News
Audio: Jason Rantz: Sen. Christian raises concerns about potential daycare fraud in Washington
On The Jason Rantz Show, Rantz highlights Christian’s criticism of the state Department of Children, Youth and Families for withholding the names of some daycare providers receiving taxpayer-funded grants. Christian questions the lack of transparency and calls for greater scrutiny of public spending, saying taxpayer dollars should go to legitimate programs helping Washington families, not...
Read More
AUDIO: Sen. Christian: Washington Shouldn’t Miss Education Funding Opportunity
Washington could get more money for education without raising state taxes. Tracy Ellis reports.
Read More
Former Gov. Chris Gregoire: Is Washington Losing Its Competitive Edge? | Elephant in the Dome
Is Washington losing its competitive edge? Former Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire joins Sen. Chris Gildon on The Elephant in the Dome to discuss growing concerns about the state’s business climate — and what Washington can do to remain a place where businesses grow, jobs are created and families can afford to live. Gregoire, who now...
Read More
STATEMENT: Natural gas choice remains an issue for Washington families, businesses
OLYMPIA — The Washington Supreme Court today struck down Initiative 2066, the voter-approved 2024 measure that aimed to protect access to natural gas for homes and businesses and limit state and local policies that restrict or discourage its use. The court ruled 6-3 that I-2066 violated the Washington Constitution’s single-subject requirement. The majority concluded that...
Read More
STATEMENT: UW engineering building case outcome falls short of accountability
OLYMPIA — Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, released the following statement after 33 people charged with first-degree criminal trespass following the May 2025 occupation of the University of Washington’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building entered stipulated orders of continuance. Under the agreements, the charges can be dismissed after 12 months if the defendants meet certain requirements, including community...
Read More
VIDEO: The Center Square: Sen. Schoesler Says Adding Bureaucracy With Strained Budgets Is “Flat Wrong”
“Why is an equity, environmental justice, and civil rights person at $12,000 a month really that important when the job’s already being done?” “I thought it was appropriate that we shed the light of day on the silliness that’s going on when there are real serious natural resources budget issues.”
Read More
The Cost of Crime: Unpacking Washington State’s Organized Retail Theft Crisis
Hosted by Senator Chris Gildon, this episode of The Elephant in the Dome features Washington Retail Association guests Jan Himebaugh and Crystal Leatherman. Together, they explore Washington’s escalating organized retail crime crisis, examine its connection to broader illegal networks, and discuss actionable solutions to rebuild accountability. TRANSCRIPT
Read More
Decoding 340B: The $81 Billion Drug Discount Program Explained | The Elephant in the Dome
In this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senator Chris Gildon hosts Senator Ron Muzzall the ranking Republican on the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee. They break down the complex 340B Drug Pricing Program—a federal initiative designed to help safety-net health clinics and hospitals acquire discounted prescription medication for low-income patients. They discuss...
Read More
AUDIO: Democrats’ spending draws warning from business leader: ‘It’s time to wake up’
Washington business leaders are sounding the alarm on state spending — and it’s not just Republicans. Tracy Ellis explains. Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke — a lifelong Democrat — is urging lawmakers to ‘wake up’ as spending nears 80 billion dollars. State Senator Chris Gildon notes that Leiweke joins two former Democratic governors and other critics...
Read More
NEWSFLASH: Senate Republicans demand special session to address gas prices
In a letter sent this week to Governor Ferguson, a group of Senate Republicans demanded that a special session be called to address how the so-called “Climate Commitment Act” affects our gas and diesel prices. According to AAA, the average price in Washington for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on July 1 was $5.125...
Read More
Senate Republicans demand special session to address gas prices
Citing the extreme financial pain being felt at the pump, State Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, is leading a formal legislative push for the governor to convene a special session of the Legislature to address Washington’s unaffordable fuel prices. “We cannot afford to wait until the next regular legislative session while our families choose between...
Read More
Elephant in the Dome Podcast—Ferguson’s Gas Crisis, Shaky Budgets, America @ 250 w/Sen. Chris Gildon
In this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senator Chris Gildon pulls back the curtain on the real issues facing Washington. From the controversial impacts of the Climate Commitment Act on gas prices and utility bills to a deep dive into Olympia’s looming budget shortfall, Sen. Gildon breaks down the numbers that the majority...
Read More