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After a state audit estimated $37 million in questionable child-care payments, Senator John Braun is calling for transparency and accountability at the Department of Children, Youth and Families. Braun says taxpayers deserve clear answers and stronger safeguards to prevent abuse while ensuring families who rely on child-care programs receive support.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun joins Lars Larson to discuss a troubling audit of Washington’s child welfare agency, revealing widespread overpayments and weak oversight. Braun questions why billions in taxpayer dollars are poorly tracked, why the agency employs many lobbyists but few auditors, and why accountability from state leadership remains absent.

By Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton Daily Chronicle Washingtonians are living through a relentless affordability crisis. From the grocery aisle to the gas pump, the cost of living has moved from “concerning” to “unsustainable.” Our state consistently ranks among the top three most expensive for gas, often a full dollar above the national average. Meanwhile, the...

A new state audit is raising serious concerns about how taxpayer money is being handled in Washington. Senate Republican Leader John Braun says the findings reveal “nothing short of a systemic failure” inside the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, pointing to widespread overpayments to childcare providers and millions in improper spending. In just a...

Washington now has a new income tax set to take effect in 2028. But questions remain about how the state manages the money it already collects. In this episode of Elephant in the Dome, host Tracy Ellis sits down with Senate Republican Leader John Braun to discuss a troubling state audit involving the Washington State...

A new state audit is raising serious concerns about how Washington oversees childcare funding. Tracy Ellis reports.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, issued the following response today to a state audit that uncovered widespread non-compliance and staggering overpayment rates within the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). The audit, which examined the use of federal funds during the 2025 fiscal year, was made public yesterday. “This audit confirms what many...

Both Republicans and Democrats agree on one aspect of today’s (Mon) bill signing establishing a Washington income tax: it’s historic. Tracy Ellis reports.

Governor should also bring lawmakers back to rework unaffordable budget OLYMPIA… Leaders of the state Senate Republican Caucus have called on Gov. Bob Ferguson to veto the income-tax bill passed by majority Democrats during this year’s annual session. In their letter requesting the veto, the Republican leaders also urged the governor to call legislators back...

Think about what it would be like for your school district to suddenly face closure. A state legislator says families in Prescott lived through that exact fear. Tracy Ellis explains.

Washington is losing residents and income at a pace lawmakers can’t ignore. Senate Republican Leader John Braun breaks down IRS migration data, rising costs, new taxes, and why businesses and families are reconsidering their future in the state. He also discusses ExitWA and shares a message of hope and engagement. TRANSCRIPT

Gov. Bob Ferguson has officially signed into law two critical pieces of legislation prime-sponsored by Sen. Keith Wagoner and designed to eliminate systemic bottlenecks that have delayed justice for both victims and the accused across Washington state. Senate Bill 5868 and Senate Bill 5880 both secured overwhelming bipartisan support during the 2026 legislative session. These...