Hastings talks pot legalization, other issues

EPHRATA - Rep. Doc Hastings told Grant County commissioners he does not expect Congress to meddle in state affairs when implementing marijuana legalization in Washington.

He also said he does not expect Congress or the president to legalize marijuana nationwide anytime soon.

"Federal law will not change because two states change theirs," he said.

He addressed other issues that Grant County commissioners brought up during a meeting on Thursday.

Grant County Commissioner Richard Stevens asked when the U.S. House of Representatives would vote on the Senate bill that would address fairness in taxation of items bought on the Internet.

Stevens said that Grant County residents are more likely to buy items online to avoid state and local sales taxes.

Hastings said he does not necessarily support the Senate bill that was passed in May 2013 asking retailers to collect taxes from online purchases that are made from out-of-state buyers. That revenue would be turned over to local governments.

"I don't know how this issue will be resolved," Hastings said. "But I do have some concerns with the Senate bill."

He said a comprehensive tax reform bill may be proposed this year in the House and could deal with how taxes are collected from online purchases.

He also said he hopes the House deals with immigration reform sometime this year.

"If we are a government of laws, which we are, and yet we have a large group of people who are here illegally, then the longer we don't address that issue, the longer the concept of law breaks down," he said.

"The leaders on our side in the House have said we just need to get this done," he said.