Tag Archives: 9th Legislative District

9th District legislators to host virtual town hall on Thursday, March 20

Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick and Rep. Mary Dye are inviting citizens to join them Thursday, March 20 for a 9th District virtual town hall meeting.

The eastern Washington lawmakers will provide an update of the 2025 legislative session and then take questions from participants. Citizens may also submit written questions during the process of registering to participate in the meeting.

During the town hall meeting, the 9th District legislative team will discuss several issues, including:

  • The upcoming two-year state operating, capital and transportation budgets.
  • The likelihood that majority Democrats will impose new and/or higher taxes on Washingtonians.
  • Efforts by Democrats to pass anti-gun legislation.
  • Bills impacting K-12 education and higher education.
  • Bills affecting agriculture in Washington.

The event will be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and conducted using the Zoom platform. Preregistration is required by going to https://tinyurl.com/9thTownHall2025. Those registering will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the meeting.

Schoesler supports supplemental capital budget passed by Legislature

State Sen. Mark Schoesler applauded the final version of the state supplemental capital budget unanimously approved by the Legislature March 6, just before lawmakers adjourned for the year.

“While this compromise version of the supplemental capital budget is not as strong in some areas as the version developed and approved by the Senate earlier in the session, it is still a good capital budget that will help communities across Washington, and address many important needs,” said Schoesler, who is the lead Republican capital budget writer in the Senate.

As was the case with the Senate version, the final capital budget funds many projects located in the 9th District, noted Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

Several 9th District school districts receive funding through the small district and tribal compact schools modernization program, including $5.245 million for a school repair project in the Asotin-Anatone School District. Other school districts receiving funding include Creston, Freeman, LaCrosse, Palouse, Pomeroy, Steptoe and Wilbur.

Washington State University’s main campus in Pullman receives $10 million for a new digester at the Knott Dairy Center, maker of Cougar Gold cheese, and $3 million for its campus energy program.

Eastern Washington University in Cheney receives nearly $10 million for energy improvements to its sports and recreation center.

Other local projects in the 9th District that are funded by the supplemental capital budget include:

  • Tristate Health Hospital in Clarkston ($1 million).
  • Tekoa Parks and Recreation ($200,000)
  • Davenport Senior Center capital improvements ($120,000)
  • Latah water system rehabilitation project ($187,000)
  • Regional Theatre of the Palouse (Pullman) preservation and maintenance ($77,000)

There also is $250,000 for a portion of the Odessa Pipeline project located in the 9th District.

The final capital budget funds several projects that are located near the 9th District:

  • $46 million for the Tri-Tech Skills Center in Kennewick.
  • $5.5 million for the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program.
  • $3.5 million in toxic cleanup funding for homes affected by the Grays Road and Oregon wildfires in Spokane County last August, plus another $975,000 for the Spokane Conservation District to implement wildfire recovery efforts.

“The Odessa ground water project and the wildfire recovery projects were initiated in the Senate this year and the Senate insisted that these projects stay in the final capital budget. I’m pleased that we succeeded in keeping these projects in the budget,” said Schoesler.

The 2024 legislative session ended March 7.

Republican senators question timing, purpose of proposed payments to farm-fuel users

Sen. Mark Schoesler

OLYMPIA… The two state senators who farm in eastern Washington say they’re not sure what to make of a proposed offer of money for farm-fuel users who got stuck paying a surcharge on their fuel purchases because of the state’s cap-and-trade law.

The payments, which could amount to no more than pennies per gallon for many farming operations, are offered in the state Senate’s supplemental operating-budget proposal.

Sen. Perry Dozier

“I don’t know anyone in the agricultural sector who would view this as a solution to the fuel-surcharge issue we’ve been fighting more than a year, since cap-and-trade was fully implemented,” said Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Waitsburg.

“These payments wouldn’t come close to making up for what farm-fuel users have been forced to pay because the executive branch of state government failed to uphold the promise made in the cap-and-trade law – that farm diesel and fuel used by the maritime industry would be exempt from the surcharge this new program would create,” said Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

Schoesler serves on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which held a public hearing yesterday on the proposed supplemental operating budget. The budget appropriation doesn’t refer to the payments as rebates or reimbursements, and routes them through the state Department of Licensing – not the Department of Ecology, which is responsible for implementing the cap-and-trade law.

