Leadership Blog

News from the Caucus

April 15, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

Legislature enters final stretch of 2015 session

Majority Leader: ‘Senate holds the line on last minute projects adding $128 million’ OLYMPIA… Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released this statement as the Legislature passed an important deadline for passage of bills from opposite chambers, and entered the final phase of the 2015 session: “Today is Tax Day for thousands of Washington taxpayers. I...
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April 14, 2015
Mike Padden

House approves Padden bill encouraging specialty courts

Sen. Mike Padden saw his legislation to encourage the establishment of specialty, or “therapeutic,” courts move one step closer to becoming law, following a unanimous vote today in the state House of Representatives. The state Senate had given Senate Bill 5107 its unanimous support in February. “Therapeutic courts serve an important role in our judicial...
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April 14, 2015
Mike Padden

AG Ferguson and Sen. Padden urge House action on felony DUI bill

Today the House Public Safety Committee heard public testimony on a measure sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden that would make a fourth DUI conviction within 10 years a felony. “This bill is really about going after those repeat offenders who are putting the public at risk and even taking lives,” said Padden, who chairs the...
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April 10, 2015
Mike Padden

Senate adopts Padden resolution honoring those with Down syndrome

Today the Senate adopted a resolution sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, honoring people with Down syndrome and recognizing the efforts of people and organizations working on behalf of those with developmental disabilities. Padden shared his personal commitment to policies that recognize the rights of those with Down syndrome. “As a Legislature and as individuals we...
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April 10, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

Senate and House leaders meet to discuss budget negotiations

OLYMPIA…As the 2015 legislative session nears the end of its 105 day limit, Senate Majority Coalition budget negotiators are reaching across the aisle and Rotunda to end on time and on budget. The Senate has passed a complete budget. The House has passed a $39 billion spending plan. This is an important difference between the...
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April 10, 2015
Mike Padden

VIDEO: Senate honors those with Down syndrome

Watch a video featuring comments from Sen. Padden and some of the Down syndrome self-advocates who attended today’s reading of Senate Resolution 8657, honoring those with Down syndrome and recognizing those individuals and organizations who advocate on their behalf.
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April 10, 2015
John Braun

Senate tuition-cut proposal good for families and GET program

After Sen. John Braun introduced legislation to cut tuition at state colleges and universities some questions arose regarding the bill’s effects on Washington State’s Guaranteed Education Tuition program. Opponents of the proposal have erroneously stated the measure would reduce the value of credits already purchased through the state GET program. “I understand the concerns that...
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April 08, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

Watch KING 5: Students express support for Senate tuition cut

 
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April 06, 2015
Mark Schoesler

A no-new-tax Senate budget proposal points the way – again

This post originally appeared on the leadership blog of the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus, Exit 105. For the last year our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have been saying we can’t avoid a tax increase — a head-bobbing consensus that seems to have been taken by many as conventional wisdom. Then we came...
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April 06, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

Majority Leader: We have the votes to pass a no-new-taxes budget

OLYMPIA… Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released this statement in advance of passage of a 2015-17 operating budget by members of the state Senate: “We have the votes to pass a no-new-taxes budget that fully funds K-12 education and offers college students and their families the first tuition cut in at least a generation. “It’s...
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April 03, 2015
Mike Padden

Senate unanimously passes Padden’s felony-DUI bill

Early this morning, at the end of a marathon session by lawmakers, the Washington State Senate unanimously passed Sen. Mike Padden’s bill to make a fourth DUI conviction in 10 years a felony. The policy is also funded in the Senate’s operating budget proposal, which was debated last night and is scheduled for a vote...
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March 31, 2015
Mark Schoesler

Senate delivers a ‘no-new-taxes’ budget proposal, cuts college tuition 25 percent

OLYMPIA…”This is a bold budget proposal that delivers on the promise to make education the top priority and to live within our means. The Senate budget delivers tax relief for families, fully funds K-12 education and protects the most vulnerable – all without raising taxes. “This budget sends the message to families across Washington that,...
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