Leadership Blog

In the News

AUDIO: Senate Republicans react to Ferguson signing largest tax increase in state history

Published on May 20, 2025
Governor Bob Ferguson made big promises about fiscal responsibility, but today, Senate Republicans say he threw those promises out the window. Tracy Ellis reports.
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AUDIO/PHOTOS: Sens. Mark Schoesler, Nikki Torres, and Perry Dozier on KONA Radio

Published on May 16, 2025
Senators Mark Schoesler, Nikki Torres, and Perry Dozier discuss the latest budget decisions, tax policies, and housing challenges impacting Eastern Washington. They highlight bipartisan efforts, concerns over rising costs, and the potential for a special legislative session. LISTEN  
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AUDIO: Braun: Tragic fentanyl-related death of Puyallup child shows continued need for stronger child-endangerment laws

Published on May 13, 2025
A five-year-old Puyallup boy died from fentanyl exposure in his own home—a tragedy the State Senate Republican Leader says should never happen. Tracy Ellis reports.
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AUDIO: Sen. John Braun Talks Budget, Campus Protests & Leadership with KVI’s Ari Hoffman

Published on May 08, 2025
On KVI, Sen. John Braun joins Ari Hoffman to discuss Washington’s budget concerns, campus protests at UW, and Democratic silence on antisemitism. He critiques overspending, calls for accountability, and urges leadership to address rising tensions. A candid conversation on pressing state issues.
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AUDIO: Sen. John Braun Discusses Washington’s Budget and Tax Hikes on The Lars Larson Show

Published on May 08, 2025
Sen. John Braun joins Lars Larson to analyze Washington’s budget decisions, tax hikes, and Gov. Ferguson’s stance. He critiques spending habits, warns of economic risks, and urges fiscal responsibility. Will the governor veto or sign these controversial measures?
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News from the Caucus

April 24, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Rent Control Showdown: Democrats Push for Caps as Republicans Warn of Economic Risks

Sen. Keith Goehner delivers a speech on the Senate floor with Sen. John Braun observing intently Rent control legislation, decried by Republicans for potentially shrinking housing supply and raising rents, continues to advance in the state legislature. Tracy Ellis explains.  
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April 24, 2025
Chris Gildon

Republican budget leaders see showdown ahead as Senate Democrats approve trio of major tax increases

OLYMPIA… The state Senate’s majority Democrats today moved Washington closer to the largest set of tax increases in state history, sending the first wave of this year’s Democrat tax hikes to Gov. Bob Ferguson. The three major tax bills receiving final legislative approval from majority Democrats are: a sales-tax increase that will hit lower- and...
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April 23, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

NEWSFLASH: No word on the budget, but plenty of taxes to go around

Silence: Still no word on budget negotiations How much will the 2025-27 operating budget increase state spending and taxes?     How much will the 2025-27 operating budget increase state spending and taxes?   That’s a good question. We’re not sure yet what the full scope of the budget and its taxes will be because...
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April 22, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Senator Nikki Torres Discusses Tax Hikes and Education on KVI Radio

Senator Nikki Torres joins Ari Hoffman on KVI Radio to critique proposed school levy increases that are framed as funding for schools. She points out that wealthier districts would benefit more from these levies, while poorer districts might struggle to raise funds or gain voter approval.
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April 22, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

Governor signs Braun bill expanding technical education to 6th graders

OLYMPIA…A bill sponsored by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, to expand exploratory career and technical education (CTE) to sixth-grade students was signed today by Gov. Bob Ferguson. It will become law 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. Currently, K-12 education funding provides exploratory CTE to students beginning in seventh grade. Exploratory CTE introduces students to a...
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April 21, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Senator Braun Talks Taxes, Trucks, and Tesla with Lars Larson

On the Lars Larson Show, Sen. John Braun blasts Washington’s scaled-back wealth tax as a legal setup and warns electric truck rules could cripple transport. He questions taxing Tesla’s success and calls for market-based policies—not mandates—from Olympia.
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April 21, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Democrat legislators still on track for supporting property-tax hikes

The proposed property tax increase hike from State Legislative Democrats is off the table, but concerns remain over a plan to raise the school levy cap. Tracy Ellis reports.
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April 21, 2025
Matt Boehnke

Boehnke blasts majority party’s triple-tax package: ‘Wrong direction for Washington’

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… In a stark rebuke of the majority party’s latest tax agenda, Sen. Matt Boehnke today issued a statement following the Senate’s passage of three major tax bills—Senate Bill 5813, Senate Bill 5814, and Senate Bill 5794—all of which impose new or expanded tax burdens on Washington residents...
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April 21, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

Democrat legislators still on track for supporting property-tax hikes, just by a different route

Areas outside Seattle will see an increase of nearly 20% next year and 55% over the next 6 years.   OLYMPIA…Contrary to news-media reports indicating the Legislature’s majority Democrats have abandoned their push for higher property taxes, House Bill 2049 would still allow significant property-tax increases by raising the cap on local school-district levies, which...
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April 19, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Democrat Taxes, Taxes, and more Taxes and Rent Control

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, on “The Elephant in the Dome,” criticized Democrats’ $18 billion tax proposals, including property and sales tax hikes. He warned of economic risks, business exodus, and fiscal mismanagement. Braun also discussed rent control and transparency concerns in budgeting.
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April 19, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Senate Democrats approve first wave of massive tax hikes; an ‘expensive day for the taxpayers,’ say Republican budget leaders

State Senate Democrats just approved a wave of Easter weekend tax hikes, including a sales-tax increase and new taxes on self-storage rentals. Tracy Ellis reports.
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April 19, 2025
Chris Gildon

Senate Democrats approve first wave of massive tax hikes; an ‘expensive day for the taxpayers,’ say Republican budget leaders

OLYMPIA… Today the Senate majority approved a sales-tax increase that will hit lower- and middle-income families harder, a tax increase that will drive capital out of Washington, and a collection of unrelated tax increases that includes a new tax on self-storage rentals. Sen. Chris Gildon of Puyallup, Senate Republican budget leader, offered this reaction to...
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