News from the Caucus

State Legislative Republicans – Sens. John Braun and Lynda Wilson and Reps. Drew Stokesbary and Chris Corry – hold a weekly media availability to discuss the very latest in the 2024 legislative session.

Initiative 2124 to the Legislature would allow you to opt out of the long-term care payroll tax. The tax is expensive and burdensome. The benefit is minimal. You can’t collect it if you retire in another state.

Sen. John Braun provides an update on where key bills from the Senate Republican Caucus stand in the legislative process.

The fight against income taxes is heating up with two initiatives to the state legislature. Initiative 2109 would repeal the capital gains income tax. Initiative 2111 would ban all state and local income taxes.

She worked with her parents in the fields; now she’s the first Latina state Senator from Central Washington.  

SB 5770 would triple the allowable property tax growth rate for local governments from 1% to 3%, costing taxpayers $6 billion over the next 12 years. It will raise property taxes AND it will raise rents, which renters can’t afford during Washington’s affordable housing crisis.

Higher property taxes and rents could be on the way if legislation headed to the state Senate floor eventually becomes law. Tracy Ellis reports the bill triples the allowable property tax growth rate for local governments.

Initiative 2117 would repeal the state cap-and-trade scheme known as the Climate Commitment Act enacted by Democrats. Governor Jay Inslee claimed any effect on gas prices from the policy would be ‘minimal’ or ‘pennies.’ It’s estimated that cap-and-tax has increased Washington’s gas costs by as much as 50 cents a gallon.

Restores the authority of a peace officer to engage in a vehicular pursuit when there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law and the officer follows appropriate safety standards

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, gives us an update on the 2024 Legislative Session. He explains a House bill that would ban the use of natural gas, a policy that could be dangerous in cold snaps. He also discusses important and costly tax bills, and the initiatives that are before the Legislature.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, 20th Legislative District, shares information about the bills and initiatives before the Washington State Legislature this legislative session. Critical items that would help undo damage done by majority Democrat policies.

Governments in Washington now can collect 1% more annually in property tax without having to seek voter approval. SB 5770 would allow that increase to be as much as 3%. This is forecast to raise taxes by $12 billion over the next 10 years.