oregon. Many people will have a hard time paying their monthly expenses now. That tax revenue is actually going to go out of state, and it's going to have a minimal effect on climate change. I think a better way to attack this is to tax carbon emissions."

He admitted the lack of a state transportation package is funding cities like Bend to consider a local gas tax. But he says they may not be the best tool. "I really think we need to go to a carbon emissions tax or a mileage usage tax. I think that's going to be a 21st century way to generate this kind of revenue. I think a gas tax is a little bit outdated and old fashioned. And, I would encourage [the city of Bend] to put a sunset on it." He also criticized ODOT's OreGo road user charge, saying not enough residents have signed up for the plan and he feels putting a device on a person's car to track where they go is problematic.

One woman at the town hall asked Rep. Buehler about his vote against background checks for private gun sales in Oregon. "I think we certainly have a problem with gun violence in this country, but I the legislation that I voted no on, I don't think is going to have a significant impact. It's going to increase the costs and regulatory burden for our Sheriffs and others; and many of the the Sheriffs in Oregon were against it, mainly because we're not enforcing our current gun laws. Most of the mass shootings right now, would have been prevented if we had just enforced our current gun laws."

Buehler is still considering whether to make a run for Governor next year. He plans to make a decision in September.