Author Archives: brianzylstra

Schoesler criticizes Reykdal for wanting to cancel state testing of students

Sen. Mark Schoesler opposes a suggestion by Washington’s highest-ranking elected education official that the state should cancel the testing of student learning levels.

During last week’s Washington State Board of Education meeting in Spokane, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said that using tests to assess the true level of learning students are receiving “means nothing” and that, if he decides he has the authority, he plans to cancel state testing of public K-12 students.

At about the 1:00:57 mark of this TVW video of last week’s meeting, Reykdal said, “I am trying to figure out if I have the authority to exit us (from testing) on my own, or if that needs something else.”

Schoesler, who represents eastern Washington’s 9^th Legislative District and is the father of a public-school teacher, criticized Reykdal for wanting to pull the plug on state testing of students to assess how much they have learned.

“In just over the past two years, student learning in Washington has been severely disrupted due to COVID-19, which caused so many of our students to fall behind,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “And now Superintendent Reykdal, the top elected education official in our state, wants to cancel state testing of students? The Legislature should decide on whether to keep such testing in place. Getting rid of these tests would be a disservice to students and parents. We need student assessment of learning more than ever to see how students are doing and where they need to improve.”

Schoesler said one of Reykdal’s reasons for eliminating state testing of students, that colleges don’t look at them in admitting students, is wrong.

“Contrary to what SPI Reykdal suggests, our state has never implemented assessment tests so that colleges can see how students are doing. These tests have been conducted so that we have objective measures for reading, writing and math. How can we know if Washington students can read, write and do math at their grade level if we don’t assess them? Parents and taxpayers deserve to know if their children can read, write and do math at grade level, as well as how their children and their schools compare with other students and schools. If we eliminate these state tests, how else will we assess how well students are learning?”

This link, provided by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, shows the state and federal tests that Washington K-12 public school students take.

Schoesler leery of SPI’s new plan to reduce timber revenue for school construction

Schoesler also voiced concerns with Reykdal’s new plan, announced today, to reallocate funding from the state’s K-12 Common School Trust, which is partially funded by timber revenues to help fund construction of public schools in Washington. During a news conference today, Reykdal said timber revenue from timber harvests in rural communities would stay in those communities.

“While I appreciate Superintendent Reykdal’s concern about long-term funding of school construction projects in Washington communities, I’m concerned how it would impact rural school districts, as well as some urban districts” said Schoesler, the Senate Republican leader on the Senate capital budget. “It is important to know that some rural areas, such as Franklin County, have no timber harvests. Pasco, located in Franklin County, has been one of the fastest-growing school districts in the state. Statewide, timber harvests have decreased 50%, which has really hurt small towns.

“What I wanted was for our state’s schools superintendent to show how his agency would spearhead more efficiencies with school construction projects in our state so taxpayers can receive the most value for their tax dollars. Besides efficiencies, we should harvest more timber from state lands. Unfortunately, Superintendent Reykdal once again is not sufficiently addressing our concerns about seismic and tsunami problems facing some school districts,” added Schoesler.

Schoesler receives award from small-business organization

Sen. Mark Schoesler has been recognized for his efforts to help Washington small businesses.

The National Federation of Independent Business announced yesterday that the longtime 9^th District legislator has earned the group’s Guardian of Small Business award. The letter from NFIB Washington State Director Patrick Connor to Schoesler informing him of the honor can be viewed here.

“I’m very honored to receive this award from NFIB for my long support of small businesses,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “These businesses have long been the backbone of Washington’s economy, so it’s important for our state to create and maintain a business climate that allows them to grow and prosper, especially at a time when our state is struggling with record inflation and ongoing supply-chain problems.”

Schoesler has served the 9^th Legislative District since 1992 when he was first elected to the House of Representatives. Schoesler was elected to the Senate in 2004.

He currently serves on the Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee, which focuses on business issues in the state.

Schoesler calls for sales-tax freeze to help consumers amid record inflation

Following last week’s announcement that state government is projected to collect $1.46 billion in tax revenue this biennium beyond what was already expected, 9^th District Sen. Mark Schoesler is calling on Gov. Jay Inslee to bring the Legislature back to Olympia for a special session to pass a bill creating a state sales-tax suspension for Washingtonians who are struggling because of ongoing historic inflation.

