OLYMPIA…Knowing that rural areas face special challenges when it comes to emergency responders, Sen. Mark Schoesler has successfully proposed a change in state law that eases the first aid-training requirement for volunteer ambulance drivers. The governor signed Senate Bill 5751 last week following its unanimous passage by the Legislature. The...

Unique ‘Cougar Nation appropriation’ included in final 2017-19 plan OLYMPIA… A unanimous vote by the Senate this evening completed the Legislature’s work on the state’s transportation budget for 2017-19. Sen. Mark Schoesler says the new budget has much to offer the 9th Legislative District in terms of highway-safety projects and...

Unique appropriation would let WSDOT, WSU team to address concerns OLYMPIA… At Sen. Mark Schoesler’s request, the new transportation budget adopted today by the Senate adds $400,000 for safety improvements in the State Route 26 and U.S. Highway 195 corridors. The two roads carry the majority of in-state travelers headed...

OLYMPIA…The Senate this evening voted to extend a temporary increase of local school-levy authority, but only after including reforms that would force school districts to closely account for locally generated dollars to ensure they are not used for basic-education expenses. Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler said the near-unanimous passage of Senate...

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, issued the following statement in response to the firings of three top employees by state Auditor Troy Kelley, recently returned to his office after a criminal trial that resulted in a hung jury on 14 out of 15 counts. “We thought we’d...

Despite jury verdict, Troy Kelley should resign to restore confidence in auditor’s office   OLYMPIA…A federal jury Tuesday returned a verdict of not guilty on one of 15 counts in the trial against state auditor Troy Kelley for possession of stolen property, money laundering and tax evasion, wrapping up a...

Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler offered this statement about the supplemental operating budget proposed today by the Senate. The update would increase state spending in the 2015-17 operating budget by a modest $49 million. “Governor Inslee wants to raise taxes and raid the state’s rainy-day fund. The Democrats who control...

Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler is encouraging Department of Corrections employees in the 9th Legislative District to help reform their own agency. Schoesler said more than 300 DOC employees have already responded to an e-mail invitation to share information and their opinions at the www.FixDOC.org website launched by the state...