Serving Whitman County since 1877

Articles written by Sen. Mark Shoesler


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 2 of 2

  • 'Gag order' issued on gas rates

    Sen. Mark Shoesler, 9th Legislative District|Sep 7, 2023

    For several months, drivers and businesses have had to endure the sharp increase in fuel prices since the state’s cap-and-trade program – or “cap-and-tax,” as I like to call it – went into effect Jan. 1. But consumers, especially those who rely on natural-gas furnaces for heat, soon will feel pain in their wallets thanks to cap-and-tax. The state Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission recently approved a request by Puget Sound Energy to increase its natural gas rates to cover the...

  • State income tax, carbon tax not needed

    Sen. Mark Shoesler, R-Ritzville, 9th Legislative District|Mar 25, 2021

    OLYMPIA - Everybody associates March 17 with St. Patrick's Day, that one holiday in which we are all encouraged to wear green. Around the Capitol last week, March 17 brought a different meaning of "green." That morning, the state Economic Revenue and Forecast Council announced the first state-revenue forecast for this year showed a surprisingly large increase of $3.3 billion through the 2021-23 budget cycle and $5.2 billion over the next four years. It is the largest positive quarterly forecast change on record. Since the state operating...