Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, offered this comment about Gov. Jay Inslee’s budget proposal, expected to be released Thursday: “In a year when a single political party will control the House, the Senate and the governor’s mansion, the governor’s budget proposal will set the tone for everything that follows....

Motorists who used U.S. Highway 195 this past weekend for traveling to and from Dad’s Weekend at Washington State University’s Pullman campus were among the early beneficiaries of a safety project Sen. Mark Schoesler included in the Legislature’s 2015 transportation package. Construction began Aug. 1 on passing lanes north and...

  OLYMPIA…Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued the following statement in response to today’s Washington State Supreme Court hearing regarding the Legislature’s plan to fully fund basic education.   At question is whether or not the plan satisfies the order of the court in the McCleary decision.   “This...

OLYMPIA…Members of the state Senate learned today that Bob Parlette, husband of former Senator Linda Evans Parlette, had died Tuesday at the family home near Wenatchee, after being diagnosed in July with an aggressive form of leukemia. Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, offered this statement after receiving the news:...

  Water-rights decision could have disastrous consequences for Washington families, workers     OLYMPIA…The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus shared the following statement in response to a report released today by the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) detailing the statewide economic impact of the Hirst water-rights decision.   Some of...

Sen. John Braun’s wife appointed to fill in while he serves his country in U.S. Navy Reserve OLYMPIA…Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued this statement welcoming Sen. Marlo Braun, R-Centralia, wife of Sen. John Braun, following her temporary appointment today as senator for the 20th Legislative District. The new senator takes...

OLYMPIA…Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler issued the following statement in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s veto today of legislation that would have led to a flat business-tax rate for manufacturers across Washington. “The governor’s decision is extremely disappointing, and so is his suggestion that no one from his office was...

Operating budget passes Senate 39–10, heads to House and then to governor for signature   OLYMPIA…Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued the following statement about the Senate’s passage today of a 2017-19 operating budget, which makes historic investments in K-12 education in Washington.   The budget received a strongly...

Bipartisan plan to fully fund basic education expected to account for over 50 percent of spending   OLYMPIA…As the Legislature’s second special session for 2017 enters a third week, Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler today expressed optimism and confidence that lawmakers will reach a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on a new...