Tag Archives: Sen. Mark Schoesler

Schoesler receives award from hunting organization

A group has honored 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler for his work on behalf of hunters in Washington.

The Hunters Heritage Council, Washington’s largest hunting-rights organization, has named Schoesler a “Legislator of the Year” for 2022. The award was announced this week by Hunters Heritage Council President Mark Pidgeon.

“I’m honored and pleased to learn that I’ll receive this award,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Hunting has been a big part of my life since I was a boy, and I know that many people across the state enjoy hunting. Unfortunately, it seems that state government creates more hurdles for hunters, which is why I work hard in the Legislature to protect hunting in Washington and will continue to do so.”

Each year, the organization selects several legislators to receive the “Legislator of the Year” award. The other recipients of the award are 18th District Sen. Ann Rivers, 7th District Sen. Shelly Short, 17th District Sen. Lynda Wilson, 18th District Rep. Larry Hoff, 7th District Reps. Joel Kretz and Jacquelin Maycumber, 40th District Rep. Debra Lekanoff, 19th District Rep. Jim Walsh and 2nd District Rep. J.T. Wilcox.

The council will present the awards to Schoesler and the other legislators early next year.

Schoesler receives award from Habitat for Humanity for affordable-housing work

Sen. Mark Schoesler received a pleasant surprise this morning: an award from Habitat for Humanity of Washington State for his service and support of affordable housing.

Jennifer Wallace, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity’s Palouse affiliate, presented the award to Schoesler during a legislative breakfast hosted by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“This is such a nice surprise to be honored like this,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Affordable housing has become a serious problem in many communities across Washington, and I’m glad that this year’s capital budget passed by the Legislature provides funding for Habitat for Humanity to help address housing needs in our state.”

The longtime 9th District lawmaker has helped craft the Senate capital budget the past two legislative sessions. He also has negotiated the final capital budget with other legislators.

“Senator Schoesler received this award on behalf of Habitat for Humanity for making an unprecedented investment in affordable homeownership,” said Michone Preston, chief executive officer for Habitat for Humanity of Washington State. “People who are experiencing income scarcity can achieve the American dream of homeownership through agencies like Habitat for Humanity, and the Housing Trust Fund investment will provide for 500 more new homes in Washington.

“Habitat for Humanity of Washington State thanks Senator Schoesler for his work on the capital budget,” added Preston. “This funding will ensure that those 500 families working alongside affordable homeownership developers will receive their keys, and their affordable mortgage within the next few years.”

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.

Legislature passes Schoesler bill to improve firefighter, law-enforcement officer retirement benefits

The Legislature has unanimously passed a measure introduced by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that would increase retirement benefits for firefighters and law-enforcement officers.

Senate Bill 5791 would provide Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System Plan 1 members with a one-time lump sum equal to $100 per month of service for retirees and a minimum of $20,000 for catastrophic and duty-disability retirees, and duty-death beneficiaries. The lump sum payments would come from a nearly $2 billion surplus in the LEOFF 1 system, which closed in 1977.

The House of Representatives passed the proposal 98-0 Thursday night. The Senate approved it 49-0 on Feb. 15. The bill now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for final consideration.

“This bill would help our courageous law-enforcement officers and firefighters who put their lives on the line year after year,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Using the budget surplus to give LEOFF 1 pension members a one-time payout means some more money for their retirement years, while making only a very small dent in the state budget surplus.”

Schoesler added that increased benefits would create incentives for law enforcement officers and firefighters to stay longer in their jobs.

The Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System (LEOFF) provides retirement benefits to full-time, fully compensated law-enforcement officers and firefighters employed by the state, cities, counties and special districts. Law-enforcement officers and firefighters who entered service between 1969 and October 1, 1977, were enrolled in LEOFF Plan 1. Those entering service after that date are part of the LEOFF Plan 2.

Schoesler says two full years of emergency orders is too much

Today marks the start of the third year of Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 state of emergency. To 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler, it’s a frustrating reminder that Washington was not meant to be controlled by one person for so long.

“No governor in our nation has exercised emergency powers as long as Jay Inslee since the COVID pandemic began more than two years ago, and people throughout Washington have had enough,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “His various mandates, especially requiring state employees under his control to be vaccinated against COVID or lose their job, have harmed people’s trust in our state government. People are tired of one-man rule in Washington.”

