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April 24, 2026
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Some good news actually came out of the governor’s office this week. After a couple of weeks of negative articles and editorials over his refusal to fill two vacancies on the Public Disclosure Commission for months, Governor Bob Ferguson appointed someone to it. However, the appointment comes with concerns.
According to a Washington State Standard story published yesterday, Ferguson on April 16 appointed Matt Segal to the PDC, which enforces campaign-finance laws. It was created by a statewide initiative in the early 1970s. The State Standard article says Segal is a founding partner of the Pacifica Law Group and former King County Superior Court judge. It’s worth pointing out that Segal’s law firm serves as Ferguson’s private counsel.
 The entrance to the governor’s office inside the Legislative Building in Olympia.
But what is really troubling about Segal’s PDC appointment is that Ferguson is not following state law. The WSS story says Segal is filling the PDC vacancy that occurred when Commissioner Allen Hayward resigned in January 2025. (Before becoming a PDC commissioner, Allen worked many years as counsel for the House Republican Caucus. In fact, I got to know Allen well during my years as a state representative.)
See the final sentence in this excerpt from the state law related to the PDC (RCW 29B.20.010, in case you are curious):
(1) The public disclosure commission is established. The commission shall be composed of five commissioners appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate. The commission shall have the authority and duties as set forth in this title. All appointees shall be persons of the highest integrity and qualifications. No more than three commissioners shall have an identification with the same political party.
The PDC already has three commissioners who are considered to be identified with the Democrats, while nobody aligned with Republicans had been appointed. Thus, Ferguson should have appointed someone with Republican ties to the PDC. Instead, naming Segal to the commission makes four members with Democrat ties. This is not legal.
The State Standard story mentioned that a spokesperson in the governor’s office said Ferguson could make the second PDC appointment later this week. If and when that happens, the guv absolutely needs to choose someone who is linked to Republicans.
Friction at Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting
In last week’s E-Commentary, I mentioned how the state Department of Fish and Wildlife is considering a proposal that would eliminate over-the-counter tags for both elk and mule deer in eastern Washington starting with the 2027-29 season cycle.
This week, there is more news about Fish and Wildlife that is not exactly positive. The Washington State Standard posted a story Monday about the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission’s meeting last week. The article’s opening paragraphs say it all:
Surly public comments are a staple of Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meetings, revealing the deeply personal stakes of those fighting over how far the state should go in protecting various species or allowing for hunting or fishing.
But last week’s session carried a slightly harsher tone, fueled by an investigation into whether commissioners violated open meetings and public records statutes ahead of a decision in 2022 to ban spring bear hunts, and a federal civil rights lawsuit filed against the agency’s director by a commissioner targeted by the probe.
The meeting took place Thursday to Saturday in Olympia. Speakers vented grievances with decisions of the citizen panel, actions of individual members and leaders of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, which the commission oversees. Some called for commissioners to resign, others for agency Director Kelly Susewind to be fired.
Carl Barner of King County, a lifelong outdoorsman, directed his comments Friday at the four sitting commissioners who voted to ban the bear hunt and whose compliance with state laws is under scrutiny.
“There are two words the four of you should never utter again. One is ethics, and the other is trust,” he said. “You have shown you have no ethics, and you have to tell the truth to have trust. The only way this commission can regain trust is to cut out the rot and rebuild anew. Once the four of you resign or are removed, then and only then can we trust and start to rebuild again.”
WDFW and its commission have had problems in recent years. Last week’s commission meeting shows that the problems are still there.
Why Washington has higher energy costs
During Jay Inslee’s 12 years as governor, he definitely championed policies that would end up costing consumers more in fuel and other energy costs, all in the name of combatting climate change.
Inslee’s legacy, like it or not, will include pushing the Legislature to pass the infamous Climate Commitment Act, which brought us the cap-and-trade program (or cap-and-tax, as I prefer to call it) that is causing gas and diesel prices to be 40-50 cents a gallon higher in our state.
When the Democrat-controlled Legislature passed the CCA a few years ago, I criticized it as a money grab from hard-working taxpayers that would not do anything to actually reduce carbon emissions within Washington’s borders.
Fast forward to the past week or two. Inslee is pointing fingers at President Trump and the Iran war for higher fuel prices in our state. But, as my colleague, Senate Republican Leader John Braun, wrote in a column in The (Centralia) Chronicle last weekend, Inslee himself is the main culprit. You can read the column here. Here is an excerpt:
Who’s most responsible for the high cost of filling your fuel tank and paying for the energy your home needs?
Jay Inslee wants you to put the blame solely on the White House. In recent national media interviews, our state’s former chief executive has tried to connect high gas prices — and Washington’s are third-worst in the nation, at around $1.30 per gallon over the national average — to the conflict with Iran.
While that has obviously influenced fuel prices, its effect will be temporary. Washington families have more to worry about from the unaffordable energy policies forced upon our state by Inslee himself and the Democrats who voted for his political agenda. Until there’s a change of attitude in Olympia, we’re stuck with those costly decisions.
The financial pain is coming primarily from three policies, all requested by the former governor. One is what Democrats call the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), which will likely drive up power costs in our state for many years to come.
The others are the cap-and-tax money grab formally called the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) and the so-called low-carbon fuel standard.
It’s rich for Inslee to blame the White House for high fuel prices in Washington when it was the environmental policies he pushed that have resulted in more pain at the pump.
 Senator Schoesler with Adams County Farm Bureau President Sydney Anderson.
This week’s meetings and events
It was a fairly quiet week in terms of meetings or events to attend.
On Tuesday, I met with Cheney School Board member Mark Scott. Later that day, I spoke to members of the Ralston Grange, giving a recap of this year’s legislative session.
On Wednesday, I attended the Adams County Farm Bureau’s spring meeting.
Haven’t fished in awhile? Licenses have increased
As many of you might know, it is opening of fishing season for much of the area this weekend. I hope to spend some time myself on the water. We plan to be safe as we get the grandkids fishing.
If you haven’t gone fishing in the past couple of years and you plan to fish this weekend or sometime soon, just know that fishing licenses are now more expensive, thanks to the Democrat-led Legislature.
Last year, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5583, which raised recreational fishing and hunting licenses by 38%, with only some exceptions. It also authorizes the state Fish and Wildlife Commission to adopt a surcharge on all license fees to fund inflationary costs and other costs approved by the Legislature.
I voted against SB 5583. At a time when fishing and hunting opportunities in our state have decreased, it’s ridiculous for the state to demand that recreational fishers and hunters pay more for less. Also, a 38% hike on fishing and hunting licenses just adds to the financial burden facing so many people in Washington.
Let me know if you need help or have an idea
If you wish to discuss an issue or concern with me, or if you need help with a problem involving state government, please reach out to me by email at mark.schoesler@leg.wa.gov or give my legislative office a call at 360-786-7620. I'd like to hear from you!
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I welcome your comments about anything in this newsletter and questions about what I’m doing on your behalf in the state Senate. Please call, email or write using the contact information at the end of this report.
Click here to visit my legislative webpage!
Legislative Email: Mark.Schoesler@leg.wa.gov
Legislative Phone: (360) 786-7620
Toll-Free: 1 (800) 562-6000
Olympia Address:
417 Legislative Building
P.O. Box 40409
Olympia WA 98504-0409
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