Leadership Blog

In the News

AUDIO: House Democrats fumble justice-reform bill, leaving juvenile-justice facilities in crisis

Published on April 17, 2025
Democrats missed a critical chance to address overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile-justice facilities, according to the state Senate Republican Leader. Tracy Ellis reports.
Read More

AUDIO: On ‘Tax Day,’ Senate Democrats propose billions more in tax increases

Published on April 15, 2025
On Tax Day (Tuesday), State Senate Democrats unveil a sweeping tax package that would likely cost you and everyone you know more to live in Washington. You can comment at a Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing scheduled for 5:30 tomorrow (Wednesday). Tracy Ellis has more.
Read More

AUDIO: Week 13 Legislative Session Update with Senate Republican Leader John Braun

Published on April 12, 2025
State Senate Democrats are pushing to scrap the one percent cap on property tax growth, opening the door for taxes to skyrocket with inflation. A Democrat rent control bill from the House cleared the Senate and now heads back to the House for further consideration. Senator Braun speaks out against both measures.
Read More

AUDIO: Democrats pass bill to bully schools, sideline parents

Published on April 11, 2025
The state Senate Republican Leader accuses Senate Democrats of passing a bill that bullies schools and sidelines parents. Tracy Ellis reports.
Read More

The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Property Taxes & Rent Control—The Unintended Consequences

Published on April 10, 2025
Senate Republican Leader John Braun discusses concerns over proposed property tax increases and rent control, featuring voices from homeowners, renters, and landlords. He examines economic impacts, the housing crisis, and the broader effects on businesses and essential services.  
Read More

News from the Caucus

February 19, 2024
Senate Republican Caucus

VIDEO: I-2124 Opt Out of the Long-Term Care Payroll Tax

Initiative 2124 to the Legislature would allow you to opt out of the long-term care payroll tax. The tax is expensive and burdensome. The benefit is minimal. You can’t collect it if you retire in another state.
Read More
February 16, 2024
Senate Republican Caucus

VIDEO: Sen. John Braun with an update on the 2024 Legislative Session. Taxes, Education, and more

Sen. John Braun provides an update on where key bills from the Senate Republican Caucus stand in the legislative process.
Read More
February 13, 2024
Jeff Wilson

Senate votes to make ‘The Evergreen State’ Washington’s official nickname

OLYMPIA – With a vote Tuesday afternoon, the state Senate declared Washington to be “The Evergreen State” and attempted once again to clear up an oversight that dates back 131 years. It’s the second try for Senate Bill 5595, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview. His bill passed the Senate last year, but did not...
Read More
February 13, 2024
John Braun

Senate passes Wilson, Braun bills to tackle opioid addiction, overdose deaths

OLYMPIA – Washington state’s fast-rising rate of opioid addiction and overdose deaths are targeted by a pair of bills that emerged from the state Senate this week, sponsored by Sens. John Braun, R-Centralia and Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver. Both measures passed the Senate 49-0 and now move to the House. The bills launch a coordinated statewide...
Read More
February 12, 2024
Senate Republican Caucus

VIDEO: I-2109 and I-2111 End Income Taxes

The fight against income taxes is heating up with two initiatives to the state legislature. Initiative 2109 would repeal the capital gains income tax. Initiative 2111 would ban all state and local income taxes.
Read More
February 09, 2024
John Braun

Property tax increase bill dies, won’t get a vote

  OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, made the following comments in reaction to the announcement that the proposal to allow local governments to raise property taxes by up to 3% annually without a vote of the people is dead for this legislative session. The Democratic sponsor of Senate Bill 5770 told The Washington State...
Read More
February 09, 2024
John Braun

Letter to Gov. Inslee regarding Green Hill School

Sent to Gov. Jay Inslee on Feb. 9, 2024   Governor Inslee, It’s no secret that the environment at Green Hill School in Chehalis has become extremely dangerous for students and staff. News reports have shown you claiming the situation at the facility is improving. The reports of repeated riots, multiple drug overdoses, smuggling of...
Read More
February 09, 2024
Senate Republican Caucus

VIDEO: Sen. Nikki Torres on AL PUNTO on Univision

She worked with her parents in the fields; now she’s the first Latina state Senator from Central Washington.  
Read More
February 08, 2024
Senate Republican Caucus

VIDEO: State Senate Republican Caucus news conference on bill expected to raise property taxes and rents

SB 5770 would triple the allowable property tax growth rate for local governments from 1% to 3%, costing taxpayers $6 billion over the next 12 years. It will raise property taxes AND it will raise rents, which renters can’t afford during Washington’s affordable housing crisis.
Read More
February 07, 2024
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Property-tax hike most destructive bill this session

Higher property taxes and rents could be on the way if legislation headed to the state Senate floor eventually becomes law. Tracy Ellis reports the bill triples the allowable property tax growth rate for local governments.
Read More
February 06, 2024
Chris Gildon

Fentanyl education bill passes Senate committee as pills fall to 25 cents in Portland

OLYMPIA – A bill launching a public education campaign to prevent drug overdoses cleared the Senate Ways and Means Committee before a key deadline Monday for passage of bills in the 2024 legislative session. Other elements of the ‘Recovery Washington’ package announced by Senate Republicans did not advance, but lawmakers said growing alarm in Oregon...
Read More
February 05, 2024
John Braun

ALERT: Democrat bill to TRIPLE the increase in property tax

A bad bill Senate Democrats sponsored last year is being given a chance this year to move forward. Senate Bill 5770 would triple the 1% cap on the growth of local property taxes, taking $6 billion more of your money over the next 12 years. It is likely to come to the Senate floor for...
Read More
1
...
12 13 14 15
16
17 18 19 20
...
38