Westlund recovering from surgery

Senator Ben Westlund underwent surgery last week after doctors found a small hole in his colon.

According to sources close to the Senator, the condition is not related to the lung cancer that required removal of a portion of Westlund's lung last year.

Those sources stated that Westlund went into the hospital last week after experiencing abdominal discomfort. He underwent surgery at St. Charles Medical Center.

Sources say Westlund is expected to recover quickly and return to his duties in the legislature.

Earlier this year, Westlund had surgery to remove a portion of a lung due to lung cancer and underwent a regimen of radiation and chemotherapy to back up the successful surgery.

The health crisis did not visibly slow him down.

The Sisters-area legislator won appointment from the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners to the Senate seat vacated by Bev Clarno. Clarno resigned August 1 to take a position with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Westlund is known for his budgetary expertise and is an advocate of structural tax reform for Oregon. He has pushed hard for reform of Oregon's tax structure, arguing for a reduction of income and capital gains taxes and the institution of a 5 percent consumption, or sales, tax.

He believes that such a plan would bring tax reductions to Oregonians, create incentives for business that would stimulate the state's economy, and infuse stability into the tax structure.