Schoesler, Dye and Schmick talk economy, climate and other topics at ACDC event

RITZVILLE - Washington State Senator Mark Schoesler and state representatives Mary Dye and Joe Schmick addressed a group of local elected officials, business leaders and other invitees at a legislative preview event presented by the Adams County Development Council on Monday. The legislators discussed what they will be focusing on during the upcoming legislative session.

All three lawmakers spoke before taking questions from those in attendance. Taxes, spending and other items focusing on the economy were major talking points for the lawmakers, particularly Dye.

Limiting spending was a hot issue for all three legislators.

Schoesler, the minority leader in the state senate, addressed the budget early.

“We’ve got $74 million in bonding capacity,” Schoesler said. “We had to tell the Spokane Airport that their $30 million request was toast. We’ve never done terminals before, why would we start now?”

He also said requests from the community college system had to be rejected.

Schoesler did say some spending might be needed to protect hospitals and nursing homes.

“I’ve watched nursing homes in Ritzville close, in Davenport close, in Spokane close,” Schoesler said. “So they are going to be on the table. Is it really outside of our means to keep nursing homes open for those most medically fragile seniors? So there are some things that are probably due for some attention, but a lot of others that can probably wait.”

Schoesler also talked about his decision to serve on the Labor and Commerce committee.

“Historically, the majority and minority leaders are only on [the] Ways and Means [committee], but we needed a spot on Labor and Commerce,” Schoesler said. “I said, ‘You know, L&I has done things that have upset me my entire career. So I am going to take that spot myself,’ … They need a little common sense. I want to be the thorn in their side for a year.”

Schoesler also blasted Washington Governor Jay Inslee and state Democrats over freezing projects paid for by the state’s gas taxes because of the passing of Initiative 976, which limits the cost of car tabs to $30 a year. After I-976 passed, Inslee announced the delay of several road and traffic projects that he said the state can’t afford without the income from car registration tabs.

“Voters passed 976 because people didn’t listen to voters in the past,” Schoesler said. “But, the gas tax portion of the budget was not impacted by car tabs. It’s unfortunate to see gas-tax projects held hostage because of car tabs. It’s apples and oranges. It shouldn’t happen. Delaying projects in the Tri Cities or Spokane just isn’t right.”

Initiative 976 is currently being fought over in the courts.

Schoesler ended his time saying the government needs to focus on not hurting what is working well for the state.

“I think the real thing to look at is, ‘Do no harm,’” Schoesler said. “The economy is doing pretty good, don’t mess it up. We’ve got some pretty good programs in place, don’t mess it up. We need to focus first on ‘do no harm’ and next, what’s in our means.”

Dye used much of her time to criticize spending proposed and passed by Democrats from the western side of the state.

Dye started by noting the strong revenue the state generates and asked why new taxes are being proposed in the state house.

“We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem,” Dye said.

Dye addressed two bills currently in finance committee that would establish a state income tax.

“Keep your eyeballs open and on this,” Dye said. “Because income taxes are not legal. They are not constitutional in this state. And they want to break that glass ceiling.”

Dye blasted Democrats for passing climate-related bills, including the 100% clean electricity bill that requires the state to use only clean energy by 2045, suggesting that bills that help the environment doesn’t help the public good.

“Energy is everything to Eastern Washington,” Dye said. “And 100% clean energy is a hidden tax. It’s a tax on the basis of the base. We created a situation where we are going to increase the cost of energy substantially, but that extra cost isn’t going to pay for any public good.”

Dye said it’s her goal to kill similar bills aimed at protecting the environment if they also raise costs.

“There are a number of carbon things on the table that are going to increase the cost of living in this state. And so to me, I think that’s our job, this year, to try and fact-shame them into not wanting anymore taxes.”

Schmick used his time to continue Schoesler’s discussion on health care.

“I am very concerned about critical access hospitals,” Schmick said. “I could name you six to eight hospitals that are just plain on the edge. That don’t have good financial backing.”

Schmick said losing these hospitals would make the distance some people would need to travel to receive care too far. He says this is happening because of funding issues.

“Our way of funding the hospitals, it ain’t working,” Schmick said.

Schmick also said a lack of volunteers for EMTs and firefighters is also a problem.

Like Schoesler and Dye, Schmick promised to focus on the welfare of rural communities.

“So many of the issues I will focus my time this year on are quality of life issues, especially in rural areas. We have a shortage of medical providers … These are issues that affect every single community in our state. And that’s where, as we have some extra money, we need to do that.”

After each lawmaker previewed what they were going to focus on, the three engaged in a conversation with the crowd.

Schmick was asked about a report the government gathered on the effects of the possible removal of dams in the state.

Schmick said the report mostly just gathered people’s opinion on the subject.

“I’m wondering in the back of my mind why we do this,” Schmick said. “What’s the purpose? Because I have suspicion that something else is involved here.”

Schmick told the audience about three public hearings being held on the topic this month. The first was the next day, Jan. 7, in Clarkston. The second one is Thursday, Jan. 9, 6-9 p.m. in Vancouver at the Dengerink Administration Building. The final one is in Tri Cities at the Pasco Red Lion Hotel on Jan. 13 from 6-9 p.m.

“My fear is if people don’t show up to these meetings, it will be perceived as people not caring,” Schmick said. “That is my concern.”

Several other topics were brought up by people in the audience. An attendee asked about a proposed pay-per-mile tax that could replace a gas tax. The lawmakers expressed doubt that the new tax would actually replace the gas tax, instead just being added to it.

Schmick asked why a new usage tax is needed, saying a gas tax already requires people who drive more to pay more.

Schoesler said the tax would make some sense because drivers of electric cars don’t pay the gas tax but still use the roads. He said, however, that he wouldn’t support any new driving tax without an adjustment to the state constitution.

The 18th amendment to the Washington Constitution requires any money raised in a gas tax to be spent only on “highway purposes.” This amendment would not apply to the pay-per-mile tax. Schoesler warns that would mean there is no safeguard in place to require that money to be spent on roads.

“[The gas tax] only survived because the public had confidence that the money would go where it was supposed to,” Schoesler said. “So anything that changes has to go into the constitution or your EV money, or your miles traveled money, could go just about anywhere.”

This topic led to discussion of spending. Dye brought up the topic of graduate students being able to afford food. She suggested that if they can’t afford food, they shouldn’t be attending graduate school.

“First of all, you’re a graduate student,” Dye said. “[Graduate school] is something that many of us would say, ‘I don’t know if I can afford that.’ So If you can’t afford it, why go on food stamps? There’s choices we make.”

Dye then criticized a program that would pay for low-income high school students to take Running Start classes.

Running Start is a program in which high school students can take classes on college campuses to earn both high school and college credits. These students often take classes both at their high school and a college campus. Running Start students don’t pay tuition, but do pay several fees, including technology fees. Dye suggested that instead of having programs to help low-income Running Start students pay these fees, that these students should get jobs.

“A kid could babysit or mow lawns,” Dye said. “To me, it’s, ‘Where is the common sense?’”

At one point, the three lawmakers, all Republicans, were asked if the the Republican Party was going to take the state house or senate in upcoming elections. While none answered yes, Schoesler and Schmick both stated they thought the party could see gains.