Categories

A Better Future for Washington Children Podcasts A Safer Washington Podcasts Affordability Agriculture & Water Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks An Affordable Washington Podcasts Audio/Video News Better Future for Our Children Budget & Taxes Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Business, Jobs & Economy Capital Budget The Deputies Podcast Education Energy Environment, Energy & Technology Family Issues Government Accountability Health Care Health & Long-term Care Higher Education & Workforce Development Housing Human Services In the News Labor & Commerce Land Use & Housing Law & Justice Leadership News & Blog Legislature Local Government Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs Majority Coalition Caucus Member/District Specific Newsletters Operating Budget Podcast Public Safety Seen and Heard Senate Republican Caucus State Government, Veterans Affairs & Elections Taxes and Tax Relief Transportation

Leadership Blog

In the News

Daycare Fraud: Is Scrutiny Racist? Plus, Democrats’ Piecrust Tax Promises—The Elephant in the Dome Podcast

Published on January 08, 2026
Sen. John Braun breaks down rising daycare‑fraud concerns, why investigating isn’t racist, and why Democrats’ “piecrust” tax promises could mean a new income tax and higher property taxes this session. TRANSCRIPT
Read More

AUDIO: Sen. Gildon Pushes Back on Income Tax Plan on The Jason Rantz Show

Published on December 23, 2025
On The Jason Rantz Show, Sen. Chris Gildon tells Tim Gaydos (filling in for Jason Rantz) that he’s disappointed in Gov. Ferguson’s push for a future income tax and warns it won’t fix looming budget shortfalls. He argues Democrats’ policies fuel affordability problems and says Republicans want a budget that truly lives within its means.
Read More

AUDIO: Republican budget leader concerned about future income tax, cautious about governor’s budget proposal

Published on December 23, 2025
Governor Bob Ferguson says he isn’t proposing new taxes to balance his supplemental budget — but he is backing a future income tax to deal with shortfalls down the road. Tracy Ellis has more.
Read More

The Elephant in the Dome Podcast—Washington’s Power Crunch: John Braun on the Future of the Grid

Published on December 19, 2025
Senate Republican Leader John Braun joins The Elephant in the Dome to break down Washington’s looming power shortage, the TransAlta coal‑to‑gas transition, the role of hydro and nuclear, and what it will take to keep energy reliable and affordable. TRANSCRIPT
Read More

VIDEO: Washington senators propose bill aiming to make state release of serial rapists more difficult

Published on December 11, 2025
Two months after the release of the late Kevin Coe, Senator Mark Schoesler is proposing a bill that would make it harder to release those convicted of rape.
Read More
News Categories

News from the Caucus

April 27, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

NEWSFLASH: Legislative Democrats ignore the advice of many and raise $12.5 billion in taxes just for the operating budget

Session ends with long debate on $77.9 billion operating budget   After long and heated debate, the majority passed the 2025-27 operating budget without a single Senate Republican vote. The document, which was released Saturday for a Sunday vote, is more than 1,300 pages long and spends nearly $80 billion over the next four years....
Read More
April 23, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

NEWSFLASH: No word on the budget, but plenty of taxes to go around

Silence: Still no word on budget negotiations How much will the 2025-27 operating budget increase state spending and taxes?     How much will the 2025-27 operating budget increase state spending and taxes?   That’s a good question. We’re not sure yet what the full scope of the budget and its taxes will be because...
Read More
April 18, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

NEWSFLASH: Even MORE tax bills are moving forward – VOTING SATURDAY 4-19

Republicans provide a no-new-tax budget option Democrats ignore our fiscally sound approach   It’s official. The Senate Republican operating budget proposal known as $ave Washington is now an official bill and could easily be adopted by the Legislature. Senate Bill 5810 does not rely on ANY new or higher taxes. It also does not make...
Read More
March 21, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

NEWSFLASH: Democrats announce nearly $20 billion in new and higher taxes

Republican budget leaders on Senate Democrats’ record-setting tax package “A new kind of March madness”   OLYMPIA… Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, and Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, offered this reaction to the $20 billion, four-year tax package proposed by the Senate’s majority Democrats today, ahead of the anticipated Monday rollout of their 2025-27 operating-budget proposal. From...
Read More
February 13, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

A bill to overregulate wood stoves due to be voted out of committee tomorrow

HELP STOP SENATE BILL 5174 “This is ridiculous overreach!” – 4th LD Constituent Wood-burning stoves are a critical home-heating source for many homeowners across Washington. Rural families depend on them more than those who live in bigger cities. Lower-income families, seniors on a fixed income, and anyone else trying to make ends meet while energy...
Read More
October 24, 2023
John Braun

Broken Inslee promise stalls behavioral-health treatment facility

CENTRALIA… Efforts to build a behavioral-health treatment facility in Lewis County are being pushed back another six months by what Lewis County lawmakers say is another broken promise from Gov. Jay Inslee’s administration. Sen. John Braun and Rep. Peter Abbarno, both R-Centralia, are particularly frustrated because the governor’s office assured them an important cost-saving change...
Read More
1