News from the Caucus
A weekly summary of Senate Republican Caucus content, featuring links to videos, radio and podcast appearances, press releases, social media posts, priority bills, and a short list of bad bills to watch.
That’s a wrap: Republican leaders wish Legislature had listened to the people more
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican leaders released the following remarks as the 2021 legislative session came to a close as it prepared for the traditional “Sine Die” adjournment. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia: “Throughout this session Republicans have consistently offered ideas and taken positions that come from listening to the people. It’s been disappointing to see...
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Senators call for action on emergency powers issue
People deserve a voice in COVID lockdown decisions, Wilson says OLYMPIA – In the final hours of the 2021 legislative session, Senate Republicans are calling on majority Democrats to restore the people’s voice in COVID lockdown decisions and other public emergencies. In a letter to Senate Democratic Leader Andy Billig, Republican senators observe that if...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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