Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Joe Schmick
Session: budget, missed opportunities
As the 2026 legislative session gaveled to a close last week, lawmakers approved three supplemental budgets that will shape state spending over the next year: the operating budget, the transportation budget, and the capital budget. Each plays a different role in funding state government, infrastructure, and community projects. While there were some positive investments for our region, there were also significant concerns about spending priorities and missed opportunities.
Don’t gamble with mandatory payroll deductions
This November, Washington voters will be asked to approve Senate Joint Resolution 8201, a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the state to invest public dollars from the WA Cares Fund – money taken directly from workers’ paychecks – into the stock market. Supporters call it a “no-brainer.” I call it a dangerous precedent. The state constitution wisely restricts most public funds from being invested in private stocks or equities.
How to help ease our agricultural community’s mental health crisis in WA | Op-Ed
Chances are you had breakfast, lunch or dinner today. You may have found something to snack on or drink. If so, you have the agricultural producers and workers to thank. Food and other groceries do not magically appear on the store shelves. What you eat and drink comes from a farm in one form or another. Unfortunately, feeding people worldwide is a heavy burden weighing on our agricultural producers and workers.
Rep. Joe Schmick: Keep the Snake River dams - for our farms, economy and future
By Rep. Joe Schmick As a former farmer who spent decades working the land and depending on it to feed my family and others, I know firsthand what real conservation looks like. It’s not found in news releases or political campaigns – it’s in water management, crop rotation, habitat preservation and stewardship passed down through generations.
C'mon, man! Don't balance the budget on the backs of hunters and anglers
OLYMPIA–In commercials, movies, and daily life, when you hear the exasperated phrase, "C'mon, man!" it is usually in respond to a petty or uncalled for act.
Olympia Update
Last year, nearly a half million voters and a near unanimous vote in the Legislature approved Initiative 2081, the "Parents' Bill of Rights." This is a vital step forward in empowering parents and ensuring transparency and accountability in our public schools. This year, Democrats are proposing House Bill 1296 which is a misguided attempt to dismantle the initiative and strip away the very protections that parents fought for, and students deserve.
Olympia Update
OLYMPIA–We've all read stories at the national level about how more and more agriculture land is being bought up by developers for new construction, environmental groups for green energy projects, and billionaires for...well, who knows what. But when doing some recent research, imagine my surprise when I found a report from the Iowa Farm Bureau in 2022 which showed that out of Washington state's 22 million acres of agriculture land, foreign ownership accounted for about 1.6 million acres.
Olympia Update
OLYMPIA–A foundational element in our Democratic Republic is the idea that everyone has a voice. The voters of a particular area or legislative district elect a person to represent their collective values, principles, and priorities. Do voters agree with every decision or vote their elected officials make? Impossible.
OLYMPIA–With the beginning of the 2025 legislative session, the reign of Gov. Jay Inslee has come to an end. Many legislators on both sides of the aisle, as well as many of you, are encouraged by this fact. The State of the State speech given by new Gov. Bob Ferguson was even more encouraging. The difference between the two governors could not be more evident than their outgoing and incoming speeches given this week in the Legislature.
Olympia Update
By Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick and Rep. Mary Dye We are back in Olympia for this year's legislative session, which began Jan. 13 and is scheduled to end April 27. Many classic rock fans remember The Who song "Won't Get Fooled Again." It has a line, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss," that likely will apply to our state's incoming governor, Bob Ferguson.
Blankenship an effective commissioner
Please join me in supporting Dan Blankenship for Adams County Commissioner. Working with Commissioner Blankenship since he was elected has been a privilege for me. Commissioner Blankenship is knowledgeable on issues affecting Adams County and has a roll up the sleeves attitude to get things done. Commissioner Blankenship has been effective securing funds for vital needs in the county and is respected by my legislative colleagues. Please join me in my support of Commissioner Blankenship. Rep.
Session a mix of success, disappointment
The 2024 legislative session is now in the history books. After 60 days, in which 201 House bills and 180 Senate bills passed the Legislature, we can report a mix of great successes and disappointments. We fought hard for public hearings on all six citizens' initiatives to the Legislature. Closer to the end of the session, Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate reluctantly agreed to hear three of the measures but sent the other three initiatives to the November ballot.
