Leadership Blog

In the News

AUDIO: Sen. Chris Gildon on KVI’s Ari Hoffman Show – Budget “Reckless,” Ferguson “Caved to the Left”

Published on June 26, 2025
Washington’s budget is “$3.50 from disaster,” says Sen. Chris Gildon on KVI’s Ari Hoffman Show. Gildon slams the Legislative Democrats’ spending and Gov. Ferguson’s record tax hikes after new forecasts show a looming shortfall.
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AUDIO: Sen. Chris Gildon on the Lars Larson Show – Budget Barely Misses Iceberg

Published on June 25, 2025
Sen. Chris Gildon joins Lars Larson to unpack Washington’s shaky budget outlook, blasting record tax hikes and warning of looming shortfalls despite billions in new revenue. “It didn’t have to be this way,” he says.
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AUDIO: New revenue forecast is ‘near-miss’ but big trouble may be ahead, says Republican budget leader

Published on June 24, 2025
A near financial disaster is looming in Washington State. Tracy Ellis reports.
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Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Washington’s Health Care Crisis: Hospital Closures & Hidden Costs

Published on June 17, 2025
Hospitals across Washington are hurting, clinics are shutting down, and costs are skyrocketing. In this episode of Elephant in the Dome, state senators break down the crisis hitting our health care system—from new taxes impacting hospitals to hidden costs that could drive up insurance premiums for families. What role does government play in this growing...
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Legislative leaders condemn political violence in Minnesota

Published on June 15, 2025
OLYMPIA – The leaders of all four caucuses in the Washington State Legislature released the following statement regarding the assassination and attempted assassinations of Minnesota elected officials: “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and we are sending wishes for a complete recovery to Senator...
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News from the Caucus

April 24, 2015
Mark Schoesler

Follow the breadcrumbs to a government shutdown

This post originally appeared on the leadership blog of the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus, Exit 105. Last week, when there was still a chance for us to finish our business in Olympia on time and adjourn this weekend, we were flabbergasted by an argument we heard from our Democratic colleagues in the House. As budget...
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April 21, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

School Superintendents speak out on the importance of finishing state budget on time

“School districts depend so much on the Legislature to complete their work on time so that we can complete our work.  Whether it’s hiring teachers to reduce class size, adding more sections of full-day kindergarten, or purchasing busses, until the Legislature approves a budget, we are unable to move forward with our planning and decision-making. ...
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April 16, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

Majority Leader: ‘Troy Kelley has damaged public trust – time to resign’

  OLYMPIA… Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, released this statement in reaction to the federal indictment of state Auditor Troy Kelley. “The damage has been done and it’s time for Troy Kelley to resign immediately. There is nothing he can do to restore public trust given his evasion and silence on these serious allegations. We...
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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 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
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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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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March 31, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

Senate Budget Priorities

Senate budget fully funds education, cuts tuition without raising taxes Students, teachers and parents would see significant funding increases for the state’s public schools while in-state tuition would be reduced for the first time since at least the 1970’s without raising taxes under Senator Andy Hill’s budget proposal released Tuesday. “We crafted this budget  to...
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March 26, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus

Statewide editorials on Gov. Inslee’s risky climate plan

OUR VOICE: INSLEE’S CAP AND TRADE A BAD PLAN FOR WASHINGTON If the cap-and-trade were successful, the revenues would decrease and schools and transportation would be left underfunded, again. At best, if successful, the plan is a stopgap. (March 13, 2015) Read the full editorial here.   INSLEE’S BUDGET GOALS ARE GOOD; APPROACH IS RISKY...
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