Senator shares post-session views

Ninth District Senator Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, stopped by the Gazette office Monday afternoon and fielded a few questions.

First up was the state's school funding problem, which surfaced after state funding was changed in the wake of the McCleary decision, which has a lot to do with school districts around the state making commitments "beyond their means," Schoesler noted.

“Some of these (teachers' pay contracts) were totally unsustainable,” he said.

He added the last-minute move by the legislature to tack another dollar onto the local levy lid, from $1.50 up to $2.50, could send the state back on the inequitable funding mode that led to the McCleary ruling which is intended to equalize basic education funding around the state.

Schoesler noted the state still has a wide disparity in teachers' salaries, with varied cost of living in different districts around the state.

–– What about the future of Snake River dams in the wake of the state study on impact of salmon runs which feed the orcas?

Sen. Schoesler said he would suggest producing more salmon for the orcas and elaborated on how that could be done.

He pointed out the Snake River dams provide an alternate transportation mode for shipping crops to market. Value of the alternate transport recently surfaced when shippers took another look at higher rail rates and opted to call up truckers and convert to the river option.

–– What about the new plan to eliminate coal by 2025 in Washington?

Schoesler pointed out Centralia's coal-fired power plant will be off line by 2024, but other utilities in Washington get power from the Colstrip plants in Montana.

He mentioned a plan from Puget Sound Energy (“Green Power Program”) that offers an option for residential customers to choose where their energy comes from – at higher cost than regular power (in the 10 percent range).

“I think that's the market working as it should,” said Schoesler.

–– What surprises him most about Governor Jay Inslee's campaign for president?

“That he's still in it,” said Schoesler, noting Inslee's status in the 1 percent range of polling/fundraising for the 21 declared candidates.

Schoesler added he believes Inslee's campaign should pay the high cost of the Washington State Patrol security detachment which travels with the governor to early campaign trips around the country. He added he believes the security should be provided.

–– How viable is the proposed Liberty State?

“I'd like to be the U.S. senator from the state of Liberty, but I'm not going to expend political capital on what is a long shot at best,” Schoesler said.