Legislative Commentary

Dear Friends,

I hope your Christmas was merry and the holiday season as a whole was a safe and happy time for you and your loved ones. Things have been unusually busy for me lately; that’s because the November general election set into motion a lot of changes that couldn’t be completed until Monday, when the 2013 legislative session began. 

There is much to tell you – but first, a couple of personal notes. As momentous as the session’s opening day was, because of what happened in the state Senate, Sunday was an even better day: that’s when our granddaughter Macy Mae Schoesler came into the world. She’s doing great, as are mom Josslin and dad Cody.  I was already in Olympia, so all I’ve seen are photos – but that will change when I head back over the mountains Friday  and can hold her for the first time.

Jan. 16 was the second high point of the week – not because Gov. Inslee was inaugurated but because our daughter Veronica came over to attend the Inaugural Ball with me. We had a good time, and she was the prettiest one there. Proud grandpa and proud father in the space of four days … pretty good!

Senate Republicans select new leader … and it’s me. 

After becoming 9th District senator in 2005, I held two leadership positions in the Senate Republican Caucus. I was the caucus whip for one session, then moved up a rung to floor leader and served in that third-highest post starting in 2006. 

During my whole time in the Senate, Sen. Mike Hewitt of Walla Walla, who serves a district adjacent to ours, led our caucus with great skill. Shortly after the Nov. 6 election he unexpectedly announced he would not seek another two-year term as leader. When our caucus met near the end of November to choose a new leadership team, I was elected the new Senate Republican Leader. It’s a great honor, of course, and it also put me in a position to do something completely unprecedented in our state Senate – more on that next.  

As I anticipated with this change in title, it has meant a lot more phone calls, emails and requests for meetings. I also have a new address (305 Legislative Building, Olympia, WA, 98504-0409) because the leader’s office is traditionally steps away from the Senate chamber. Rest assured, however, that my 9th District values will remain completely intact. 

Introducing the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus! 

History was made Dec. 10. That’s when I, as the new Senate Republican Leader, stood with other leaders in our caucus and two Democratic senators to announce the establishment of the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus. The biggest change we proposed was a completely different approach to the organization and leadership of the Senate’s 15 committees, where bills begin their path through the lawmaking process. 

Senators (and state representatives, for that matter) who serve as the chairs, or leaders, of committees have more authority than many people realize. They alone can decide whether a bill receives a public hearing, or a committee vote.  

Our coalition decided to choose six committee chairs from our ranks, and have three other committees led by co-chairs, one from each side. We also – and here’s the unprecedented part – invited the Senate minority to choose the other six committee chairs. It was our intent that neither side would control the entire committee process, and each side would have a path to move its ideas forward.

New coalition assumes leadership of Senate following vote Monday.

After I and others who were elected, re-elected or appointed to the Senate took our oaths of office, the 25 members of our MCC went through the steps of becoming the majority caucus in the 49-member Senate. We elected one of the Democrat members of our coalition, Sen. Tim Sheldon, as the new Senate president pro tempore. He will preside over the Senate chamber when the lieutenant governor, who doubles as the Senate president, is not available. We elected Sen. Rodney Tom, the other Democrat coalition member, as the new Senate majority leader. Senator Tom and Senator Sheldon were part of the Senate bipartisan coalition that formed late in the 2012 session to adopt a more responsible budget plus significant state-government reforms; they’ve made it possible for us to work as a bipartisan coalition from the get-go this session.  

Did the 24 Democratic senators who are now in the minority accept our invitation to share in the leadership of the Senate committees? Yes, and no. Last week Sen. Ed Murray of Seattle, the new Senate minority leader (he would be majority leader if not for our coalition) publicly turned down our offer to appoint Democrats as chairs of six committees. He countered with the idea that leadership of all 15 committees be shared, through co-chairs, not just the three committees we designated. Our coalition said no thanks, in so many words, because that would be a path to the gridlock we see in the “other Washington.”

We want the focus in Olympia to be on policy, not politics. 

Three Democratic senators from the minority side have accepted our invitation, on an individual basis.

The coastal Democrat, who has been chairman of the Senate agriculture committee for the past few years, will return in that role; another Democrat, from north of Seattle, will return as chairman of the Senate Financial Institutions, Housing and Insurance Committee; a third Democrat, from Federal Way, will serve as co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. None is required to formally join our coalition, but each is welcome. 

Already, they’re talking about raising taxes.

As the report in the Washington State Wire notes, taxes already are being discussed at the Capitol (by the Senate minority and House majority) as a way to respond to the state Supreme Court’s McCleary ruling on support for basic education.

My position on extending the so-called “temporary” taxes that were placed on services and certain goods in 2010 (not surprisingly, I voted against them) is clear and consistent.

Here’s an excerpt from the WSW writeup; my favorite part is the final line:

“With the new Republican-dominated coalition ruling the Senate, it becomes clear that big tax increases are off the table.”

Already it appears one easy fix has been rejected – leaders of the new Senate majority said flatly last Tuesday that they will not consider extending temporary taxes on beer and service businesses passed by the Legislature in 2010.

“Temporary really means temporary,” said Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

Budget, agriculture and “gatekeeper” – my committee assignments 

After forming our Majority Coalition Caucus we went through the traditional process of appointing senators to policy and fiscal committees. 

I’ll remain a member of the Senate budget committee (formal name: Ways and Means); the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Development Committee; and the Senate Rules Committee.

Rules is neither a policy committee nor a fiscal committee –

it’s the gatekeeper committee, deciding which bills moved forward by the 15 Senate committees will be made eligible for the Senate voting calendar.  

For some years, I’ve used a popular email program to send my reports.

I realize email isn’t a perfect way to communicate – after all, not everyone has email, and some of those who do have better Internet connectivity than others (who might be limited to dial-up service, for instance).

Still, email saves us a lot of money that used to go towards printing and postage. 

There were legislators who sent emails the way I did, and others who used a different sort of “subscription” list.

The Legislature’s information-technology department came to us with this new approach, which is supposed to offer the combination of features many of my colleagues wanted (one being, make it easier for people to subscribe).