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.
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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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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Braun bill to reopen Washington receives staggering amount of public support
Senate Republican Leader is grateful small business workers had their voices heard OLYMPIA… Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, issued this statement after dozens of people testified this morning before the Senate State Government and Elections Committee in support of Senate Bill 5114. It would move all regions of Washington to Phase II of Gov. Jay Inslee’s...
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Surprise! Majority looks to abdicate a basic role of the legislative branch
I can’t tell you how many people contacted my Senate office during the past nine-plus months about the unprecedented actions Governor Inslee has taken since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of them, using words that made their frustration or desperation obvious, asked what legislators could do regarding the dozens of proclamations he’s made since...
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Braun says new Senate rules severely limit access to democracy
OLYMPIA…After an historic day in the Washington State Legislature where changes to the rules were adopted to allow for the 2021 Legislative Session to continue remotely, Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released a statement. Braun said he’s disappointed that majority Democrats refused to bend on new Senate operating rules for the 2021 legislative session...
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Braun condemns violence at U.S. Capitol as threat to democracy, safety
OLYMPIA…Washington State Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released the following statement regarding protests in Washington, D.C. that have resulted in breaches of security, a lockdown of the U.S. Capitol and the distribution of gas masks to legislators. “What we are seeing at our nation’s Capitol today is unacceptable. I condemned the violent protests...
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Republican leader sends letter to governor explaining refusal to extend two proclamations
Dear Governor Inslee: As the letter yesterday documented, my caucus—as per the provisions of RCW 43.06.220(4)–did not approve of the extension of the statutory waivers and suspensions ordered in Proclamations 20-58 and 20-63. The immediate cause of our caucus’ disapproval is your continued shutdown of restaurants and gyms without a firm basis in data and...
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Republican leaders respond to governor’s new 2-phase ‘reopening’ plan
“As Washingtonians are forced to comply with the detailed demands of the governor for marginal impacts on public health, he has demanded no accountability from important state agencies involved in the pandemic response. His Employment Security Department failed to prevent massive fraud and deliver timely unemployment benefits to those in desperate need. It continues to...
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Legislative Republican leaders respond to Gov. Jay Inslee’s extension of statewide restrictions
House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox and Senate Republican Leader John Braun released the following statements today in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s one-week extension of statewide restrictions: House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox: “I’m disappointed in the governor’s decision. State government continues to focus on how it can shut employers down instead of how it can...
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Republicans respond to governor’s extension of tighter restrictions on small business
OLYMPIA…Senate and House Republicans released the following joint statement in response to Gov. Inslee’s announcement today that tighter restrictions on small businesses, such as restaurants and gyms, will continue until Jan. 4: “Public health is our top concern, including the mental health of people all over Washington who are coping with the impacts of...
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Senate Republicans announce 2021 committee assignments
Announcing the 2021 committee assignments for the members of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus: Committee assignments by committee Committee assignments by member
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Braun, Rivers, Short, Wagoner tapped as top Senate Republican leadership
OLYMPIA…Washington Senate Republicans today elected their leadership team for the 2021-22 legislative term. The caucus elected Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, as its new leader and Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, as the new caucus chair. Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, was reelected as Republican floor leader and Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, is the new Republican whip....
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