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DEMOCRAT CLIMATE COMMITMENT ACT TOO COSTLY
Cap-and-tax scheme pushes Washington gas prices to highest in nation
What you should know:
- Certain industries in Washington are subject to a statewide cap on carbon pollution. To cover their emissions, they’re required to purchase allowances
- The Climate Commitment Act, approved by Democrat majorities in the Legislature in 2021, is taking hundreds of millions of dollars out of drivers’ wallets and handing it over to state agencies
- The law functions as a gas tax while doing nothing to improve the state’s roads
The high gas prices are harming low- and middle-income Washington families, especially those in rural areas
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News from the Caucus
Accusation that economist was told to lie about projected gas price increase ‘very disturbing,’ says Braun
WSDOT actions latest example of executive mismanagement, lack of accountability OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, offered the following comments in reaction to a KING-TV story about a lawsuit that reportedly will be filed soon on behalf of a former employee of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The employee, an economist and formerly...
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You aren’t just feeling WA’s carbon tax at the pump. It drains more than pocketbooks
By Sen. Chris Gildon and Sen. Drew MacEwen Our state’s Climate Commitment Act was passed in 2021 with the stated goal of reducing and eventually phasing out carbon emissions. Among other things, the law promises protections for Washington’s agricultural sector and marine trade, and we were assured revenue resulting from the “cap-and-trade” approach would...
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Senate and House leadership call for a special session to reconvene the Redistricting Commission
Statement from Senate Republican Leader John Braun and House Republican Deputy Leader Mike Steele: “The Legislature should perform its civic duty and call a special session for the purpose of reconvening the Redistricting Commission. The court invited this course of action, which is fully supported by the Senate and House Republican caucuses. “Our state’s fair...
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Republican legislators ask Sec. of State, Attorney General to investigate reported incidents of intimidation
July 27, 2023 Secretary of State Steve Hobbs Legislative Building 416 Sid Snyder Avenue SW Olympia, WA 98501 Attorney General Bob Ferguson 1125 Washington Street SE Olympia, WA 98504 Dear Secretary Hobbs and Attorney General Ferguson: We write with great concern about a potential threat to the integrity of the democratic process here in...
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Let people choose whether payroll tax is right for them, Republicans say
OLYMPIA… Several of Washington’s Senate Republicans say the next time legislators are in session, they’ll try again to give workers an opportunity to opt out of the mandatory long-term care tax that began cutting into paychecks July 1. “Workers around our state are looking at their pay stubs and saying ‘I didn’t ask for this...
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STATEMENT: Just in time for summer driving, Inslee cap-and-tax scheme pushes Washington gas prices to highest in nation
CENTRALIA… The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Washington is now worst in the nation, and Senate Republican Leader John Braun says the state’s controversial cap-and-tax law is clearly the main driver of the price jump. Braun, from Centralia, serves Washington’s largely rural 20th Legislative District. He offered this statement regarding the...
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News from the Senators
NEWS: Year’s final revenue forecast should end talk of new taxes
OLYMPIA… Sen. Lynda Wilson is viewing 2023’s final quarterly forecast of state-government revenue as yet another reason to take a firm line against tax increases in 2024. “There’s no budget deficit on the horizon. It was confirmed today that government has more than enough revenue to maintain services and programs. Put those together and there...
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Legislators in Washington and Oregon to offer bills creating year-round standard time
As people across America adjust to this past weekend’s switch from daylight saving time to standard time, state senators in Washington and Oregon are planning to introduce bills early next year to put their states on standard time year-round. This is not the first time the lawmakers have sought to end the twice-yearly clock changes....
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Braun: Drug contraband, obstruction of justice at Green Hill School warrants thorough investigation
CENTRALIA…Upon learning that 114 bags of contraband were discovered at Green Hill School, and that it was necessary for law enforcement to issue a search warrant because school officials refused to turn the items over, Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following comments. “I strongly support the call for an investigation of Green...
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Broken Inslee promise stalls behavioral-health treatment facility
CENTRALIA… Efforts to build a behavioral-health treatment facility in Lewis County are being pushed back another six months by what Lewis County lawmakers say is another broken promise from Gov. Jay Inslee’s administration. Sen. John Braun and Rep. Peter Abbarno, both R-Centralia, are particularly frustrated because the governor’s office assured them an important cost-saving change...
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Padden says new law-enforcement training center will increase public safety
The new law-enforcement training center near Fairchild Air Force Base will boost public safety in Spokane County, says a key legislator on crime issues. State Sen. Mike Padden, the Republican leader on the Senate Law and Justice Committee, will attend and speak at today’s grand-opening ceremony for the new training center. “This new training center...
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Schoesler: New regional hydrogen hub would not happen without hydropower
State Sen. Mark Schoesler issued this statement following this morning’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy that it will provide $1 billion to Washington, Oregon and Montana to establish eight hydrogen production sites across the three states: “This would not happen without hydropower. Our state has a strong and reliable hydropower system that provides...
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#tbt State Auditors release a damning report on Governor Jay Inslee's state agencies' failure to document over $1 billion in relief aid. In many cases, his agencies "did not have adequate internal controls or did not comply with federal requirements.” #waleg #UnaccountableWA #UntrustworthyWA![]()
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Read: ow.ly/onhw50KiiR4
Happening Now: The Senate Law & Justice Committee convenes and will be discussing the state report card on child & youth sex trafficking from Shared Hope International #waleg #UnsafeWA #RestorePublicSafety![]()
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Watch Live on TVW:
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Work Session: Washington State Patrol: firearms background check implementation update. Shared Hope Internationals Washington Report Card on Child and Youth
More Red Tape: The WA State Building Code Council, appointed by Governor Jay Inslee, just adopted strict new energy regulations to heat new homes, adding another $15k to $30k to the price of a new home. We need to reduce home prices, not add to them. #waleg #UnaffordableWA![]()
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ow.ly/JO2q50Qe8TS
Education funding is up. Students achieving state standards is only 50.7% for English and 39.1% for math. Rather than spending billions more, let’s ask whether we are on the right track. #waleg #RebootEducation![]()
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Sen. Brad Hawkins via The Seattle Times: ow.ly/9RZV50QcHaV