“If Governor Inslee and Democratic leaders in Congress like Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer think a gas-tax holiday is a bad idea, let’s focus on suspending the state sales tax for Washingtonians,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “It’s a fast and simple solution to help consumers in our state who are battling record inflation, and it would address what many people call a regressive tax. If the governor likes gas prices as high as they are, let’s offer tax relief in a different way. And let’s do it soon.”

Schoesler said a state sales-tax suspension is an idea supported by at least one Democratic state senator, as well as the Washington Policy Center.

Schoesler said a state sales-tax freeze would be especially good for border communities like Spokane, Pullman, Clarkston, Goldendale and Vancouver. Businesses suffer when residents in those cities cross the border to buy goods and products in Idaho and Oregon, which don’t have a state sales tax.

“Let’s drop the state sales tax by a percentage point,” said Schoesler. “Hopefully, we can do it permanently. If not, we could at least continue a sales-tax suspension until the Legislature decides that inflation is no longer a burden on Washington families and individuals.”

Schoesler pointed to a comment made last week by Dr. Steve Lerch, director of the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council: “Continued strong revenue collections and high inflation have again resulted in increases in the revenue forecast.”

“What his comment means is that our state is basically making even more money in taxes due to higher prices caused by inflation,” said Schoesler. “It’s wrong and immoral for the state to more or less make a profit off the backs of taxpayers due to record inflation. Our governor needs to realize this and finally support tax relief for Washingtonians instead of treating them like an ATM for his spending agenda.”

Schoesler first called for Inslee and the Legislature to provide tax relief for Washingtonians last December after consumers throughout the U.S. were forced to pay higher prices on many items in 2021, including food, energy, new automobiles, medical care and shelter.

“Whatever salary increases people have received in the past year or two, that extra earning power has been more than wiped out by the staggering inflation we’ve all had to endure. This has made it harder for families and individuals to make ends meet. It’s time for Olympia to address it.”

Schoesler serves on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which addresses budget and tax issues.

Schoesler receives award from hunting organization

A group has honored 9^th District Sen. Mark Schoesler for his work on behalf of hunters in Washington.

The Hunters Heritage Council, Washington’s largest hunting-rights organization, has named Schoesler a “Legislator of the Year” for 2022. The award was announced this week by Hunters Heritage Council President Mark Pidgeon.

“I’m honored and pleased to learn that I’ll receive this award,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Hunting has been a big part of my life since I was a boy, and I know that many people across the state enjoy hunting. Unfortunately, it seems that state government creates more hurdles for hunters, which is why I work hard in the Legislature to protect hunting in Washington and will continue to do so.”

Each year, the organization selects several legislators to receive the “Legislator of the Year” award. The other recipients of the award are 18^th District Sen. Ann Rivers, 7^th District Sen. Shelly Short, 17^th District Sen. Lynda Wilson, 18^th District Rep. Larry Hoff, 7^th District Reps. Joel Kretz and Jacquelin Maycumber, 40^th District Rep. Debra Lekanoff, 19^th District Rep. Jim Walsh and 2^nd District Rep. J.T. Wilcox.

The council will present the awards to Schoesler and the other legislators early next year.

Schoesler receives award from Habitat for Humanity for affordable-housing work

Sen. Mark Schoesler received a pleasant surprise this morning: an award from Habitat for Humanity of Washington State for his service and support of affordable housing.

Jennifer Wallace, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity’s Palouse affiliate, presented the award to Schoesler during a legislative breakfast hosted by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“This is such a nice surprise to be honored like this,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Affordable housing has become a serious problem in many communities across Washington, and I’m glad that this year’s capital budget passed by the Legislature provides funding for Habitat for Humanity to help address housing needs in our state.”

The longtime 9th District lawmaker has helped craft the Senate capital budget the past two legislative sessions. He also has negotiated the final capital budget with other legislators.

“Senator Schoesler received this award on behalf of Habitat for Humanity for making an unprecedented investment in affordable homeownership,” said Michone Preston, chief executive officer for Habitat for Humanity of Washington State. “People who are experiencing income scarcity can achieve the American dream of homeownership through agencies like Habitat for Humanity, and the Housing Trust Fund investment will provide for 500 more new homes in Washington.

