Author Archives: brianzylstra

Schoesler opposes transportation funding passed by Senate

A trio of transportation bills passed tonight by the Senate, including  the chamber’s supplemental transportation budget and a new package of transportation projects, received “no” votes from 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler. He is particularly critical of the new package, saying it fails to benefit the entire state while relying on tax and fee increases that will impact people throughout Washington.

“The new transportation projects approved by the Senate would do plenty for certain parts of our state, especially the Puget Sound region and Vancouver, but they fall far short of addressing the highway needs in our district and other parts of the state,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The talk about ‘One Washington’ and a statewide approach to transportation is a myth. The only thing that is statewide about this budget are the tax and fee hikes. Everyone from Aberdeen to Clarkston will have to pay more, but only a few chosen communities will benefit.”

Schoesler noted that the new Senate transportation commitments (Senate Bill 5975) would let people age 18 and under use ferries, transit and Amtrak for free.

“So if you’re a teenager living in the Puget Sound region, you can ride a ferry or take a bus or light rail for free, but teens in the 9th District have very little access to transit, and there are no Amtrak stations in the district and no ferry docks anywhere close to us,” said Schoesler. “The Senate majority is focusing on transportation modes that help people in their districts but not the highway needs in rural Washington.”

In addition, the Senate tonight approved shifting $130 million from the state general fund to help pay down the debt on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Senate Bill 5488).

“The Narrows Bridge funding bill might be great news for anyone who uses that bridge, but it takes tax money that was produced by people here in our district and other parts of Washington, but only a small portion of our state will benefit from it. It’s unfair to ignore the transportation needs of the rest of Washington while a small part of the state would benefit in such an extraordinary way.”

The 2022 legislative session is scheduled to end March 10.

Senate resolution sponsored by Schoesler honors work of Dr. Bill Schillinger

Dr. Bill Schillinger, the longtime researcher who ran Washington State University’s dryland research farm in Lind, was honored today on the Senate floor with a resolution sponsored by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.

Dr. Schillinger retired this January after a 29-year career working at the dryland research station. During his time there, the farm did groundbreaking research on how to combat wind erosion, including conservation-till and no-till farming methods; alternative crops to winter wheat and other extensive long-term research projects, and soil and residue management practices to increase water storage and efficient use of precipitation.

“For 30 years, Bill Schillinger has been the heart of research and agriculture at WSU Lind,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The Lind research farm has the lowest rainfall and is the driest location in the United States. In that region, we don’t worry about how well something grows. The first question asked is, if it will grow. When someone talks about cool things like cover crops, we’re just hoping any crop will grow in that area.

“Bill has spent 30 years dedicated to working on problems that face us in dryland-wheat country. For example, wind erosion, something that benefits every one of us.

“During this period, Bill has enjoyed the enthusiastic support of myself and fellow growers, and our landlords. We created an endowment for the research farm. In just two weeks, we raised the necessary money to start it, and it’s prospered that we can stand on our two feet there with the support of the growers, the Washington Grain Commission and move agriculture forward, not just for ourselves but for the benefit of the state as a whole.

“It’s with sadness that we see Bill retiring but for all of the incredible work over 30 years, we wish Bill the very best and say ‘thank you.’”

Schoesler’s speech honoring Dr. Schillinger can be viewed here.

The text of Schoesler’s bipartisan Senate Resolution 8645, is here:

SENATE RESOLUTION 8645

By Senators Schoesler, Dozier, Frockt, Honeyford, King, Nobles, Wagoner, and Warnick

WHEREAS, Bill Schillinger grew up on a dryland wheat farm south of Odessa, Washington; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schillinger earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Eastern Washington University, and a master’s degree in Agronomy from the University of California, Davis, then worked for the United States Agency for International Development in Africa and Asia for 10 years, before returning to the United States to earn a PhD in Agronomy from Oregon State University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Schillinger began working at the Washington State University dryland research station in Lind, Washington on January 1, 1993; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Schillinger was the principal investigator of three multidisciplinary long-term dryland and irrigated cropping systems experiments; and

WHEREAS, During Dr. Schillinger’s long career there, the Washington State University dryland research station did groundbreaking research on combatting wind erosion, including conservation-till and no-till farming methods; alternative crops to winter wheat and other extensive long-term research projects, including a cropping systems study 25 years in the making and a winter pea study that is in its 12th year; and soil and residue management practices to increase water storage and efficient use of precipitation; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Schillinger published many articles about the research he and others did at the Washington State University dryland research station; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schillinger has devoted his professional life to helping farmers flourish on the low amount of precipitation that much of eastern Washington receives each year; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schillinger retired on January 7, 2022, after 29 years as a scientist and director at the Washington State University dryland research station.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor Doctor Bill Schillinger on his long career, during which he significantly helped many Washington farmers and our state’s agriculture industry.

— END —

Schoesler says record surplus means it’s time for tax relief for Washingtonians

The February state revenue forecast adopted today by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council reveals that state government now has a $15 billion revenue surplus – proof that some of that extra money should be returned to Washingtonians in the form of tax relief, said 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.

“For over a year now, our state’s revenue projections have improved with each revenue forecast, and today’s forecast reveals that we have a record-setting revenue surplus of $15 billion,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville and a member of the budget-writing Senate Ways and Means Committee. “With so many hard-working people in our state struggling to cope with higher gas prices and rampant inflation, the Legislature should do the right thing and give back some of this extra revenue to our state’s taxpayers. They deserve it and we can afford to do it.”

The February forecast – the first quarterly forecast for 2022 – shows revenue projections increased by over $2.8 billion for the four-year outlook budget period ($1.45 billion for the current biennium and $1.32 billion for the 2023-25 biennium). The main reasons for the latest revenue increases are due to revenue collections coming in $450 million higher than forecast since the previous forecast in November and the number of unemployed in Washington, as measured by unemployment insurance claims, being at historic lows.

The state operating budget is now expected to collect over $10 billion in additional revenue during the four-year outlook than expected when the Legislature finished its 2021 session in April.

The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council projects that the state has $61.691 billion in revenue for the current biennium, a 16.1% increase over the 2019-21 biennium. The state is projected to have $65.368 billion in revenue in the 2023-25 biennium.

To view the February forecast, click here.

Senate passes Schoesler’s bill to improve firefighter, law enforcement officer retirement benefits

The Senate today unanimously passed a measure introduced by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that would increase firefighter and law enforcement officer retirement benefits.

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.

“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 would give our law enforcement officers and firefighters some more money for their retirement years. Providing them with this extra money would make 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.

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.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

9th District legislators to host virtual town hall on Tuesday, Feb. 22

Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick and Rep. Mary Dye are inviting citizens to join them Tuesday, Feb. 22, for a 9th District virtual town hall meeting.

The eastern Washington lawmakers will provide an update of the 2022 legislative session and then take questions from participants. Citizens may also submit written questions during the registration process.

During the town hall meeting, the 9th District legislative team will discuss several issues, including:

  • The Democrats’ mandatory long-term care insurance tax.
  • The state’s $8.8 billion surplus, including $2.2 billion in reserves and $1.2 billion in unspent federal stimulus.
  • Whether the majority party will allow for any meaningful tax relief.
  • Updates to last year’s failed law enforcement reform bills.
  • Emergency powers reform.

The event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The remote event will be conducted using the Zoom platform.

Preregistration is required by going to tinyurl.com/9thDistrictTownHall. After registering, a confirmation email will be sent about joining the webinar. Space is limited, so people are advised to register early.