Tag Archives: Sen. Mark Schoesler

Senate passes Schoesler bill offering property-tax relief for residents rebuilding homes ruined by wildfires

The Senate today unanimously approved bipartisan legislation sponsored by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that would provide property-tax relief for Malden-area residents and other Washingtonians who are rebuilding homes damaged or destroyed by wildfires last September.

Under Senate Bill 5454, passed 49-0, Washington residents who lost a home to wildfire between Sept. 1 and Sept. 19, 2020, would be exempt from paying property taxes on the full value of the original structure for three years, if the home is being rebuilt or physically improved.

Nearly 300 homes, including more than 120 residences in or near the Whitman County towns of Malden and Pine City, were destroyed by wildfires torching different parts of Washington last September.

“The terrible wildfires last Labor Day destroyed many homes in Malden, Pine City and other communities throughout our state,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville, whose district includes Whitman County. “These homeowners lost practically everything, and it’s been a struggle for these families and individuals to recover. Some of them didn’t have homeowner insurance. This bill is just a way to offer a little bit of relief by helping ease their financial burden as they try to rebuild their homes and their lives.”

Two leading Democrat senators, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Christine Rolfes and Senate Majority Floor Leader Marko Liias, also spoke in favor of the bill during floor debate.

Before passing the bill, the Senate approved a floor amendment by Schoesler that he developed with the state Department of Revenue. The amendment:

Expands the exemption to single-family dwellings damaged by any type of natural disaster occurring on or after August 31, 2020, that has been reduced in value by more than 20 percent.
Limits the exemption to persons who owned the property at the time that it was reduced in value by a natural disaster.
Ends the exemption on June 30, 2026.
Requires the value of the improvements to be considered as new construction.
Gives the Department of Revenue rulemaking authority for purposes of administering the new property tax exemption.
Adds definitions for “improvement” and “qualifying single-family dwelling.”
Makes other technical and administrative changes.

Senate Bill 5454 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

According to a Spokane news report, 121 homes, eight commercial properties and 94 other structures were destroyed by the Labor Day wildfire in or near Malden and Pine City.

Statewide, 298 homes were lost in the September wildfires. In all, more than 700 structures were lost. More than 600,000 acres burned in Washington during the two weeks after Labor Day.

Schoesler blasts Senate for passing state income-tax proposal

The state Senate’s approval of a bill today is the first step toward the possibility of a state income tax on all Washingtonians, argues 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler.

Schoesler voted against Senate Bill 5096, the proposal would impose a 7% state income tax on capital gains. The proposal passed 25-24. It now goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve heard a myth that this kind of tax proposal will take care of certain needs,” said Schoesler. “We were told not that many years ago that the ‘death tax’ would fund education, but it did not turn out that way. We’ve heard for years how regressive our tax code has been and how it needs to be fixed. But when this bill was in the Ways and Means Committee earlier this session, we offered an amendment that would lower the state sales tax, which affects everyone. It was rejected.”

Schoesler said his vote today allows him to keep a promise he made nearly three decades ago.

“When I first ran for the Legislature in 1992, I said I would never vote for a state income tax. Now, 29 years later, I still won’t.”

Schoesler said one of Washington’s advantages when it comes to attracting talent and companies to the state has been the lack of a state income tax.

“But if this bill becomes law, we will lose that competitive advantage and I’m very concerned that many wealthy Washingtonians will leave the state, taking their money with them. That will hurt our state.”

Schoesler pointed out that Washington voters have rejected a state income-tax proposal 10 times over the past 85 years. The most recent rejection happened in 2010 when 64 percent of voters shot down Initiative 1098. A strong majority of 9^th District voters opposed I-1098.

“Voters here have a long history of not wanting a state income tax,” said Schoesler. “A recent statewide Elway Poll shows that is still the case; it revealed only 41 percent of respondents support a tax on capital gains.”

