Author Archives: brianzylstra

Schoesler: Drivers have right to be upset by Inslee’s proposed shift of highway-project funding

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued this statement today on Gov. Jay Inslee’s 2021-23 state transportation budget proposal, which calls for a shift of hundreds of millions in transportation funding to pay for court-ordered fish passage projects.

“When I joined about two-thirds of the Legislature in passing the Connecting Washington transportation package in 2015, we did so despite its inclusion of a large gas-tax increase,” said Schoesler. “We voted for that package mainly because it would fund needed highway projects throughout the state, including some in my district. I’m opposed to the governor’s new transportation plan because it might delay several road projects that have either just started or are slated to begin soon. 

“Washington drivers have reason to be upset with this possible funding shift. They are paying a higher gas tax with the idea that the money raised by it will help pay for road projects in their area – not for fish-culvert projects. There’s no way I would have voted for such a large gas-tax hike in 2015 if I knew that any projects funded by this package would be delayed or taken away years later to pay for fish passage.

“The governor hasn’t specified which projects would be delayed or modified. It concerns me that we won’t know until well into our 2021 session which projects might be placed on hold.

“The governor’s budget plan would take reductions from Connecting Washington projects to cover about $1 billion in both preservation and fish culvert projects. The reductions allowing this shift would come from delaying or modifying projects into future years where possible. It appears there is $586 million in spending planned on future Connecting Washington road projects. If the governor’s transportation budget becomes reality and the fish-barrier projects end up taking $724 million of this $1 billion shift, it would leave a very significant and costly funding gap.”

A 2013 U.S. District Court injunction requires the state to significantly increase the effort for removing state-owned culverts that block habitat for salmon and steelhead by 2030.

Sen. Mark Schoesler

Schoesler to continue serving on budget, labor and commerce committees

Sen. Mark Schoesler will continue his long streak of serving on the Senate Ways and Means Committee when the Legislature convenes in January.

The 2021 legislative session, which starts Jan. 11 and lasts 105 days, will mark the 17th straight year Schoesler has been a member of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee since joining the Senate in 2005.

“I’ve taken great pride in serving on the Ways and Means Committee, and I’m pleased to continue doing so,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Tax and spending issues have always been among my highest priorities as a legislator, and by serving on Ways and Means, I can provide a voice for families and businesses in my district and our state to keep taxes and spending in check, and I will strongly oppose creating a state income tax.”

Schoesler has been named the Ways and Means Committee’s ranking Republican on the capital budget, which helps fund construction projects for state government buildings, state parks and colleges and universities.

“This role will allow me to work with my fellow Republicans and lead Democrats on the committee in producing a list of worthwhile projects to include in the state capital budget for the next two years, including those impacting local school districts and higher education institutions like WSU,” said Schoesler, whose district includes the Pullman-based Washington State University.

Schoesler also will continue serving on the recently renamed Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee. He says he will continue advocating for regulatory reform and other issues that will benefit Washington’s job creators and working families.

“My years of experience in the business of farming have helped me understand regulatory issues, which along with workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance are among the high-profile topics this committee addresses. I know how overzealous regulations imposed by government agencies can be as hard on employers as taxes. The more money and time you have to spend complying with rules, the less likely you are to prosper or even survive as a business owner, especially during this difficult period with COVID-19,” said Schoesler.

Schoesler said the labor and commerce panel needs to focus on shrinking and simplifying Washington’s vast, complex regulatory system.

“Washington’s regulatory code has over 196,000 separate regulations, which is more than all but five states. That should tell you there is serious need for reform – and this committee is the place to start,” added Schoesler.

Schoesler represents the 9th Legislative District, which covers all or part of Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield, Spokane and Whitman counties.

 

Senate Republicans share K-12 Educational Recovery Priorities plan with Inslee, Reykdal

With the COVID-19 pandemic causing the suspension of the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year for more than 1 million Washington K-12 students, members of the Senate Republican Caucus have created a five-point plan to address the current situation facing students and teachers and how best to proceed.

The K-12 education plan, along with a cover letter from Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, were sent late yesterday to Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal.

