Search Results for: town hall
Schoesler bill would offer property-tax relief for residents rebuilding homes destroyed by September wildfires
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. Sen. Mark Schoesler has introduced legislation that would offer property-tax relief for those who are rebuilding homes damaged or destroyed by these wildfires. Under Senate Bill 5454, Washington residents who lost a home to wildfire between Sept. 1 and Sept. 19, 2020, would be exempt from paying property taxes on the ...
Virtual Town Hall
This coming Wednesday, I’ll be holding a virtual town hall again to discuss what’s happening in the Legislature and ask for your perspective on bills that are moving. You can register for the town hall by clicking here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. ...
Update from Olympia
Friends and Neighbors, We are nearing the halfway point of the 2021 legislative session. Monday is what is called the policy cutoff. This means that all bills in the Senate must be approved in their respective committee to continue in the process and then we will begin voting on bills to send to the House of Representatives for their consideration. March 9 is the last day to vote on bills that originated in the Senate. If you’re following legislation that is ...
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 ...
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 ...
Hawkins thanks Supt. Reykdal for bringing in expertise and planning ahead for school employee vaccinations
Sen. Brad Hawkins, the ranking Republican on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, responded to today’s announcement of the “Get Ready Plan” partnership between the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Kaiser Permanente. “I applaud Superintendent Reykdal for working with partners to bring in expertise and plan ahead for school employee vaccinations,” said Hawkins, who serves the 12th District and is a former Eastmont School Board member. “I’m thankful that the governor changed course on January 18th ...
SRC On Air: Sen. John Braun on KEDO Radio in Longview
Sen. Braun talks about reopening the state economy and access to democracy on KEDO’s Town Hall with Mike Wallin. ...
Padden bill to remove barriers to condo construction passes Senate
Today the Senate passed Sen. Mike Padden’s measure to help increase the supply of affordable housing by removing barriers to condominium construction. “I am pleased to see such broad bipartisan support for this common-sense measure,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “At a time when many areas of the state are desperate for affordable housing – and especially single-family units – this bill will allow for more affordable construction and greater access to financing of smaller condo projects. “This is a great thing for ...
Fortunato continues tax-relief efforts for seniors
OLYMPIA… State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is keeping his promise to some of the state’s most vulnerable. “Seniors and disabled people are particularly affected by rising property taxes and health-care costs – and that was before the economic uncertainty related to COVID-19,” said Fortunato. “This issue is one that I hear about at almost every town hall.” The focus of Fortunato’s three property tax reduction bills filed this session are to help expand access to existing state programs for those most in ...
Week 2 Update - Virtual Town Hall
The second week of the 2021 legislative is coming to an end. As promised, I'd like to connect with you personally to provide an update and get your insights. So, I'm hosting another virtual town hall and if timing permits, I'm hoping to hold an informal discussion every two weeks during session. Join me this Friday evening. Join here! Meeting ID: 932 2745 3875 Passcode: 289423 Or Telephone: Dial: (253) 215 8782 Passcode: 289423 ...
Hawkins pleased about Inslee’s decision on school employee vaccine access
Gov. Jay Inslee’s move yesterday to make all of the state’s public-school employees eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of their age, is good news, says Sen. Brad Hawkins, ranking Republican on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. The governor’s action came Monday, one week after Hawkins and the state Legislature’s other education committee leaders urged Inslee and the state Department of Health to revise recent guidance so that all school employees wishing to get a vaccination would be ...
Legislature Convenes for 2021
FLASH: If you are a first-time home buyer, I hope you can testify on my American Dream Home bill (SB 5189) Tuesday Jan. 19 at 8:00 am. You can register to testify here if you'd like to testify remotely or just list your support (Pro) or opposition (Con) to the bill to the committee using the same link. The bill would eliminate government impact fees and reduce permit costs to bring down the cost of an entry level home by as much as $60,000, saving ...
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. A ...
Padden bill to increase affordable housing and reduce barriers to condo construction receives hearing in Senate committee
Today the Senate Law and Justice Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5024, a measure to help increase the supply of affordable housing by removing barriers to condominium construction. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley and the lead Republican on the committee. “The committee has long had a concern about the lack of access into the housing market, especially the condominium market,” said Padden. “We normally think it is a positive thing to give people a chance ...
Padden sworn in for fourth term in state Senate
Spokane Valley Republican returns on Monday for the start of a session unlike any other Today Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, was sworn into office by Spokane County District Court Judge Patti Connolly Walker. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Olympia, the swearing-in ceremony was held in Judge Walker’s court room in the County Public Safety Building in downtown Spokane and attended by only the senator, his wife and an aide. “I appreciate the trust the voters of the Fourth Legislative District showed ...
Another Virtual Town Hall
Last month I held a first-of-its-kind virtual town hall. It was a big success. We had a nice size crowd and were able to have an open discussion on a lot of great topics from transportation to taxes, COVID response and more. It was such a hit, that I'm hosting another one to really focus on the upcoming legislative session that will start this coming Monday, Jan. 11. Please spread the word in our district. I take my job seriously of ...
Join me for a Virtual Town Hall
I've received a great deal of emails regarding a wide range of topics affecting you. As we prepare for the upcoming legislative session, I want to have a dialogue about your priorities, what I'm working on, and what you think I should be focusing on for our district. I'm looking forward to speaking with you this Friday. Please click the link below to join the webinar: Join here! Passcode: 895202 Or Telephone: Dial: 1 (253) 215 8782 Webinar ID: 973 9586 1409 Passcode: 895202 ...
Wildfire emergency puts Inslee in a box for special session, says Fortunato
Legislature should convene in October Republican efforts to convene a special legislative session, led by state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, to address the state’s response to the COVID-19 epidemic since April have largely gone unheeded by Gov. Jay Inslee. Instead, the governor has chosen to sideline the Legislature, issuing executive orders, with little to no input from lawmakers. Now, with another declared emergency for wildfires around the state, it appears that Inslee has no option but to allow the Legislature to officially ...
Warnick urges stiff penalties for Inslee’s apple maggot gaffe
In an effort to console eastern Washington communities devastated by wildfires, Gov. Jay Inslee recently stopped for a public event in the town of Malden. During his remarks, Inslee offered words of encouragement and a seemingly benign gift – a box of apples picked from his own yard. However, the token of solidarity ran afoul of state regulations, and now reports indicate has exposed eastern Washington’s already-fragile agricultural industry to the apple maggot. Although classified as a misdemeanor, the agency in ...