News
Opening our doors – and our hearts – to Ukrainian refugees
When war broke out in the Ukraine, I sponsored a $19 million budget amendment to support Ukrainian refugees in Washington state. Now it’s time to ask – how are we doing? Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Chris Gildon’s subscribers Sept. 25, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Gildon’s e-newsletters, click here. Ukrainian refugees...
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Braun: Legislature has duty to reconvene Redistricting Commission
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun shared the following comments on the heels of two recent court decisions saying Washington’s legislative district maps, which were created by the Washington State Redistricting Commission during the 2022 redistricting process and went into effect this year, must be redrawn for the 15th Legislative District. The judge in Soto-Palmer v....
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King says gas-price hike from ‘cap-and-trade’ auctions will hurt drivers even more
Sen. Curtis King, Republican leader on the Senate Transportation Committee, said the state’s latest carbon-pricing auction will cause gasoline prices to continue rising, further hurting Washington drivers and businesses. This will also raise the prices for all things being shipped, which is about every item consumers use, further adding to high inflation. “Since the carbon...
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Republican legislators ask Sec. of State, Attorney General to investigate reported incidents of intimidation
July 27, 2023 Secretary of State Steve Hobbs Legislative Building 416 Sid Snyder Avenue SW Olympia, WA 98501 Attorney General Bob Ferguson 1125 Washington Street SE Olympia, WA 98504 Dear Secretary Hobbs and Attorney General Ferguson: We write with great concern about a potential threat to the integrity of the democratic process here in...
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King says Democrats’ attack on oil companies is attempt to steer focus from cap-and-trade’s effect on nation-leading gas prices
Sen. Curtis King, the ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee, said Gov. Jay Inslee is trying to deflect criticism aimed at him due to the major role that the state’s cap-and-trade program has played in Washington having the highest gas prices in the nation. Inslee announced today that he wants legislation in 2024 targeting...
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Governor’s attack on oil refiners diverts attention from real cause of high gas prices, MacEwen says
Inslee’s cap and trade program gives Washington the most expensive gasoline in the nation Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, Republican lead on the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, responded Thursday to a proposal from Gov. Jay Inslee targeting what he calls ‘monster profits” by oil refiners. Inslee was the prime mover behind cap and trade...
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Let people choose whether payroll tax is right for them, Republicans say
OLYMPIA… Several of Washington’s Senate Republicans say the next time legislators are in session, they’ll try again to give workers an opportunity to opt out of the mandatory long-term care tax that began cutting into paychecks July 1. “Workers around our state are looking at their pay stubs and saying ‘I didn’t ask for this...
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Gildon seeks Legislature’s support in turning back nation’s highest gas prices
Senator urges fixes to cap and trade, asks lawmakers to sign letter to Ecology Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, is seeking the Legislature’s support in an effort to mitigate damage being done by Washington’s highest-in-the-nation gas prices. It won’t take much. He says it can be done with simple rule changes at the Department of Ecology,...
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STATEMENT: Just in time for summer driving, Inslee cap-and-tax scheme pushes Washington gas prices to highest in nation
CENTRALIA… The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Washington is now worst in the nation, and Senate Republican Leader John Braun says the state’s controversial cap-and-tax law is clearly the main driver of the price jump. Braun, from Centralia, serves Washington’s largely rural 20th Legislative District. He offered this statement regarding the...
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Inslee vetoes show troubling lack of accountability
Senate Republican leader disappointed with snub of special education OLYMPIA…Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed 20 provisos in the 2023-25 operating budget this week, including some that would have improved government accountability. Senate Republican Leader John Braun released comments in response to the governor vetoing the following items: Requirement for the Department of Social and Human...
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Legislature passes ‘workable’ drug-possession compromise
OLYMPIA…The Washington State Legislature passed a compromise bill on the possession of hard drugs such as fentanyl today during a one-day special session. Senate Republican Leader John Braun and House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary provided the following comments in response: “This bill isn’t perfect, but it is a strong step in the right direction and...
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Joint statement: Braun and Stokesbary comment on end to Inslee’s vaccine mandate
Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that he will rescind requirements related to COVID-19 vaccination for state employees. House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary and Senate Republican Leader John Braun released the following statement in response to the governor’s directive: “Just as Governor Inslee was slow to end his COVID state of emergency, he’s been equally behind the times...
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