Author Archives: brianzylstra
One popular state park – Steptoe Butte – in eastern Washington’s 9th Legislative District is about to have a very basic service eliminated. Another state park in the district – Lyons Ferry – continues to see long delays with the reopening of its campsites. Both situations don’t sit well with 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.
Schoesler recently learned that Washington State Parks will close the restrooms at the top of the Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site in Whitman County.
“While I’m happy Washington State Parks is going to repave the road to the top of Steptoe Butte, I strongly oppose the decision to end a very basic service by closing the restrooms atop the butte,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The top of the butte is very isolated. Anyone having a picnic there will be forced to travel five miles down to the park entrance for a restroom. In what other state park would that be OK? Park lovers in our region – and I am one of them – deserve better.
“Seeing how Steptoe Butte State Park is in my district, the State Parks administration should have notified me and Representatives Schmick and Dye about the restroom closures. Instead, I found out from reading the Whitman County Gazette,” added Schoesler. “While I commend the Gazette for its reporting, you wonder why the State Parks people kept it quiet from me.”
When he inquired, Schoesler said, State Parks officials said the restrooms are being closed as part of a deal with local tribes.
“I understand that the tribes consider Steptoe Butte to be sacred ground. It is a special place for all of us. But I think this move will ruin what would otherwise be a great experience for many visitors who travel to the summit,” said Schoesler.
The Ritzville senator said Lyons Ferry State Park, located at the confluence of the Snake and Palouse rivers south of Washtucna, was reopened about 10 years ago. After the state park reopened, Schoesler said, many people in the area asked why the campsites at Lyons Ferry remain closed.
“There were public meetings with State Parks officials at Dayton and Washtucna several years ago about the campsites at Lyons Ferry and Palouse Falls state parks,” said Schoesler. “The plan was to close some campsites at Palouse Falls and reopen some of the campsites at Lyons Ferry. But the campsites at Lyons Ferry still have not reopened, and they won’t for several more years. When I pressed State Parks officials about it, they blamed the Army Corps of Engineers and claimed it will take another six years to restore water, sewer and electrical service available – and who knows how much longer to reopen the campsites after that. This is unacceptable.”
Schoesler pointed out that Lyons Ferry State Park is popular for fishing, water skiing, boating, picnicking and other recreational opportunities.
“Many hard-working taxpayers bring their boats to Lyons Ferry to enjoy a day on the water. It’s too bad that the campsites there are not open so visitors could stay overnight,” said Schoesler.
Schoesler criticized State Parks officials for not trying harder to find solutions to the issues at the Steptoe Butte and Lyons Ferry parks and for not being proactive in communicating with state legislators in the region or with local citizens about the status of the two parks.
“You’d expect a state agency would be able to work with tribal governments and the Corps and find solutions that allow these two parks to be fully used and enjoyed. Instead, it seems like the State Parks officials just threw up their hands and moved on to something else instead of finding solutions that are acceptable across the board.”
9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler talks about the first week of the 2024 legislative session in Olympia, including his thoughts on Gov. Inslee’s state of the state speech and problems existing in Washington, including education, affordability and public safety.
Sen. Mark Schoesler announced today that he plans to introduce a resolution recognizing the contributions and service of Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson, who is retiring after 20 years in that office.
“Glenn Johnson is truly a dedicated public servant who has been an integral part of the Pullman community and Cougar Nation for decades,” said Schoesler R-Ritzville. “Glenn has done so many positive things for Pullman and Washington State University over the years, but he did not do them for the money. He did them because he always strived to do the right thing and because he cares deeply about the university and Pullman.
“We owe him debt of gratitude for dedicated service, and I am honored to lead the Senate in recognizing his work.”
Schoesler said that his resolution will not only highlight the role Johnson played in representing the community, but in serving individuals.
“As a WSU communications professor, Glenn Johnson mentored so many students who went on to have successful careers in radio and television,” said Schoesler. “He leaves a positive legacy in many stations and newsrooms across the Northwest and nation.”
Johnson is beloved as the public address announcer at Washington State football games. He became famous for leading fans with his iconic saying, ‘And that’s another Cougar first down!’ After the Pac-12 reprimanded him for his catchphrase, Johnson adjusted by just saying ‘And…,’ followed by WSU fans finishing his famous phrase with ‘…that’s another Cougar first down!’
Johnson is not only active in the Pullman community, he is committed to higher education, as he also is a trustee of the Community Colleges of Spokane.
“Over the years, I thoroughly have enjoyed working with Glenn in my capacity as a state legislator and his as Pullman mayor,” added Schoesler, who has served the 9th Legislative District since 1993. “As a longtime WSU fan, it has been a privilege to get to know this legendary member of Cougar Nation. Glenn is a beloved figure in this community and across the Palouse, and this resolution to recognize his contributions to Cougar Nation and all Washingtonians is but a small thanks for all he has done. When the resolution is read aloud, I hope everyone in the Senate will join me in saying, ‘And that’s another Cougar first down!’ Enjoy retirement, Glenn!”
