Mark Schoesler

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...

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...

Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, offered this response to remarks made today by Gov. Jay Inslee regarding the Senate’s Friday vote that effectively ousted the state secretary of transportation. “Of course the governor is upset. Three of the biggest state agencies under his control – DSHS, DOT and DOC...

A majority of the state Senate voted today against confirming the state transportation secretary appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee. The decision means Lynn Peterson is out as head of the state Department of Transportation after three years. “This is about having accountability at the highest levels in state agencies. Secretary...

Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released the following statement in response to the decision of the Senate Rules Committee to issue subpoenas to the Department of Corrections and the governor’s office. The Rules Committee took a bipartisan 13-7 vote Tuesday evening to support a request for subpoenas from the...