Hastings: Incentives won

U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings remains opposed to a $700 billion financial bailout, despite efforts by proponents to sweeten the deal with aid for schools in rural regions like the Pasco Republican’s 4th Congressional District.

“At the end of the day, his vote will be based on the provisions of the bailout itself, not extra items added to it,” Hastings’ spokesman Will Marlow said Thursday. “If the bailout provisions he voted against on Monday remain the same, it’s fair to expect his vote to be the same.”

Politico.com, a Web site that reports on all things political, named Hastings one of 12 House members targeted by proponents to change their vote by adding money for local projects.

He was one of 133 Republicans and 95 Democrats to oppose the bailout plan during Monday’s House vote. Though President Bush and Republican House leaders, together with Democrats, have argued the money is needed to shore up the country’s financial institutions, Hastings said he could not support such a “massive” intrusion into the marketplace.

Among the enticements that were added in the bailout legislation approved by the Senate on Wednesday is $3.3 billion in federal aid for the Secure Rural Schools program, which compensates counties for the loss of revenues they had been receiving from the sale of timber on federal lands, according to news reports. In Washington state, the rural school aid has been as high as $15 million.

The Senate also added $110 billion in tax breaks for businesses and the middle class and increased the federal guarantee on individual bank deposits to $200,000, up from $100,000.

Congressional leaders hope to switch enough votes to pass the amended legislation in the House today.

Marlow said Thursday that Hastings continues to talk to colleagues and constituents about the issue, but calls to his office are still running “overwhelmingly opposed” to a bailout.

Hastings has long supported an extension of the state sales tax exemption and payments to rural schools, Marlow said, adding that such legislation could pass on its own.

• Leah Beth Ward can be reached at 577-7626 or lward@yakimaherald.com.