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.
Read More

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
Read More

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.
Read More

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.
Read More

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.
Read More

News from the Caucus

January 06, 2021
Senate Republican Caucus

Republican leaders respond to governor’s new 2-phase ‘reopening’ plan

“As Washingtonians are forced to comply with the detailed demands of the governor for marginal impacts on public health, he has demanded no accountability from important state agencies involved in the pandemic response. His Employment Security Department failed to prevent massive fraud and deliver timely unemployment benefits to those in desperate need. It continues to...
Read More
December 30, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

Legislative Republican leaders respond to Gov. Jay Inslee’s extension of statewide restrictions

House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox and Senate Republican Leader John Braun released the following statements today in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s one-week extension of statewide restrictions: House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox: “I’m disappointed in the governor’s decision. State government continues to focus on how it can shut employers down instead of how it can...
Read More
December 08, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

Republicans respond to governor’s extension of tighter restrictions on small business

OLYMPIA…Senate and House Republicans released the following joint statement in response to Gov. Inslee’s announcement today that tighter restrictions on small businesses, such as restaurants and gyms, will continue until Jan. 4:   “Public health is our top concern, including the mental health of people all over Washington who are coping with the impacts of...
Read More
December 08, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

Senate Republicans announce 2021 committee assignments

Announcing the 2021 committee assignments for the members of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus: Committee assignments by committee Committee assignments by member
Read More
December 02, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

Braun, Rivers, Short, Wagoner tapped as top Senate Republican leadership

OLYMPIA…Washington Senate Republicans today elected their leadership team for the 2021-22 legislative term. The caucus elected Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, as its new leader and Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, as the new caucus chair. Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, was reelected as Republican floor leader and Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, is the new Republican whip....
Read More
November 20, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

Relief package is a start, but no substitute for full Legislative response

Senate Republicans insist Legislature call itself in for special session without further delay OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released the following statement in response to Gov. Inslee’s announcement of $135 million in relief for job providers and families: “Today’s announcement shows the governor realizes small businesses and job providers can’t survive much longer under...
Read More
November 20, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

State’s newspapers agree: Refusal to call a special session is a big mistake

EVERY DAILY NEWSPAPER in Washington state with an editorial board has endorsed a special session, with the exceptions of the Wenatchee World, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Olympian. (Wenatchee has run several pro-session editorials that appeared in other papers, while the Olympian has carried editorials from its fellow McClatchy paper, the News Tribune.)  ...
Read More
November 15, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

Schoesler: Safety measures and restrictions more likely to be widely supported if not dictated by governor alone

Senate Republicans call for emergency special session, ready for legislative action to address COVID-19 crisis   OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released the following statement in response to Gov. Inslee’s ban on social gatherings and further restrictions on businesses: “The recent increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths is very concerning. I feel for those...
Read More
August 19, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

“Washington has lost a giant” says Senate Republican Leader of former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton’s passing

Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, offered these thoughts on the passing of former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton. Gorton, 92, died Wednesday at his daughter’s Clyde Hill home, following a long and storied career in Washington politics as a state representative, House Republican Leader, state attorney general, U.S. senator from Washington state and elder statesman...
Read More
June 08, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

Calling special session now most responsible path forward

Proposed across-the-board cuts are ‘blunt and crude,’ Legislature can show more care OLYMPIA…..Sen. Shelly Short, Senate Republican floor leader, R-Addy, issued the following statement in response to the announcement by the Office of Financial Management that it has proposed a 15-percent across-the-board budget cut for state agencies, as directed by the governor.     “The...
Read More
May 29, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

“Let the people weigh in”: Senate Republicans again call for special session

OLYMPIA…Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, Senate Republican caucus , issued the following statement in response to the governor’s announcement today that the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order will end at midnight on May 31 and focus will be directed toward opening Washington’s economy county by county. “The governor’s announcement today underscores the need for a June...
Read More
May 01, 2020
Senate Republican Caucus

Inslee four-phase plan forces many businesses to stay on path to failure

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican leader Mark Schoesler released the following statement in response to Gov. Inslee’s announcement today that he is extending the order to stay home during the COVID-19 public health crisis until May 31 and will allow a 4-phase approach toward reopening Washington’s economy. Phase one of the plan, which would begin May 4, would...
Read More
1
...
21 22 23 24
25
26 27 28 29
...
34