Congressman "Doc" Hastings visits Ritzville

Congressman Richard “Doc” Hastings made two stops in Ritzville on Friday, April 13, to discuss current issues and the recent Congressional redistricting. Hastings visited Big Bend Electric Cooperative and the Ritzville Adams County Journal.

Hastings first joined the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995 where he served Washington’s 4th Congressional District. Over the last 10 years, the 4th district saw an increase of about 90,000 people while the 9th district saw an increase of about 60,000. Adams County has previously belonged to the ninth district, under the current representation of Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

With the recent redistricting, Hastings saw a dramatic shift in the areas he represented. He lost Klickitat, Chelan and the eastern portion of Douglas county but gained Okanogan and two school districts in Walla Walla county.

Hastings now represents a greater geographic area but has a smaller population than his previous district. He is currently up for reelection and if he is elected, he officially becomes the representative for the District Four, which now includes Adams County.

While the redistricting change could be drastic for Hastings, he is thankful that the issues and lifestyle remain the same. He still represents the dryland portion of the state, with the exception of the portion of Walla Walla County.

Hastings currently serves as the chairman of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which has not been properly reformed since its establishment in 1973. There have been amendments made to the ESA, such as the wolf hunting law amendment in Idaho last year, but Hastings believes it is time to make a complete reform for the ESA.

Hastings said during his visit with Big Bend Co-op representatives, the group discussed CRP, Farm Bill and electricity.

“About 25 percent of the Farm Bill is about the farm, but most of the bill is about food,” said Hastings. The Farm Bill is supposed to be reauthorized in 2012, having changes implemented every four years, and is currently on Congress’ agenda.

Hastings addressed the current and past economic difficulties that Washington has faced during his terms as a congressman for the state.

“The economy wasn’t hurt as badly because of agriculture, but we’re seeing a little slide back now,” said Hastings. “Hanford has been a big part of the Tri-Cities growth. But overall, that doesn’t have a profound effect on the economy.”

The main issue that the eastern portion of the state currently faces is water. Within the past two years, the Grand Coulee Dam and the Odessa Aquifer groundwater project have had issues that deter from the supply of affordable water to the area.

The Odessa Aquifer is originally part of the Federal Reclamation Columbia Basin Project that has been funded by the Columbia Basin Development League. The entire project had been constructed and completed except the East High Canal and the East Low Canal by the mid-1970s.

The Washington Department of Ecology allowed irrigation wells in the Odessa region in anticipation with the completion of the Project. The aquifer is now in such a decline that farmers cannot irrigate crops without potential risk to the domestic and industrial use of the water.

“It’s hard to get it all done and is a work in progress. The bottom line is getting water,” said Hastings.

With the increasing gas prices, crude oil and coal exports are among the leading issues brought to Hastings attention. Hastings explains that the coal export is a political decision because of the dislike of burning fossil fuels in the United States.

“It’s a supply/demand issue. Crude oil is a natural product and we need to utilize the resources that we have,” said Hastings. “20 million barrels are burned a day and 30,000 out of that is from a small footprint, in Prudhoe Bay.”

Prudhoe Bay oil field is located in Alaska, about 400 miles north of Fairbanks, and is the largest oil field in North America. It is listed as the 18th largest oil field ever discovered in the world.

Hastings is the honored guest and keynote speaker at the Adams County Lincoln Day dinner on Saturday, April 28, in the CJ Newland American Legion Hall in Ritzville beginning with a 5 p.m. social and a 6:30 p.m. dinner. Admission to the event is $35 and to purchase tickets contact Nancy McBroom at 659-0560 or Laura Danekas at 659-4089.

Hastings can be reached at his Pasco office by phone at 509-543-9396, or an e-mail can be sent to Hastings through his website, http://www.hastings.house.gov.