Schoesler, who serves on the budget-writing Senate Ways and Means Committee, pointed out that the state’s long-term revenue outlook is solid and improving, disproving Democrats’ argument that a state income tax on capital gains is needed to help add revenue to Washington’s coffers.

“Despite last year’s temporary drop in revenue caused by the COVID-19 shutdown, we are again in good shape in terms of revenue. Washington doesn’t want or need a state income tax. It’s disappointing that the Democrats chose to ignore the numbers and voters’ sentiments and pass this unnecessary and harmful bill anyway.”

Before the bill was passed, the Senate approved an amendment removing language declaring the tax’s enactment to be an emergency. Had the so-called “emergency clause” stayed in the bill, it would have prevented citizens from filing a referendum to place SB 5096 on the state’s next general-election ballot, for voters to confirm or repeal.

“I’m very glad the emergency clause was removed because otherwise it would have preempted the voters’ right to challenge this bill later, should it become law,” said Schoesler.

If SB 5096 is approved by the Legislature and eventually becomes law, it likely will end up on the statewide ballot as a referendum or in court before it can take effect.

“Throughout Washington’s history, the state Supreme Court has rejected similar state income-tax measures several times. The Internal Revenue Service is clear that income from capital gains is taxable income. If this issue reaches the high court again, I’m hopeful it will again be struck down,” said Schoesler.

Senate panel passes Schoesler bill offering property-tax relief for residents rebuilding homes ruined by wildfires

A Senate committee has approved a bill sponsored by 9^th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that would provide property-tax relief for Malden residents and other Washingtonians who are rebuilding homes damaged or destroyed by wildfires last September.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee last night unanimously approved Senate Bill 5454. Under the bipartisan proposal, Washington residents who lost a home to wildfire between Sept. 1 and Sept. 19, 2020, would be exempt from paying property taxes on the full value of the original structure for three years, if the home is being rebuilt or physically improved.

Nearly 300 homes, including more than 120 residences in or near the Whitman County towns of Malden and Pine City, were destroyed by wildfires torching different parts of Washington last September.

“I’m thankful everyone on the Ways and Means Committee approved this bill that would help homeowners in Malden, Pine City and other parts of our state that were destroyed or damaged by the terrible wildfires last Labor Day,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville, whose district includes Whitman County. “These homeowners lost practically everything in the wildfires and it’s been a struggle for these families and individuals to recover. This bill would help ease their financial burden as they try to rebuild their homes and their lives.”

Senate Bill 5454 now advances to the Senate Rules Committee, the final hurdle before bills can reach the Senate floor for a full Senate vote.

According to a Spokane news report, 121 homes, eight commercial properties and 94 other structures were destroyed by the Labor Day wildfire in or near Malden and Pine City.

Statewide, 298 homes were lost in the September wildfires. In all, more than 700 structures were lost. More than 600,000 acres burned in Washington during the two weeks after Labor Day.

Schoesler criticizes committee passage of bill creating state income tax

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville and a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, issued this statement following the Ways and Means Committee’s approval tonight of Senate Bill 5096, the Democrat-sponsored proposal requested by Gov. Jay Inslee that would create a state income tax on capital gains.

“This bill is a classic example of the majority party cramming a very bad and unnecessary bill down the throats of Washingtonians,” said Schoesler. “Voters have rejected a state income tax proposal 10 times over the past 85 years. A recent Elway Poll revealed that only 41 percent of respondents support a tax on capital gains, which is even less support than what a similar poll showed two years ago. Our state’s long-term revenue outlook is better than Democrats claim. Washington doesn’t want or need an income tax on capital gains. Yet the Democrats still insist on creating one.

“What adds insult to injury is that this bill includes an emergency clause, which means that if it’s signed into law by the governor, the very person who requested this tax in the first place, then it cannot go before the state’s voters as a referendum. It’s laughable for them to say an emergency clause is even needed when the tax created by this proposal would not be owed until 2023.

“Before the committee voted on the bill tonight, Republicans offered many common-sense amendments to try to improve what is a very bad bill. Unfortunately, all of these amendments were defeated by the Democrats. Chances are that this bill, if passed and then signed by the governor, will end up in court.”

