Leadership Blog

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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