News

PUYALLUP — A prominent Washington business leader and self-described lifelong Democrat has joined former Governors Gary Locke and Christine Gregoire in raising concerns about Olympia’s budgeting practices. Sen. Chris Gildon said the comments add to a growing debate over the state’s fiscal direction. Gildon, R-Puyallup, pointed to remarks by Tod Leiweke, chief executive officer of the...

Citing the extreme financial pain being felt at the pump, State Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, is leading a formal legislative push for the governor to convene a special session of the Legislature to address Washington’s unaffordable fuel prices. “We cannot afford to wait until the next regular legislative session while our families choose between...

PUYALLUP… The budget leader for the state’s Senate Republicans says the “significant” shortfall anticipated in the next state operating budget by Gov. Bob Ferguson’s administration was completely predictable. Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, offered this reaction to budgeting instructions sent to state agencies that call for reductions without acknowledging Olympia’s chronic overspending: “Republicans repeatedly warned the...

Today State Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, issued a formal demand for an immediate special session of the Washington State Legislature to address the compounding effects of skyrocketing fuel prices, hidden utility taxes, and looming double-digit electricity rate hikes. MacEwen is calling on Gov. Bob Ferguson and the Legislature’s Democratic majority to stop ignoring the financial...

By Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton Daily Chronicle Washingtonians are living through a relentless affordability crisis. From the grocery aisle to the gas pump, the cost of living has moved from “concerning” to “unsustainable.” Our state consistently ranks among the top three most expensive for gas, often a full dollar above the national average. Meanwhile, the...

We’ve reached the end of the 2026 legislative session. Sine Die was Thursday, March 12 — and as always, there’s a lot to report. This is a longer update than usual, but it’s important you have the full picture of what happened this session and what it means for your family. Let me start with...

OLYMPIA… Today’s Senate vote on a final supplemental operating budget for the 2025-27 biennium gave Senate Republican budget leaders another opportunity to express their concerns about the inability of majority Democrats to restrain government spending. Like the separate versions approved in recent days by Senate and House Democrats, the $80.1 billion budget compromise greatly outspends...

OLYMPIA — Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, released the following statement after the Legislature gave final approval to Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6346, legislation establishing a new state income tax on individuals earning more than $1 million annually. “I strongly condemn the passage of this income tax. It’s being marketed as a ‘millionaire’s tax,’ but if...

OLYMPIA… Leaders in the Senate Republican Caucus offered these reactions to today’s announcement by Gov. Bob Ferguson that he will support the proposed state income tax if a rewrite suggested by House Democrats is approved. From Senate Republican Leader John Braun, of Centralia: “Washingtonians have voted down an income tax 11 times. That should mean...

In this week’s update, Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, shares the latest from Olympia as the Senate debates a proposed state income tax that has generated historic public response, with more than 100,000 people signing in CON. Boehnke outlines his concerns about how the proposal could affect families’ everyday costs, including groceries, gas, and small-business operations,...

OLYMPIA — During debate on the Senate’s proposed supplemental operating budget, Sen. Phil Fortunato, R–Auburn, introduced an amendment to require a phased-in zero-based budgeting review of state spending. The amendment was not adopted. The Senate proposed operating budget, Senate Bill 5998, passed on a party-line vote of 30–19, with all Democrats voting yes and all...

The legislative session is moving fast. Short sessions always do. It reminds me of those stretches on the farm when the weather window is tight and there’s more work than daylight. You start the morning walking the rows, checking on things, and before you know it you’re running hard just to keep up. Today is Policy...