Rep. Schmick: Fentanyl’s a ‘scourge’

ASOTIN — Asotin County officials got a chance to air their concerns about unfunded mandates, drug laws and green energy ramifications Monday with a state lawmaker.

Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, stopped by the Asotin County Commission session to ask what the 9th District needs help with at the state level.

The primary concerns he heard about were indigent defense expenses, a need for more mental health and substance abuse counselors, and tougher laws on drug crimes.

“Drug dealers need to be put away, and illegal drugs need to be off the streets,” Schmick said. “Fentanyl is the scourge of our society.”

The state’s high crime rates are mostly driven by mental health and substance abuse, Schmick said, and lax laws and lack of services have created a revolving door at local jails.

“The state’s high crime numbers are disheartening,” Schmick said. “We’re talking about the safety of our communities.”

Commissioner Brian Shinn said the county is paying a boatload for public defenders at the same time the state is decreasing the number of cases each attorney can handle. “We would like some help on this,” he said.

In addition, Gov. Jay Inslee’s green energy goals are creating problems on the east side of the state, officials said. Wind turbines and solar farms are cropping up in rural communities that are struggling financially, such as Pomeroy and Oakesdale, located in Garfield and Whitman counties.

There is a fine line between respecting an individual’s property rights, and living next to neighbors who may not appreciate looking at windmills, Schmick said.

“Once they get established, it’s hard to get rid of them,” he said. “I haven’t seen any on Mercer Island, have you?”

Asotin County officials said they’re thankful no wind turbines have been built here. The Snake River dams provide much more energy than windmills or solar panels, they said.

“The whole green energy thing is pie in the sky,” said Commissioner Chuck Whitman.

Electric school buses in Tekoa, Wash., are another example of a green energy plan that’s not well-suited to eastern Washington, Schmick said. The school district has two new buses with a 60-mile range when the thermometer dips below 40 degrees, because running the heater is an additional draw on batteries.

“Overall, they’re impractical in rural areas,” Schmick said. “You have to keep charging the batteries and house them in warm shelters — and you better have a short route.”

As for the homeless problems in the state, Schmick said he doesn’t mind helping folks who truly want to get out of that situation and better their lives. But there is a segment of the population that wants to maintain the homeless lifestyle.

“We need more counseling, and do a better job of following up with the people who want a job,” he said. “I’d like to help the people who want to be better.”

Commissioner Chris Seubert said there are unhoused people who have no intention of seeking a job, and if they commit crimes, they need to go to jail.

Mental health issues have caused problems in many walks of life, officials agreed.

Schmick said he advocates for more suicide training in rural areas, given the high rates among farmers.

“Talking someone off the edge” is so important, he said. “It’s not counseling. It’s just giving folks a hand at that moment of desperation.”

The legislator has been a regular visitor to 9th District county and city meetings during his years in the House. Schmick has served in the position since 2007.

Sandaine can be reached at kerris@lmtribune.com.