‘Open Safe, Open Now: A Republican plan for Phase 3 and Beyond’ shows trust in the people READ THE PLAN OLYMPIA…In response to sharply declining COVID-19 case rates and hospitalization rates statewide, legislative Republicans today announced a simple, practical...
Senate Republican Caucus
Positive revenue forecast doesn’t reduce need for special legislative session, says Braun
OLYMPIA… While this year’s final forecast of state-government revenues for 2020 shows an increase of $634 million for the current two-year budget cycle, Sen. John Braun says the news masks serious concerns about the state economy that require attention from the...
Braun says state’s response to pandemic is weakened by lack of involvement from Legislature
OLYMPIA… State government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is suffering from Gov. Jay Inslee’s resistance to calling the state Legislature into session to help with key decisions, Sen. John Braun said today. Braun, R-Centralia, Republican leader on the Senate Ways...
Predicted $9 billion revenue loss affirms need for June special session, Republican leaders say
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican leaders today repeated their call for a June special session of the Legislature now that Washington’s chief economist has predicted a $9 billion loss in state-government revenue over the next three years. From Sen. John Braun of Centralia,...
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...
The taxes are coming! The taxes are coming!
I’ve never seen state government in such good financial shape when the Legislature is needing to adopt a new two-year budget. The Senate and House shouldn’t have any problem coming up with a no-new-taxes budget that is good for mental-health services, and...
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Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler and Senator Steve O’Ban talk about farmers accused of having slaves, ethics violations, Sound Transit, long term care, gun control, prisoners being let out early, vaccinations, and a carbon tax.
The views expressed by individual members are not necessarily those of the entire caucus.
Inslee misses deadline for releasing real budget – and why that budget is the real story
The orcas won’t want to hear this, but the $54 billion budget Governor Inslee brought out last week is not the proposal he was required to submit to the Legislature. Under a state law dating to at least 1959, the governor is to provide a budget document based on “the...
When it comes to taxes and spending, is Inslee insatiable?
Governor Inslee had included tax increases in all six budgets he’d submitted to the Legislature during his time in office. I figured he was a lock to make it 7-for-7, in the proposal he’d be putting on the table for 2019. Even so, I was amazed by what the governor...
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Senate Republicans’ plan addresses affordable-housing problem in Washington
Legislation focuses on increasing supply of housing to help reduce homelessness Senate Republicans announced today they will introduce a package of bills in 2019 to address one of the main causes of Washington’s homelessness problem: the lack of affordable and...
State Hispanic Commission recognizes our efforts to improve minority-owned business opportunities
Senate passes the Small Business Bonding Relief bill
Women’s History Month 2015
Narrated by Senator Parlette, this video commemorates Women's History Month by recognizing the achievements of the women in Washington's past that paved the way for women in leadership today.