Leadership Blog

In the News

AUDIO: Budget and spending are top issues for 2025 Legislature, Short says

Published on January 21, 2025
Washington taxpayers are being asked to cover the costs of unfortunate spending decisions by majority Democrats in Olympia, according to a state legislator. Tracy Ellis explains.
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VIDEO: Legislative Republican Leadership Media Availability

Published on January 21, 2025
Senators John Braun and Shelly Short and other Legislative Republican leaders hold their weekly media availability to discuss the 2025 legislative session.
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VIDEO: Senate Republican Leader John Braun legislative update

Published on January 19, 2025
Welcome to the first legislative update of the 2025 session from Senator Braun. Throughout this session, Senator Braun will provide regular updates to keep you informed about the latest developments and legislative activities. Stay tuned for more insights and progress reports as we work together to make a positive impact.
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The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Governor’s Inaugural Address, Budget Insights, and Legislative Updates

Published on January 18, 2025
In this episode of “The Elephant in the Dome,” the official podcast of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus, hosts Tracy Ellis and Laudan Espinoza are joined by Senate Republican Leader John Braun. They discuss Governor Bob Ferguson’s inaugural address and some key issues facing legislators. They also touch on the potential for new taxes...
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VIDEO: TVW: Inside Olympia: Senate Budget Leaders

Published on January 16, 2025
An in-depth conversation on the state budget with the lead budget writers in the Senate: The Ways and Means Chair and the ranking Republican on that committee, Chris Gildon. Gildon’s take on how we got here: “The Legislature a few years back basically put a number of bills on layaway, they said we want to...
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News from the Caucus

May 10, 2023
Senate Republican Caucus

Joint statement: Braun and Stokesbary comment on end to Inslee’s vaccine mandate

Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that he will rescind requirements related to COVID-19 vaccination for state employees. House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary and Senate Republican Leader John Braun released the following statement in response to the governor’s directive: “Just as Governor Inslee was slow to end his COVID state of emergency, he’s been equally behind the times...
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March 01, 2023
Senate Republican Caucus

Bill threatening rights of parents passes Senate

Senate Bill 5599 removes parents from health and mental health care decision-making process OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, made the following remarks after the state Senate’s majority Democrats passed legislation that would give youth-related facilities a troubling new excuse for withholding the whereabouts of runaway children from their parents. Under Senate Bill 5599, those...
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August 17, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Inslee’s state of emergency at 900 days and counting… but why?

August 17, 2022 Once upon a time, Governor Inslee spoke of “data” and “science” when defending pandemic-related decisions he made with the self-granted authority that came with proclaiming a state of emergency. Around 16 months into the state of emergency a reporter asked the governor, in so many words, if state law gave him too...
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November 06, 2021
Senate Republican Caucus

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 Washington businesses, which have already adjusted to protect public health, and risk more shortages of critical goods and...
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March 04, 2021
Senate Republican Caucus

Republican lawmakers: Move schools, employers to next phase now

‘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 and consistent plan to get all communities in Washington fully open for both school and...
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