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Articles by Mark Schoesler
Judge's decision a temporary win
Over the years, there have been several occasions when a judge or the state Supreme Court has issued a ruling that was unpopular with many Washingtonians. The recent ruling by the state Supreme Court overturning the initiative protecting natural gas comes to mind. However, sometimes a court decision turns out well, at least from my perspective.
Calling out state ESD problems
During my three decades plus as a state legislator, there have been several times over the years when I have publicly criticized a state agency for their actions — or inactions. Last week was one of those times, as I took the state Employment Security Department to task for failing to comply with the U.S. Department of Labor’s guidance regarding unemployment-insurance benefits for people who are on strike.
Agriculture matters east of the Cascades
When I'm not working as the 9th Legislative District's state senator, I focus my time and energy on my other job as a wheat farmer. Many farmers in Eastern Washington are finishing their harvest for the year. In fact, my crew and I wrapped up our wheat harvest just a couple of days ago. It was a good harvest this summer. The long hours and hot days were worth it. Wheat is just one of many crops that our state's farmers and orchardists grow each year.
Government shouldn't hinder fire victims
Unfortunately, the wildfire situation in Eastern Washington has gone from bad to worse in the past week. Last Saturday, the Old Trails Fire ignited and burned more than 900 structures in northwest Spokane. A few days ago, law enforcement arrested a former convict who is suspected of starting that wildfire. It is one of three wildfires in Spokane County that have burned a combined total of over 10,000 acres.
Special hunt proposal cause for concern
| Last updated Apr 20, 2026 4:34pm For many people in our state, especially in Eastern Washington, hunting is a popular and beloved activity. Every fall, we go out in search of deer, elk, bear, pheasant or other game. Some of my best memories come from hunting deer and elk with friends. If the hunt is successful, I have large amounts of meat and sausage to enjoy or share with family and friends for months to come.
Paid family leave, jobless benefits and workers' comp face fiscal turmoil | Op-Ed
Olympia, we have a problem. And no, it’s not just the billion-dollar shortfall facing the general fund that you might have already heard about. Three programs comprising the backbone of Washington’s social-insurance safety net — paid family and medical leave, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation — all are quietly facing severe fiscal turmoil. At the Employment Security Department, the paid family and medical leave program has seen astounding growth in less than six years of existence.
Governor touts taxes, but misses ag
| Last updated Jan 19, 2026 3:23pm When I joined other senators and state representatives in the House chamber for a joint session to hear Gov. Ferguson’s State of the State address, I wondered how much it might differ from last year’s inaugural address to the Legislature. In that speech last January, Ferguson pleasantly surprised me and my fellow Republicans by declaring he did not support more taxes to balance the state operating budget.
More taxes proposed as legislative session opens
This year’s 60-day legislative session opens Jan. 12. When legislators gather in Olympia, the No. 1 issue facing us will be the state operating budget problem. If this sounds familiar, you are correct. When the Legislature entered last year’s session, there was a budget shortfall. As they are prone to do, majority Democrats chose to balance the new two-year operating budget with a record four-year tax-increase package.
GOP senators: Lower Snake dam breaching studies ignore reality | Opinion
An aerial view of Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River. Steve Ringman The Seattle Times AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom. Read our AI Policy. WSU review finds state dam-breaching models unrealistic and insufficient. Breaching plans require billion-dollar rail terminals, farms and property impacts. Removing dams would force costly power replacements and 100,000+ truck trips.
Democrats want more taxes to fix budget woes
During last week’s Ways and Means Committee meeting, the nonpartisan committee staff told me and other committee members about the poor shape the state operating budget is in as the Legislature prepares to meet in mid-January for its 60-day session. Ways and Means staff informed us there will be an estimated $4.3 billion deficit by the end of the 2029 fiscal year in the state’s near-general fund, including a $1.5 billion deficit in the current two-year budget, which will end on June 30, 2027.
Democrats float higher taxes ahead of session
Washington voters have rejected state income tax proposals 10 times. But Democrats still haven't gotten the message. Sen. Noel Frame of Seattle, who serves with me on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, has become the latest Democrat to push the idea of a state income tax. She's also behind the Democrats' multi-year effort to treat certain investments as taxable property – meaning you would get taxed simply for owning them, just like a piece of land.
