News from the Caucus

OLYMPIA… Today the Senate majority approved a sales-tax increase that will hit lower- and middle-income families harder, a tax increase that will drive capital out of Washington, and a collection of unrelated tax increases that includes a new tax on self-storage rentals. Sen. Chris Gildon of Puyallup, Senate Republican budget leader, offered this reaction to...

Senate Republicans spent today — Saturday of Easter weekend — fighting against billions of dollars in new and higher taxes proposed by Senate Democrats. Over four years, these tax bills cost taxpayers… SB 5813: $1 billion to $1.5 billion SB 5814: $4.6 billion in state taxes, $2.7 in local taxes SB 5794: $600 million SB...

Republicans provide a no-new-tax budget option Democrats ignore our fiscally sound approach   It’s official. The Senate Republican operating budget proposal known as $ave Washington is now an official bill and could easily be adopted by the Legislature. Senate Bill 5810 does not rely on ANY new or higher taxes. It also does not make...

Democrats missed a critical chance to address overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile-justice facilities, according to the state Senate Republican Leader. Tracy Ellis reports.

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… On Tax Day, as Washingtonians paid their federal income taxes, Senate Democrats introduced a set of sweeping tax proposals totaling more than $12 billion, despite Senate Republicans presenting a balanced budget with no tax increases (SB 5810). These proposed taxes continue to put us down the path of...

OLYMPIA… On the final day for Senate bills to be considered by the House of Representatives, the majority Democrats in the House — including the Speaker of the House — fumbled a critical opportunity to alleviate dangerous overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile-justice facilities, leaving both residents and staff members in crisis. Senate Republican Leader John Braun,...

On Tax Day (Tuesday), State Senate Democrats unveil a sweeping tax package that would likely cost you and everyone you know more to live in Washington. You can comment at a Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing scheduled for 5:30 tomorrow (Wednesday). Tracy Ellis has more.

OLYMPIA… As Washingtonians mark Tax Day, Olympia is seeing a second wave of tax proposals from the state Senate’s majority Democrats, to go with the $21 billion in new and higher taxes wrapped into the operating-budget proposal they endorsed two weeks ago. The majority’s new tax legislation emerged today – coincidentally on the same day...

    Addition of even MORE taxes will double what you’ll pay!   In response to the record opposition to the BILLIONS in new and higher taxes Democrats plan to implement this year, they decided to DOUBLE DOWN by more than doubling the number of tax proposals. Let’s take a closer look: A new property...

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Legislation sponsored by Sen. Keith Goehner to support counties in updating their land-use policies has received final approval from the Legislature and is now headed to the governor for consideration. Senate Bill 5558 would grant 10 counties—including Chelan and Douglas—an extra six months to review and update their...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Legislation sponsored by Sen. Matt Boehnke to support Washington’s turf-seed industry has passed both chambers of the Legislature and now heads to the governor’s desk for final consideration. Senate Bill 5074 would establish updated regulations for selling and distributing turf seed grass, providing greater contract security, promoting...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… On April 10, the state House of Representatives approved legislation from Sen. Matt Boehnke that is intended to make college or a technical school more accessible for Washington students. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for further consideration. Senate Bill 5543 would extend eligibility for...