Leadership Blog

In the News

The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Senator frustrated about bureaucratic delay of school earthquake protections

Published on October 08, 2024
Tens-of-millions of dollars set aside to protect schools from earthquakes is not getting spent, and state Senator Judy Warnick wants something done about it. The Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction is supposed to be distributing the money.
Read More

AUDIO: Police pursuit, parental rights, income tax laws go into effect

Published on June 04, 2024
New laws that go into effect this week (June 6) impact police pursuits, parental rights, and income taxes in Washington. Tracy Ellis reports.
Read More

Infant fentanyl overdoses warrant felony charges, says Braun

Published on April 26, 2024
CENTRALIA…Three infants in the Everett area overdosed on fentanyl over four days this week, including a 13-month-old who died. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following reaction to these preventable tragedies. “It’s completely indefensible when an infant or child gets sick or dies because someone in the household is using deadly drugs such...
Read More

VIDEO: TVW: 2024 Impact Sine Die Special – Sen. John Braun

Published on March 07, 2024
On the final day of the 2024 Legislative Session, Mike McClanahan, host of The Impact, interviews Sen. John Braun.
Read More

VIDEO: TVW: 2024 Impact Sine Die Special – Sen Lynda Wilson

Published on March 07, 2024
On the final day of the 2024 Legislative Session, Mike McClanahan, host of The Impact, interviews Sen. Lynda Wilson.
Read More

News from the Caucus

July 27, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

Senate majority makes college more affordable with historic tuition cuts

Senate Majority leader Mark Schoesler recaps the news coverage of an historic session: ‘Historic’ tuition cut sets state apart from rest of U.S. Seattle Times, June 13, 2015 Washington’s move isn’t well-known elsewhere in the country, but some say it could spur other states to think about cuts. “I don’t know how widely known this proposal...
Read More
July 22, 2015
Mark Schoesler

A messy session with a splendid finish

This post originally appeared on the leadership blog of the Majority Coalition Caucus, Exit 105. If ever there was a legislative session that proved Otto von Bismarck right, it is the one we just finished. Von Bismarck is the former German chancellor we always quote about legislating and sausage-making: “Laws are like sausages – it...
Read More
July 07, 2015
Mike Padden

Padden’s rapid response to Supreme Court public-safety ruling signed by governor

Bill restores pretrial-monitoring tool for protecting the public On June 11 the state Supreme Court ruled that the costs for pre-trial drug and alcohol monitoring fit under the statutory meaning of “pretrial supervision,” limiting the ability of courts to order these protective measures in cash-strapped counties. By July 6 – just 25 days later –...
Read More
June 30, 2015
Mike Padden

Legislature backs Padden’s bill on pretrial drug and alcohol monitoring

Today the House of Representatives voted 92-6 to pass a measure sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, aimed at improving public safety by making it more practical for courts to order pretrial drug and alcohol monitoring. “There are often real-world consequences to Supreme Court decisions,” said Padden, who chairs the Senate Law and Justice Committee. “Senate...
Read More
June 25, 2015
Mike Padden

Senate passes Padden measures aimed at addressing recent Supreme Court decisions

Bills would help permit pretrial drug and alcohol monitoring and give deceased victims of violent crimes a voice in sentencing hearings On Wednesday the Senate passed two measures sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, aimed at improving public safety and increasing justice for crime victims. Both bills were introduced to address recent Washington State Supreme Court...
Read More
June 24, 2015
Mike Padden

Time at long last for House to pass drunk-driving bill

This post originally appeared in the leadership blog of the Majority Coalition Caucus, Exit 105. Before we wrap up our business for the year and start thinking about the long drive home, a drunk-driving bill awaits our action in the Legislature. Something we need to do before we get behind the wheel. A series of terrible accidents in the...
Read More
June 24, 2015
Mike Padden

Padden’s felony-DUI bill moves to House for third time this year

For the third time since lawmakers convened at the state Capitol in January, the Washington state Senate has unanimously passed Sen. Mike Padden’s bill to make a fourth DUI conviction in 10 years a felony. “We have only a few more days to act before the end of the current legislative session, and it is...
Read More
June 21, 2015
Mark Schoesler

Coug nation grieves the loss of WSU President Elson Floyd

Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, issued the following statement on the death of Washington State University President Elson Floyd: “It was with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of Elson Floyd this morning. As president of Washington State University, Dr. Floyd was a widely admired leader and a passionate advocate for improved...
Read More
June 17, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

2015: Best year for students and teachers in decades

Sen. Bruce Dammeier, vice chair of the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee answers the question, “What have lawmakers done for students this year?” Senate education budget facts: Greatest new investment in K-12 of any budget in state history. 47 percent of the budget dedicated to K-12 education — a share not seen since the...
Read More
June 16, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

KING5: State lawmakers investigating Snohomish County clean energy contracts

EVERETT, Wash. — A series of contracts awarded by the Snohomish County Public Utilities District through a state clean energy grant program are under investigation by state lawmakers, some of whom are concerned about potential conflicts of interest between public and private entities. Central to questions being raised, mostly by Senate Republicans, are dealings between...
Read More
May 27, 2015
Judy Warnick

Collective bargaining shouldn’t be a secret

This post originally appeared in the leadership blog of the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus, Exit 105. What would you say if you were presented with an agreement over which you had no say, was negotiated in secret and cost you millions — and the only thing you could do was turn thumbs-up or thumbs-down? Most likely what you would...
Read More
May 27, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

Collective bargaining shouldn’t be a secret

What would you say if you were presented with an agreement over which you had no say, was negotiated in secret and cost you millions — and the only thing you could do was turn thumbs-up or thumbs-down? Most likely what you would say would be unprintable. Unfortunately, we in the Legislature are limited to yea or nay. For the last 10...
Read More
1
...
22 23 24 25
26
27 28 29 30
...
32