“Two of our caucus members who serve on the Senate’s K-12 education committee, Senators Brad Hawkins and Keith Wagoner, led the effort in crafting a realistic plan that addresses immediate concerns and those that will await schools as the 2020-21 academic year approaches in a few months,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “We hope Governor Inslee and Superintendent Reykdal will read and carefully consider the ideas expressed in this plan that are in the best interests of Washington students.”

In the cover letter sent to Inslee and Reykdal, Schoesler wrote:

“The Senate Republican Caucus is proud of the steps our state has taken in recent years to satisfy the McCleary Decision on basic education, funding our K-12 system at record levels and providing more equity for students across our state.  As a result of bipartisan efforts, our K-12 investments now represent 51 percent of the $54 billion operating budget. This is a substantial contribution from taxpayers, including many families with students in our schools.

“Unfortunately, as a result of the ongoing disruption and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these families and students are struggling under the current restrictions and limitations placed upon them. Even in areas with excellent internet access, there are reports of extremely low participation rates by students.  With over one million public, private, and home school students in our state, we must do everything we can to meet their needs, ensure continuity in their academic progress, and provide a return on significant taxpayer investments.

“As you and your staff continue to focus on our state’s health and safety as well as the reopening of the economy, we urge you to keep in mind the health and academic needs of the staff and students associated with our basic educational system. In the spirit of helpful and open communications, please review the attached K-12 Educational Recovery Priorities from our caucus and consider this document in your current and future planning efforts.”

The Senate Republicans’ K-12 Educational Recovery Priorities plan covers five areas:

  • School districts should focus on delivering instruction

The number one priority of every school district should be the delivery of educational content. Districts should consider partnerships with local utilities and service providers to establish internet serviceability to deliver online instruction, in addition to any paper content. All students should receive a commensurate amount of high-quality instructional time remotely as they would from in-building instruction.

  • Resume traditional instruction in classrooms as soon as reasonable

As soon as reasonable and safe to do so, public and private school boards should be allowed to decide whether their schools can resume instructional activities under the traditional, in-classroom model. The state should assist districts by developing model policies and procedures for COVID-19 testing, sterilizing, and response, placing emphasis on the highest risk populations. This approach will better ensure consistent, equitable, and robust instruction. Internet-based remote instruction could supplement in-building instruction as a viable model for future years.

  • Consider impacts on marginalized students and adjust the school calendar as needed

To better meet academic needs for this school year, students should be permitted to regain instruction lost into July. Districts could also consider beginning future school years on August 1st to assist students in regaining their overall growth and long-term academic progress. Focus should be given to under-supported students who are marginalized and have lost greater opportunities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Consider impacts to school funding and cost of local bargaining agreements

Delivering instruction is a staff-intensive business. As such, staff costs can approach 80 percent or more of a school district budget. Given the economic uncertainty associated with COVID-19 and the future funding from the state, it would seem prudent for school districts to freeze additional spending, including commitments on bargaining agreements not yet extended.

  • Support graduating seniors as they transition to their colleges or careers

Given the interrupted instruction graduating seniors have received, higher education institutions, state employment agencies, and military branches should provide additional support and guidance to these young adults transitioning to their colleges or careers. Additional support could include tuition assistance for summer coursework, waivers for standardized test deadlines, and additional academic advising or career planning.

 

9th District legislators ask governor to let Whitman County partially reopen

When Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday that 10 Washington counties may be allowed to partially reopen amid his stay-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 9th Legislative District team of Sen. Mark Schoesler, and Reps. Joe Schmick and Mary Dye immediately noticed Whitman County was not on the list.

The omission prompted the lawmakers to send a joint letter to Inslee yesterday, asking him to add Whitman to the list of counties that can seek a variance from the governor’s Proclamation 20-25, allowing them to reopen parts of their economies soon.

“We think the governor isn’t using fair criteria to judge which counties can partially reopen their economies during his shutdown, especially in regards to Whitman County. We think Whitman should be allowed to partially reopen now, and Representatives Schmick and Dye and I wanted to let the governor know it,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

“Whitman County has two cases that are being monitored and staying home. All other cases have recovered. It makes no sense to close the county for two. The recovery numbers are not being published and I think they should be in every county. Our families, small businesses and employees want – and need – to get back to work. I trust our citizens to be smart, deliberate and thoughtful of others as we emerge from quarantine,” said Schmick, R-Colfax.

