Leadership Blog

In the News

AUDIO: Republicans on Senate Democrats’ record-setting tax package: ‘a new kind of March madness’

Published on March 20, 2025
March Madness isn’t just for basketball—Republicans say it’s happening in Olympia too. Tracy Ellis explains.
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VIDEO: Sen John Braun recaps week 9 of the Legislative Session

Published on March 15, 2025
Sen John Braun recaps week 9 of the Legislative Session, highlighting wins on public safety and housing, and progress on special education funding. He warns against tax increases and stresses the need for better outcomes in K-12 education
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AUDIO: Balancing Budgets and Defying New Taxes: Sen. Chris Gildon’s Vision for Washington on The Jason Rantz Show

Published on March 15, 2025
On the Jason Rantz Show, State Senator Chris Gildon discusses the budget realities facing Washington. With a clear stance against new taxes, Gildon outlines how education funding can be preserved, fiscal responsibility achieved, and collective bargaining agreements reimagined. He emphasizes accountability, innovation, and solutions rooted in economic pragmatism.
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AUDIO: State Senate Republican Leadership Update with Senator John Braun…

Published on March 14, 2025
Budget shortfall and $ave Washington Budget—Senate Republican Leader John Braun explains how the state’s budget shortfall is closer to $6.6 billion—not $15 billion—because of spending choices, not existing services. He outlines a balanced plan with no cuts to K-12 education or vital services for vulnerable residents.
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Sen. Chris Gildon Explains Senate Republican Budget Plan on KVI

Published on March 12, 2025
Sen. Chris Gildon told KVI’s John Carlson that the Senate Republican budget balances without new taxes or major cuts. It preserves teacher bonuses, limits certain program growth, and offers state workers a $5K bonus instead of $4B in raises. Gildon urges public support.
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News from the Caucus

March 24, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Direct anger about crime toward Democrats’ public-safety failures, says Republican leader

CENTRALIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun says Washington residents shocked by the continued wave of murders, shootings, car thefts and other lawless behavior should direct their anger and frustration toward Democrat legislators and their abject failure to reestablish public safety by supporting anti-crime legislation. “The majority Democrats did almost nothing this year to fix the...
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March 04, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Follow Oregon’s example – end state-employee vaccine mandate, say Republican leaders

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, shared the following reaction to the announcement from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown that she is rescinding her vaccine mandate for nearly 40,000 state workers. Brown is quoted in Oregon’s largest newspaper as saying “extraordinary emergency” orders are no longer necessary as “we...
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March 03, 2022
Jeff Wilson

Kreidler needs to resign, says Sen. Jeff Wilson

Reports of staff abuse are last straw, says ranking member of State Government committee OLYMPIA – Staff complaints of abusive behavior from Washington’s insurance commissioner are the latest in a series of incidents that warrant Mike Kreidler’s resignation, says Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview. Staff reports allege the hot-tempered Kreidler frequently makes snide remarks and belittles...
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February 28, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Inslee shouldn’t assign motives to legislators who dare to question him

Governor should loosen grip, trust the people, be more inclusive in pandemic decisions, says Braun   OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered the following reaction to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement and accusations during his news conference earlier today.   “No governor has exerted emergency powers during this pandemic as long as Governor Inslee. Tomorrow marks...
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February 28, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Republican leaders: End statewide mask mandate, state of emergency today

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, released the following comments upon hearing that Gov. Jay Inslee will announce that Washington’s statewide mask mandate will end March 12 – about a week earlier than planned. The governor has given no indication, however, that he plans to end the state...
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February 22, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Democrats’ budgets treat taxpayers harshly, Republican leaders say

$15 billion surplus more than enough to fund meaningful tax relief   OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, expressed their deep disappointment in the Senate and House 2021-23 supplemental budgets after they were released Monday. “We’re stunned at the continuing inability or unwillingness of the Democratic majorities to...
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February 17, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Legislative Republican leaders: Don’t wait another month to end state mask mandates

OLYMPIA…Legislative Republican leaders had the following to say after Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that the statewide indoor mask mandate and the mask mandate for students in grades K-12 will end on March 21. Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm: “We stand by what we said last week: It’s time to end...
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February 09, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Republican leaders: Democrats’ transportation plan misses mark by costing people more

OLYMPIA…Legislative Republican leaders issued the following statement in response to the $16 billion transportation package released this week by majority Democrats. The plan was developed without input from Republicans.   From Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm: “The Democrats’ plan is disappointing, not so much because of what it would do but...
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February 09, 2022
Senate Republican Caucus

Braun hopeful governor announces end to statewide mask mandate

UPDATE: In reaction to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement today that Washington would not yet repeal its statewide indoor mask mandate, Sen. John Braun released the following response as an update to his earlier statement.   “It’s very disappointing that the governor chose only to announce an end to the outdoor mask mandate – something most...
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February 02, 2022
John Braun

Senate majority passes ‘unconscionable’ bill that would let murderers, rapists pursue quicker release from prison

OLYMPIA… Under Senate Bill 5036, passed today by the Senate’s Democratic majority,  128 offenders now serving time for aggravated murder or first-degree murder would immediately become eligible to apply for commutation of their sentences. Another 68 such offenders would be eligible to seek commutation within the next five years. An additional 321 inmates sentenced to...
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February 01, 2022
John Braun

Only fix for problematic long-term care tax is repeal, says Braun

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun introduced Senate Bill 5965, which would repeal the wildly unpopular long-term care trust program referred to as “Washington Cares.” It would also repeal the taxes employees are required to pay through payroll deductions. More than 400,000 people applied for exemptions to the plan – a number that would have been...
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January 17, 2022
John Braun

Proposal to slash in-person schooling alarming, says Braun

One day a week of remote schooling without teacher contact a huge mistake OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered the following reaction upon hearing Senate Bill 5735, which would allow up to one day a week of school to be held remotely on a permanent basis, will receive a hearing Wednesday. The bill, which codifies...
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