Schoesler says he ‘painfully regrets’ snapping at reporter
Washington state Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, is taking some heat after snapping at a freelance reporter who asked when Republican leaders intend to release their education funding plan.
During a news conference earlier this week, reporter John Stang asked if the caucus would release a proposal in the next few weeks or “wait until April,” near the end of the legislative session.
Schoesler, the Senate Republican leader, told him “that’s none of your business. You’ll be the last to know.”
Q13 reporter Brandi Kruse caught the exchange on video and posted a snippet on Twitter. Other reporters immediately came to Stang’s defense, saying the majority leader’s reaction was “unnecessary.”
“Well, maybe it was,” he replied.
In a telephone conversation Friday, Schoesler said he “painfully regrets” his response.
“I can’t condone making the comment,” he said. “I snapped. I’m very sorry I said it.”
The Seattle Times quickly scolded Schoesler, noting in an editorial that “yes, it is the media’s business.”
“The fact that Schoesler was dismissive of a freelance reporter is just as troubling as if he had dismissed a similar question from The Seattle Times or The Associated Press,” the paper noted. “Politicians should never pick and choose between reporters or play favorites.”
In a blog post, Schoesler said he felt the part of the question about waiting until April was partisan and unprofessional.
“It struck me as something I’d expect from certain Democrats, not a reporter who is supposed to be objective and professional,” he wrote. “So I barked at him, which was out of character.”
This isn’t Stang’s first run-in with a Washington politician. In 2015, he needled Gov. Jay Inslee to the point that the governor suggested they step out into the alley.
In a discussion about Inslee’s response to allegations of illegal behavior by then-State Auditor Troy Kelley, Stang wondered if the governor was being “kind of weak.” That prompted Inslee to suggest they “go out in the alleyway and decide who’s weak.”
Washington lawmakers have struggled for several years to fully address the education funding issue. They face a looming court deadline to come up with a plan that pays for the state’s basic education system.
Inslee, a Democrat, recommended a $3.9 billion boost in K-12 support in his 2017-’19 budget proposal. That includes $2.4 billion for teacher salaries and $485 million to reduce class sizes. The plan would be paid for with a $2.3 billion increase in Washington’s business and occupation tax and a new, $1.9 billion carbon tax.
Republicans have said they believe the issue can be resolved without raising taxes. In his blog post, Schoesler said he expects a plan to be ready “sooner than later.”
“We’ve been working diligently to come up with a complete package, including funding and policies, to move schools where we want to go,” he said Friday.