Search Results for: town hall
Session recap: Majority rejects emergency powers reform, approves income tax on capital gains and bills that will increase gas prices
During the final two weeks of this year's legislative session, which adjourned this past Sunday, the majority party rejected emergency powers reform, approved an income tax on capital gains, and adopted two proposals that will significantly increase the price of gasoline. I'll be recapping all of that and more in this update, but first, I want to invite you to sign up for the virtual town hall meeting I'm hosting with Rep. Klippert and Sen. Brown on May 24. It ...
The end of the 2021 Legislative Session
Greetings Friends, The Legislature adjourned Sunday evening on time. It was a 105-day whirlwind of bad bills and misplaced spending priorities for working families in Washington. Leading up the start of 2021 there was expected to be a $6 billion shortfall because of the economic effects of COVID. Not only did the shortfall never materialize, there was a surplus, in addition to federal stimulus relief funds. Did we reduce taxes to give working families a break? No. The final budget that was ...
End of Session Town Hall
Please join me and our 31st District neighbors on Wednesday, May 12 for my end of session virtual town hall. I'll go over what happened and answer any questions you have about your state government. Register in advance for this webinar by clicking here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. ...
E-Newsletter: It's over!
Hello Friends and Neighbors, The Legislature’s 105-day session ended last evening, shortly after the passage of a new state operating budget that is – unfortunately – much more partisan than it needed to be. The budget wasn’t the only disappointing news to come out of our final week (and weekend) at the Capitol. But I’ll start this high-level summary of the session on a positive note. Good news (thanks primarily to Republicans) This year the debates weren’t just between Republicans and Democrats, or ...
Legislature passes capital budget that provides strong broadband funding
The Senate yesterday voted 49-0 to approve a compromise two-year state capital budget. The $6.3 billion spending plan provides a record $413 million toward the expansion of broadband access in Washington. The House of Representatives voted 98-0 today to pass the capital budget, House Bill 1080. Sen. Mark Schoesler, who helped negotiate the 2021-23 capital budget agreement, said the emphasis on broadband needs is especially important for the 9th District and other rural parts of the state. “For many communities in our district ...
Join me for a 16th District virtual town hall May 3
Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Waitsburg and Reps. Skyler Rude and Mark Klicker, both R-Walla Walla, are inviting 16th Legislative District community members to their virtual town hall to hear a 2021 legislative session wrap-up and provide constituents the opportunity to share opinions and ideas. What: 16th Legislative District Town Hall When: Monday, May 3, 2021, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Where: Virtual The event will be conducted using the Zoom platform. Those who would like to participate must pre-register in advance by clicking here. ...
Senate passes resolution honoring Gonzaga men’s basketball team
The Gonzaga men’s basketball team, which was ranked No. 1 nationally in The Associated Press poll for 17 straight weeks and opened its 2020-21 season by winning its first 31 games before losing to Baylor University in the NCAA championship game on April 5, was honored with a resolution approved by the state Senate today. The resolution was sponsored by three Spokane-area senators, 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy, 3rd District Sen. Andy Billig and 4th District Sen. Mike Padden. Click here ...
Legislature passes Schoesler bill offering property-tax relief for residents rebuilding homes ruined by wildfires
The Legislature has approved bipartisan legislation sponsored by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that would provide temporary 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, which was passed by the House of Representatives 97-1 today, 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 ...
Schoesler blasts Senate passage of ‘carbon cap and tax’ bill
A Democrat-sponsored “carbon cap and tax” bill passed 25-24 tonight by the Senate would punish Washington citizens and small businesses while letting big corporations off the hook, argues 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler. Senate Bill 5126 now goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration. The 2021 legislative session is scheduled to end April 25. “This is another bill that would punish people and companies by sharply raising gas and diesel prices, without a guarantee that our roads and highways will ...
Governor signs Schoesler’s rural-ambulance bill into law
A bill prime-sponsored by Sen. Mark Schoesler making it easier for two tiny Whitman County towns to continue providing joint ambulance service was signed today by Gov. Jay Inslee. 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. “This bill will allow the continued operations of shared ambulance services so communities like Farmington and Garfield don’t ...
