The Legislature tonight unanimously passed the 2025-27 state supplemental capital budget  following an agreement earlier this week by Senate and House negotiators on a final budget plan.  The Senate voted 49-0 to pass the budget after the House approved it 96-0. Two eastern Washington Republican senators who helped develop the...

The Senate today unanimously passed its version of the 2025-27 state supplemental capital budget. Republicans who helped develop the spending plan applauded it for addressing needs across Washington. “Our supplemental budget complements the two-year capital budget enacted by the Legislature last year by spending money in a responsible manner while...

Two months after the state’s controversial release of the late Kevin Coe, the “South Hill Rapist” who terrorized Spokane before his arrest and conviction in the early 1980s, state Sen. Mark Schoesler has filed a bipartisan bill that would make it harder to release serial rapists. “Kevin Coe was one...

State Sen. Mark Schoesler says he is outraged that the state might release Kevin Coe, the “South Hill Rapist” who terrorized Spokane before his arrest and conviction in the early 1980s. “Kevin Coe is one of the most dangerous and infamous criminals in our state’s history,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “He...

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.  

State Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued this statement after Democratic majorities in the Legislature passed House Bill 1240, which would ban the sale of semi-automatic weapons in Washington, and House Bill 1143, which would prohibit someone from buying a firearm from a dealer unless the buyer has passed a background...

State government, including the Legislature, needs to do more to help combat the increase in retail crime in Washington, says 9th District state Sen. Mark Schoesler. “While we’ve seen a spike in many areas of crime, retail theft and other retail crimes are especially a problem,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Retail...