“Are these payments a way for the state to ease its guilty conscience for failing so badly on upholding the promised fuel-surcharge exemption? Does the timing have anything to do with the certification of the initiative to repeal the cap-and-trade law? Are the supporters of cap-and-trade just looking to throw a bone to agriculture? No one who buys farm fuel by the truckload would come up with this,” said Dozier.

Dozier and Schoesler are the sponsors of Senate Bill 5728, introduced in 2023. It would basically force Ecology to develop a process for implementing the promised exemptions. The bill has been ignored, and a task force set up by Ecology during the summer failed to completely resolve industry concerns.

Given that background, the senators were surprised to see a $30 million appropriation, buried on page 564 of the new Senate budget proposal, “solely for payments to support farm fuel users and transporters who have purchased fuel for agricultural purposes that is exempt from the requirements of the Climate Commitment Act… but paid a surcharge or an additional fee.”

The payments would be made by the Department of Licensing to “noncorporate farms” first – a term not defined in the budget bill – depending on annual farm-fuel consumption. The first tier, those using less than 1,000 gallons annually, would receive $600; the second tier, between 1,000 and 4,000 gallons consumed, would get $2,300; and those using 4,000 gallons or more a year would receive $3,400.

“It’s a lame proposal because most farms of any size operate as a corporation,” said Schoesler. “On top of that these tiers make no sense, except they’re consistent with the whole premise of cap-and-trade – or ‘cap-and-tax,’ as it should really be called. This law is about punishing people who use fossil fuel. It’s as though they think there are electric combines down at the farm-equipment dealer.”

Dozier agrees the tiered approach is not realistic. “One tractor pulling a heavy load can go through 25 gallons of fuel an hour. At that rate just one week of 10-hour workdays will blow past the 1,000-gallon threshold.

“It’s not difficult for a farm to go through 30,000 gallons of diesel in a year. Under this proposal, that’s 11 cents per gallon. Adding more tiers based on 10,000-gallon increments would be a slight improvement, but if the intent is to honestly compensate users who have been paying the surcharge, the payments to them should really be gallon for gallon, with no tiers at all.”

The Senate budget proposal also includes $35 million to provide low-income households with energy utility bill assistance. Like the payments proposed for farm-fuel users, those subsidies would be funded with proceeds from the cap-and-trade law, which has enabled state government to rake in about $1.8 billion in the past year from auctioning “carbon allowances.”

“In December the governor proposed using cap-and-trade money to subsidize low-income households. It wasn’t a surprise to also see it in the Senate budget. But this money to pay farm-fuel users feels like something thrown in at the last minute by people who don’t understand agriculture,” said Schoesler.

“This is a pretty responsible budget proposal overall, and I appreciate that Republicans had a fair amount of input about the priorities,” said Dozier, “but it needs some work to be a budget that truly respects the needs of agriculture.”

Schoesler says Senate capital budget good for state, 9th District projects

The version of the 2023-25 state capital budget unanimously passed today by the Senate would address both statewide needs and local projects, says 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.

“The Senate’s capital budget would respond to needs all throughout Washington, and provide funding for important projects in a wide variety of categories, from education and public safety to housing and water and more,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville and the Republican lead on the Senate capital budget. “I’m pleased this budget would support many projects that will help our colleges and universities, and I’m especially glad to see money for school seismic-safety grants, which is important since our state is in earthquake country. I’m also pleased by the funding for water-supply projects, which would benefit agriculture and other water users. The Senate’s capital budget takes a statewide approach, as it should, but it also funds several projects in the 9th District.

“This is a true bipartisan capital budget in which Republicans and Democrats worked together for the good of Washington. I’m pleased with it both from a local perspective and how it would help the state overall,” added Schoesler, who has worked on the Senate capital budget since 2021.

The Senate capital budget would provide $1.2 billion for higher education, including funding for projects at Washington State University and Eastern Washington University, both in the 9th District. It also would provide significant funding to water-supply projects in the Columbia, Yakima and Chehalis River basins.

The Senate plan also would offer funding for two State Patrol crime labs, as well as the construction of criminal justice training centers in Spokane, Bellingham and Clark County so that law-enforcement officers can receive needed training closer to home. The Senate spending plan also includes $625 million for housing-related investments.

