News from the Caucus
AUDIO: 7th District Legislative Update with State Senator Shelly Short
Senator Shelly Short discusses the upcoming battle over the Parental Rights Initiative. She criticizes a Democrat bill, which she believes undermines parental rights and interferes with the parent-child relationship. Senator Short emphasizes the importance of parental notification and the right to review all records, and vows to fight against the bill with everything she has.
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AUDIO: 9th District Legislative Update: Senator Schoesler Defends Parents Rights Initiative Against Senate Education Committee Chair
AUDIO: State Senator Mark Schoesler criticizes the Democrat Senate Education Committee chair for attempting to dismantle the Parents’ Rights Initiative, which was passed unanimously in the Senate a year ago. He emphasizes the importance of respecting parents’ rights and maintaining public trust.
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Goehner proposes license plate to promote organ donation
Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… To raise awareness about the value of organ donation, Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, has introduced legislation to create a special “Donate Life” license plate. “More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are currently on the transplant waiting list, including nearly 2,000 across the Pacific Northwest. But tragically, 17...
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Wilson legislation clears way for kit homes, one solution to housing crisis
Kit home. Credit: CC by 2.0/ Shellie Evans OLYMPIA – A Longview senator says the state should eliminate hurdles to construction of kit homes that offer a promising solution to the state’s housing shortage. Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, has introduced a pair of bills for the 2025 legislative session to streamline state and local permitting...
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VIDEO: Legislative Republican Leadership Media Availability
Senators John Braun and Chris Gildon, along with other Legislative Republican leaders, hold their weekly media availability to discuss the 2025 legislative session. Topics include new House Democrat rules that could limit Republican debate, the budget, children’s issues, immigration, and more.
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Boehnke legislation attracts strong bipartisan interest
Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, came into the 2025 legislative session to find common ground with the Senate majority – and it’s working. Two full weeks into this year’s session, 14 of the 17 bills filed by Boehnke, the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology...
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VIDEO UPDATE: Senate Republican Leader John Braun
In his weekly video update from Olympia, Sen. John Braun outlines his legislative priorities and highlights key bills on his agenda. He discusses issues like rent control, school absenteeism, and more.
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The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: A Better Future for Washington’s Children
In this episode of “The Elephant in the Dome,” the official podcast of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus, hosts Tracy Ellis and Laudan Espinoza sit down with Senate Republican Leader John Braun. They delve into Democrat efforts affecting parental rights, the challenges and opportunities in education funding, and a vision for reimagining The Evergreen...
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Senate panel passes Holy bill to help hire more law-enforcement officers
A bipartisan bill prime-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Holy to increase public safety by boosting the number of law-enforcement officers in Washington communities was approved by the Senate Law and Justice Committee today. Senate Bill 5060 would have the state Criminal Justice Training Commission develop and implement a grant program to help local and tribal governments...
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AUDIO: Senate panel passes Holy bill to help hire more law-enforcement officers
A bipartisan bill to increase the number of law enforcement officers in Washington is a step closer to being signed by Governor Bob Ferguson. Tracy Ellis explains.
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Goehner appointed to committee on economic development, international relations
Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Sen. Keith Goehner has been appointed to the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCEDIR) by Lt. Governor Denny Heck. This marks Goehner’s second special committee appointment since his term as a state senator began Jan. 13 and reflects his commitment to fostering economic growth and...
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AUDIO: State Senate Republican leadership update with Senator John Braun
Legislative Democrats are attempting to overturn the Parental Rights Initiative 2081 through Senate Bill 5181. The initiative, which was endorsed by over 400,000 Washingtonians, enshrined and clarified parental and familial rights in public education.
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