By Patrick D Muir Central Washington's congressman, Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Pasco, was unavailable Monday to comment on the nation's financial crisis or the proposed $700 billion federal bailout by Congress.

By Chris Bristol, Yakima Herald-Republic, Wash. Jul. 1--U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings is going nuclear on the subject of gas prices. So is rival George Fearing.

By John Trumbo, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash. Apr. 10--Washington congressmen Doc Hastings and Brian Baird say a federal lawsuit filed to block the killing of sea lions could unnecessarily cause "thousands upon thousands" of endangered salmon to be destroyed.

By DEAN BAKER Congressmen Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, and Doc Hastings, R-Pasco, got a water-level view of the sea lions versus salmon dilemma below Bonneville Dam on Monday. Both politicians endorse the idea of killing gorging sea lions as a last resort.

Republicans could face ethics investigations for contacting U.S. attorneys about pending cases, a jarring political development only four months after ethical lapses helped cost the GOP control of Congress.