No counties should be moving backward, say legislative Republican leaders

Cutoff highlights refusal to address emergency powers — one of many majority Democrat failures, say top Senate Republicans

Senate capital budget would provide unprecedented support for broadband

Senate Democrats tie budget proposal to unconstitutional tax

Wilson looking for taxpayer-friendly budget from Senate majority
Republican budget leader notes progressive property-tax reform now within reach OLYMPIA… The Senate Democratic 2021-23 operating-budget proposal is expected to become public Thursday, and Sen. Lynda Wilson says she’ll be looking for it to be at least as taxpayer-friendly as the budget Senate Republicans proposed Feb. 11. “I’m anticipating the Democratic proposal will match ours... Read More
Republican leaders say endorsement of 3-foot spacing would help classrooms reopen

Wilson encouraged by new revenue forecast, disappointed by majority’s continued push for taxes

Senate Republican leaders: Inslee’s school-choice approach to reopening K-12 instruction solid step toward improving youth mental health

Senate Republicans encouraged Washington moving ahead in reopening

Senate Republican leaders denounce passage of income-tax bill
OLYMPIA… Key leaders in the Senate Republican Caucus reacted strongly today after the Senate’s Democratic majority approved legislation to create a state income tax, despite knowing an income tax has been unconstitutional in Washington since 1932. Since 1934, Washington voters have rejected 10 attempts to enact an income tax, either through amending the state constitution or... Read More
Honeyford bill to extend Invasive Species Council into 2032 wins unanimous Senate approval

Senate passes Brown’s bill to create industry-siting program

Senate unanimously passes Brown’s measure to create a confidential youth-safety and well-being tip line

Republican senators make new bid to get Washington children back into classrooms
OLYMPIA… A bill to help get children back into classrooms has been introduced by several Republican senators, just as a new report shows Washington is behind nearly every other state in providing in-person instruction. Senate Bill 5464 was introduced Tuesday, the same day Senate Republican Leader John Braun wrote to Gov. Jay Inslee, encouraging him... Read More
Senate Republicans oppose income-tax bill; Braun calls out ‘emergency clause’
OLYMPIA… Last evening a majority on the Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to recommend the passage of Senate Bill 5096, which would put a 7-percent tax on income from the sale or exchange of capital assets. The proposal, which is another attempt to impose a state income tax on Washington residents, was requested by... Read More
Senate Republicans unveil budget to help state restart and recover

Senate Republicans unveil budget to help state restart and recover
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 jobs back, while saving money for lower-income families. “Senate Republicans have been... Read More
Braun to Inslee: Time to take the security fences down

Let people gather in safe, regulated public places – open Washington

Majority dodges vote on bipartisan bill to safely reopen Washington

Braun bill to reopen Washington receives staggering amount of public support

Surprise! Majority looks to abdicate a basic role of the legislative branch

Braun says new Senate rules severely limit access to democracy

Mass release of convicted felons violates state constitution, Senate Republicans warn

Republican lawmakers step up with plan for safe restart of economy
OLYMPIA… Republicans in the state Senate and House of Representatives today shared the first plan for safely restarting Washington’s economy while state government’s response to the COVID-19 emergency continues. “Employers across our state are looking to government for a strategy that starts to take the brake off the economy. Republicans have come through with a... Read More
Legislative Republicans’ Safe Economic Restart Plan — April 17, 2020
Legislative Republicans Safe Economic Restart Plan — April 17, 2020 Read More
Schoesler statement on announcement of West Coast governors’ pact

Sheldon survey shows deep opposition to tax increases, progressive agenda
“Taxpayers are not ATMs,” say voters in 35th Legislative District – a benchmark for the vast region beyond the King County line OLYMPIA – A survey of voters in the state’s most rural district displays deep opposition to the agenda being pushed through the Washington Legislature in the final days of the 2020 legislative session.... Read More
Schoesler: Army Corps’ rejection of Snake River dam-breaching ought to end the argument

Sonics legend Jack Sikma honored by Senate on induction to Hall of Fame
Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, and Jack Sikma. To see Senate resolution, click here. OLYMPIA – Jack Sikma, one of the standouts on the legendary Seattle SuperSonics team that captured the 1979 NBA title, was honored by the Washington Senate Thursday on his upcoming induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In remarks to... Read More
‘Net metering’ bill forces low-income Washingtonians to subsidize solar panels for the wealthy, senators say
OLYMPIA – A ‘net metering’ bill passed by the Senate Monday forces low-income Washington residents to subsidize rooftop solar panels for the well-to-do, senators complained. Senate Bill 5223 requires utilities to dramatically expand their purchases of power from customers with rooftop solar panels, to at least 4 percent of their load, if sufficient customers seek... Read More
Honeyford receives award for service to veterans and their families

Senators welcome House Democrats’ reengagement on Hirst

Crucial rural water-rights issue holds up adjournment of 2017 legislative session

Senate capital budget would provide unprecedented support for education

Senator King tells transit agency to consider soldiers and find a fair solution

Rivers’ corrections-partnership bill a ‘game changer’ for law enforcement

Senate approves ‘true’ supplemental capital budget

Senate’s sensible supplemental capital budget built on solid principles

Senate majority makes college more affordable with historic tuition cuts
Senate Majority leader Mark Schoesler recaps the news coverage of an historic session: ‘Historic’ tuition cut sets state apart from rest of U.S. Seattle Times, June 13, 2015 Washington’s move isn’t well-known elsewhere in the country, but some say it could spur other states to think about cuts. “I don’t know how widely known this proposal... Read More
2015: Best year for K-12 education funding in decades
Washington’s education union is planning a series of one-day strikes protesting the Legislature’s work on education funding. See here for information on the strike. What have lawmakers done for students this year? Greatest new investment in K-12 of any budget in state history Bipartisan efforts would invest in all-day kindergarten, K-3 class size reduction and... Read More
School Superintendents speak out on the importance of finishing state budget on time
“School districts depend so much on the Legislature to complete their work on time so that we can complete our work. Whether it’s hiring teachers to reduce class size, adding more sections of full-day kindergarten, or purchasing busses, until the Legislature approves a budget, we are unable to move forward with our planning and decision-making. ... Read More
Majority Leader: ‘Troy Kelley has damaged public trust – time to resign’
OLYMPIA… Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released this statement in reaction to the federal indictment of state Auditor Troy Kelley. “The damage has been done and it’s time for Troy Kelley to resign immediately. There is nothing he can do to restore public trust given his evasion and silence on these serious allegations. We... Read More
Senate and House leaders meet to discuss budget negotiations
OLYMPIA…As the 2015 legislative session nears the end of its 105 day limit, Senate Majority Coalition budget negotiators are reaching across the aisle and Rotunda to end on time and on budget. The Senate has passed a complete budget. The House has passed a $39 billion spending plan. This is an important difference between the... Read More
Majority Leader: We have the votes to pass a no-new-taxes budget
OLYMPIA… Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released this statement in advance of passage of a 2015-17 operating budget by members of the state Senate: “We have the votes to pass a no-new-taxes budget that fully funds K-12 education and offers college students and their families the first tuition cut in at least a generation. “It’s... Read More
King selected to lead Senate transportation committee
During a meeting of Senate majority lawmakers Monday, Sen. Curtis King was chosen to chair the Senate Transportation Committee. As head of the committee, King will steer the transportation agenda and bill proposals, as well as write the biennial transportation budget. It is anticipated that the agenda will focus on passage of a reform and transportation-revenue package.... Read More