VIDEO: Sen. Gildon comments on a bill to place a statue of Billy Frank Jr. in Washington, D.C.
The State Legislature approved legislation asking the Library of Congress to replace the Marcus Whitman statue at National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol with a statue of Billy Frank Jr. https://youtu.be/whpZwJ8oES0 ...
Virtual Town Hall Tonight!
Please join me for a virtual town hall this evening starting at 7PM. It's not too late to register. I'm looking forward to giving 31st District residents an update on the 2021 legislative session and get your feedback on what I'm working on. Register in advance for this webinar: https://leg-wa-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tJNB_hQgQkO4_HTZxUmiyg After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. ...
E-Newsletter: Your response to my survey
Hello Friends and Neighbors, The budget Governor Inslee submitted to the Legislature in December included the income-tax proposal that became Senate Bill 5096. When the Senate Democrats bring out their proposed operating budget this Thursday, will it incorporate the income tax somehow? Even though no revenue from the tax could possibly be connected until right before the 2021-23 budget expires? We’ll have to wait and see how my counterpart on the Senate Ways and Means Committee handles that. Meanwhile, SB 5096 is ...
We're in the second half of session; join me for a virtual town hall meeting this Saturday!
This Saturday from 2-3:30 p.m., I will be hosting a virtual town hall meeting with Sen. Sharon Brown and Rep. Brad Klippert. The three of us will provide a brief session update and then take questions from constituents. If you would like to participate, please pre-register here. You can also submit questions in advance on that page. There is much to discuss, including the governor's recent announcement that the entire state will be moving to Phase 3 on March 22, so ...
18th District lawmakers to hold telephone town-hall meeting March 22
OLYMPIA… Residents of the 18th Legislative District are invited to join their state lawmakers for a “telephone town hall” meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 22. The telephone-based format, which is similar to a conference call, will allow Sen. Ann Rivers, Rep. Brandon Vick and Rep. Larry Hoff to engage with constituents while observing pandemic-related safety precautions. Many district residents will receive phone calls inviting them to join the meeting; people wanting to participate may also dial (360) 226-0858 ...
E-Newsletter: Let's talk Monday!
Hello Friends and Neighbors, I’ll start this report with one more call to sign up for our “virtual” town hall, which will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. this coming Monday. I’m confident Rep. Harris and Rep. Kraft will have plenty to report; I certainly will, especially about the state’s budget situation and what the recent Senate vote for a state income tax means. We’ll use the Zoom platform to take your questions while you remain in the comfort of your ...
Attend our Joint Virtual Town Hall
In these physically-distant times, getting together to hold a town hall can be a challenge. So, my seatmates and I will be jointly holding a virtual one to provide an update on the 2021 legislative session and get your feedback. As I've noted before, the 10th District is just one of only 4 of the 49 legislative districts in the state that is represented by both parties. Though we may not agree all the time, I'm committed to working across the ...
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 ...
E-Newsletter: Red Alert! Vote on income-tax bill likely tomorrow!
Hello Friends and Neighbors, Since 1934, the voters of Washington have been asked 10 times to create some sort of state income tax. They’ve emphatically said “no” each time, most recently in 2010 – by a landslide 64% majority. I bring this up because on Wednesday, the latest income-tax proposal from my Senate Democrat colleagues was placed on our voting calendar. Yesterday we were given notice that the Democrats intend to vote on SB 5096 tomorrow! There are SO many reasons to oppose ...
Fortunato opposes impractical Capitol campus gun-ban
Designating the Capitol as an insane asylum would have the same effect State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, a strong supporter of protecting Washingtonians’ right to bear arms, voiced his opposition to a measure that would crack down on protests by constitutional activists peacefully holding rallies on the steps of the Legislative Building while openly carrying firearms. Fortunato noted that instead of adopting the convoluted and impractical proposal, Senate Bill 5038, Democrats could just designate the Campus an insane asylum to have the ...