Schoesler meets with farmers close to home

RITZVILLE – Senator Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) attended the Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ meeting in Ritzville last week, the first in-person meeting for the organization since COVID pandemic restrictions began.

The following day, Schoesler took part in the Washington State University Variety Pacific Northwest crop tour, held at Ron Jirava’s farm near Ritzville. That was followed by a meeting with the Adams County Wheat Growers.

“It was great to be with fellow farmers in person again,” Schoesler said of his busy week.

Schoesler also met with fellow members of the Washington State Institute for Public Policy via teleconference last week, where impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state’s criminal justice system were discussed.

“The bottom line is, crime dropped,” Schoesler said, referencing a graph shared by the institute showing arrests declining since the start of the pandemic.

Schoesler said one of the most prominent casualties of the pandemic was Washington State’s economy, with the Employment Security Department suspending the requirement for those receiving employment security funds to perform weekly job searches.

“There is good news indicating Washington’s economy has recovered. The job-search requirement will return July 4 for the nearly 300,000 people still filing for unemployment benefits,” Schoesler said. “This action is overdue, because of the labor shortage that has affected food service and retail.”

Schoesler said the State Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week over a legal challenge to Governor Inslee’s use of vetoes, with recent actions of the governor causing “an outcry by legislators on both sides of the political aisle.

“I’m hoping the Supreme Court will side with the Legislature in this case, and send a strong message to Inslee – and future Washington governors – that they can’t abuse their veto power,” Schoesler said.