Tag Archives: Mark Schoesler

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: Voter-passed I-976 not assured of fair hearing from judicial branch

As voter-approved Initiative 976 remains in legal limbo due to a King County court ruling Nov. 27, Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler suggests the measure returning car-tabs to $30 can’t receive a fair court hearing because so many judges owe their jobs to Democrats.

“Most people don’t know that nearly 63 percent of Washington judges were initially appointed by Democrats,” said Schoesler. “So how can an issue like I-976 get a fair hearing when most of the judges are selected by the party that wants to expand government and take more of the people’s money?

“We’ve all seen what has happened over the past month: Taxpayers vote themselves relief from dishonest and onerous car tab costs. Then Democrats in King County sue and a judge in that overwhelmingly Democrat county rules the initiative should not go into effect. This week, the state Supreme Court upholds that ruling to put it on hold, despite its passage by voters.

“You don’t have to be a cynic to say that our state’s Democrats, who control all three branches of Washington’s government, are able to thwart taxpayers’ desire for tax relief no matter what the people say,” added Schoesler.

Schoesler noted that of the 224 judges or justices currently serving in Washington (193 Superior Court judges, 22 court of appeals judges and nine Supreme Court justices), 140 were initially appointed to the bench by a Democrat governor. With Gov. Jay Inslee’s appointment this week of Judge Raquel Montoya-Lewis to the state Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Mary Fairhurst, four of the nine Supreme Court justices have been appointed by a Democrat governor.

In King County, the appointment rate is 66 percent among Superior Court judges and 80 percent among court of appeals judges in the division with jurisdiction over that county.

“It’s hard for the majority of Washington voters who approved Initiative 976 to think that our court system will give this measure a fair hearing when so many of them were placed there by tax-loving Democrats,” said Schoesler.

Schoesler represents the 9th Legislative District, which covers all or part of Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield, Spokane and Whitman counties.

Schoesler applauds state CERB grant for Othello market district study

A $50,000 state grant awarded to Othello to conduct a study of a possible market district and food makers’ incubator could help the community and its agriculture-based economy, said state Sen. Mark Schoesler.

The state Community Economic Revitalization Board approved the grant for Othello at its Nov. 21 meeting, noting the grant was matched by $16,667 in local funds.

“I know that Othello is looking to secure a site in its downtown area to create a market district and food makers incubator area,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The CERB grant will help the city study how this project can best help the community, its entrepreneurs and farmers in the surrounding area. I support local farmers markets because they provide communities with the opportunity to buy and sell locally farmed or produced food and other products. These markets help Washington farmers and agriculture in general.”

Schoesler represents the 9^th Legislative District, which covers all or part of Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield, Spokane and Whitman counties.

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 of 2012.

Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler offered this reaction after learning of the council’s selection:

“While many of us are still mourning the loss of Senator Hill, one of the finest public servants I will ever have the privilege to know, the King County Council has chosen another outstanding public servant to carry on as senator for the people of the 45th District. Dino Rossi’s talents and experience also will be welcomed by our Senate majority in the coming year as we work to protect Washington’s future.

“In four years as budget chair, Senator Hill set new standards of support for K-12 education, higher education and services for the most vulnerable residents of our state, all without endangering Washington’s economy through needless tax increases. Similarly, during his time as Senate budget leader, Dino Rossi crafted a bipartisan budget that provided strong support for education, services for the vulnerable, and state workers, and erased a massive deficit without general tax increases.

Sen. Dino Rossi, R-Sammamish

“We will miss Senator Hill’s wise and thoughtful leadership greatly in 2017 as our Majority Coalition Caucus continues to address the needs of students and families. At the same time, I appreciate that Dino made himself available to serve and commend the council for selecting someone of his caliber.”

In July 2012 the council appointed Rossi to complete the term of former 5th District Sen. Cheryl Pflug after she accepted a gubernatorial appointment. By law Rossi’s appointment expired with the 2012 general election; when new legislative boundaries took effect after that election, his Sammamish home was among the addresses that were no longer in the 5th District but instead part of the 45th District served by Hill.

Rossi (pictured at right) will take office immediately after the oath of office is administered. He will serve through the 2017 general election, when 45th District voters select someone to serve the final year remaining in the term won by Hill in 2014.

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 the House of Representatives want to raise taxes and raid the state’s rainy-day fund. Only the Senate’s budget avoids tax increases and protects the rainy-day fund. That is a top priority for our Majority Coalition Caucus, and the plan we put on the table today continues to build on the remarkable record of results we have achieved in four years of leading the Senate.

“The MCC has again shown it is possible to provide for education and state government’s other priorities without outspending the available revenue. By continuing to keep tax rates stable for families and employers, we encourage job growth in all corners of the state, not just the Puget Sound area, which puts Washington in the best position to continue recovering from the Great Recession.

“A supplemental budget is supposed to make adjustments in response to emerging needs and caseload shifts and one-time opportunities that could not have been foreseen when the two-year budget was approved. The governor and House leaders are wrong to use their budget proposals as a way to go after families and employers for more tax dollars and raid the rainy-day fund to support new spending.

