News from the Caucus

UPDATE: In reaction to Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement today that Washington would not yet repeal its statewide indoor mask mandate, Sen. John Braun released the following response as an update to his earlier statement.   “It’s very disappointing that the governor chose only to announce an end to the outdoor mask mandate – something most...

OLYMPIA… Under Senate Bill 5036, passed today by the Senate’s Democratic majority,  128 offenders now serving time for aggravated murder or first-degree murder would immediately become eligible to apply for commutation of their sentences. Another 68 such offenders would be eligible to seek commutation within the next five years. An additional 321 inmates sentenced to...

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun introduced Senate Bill 5965, which would repeal the wildly unpopular long-term care trust program referred to as “Washington Cares.” It would also repeal the taxes employees are required to pay through payroll deductions. More than 400,000 people applied for exemptions to the plan – a number that would have been...

One day a week of remote schooling without teacher contact a huge mistake OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered the following reaction upon hearing Senate Bill 5735, which would allow up to one day a week of school to be held remotely on a permanent basis, will receive a hearing Wednesday. The bill, which codifies...

Tax relief critical as higher prices crush working families  Republican leaders say Inslee is wrong — tax relief is sustainable, deserved   OLYMPIA…Legislative Republican leaders released the following statement in response to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics that inflation in the United States has risen to 7%, increasing at the...

Will fill seat held by Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, who died Dec. 17 OLYMPIA – Simon Sefzik of Ferndale, who worked as an intern in Congress and was employed at the White House, has been named to replace the late Sen. Doug Ericksen in the Washington State Senate, and will assume the 42nd District Senate...

Priorities for Washington: Senate Republicans announce 2022 agenda Restore public safety │ Return affordability │ Rebuild trust   OLYMPIA…The Washington State Senate Republicans announced their agenda for the 2022 Legislative Session, which begins Jan. 10. “Priorities for Washington” seeks to right the policy wrongs that have led to a more dangerous society, a higher cost...

Governor’s delay of ‘Washington Cares’ tax won’t prevent January deductions from paychecks OLYMPIA…In response to new information about how the governor’s delay of the long-term care tax won’t stop tax collections in January, Senate Republican Leader John Braun of Centralia and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox of Yelm issued this statement: “The governor’s announcement last...

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun issued the following comments regarding the decision by the Facilities and Operations Committee in the Senate and the House Executive Rules Committee to file a lawsuit against Gov. Jay Inslee for his unconstitutional partial vetoes of two bills from the 2021 legislative session. The vetoes at issue include the subsection...

Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, released the following statement regarding the death of Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale. Ericksen, 52, died Friday following a month-long illness. “Doug was one of the giants of the Washington Legislature, a fearless voice for the principles he and his constituents held dear. Protection of individual rights and freedoms, preserving the people’s...

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun issued the following statement after the Washington State Supreme Court announced that it will accept the plan approved by the Washington State Redistricting Commission that redraws our state’s 49 legislative districts. “While the plan developed by the Redistricting Commission does not reflect exactly how we would like the legislative districts...

All four redistricting commissioners affirm redistricting plan agreed upon before legal deadline OLYMPIA…In light of this week’s announcement by the Washington State Redistricting Commission that the bipartisan group was unable to fully complete its task of drawing new boundaries for Washington’s 49 legislative districts, Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released this comment: “The Supreme...