Schoesler calling for suggestions on government handling of coronavirus

OLYMPIA — Rep. Mark Schoesler is asking for advice on how government can help minimize the disruption the COVID-19 situation is causing.

"If you have a suggestion let me know, because starting today we're making the communication with Olympia a two-way street, by gathering suggestions and sharing them with the governor's office," Schoesler said Tuesday, March 17.

"The ultimate goal here is to minimize the number of people needing hospitalization, because as good as our hospitals and health-care professionals are, the capacity to treat people who react badly to the novel coronavirus is limited, just as it would be for any other serious communicable illness," Schoesler said. "As Senate Republican leader I’m getting regular updates on the situation from the governor’s office and other executive-branch agencies in Olympia. At the same time, other members of our Senate Republican Caucus leadership team and I are listening to the people we serve, knowing you may have ideas about how government can help minimize the disruption the COVID-19 situation is causing."

A comprehensive set of online links with helpful information is available at houserepublicans.wa.gov/2020/03/16/coronavirus/.

"There’s no question that this situation is frustrating, no matter where you live in our 9th District, but it’s important to focus on facts, do our best to not be fearful, and follow the precautions that we’re all being advised to follow," Schoesler said. "As I mentioned in this past week's commentary, our state is in uncharted territory. No one knows how long this will go on, and what it will take to get a handle on it. Please be safe!"

Schoesler also pointed out that, had this year's legislative session, which ended March 12, been a "long one," lasting until late April, the governor's order to limit gatherings to 50 people would have made it "very challenging" for the 49-member Senate, which numbers 50 with the lieutenant governor and more with support staff, "to conduct the people's business -- and next to impossible for the 98-member House.

"Even meeting with the media, as we did here in early March, would have been affected by 'social distancing' standards now in place," Schoesler said.

Comments and questions are welcome. Schoesler can be contacted at [email protected], 360-786-7620 or toll free 1-800-562-6000, or by writing to him at 314 Legislative Building, P.O. Box 40409, Olympia, WA 98504-0409.