Washington State Budget Debate: Inslee's Final Proposal and Ferguson's Fiscal Approach
  • Governor Inslee’s budget proposal would add $13 billion in new taxes
  • Additional taxes would target Washington employers, raising the cost of doing business
  • Republicans suggest that instead of increasing taxes, the state should focus on reducing spending
  • The shortfall is not due to a recession or drop in revenue but rather because of overspending
  • Senate Republicans have expressed cautious optimism regarding Governor-elect Bob Ferguson’s approach to the state’s fiscal challenges.
  • Unlike his predecessor, outgoing Governor Jay Inslee, Ferguson has signaled a willingness to consider spending reductions over tax increases.

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TVW: Inside Olympia: Senate Budget Leaders

Republican leaders find hope and promise in the new Democratic governor’s inaugural address

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News from the Caucus

February 10, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

VIDEO: FOX News: America Reports: Sen. John Braun on Parental Rights

Washington State Senate Republican Leader John Braun talks with FOX News’ John Roberts about parental rights.
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February 08, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

Elephant in the Dome Podcast | The Fight for Parental Rights: Senate Bill 5181 Debate and Failing Schools

In this episode of Elephant in the Dome, hosts Tracy Ellis and Laudan Espinoza sit down with Senate Republican Leader John Braun to discuss the controversial Senate Bill 5181. How does this bill impact parental rights in schools? What key amendments were made, and what were rejected? The growing concerns over public education, declining test...
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February 07, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

VIDEO: Protecting Parents’ Rights, Kids’ Safety & Fiscal Responsibility with Sen. John Braun

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, 20th LD, shares his weekly legislative update. This week in Olympia, Senate Democrats pass SB 5181 — a bill that undermines the Parents’ Rights Act. Braun’s bill that adds fentanyl to the list of drugs in the child endangerment law passes in the Senate. Recent test scores show our kids...
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February 07, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

NEWSFLASH: K-12 learning loss leaving our kids behind

Recent test scores for Washington’s fourth and eighth graders show that learning loss in K-12 education continues to be a serious problem. This is due to a lasting impact from the pandemic, but it’s also a result of the Legislature forcing ideological content into the curriculum, which takes class time and educator focus away from...
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February 06, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Senate Republican Leadership Update with Sen. John Braun

Sen. Braun talks about a bill that cleared the State Senate that removes key parental notification rights codified in last year’s Parents’ Rights Initiative.
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February 05, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Republicans oppose Senate passage of bill to undermine parental-rights initiative

Controversial legislation that weakens the Parents’ Bill of Rights Initiative cleared the State Senate. Tracy Ellis reports the bill comes just a year after the Legislature approved the initiative.
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News from the Senators

February 10, 2025
Matt Boehnke

Two of Boehnke’s higher-ed bills move forward from committee

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Legislation from Sen. Matt Boehnke aimed at improving access to education was endorsed today by the state Senate’s higher-education committee. Committee members, who include Boehnke, supported two of his bills. One is Senate Bill 5542, to accommodate more enrollment in high-school completion programs at community and technical...
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February 05, 2025
Keith Goehner

Goehner concerned about bill to allow more mobile dwelling units

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Although travel trailers aren’t meant to be used as long-term housing, a bill that recently moved forward from the Senate Housing Committee leans in that direction – too much so for Sen. Keith Goehner. Senate Bill 5332 would expand the areas in which mobile dwelling units (MDUs), such...
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February 04, 2025
Matt Boehnke

Boehnke files measure to protect lower Snake River dams

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, has filed legislation encouraging federal lawmakers to protect the four lower Snake River dams from removal. Senate Joint Memorial 8010 formally requests approval of the Northwest Energy Security Act, introduced late last month by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse and an Idaho senator. That...
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January 29, 2025
Keith Goehner

Goehner proposes license plate to promote organ donation

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… To raise awareness about the value of organ donation, Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, has introduced legislation to create a special “Donate Life” license plate. “More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are currently on the transplant waiting list, including nearly 2,000 across the Pacific Northwest. But tragically, 17...
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January 29, 2025
Jeff Wilson

Wilson legislation clears way for kit homes, one solution to housing crisis

Kit home. Credit: CC by 2.0/ Shellie Evans OLYMPIA – A Longview senator says the state should eliminate hurdles to construction of kit homes that offer a promising solution to the state’s housing shortage. Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, has introduced a pair of bills for the 2025 legislative session to streamline state and local permitting...
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January 27, 2025
Matt Boehnke

Boehnke legislation attracts strong bipartisan interest

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, came into the 2025 legislative session to find common ground with the Senate majority – and it’s working. Two full weeks into this year’s session, 14 of the 17 bills filed by Boehnke, the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology...
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Washington State has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. #waleg Poll of WA Voters: ow.ly/BjmI50UVneS ... See MoreSee Less
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AUDIO: 9th District Legislative Update: Sen. Mark Schoesler explains why he voted no on legislation that cleared the Senate that he says weakens the Parents’ Rights Initiative (SB 5181). He also gives examples of what he sees as wasteful spending. #walegLISTEN: ow.ly/bUNv50UVnlx ... See MoreSee Less
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AUDIO: Senate Republican Leadership Update: SRC Leader John Braun talks about a terrible bill (SB 5181) passing the Senate on party lines 30-19. SB 5181 removes key parental notification rights codified in last year’s Parents’ Rights Initiative. #walegLISTEN: ow.ly/gzCS50UVnfV ... See MoreSee Less
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