Legislative Commentary

The fact that I was at the Benton-Franklin fair last weekend means two things. First, we’re through with harvest – and second, fair season in our part of the state is in full swing.

For the next month there’s at least one fair in a 9th District community each weekend, starting with Ritzville this week, then Connell and Colfax, then Othello, then Rockford.

If the trip to the Kennewick fairgrounds last Saturday didn’t fit your schedule, I hope you’ll take in another fair in our region this year.

Nothing celebrates our agricultural traditions like a fair, and solid attendance figures can only help when it’s time for me to advocate legislation in support of our fairs.

With harvest in, the legislative calendar is busy again

Harvest time has come and gone at the farm. The crop was good, I’d say average and better, and the task of bringing it in went smoothly … except for the biggest harvest rain in my memory, which was a monsoon by Ritzville standards.

However, there is no such thing as a “bad” rain; it was a problem during harvest but will help with the winter wheat planting. I’ve been out on the tractor this week, preparing for that – killing weeds and so on.

After the legislative session adjourned June 29, it seemed like I was in western Washington for one thing or another at least once a week through much of July, until harvest put everything else on hold.

With that task complete, I’m back to having legislative appointments as of this week; the difference is, I’m not on the road – they’re coming to Ritzville.

I welcomed WSU President Floyd to the farm last Monday, and later met the superintendent from the Coyote Ridge Correctional Facility (Connell) in town.

Others representing associations or institutions, people who would have come by the Capitol when I was there, were here for two days.

To me there’s no downside to acquainting these folks with the part of the state I’m proud to call home.

Although the Legislature is in the “interim” – the period between sessions – my legislative office is open as ever.

I welcome your comments about anything in this newsletter and questions about what I’m doing on your behalf in the state Senate.

Please call, email or write using the contact information below.

Schoesler can be contacted at the legislative email, [email protected], at the legislative phone 360-786-7620, or toll free at 1-800-562-6000. Schoesler’s Olympia address is 305 Legislative Building, P.O. Box 40409, Olympia, Wash. 98504-0409.