Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville and Senate Republican leader, today offered this remembrance of former state Rep. Kip Tokuda, who passed away Saturday at age 66 after suffering a heart attack while fishing. Tokuda, a Seattle Democrat, served in the House of Representatives from the 37th Legislative District; his four terms...

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...

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...

  The Senate today passed a new budget that its leaders say should help bring about the consensus necessary for the Legislature to complete its work.   “Once again, the Senate has worked hard to put together and pass a sustainable budget that adheres to our constitutional and moral duty...

Senate Republican Leader, Sen. Mark Schoesler, and Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Rodney Tom, stop by the TVW studio to discuss the 2013 legislative session on Inside Olympia with Austin Jenkins. The topic of discussion is the upcoming 30 day special session where legislators will forge the state operating budget.  ...

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...

Today all three Senate caucus leaders joined together in condemning yesterday’s terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon and asking for prayers for the victims. As Boston police and federal investigators continue to probe the explosion of two bombs that went off near the finish line of the historic marathon, killing...

Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, has apologized for the taping and posting of a video taken of members of the Majority Coalition Caucus discussing the serious flaws with the Columbia River Crossing project, during a recent visit by Governor Inslee and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. As soon as...

Washington State’s 9th District Senator, Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, and Senate Republican Leader, comments on Governor Inslee’s proposed state operating budget which relies heavily on new and increased taxes and more government spending.