Author Archives: brianzylstra

Schoesler applauds Legislature’s passage of supplemental capital budget

Sen. Mark Schoesler is pleased with the Legislature’s unanimous passage of a compromise state supplemental capital budget that funds several projects in the 9th Legislative District.

The capital budget funds the construction and maintenance of state buildings, public schools, higher education facilities, public land, parks and other assets throughout Washington.

The Senate today voted 49-0 to pass the final version of the capital budget, Senate Bill 6248. The House approved it 97-0 Wednesday. It now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for final consideration.

“Representatives Dye and Schmick and I asked capital budget leaders to put several local and community projects in either the House or Senate version of the capital budget this year,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “I’m pleased these projects are included in the final version of the budget, because several of our communities will benefit.”

The capital budget includes $25,000 in funding that Schoesler requested for emergency structural repairs to the Van Marter Building in Lind. In May 2019, the building underwent a structural engineering assessment, which determined that five heavy timber supports and new concrete footings must be replaced immediately to prevent the loss of the building’s main floor.

“The engineer who performed the assessment determined these repairs require urgent attention for safety reasons,” said Schoesler, “I’m glad the capital budget provides funding so these repairs can be done soon.”

The Adams County Historical Society hopes to renovate the Van Marter Building so it can become the Adams County Museum.

The capital budget appropriates nearly $1.27 million for the 9th District, including these other local projects:

  • Pasco Landfill ($1 million)
  • Design and construction of a pipeline and pump station as part of the Odessa groundwater replacement program ($175,000)
  • Pataha Flour Mill elevator in Pomeroy ($40,000)
  • Pomeroy Booster Pumping Station ($16,000)
  • Asotin County Library meeting space in Clarkston ($13,000)

Schoesler blasts Legislature’s passage of bill requiring sex ed to be taught to kindergartners

Sen. Mark Schoesler was sharply critical of the Legislature’s final approval today of Senate Bill 5395, which would require Washington public schools to teach comprehensive sex-education classes, starting in kindergarten.

The Senate today voted along party lines, 27-21, to concur, or agree, to the bill as amended by the House of Representatives on Thursday, following a six-hour debate that ended at 2 a.m. The bill as passed by the Legislature would require every public school to provide “comprehensive” sexual health education (CSHE) to each student by the 2022-23 school year, and require comprehensive sexual health education be provided to students in grades 6-12  in the 2021-22 school year.

“The teaching of sex education is an issue that should be up our local school districts to decide. It should not be mandated from Olympia, especially when it’s causing such an uproar in many communities across Washington,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

“In my many years as a legislator, I haven’t seen a bill cause such a negative reaction from the public, especially parents and educators,” said Schoesler. “Just this week I heard from three school superintendents who were opposed to this bill. One reason why they oppose this bill is because it might be an unfunded mandate placed on school districts. This is one of the most commented-on issues I’ve seen. I’ve received more negative emails and phone calls on this bill than any other bill before. These weren’t automated emails that so many legislators receive but rather were sent by people who saw the six-hour floor session in the House earlier this week that lasted until 2:15 in the morning. These people have grave concerns over this bill and so do I.”

Schoesler noted that during its coverage of the House floor action on the bill, TVW had to put the following words across the screen: ‘MATURE SUBJECT MATTER – VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED.’

“When you have to have that kind of warning on your TV screen for a bill before the Legislature, that tells you how inappropriate this bill is and why it should not have been passed by the Legislature,” Schoesler said.

The sex-education bill, which was requested by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for final consideration. No bill-signing date has been scheduled.

“If people oppose this bill, they should contact the governor’s office and ask that the governor veto it. If this bill is allowed to become law, it will force our school districts to teach sex education to students as young as kindergarten. The Legislature chose not to listen to people on this bill. Hopefully, the governor will listen and will veto it,” Schoesler said.