Schoesler returns as Senate Republican leader on agricultural
policy December 19, 2008 OLYMPIA…
OLYMPIA…
Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, will continue to serve as lead
Republican on the
Senate
Agriculture and Rural Economic Development committee and
retain his seat on the
Senate
Ways and Means Committee.
The committee assignments, made Wednesday, keep the veteran
9th Legislative District lawmaker well-positioned to work
on behalf of Washington’s number-one industry, agriculture; and tackle
the primary issue facing the incoming Legislature: An enormous budget
crisis caused by year after year of government overspending.
“I hear people in both Washingtons speak of the need to create jobs.
Let’s not forget that we also need to preserve jobs, and agriculture
employs more people than any industry in the state,” Schoesler said. “As
for the state budget crisis, which is at more than 5 billion dollars and
growing – much of that is due to past choices made in Olympia. The
solution is a new budget which protects the vulnerable people in our
state who truly need government help, does not require a tax increase
and is sustainable and transparent.
"One of the organizations that has contributed to Olympia’s overspending
by elbowing its way into line for taxpayer dollars is now suggesting
that the Legislature raise revenue by forcing growers to pay more for
crop protection products that help them survive and compete,” Schoesler
noted. “My committee assignments allow me to go after a short-sighted
idea like that from two directions.”
While his seat on the Senate Higher Education Committee is going to
another Senate Republican, Schoesler said his position on the budget
committee will still allow him to represent the financial concerns of
Eastern Washington University and Washington State University.
“Eastern and WSU recognized early this year that the state’s revenue
picture was changing and wisely began preparing for a downturn. And some
of the public school districts in our area have been very smart about
spending,” said Schoesler. “For them, some of the spending reductions
the governor has proposed for basic and higher education are either
impractical or unfair. I can respond to that as a member of the Senate
Ways and Means Committee but couldn’t if I was serving on either of the
Senate education committees.”
Schoesler also will continue to serve on the Senate Financial
Institutions and Insurance Committee. And because of his recent election
to another term as Senate Republican floor leader, the third-highest
post on the caucus
leadership team, he also retains his seat on the
powerful
Senate Rules
Committee. - 30 -
Additional contact:
Eric Campbell |