April 21, 2017

Schoesler says new transportation budget strong on highway safety, rail improvements

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...
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April 06, 2017

Senate supports safety improvements for ‘Cougar Nation’

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...
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March 08, 2017

Schoesler says vote to extend levy authority fits Senate K-12 plan

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...
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December 05, 2016

Senate majority leader welcomes Rossi’s return

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...
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May 06, 2016

Senate majority leader responds to firings by state Auditor Troy Kelley

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...
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April 26, 2016

Schoesler: Kelley should resign, public trust violated

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...
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February 24, 2016

Schoesler says Senate budget proposal’s no-new-taxes approach is best

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...
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February 10, 2016

Schoesler encourages prison-agency staff to participate in ‘FixDOC’ campaign

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...
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February 10, 2016

Lawmakers invite 9th District residents to Feb. 22 telephone town hall

Legislators serving the 9th District will hold a town-hall meeting by telephone on the evening of Monday, Feb. 22. The conversation will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately an hour; Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick and Rep. Mary Dye will participate from the state Capitol, where the 2016...
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