Leadership Blog

In the News

The Elephant in the Dome Podcast – Out of Order – When Politics Turn Violent and Budgets Break

Published on July 01, 2025
Following the tragic act of political violence in Minnesota, Washington Senate Republican Leader John Braun urges bipartisan condemnation of all violence. He also warns of looming budget shortfalls after a sobering revenue forecast, criticizes tax hikes, and argues that unsustainable spending threatens essential services.
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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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News from the Caucus

April 04, 2025
Keith Goehner

House committee backs Goehner government-efficiency bill

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… A House committee has unanimously endorsed legislation from Sen. Keith Goehner that would make it simpler for water-sewer districts to offload surplus property. “Senate Bill 5467 is a common-sense update that ensures our water-sewer districts can operate more efficiently without unnecessary bureaucratic delays,” said Goehner, R-Dryden. “By adjusting...
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April 04, 2025
Matt Boehnke

Boehnke applauds B.C.’s decision to end consumer carbon tax

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… British Columbia’s government has announced the swift repeal of its consumer carbon tax, drawing praise from Sen. Matt Boehnke, lead Republican on the state Senate’s energy committee. “British Columbia’s leadership has finally acknowledged what conservatives have been saying for years: carbon taxes harm working families and do...
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April 04, 2025
Matt Boehnke

Boehnke pro-agriculture bill wins full support from House committee

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… The greenest of the pro-agriculture legislation introduced by Sen. Matt Boehnke at the Capitol this year, which has to do with Washington’s turf-seed industry, has moved another step forward in the state Legislature. Senate Bill 5074 is aimed at updating regulations about the sale and distribution of...
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April 03, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

The Elephant in the Dome Podcast—State Leadership in Focus—Treasurer, Governor, & Attorney General

Senator John Braun shares his thoughts on some of Washington’s statewide leaders in this episode of “The Elephant in the Dome.” From the Treasurer’s warnings about the rainy day fund to the Governor’s cautious stance on taxation and spending, the discussion highlights key policy debates. Plus, criticism of the Attorney General’s litigious approach and its...
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April 01, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Republican budget leader appreciates governor’s stance on budget situation

The Senate Republican Budget Lead is applauding Governor Bob Ferguson for echoing public outcry against excessive taxes and staying true to his word Tracy Ellis reports.
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April 01, 2025
Chris Gildon

Republican budget leaders appreciate governor’s stance on budget situation

OLYMPIA… The senators behind the no-new-taxes, no-cuts operating “$ave Washington” budget proposed by Senate Republicans offered this reaction to comments made today by Gov. Bob Ferguson about the operating budgets adopted by the Senate and House of Representatives in the past few days. From Sen. Chris Gildon of Puyallup, who is Senate Republican budget leader:...
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April 01, 2025
Matt Boehnke

Boehnke bill aimed at timely greenhouse-gas emissions data clears House committee

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Legislation sponsored by Sen. Matt Boehnke to improve the tracking of greenhouse-gas emissions is one step closer to final approval in the House of Representatives. Senate Bill 5036 would shift Washington’s biennial reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to annual reporting, ensuring policymakers have timely and accurate...
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March 31, 2025
John Braun

43,153 people sign in to oppose property-tax increase being heard today in Senate budget committee

OLYMPIA…More than 43,000 people have signed in to oppose Senate Bill 5978, a proposal that would drastically raise property taxes — more than four times the opposition received for any previous bill to receive a public hearing in the Senate. SB 5978 is scheduled for a hearing today at 4 p.m. in the Senate Ways...
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March 31, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Sen. Braun Advocates for Fiscal Responsibility on KVI Radio

Sen. John Braun discussed tax relief, public safety, and government accountability on KVI Radio. He criticized excessive spending, opposed a property tax hike, and stressed fiscal responsibility to support families and businesses amid inflation.
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March 30, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO/VIDEO: Republican budget leaders shocked by Democrats’ rejection of no-new-taxes, no-cuts budget proposal

AUDIO: State Senate Democrats passed a budget that includes the largest tax increase in state history after rejecting a responsible, no-new-taxes, no-cuts proposal from Senate Republicans. Tracy Ellis reports.     VIDEO:  
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March 29, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

Republican budget leaders shocked by Democrats’ rejection of no-new-taxes, no-cuts budget proposal

OLYMPIA… The state Senate’s majority Democrats today passed a $78.6 billion operating budget that relies on the largest tax increase in state history, after rejecting the smaller, no-new-taxes, no-cuts budget proposed by Senate Republicans. The “$ave Washington” budget, which doesn’t outspend the state’s anticipated level of revenue, was offered in place of the Democrats’ own...
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March 29, 2025
Chris Gildon

Republican budget leaders shocked by Democrats’ rejection of no-new-taxes, no-cuts budget proposal

OLYMPIA… The state Senate’s majority Democrats today passed a $78.6 billion operating budget that relies on the largest tax increase in state history, after rejecting the smaller, no-new-taxes, no-cuts budget proposed by Senate Republicans. The “$ave Washington” budget, which doesn’t outspend the state’s anticipated level of revenue, was offered in place of the Democrats’ own...
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