“We have had weeks to better understand the nature of the pandemic. It is self-evident that we must protect vulnerable elderly populations in assisted living and nursing homes,” said Dye, R-Pomeroy. “Our communities in Whitman County need to be freed from the governor’s restrictions in order to save our rural hospitals and our rural economy. We are better able to respond to the virus when our communities are allowed to recover financially as well.”

The 10 counties that can partially reopen are Columbia, Ferry, Garfield (which is in the 9th District), Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kittitas, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Skamania and Wahkiakum.

The text of the 9th District legislators’ letter to the governor is below:

May 5, 2020

Governor Jay Inslee
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Dear Governor Inslee,

We are writing to respectfully ask you to add Whitman County to the list of Washington counties that may seek a variance from your Proclamation 20-25, toward reopening parts of their economies sooner.

We are encouraged by your recognition of the fact that not all areas of the state are experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic in the same way and agree with you that some counties should have an opportunity to reopen earlier. However, we are disappointed to learn of the disclosed criteria that lead to inclusion of some counties while excluding Whitman County: Counties under 75,000 in population are eligible to apply for a variance if they have not had a single positive COVID-19 case in the last three weeks. (We were told Whitman County had none over the last week, but had one the prior week, so it needs to go two more weeks without a positive test.) We think this is the wrong criteria to use and we are disappointed Whitman County is not being given that opportunity – because the data indicate it should.

For instance, Jefferson County made the list despite having had twice as many confirmed cases (28) of COVID-19 as Whitman County (14). (According to the Whitman County Health Department, there currently are two active COVID-19 cases in this county, as the others diagnosed with it have recovered.) Grays Harbor County is on the list despite having a population roughly 50 percent greater than Whitman County. Kittitas County is eligible despite having a slightly higher rate of confirmed cases per 1,000 people (0.30) than Whitman County (0.28). In fact, Whitman County has the 11th lowest rate of confirmed cases per 1,000 people of all 39 counties in our state. It is also noteworthy that Whitman County, like all of the 10 counties being allowed to seek a variance, has had no deaths caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

We also note that with Washington State University having canceled in-person classes for the rest of the current academic year, Whitman County’s largest city, Pullman, is now home to only a small fraction of the student body. Forcing many Pullman businesses to remain closed for several more weeks at a time when they prematurely find themselves with far fewer customers to protect will needlessly bring them closer to the edge of failure.

It’s worth noting that Whitman and other border counties have faced very tough stay-home restrictions over the past several weeks, while our neighbors in Idaho have endured far fewer restrictions. Unlike in Washington, you can buy a car in Idaho, which seems like a very reasonable and sensible approach considering auto dealerships typically have very few customers in the building at the same time. Outdoor activities like golf, which by its very nature employs physical distancing, have been handled far differently in Washington than in Idaho. While you can play golf in Lewiston, you haven’t been allowed to play it in Clarkston, even though the two towns are just across the river from each other. At least you are finally somewhat relaxing your shutdown on golf and other outdoor activities.

During your Friday announcement that Proclamation 20-25 would be extended, you spoke of your desire to bet on success rather than failure. We would bet that if Whitman County is granted the same opportunity as the 10 counties you designated already, its leaders, merchants and residents will deliver. It would be fair and consistent – and they, too, would rather succeed than fail.

Please reconsider your decision and allow Whitman County to also apply for a variance so it can finally, if slowly, start its reopening process.

Sincerely,

MARK SCHOESLER
State Senator
9th Legislative District

 

JOE SCHMICK
State Representative
9th Legislative District

 

MARY DYE
State Representative
9th Legislative District

 

Cc: Whitman County Commissioners
Art Swannack, District 1
Dean Kinzer, District 2
Michael Largent, District 3

 

Schoesler encourages people to access COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide

State Sen. Mark Schoesler wants residents of the 9th Legislative District and other rural parts of Washington to know the U.S. Department of Agriculture has created a guide with links to various federal agencies and programs that rural areas may need during the COVID-19 situation.

People may access the COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide by going to https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/USDA_COVID-19_Fed_Rural_Resource_Guide.pdf.