The 2024 legislative session is scheduled to start on Jan. 8, and last 60 days.
State Sen. Mark Schoesler issued this statement following this morning’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy that it will provide $1 billion to Washington, Oregon and Montana to establish eight hydrogen production sites across the three states:
“This would not happen without hydropower. Our state has a strong and reliable hydropower system that provides inexpensive electric power and allows water to be stored behind dams – with water being needed for producing hydrogen. I hope the people advocating for this new hydrogen production project in our state will recognize and respect the role that our dams and hydropower system played in Washington being part of this regional hydrogen hub.”
Schoesler, R-Ritzville, serves the 9th Legislative District, which includes the four lower Snake River dams between Clarkston and the Tri-Cities.
The recent carbon allowance auction held by the state Department of Ecology under the state’s costly cap-and-trade program will mean even higher fuel prices for drivers in Washington just as the summer driving season is about to start, says 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.
“Drivers across Washington will pay even more at the pump thanks to the cap-and-trade program,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Fuel prices typically rise when summer driving season arrives, and this latest auction by DOE will cause trips to the gas station to be even more expensive for both drivers here and those from other states who want to see Washington.”
Today’s release of the results from DOE’s May 31 auction showed that the price for a Washington carbon allowance was $56.01, up from $48.50 in the February auction. It is estimated that the new allowance price will translate to an additional charge of 45 cents a gallon at the pump. This is slightly higher than the estimated 39-cents-per-gallon impact from February’s auction by DOE.
A rough estimate for revenue raised in last week’s auction is about $480.8 million for current vintage allowances and about $76.2 million for future vintage allowances. The February auction collected nearly $300 million.
Schoesler said Gov. Inslee’s expensive cap-and-trade program, known as the Climate Commitment Act and approved by Democrat majorities in the Legislature in 2021, is taking hundreds of millions of dollars out of drivers’ wallets and handing it over to state agencies for various spending programs, all in the name of climate change.
“The latest carbon auction by DOE is just another example of the Democrats’ spending spree in Olympia that will affect people throughout Washington. Starting July 1, most workers across our state will also have to start paying an expensive payroll tax to fund a very flawed long-term care program.
“It’s shocking how Democrats actually seem to be proud about taking so much money away from citizens. Olympia needs to stop squeezing even more money out of hard-working taxpayers and instead start respecting them,” added Schoesler.
The report from Ecology’s May 31 auction can be viewed here.
A bill introduced this year by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that aims to help school districts in Washington address their building-maintenance needs was signed today by Gov. Jay Inslee.
The law created by Senate Bill 5403 will allow school districts to create a “depreciation subfund” that can receive a transfer of up to 2% of a school district’s general fund each fiscal year.
“After introducing it the past three years, it’s good to see this bill finally become law,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “It provides another way for school districts to handle building- or facility-maintenance needs. Sometimes it can be better for a school district to pay cash for a building repair or to set aside money for emergencies when they arise. Establishing this subfund, which is voluntary, is a way to help students learn in a healthy environment since school buildings will be in better condition.”
After passing SB 5403 unanimously in March, the Senate voted late in the regular session to unanimously support the version approved by the House, which makes the subfund option available only to school districts with fewer than 2,000 students.
During the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, the Senate twice easily passed an earlier version of Schoesler’s bill. Senate Bill 5202 reached the House Rules Committee and was placed on the House voting calendar in both sessions before stalling.
State Sen. Mark Schoesler, the Senate Republican leader on the capital budget, issued this statement after the Legislature passed a new state capital budget for 2023-25. It funds the construction and maintenance of state buildings, public-school matching grants, higher-education facilities, public lands, parks, water infrastructure and other assets.
“This is a win for the people of Washington. It is truly a statewide budget that lives within our means and funds the priorities of government.
“This capital budget responds to needs all throughout our state and provides funding for important projects in a wide variety of categories, from affordable housing to K-12 and higher education, from water supply and water quality needs to salmon recovery, state parks and outdoor recreation.
“I’m pleased by the support for the many projects that will help our colleges and universities, and especially glad to see money for school seismic-safety grants, since Washington is in earthquake country. The funding for water-supply projects, which benefits agriculture and other water users, is a big plus as well.
“Our capital budget takes a statewide approach, as it should. It will benefit many communities throughout Washington.”
Overall, the state capital budget (Senate Bill 5200) appropriates a total of $9 billion in spending, including nearly $694 million for affordable-housing projects; $872 million for K-12 education projects; $1.5 billion in total funding for higher education; $884 million to address behavioral-health needs; and $2.4 billion for natural-resource projects that address water quality and supply, salmon recovery, outdoor recreation and conservation, state parks, state trust lands and more.
The Senate passed the capital budget 48-0 today after the House approved it 96-0 on Friday. It now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for his consideration.
Schoesler, R-Ritzville, serves the 9th Legislative District.
The 2023 legislative session is scheduled to end tomorrow.