News from the Caucus

Sen. Chris Gildon told KVI’s John Carlson that the Senate Republican budget balances without new taxes or major cuts. It preserves teacher bonuses, limits certain program growth, and offers state workers a $5K bonus instead of $4B in raises. Gildon urges public support.

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, says Washington teachers don’t deserve to have incentive bonuses cut in half by Democrats. Educators in Washington currently qualify for a bonus for achieving certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. They can receive an additional bonus for teaching in a school that the state classifies as...

Washington’s juvenile justice facilities are overcrowded and dangerous — but a bill that just passed the state Senate could help. Tracy Ellis explains.

OLYMPIA – Legislation from Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, to address overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile-justice facilities and improve safety for both staff and inmates was passed by the Senate unanimously today. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 5278 responds to ongoing issues at institutions like Green Hill School in...

Serious, smart, and making government work better – that’s how Senate Republicans describe their new spending plan. Tracy Ellis reports.

Debates, votes and bad legislation…Oh my!     The eighth week of this session was full of debates and votes on bad bills that made it to the Senate floor. The first bill listed below has passed in the Senate and is now under consideration in the House. The other two bills have yet to...

Senate Republican Leader John Braun gives an update from Olympia as the 2025 legislative session reaches its halfway point. He highlights key bills, including efforts to expand school transportation options, bring back technical education for younger students, and address overcrowding at Green Hill School. Braun also discusses a critical bill to fund law enforcement hiring...

Washington has a shortage of law enforcement officers. Senator John Braun reports some progress in that area.

On this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senator John Braun is joined by KVI radio host Ari Hoffman for a no-holds-barred conversation about rising anti-Semitism on college campuses, the state of public safety in Washington, and the looming budget crisis. They discuss the University of Washington’s handling of campus activism, the challenges of...

March 13: 19th LD virtual town hall with Sen. Wilson, Rep. Walsh and Rep. McEntire @ 6:30 p.m. via Zoom (register) 17th LD virtual town hall with Sen. Harris, Rep. Stuebe, and Rep. Waters @6:30 p.m. (register)   March 15: 4th LD Sen. Christian in-person town hall @ 10-11 a.m. at Sun City Church, 1020...

A decade after the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus led a historic effort to cut tuition and restore affordability in higher education, Washington Democrats are now pushing legislation to undo that important progress, and increase costs for working and middle-class families. Senate Republican leaders are calling out the financial harm Senate Bill 5785 would cause to...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… The state Senate should have held off Tuesday on considering a bill that would overhaul several state environmental laws in ways that are likely to discourage economic development, said Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “Democrats and Republicans agree this is a very complex bill – but that doesn’t...