One popular state park – Steptoe Butte – in eastern Washington’s 9th Legislative District is about to have a very basic service eliminated. Another state park in the district – Lyons Ferry – continues to see long delays with the reopening of its campsites. Both situations don’t sit well with...

When the Climate Commitment Act was passed by majority Democrats in 2021, creating a “cap-and-tax” program for greenhouse gas emissions that is expected to significantly raise fuel prices, the measure included an exemption for farmers and other groups from paying the surcharge created by the program. But since the law...

For the second time in nearly a year, the Senate has approved a bill introduced by Sen. Mark Schoesler that would help school districts in Washington address their building maintenance needs. Senate Bill 5202 would allow school districts to create a “depreciation subfund” that can receive a transfer of up...

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released the following statement in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement today that ongoing residential construction will be allowed to resume if jobsites follow a 30-point plan for safety during the coronavirus public health crisis. Schoesler said: “This is a positive move, and the...

OLYMPIA… Republicans in the state Senate and House of Representatives today shared the first plan for safely restarting Washington’s economy while state government’s response to the COVID-19 emergency continues. “Employers across our state are looking to government for a strategy that starts to take the brake off the economy. Republicans...

Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued the following statement Friday, after release of a long-awaited draft environmental impact statement on Snake River dam operations. The report, issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bonneville Power Administration rejected proposals to breach the four lower...

Governor has proposed $23 billion in new taxes since inaugural OLYMPIA – Republicans in the Washington Senate today are celebrating the 7th anniversary of Gov. Jay Inslee’s promise not to raise taxes – a campaign pledge that will live in Washington history as one of the clearest and firmest ever...

Democratic legislators ask Court of Appeals to overrule Washington voters OLYMPIA – When majority Democrats in the state Legislature decided this wasn’t the year to push a new income tax, it didn’t mean the fight was over. The battleground just moved from the Legislature to the courts. The state Court...