More than a decade after state government walked away from the park it had operated for many years at Lyons Ferry, Sen. Mark Schoesler has secured $600,000 in the state’s new capital budget that will ultimately put the park back on the state-run list.

“This will be the first state park to open – or reopen, in this case – on the east side of our state in recent memory,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville, whose 9th Legislative District includes the portion of Franklin County where the park is located along U.S. Highway 12. “It’s very fitting that the work to bring Lyons Ferry back as a state park is beginning in the centennial year of our state-parks system.” Continue reading →

Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler says an agreement is in place with the House majority on an operating budget that will allow the Legislature to complete its work and adjourn.

“We’re finally to the point that all sides feel comfortable about announcing this breakthrough,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “This will keep state government operating into the new budget cycle that begins Monday, meaning it gives certainty to families and schools and taxpayers and everyone else who has an interest in the continuation of state-provided services and programs.”

Schoesler acknowledged the hard work by negotiators for the Senate’s Majority Coalition Caucus and Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, who is budget leader for the Senate Democratic Caucus, as well as House Republican Leader Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish, who helped broker the budget accord.

“This budget does what our bipartisan coalition envisioned: it’s sustainable, puts education first and avoids the huge tax hikes that were proposed by others even at the risk of harming our slowly recovering state economy. It’s not ideal but it’s a plan everyone can live with, so let’s get it through Legislature and on to the governor’s desk before Monday.”

Sen. Mark Schoesler’s successful effort to make state government more transparent received a final endorsement today when his bill requiring an online inventory of state-agency fees was signed by the governor. Senate Bill 5751 already had received unanimous support from the Senate and House of Representatives.

“I thought it was a great idea when the state Office of Financial Management voluntarily created a database of state fees several years ago; unfortunately the agency hasn’t kept the list up to date,” explained Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “My bill would make maintaining and updating the fee inventory an official duty.” Continue reading →