Political Profile: Doc Hastings

Name: Richard Norman "Doc" Hastings (R-WA)
Position: United States Congressman representing the 4th congressional district of Washington state (incumbent).
Background: Born in 1941 in Spokane, Hastings served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1979 to 1987. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1994.

Issues:

• Civil Rights--Hastings has a 0% rating from NARAL and is unabashedly "pro-life." He recently voted on a bill making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. He also received a 7% rating from the ACLU and has voted for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.


• Big Business--Hastings voted yes to award $140 billion in tax breaks to large corporations, supports offshore tax shelters, and has a 97% approval rating from US COC.


• Death Penalty--Hastings is pro-death penalty and has expressed a desire to forbid the right of habeas corpus in death penalty appeals.


• Separation of Church and State--Hastings voted for a constitutional amendment for school prayer and for treating religious institutions the same in considering tax breaks.


• Welfare/Social Security--Hastings voted for limiting welfare to two years and to cut welfare spending, as well as reducing social security payouts.

ProgWA Approval Rating: 0%