Schoesler said the two-year anniversary of Inslee’s emergency declaration is a strong reminder that the Legislature needs to pass meaningful reform of the state’s emergency-powers law. The only changes supported by majority Democrats this session would have little practical effect.

“My Republican colleagues and I think that all emergency proclamations made by a Washington governor should have a time limit, and be extended only if the Legislature agrees. It’s time to restore the balance of power in Washington so that the legislative branch can have a say in all emergency orders – including the proclamations that really control people’s lives. We’ve seen other states already do this because their governors and legislatures trust their citizens. We need to do the same thing here in Washington.”

Inslee recently announced that he is relaxing the indoor mask mandate in Washington starting March 12.

Schoesler says record surplus means it’s time for tax relief for Washingtonians

The February state revenue forecast adopted today by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council reveals that state government now has a $15 billion revenue surplus – proof that some of that extra money should be returned to Washingtonians in the form of tax relief, said 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.

“For over a year now, our state’s revenue projections have improved with each revenue forecast, and today’s forecast reveals that we have a record-setting revenue surplus of $15 billion,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville and a member of the budget-writing Senate Ways and Means Committee. “With so many hard-working people in our state struggling to cope with higher gas prices and rampant inflation, the Legislature should do the right thing and give back some of this extra revenue to our state’s taxpayers. They deserve it and we can afford to do it.”

The February forecast – the first quarterly forecast for 2022 – shows revenue projections increased by over $2.8 billion for the four-year outlook budget period ($1.45 billion for the current biennium and $1.32 billion for the 2023-25 biennium). The main reasons for the latest revenue increases are due to revenue collections coming in $450 million higher than forecast since the previous forecast in November and the number of unemployed in Washington, as measured by unemployment insurance claims, being at historic lows.

The state operating budget is now expected to collect over $10 billion in additional revenue during the four-year outlook than expected when the Legislature finished its 2021 session in April.

The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council projects that the state has $61.691 billion in revenue for the current biennium, a 16.1% increase over the 2019-21 biennium. The state is projected to have $65.368 billion in revenue in the 2023-25 biennium.

To view the February forecast, click here.

Senate passes Schoesler’s bill to improve firefighter, law enforcement officer retirement benefits

The Senate today unanimously passed a measure introduced by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that would increase firefighter and law enforcement officer retirement benefits.

Senate Bill 5791 would provide Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System Plan 1 members with a one-time lump sum equal to $100 per month of service for retirees and a minimum of $20,000 for catastrophic and duty disability retirees, and duty death beneficiaries.

“This bill would help our courageous law enforcement officers and firefighters who put their lives on the line year after year,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Using the budget surplus to give LEOFF 1 pension members a one-time payout would give our law enforcement officers and firefighters some more money for their retirement years. Providing them with this extra money would make only a very small dent in the state budget surplus.”

Schoesler added that increased benefits would create incentives for law enforcement officers and firefighters to stay longer in their jobs.

The Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System (LEOFF) provides retirement benefits to full-time, fully compensated law enforcement officers and firefighters employed by the state, cities, counties and special districts. Law enforcement officers and firefighters who entered service between 1969 and October 1, 1977, were enrolled in LEOFF Plan 1. Those entering service after that date are part of the LEOFF Plan 2.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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.

Senate again passes Schoesler bill improving irrigation-district elections

A proposal prime-sponsored by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that would improve irrigation district elections has been unanimously approved by the Senate for the second time in nearly a year.

The Senate today unanimously passed Senate Bill 5342, which would allow mail-in ballot elections for irrigation districts and identify qualified district electors for irrigation districts. It also would create a gross misdemeanor violation when election-security requirements for irrigation-district elections are violated.

“Irrigation-district elections have become outdated, which has become a concern,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville.  “This bill provides an overdue update to irrigation-district elections and it increases election security for them. A work group created a couple of years ago reviewed election policies and procedures used by irrigation districts and concluded that many of the state laws that deal with these elections needed to be updated. This bill reflects the final recommendations of that work group.”

Last March, the Senate passed the bill 48-0, but the House did not take action on it, sending the proposal back to the Senate at the end of the 2021 session. On Jan. 13, the Senate Housing and Local Government Committee amended and then passed the bill.

Senate Bill 5342 now returns to the House of Representatives for further consideration.