The WSU projects include:

  • Engineering Student Success Building construction ($40 million)
  • Eastlick-Abelson Hall renovation ($22 million)
  • Infrastructure improvements at Knott Dairy Farm, source of the milk for Cougar Gold cheese ($10 million)
  • Bustad Hall renovation ($8 million)
  • Clean building standard energy efficiency improvements ($5 million)

The EWU projects include:

  • Science Department renovations ($58 million)
  • Minor preservation projects ($16.75 million)
  • Rozell Plant upgrade ($12 million)
  • Martin-Williamson Hall ($350,000)

Several small school districts in the 9th District would receive funding from the Senate capital budget for planned projects:

  • Asotin/Anatone School District ($35,000)
  • Davenport School District ($25,000)
  • Garfield School District ($33,000)
  • Kahlotus School District ($38,000)
  • Oakesdale School District ($38,000)
  • Starbuck School District ($33,000)

Other school districts in the 9th District receive Senate capital budget funding for actual projects:

  • Davenport School District ($2.186 million)
  • Dayton School District ($5 million)
  • Sprague School District ($5 million)

Two 9th District projects would receive Heritage Capital Grant funding through the Senate capital budget:

  • Cheney Depot phase 4 work involving the train viewing platform ($22,000)
  • Pullman Depot Heritage Center restoration ($237,000)

Three projects in the district receive Washington Wildlife Recreation Program funding:

  • Zakarison Farmland protection ($249,000)
  • Asotin Creek Wildlife Area access points ($153,000)
  • Asotin Creek Wildlife Area campgrounds ($280,000)

There are four district projects that receive Youth Athletic Facilities funding:

  • Pomeroy ball field lighting installation ($350,000)
  • Pomeroy football field improvements ($350,000)
  • Colfax pool upgrade ($350,000)
  • Touchet Valley Golf Course irrigation ($143,000)

Other 9th District projects funded by the Senate capital budget include:

  • Colfax Pool ($706,000)
  • Dishman Hills Conservancy Education Center site planning in Spokane ($46,000)
  • EWAM handicap parking improvement project in Pomeroy ($98,000)
  • Latah water system rehabilitation project ($180,000)
  • Lincoln County Fair and Livestock ($1 million)
  • Whitman County Fire Recovery ($961,000)
  • Ritzville Legion Hall renovation ($165,000)
  • Ritzville Theater ($75,000)
  • Washtucna Town Hall ($20,000)
  • Coyote Ridge Corrections Center’s modular building for health service staff ($428,000)

The House of Representatives will unveil its capital budget proposal next week. Once the House passes its budget plan, Schoesler will meet with other Senate and House capital budget writers to reach agreement on a final version before the legislative session ends on April 23.

Schoesler praises supplemental capital budget passed by Legislature

The state supplemental capital budget passed by the Legislature this week addresses both statewide needs and local projects, says 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler, who worked with legislators from the Senate majority and House of Representatives to negotiate the final version of the budget.

“This is a true bipartisan capital budget in which Republicans and Democrats worked together for the good of Washington. It funds several projects in the 9th District, and also makes good use of one-time federal dollars by providing funding for housing projects that will help local governments and organizations like Habitat for Humanity to address the homelessness situation in several communities across our state,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “I’m pleased with it both from a local perspective and how it will help the state overall.”

The capital budget includes $440 million in funding for grants and loans for affordable housing, including $300 million for rapid housing.

The 9th District projects funded by the capital budget include:

  • Tekoa Junior/Senior High School ($3.385 million)
  • St. John School District ($2.459 million)
  • Pullman Student Success Center Phase 1 project on Washington State University’s Pullman campus ($2 million)
  • Port of Clarkston river-dredging project ($1.55 million)
  • Whelan Community Building in Pullman ($153,000)
  • Rimrock Grange renovation in Washtucna ($105,000)

Schoesler also ensured the capital budget update (Senate Bill 5651) funds a project in Almira, a Grant County community that will be in the 9th District after the state’s new legislative district boundaries take effect later this year. Nearly $13 million is included to help fund the replacement of Almira Elementary School, which burned down last year.

