PASCO -- The economy took center stage Wednesday night at the Columbia Basin College theater as candidates for the 4th Congressional District disagreed on issues ranging from how to balance the federal budget to how to provide affordable health care.

Even though they were competing with the final presidential debate, Rep. Doc Hastings, a Republican, and his challenger, George Fearing, a Democrat, drew about 200 people to the Pasco forum moderated by the League of Women Voters.

Hastings is "asleep at the wheel of a car teetering on the brink of a precipice" of economic collapse, with people's homes, savings and pensions at risk, Fearing said in opening comments.

If voters want to change Congress they need to change the people in Congress and no district needs change more than this one, Fearing said.

Statements such as Fearing's are exactly what's wrong with Congress, Hastings shot back. Instead of using opening statements to explain his stands, Fearing launched an angry attack, Hastings said.

Hastings used his opening statement to point out his work to knock down trade restrictions on agricultural products, improve water storage and fight for money for Hanford cleanup.

Then the two candidates got down to specifics in response to questions from the local media, including questions on how they would reduce the federal deficit.

Fearing said the government could save hundreds of billions of dollars by bringing the troops home from Iraq. He'd also like to end special benefits to oil companies, such as leasing land for drilling at below-market value, he said.

Hastings had a longer list of cuts.

The United States is spending too much money on the United Nations, he said. Public broadcasting should be able to exist without government money. He wouldn't provide legal services that allow farmers to be sued. And he'd cut foreign aid, with the exception of military aid to Israel, he said.

Hastings voted against the $700 billion bailout of the financial industry, saying it could be seen as a way to privatize profits and socialize losses.

"The taxpayers are at risk over time," he said. "There is no question this is a massive intrusion into our economy by the government. It sets a terrible precedence."

Fearing also would have voted against it, saying the root of the problem needed to be addressed. The marketplace and unmitigated greed after deregulation caused the problem, he said.

Fearing supports Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's plan to raise taxes for Americans making $250,000 or more annually, but to lower or hold even taxes for those making less. The riches for the wealthy have gone up exponentially compared to wages for the working family as a result of Bush policies, he said.

Hastings said there's no silver bullet for solving the nation's economic problems, but Congress's first duty is "to do no harm." He opposes raising taxes, believing that creating more jobs would better serve the economy. One way to do that would be to allow more domestic oil drilling and support nuclear power, he said.

On health care, Fearing said he favors a universal health care system that would eliminate the large percentage of spending that goes to health insurance company profits and administration.

Hastings said Canadians cross the border to Washington, preferring the broad range of care available here to the government-provided care at home. To make health care more affordable for Americans, he favors changes such as making health costs tax deductible, expanding health savings accounts and limiting lawsuits.

Fearing countered that there's also a reason many people in Washington are going to Canada for health care, particularly for prescription medicine.

With Hastings running for his eighth term, Fearing brought up what he's said is Hastings' pledge in his first campaign to limit his terms in Congress.

Not true, Hastings said. He refused to sign pledge that would limit him to three terms, but did sign a pledge agreeing to address the issue as a congressman. When the issue came up in the House he voted in favor of a six-term limit, but the measure failed, he said.

Video of the forum will be shown until the election on Charter Cable channels and also will be posted on YouTube.