Fearing announces run for Congress

Democrat runs for 4th district

MOSES LAKE - George Fearing, D-Richland, announced his candidacy for the 4th Congressional District Tuesday afternoon at Bob's Cafe in Moses Lake.

Fearing was visiting numerous counties throughout the district Tuesday, making the announcement. He said he chose to announce his bid after realizing how much support he has throughout the district.

"In February of last year, I pledged to run for Congress if I received enough support," Fearing said. "Our campaign exceeded our goals."

He said the presidential race proves citizens are ready for a change in government. Fearing said change is needed to restore the economy, reinstate leadership and bridge gaps between different political views.

"No congressional district needs change more than the 4th Congressional District of Washington state," he said.

Fearing is running against Congressman Doc Hastings, R-4th District, for the position.

"In September, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington declared Hastings one of the 22 most corrupt members of Congress," he said. "I am embarrassed to be represented by one of the most corrupt congressman."

Congress is designed to check the power of the president, Fearing said. Hastings has done the bidding of the president rather than doing what is most beneficial for the citizens of the district.

Fearing said Hastings did not question if there were weapons of mass destruction, an appropriate number of troops, lack of body armor, use of torture, if payments were cut to war veterans and if treatment to wounded soldiers was adequate during the duration of the war in Iraq.

Fearing spoke of Hastings environmental decisions.

"We face a terrible problem of climate change," he said. "The current representative does not believe in global warming and a problem cannot be solved if it is not recognized."

Fearing said he will work with the next president to reduce carbon emissions.

"We can cut our emissions or green house gases while building new industries with high wages, high tech jobs and Central Washington is just the place to begin this work," he said.

Fearing said the health care system needs to change.

"We can cure deadly diseases like cancer, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease by investing federal dollars in stem cell research and nuclear medicine," he said. "We can provide quality health care for all and especially for our children."

Fearing said Hastings benefits from pay raises while declining minimum wage increases.

"Purchasing power of the middle class has eroded in the last eight years," he said. "This erosion came in large part from the borrow and spend policies of the current administration."

Fearing said he plans to balance the budget if elected.

"We can do better economically. We can cut taxes on the middle class without busting the budget, by ending the tax giveaways to multi-billion dollar oil companies," he said. "The incumbent continuously reduced the taxes of large corporations, which has led to monumental budget deficits."

Fearing said he is devoted to change in the 4th district.

"This is not my campaign. This is our campaign," he said. 'This is our campaign to return to integrity and common sense to the 4th Congressional District."

Fearing is an attorney at a law firm in Kennewick and resides in Richland where he is raising his 12-year-old son.