“This online guide by the USDA includes links for businesses, consumers, families, agriculture, nonprofits and tribes about technical assistance, financial assistance and general state and local government resources,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The guide covers a wide range of resources that can help so many of us here in our district and other rural areas of our state. These are tough times for so many of us, so I encourage people to take a look at the guide and see how it can help them.”

Op-ed: To be clear, here’s what Legislature can and can’t do with governor’s COVID-19 proclamations

By Sen. Mark Schoesler

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit our state earlier this year, Washingtonians have done their best to cope with this terrible disease, which has caused about 12,750 confirmed cases and killed 711 patients in our state as of April 23.

During this pandemic, my fellow Senate Republicans and I have supported Gov. Jay Inslee and his executive-branch agencies when we believed it was warranted, as they strive to minimize the disease’s impact on Washingtonians.

While we have supported many of his proclamations, we believe some of the governor’s restrictions on Washington residents and businesses related to his stay-home order go too far and aren’t consistent. He has closed down several sectors of our state economy that could remain open without putting the workers involved at risk.

One of the most notable of his restrictions that we oppose has been his prohibition on residential and commercial construction. It’s puzzling and frustrating that the governor has allowed government-related construction to continue during the pandemic while putting the brakes on residential construction. Construction workers have lost millions and millions of dollars in lost wages as a result. However, it was encouraging to see the governor announce today that he will allow “low-risk” construction to resume if safe distancing can be followed.

We appreciate that the governor’s stay-home order is intended to keep people safe from COVID-19 and eventually stop the spread of this serious disease. The health and safety of Washingtonians is our highest priority during this crisis. But we care about Washington’s economic health as well as its public health. That is why we not only have asked the governor to ease restrictions on those industries in which employees don’t work in close proximity and thus are at little risk of contracting COVID-19, but also have worked with our House Republican colleagues on creating a plan to safely start to reopen Washington’s economy. You can view that plan here.

Over the past several weeks we have received many questions about the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, and whether legislators can lift it or extend it.

The short answer is no.

The stay-home order (formally known as Proclamation 20-25, as amended by Proclamation 20-25.1) was issued by the governor under state law (RCW 43.06.220(1)). As a proclamation made under this law’s subsection, the order is not subject to a 30-day time limit.

The governor’s original stay-home order expired on April 8, but he extended it until May 4. The governor might choose to extend the order again. What is important for people to know is that the emergency-powers law under which his order was issued does not give the Legislature the opportunity to determine whether the order should be extended.

Under another subsection in the state law dealing with emergency powers (RCW 43.06.220(2)), some other emergency proclamations do expire after 30 days – and the Legislature does have a role in whether to extend those. When the Legislature is not in session (as now), the legislative leaders of the four caucuses – Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats, House Republicans and House Democrats – can grant an extension for some orders issued under this law.

During the pandemic, other legislative leaders and I have extended 19 proclamations that were set to expire and are subject to review.

My fellow legislative leaders and I agreed to extend certain proclamations because they would provide financial or regulatory relief to our state’s residents during this difficult time when so many Washington families already face a financial burden caused by the pandemic emergency and resulting stay-home order.

Some of those include suspending the accrual of interest on unpaid taxes, waiving the waiting periods for unemployment benefits, and relaxing continuing education requirements to provide flexibility for healthcare workers. In each case our caucus first carefully examined the proclamation and concluded that an extension was warranted. Our caucus has not authorized an extension beyond May 4 for any of the governor’s proclamations over which we have a say.

I hope this explanation about the governor’s proclamations will help people better understand what the Legislature can and can’t do regarding them.

 

 

 

Schoesler statement on announcement of West Coast governors’ pact

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued this statement in response to Monday’s announcement by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and California Gov. Gavin Newsom that they have an agreement on a shared vision for reopening their states’ economies and controlling COVID-19 into the future.

“If Washington shares a vision with California and Oregon we should open up our economy to things like residential construction, as those states do, instead of being an outlier. Oregon’s stay-home order is far less restrictive than Washington’s about which categories of businesses are allowed to remain open. Oregon’s governor closed types of businesses where social distancing is impractical or impossible, and let everyone else stay open as long as they adhere to social distancing requirements. That’s a practical, common-sense approach that I wish our governor would use to allow more of our state’s economy to function.

