Leadership Blog

In the News

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.  
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AUDIO: Republicans Push Back Against Democrat-Led Property Tax Hike

Published on April 09, 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. Senate Republicans call it reckless, saying it would hit homeowners and renters hard. Tracy Ellis has more.
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News from the Caucus

April 21, 2021
John Braun

Legislative Republicans: Emergency power reform not about the governor – it’s about the people

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, offered the following statement in response to an interview Gov. Jay Inslee gave criticizing the efforts of legislative Republicans to advance bills this session addressing the reform of the governor’s emergency powers. During the interview, the governor claimed Republicans’ true motive for...
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April 12, 2021
John Braun

No counties should be moving backward, say legislative Republican leaders

OLYMPIA…Legislative Republican leaders released the following statement after learning that three counties will be forced to move backward to Phase 2 in the governor’s reopening plan. Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, expressed their frustration with the governor’s decision and the Democrat majorities’ inaction on executive powers reform. “The communities of Cowlitz,...
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April 12, 2021
John Braun

Cutoff highlights refusal to address emergency powers — one of many majority Democrat failures, say top Senate Republicans

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican leaders released the following remarks after Sunday’s legislative deadline for bills that passed in their house origin to be considered by the opposite chamber. Bills that did not pass in both chambers by Sunday’s cutoff are considered ‘dead’ except for those considered necessary to implement the budget, such as the income tax proposed...
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March 18, 2021
John Braun

Republican leaders say endorsement of 3-foot spacing would help classrooms reopen

OLYMPIA… The state Legislature’s top Republican leaders today said a gubernatorial endorsement of 3-foot spacing for classrooms would help Washington schools comply with Gov. Jay Inslee’s March 15 emergency proclamation calling for at least a partial return to regular classroom instruction. Senate Republican Leader John Braun and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox noted the possibility...
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March 12, 2021
John Braun

Senate Republican leaders: Inslee’s school-choice approach to reopening K-12 instruction solid step toward improving youth mental health  

  OLYMPIA… Leaders in the Senate Republican Caucus released the following remarks in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement today that all K-12 public schools in Washington will be required by executive order to provide safe in-person and remote learning options for students by mid-April. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia: “There is no doubt...
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March 11, 2021
John Braun

Senate Republicans encouraged Washington moving ahead in reopening

Governor’s plan for Phase 3 echoes Republican’s “Open Safe, Open Now”   OLYMPIA…Top leadership of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus offered these remarks after the governor announced today that Washington is moving forward in his phased approach to reopening the state in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase 3, which begins March 22,...
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March 04, 2021
Senate Republican Caucus

Republican lawmakers: Move schools, employers to next phase now

‘Open Safe, Open Now: A Republican plan for Phase 3 and Beyond’ shows trust in the people   READ THE PLAN OLYMPIA…In response to sharply declining COVID-19 case rates and hospitalization rates statewide, legislative Republicans today announced a simple, practical and consistent plan to get all communities in Washington fully open for both school and...
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February 17, 2021
John Braun

Senate Republicans oppose income-tax bill; Braun calls out ‘emergency clause’

OLYMPIA… Last evening a majority on the Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to recommend the passage of Senate Bill 5096, which would put a 7-percent tax on income from the sale or exchange of capital assets. The proposal, which is another attempt to impose a state income tax on Washington residents, was requested by...
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February 11, 2021
Senate Republican Caucus

Senate Republicans unveil budget to help state restart and recover

Plan to get schools open and people back to work also doesn’t need more taxes OLYMPIA… Less than one-third of the way through the 2021 legislative session, Senate Republicans have stepped forward with a 2021-23 budget proposal aimed at restarting schools and bringing jobs back, while saving money for lower-income families. “Senate Republicans have been...
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February 04, 2021
John Braun

Braun to Inslee: Time to take the security fences down

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, sent Gov. Jay Inslee the following letter regarding the continued use of security fencing around many of the buildings on the Capitol Campus in Olympia.   February 3, 2021 Governor Jay Inslee Office of the Governor PO Box 40002 Olympia, WA 98504-0002 Dear Governor Inslee, Although the Governor’s Mansion...
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January 28, 2021
John Braun

Let people gather in safe, regulated public places – open Washington

Senator John Braun and Senator Jeff Wilson encouraged, hopeful for governor’s announcement OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, and Sen. Jeff Wilson, ranking Republican on the Senate State Government and Elections Committee, released the following remarks after reading in the media the Senate majority leader’s comments that the governor would be loosening restrictions on restaurants and...
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January 27, 2021
John Braun

Majority dodges vote on bipartisan bill to safely reopen Washington

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered these remarks after the Senate majority avoided taking action today on Senate Bill 5114, which would immediately move all eight regions of the state to Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s latest economic restart plan: “SB 5114 is the bipartisan plan to safely reopen Washington. It received an...
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