Senate passes Schoesler’s rural ambulance bill

The Senate today approved a bill prime-sponsored by Sen. Mark Schoesler that would make it easier for two tiny Whitman County towns to continue providing joint ambulance service.

Schoesler’s proposal, Senate Bill 5198, was passed 48-1. It now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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 Farmington and Garfield.

“This bill would allow the continued operations of shared ambulance services so communities like Farmington and Garfield 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.”

Schoesler says Asotin, other counties need to move into Phase 2 of recovery plan

On the heels of Tuesday’s announcement that all of Idaho is moving to Phase 3 of its COVID-19 recovery plan, 9th Legislative District Sen. Mark Schoesler says it is time for neighboring Asotin County and other counties to move into Phase 2 of Washington’s recovery plan.

Gov. Jay Inslee’s Healthy Washington plan, unveiled last month, divided the state into eight regions. Asotin County is in the East region with Adams, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Whitman counties.

“I agree with the Asotin County commissioners that it’s ridiculous to include their county in the same region as Spokane County,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “If Asotin County was moved out of the East region under the governor’s latest recovery plan, the county could move into Phase 2, which would be so much better for its people economically.”

Schoesler says Inslee and his state Department of Health officials should view Clarkston and Asotin County more in connection with Lewiston and Nez Perce County instead of distant Spokane County.

“Clarkston and Lewiston are separated only by the Snake River, so you’d think Asotin County would be in the same COVID-19 recovery phase as Lewiston. Unfortunately, our governor doesn’t see it that way,” said Schoesler, who added that Whitman County, which also borders Idaho, is in a similar economic disadvantage by being frozen in Phase 1 while Idaho moves forward with its Phase 3.

Schoesler agrees with Asotin County Public Health Administrator Brady Woodbury’s assertion that most of the smaller counties in the Eastern region are on the verge of meeting the standards that would allow them to move to Phase 2.

“The current plan being used by Governor Inslee and the state Department of Health is unfair to the rural counties in eastern Washington,” said Schoesler. “Asotin County’s fate for reopening and seeing some of the COVID-19 restrictions lifted should not be tied to a very populated Spokane County that is almost 100 miles away. Lumping Asotin County together with Spokane County is just a terrible and inflexible decision by the governor and his public health minions.”

Under Inslee’s plan, a region originally had to meet four public-health metrics in order to relax some restrictions. No region, however, has met those four benchmarks. Under new requirements, regions must meet only three of the four metrics to move to the second, less-restrictive phase.

As a result of that change, the three counties – King, Pierce and Snohomish – in the Puget Sound region this week advanced to Phase 2. The four counties in the West region, which includes Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific and Thurston, also moved to Phase 2. It means, for example, that restaurants and fitness centers can allow people indoors at 25% capacity, and social/home gatherings of up to five people from up to two households are allowed.

Last week the state Senate’s majority Democrats blocked two requests from Republicans for a vote on Senate Bill 5114, a bipartisan measure Schoesler is co-sponsoring that would move all of Washington into Phase 2.

Schoesler and 9th Legislative District Reps. Joe Schmick and Mary Dye received an email Tuesday from Asotin County Commissioner Chuck Whitman, who called it “unacceptable” that his county is being put at an economic disadvantage as Idaho advances to Phase 3 of its plan.

Whitman asked the legislators to help move Asotin County to Phase 2 or at least allow the county to be an exception to the regional approach in Inslee’s latest reopening plan.

“As a border town with Idaho, separated by a bridge, the impact on this growing divide and economic inequality may be fatal for many small businesses in Asotin County,” Whitman wrote.

Schoesler introduces bill to provide relief for employers on UI taxes

Sen. Mark Schoesler has introduced a bill that seeks to provide relief for Washington employers who are facing the possibility of paying higher unemployment-insurance taxes as they also struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 economic shutdown.

