Concerns about a rising exodus from Washington state have prompted some lawmakers to call for increased advocacy from rural residents. During a recent visit to the Lewiston Tribune, Senator Mark Schoesler, a Republican from Ritzville, highlighted the negative impact of the state’s Democrat-led tax policies on both business owners and residents.
Schoesler pointed to the expansion of Ed Schweitzer’s company, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, into Idaho as a significant indicator of this trend. “If we’re driving Ed Schweitzer out of Washington, we should be sending former Governor Jay Inslee and Governor Bob Ferguson a thank-you note from Idaho,” he remarked. This expansion includes new hangars at the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport, which Schoesler noted is not simply a coincidence.
High gas prices in Washington further exacerbate the situation, making border towns like Lewiston, Moscow, and Post Falls attractive for residents seeking cheaper fuel. “If you live in eastern Washington and you’re concerned, you can’t be complacent and just talk among yourselves,” Schoesler urged. He encouraged constituents to reach out to the governor’s office to express their concerns about the state’s policies.
As he prepares for his 34th legislative session, which begins on January 12, 2024, Schoesler is focusing on issues such as funding for indigent defense in counties he represents, including Asotin, Garfield, and Whitman. He criticized the state’s failure to adequately support this mandated service, which he believes is straining county budgets. “Indigent defense should be funded like we fund our county prosecutors and judges,” he stated.
Schoesler also raised concerns about the qualifications of individuals receiving appointed attorneys, suggesting that the system may be vulnerable to misuse. “We audit food stamps, welfare, and farm subsidies, so why shouldn’t we audit indigent defense?” he questioned.
Another key priority for Schoesler is the protection of property rights and local control. He remains committed to advocating for these issues during the upcoming short session.
In addition to these priorities, Schoesler is co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill aimed at tightening the release conditions for serial rapists, specifically targeting the case of the late Kevin Coe, infamously known as the “South Hill Rapist.” Coe was convicted of first-degree rape and was suspected of assaulting as many as 40 women and girls before his arrest in 1981. He was controversially released from the state’s Special Commitment Center earlier this year, a move that Schoesler vehemently opposed.
“It’s still shocking and unbelievable that the state released him this year,” Schoesler remarked, recalling his own experience as a college student in Spokane during Coe’s criminal activities. “During his years in confinement, Kevin Coe refused treatment and never showed remorse. He should not have been released by the state.”
Following Coe’s release, Schoesler vowed to introduce legislation to prevent similar situations in the future. “We need to place the public’s safety above the freedom of a serial rapist who was unrepentant to the end,” he emphasized, referencing the anger expressed by several of Coe’s victims after learning of his release.
The proposed legislation would stipulate that if a convicted rapist in confinement seeks release, the state must provide evidence that the offender refused to participate in treatment and has not expressed remorse. If such evidence is presented, a release to a less-restrictive environment would not be ordered. This proposal has garnered support from 16 co-sponsors, with Senator Marcus Riccelli, a Democrat from Spokane, leading the initiative.
Schoesler’s commitment to these critical issues reflects ongoing concerns among rural residents and highlights the pressing need for advocacy and reform in Washington state.