Olympia Update
By Sen, Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick, and Rep. Mary Dye OLYMPIA–The 2024 legislative session is now in the history books. After 60 days, in which 201 House bills and 180 Senate bills passed the Legislature, we can report a mix of great successes and disappointments. We fought hard for public hearings on all six citizens' initiatives to the Legislature.
Citizen initiatives to the Legislature: Let Washingtonians be heard!
Citizen initiatives to the Legislature: Let Washingtonians be heard! February 22, 2024 OLYMPIA–It is with a mix of encouragement and disappointment that the Senate majority leader says four of the six citizen initiatives to the Legislature "might" have public hearings scheduled before the end of the 2024 session. But don't hold your breath. We are now nearly two-thirds into a 60-day session, with only a handful of committee meetings remaining before adjournment on March 8. Desp...
Take 'Gotcha!' out of records requests
When state voters adopted the state’s Public Records Act in 1972, they wanted to make sure state, county and city governments operate openly and are transparent to the people. They recognized the best way to ensure transparency and accountability is to require most government records are made available to the public. The PRA, however, was never intended to help some make money at the expense of governments.
OLYMPIA UPDATE
OLYMPIA UPDATE A lot of work ahead in the 2024 session now underway in Olympia By Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick and Rep. Mary Dye OLYMPIA–It is a privilege and an honor to represent and serve the people of the 9th Legislative District as we begin a new year and a new legislative session in Olympia. This year’s session began on Jan. 8. Lawmakers from every part of Washington have converged at the state Capitol for a scheduled 60 days of introducing bills, hold...
Olympia Update
By Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick and Rep. Mary Dye OLYMPIA–It is a privilege and an honor to represent and serve the people of the 9th Legislative District as we begin a new year and a new legislative session in Olympia. This year's session began on Jan. 8.
Olympia Update
By Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, and Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy This session saw some bipartisan successes as lawmakers and citizens were in Olympia together for the first time in nearly three years. That in-person interaction is always key for working relationships and good workable solutions to our state's problems. The transportation budget and capital budget were both very bipartisan.
Olympia Update
When our state's budget surplus reached approximately $15 billion last year, many of us felt it was time to give some of that back to taxpayers in the form of meaningful property tax relief. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Instead, Democrat budget writers continued a decade-long trend of spending just about every dime given to them. They even changed some rules to take money that should have gone into the state's rainy-day fund, just so they could spend it on new programs and entitlements.
Olympia Update
House and Senate budget writers released their 2023-25 state operating budget proposals recently. It was a reminder that taxpayers have been very kind to the state's coffers as revenue forecasts over the past few years have continued to increase. As a result of taxpayer largess and the majority party's proclivity to spend every dime available, state spending has more than doubled over the past 10 years. Has our population doubled?
Payroll tax will hit hard this summer
Payroll tax will hit hard this summer Share Tweet 0 Comments Last updated 4/4/2023 at 9:34am House and Senate budget writers released their 2023-25 state operating budget proposals recently. It was a reminder that taxpayers have been very kind to the state’s coffers as revenue forecasts over the past few years have continued to increase. As a result of taxpayer largess and the majority party’s proclivity to spend every dime available, state spending has more than doubled over the past 10 years.
Olympia Update
OLYMPIA–As Washington state seeks to find a financial solution to fund road construction projects, address backlogs in transportation maintenance and preservation needs, and fix crumbling infrastructure like bridges, one idea that has gained traction (pun intended) is the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax. The VMT is a fee charged to drivers based on the number of vehicle miles traveled, regardless of fuel efficiency.
Olympia Update
OLYMPIA–Growing up on the farm, I heard grandma's sage advice in just about every situation imaginable.
Rural pharmacy rules bad for communities
Rural pharmacy rules bad for communities Share Tweet 0 Comments Last updated 2/21/2023 at 9:20am Growing up on the farm, I heard grandma’s sage advice in just about every situation imaginable.