The House of Representatives unanimously approved a compromise version of the capital budget last night. The Senate this morning also unanimously passed the spending proposal, which funds construction of state buildings and higher-education facilities, as well as other state and local projects. The capital budget now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for final consideration.

Schoesler opposes transportation funding passed by Senate

A trio of transportation bills passed tonight by the Senate, including  the chamber’s supplemental transportation budget and a new package of transportation projects, received “no” votes from 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler. He is particularly critical of the new package, saying it fails to benefit the entire state while relying on tax and fee increases that will impact people throughout Washington.

“The new transportation projects approved by the Senate would do plenty for certain parts of our state, especially the Puget Sound region and Vancouver, but they fall far short of addressing the highway needs in our district and other parts of the state,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The talk about ‘One Washington’ and a statewide approach to transportation is a myth. The only thing that is statewide about this budget are the tax and fee hikes. Everyone from Aberdeen to Clarkston will have to pay more, but only a few chosen communities will benefit.”

Schoesler noted that the new Senate transportation commitments (Senate Bill 5975) would let people age 18 and under use ferries, transit and Amtrak for free.

“So if you’re a teenager living in the Puget Sound region, you can ride a ferry or take a bus or light rail for free, but teens in the 9th District have very little access to transit, and there are no Amtrak stations in the district and no ferry docks anywhere close to us,” said Schoesler. “The Senate majority is focusing on transportation modes that help people in their districts but not the highway needs in rural Washington.”

In addition, the Senate tonight approved shifting $130 million from the state general fund to help pay down the debt on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Senate Bill 5488).

“The Narrows Bridge funding bill might be great news for anyone who uses that bridge, but it takes tax money that was produced by people here in our district and other parts of Washington, but only a small portion of our state will benefit from it. It’s unfair to ignore the transportation needs of the rest of Washington while a small part of the state would benefit in such an extraordinary way.”

The 2022 legislative session is scheduled to end March 10.

9th District legislators to host virtual town hall on Tuesday, Feb. 22

Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick and Rep. Mary Dye are inviting citizens to join them Tuesday, Feb. 22, for a 9th District virtual town hall meeting.

The eastern Washington lawmakers will provide an update of the 2022 legislative session and then take questions from participants. Citizens may also submit written questions during the registration process.

During the town hall meeting, the 9th District legislative team will discuss several issues, including:

  • The Democrats’ mandatory long-term care insurance tax.
  • The state’s $8.8 billion surplus, including $2.2 billion in reserves and $1.2 billion in unspent federal stimulus.
  • Whether the majority party will allow for any meaningful tax relief.
  • Updates to last year’s failed law enforcement reform bills.
  • Emergency powers reform.

The event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The remote event will be conducted using the Zoom platform.

Preregistration is required by going to tinyurl.com/9thDistrictTownHall. After registering, a confirmation email will be sent about joining the webinar. Space is limited, so people are advised to register early.

Schoesler blasts Senate passage of ‘carbon cap and tax’ bill

A Democrat-sponsored “carbon cap and tax” bill passed 25-24 tonight by the Senate would punish Washington citizens and small businesses while letting big corporations off the hook, argues 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.

Senate Bill 5126 now goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration. The 2021 legislative session is scheduled to end April 25.

“This is another bill that would punish people and companies by sharply raising gas and diesel prices, without a guarantee that our roads and highways will benefit, and no proof of even helping the climate,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The bill is called the Climate Commitment Act, but the only thing it will commit Washingtonians to is handing over more of their hard-earned money for an environmental plan that won’t work.”

Schoesler said many residents in his legislative district would not qualify for any of the exemptions from the proposed tax.

“This cap-and-tax bill offers several types of exemptions for foreign-based oil corporations like BP and Royal Dutch Shell, but it would punish rural communities, middle-class families and individuals, and small businesses. This is a very unfair, inconsiderate and inconsistent bill to people in my district and other rural districts in our state,” said Schoesler. “It amounts to a very regressive tax that will disproportionately affect those least able to afford it. If the Democrats really cared about equity, they would not pass this bill.”

Schoesler, a wheat farmer, said the “cap and tax” bill also would have a negative impact on Washington agriculture and would hurt the state’s economic competitiveness.

