Cliff Bentz dossier →

• Silence on the contradiction between accepting federal infrastructure dollars and voting against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 1347 days silent
  Expected position: As a representative who voted against the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law while subsequently celebrating federal funding arriving in his district, Bentz would be expected to explain the inconsistency. Evidence of activity on adjacent topics: Bentz voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021. Yet he subsequently (1) urged President Biden for 'sufficient investment in Coos Bay Port' (May 2022), (2) introduced legislation expanding The Dalles water supply infrastructure (April 2025), and (3) publicly celebrated FEMA authorizing funds to fight the Highland Fire, thanking the White House for protecting 'homes, infrastructure, and natural resources' (July 2025). Bentz was active on social media and in Congress throughout this period but did not address the inconsistency between his no vote and his subsequent demands for federal investment in his district. Primary URL: https://www.bendbulletin.com/2025/08/25/bentz-plans-to-meet-with-small-groups-on-district-tour-instead-of-large-town-halls/
• Abandonment of in-person town halls in favor of controlled-access group meetings and telephone town halls 189 days silent
  Expected position: As the sole Republican representing Oregon in Congress — and representing the 7th largest, most rural district in the nation — Bentz would be expected to maintain robust, public, in-person town halls accessible to all constituents. Evidence of activity on adjacent topics: Bentz held four in-person town halls in February 2025 (Pendleton, La Grande, Boardman, Baker City) then abruptly stopped. After the NRCC advised members to avoid in-person town halls, he shifted to telephone town halls and small-group gatherings. In August 2025, he addressed the Rotary Club in The Dalles — a private event with a 60-person maximum — while protesters gathered outside chanting 'Where's the town hall meeting Cliff?' and 'Face your voters!' A constituent noted Bentz hadn't held a town hall in The Dalles in three years. On September 5, 2025, Bentz formally announced he would no longer hold in-person town halls, citing 'hostile behavior from activists' and 'disruptive tactics.' He defended the shift in media interviews, telling OPB: 'Is it important that I spend time with them? If it's productive... yes. If it's for people to engage in shouting matches, then no.' Constituents called the telephone town halls 'overly scripted, with curated questions and little chance to participate.' Primary URL: https://www.bendbulletin.com/2025/08/25/bentz-plans-to-meet-with-small-groups-on-district-tour-instead-of-large-town-halls/
• other / unclassified
  Interested donors: American Bakers Association American Bakers PAC, Republican Mainstreet Partnership PAC, American Wood Council PAC (Woodpac), American Revival PAC, Tzedek PAC
  American Bakers Association American Bakers PAC, Republican Mainstreet Partnership PAC, American Wood Council PAC (Woodpac), American Revival PAC, Tzedek PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $7,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,500 (2024)) — interest area: other / unclassified
• other candidates' committees
  Interested donors: Huck PAC
  Huck PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2024)) — interest area: other candidates' committees
• colleagues' leadership pacs
  Interested donors: Bringing Republican Excellence To Town PAC (Brettpac), Buckeye Liberty PAC, Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans (Emmer PAC)
  Bringing Republican Excellence To Town PAC (Brettpac), Buckeye Liberty PAC, Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans (Emmer PAC) (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026)) — interest area: colleagues' leadership pacs
• party committees
  Interested donors: Republican Governance Group/Tuesday Group PAC
  Republican Governance Group/Tuesday Group PAC (amounts: $8,000 (2026)) — interest area: party committees
• ideological & single-issue
  Interested donors: Oregon Right To Life PAC
  Oregon Right To Life PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2024)) — interest area: ideological & single-issue
• corporate pacs, industry unlisted
  Interested donors: J.R. Simplot Company Political Action Committee, Avangrid PAC, Transcanada USA Services PAC, Ida-PAC, Calportland Company Political Action Committee (Cpcc-PAC), Woolpert, Inc Political Action Committee
  J.R. Simplot Company Political Action Committee, Avangrid PAC, Transcanada USA Services PAC, Ida-PAC, Calportland Company Political Action Committee (Cpcc-PAC), Woolpert, Inc Political Action Committee (amounts: $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,500 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $6,000 (2026)) — interest area: corporate pacs, industry unlisted
• party & leadership pacs
  Interested donors: Republican Governance Group/Tuesday Group PAC, Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans (Emmer PAC)
  Republican Governance Group/Tuesday Group PAC, Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans (Emmer PAC) (amounts: $8,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026)) — interest area: party & leadership pacs