“It is disappointing that the House’s budget proposal also takes aim at the Washington-only law requiring the two-year budget to balance across four years, not just two. This unique policy has brought stability by forcing budget writers to account for the long-term effects of their decisions – meaning beyond the next election. The House’s chief budget writer supported the creation of that law in 2012, before he started wearing that hat. Now he refers to the law as ‘voodoo economics’ and wants to kneecap it while using a half-dozen tax increases to balance the House budget proposal. They include a bottled-water tax that was already rejected by voters and a sales-tax increase that would devastate retailers in our border counties, in legislative districts served primarily by Republicans.

“This legislative session is scheduled to end two weeks from tomorrow; let’s work toward a budget agreement that is an update, not a rewrite, without the empty posturing about new taxes that dragged the Legislature through three overtimes this past year.”

Schoesler is a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which is holding a public hearing on the Senate’s supplemental operating-budget and capital-budget proposals today; it may be viewed online at www.TVW.org.

Transportation secretary fails to win Senate confirmation, loses job

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 Peterson’s inability to properly manage the DOT after three years has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. She has undermined any confidence the people had in transportation projects and simply can’t be trusted to manage the additional transportation funding approved last year,” said Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

Appointments by the governor are subject to confirmation by the state Senate. While an appointee may serve indefinitely without being confirmed, a vote against confirmation means the appointee may no longer serve. The Senate majority chose not to confirm Peterson’s appointment; the 21 Democrats present from the Senate minority voted in support of Inslee’s pick, in spite of a long list of problems during Peterson’s watch. Continue reading →

Schoesler named ‘Legislative Champion’ by Washington Association of Realtors

Schoesler, R-Ritzville, is a co-winner of the award with Sen. Andy Hill of Redmond, the Senate majority’s budget chief. They helped lead the Legislature to adopt a new 2015-17 operating budget which is balanced without general tax increases that would have hit Main Street employers and family-level investors. Continue reading →

In the news: Mark Schoesler of Zion United Church of Christ leads state Senate

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Schoesler elected to lead Senate coalition as Majority Leader

The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus today elected Sen. Mark Schoesler as Senate Majority Leader for a two-year legislative term.

“I’m grateful to my Senate colleagues for their vote of confidence and am eager to continue working on solutions for the people of Washington,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville, “It’s time to govern and roll up our sleeves to find a better way to improve job growth, fund and reform education and make college more affordable. Our focus as a coalition has always been to put people above politics.”

Schoesler took time to honor what he called ‘the vision and leadership’ of former Majority Leader Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue. “Rodney knew this state would be better off with a Senate coalition that protected taxpayers and reset priorities in Olympia,” said Schoesler, “He led the charge to do something that had never been done before in the state Senate – to bring Democrats and Republicans together under shared goals and ideals. It worked and the people of Washington like the results.”

Sen. Schoesler had previously served as Republican Leader with Sen. Tom as the Majority Leader for the Majority Coalition Caucus during the 2013 and 2014 legislative term.

As majority leader, Schoesler is the caucus spokesperson on legislative policy matters, represents the caucus with the governor and other elected officials, and implements general legislative policies and priorities that reflect the views of the caucus. He also serves as the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Rules Committee and chairs the committee that assigns Senate Republicans to their various committee positions.

Schoesler was elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 and after six terms the 9th Legislative District voters sent him to the Senate in 2006. During his time in the Senate he has served in leadership positions as the Senate Republican whip, Republican floor leader and as the Republican Leader in 2013 and 2014. He is a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and served as part of the Senate Republican budget negotiating team in 2011 and 2012.

The Majority Coalition also elected other members of their leadership team during their customary biennial reorganization meeting.

Caucus Chair – Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, Wenatchee. Parlette has served in this role since 2006. As caucus chair she calls the caucus into session, sets the agenda for and presides over caucus meetings, serves as ranking Republican on the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee and represents the caucus on operational matters.

Floor Leader – Sen. Joe Fain, Auburn. In this role Fain will coordinate the caucus’s floor action, serve on the Senate Rules Committee and represent the caucus on procedural matters.

Whip – Sen. Ann Rivers, La Center. In her position as whip, Rivers will act as a point of contact for the location of members during floor sessions and count votes on key legislation.

Deputy Leader – Sen. John Braun, Centralia. In this role Braun will assist the caucus leader in communicating the caucus’s legislative goals, policies, issues and priorities.

Caucus Vice Chair – Sen. Jan Angel, Port Orchard. In this role Angel will assist the caucus chair and preside over caucus meetings in her absence, and act as a liaison between ranking members on the various Senate committees and caucus leadership.

Deputy Floor Leader – Sen. Jim Honeyford, Sunnyside. In this role, Honeyford assists the floor leader in his duties and helps the floor leader and whip coordinate procedural votes with members.

Deputy Whip – Senator-elect Mark Miloscia, Federal Way. In this role Miloscia will act as backup to the whip and monitors attendance during floor sessions and caucus meetings

Senate President Pro Tempore – Sen. Tim Sheldon, Potlatch.

Senate Vice President Pro Tempore – Sen. Sharon Brown, Kennewick.

The 2015 legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 12 and will last 105 days.