OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following sentiments after an announcement by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, saying he will not seek reelection to the 4th District Senate seat he has held since 2011. Sen. Padden is currently...
Government Accountability
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...
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...
Inslee vetoes show troubling lack of accountability
Senate Republican leader disappointed with snub of special education OLYMPIA…Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed 20 provisos in the 2023-25 operating budget this week, including some that would have improved government accountability. Senate Republican Leader John Braun...
Democrats ‘gaslight’ those calling for police pursuit reform
Members of Legislature’s majority blame police, alleged ‘misinformation’ from Republicans for interest in rolling policy back to ‘reasonable suspicion’ standard OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following comments in response...
Price tag for public employee raises could have funded tax relief for everyone, says Braun
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released the following statement in response to the announcement today by the Office of Financial Management (OFM) that the collective bargaining agreements with the public employees union, negotiated by the...
Bipartisan group of Senate leaders say enough is enough, time for Kreidler to step down as insurance commissioner
A bipartisan group of Senate leaders today called on state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to resign, calling his actions in office “appalling” and “unacceptable,” after he fired a whistle-blower who came forward with allegations of abusive and inappropriate...
Republican leaders oppose vaccine mandate for the private sector
House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox and Senate Republican Leader John Braun released the following statement today: "We oppose the Biden Administration's vaccine mandate for the private sector. This policy will be counterproductive. It will also endanger successful...
Padden calls new COVID-19 restrictions ‘unfair’ blow to small business
Inslee’s refusal to accept citizen input is biggest barrier to public buy-in, says Spokane Valley lawmaker Shortly after Gov. Jay Inslee held a Sunday press conference to announce a new ban on social gatherings and further restrictions on businesses, Sen. Mike Padden...
If drag-queen bingo is such a problem, how can state handle sports betting?
If the House’s sports-wagering bill receives approval by the Senate before the 2020 session ends, the legislation (House Bill 2638) would front the state Gambling Commission $6 million to get going right away with “enforcement actions in the illicit market for sports...
From the front lines at the Department of Corrections
“Many staff are afraid to provide you with any information for fear of retaliation.” “The bottom line is the people in this passed the buck. It kept getting passed because there was little accountability. Everyone involved in this fiasco knew it was wrong to sit on...
KING5: State lawmakers investigating Snohomish County clean energy contracts
EVERETT, Wash. -- A series of contracts awarded by the Snohomish County Public Utilities District through a state clean energy grant program are under investigation by state lawmakers, some of whom are concerned about potential conflicts of interest between public and...