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

March 26, 2025
Keith Goehner

House committee backs Goehner bill granting counties more time to update growth plans

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Sen. Keith Goehner’s bill to help counties with land-use planning is a step closer to a vote by the full House of Representatives. After receiving unanimous support this past week from the House Local Government Committee, Senate Bill 5558 is now before the committee that places legislation on...
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March 25, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

VIDEO: Republican Leaders Criticize WA Budget

Legislative Republicans opposed new taxes in WA’s Democrat budget, citing harm to jobs and families. They called for fiscal restraint, transparency, and reforms, while highlighting their alternative budget focusing on safety and education without tax hikes. Concerns over spending increases were emphasized.
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March 24, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Republican Leaders Slam Democrat Budget Tax Hikes: Burden Families, Ignore Critical Needs

The budget battle in Olympia heats up. Top Senate Republicans say the Democrats’ spending plan underscores a clash of values—what’s prioritized, and who pays the price. Tracy Ellis has more.
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March 24, 2025
Chris Gildon

Democrats’ budget proposals don’t justify massive tax hikes, say Republican budget leaders

OLYMPIA… Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, and Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, offered this reaction to the operating budgets proposed today by the Legislature’s majority Democrats. The Senate majority’s plan would spend $78.5 billion in the 2025-27 budget cycle – $3 billion more than the Senate Republican “$ave Washington” proposal – while the corresponding House Democrats’ plan...
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March 22, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

The Elephant in the Dome Podcast—Tax Debate in Olympia—Cost of Living, Innovation & Economic Growth

In this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senate Republican Leader John Braun talks about the impact of proposed tax increases in Washington. He discusses the Republican budget alternative, concerns over new payroll and wealth taxes, and how these policies could affect affordability, job growth, and economic stability in the state.
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March 21, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

NEWSFLASH: Democrats announce nearly $20 billion in new and higher taxes

Republican budget leaders on Senate Democrats’ record-setting tax package “A new kind of March madness”   OLYMPIA… Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, and Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, offered this reaction to the $20 billion, four-year tax package proposed by the Senate’s majority Democrats today, ahead of the anticipated Monday rollout of their 2025-27 operating-budget proposal. From...
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March 21, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

The Deputies Podcast: Senate Democrat Taxes

In this episode of The Deputies, Rep. Chris Corry and Sen. Drew MacEwen discuss a range of proposed taxes, including increases to the B&O tax, wealth tax, and property tax. They highlight the potential economic impacts, like driving businesses out of state and increasing costs for Washington residents. They also touch on bipartisan leadership, paying...
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March 20, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

AUDIO: Republicans on Senate Democrats’ record-setting tax package: ‘a new kind of March madness’

March Madness isn’t just for basketball—Republicans say it’s happening in Olympia too. Tracy Ellis explains.
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March 20, 2025
Chris Gildon

Republican budget leaders on Senate Democrats’ record-setting tax package: ‘a new kind of March madness’

OLYMPIA… Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, and Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, offered this reaction to the $20 billion, four-year tax package proposed by the Senate’s majority Democrats today, ahead of the anticipated Monday rollout of their 2025-27 operating-budget proposal. From Sen. Gildon, who is Senate Republican budget leader: “My first reaction was wow – this is...
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March 20, 2025
Keith Goehner

Goehner commends arrest of felon who had been granted clemency

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Sen. Keith Goehner today commended the Snohomish County Regional Drug Task Force and all law-enforcement officers involved in the recent arrest of Percy Levy, whose prison sentence for robbery had been commuted by Jay Inslee, former Washington governor. Levy, arrested March 13 in Everett, faces 11 felony charges,...
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March 18, 2025
Matt Boehnke

Boehnke trashes passage of ‘hidden tax’ in recycling bill

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… A recycling bill recently approved through a partisan vote in the Senate amounts to another hidden tax that would increase prices at the grocery store, says Sen. Matt Boehnke. Boehnke, the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee, said the bill would shift the...
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March 15, 2025
Senate Republican Caucus

Seen and Heard 9

Sen. Braun VIDEO: Sen John Braun recaps week 9 of the Legislative Session AUDIO: State Senate Republican Leadership Update with Senator John Braun… AUDIO: Senate unanimously passes Braun bill to improve safety, reduce overcrowding in juvenile facilities The Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Senators Braun and Gildon Discuss the $ave Washington Budget Media Avail: Republican...
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