As the Legislative Session ends, Senate Republican Leader John Braun unpacks key issues: tax debates, rent control, unemployment benefits for striking workers, public safety strides, and challenges in education policy.

Senator John Braun critiques proposed tax increases in Washington, calling them economically harmful. He highlights transparency issues in the legislative process and urges bipartisan efforts for better governance. Braun also discusses Governor Ferguson’s stance on taxes and public safety funding.

Sen. Keith Goehner delivers a speech on the Senate floor with Sen. John Braun observing intently Rent control legislation, decried by Republicans for potentially shrinking housing supply and raising rents, continues to advance in the state legislature. Tracy Ellis explains.  

Silence: Still no word on budget negotiations How much will the 2025-27 operating budget increase state spending and taxes?     How much will the 2025-27 operating budget increase state spending and taxes?   That’s a good question. We’re not sure yet what the full scope of the budget and its taxes will be because...

Senator Nikki Torres joins Ari Hoffman on KVI Radio to critique proposed school levy increases that are framed as funding for schools. She points out that wealthier districts would benefit more from these levies, while poorer districts might struggle to raise funds or gain voter approval.

OLYMPIA…A bill sponsored by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, to expand exploratory career and technical education (CTE) to sixth-grade students was signed today by Gov. Bob Ferguson. It will become law 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. Currently, K-12 education funding provides exploratory CTE to students beginning in seventh grade. Exploratory CTE introduces students to a...

OLYMPIA… The state Senate’s majority Democrats today moved Washington closer to the largest set of tax increases in state history, sending the first wave of this year’s Democrat tax hikes to Gov. Bob Ferguson. The three major tax bills receiving final legislative approval from majority Democrats are: a sales-tax increase that will hit lower- and...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… In a stark rebuke of the majority party’s latest tax agenda, Sen. Matt Boehnke today issued a statement following the Senate’s passage of three major tax bills—Senate Bill 5813, Senate Bill 5814, and Senate Bill 5794—all of which impose new or expanded tax burdens on Washington residents...

OLYMPIA… Today the Senate majority approved a sales-tax increase that will hit lower- and middle-income families harder, a tax increase that will drive capital out of Washington, and a collection of unrelated tax increases that includes a new tax on self-storage rentals. Sen. Chris Gildon of Puyallup, Senate Republican budget leader, offered this reaction to...

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… On Tax Day, as Washingtonians paid their federal income taxes, Senate Democrats introduced a set of sweeping tax proposals totaling more than $12 billion, despite Senate Republicans presenting a balanced budget with no tax increases (SB 5810). These proposed taxes continue to put us down the path of...

OLYMPIA… On the final day for Senate bills to be considered by the House of Representatives, the majority Democrats in the House — including the Speaker of the House — fumbled a critical opportunity to alleviate dangerous overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile-justice facilities, leaving both residents and staff members in crisis. Senate Republican Leader John Braun,...

OLYMPIA… As Washingtonians mark Tax Day, Olympia is seeing a second wave of tax proposals from the state Senate’s majority Democrats, to go with the $21 billion in new and higher taxes wrapped into the operating-budget proposal they endorsed two weeks ago. The majority’s new tax legislation emerged today – coincidentally on the same day...