“The inconsistencies between the states go beyond building construction, which is our state’s biggest generator of tax revenue. Only Washington has banned auto sales, which is our number-two economic activity. Oregon and California are allowing road-construction projects to continue, yet Washington isn’t. Washington sees firearms dealers as expendable, while Oregon’s can remain open if they practice safe distancing, and in California that decision is left to its counties. Unlike Washington, real-estate sales aren’t banned in Oregon and California. Even hunting and fishing, which are easily done in solitary, are prohibited in our state. I wonder how many other states view bank or stream fishing as risky from a COVID-19 standpoint. Oregonians and Californians can still fish and hunt in their states. While many of Oregon’s state parks are closed, its wildlife areas are open during the day – that’s something Washington can’t say.

“The governors said they will use data and metrics in making decisions. Over the past few weeks Senate Republicans have repeatedly asked for the specific metrics our governor is using to make the decisions that are affecting every Washingtonian. We need to see the metrics that allow government-related construction to continue but prohibit private construction. We need to see the metrics that allow work on road culverts but forbid work on highways. We need to see the metrics that allow building of arenas for professional sports but prevent building of homes for injured, homeless veterans. The people deserve full transparency on this if they are to trust that sound decisions are being made here in Washington, with or without Oregon and California.”

Schoesler statement on governor’s signing of bill requiring sex ed to be taught to kindergartners

Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued this statement today after Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law Senate Bill 5395, which requires Washington public schools to teach “comprehensive” sex-education classes, starting in kindergarten. The bill, requested by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, requires such classes for each student by the 2022-23 school year, starting with students in grades 6-12 in the 2021-22 school year.

“I’m disappointed but not surprised that the governor signed this bill. This is a sad day for parents, educators and those who favor local control of our schools. The teaching of sex education should be up to our local school districts to decide. It should not be mandated from Olympia, especially when you’re talking about a bill that orders such controversial changes.

“In my 28 years as a legislator, I haven’t seen a bill cause such a negative reaction from the public, and not just parents. Many school boards, superintendents and teachers oppose it as well. Teachers already have plenty to keep them busy in classrooms without having to worry about teaching a sex-education curriculum forced on them from Olympia – and when superintendents tell me they see no need for this bill,  as several did, it clearly is bad legislation. It’s unfortunate that my Democratic colleagues and the governor chose to ignore the public and ram this terrible and overreaching bill through.”

 

Schoesler criticizes final operating budget for ‘not listening to the people’

After today’s Senate vote to pass a compromise 2020 state supplemental operating budget, 9th Legislative District Sen. Mark Schoesler criticized the plan for its sharp increase in spending.

“The supplemental operating budget is supposed to make minor adjustments to the original two-year budget passed by the Legislature, but this budget goes too far,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville, after the 28-21 vote. “It raises state spending too sharply and imposes some tax increases despite our state having plenty of revenue in reserve.

“Judging by last fall’s passage of Initiative 976, citizens want us to keep taxes low and rein in spending. Unfortunately, the budget passed today shows that the majorities in the Senate and House are not listening to the people.”

The conference operating budget, which was approved by House and Senate negotiators earlier this week, increases spending by $975 million above the 2019-21 state operating budget passed last year. Schoesler noted that the original House and Senate operating budget proposals would have raised spending by at least $1.1 billion, but worries over the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Washington’s economy caused budget negotiators to show more restraint on the final size of the supplemental budget.

Factoring in the supplemental budget, the state budget has grown from $44.9 billion in 2017-19 to $53.9 billion in the current budget cycle, a 20 percent increase.

“I’ve been in the Legislature since 1993, and it’s shocking that the Democrats think it’s OK to increase spending at such a sharp level,” said Schoesler. “We can’t keep spending at this level, especially if our economy hits a rough patch and revenues go down. If the coronavirus outbreak gets worse, that could make for a very rough patch.”

Schoesler noted that state-government spending has grown by 78.2 percent since 2013, while the state’s average wage growth has risen by 40.2 percent during this time. Not including King County, state wage growth has increased by 27.9 percent.

“When state spending outpaces wage growth, that is a real concern because it’s a sign that government is taking too much money from taxpayers. This kind of rampant spending isn’t sustainable in case of an economic downturn,” said Schoesler, who is a member of the budget-writing Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Today is the final day of the Legislature’s 60-day session.