“Agriculture in our state needs to use a large amount of fuel to produce crops and move those crops to market or to ports to be exported around the world,” said Schoesler. “Farmers and growers are price takers, not price setters, which means they’ll be hurt by higher fuel prices. This bill will be very bad for ag, no question about it. The bill also will make our state less attractive for many large companies to relocate or stay in our state, which means fewer jobs will be created here and jobs will instead move to more business-friendly states elsewhere.”

Under this bill, starting in 2023, businesses producing more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon per year would be required to purchase “allowances” for emissions at auctions arranged by the Department of Ecology. End-user consumption would be included in emissions calculations, meaning refiners would be held responsible for tailpipe emissions. Money from these auctions would go to the state, and would be split between CO2 reduction programs and a transportation-related account called “Forward Flexible.” The price of allowances would grow over time until the state meets arbitrary emissions targets – 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and “net zero” emissions by 2050. The program’s details would be handled by the Department of Ecology. The program is expected to raise about $500 million annually.

“If this bill becomes law, it will raise another $500 million in taxes on hard-working people and businesses just to have a ‘permit to emit,’” said Schoesler. “We have so many people around our state who are trying to get back on their feet after suffering through the COVID pandemic, but this terrible bill would just take more money out of their wallets, all for some far-fetched goal that likely will never be realized.”

Schoesler said a Washington Research Council study of SB 5126 shows it could force gasoline prices to rise by 18 cents a gallon by 2023 and by 30 cents by 2030, with diesel prices increasing 34 cents per gallon by 2030.

“Gas stations in Spokane, Pullman, Clarkston and other border towns will be really hurt by this proposal because drivers will be more likely to fill up in Idaho or Oregon. And the tax revenue raised by this bill would not be subject to the state’s 18th Amendment, which requires gas-tax money to be spent for transportation purposes, so the money raised by this proposal could be spent for any purpose. There’s no assurance of any benefit to our roads and highways.”

Schoesler said the bill also would cause higher energy prices for consumers and businesses alike.

“If this bill becomes law, people likely will see an increase in energy prices if they use natural gas or propane, even electricity,” added Schoesler. “There are many households throughout our state that rely on natural gas or propane for heat or cooking. Many of these families are struggling financially and can’t afford an increase in their energy costs, yet the Senate Democrats voted to jack up these costs anyway. It’s shameful.”

Schoesler, a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, pointed out that when the panel held a public hearing on the bill last month, one opponent testified that a 2019 analysis found carbon emissions from oil and gas have actually increased since a cap-and-trade policy began in California.

“It’s scary that our state is trying to emulate something that is being done in California but isn’t working as intended. We should know better,” said Schoesler.

Before the Senate’s approval of Senate Bill 5126, Republicans offered nearly 40 floor amendments designed to improve the bill. Most were rejected by majority Democrats.

Schoesler offers bill to help rural communities maintain ambulance service

It can be a challenge for very small, rural communities to provide ambulance service for their citizens. A bill prime-sponsored by Sen. Mark Schoesler aims to make it easier for two tiny Whitman County towns, Garfield and Farmington, to continue providing joint ambulance service.

Schoesler’s proposal, Senate Bill 5198, has been referred to the Senate Housing and Local Government Committee, where it is scheduled to receive a public hearing on Jan. 21 at 8 a.m. Schoesler introduced similar legislation in 2019.

A 2017 state law allows rural ambulance-service providers to overcome personnel shortages by allowing ambulance drivers who don’t have first aid or medical training. It inadvertently left out ambulance services shared by two or more municipalities, such as Garfield and Farmington.

“This bill would let shared ambulance services continue operations so these communities don’t have to turn to other providers farther away, simply because the driver of the ambulance isn’t trained in first aid,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

Schoesler’s proposal would permit ambulance services established by an association comprising two or more municipalities in a rural area to use a driver without any medical or first-aid training.

“My bill and the law it would update both work because when an ambulance carries a patient to a hospital, the driver really doesn’t have a role in caring for the patient,” said Schoesler. “The EMTs in the back really are the persons in charge. The driver simply needs to be at least 18, pass a background check, and possess a valid driver’s license with no restrictions. This is a common-sense proposal that uses the co-op principle to meet the needs of rural communities.”