Pasco man seeking Congressional seat

COLUMBIA BASIN — As a health care professional and small business owner for the last 25 years, Richard Wright feels he has what it takes to represent Central Washington in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He is running for Congress for the second time, he said, because he feels incumbent U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings is not doing a good job of taking fresh ideas to Washington, D.C. Wright is running for the 4th District Congressional seat currently held by Hastings. He faces Lewis Picton of Manson in the Democratic primary this September.

Wright was born and raised in Pasco, and his first job out of college was at Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. He later opened his first physical therapy clinic in Moses Lake. He currently lives in Kennewick.

He is a fiscal conservative, and said record deficits are not something he would do in his family budgeting.

"That's the last thing I want to do, is shoulder my children, future generations with that debt," he said.

As a small businessman, Wright has said he's been able to hit 600 payrolls without having to borrow a dime. He feels the U.S. government should get its fiscal house in order, while also encouraging entrepreneurs and family wage job creation.

"It seems too many of our elected officials are listening too much to lobbyists and special interest groups," Wright said. "Those decisions hurt working families."

He feels he has made every effort to be honest and fair with people in his business and personal dealings. He believes there are many people in the district who are ready to vote for a change. As a leader, Wright said he wouldn't be extremely partisan, aiming to be someone who represents both Republicans and Democrats.

Wright wants to take his strong values system to Washington, adding that the people want politicians they can trust. Wright himself is a conservative Democrat. He believes in abortion only in cases of incest and rape. He views marriage as between a man and a woman.

"I believe we need a thinking congressman, and independent congressman in this district," Wright said.

Wright said he wants to make sure small businesses are allowed to prosper, and aren't burdened with too many government regulations.

With all the problems facing the nation's health care system, Wright cites his background in physical therapy as a strength in Washington, D.C. Being in the health care industry, he knows why the system isn't working, he said, adding the system should be re-evaluated so all people can have access to affordable health care.

The first bill Wright would introduce, if elected, would amend the current Medicare drug plan to allow the federal government to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. Wright admits to having a great deal of respect for the Medicare program, but said he thought the 2003 changes were a mistake. He feels it should be a simpler plan, and said if a plan is federally administered, he felt the administrative costs would be lower.

But Wright's top priority would be what he calls "true national security."

Living in a dangerous world, Wright said the congress should implement all the measures of the Sept. 11 Commission, which he said the current Congress has failed to do.

He believes the Iraq war is not going well and needs to be evaluated. The proposal he would recommend would get troops out of the front lines in the next 12 months.

"Ultimately the Iraqi people have a decision to make," Wright said. "If they want to continue with the democracy or not. That really is their decision to make. I believe it's time now to re-evaluate the present situation."

He said the U.S. should send a message to Iraq that they are going to leave at one point.

On immigration, Wright feels the country needs to secure the border and step up enforcement of the flood of illegal immigration. He feels the U.S. needs to secure its borders, and then work to put a legal immigration policy in place. He also supports a guest worker program.

"I would try to be the type of person who would try to bring more unity to congress," Wright said, "and try to work together and solve these problems."