AVREY COOPER: After more than a decade, Central Washington will have a new representative in the U.S. House. The two candidates running to replace Representative Dan Newhouse spoke at a forum in the Tri-Cities. NWPB’s Courtney Flatt has more.


COURTNEY FLATT: Democrat John Duresky and Republican Amanda McKinney discussed a range of topics during a recent forum at W-S-U Tri-Cities. Like  rural healthcare, renewable energy, agriculture and the cost of living.

Both candidates for Washington’s 4th Congressional District acknowledged the difficulties rising prices have put on people. Duresky says affordability isn’t a buzzword. And rising costs are affecting people all over the district.

JOHN DURESKY: “ You hear that all the time in rural America, people working two jobs and a side hustle. We have seen grocery prices rise and rise.” 

FLATT: Duresky says tariffs and trade wars have contributed to the economic situation. He says trade practices shouldn’t be set by the executive branch. Instead, Duresky says, Congress should hold that power.

But McKinney says she disagrees. She says Washington state’s government has driven up costs. She calls it a “death by a thousand cuts.”

AMANDA McKINNEY: “ The reality is that there is prosperity outside of the four corners of Washington State, and we are not experiencing it because of our state policies.”

FLATT: McKinney says she’d like to continue the Trump administration’s energy policies, including expanding nuclear power. She says those federal policies will help lower people’s energy costs.

I’m Courtney Flatt.