Updates From the Washington State Legislature (Listen)
mp3 Capitol Report from Representative Mary Dye: https://dehayf5mhw1h7.mp3 Capitol Reports from Representative Joe Schmick: https://dehayf5mhw1h7.mp3 Tags: joe schmick, rep.Search Here’s your Capitol Calendar report for the week of February 13 – 17: https://dehayf5mhw1h7.
Olympia Update
OLYMPIA–Various surveys conducted around the state over the last year continue to show that public safety is high on the list of concerns for the average Washingtonian. It doesn't matter if it's someone living in downtown Bellevue or someone residing in the 9th Legislative District. People are feeling less safe and less secure in their homes and communities.
Public safety is paramount
Public safety is paramount Share Tweet 0 Comments Last updated 1/31/2023 at 8:22am Various surveys over the last year continue to show public safety is high on the list of concerns for the average Washingtonian. It doesn't matter if it's someone living in Bellevue or s the 9th Legislative District. People are feeling less safe and less secure. According to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, crime numbers support the feeling of unease.
Olympia Update
Olympia Update In Olympia for the 2023 session By Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick and Rep. Mary Dye OLYMPIA–We are back at the state Capitol for the 2023 legislative session, which began Jan. 9 and is set to last 105 days, ending April 23. After being forced to endure a virtual legislative session in 2021 and last year due to restrictions caused by COVID-19, we're encouraged that the Legislature has returned to near-normal in term... For access to this article please sign in or subscribe.
Back in Olympia
By Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick and Rep. Mary Dye We are back at the state Capitol for the 2023 legislative session, which began Jan. 9 and is set to last 105 days, ending April 23. After being forced to endure a virtual legislative session in 2021 and last year due to restrictions caused by COVID-19, we’re encouraged that the Legislature has returned to near-normal in terms of how committee meetings and floor sessions are conducted.
Olympia Update
By Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Mary Dye, and Rep. Joe Schmick OLYMPIA–The 2022 legislative session ended March 10 and is now in the history books. It’s time to reflect on the 60-day session and our work on your behalf. One of the first issues addressed was the unpopular and unfair mandatory long-term care insurance plan and payroll tax which was to kick in on Jan. 1. Rep. Schmick cosponsored legislation to repeal and replace the plan, and Sen. Schoesler had a bill to repeal it as well.
Olympia Update
Olympia Update New costly ergonomics rules ignore voters’ will By Rep. Joe Schmick OLYMPIA–Late-night sessions on the House floor are a yearly expectation. Legislators propose and discuss the merits of amendments, debate the policy changes, and eventually vote on bills. However, nine-hour battles on one bill are rare. This is exactly what happed last week during a House floor session that finally ended at 6:30 the next morning. This unique effort was ne...
Olympia Update
OLYMPIA–Large-scale bills with huge impacts for all Washingtonians are usually best conceived, perfected, and implemented when many opinions, experiences, and priorities are brought to the table here. I think back to the legislative fixes to the McCleary decision that dealt with education funding and the Hirst decision that dealt with water availability and water rights.
Olympia Update
The theme for this legislative session is fixing bad policy passed during the last one By Sen. Mark Schoesler, Rep. Joe Schmick, and Rep. Mary Dye OLYMPIA–The 2022 legislative session kicked off Jan. 10 much like last year’s with very few legislators and staff in attendance. While the House and Senate have slightly different operating plans for the year, much is the same: remote committees, online voting, and very little in-person involvement from the public.
Hit the reset button on long-term care insurance mandate
Long-term care insurance can be an important safety net for individuals and families. Maybe it’s a good idea for you. Maybe not. Like other financial decisions, it should be your choice. Unfortunately, Democrats in the state Legislature and Gov. Jay Inslee are making this financial decision for you, and it isn’t a good investment for many Washington workers.
Op-ed: Rep. Schmick on passage of public option bill in the House
Representative Joe Schmick, ranking member of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee, wrote the following statement in response to the passage of the public option bill (HB 1523) off the House floor. Make no mistake: this is health care, government-designed and government-run. This is a big step toward socialized medicine.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Joe
Contact Joe, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack