Rob McKenna speaks at Lincoln Day Dinner

MOSES LAKE — Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna was the keynote speaker at the Lincoln Day Dinner hosted by the Grant County Republican Party in Moses Lake Saturday night.

When he was introduced to the packed crowd, he was greeted with a standing applause.

McKenna explained to the group the three principals and sources of inspirations former President Abraham Lincoln sought when making leadership decisions. He said the former president read the Bible regularly, referred to Blackstone’s Commentaries for legal concerns and used the founding documents – the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

“Lincoln brought us back to the Declaration of Independence,” he said.

McKenna said the country is faced with an economic crisis. He said Lincoln’s principals made him reflect on the principals leading to President Barack Obama’s leadership decisions. He said he was concerned with the approval of the roughly $800 million stimulus package.

“What are the principals?” he asked the audience. “I can’t figure it out.”

McKenna said if he were president, he would implement three factors to stimulate the economy.

He proposed he would intervene and stabilize the real estate market, invest in infrastructure to create jobs and cut taxes for people who create jobs.

The audience applauded his remarks.

He said there are three factors leading to the fall of the home lending market.

McKenna said the federal reserve allowed the value of money to remain too cheap for too long, underwriting standards for loans were too relaxed and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae expanded greatly and supported the low value of money and relaxed underwriting standards.

“We’re in a tough spot right now,” he said.

He said he is uncertain if he is worried about the economy or Democrat lawmakers locally and nationally.

McKenna claims Democrats propose bills hindering business owners and fail to stimulate the economy.

Although the Democrat Party is the majority party, Republicans are gaining elected seats rapidly, he said. He urges Republican candidate recruitment to continue to strengthen the party.

“Every vote we receive in this county offsets a vote in Seattle,” McKenna said.

After he concluded his speech, he was met with another standing applause.

Prior to his speech, the party held a live auction, where nearly $1,000 was raised within a few minutes. During the entire event a silent auction was underway where several Republican Party items were up for bid including Lincoln memorabilia. An amount of funds raised during the silent auction was not available.