Senate Bill 5197 would adjust the calculation used to determine UI taxes. Much like a tuition cap gives certainty to families and students about the costs of higher education, Schoesler’s bill would create a cap on UI taxes to provide welcome stability for employers when it comes to this particular cost of doing business.

“The state’s unemployment insurance fund shrank significantly over the past year for a couple of reasons,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “The economic shutdown caused by COVID caused workers in our state to file a shockingly high number of unemployment claims – and then hundreds of millions of dollars were lost by our state Employment Security Department to foreign fraudsters. Now employers in Washington could be forced to pay more in unemployment insurance taxes, for reasons that aren’t their fault. My bill would at least provide some needed stability at a time when our job providers really need it.”

Schoesler, who owns and operates a wheat farm near Ritzville, says the past year has been especially difficult and unusual for most Washington employers.

“First the government forces so many of them to close, driving up the number of unemployment claims and draining the fund that pays those claims; then the government wants more tax to refill the fund! A local chamber member, who was forced to lay off people during the initial lockdown but hired them all back as soon as possible, told me their UI rate went from about .4% to nearly 4%. That’s as unfair as it gets.”

Schoesler said his bill is different than Gov. Jay Inslee’s requested legislation, SB 5061, which would reduce the financial pain for employers facing bigger UI taxes by spreading the increase out over a longer period.

“One thing that I don’t like about the governor’s proposal is that it also would increase UI benefits in conjunction with the tax hike and extend eligibility beyond layoffs to what are called ‘voluntary quits.’ That’s hardly a satisfactory solution, in my opinion,” said Schoesler.

The 9th District legislator is a co-sponsor of SB 5171, which would take $1 billion from the state’s rainy-day fund to help “backfill” the unemployment insurance money that had to be paid out so unexpectedly.

“Our state’s rainy-day fund was created so it can be used for real emergencies. It’s an appropriate source for this needed relief, and could make the difference between survival and failure for employers who are still hanging on,” said Schoesler.

SB 5197 has been referred to the Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee. SB 5171 has been sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. No public hearing has been scheduled for either proposal.

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.

“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.

Schoesler to continue serving on budget, labor and commerce committees

Sen. Mark Schoesler will continue his long streak of serving on the Senate Ways and Means Committee when the Legislature convenes in January.

The 2021 legislative session, which starts Jan. 11 and lasts 105 days, will mark the 17^th straight year Schoesler has been a member of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee since joining the Senate in 2005.

“I’ve taken great pride in serving on the Ways and Means Committee, and I’m pleased to continue doing so,” said Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “Tax and spending issues have always been among my highest priorities as a legislator, and by serving on Ways and Means, I can provide a voice for families and businesses in my district and our state to keep taxes and spending in check, and I will strongly oppose creating a state income tax.”

Schoesler has been named the Ways and Means Committee’s ranking Republican on the capital budget, which helps fund construction projects for state government buildings, state parks and colleges and universities.

“This role will allow me to work with my fellow Republicans and lead Democrats on the committee in producing a list of worthwhile projects to include in the state capital budget for the next two years, including those impacting local school districts and higher education institutions like WSU,” said Schoesler, whose district includes the Pullman-based Washington State University.

Schoesler also will continue serving on the recently renamed Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs Committee. He says he will continue advocating for regulatory reform and other issues that will benefit Washington’s job creators and working families.

“My years of experience in the business of farming have helped me understand regulatory issues, which along with workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance are among the high-profile topics this committee addresses. I know how overzealous regulations imposed by government agencies can be as hard on employers as taxes. The more money and time you have to spend complying with rules, the less likely you are to prosper or even survive as a business owner, especially during this difficult period with COVID-19,” said Schoesler.

Schoesler said the labor and commerce panel needs to focus on shrinking and simplifying Washington’s vast, complex regulatory system.

“Washington’s regulatory code has over 196,000 separate regulations, which is more than all but five states. That should tell you there is serious need for reform – and this committee is the place to start,” added Schoesler.

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