Opinion: WA farms face plenty of pressure, and state regulations are part of it
As a longtime farmer, I fear more farmers in our state will be forced to leave this traditional and important way of life behind. Washington has seen a steady decrease in the number of farms. As a recent Seattle Times story noted (“3,700 WA farms shut down in 5 years. Why?,”) nearly 4,000 farms disappeared in our state from 2017 to 2022, according to the Census of Agriculture. Read the rest of the article here. economy
HB 1912 addresses farm fuel exemption
When the Democrat-led Legislature passed the Climate Commitment Act (other opponents and I prefer to call it “cap-and-tax”) a few years ago, one of the promises made by Democrats was that the state’s agriculture, shipping and aviation industries would be exempt from the fuel tax created under the law. However, as farmers in the 9th District can tell you, that promise has not been kept.
Sen. Mark Schoesler’s list of 'good' and 'bad' bills in Olym...
Good Bill of the Week: SB 5060 (from Jan. 24 E-Commentary) For years, I have included a Bad Bill of the Week in my E-Commentary editions during a legislative session because I want you and other readers to know about some of the bad or silly proposals introduced by some legislators. Of course, there are many, many good bills that are introduced as well, and an E-Commentary reader recently emailed to suggest I start a Good Bill of the Week feature.
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.
Olympia Update
Olympia Update Washington State Parks' bumbling hurts Steptoe Butte, Lyons Ferry parks By Sen. Mark Schoesler Eastern Washington has several beautiful and popular state parks, including Steptoe Butte and Steptoe Battlefield in Whitman County, plus Lyons Ferry and Palouse Falls south of Washtucna. Unfortunately, Washington State Parks oversees these parks. It's unfortunate because the agency has a history of bumbling in our part of the state. The latest example is the news that W...
Cap-and-trade driving gas price hike
Cap-and-trade driving gas price hike Share Tweet 0 Comments Last updated 1/31/2023 at 8:22am Why are WA gas prices rising while prices in other states remain same? I’ll tell you why: Gov. Jay Inslee’s environmental laws, approved by legislative Democrats two years ago. You’ll recall that earlier I wrote about how wholesale gasoline and diesel prices had risen sharply in early January due to the “cap-and-tax” law that went into effect Jan. 1.
Schoesler: Address school maintenance
For the fifth straight year, I’ve introduced a bill that aims to help school districts in Washington address their building-maintenance needs. Senate Bill 5403 would allow school districts to create a “depreciation subfund” that can receive a transfer of up to 2% of a school district’s general fund each fiscal year. This bill would provide another path for school districts to handle building- or facility-maintenance needs.
The future of the Lower Snake River Dams: Draft report makes a poor case, economically, for breaching
A draft of the “Lower Snake River Dams Benefit Replacement Report,” requested by Washington’s U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee last fall, recently was released to the public. While intended to make the case for breaching the four dams between Clarkston and the Tri-Cities, the report ironically makes a good case for keeping the dams in place.
Frustrations continue over mandates
Last week, the deputy secretary of the state Department of Corrections sent a mass email to all staff, incarcerated inmates and interested parties — including me — informing everyone Corrections had revised its COVID protocols for inmates. Minutes after reading the DOC email, I sent an email to a DOC official and wrote: “It is my understanding that all DOC employees must be vaccinated. Further is it true all inmates do not have to be vaccinated?
Limiting police pursuits doesn't make sense
Limiting police pursuits doesn't make sense Share Tweet 0 Comments Last updated 6/2/2022 at 8:01am Many of you are aware that public safety in our state took a major hit last year when Democrats in the Legislature passed a “police reform” law that prevented law enforcement officers from pursuing criminal suspects in most situations.
Inslee fires up natural gas attacks
In recent years, environmentalists have targeted natural gas, even though it is an affordable energy source for so many. Their efforts have failed in the Legislature. But, apparently, Gov. Inslee and his environmental allies found another way to restrict natural gas use.
Representing the 9th District
My first session was way back in 1993, and as a freshman state representative, I was very humbled and excited about being elected to serve the people of the 9th District in the House. Now, almost 30 years later, I’m still humbled and excited to serve you and other 9th District residents, even if I’m now considered to be a Senate veteran. This year’s legislative session started Monday and is scheduled (by our state constitution) to last 60 days, finishing on March 10.
Gov. Inslee resumes targeting dams
It’s no secret that Gov. Jay Inslee wants the removal of the four federal dams on the lower Snake River between Clarkston and the Tri-Cities. Back in December 2018, his proposed 2019-21 operating budget included $750,000 for a state study on breaching Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite dams. U.S. Reps.
State Democrats can't resist higher spending
The Senate operating budget for 2021-23 was approved on April 1 by a 27-22 vote, with two Democrats joining all Republicans in opposition. It is fitting this plan (Senate Bill 5092) was passed on April Fools’ Day. The sharp spending increase found in this budget can be viewed as a bad joke on Washington taxpayers. Total spending in the Senate budget is $59.5 billion. It’s $7 billion more than the current budget, or equal to a 13% increase in spending.
