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In this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senator Chris Gildon hosts Senator Ron Muzzall the ranking Republican on the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee. They break down the complex 340B Drug Pricing Program—a federal initiative designed to help safety-net health clinics and hospitals acquire discounted prescription medication for low-income patients. They discuss...

Washington business leaders are sounding the alarm on state spending — and it’s not just Republicans. Tracy Ellis explains. Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke — a lifelong Democrat — is urging lawmakers to ‘wake up’ as spending nears 80 billion dollars. State Senator Chris Gildon notes that Leiweke joins two former Democratic governors and other critics...

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...

In a letter sent this week to Governor Ferguson, a group of Senate Republicans demanded that a special session be called to address how the so-called “Climate Commitment Act” affects our gas and diesel prices. According to AAA, the average price in Washington for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on July 1 was $5.125...

Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, explains his vote against Senate Bill 5981, legislation expanding protections for Washington’s 340B Drug Pricing Program. Speaking on the Senate floor, Muzzall makes clear that his vote was not against helping hospitals. Instead, he argues that while the 340B program provides important financial support, expanding it does not address 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...

In this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senator Chris Gildon pulls back the curtain on the real issues facing Washington. From the controversial impacts of the Climate Commitment Act on gas prices and utility bills to a deep dive into Olympia’s looming budget shortfall, Sen. Gildon breaks down the numbers that the majority...

State Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, today said it is urgent for Gov. Bob Ferguson and the legislative Democrat majority to take action that drops Washington’s inflated gas and diesel prices closer to the national average. Warnick, chair of Washington’s Senate Republicans, issued her call for relief today, seven days ahead of the July 1...

In this episode of Elephant in the Dome, Senator Chris Gildon sits down with foster parent and healthcare professional Tracie Jefferson. They dive deep into the devastating, unintended consequences of Washington State’s “Keeping Families Together Act,” examining how its high removal thresholds and systemic issues impact vulnerable children. TRANSCRIPT

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...

KIRO 7: Longview leaders react to no regulatory inspections of white liquor tanks KOIN 6: Longview community’s future discussed by Senator Jeff Wilson

With the summer heat kicking in, Central Washington is bracing for drought—but a state senator says water is only half the battle. Tracy Ellis explains.