“Habitat for Humanity of Washington State thanks Senator Schoesler for his work on the capital budget,” added Preston. “This funding will ensure that those 500 families working alongside affordable homeownership developers will receive their keys, and their affordable mortgage within the next few years.”

Governor signs Schoesler bill to improve firefighter, law-enforcement officer retirement benefits

A measure introduced by 9^th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that increases retirement benefits for firefighters and law-enforcement officers was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee today.

Senate Bill 5791 provides Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System Plan 1 members with a one-time payment equal to $100 per month of service for retirees and a minimum of $20,000 for catastrophic and duty-disability retirees, and duty-death beneficiaries. The lump-sum payments will come from a nearly $2 billion surplus in the LEOFF 1 system, which was closed to further enrollment in 1977.

“This helps our courageous law-enforcement officers and firefighters who put their lives on the line to serve the public,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Using the budget surplus to give LEOFF 1 pension members a one-time payout means some more money for their retirement years, while making only a very small dent in the state budget surplus. And there will still be a very large reserve in the LEOFF 1 pension account.”

Schoesler added that increased benefits create incentives for law enforcement officers and firefighters to stay longer in their jobs.

The Senate and House of Representatives each unanimously passed the bill during the 2022 legislative session, which ended March 10.

The Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System (LEOFF) provides retirement benefits to full-time, fully compensated law-enforcement officers and firefighters employed by the state, cities, counties and special districts. Law-enforcement officers and firefighters who entered service between 1969 and October 1, 1977, were enrolled in LEOFF Plan 1. Those entering service after that date are part of the LEOFF Plan 2.

2022 session week 9 video update

Schoesler praises supplemental capital budget passed by Legislature

The state supplemental capital budget passed by the Legislature this week addresses both statewide needs and local projects, says 9^th District Sen. Mark Schoesler, who worked with legislators from the Senate majority and House of Representatives to negotiate the final version of the budget.

“This is a true bipartisan capital budget in which Republicans and Democrats worked together for the good of Washington. It funds several projects in the 9^th District, and also makes good use of one-time federal dollars by providing funding for housing projects that will help local governments and organizations like Habitat for Humanity to address the homelessness situation in several communities across our state,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “I’m pleased with it both from a local perspective and how it will help the state overall.”

The capital budget includes $440 million in funding for grants and loans for affordable housing, including $300 million for rapid housing.

The 9^th District projects funded by the capital budget include:

Tekoa Junior/Senior High School ($3.385 million)
St. John School District ($2.459 million)
Pullman Student Success Center Phase 1 project on Washington State University’s Pullman campus ($2 million)
Port of Clarkston river-dredging project ($1.55 million)
Whelan Community Building in Pullman ($153,000)
Rimrock Grange renovation in Washtucna ($105,000)

Schoesler also ensured the capital budget update (Senate Bill 5651) funds a project in Almira, a Grant County community that will be in the 9^th District after the state’s new legislative district boundaries take effect later this year. Nearly $13 million is included to help fund the replacement of Almira Elementary School, which burned down last year.

The House of Representatives unanimously approved a compromise version of the capital budget last night. The Senate this morning also unanimously passed the spending proposal, which funds construction of state buildings and higher-education facilities, as well as other state and local projects. The capital budget now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for final consideration.

Legislature passes Schoesler bill to improve firefighter, law-enforcement officer retirement benefits

The Legislature has unanimously passed a measure introduced by 9^th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that would increase retirement benefits for firefighters and law-enforcement officers.

Senate Bill 5791 would provide Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System Plan 1 members with a one-time lump sum equal to $100 per month of service for retirees and a minimum of $20,000 for catastrophic and duty-disability retirees, and duty-death beneficiaries. The lump sum payments would come from a nearly $2 billion surplus in the LEOFF 1 system, which closed in 1977.

The House of Representatives passed the proposal 98-0 Thursday night. The Senate approved it 49-0 on Feb. 15. The bill now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for final consideration.

“This bill would help our courageous law-enforcement officers and firefighters who put their lives on the line year after year,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Using the budget surplus to give LEOFF 1 pension members a one-time payout means some more money for their retirement years, while making only a very small dent in the state budget surplus.”

Schoesler added that increased benefits would create incentives for law enforcement officers and firefighters to stay longer in their jobs.