State operating budget $5 billion in excess
By Mark Schoesler Washington State Senator State operating budget $5 billion in excess Share Tweet 0 Comments Last updated 3/23/2021 at 8:31am Everybody associates March 17 with St. Patrick’s Day, that one holiday in which we are all encouraged to wear green.
Democrats have many proposals to... raise or create taxes
By Mark Schoesler Washington State Senator Democrats have many proposals to... raise or create taxes Share Tweet 0 Comments Last updated 3/2/2021 at 10:57am Democrats in Washington’s Legislature traditionally haven’t been shy about raising taxes. This legislative session is no different. In fact, there are several Democrat-sponsored proposals that would increase existing taxes or create new ones.
Their View: Simpson’s Snake River dams plan raises concerns and questions
Like many others, we were caught off-guard by Idaho U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson’s recent announcement of his $33 billion salmon-recovery plan that centers around removing the four dams on the lower Snake River by 2031. Known as a collaborator, Rep.
Guest opinion: Rep. Simpson’s Snake River dams plan raises concerns and questions
Like many others, we were caught off-guard by Idaho U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson’s recent announcement of his $33 billion salmon-recovery plan that centers around removing the four dams on the Lower Snake River by 2031. Known as a collaborator, Rep. Simpson’s proposal is especially disappointing given the recent release of the long-anticipated environmental impact statement.
Here's to a happy and better new year
Despite this difficult and challenging year, I hope all of you were able to enjoy Christmas and the holiday season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many families couldn’t gather with relatives, which made the holidays feel less enjoyable and more distant. Like so many of you, my wish for 2021 is for COVID-19 to be under control so that we all may resume our normal lives. The year 2020 has brought suffering and hardship to many here in our communities, and throughout America and the world.
Op-ed: To be clear, here’s what Legislature can and can’t do with governor’s COVID-19 proclamations
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit our state earlier this year, Washingtonians have done their best to cope with this terrible disease, which has caused about 12,750 confirmed cases and killed 711 patients in our state as of April 23. During this pandemic, my fellow Senate Republicans and I have supported Gov. Jay Inslee and his executive-branch agencies when we believed it was warranted, as they strive to minimize the disease’s impact on Washingtonians.
Governor’s stay-home order could use a dose of flexibility, consistency
April 5, 2020 at 12:01 pm By Special to The Times The coronavirus does not choose its victims based on their political affiliations. The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic requires a bipartisan response, and my fellow Senate Republicans and I have supported Gov. Jay Inslee and his executive-branch agencies as they work to minimize the disease’s impact on Washingtonians. We have backed most of the governor’s proclamations related to the state’s response to this outbreak.
Guest Opinion: Teacher pay raises led to school budget woes, lawmaker says
After seeing the Tri-City Herald’s editorial last weekend blaming the Legislature for funding problems facing many school districts, including those in the Tri-Cities, I think your readers deserve to consider a different viewpoint on this issue. Since 2013, state legislators have increased K-12 education funding by $9.2 billion. Two years ago, they also agreed to policy changes aimed at making Washington’s school-funding system equitable across the state.
Bills affecting Washington’s presidential, state primaries are bad for voters
Originally published March 11, 2019 at 2:55 pm It’s disappointing that legislative Democrats, who talk so much about voter access, would pass legislation shutting out voters who refuse to declare they’re a Democrat or Republican. Share story By Special to The Times The Legislature’s majority party has just passed a bill that would disenfranchise independent-minded voters in our state.
His View: May primary would do more harm than good
Legislation that is bad for our part of the state is pretty easy to spot - like the new proposal to raise the gas tax and several others, even the tax on auto parts, to pay for transportation projects that are only in the Interstate 5 corridor. Other proposals appear to be reasonable at first glance, until you spot the problems below the surface. An example is Senate Bill 5270, which seeks to move Washington's primary election from the first Tuesday in August to the third Tuesday in May.
One-party rule in Olympia should not end bipartisan effort
We hope that — moving forward — Democrats will work to understand the needs of those outside the Greater Seattle area. The election this month of Democrat Manka Dhingra to represent the people of the 45th legislative district changes the landscape of the Washington state Senate, resulting in a return to one-party rule in Olympia.
Money in politics? Initiative would make it worse | Crosscut
Initiative 1464 uses your tax dollars to tilt the political system in favor of politicians and out-of-state special interests, while depriving our schools of resources to fully fund education. We shouldn’t put politicians before our kids. Vote No on Initiative 1464. The sponsors of Initiative 1464 falsely claim the proposal would reduces the amount of money in politics and increases transparency.
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