Plan to get schools open and people back to work also doesn’t need more taxes OLYMPIA… Less than one-third of the way through the 2021 legislative session, Senate Republicans have stepped forward with a 2021-23 budget proposal aimed at restarting schools and bringing...
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Legislative Republican leaders respond to Gov. Jay Inslee’s extension of statewide restrictions
House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox and Senate Republican Leader John Braun released the following statements today in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s one-week extension of statewide restrictions: House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox: “I’m disappointed in the governor’s...
Republicans respond to governor’s extension of tighter restrictions on small business
OLYMPIA…Senate and House Republicans released the following joint statement in response to Gov. Inslee’s announcement today that tighter restrictions on small businesses, such as restaurants and gyms, will continue until Jan. 4: “Public health is our top...
Senate Republicans announce 2021 committee assignments
Announcing the 2021 committee assignments for the members of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus: Committee assignments by committee Committee assignments by member
Lawmakers renew their call for special session to address pandemic’s impact on business owners and workers
More than 50 lawmakers in House and Senate sign formal request Republican leaders in the state Legislature have again called for a special session to deal with emergency issues related to public health and support for small business and their employees who are...
Braun, Rivers, Short, Wagoner tapped as top Senate Republican leadership
OLYMPIA…Washington Senate Republicans today elected their leadership team for the 2021-22 legislative term. The caucus elected Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, as its new leader and Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, as the new caucus chair. Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, was...
Relief package is a start, but no substitute for full Legislative response
Senate Republicans insist Legislature call itself in for special session without further delay OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released the following statement in response to Gov. Inslee’s announcement of $135 million in relief for job...
State’s newspapers agree: Refusal to call a special session is a big mistake
EVERY DAILY NEWSPAPER in Washington state with an editorial board has endorsed a special session, with the exceptions of the Wenatchee World, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Olympian. (Wenatchee has run several pro-session editorials that appeared in other papers,...
Wilson dismayed by governor’s new restrictions related to COVID-19 situation
VANCOUVER…Sen. Lynda Wilson said Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement of new restrictions on Washington employers, workers and families has her questioning whether he truly understands the depth of the economic and personal damage they will cause. Wilson, R-Vancouver, is...
Schoesler: Safety measures and restrictions more likely to be widely supported if not dictated by governor alone
Senate Republicans call for emergency special session, ready for legislative action to address COVID-19 crisis OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released the following statement in response to Gov. Inslee’s ban on social gatherings...
New revenue forecast highlights continued threat to critical public services, need for special legislative session
OLYMPIA… Six months after most of Washington’s economy was shut down due to COVID-19, the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council has received 2020’s third-quarter forecast of state-government revenues. Today’s update reduces the deficit projected in the June 2020...
“Washington has lost a giant” says Senate Republican Leader of former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton’s passing
Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, offered these thoughts on the passing of former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton. Gorton, 92, died Wednesday at his daughter’s Clyde Hill home, following a long and storied career in Washington politics as a state...