News

  Thank you for the opportunity to serve our community in the 31st Legislative District. In Olympia, I’m focused on practical solutions that keep Washington affordable, ensure accountability, and reflect the common-sense priorities of the people I work for every day. Today marks another deadline — Policy Committee Cutoff in the opposite chamber. From here, the...

Democrats in denial, gaslight opposition to the income tax as “bots” LISTEN: Tracy Ellis tells us more than 100,000 people signed in to oppose the income tax bill ahead of its hearing in the House Finance Committee. OLYMPIA…More than 100,000 Washingtonians made state history this week by signing in to oppose the 9.9% income tax...

Welcome to the first episode of The Mighty 8th Podcast, coming to you from Olympia and focused on giving the 8th District a strong voice in state government. Sen. Matt Boehnke joins the show to discuss two of the most pressing and controversial issues facing the 8th Legislative District and communities across Washington. The conversation...

  In this legislative update, Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, explains why Washington’s proposed income tax, Senate Bill 6346, is anything but harmless. For years, Washington promoted itself as a great place to live and do business because it had no personal or business income tax. That changed with the adoption of the capital gains tax....

Dear Friends and Neighbors,   The unconstitutional income tax (Senate Bill 6346) proposed by Democrats this week will be heard in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 1:30 p.m. meeting this TODAY in Senate Hearing Room 4 of the John A. Cherberg Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia.   As of 9:00 a.m....

An income tax on anyone will become an income tax on everyone   OLYMPIA…Majority Democrats in Olympia today dropped a bill to impose an income tax in Washington state, ignoring that the people of Washington have rejected similar unconstitutional income taxes 10 times. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary,...

OLYMPIA—Sen. Nikki Torres has introduced legislation to provide a permanent sales and use tax exemption for baby and adult diapers, delivering direct tax relief for families and caregivers facing everyday costs, including those caring for elderly loved ones. “There’s a lot of talk in Olympia about raising taxes, but not nearly enough about tax breaks,”...

  In this legislative update video, Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, explains why fast-tracking the Fairfax Bridge replacement is critical for communities in the 31st Legislative District and access to Mount Rainier. Fortunato outlines his push to move the project to a design-build process — a step that could shave a year or more off construction...

No matter how many times the governor said it in his news conference and no matter how many times the press repeats Democrat talking points…   The TRUE budget shortfall number was never higher than $7.5 billion.   The nonpartisan legislative staff with Senate Committee Services (SCS) and the House Office of Program Research (OPR),...

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican leaders say the governor chose the wrong side today in signing a new state operating budget that relies on the largest package of tax increases in Washington history. Despite earlier denouncing new taxes that would hit the state’s working families, Gov. Bob Ferguson decided not to veto bills that will extend the...

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...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… In a stark rebuke of the majority party’s latest tax agenda, Sen. Matt Boehnke today issued a statement following the Senate’s passage of three major tax bills—Senate Bill 5813, Senate Bill 5814, and Senate Bill 5794—all of which impose new or expanded tax burdens on Washington residents...