Leadership Blog

In the News

The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Senator frustrated about bureaucratic delay of school earthquake protections

Published on October 08, 2024
Tens-of-millions of dollars set aside to protect schools from earthquakes is not getting spent, and state Senator Judy Warnick wants something done about it. The Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction is supposed to be distributing the money.
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AUDIO: Police pursuit, parental rights, income tax laws go into effect

Published on June 04, 2024
New laws that go into effect this week (June 6) impact police pursuits, parental rights, and income taxes in Washington. Tracy Ellis reports.
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Infant fentanyl overdoses warrant felony charges, says Braun

Published on April 26, 2024
CENTRALIA…Three infants in the Everett area overdosed on fentanyl over four days this week, including a 13-month-old who died. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following reaction to these preventable tragedies. “It’s completely indefensible when an infant or child gets sick or dies because someone in the household is using deadly drugs such...
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VIDEO: TVW: 2024 Impact Sine Die Special – Sen. John Braun

Published on March 07, 2024
On the final day of the 2024 Legislative Session, Mike McClanahan, host of The Impact, interviews Sen. John Braun.
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VIDEO: TVW: 2024 Impact Sine Die Special – Sen Lynda Wilson

Published on March 07, 2024
On the final day of the 2024 Legislative Session, Mike McClanahan, host of The Impact, interviews Sen. Lynda Wilson.
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News from the Caucus

December 20, 2023
John Braun

Braun bill aimed at getting chronically absent students to re-engage with classes, resume path to graduation

OLYMPIA… Chronic absenteeism is among the major obstacles preventing Washington children from recovering from pandemic-related learning loss. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, has introduced legislation to help school administrators, teachers and parents get students to show up to school and take part in class. Senate Bill 5850 would provide support for students who are...
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November 20, 2023
Lynda Wilson

NEWS: Year’s final revenue forecast should end talk of new taxes

OLYMPIA… Sen. Lynda Wilson is viewing 2023’s final quarterly forecast of state-government revenue as yet another reason to take a firm line against tax increases in 2024. “There’s no budget deficit on the horizon. It was confirmed today that government has more than enough revenue to maintain services and programs. Put those together and there...
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November 06, 2023
Mike Padden

Legislators in Washington and Oregon to offer bills creating year-round standard time

As people across America adjust to this past weekend’s switch from daylight saving time to standard time, state senators in Washington and Oregon are planning to introduce bills early next year to put their states on standard time year-round. This is not the first time the lawmakers have sought to end the twice-yearly clock changes....
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September 07, 2023
Curtis King

King says gas-price hike from ‘cap-and-trade’ auctions will hurt drivers even more

Sen. Curtis King, Republican leader on the Senate Transportation Committee, said the state’s latest carbon-pricing auction will cause gasoline prices to continue rising, further hurting Washington drivers and businesses. This will also raise the prices for all things being shipped, which is about every item consumers use, further adding to high inflation. “Since the carbon...
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July 20, 2023
Curtis King

King says Democrats’ attack on oil companies is attempt to steer focus from cap-and-trade’s effect on nation-leading gas prices

Sen. Curtis King, the ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee, said Gov. Jay Inslee is trying to deflect criticism aimed at him due to the major role that the state’s cap-and-trade program has played in Washington having the highest gas prices in the nation. Inslee announced today that he wants legislation in 2024 targeting...
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July 20, 2023
Lynda Wilson

STATEMENT: Credit for high gas prices belongs to governor’s climate policies, says Republican budget leader

VANCOUVER… The governor and Democratic lawmakers should be stepping forward and taking credit for Washington’s nation-leading gas prices instead of denying responsibility, says Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver. Wilson, budget leader for Senate Republicans, responded to claims made today by Gov. Jay Inslee and high-ranking Democratic state lawmakers that they will propose legislation to rein in...
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April 21, 2023
Mark Schoesler

Schoesler says Democrats’ passage of anti-firearm bills won’t deter criminals

State Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued this statement after Democratic majorities in the Legislature passed House Bill 1240, which would ban the sale of semi-automatic weapons in Washington, and House Bill 1143, which would prohibit someone from buying a firearm from a dealer unless the buyer has passed a background check and has completed a...
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April 12, 2023
Lynda Wilson

STATEMENT: Republican leaders call foul on Democrats’ late-session bid to raise property taxes

OLYMPIA… In what amounts to the ninth inning of the 2023 legislative session, more than two-thirds of the state Senate’s majority Democrats have slid an extreme tax-increase proposal into the lineup of bills still in play. Senate Bill 5770 would raise the limit on increases in state and local property taxes to 3% per year,...
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March 30, 2023
Mike Padden

Governor signs Padden bill raising penalty for custodial sexual misconduct

A bipartisan bill, sponsored by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden, that aims to impose longer sentences on sexually abusive jail and prison guards was signed today by Gov. Jay Inslee after receiving unanimous approval by the Legislature this session. The law created by Senate Bill 5033 reclassifies the crime of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct, (in...
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March 22, 2023
Mike Padden

Legislature passes Padden bill raising penalty for custodial sexual misconduct

A bipartisan bill that aims to impose longer sentences on sexually abusive jail and prison guards is headed to the governor after being unanimously passed today by the House of Representatives. Senate Bill 5033 would reclassify the crime of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct (in which the corrections officer has sexual intercourse with the victim) from...
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February 09, 2023
Mike Padden

Committee passes Padden bill to keep repeat property offenders behind bars longer

A bill from 4th District Sen. Mike Padden that could keep repeat property offenders behind bars longer was approved today by the Senate Law and Justice Committee. Senate Bill 5056 would require that someone who is found to be a habitual property offender to be sentenced to an additional 24 months in total confinement for...
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February 06, 2023
Mike Padden

Padden bill to increase penalty for drug possession receives committee hearing

The Senate Law and Justice Committee held a public hearing today on a bill introduced by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden that aims to reverse the alarming trend in fentanyl use and fentanyl-related deaths in Washington. Padden’s measure, Senate Bill 5035, would make possession or use of illegal drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin a...
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