• H.R. 1 (119th Congress) ↗ YEA 2025-05-22
  One Big Beautiful Bill Act — $4.5 trillion budget framework with $1.02 trillion in Medicaid cuts by 2034, SNAP restrictions, and permanent extension of 2017 tax cuts
  why contradicted?

  [against_constituent] Bentz was the only member of Oregon's congressional delegation to vote yes. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said the bill would cut $15 billion in federal dollars to Oregon. Approximately 40% of Bentz's district is on the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid). Bentz served on the subcommittee that helped craft the Medicaid cuts. Constituents protested him across the district.
• H.R. 8404 ↗ NAY 2022-12-08
  Respect for Marriage Act — Federal protection for same-sex and interracial marriages; codifies marriage equality
  why contradicted?

  [reversal] Bentz flip-flopped from yes (July 2022) to no (December 2022), one of only 10 House Republicans to reverse. He offered no public explanation. The bill passed 258-169-1 with 39 Republican votes.
• H.R. 5376 ↗ NAY 2022-08-12
  Inflation Reduction Act — Medicare drug price negotiation, $35 insulin cap, clean energy tax credits, ACA premium subsidy extension
  why contradicted?

  [against_constituent] Bentz voted against allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. His district skews older (median age 42.8, 16% of residents 70+), meaning a large share of his constituents rely on Medicare and would benefit from lower drug prices.
• H.R. 8373 ↗ NAY 2022-07-21
  Right to Contraception Act — Would codify the right to access birth control
  why contradicted?

  [against_constituent] Bentz opposed codifying the right to contraception. He is also a self-described believer in personhood (life begins at conception) and supports making both abortion and birth control illegal. This stands in contrast to the more moderate social views in parts of his district.
• H.R. 3684 ↗ NAY 2021-11-05
  Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — $1.2 trillion for roads, bridges, broadband, and water systems
  why contradicted?

  [reversal] Bentz voted against the bill but subsequently sought and celebrated federal infrastructure funding for Port of Coos Bay and The Dalles water supply. His district relies heavily on infrastructure: 69.1% homeownership with 73.5% of workers driving alone.
• H.R. 5744 ↗ NAY 2021-10-21
  Contempt of Congress resolution against Steve Bannon for defying a subpoena from the January 6th Select Committee
  why contradicted?

  [reversal] Despite voting to create the Jan. 6 commission, Bentz voted against holding Bannon in contempt for obstructing it. This inconsistency earned him an 'F' grade from Republican Accountability.

No documented broken promises on file.

• statement_vs_disclosure SCORE 90
  Bentz voted to object to Pennsylvania's electoral votes citing 'irregularities,' but in the same interview admitted he had seen 'no evidence' of those irregularities and did not accept Trump's fraud claims. The East Oregonian called it a 'major misstep' that raised 'questions about his political judgment.'
• platform_vs_vote SCORE 90
  Bentz campaigned as a deficit hawk but voted for the Big Beautiful Bill, which the CBO projected would add trillions to the national debt. The East Oregonian noted this directly contradicted his 'past vows not to add to the national deficit.'
• reversal SCORE 90
  Bentz voted yes on the Respect for Marriage Act in July 2022, then flipped to no on final passage in December 2022. He was one of 10 House Republicans to reverse without public explanation — declining to disclose his reasoning even as other GOP members who flipped published statements justifying their change.
• statement_vs_disclosure SCORE 60
  Bentz voted to create the Jan. 6 commission — a rare bipartisan act — but then voted against holding Bannon in criminal contempt for defying the very commission he authorized. This earned him an 'F' democracy grade from Republican Accountability.