Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, says the latest state revenue forecast shows that the Legislature should roll back the huge business-and-occupation tax increase that it imposed on certain services earlier this year. The fourth-quarter revenue forecast, released today, shows an increase of $299 million over the third-quarter forecast from September....

Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler blasted the Senate’s approval tonight of a bill that would raise fuel costs through a higher tax on one of the state’s leading industries and be particularly hard on rural Washington. Substitute Senate Bill 5993 was passed virtually along party lines, 27-22. It now goes...

Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, responded to today’s release of the Senate Democrats’ 2019-21 operating budget proposal by calling on the Democratic majorities in the Senate and House to back up their calls for “tax fairness” by passing legislation that lowers regressive taxes on Washingtonians. “One of the main arguments...

Schoesler maintains confidence that budget deal will be reached in time to avoid partial shutdown OLYMPIA…Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement of a third special legislative session to finalize negotiations on a budget for the 2017-19 biennium. “I fully expect the...

RITZVILLE…The King County Council today appointed former state Sen. Dino Rossi to the 45th Legislative District position left vacant by Sen. Andy Hill’s death Oct. 31. Rossi, R-Sammamish, served the neighboring 5th Legislative District from 1997 through 2003, stepping down to run for governor, and again during the second half...

OLYMPIA… Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released this statement as the Legislature passed an important deadline for passage of bills from opposite chambers, and entered the final phase of the 2015 session: “Today is Tax Day for thousands of Washington taxpayers. I think it’s fitting that to mark this day,...

OLYMPIA…”This is a bold budget proposal that delivers on the promise to make education the top priority and to live within our means. The Senate budget delivers tax relief for families, fully funds K-12 education and protects the most vulnerable – all without raising taxes. “This budget sends the message...